Issue with using on-line to check for availability

[Chuck S]

I'm just playing devils advocate here, but would you say that you shouldn't be allowed to look around in store without buying something?

But in a store, you could buy something. Checking availability 7 months ahead is more equivalent to getting your groceries to register with having no money, credit card, food stamps or checks. There is absolutely no way for you to book it at that time. Why use system resources, a system that paid for through dues for a pointless inquiry?

Back to your window shopping analogy. The store pays to staff the store to make sales. If you are only window shopping, and take up the time of a staff person with questions, that staff person can not be helping other customers that DO have the intention of purchasing at that moment.

 

[Joey7295]

I'm just playing devils advocate here, but would you say that you shouldn't be allowed to look around in store without buying something?

I am kind of neutral on the matter and kind of understand both sides of the argument. I am just trying to point out why it's the way it is.

 

[disneynutz]

Using online booking as a planning tool ties up room inventory. One member may be just looking around with no intention of booking keeps someone else who needs a reservation from getting it.

Bill

 

[abner1776]

Well, since I started this post, I should be clearer on what my intention was.

I have no more 2012 points available( even borrowed points are gone) but my daughter wants to go to BWV in late Sept. Therefore, I was hoping to see what types of rooms were available at BWV( standard v. pref view)with the on line tool to see if I wanted to pursue a transfer rather than waiting until the 7 month window opens up in late Feb.

I believe(I could be wrong) that I can call MS to find out availability even if I don't have the points, so why can't I do that on line ? From many of the responses it seems to be that DVC wants the on line tool to be a booking tool and not a planning tool, but why would that matter ? Before we book...we must plan..so why not use the on line tool for both ?? JMHO

 

[A&M's Mommy]

Well, since I started this post, I should be clearer on what my intention was.

I have no more 2012 points available( even borrowed points are gone) but my daughter wants to go to BWV in late Sept. Therefore, I was hoping to see what types of rooms were available at BWV( standard v. pref view)with the on line tool to see if I wanted to pursue a transfer rather than waiting until the 7 month window opens up in late Feb.

I believe(I could be wrong) that I can call MS to find out availability even if I don't have the points, so why can't I do that on line ? From many of the responses it seems to be that DVC wants the on line tool to be a booking tool and not a planning tool, but why would that matter ? Before we book...we must plan..so why not use the on line tool for both ?? JMHO

You are wrong. If you call MS, and ask to check availability at BWV for September and BWV is not your home resort, MS will NOT check for you. Why? Because you can't book even if it is! You aren't within the 7 month window yet! Why, oh why, is this so hard for people to grasp??

 

[conandrob240]

The tool isn't great. I am not interested in the more than 7 mths issue, IMO, it might be nice to know but it isn't that important to me.


What it think is really dumb is, for example,when I put in a value studio for AKV, it comes back with that request as not available and presents a few other options but not ALL the options. That doesn't make sense.

As is the case with all of Disney's websites & tools, they are lacking and not what I'd expect from a major travel/ entertainment provider.

But, it is better than nothing especially with a call center ( DVC) that has the nerve to have hours only until 5:30pm ev ery day. At least I can check things at night when I need to

 

[granmanh603]

Using online booking as a planning tool ties up room inventory. One member may be just looking around with no intention of booking keeps someone else who needs a reservation from getting it.

Bill

Wow hit it right on the head and simply put , but we live in a world of people now who want what THEY want now...

 

[PatMcDuck]

It could be useful to know what is NOT available. For example, I am hoping to book VGC for the end of September. If it's already soldout, odds are not good that it will open up a month from now. Home resort owners are probably waitlisting already. If I knew that, I would start looking for a cash reservation at one of the DL hotels. If it's currently open, I would more likely hold off to see. But I can understand DVC programming the limitation into the system.

Maybe we need "buddies" for each resort who can look into the future 11 months out...... For example, my points are at BCV, and I can look 11 months into the future there.

 

[Ansky]

But in a store, you could buy something. Checking availability 7 months ahead is more equivalent to getting your groceries to register with having no money, credit card, food stamps or checks. There is absolutely no way for you to book it at that time. Why use system resources, a system that paid for through dues for a pointless inquiry?

Back to your window shopping analogy. The store pays to staff the store to make sales. If you are only window shopping, and take up the time of a staff person with questions, that staff person can not be helping other customers that DO have the intention of purchasing at that moment.

window shopping AND taking up the time of a staff person is more like calling MS and asking questions with no intent to make a reservation. Looking online isn't really taking up a person's time. Its a computer system (and the disney computer people are going to be working whether someone is browsing or not). I do see how it could be effecting someone else from making a reservation, but that can be the case for looking at availablility within your reservation window too. I can see your point though with the first part of your statement about the checkout analogy.

 

[Ansky]

Using online booking as a planning tool ties up room inventory. One member may be just looking around with no intention of booking keeps someone else who needs a reservation from getting it.

Bill

I do agree with this in the morning hours, but in the late afternoon or at night I doubt there are tons of people trying to make reservations. If someone is waiting until that point they are probably booking something that isn't as popular anyway and don't need to be worried about not getting what they are looking for.

 

[Chuck S]

window shopping AND taking up the time of a staff person is more like calling MS and asking questions with no intent to make a reservation. Looking online isn't really taking up a person's time. Its a computer system (and the disney computer people are going to be working whether someone is browsing or not). I do see how it could be effecting someone else from making a reservation, but that can be the case for looking at availablility within your reservation window too. I can see your point though with the first part of your statement about the checkout analogy.

But it does use bandwidth and server resources. Paid by our dues.

Have you noticed the DIS is running slowly? Why, because there is so much traffic that the current servers can't compensate. New servers have been ordered.

But in the case of the DVC Reservation System, those bottlenecks in service would require MEMBERS to pay for any server upgrades if they've reached capacity. SO yes, the store paying an employee to help a window shopper IS much the same, only in this case, it would be dues paying for Internet bandwidth and servers rather than a physical employee's time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Maybe we need "buddies" for each resort who can look into the future 11 months out...... For example, my points are at BCV, and I can look 11 months into the future there.

But unless you are going to book that stay for your buddy using your points, there is no point in looking at all. Because someone else might just book it all tomorrow. It's pointless to look before you can actually book that stay.

 

[crisi]

It may also take a person's time tomorrow. Because if a week ago you checked and there were rooms but you were outside your booking window, and today there are no rooms, that creates member dissatisfaction. You planned for something the system said was available and now it's not. And while it would be great to believe members would understand, anyone who has done customer service will tell you that not all people are bright enough to understand and move forward without complaint.

 

[mousefan1972]

Um, not what I meant. When looking for a studio say 6 mths out, it shows me some of what's available if mine isn't but not everything that is available.

Oops, my bad! Sorry about that!

It may also take a person's time tomorrow. Because if a week ago you checked and there were rooms but you were outside your booking window, and today there are no rooms, that creates member dissatisfaction. You planned for something the system said was available and now it's not. And while it would be great to believe members would understand, anyone who has done customer service will tell you that not all people are bright enough to understand and move forward without complaint.

I can hear it already.... "But when I checked a month ago, it was available! What do you mean there is no availability today, the day I can actually book?!"

I wish people would acknowledge that it is impossible to use the booking engine as a "planning tool" when you aren't currently able to book a reservation!

 

[Sammie]

But in a store, you could buy something. Checking availability 7 months ahead is more equivalent to getting your groceries to register with having no money, credit card, food stamps or checks. There is absolutely no way for you to book it at that time. Why use system resources, a system that paid for through dues for a pointless inquiry?

Back to your window shopping analogy. The store pays to staff the store to make sales. If you are only window shopping, and take up the time of a staff person with questions, that staff person can not be helping other customers that DO have the intention of purchasing at that moment.

But it does use bandwidth and server resources. Paid by our dues.

Have you noticed the DIS is running slowly? Why, because there is so much traffic that the current servers can't compensate. New servers have been ordered.

But in the case of the DVC Reservation System, those bottlenecks in service would require MEMBERS to pay for any server upgrades if they've reached capacity. SO yes, the store paying an employee to help a window shopper IS much the same, only in this case, it would be dues paying for Internet bandwidth and servers rather than a physical employee's time.

Thank You, someone that understands that internet servers do not have unlimited capacity for everyone to just "look". When the room gets full, someone has to wait to get in and that person very likely needs to book something not just make believe they can.

I wish people would acknowledge that it is impossible to use the booking engine as a "planning tool" when you aren't currently able to book a reservation!

Someone else that gets it.

 

[Sammie]

I do agree with this in the morning hours, but in the late afternoon or at night I doubt there are tons of people trying to make reservations. If someone is waiting until that point they are probably booking something that isn't as popular anyway and don't need to be worried about not getting what they are looking for.

There are members all over the world, which was the main reason for the online service in fact 500,000 of them. Your evening is their morning.

 

[Ansky]

There are members all over the world, which was the main reason for the online service in fact 500,000 of them. Your evening is their morning.

That is a good point but I am talking about the first few hours MS is open. That is when I would think there is the most traffic and phone calls. If most people wanted to call at 9PM EST then they would probably be open then to take calls. So time of day where I have really has no bearing on what I was trying to say.

 

[Ansky]

But it does use bandwidth and server resources. Paid by our dues.

Have you noticed the DIS is running slowly? Why, because there is so much traffic that the current servers can't compensate. New servers have been ordered.

But in the case of the DVC Reservation System, those bottlenecks in service would require MEMBERS to pay for any server upgrades if they've reached capacity. SO yes, the store paying an employee to help a window shopper IS much the same, only in this case, it would be dues paying for Internet bandwidth and servers rather than a physical employee's time.

I am the first one to admit I don't know much about computers and I certainly don't know a lot about bandwidth and server resources, but I feel like that is kind of splitting hairs worrying about people looking and using too much bandwidth and our dues being more because of it. It probably cost us more in dues that people leave the water running while brushing their teeth or turning lights on during the day. Are you worried about people taking too long of a shower? Where does it end? Everything costs money...maybe because I am ignorant to bandwidth costs I am underestimating its importance. But if people looking around on the site has a significant impact on our dues I would be surprised.

 

[Sammie]

I am the first one to admit I don't know much about computers and I certainly don't know a lot about bandwidth and server resources, but I feel like that is kind of splitting hairs worrying about people looking and using too much bandwidth and our dues being more because of it. It probably cost us more in dues that people leave the water running while brushing their teeth or turning lights on during the day. Are you worried about people taking too long of a shower? Where does it end? Everything costs money...maybe because I am ignorant to bandwidth costs I am underestimating its importance. But if people looking around on the site has a significant impact on our dues I would be surprised.

If I was waiting to take a shower, then yes I would be concerned. The online service is a shared service between 500,000 of us. We are simply saying its good policy to be considerate of others and not hog the shower,

The online service is like a phone booth of sorts. Certainly more than one person can use it at a time and it not be a problem. Can everyone use it and it not be a problem, Definitely not.

DVC has said that if the service becomes too overloaded they will simply cut admission to it.

I would hate to see someone get shut out that truly can book by someone just playing around, is all. It is a booking program not a planning resource.

But yes some are not going to care about their fellow member and will do whatever they want, when they want it.

 

[Ansky]

If I was waiting to take a shower, then yes I would be concerned. The online service is a shared service between 500,000 of us. We are simply saying its good policy to be considerate of others and not hog the shower,

The online service is like a phone booth of sorts. Certainly more than one person can use it at a time and it not be a problem. Can everyone use it and it not be a problem, Definitely not.

DVC has said that if the service becomes too overloaded they will simply cut admission to it.

I would hate to see someone get shut out that truly can book by someone just playing around, is all. It is a booking program not a planning resource.

But yes some are not going to care about their fellow member and will do whatever they want, when they want it.

Ok. I just felt like it was being made a bigger deal than it needed to be on here. I see your point though.