Issue with using on-line to check for availability

[abner1776]

With the new on-line booking tool, I thought it would be convenient to check on availability for BWV in the fall, but when I went to check on availability I received an error mesage because it was outside of the 7 month booking window and my home resort is VWL. I wanted to check on availability to see how many points I would need if I wanted to do a transfer of BWV points but I guess checking on availability for non-home resorts outside of the booking window is not allowed...anyone know why ??

 

[disneynutz]

The new software is for making a reservation and I guess they figure, why show you something that you can't book. You can use the points calculator in the planning tools section to verify point requirements.

Bill

 

[JJSWDW]

As they say, it's on a need to know basis and you don't need to know. . Seriously, I don't like it either but most of the agents won't or can't look out past your booking window either. My theories are: Some people will feel cheated if the room they saw several weeks before booking is no longer there and complain about it, especially if it seemed there were lots of rooms. Also, renters could use the info to target room categories where there were only a few left in inventory to assure they could make a ressie and rent the points. Yea, I know DVC likes names up front but this isnt always enforced.

Even within my window it's kind of cool to see what categories are available in case you want to switch rooms or may have family who is undecided about coming with.

 

[chalee94]

...anyone know why ??

you couldn't check that with MS before. why would you expect to be able to check it now?

as others have said, it's useless information until you can actually book it.

 

[Sammie]

Because it is a complete waste of time, there is no way to look that far ahead and know whether it will still be available when you can actually book it.

If you need to know how many points you would need simply use a point chart or the point calculator here on the DIS.

 

[Tamar]

we have availability threads here on the DIS, and it will be a whole lot easier for people to update them now. It will be interesting to see if people do contribute what they see when checking on their home resorts online.

 

[Deb & Bill]

DVC considers it a booking tool, not a planning tool. So it's not supposed to help you see what is available, just to book what you want.

 

[Ansky]

I don't really see the need to see whats available 3 or 4 months ahead either. But it could be useful, in my opinion, to see a day or two further out. Especially if you are staying for more than 7 days. For example, we are staying from 8/23-9/1 and are probably going to do a split stay. If we knew a particular resort was currently available we may switch over the second half of the reservation now and just take a chance that it would still be available for the last day or two when we could offically book it. If we knew that it was currently unavailable we would just sit tight and wait and see if it opened up on the day we could book it. Its not a big deal either way, but knowing a few days further out than you could book could potentially be helpful.

 

[Chuck S]

we have availability threads here on the DIS, and it will be a whole lot easier for people to update them now. It will be interesting to see if people do contribute what they see when checking on their home resorts online.

The Availability Board may be removed in the near future. There really is no longer a need for them with the addition of real-time online booking, and the information online would certainly be more current than what is simply reported and compiled into the Availability Board.

 

[DebbieB]

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.

 

[conandrob240]

As is the case with all Disney web tools, it just isn't quite good enough. Why not show everything that is available when you put in a request?

Better than nothing but not a great platform .

 

[gdrj]

Having visibility sooner might be a nice to have but not a need. In the big picture not a big deal, but I understand wanting it.

 

[granmanh603]

As is the case with all Disney web tools, it just isn't quite good enough. Why not show everything that is available when you put in a request?

Better than nothing but not a great platform .

This is the first time I think Disney has done something right... you should only be able to search for what you can book. I think it is great....

 

[Joey7295]

You never were able to check avaialbility more than 7 months out at a non-home resort even by calling member services.

 

[mousefan1972]

As is the case with all Disney web tools, it just isn't quite good enough. Why not show everything that is available when you put in a request?

Um, because if you are outside the 7 month window, you can only book your home resort?? What would be the point of showing what is available if you don't own the points required to make a reservation? I am really surprised that so many people seem to think this is a negative.

 

[Sammie]

Um, because if you are outside the 7 month window, you can only book your home resort?? What would be the point of showing what is available if you don't own the points required to make a reservation? I am really surprised that so many people seem to think this is a negative.

Exactly. It's like going to Target to shop for a particular item. You spend time looking to make sure they have it, take it to the counter, get in line, and when the clerk ask how you wish to pay, you say, " Oh I don't want to buy it today, I don't get paid until two weeks." So why are you even here.

 

[conandrob240]

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.

 

[Ansky]

Exactly. It's like going to Target to shop for a particular item. You spend time looking to make sure they have it, take it to the counter, get in line, and when the clerk ask how you wish to pay, you say, " Oh I don't want to buy it today, I don't get paid until two weeks." So why are you even here.

While I really don't care if I can see more than 7 months out at a resort or not I kind of disagree with this statement. Maybe it is just not a good analogy to me because people window shop all the time (something that I don't like to do at all...I like to know what I want, get in there, buy it and get out as quick as possible). But just because someone can't afford to currently buy something doesn't mean that they can't look. There is nothing wrong with taking a look at something and being able to plan ahead so when it is time to go into a store you know exactly what you are doing. I'm kind of surprised that with the way many DVC members plan ahead that so many people are so against looking past your booking window. Again, I understand that there really isn't much point since things can change all the time, but I just dont see the harm in looking I guess. Having a general idea of what things look like is better than having no idea at all I think.

 

[Joey7295]

While I understand that people like to plan ahead, online booking is meant for booking not planning.

 

[Ansky]

While I understand that people like to plan ahead, online booking is meant for booking not planning.

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?