Legit Booking, or Cheating?

[kevmag]

But walking IS within the rules..

Now, the question is- Would you rather call day by day and have a fair system, or call bay by day and have an unfair system?

MG

My brain sometimes can not comprehend the little things....can you explain what Day by Day was, and why it was inherently unfair? Thanks.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

My brain sometimes can not comprehend the little things....can you explain what Day by Day was, and why it was inherently unfair? Thanks.

The old booking system where the Member had to book from check-OUT, vs check-in, was the fair system. Using that system the Member could book day by day, calling everyday to add another day to the end of their reservation. Under that system nobody would book days that they had no intention of using.

The unfair part of the new system is NOT walking, it's the possibility of your room being unavailable before your 11 month window opens. In an effort to avoid that, some Members have walked their reservations.
Walking has started because of the inherent booking flaws in the new system.

MG

 

[Snurk71]

Okay, I remember reading about walking reservations. But I must not be getting how people did it.

If I want a trip from 12/1 - 12/7, my 11 month mark to call is 1/1. So how does this walking day by day work? Would a walker call to make a reservation on 12/26 for 11/25 - 12/1, call back on 12/26 to drop 11/25 and add 12/2, etc until they had 12/1 - 12/7 covered?

Btw, I know MS isn't open on those holidays. The month examples are easy math dates for me though.

Just trying to understand how some might work the system.

 

[dclfun]

I liked the OLD, fair system of DBD booking better. If you're "walking" a ressie, you'd still need to call DBD to do so ( thus negating their "this is much easier for a member" statement) and although it's within the rules, I abhor what I consider cheating and trying to outfox another member. After all, you aren't really booking what you want to start with so why should you be allowed to book other dates only to gain an advantage? BTW I'm not referring specifically to the OP, but to all members. I wish they'd impose penalties on those who walk their reservations, but only for holiday travel dates and HTG categories such as concierge, THV's, and GV's which are the ressies most likely walked anyway. I don't want to play games when I call DVC to book the exact dates and resorts for our vacations and I purchased at the resorts I want to stay at to avoid disappointment, also taking responsibility to call at the right date. I wish they'd switch back to the old system....at least for the above categories and dates of travel. MS has enough data now to know which resorts, categories, and timeframes that are walked, and they can stop it.---Kathy

 

[AKLFan3]

I am glad we don't have the day by day booking system. Who wants to call every day for 5-7 days to book a reservation? Plus, there was the risk that in the middle of your preferred reservation dates, one day would be booked, causing you to want to change your entire week. I really could not be bothered with such a hassle. It makes sense to me to book 11 months before your check-in date. Also, if people do "walk" their reservations, then those who don't walk them should ask to be placed on the wait-list. Once the person cancels the walked date, everyone gets bumped up on the wait-list, correct?

 

[JenSop]

I liked the OLD, fair system of DBD booking better. If you're "walking" a ressie, you'd still need to call DBD to do so ( thus negating their "this is much easier for a member" statement) and although it's within the rules, I abhor what I consider cheating and trying to outfox another member. After all, you aren't really booking what you want to start with so why should you be allowed to book other dates only to gain an advantage? BTW I'm not referring specifically to the OP, but to all members. I wish they'd impose penalties on those who walk their reservations, but only for holiday travel dates and HTG categories such as concierge, THV's, and GV's which are the ressies most likely walked anyway. I don't want to play games when I call DVC to book the exact dates and resorts for our vacations and I purchased at the resorts I want to stay at to avoid disappointment, also taking responsibility to call at the right date. I wish they'd switch back to the old system....at least for the above categories and dates of travel. MS has enough data now to know which resorts, categories, and timeframes that are walked, and they can stop it.---Kathy

Please don't take it personally, but many don't consider it cheating. And I don't think it's necessary for most booking categories/locations anyway.

However, we're budgeting our points in a way so that we can do a big family trip in 2012 in a GV. I just can't see waiting until the exact day, as someone who booked the room as part of a reservation earlier in the week might already have booked it for the portion we want. This trip is a big deal for us and unless things change, I will totally be walking the reservation.

I'll go on record as saying I like the old way better, though.

 

[Fractal514]

I must be the only one who wonders why everyone can't just follow the rules and not try to "outfox" everyone else. I hated the idea of having to call everyday to get a reservation. We are the ones who are paying MS to take all of the phone calls. I had hoped the new system would stop this but apparently not. I wouldn't have ever thought of these ways around the system if not for reading them here!

I understand what you mean, and like I said, I don't plan to do this for 99% of my trips, but if there was one trip that really mattered to me, I would want to know the full range of options to try and make that trip happen.

Just my opinion...

 

[funhouse8]

If I wanted a Tree House for the end of August 2011 do you think it would be necessary to walk the weeks reservation? We own at SSR

 

[kimberh]

What is UNFAIR about Walking is, People are booking days that they don't need and never plan on using. Legal or not, They are taking days away from someone else that are trying to book their trip! I just don't get all of you that are ok with this! With Day by Day, We were booking Days that we were going to use. What is wrong with DVC and Member Services? I would really love to know how many phone calls and confirmations are being mailed and then cancelled and then being mailed and then being cancelled and then being mailed and on and on... our dues are paying for this! Am I the only one in the whole DVC membership seeing this???

 

[Sandisw]

What is UNFAIR about Walking is, People are booking days that they don't need and never plan on using. Legal or not, They are taking days away from someone else that are trying to book their trip! I just don't get all of you that are ok with this! With Day by Day, We were booking Days that we were going to use. What is wrong with DVC and Member Services? I would really love to know how many phone calls and confirmations are being mailed and then cancelled and then being mailed and then being cancelled and then being mailed and on and on... our dues are paying for this! Am I the only one in the whole DVC membership seeing this???

Yes, it is frustrating but I am one who would not want to have to call every day to book my trip. Are there certain times of the year when walking is impacting true vacations, yes, and maybe there is something that DVC can do, if they want to suspend the practice, during these busy times.

But as a whole, I like being able to call and book my entire 7 nights in one shot.

I do agree, though, about the confirmations and how much the cost is to do this. At least, they are going to email for that which will save some.

 

[Brian Noble]

I must be the only one who wonders why everyone can't just follow the rules and not try to "outfox" everyone else.

I totally hear this. But, if I had a reservation that was super-important to my family, and it was for a rare room category, I'd walk it in a heartbeat, because my family's vacation is important to me.

I don't think there are that many categories for which it really matters, though---maybe concierge at AKV, maybe THVs during busier times, BW view during F&W, that sort of thing. Most of the time, it doesn't matter.

There's really only one way to discourage this sort of thing, and that's to charge people for each reservation they make---perhaps after giving some number free. That's throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Other timeshare systems do this, and it's extremely annoying to have to pay such nuisance fees for simple legitimate changes.

 

[funhouse8]

I too believe it is unfair but members are doing it. i loved it when they changed the rules so I would only have to make one phone call (it always seems I had to make the calls at the strangest places or wait till I return from somewhere) Now that people are walking I feel it decreases my chances of getting what I want at 11 months and if member services are allowing it then I need to do this to get what I want. I would rather not walk a vacation!

 

[88golf88]

I completely agree with it not being "right". We just bought in and I THOUGHT I knew when I had to call for my 11 and 7 month window, now I guess I have to start a week earlier and call day after day. Obviously my chances are slimmer in the 7 month window that the 11 month window, but calling 7 months and 1 week will give me a better chance than exactly 7 months.

Whether or not we think this is fair just doesn't matter at this point. It seems some have figured out "how to play the game" a different way. Until CM figures a way to close this loop hole, and who knows if they will if they keep suggesting it, we have to be prepared to play the game a different way.

I bought into DVC and I am not going to let someone else get and advantage over the rooms that I want because they are not calling at the same time as me.

 

[crisi]

In the original thread on walking someone called and asked and was told "hummm, didn't think about that. Well, if it turns into a problem we will change policy."

So as long as it isn't seen as a problem - I don't think Disney will do anything to stop it. When it results in too many phone calls to MS (costing money) or too many reservations unavailable for people calling at eleven months, they'll make some policy change.

But I wouldn't count on it being available forever. Disney has a tendancy to unintentionally create loopholes - then figure out how people are working the system and close those loopholes. They aren't usually FAST about it, but they usually close them. And if a MS rep is making the recommendation (and they are individuals, not the Borg, I doubt its Disney policy to recommend it), it won't be long before they close the loophole because it increases call volume.

 

[kevmag]

I would really love to know how many phone calls and confirmations are being mailed and then cancelled and then being mailed and then being cancelled and then being mailed and on and on... our dues are paying for this!

One comment on this...I own a software company and am flabbergasted at how antiquated DVC's website...reservations systems..etc seem to be! Especially when you consider that Disney was the cutting edge of tecnhnology in so many areas in the early years of Disneyland and Disneyworld. The simple fact that you can't make reservations online still blows me away.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I liked the OLD, fair system of DBD booking better. If you're "walking" a ressie, you'd still need to call DBD to do so ( thus negating their "this is much easier for a member" statement) . . . [snip]---Kathy

Actually, to walk a resrrvation at 11 months, you only need to call every 6 days. So, even for those few reservations for which is makes sense to walk, it is easier for members. And, as already noted in this thread, walking doesn't help in any meaningful way at the 7 month window, so again the new system does allow the member to book with fewer phone calls. -- Suzanne

 

[Disneypubgal]

What is UNFAIR about Walking is, People are booking days that they don't need and never plan on using. Legal or not, They are taking days away from someone else that are trying to book their trip! I just don't get all of you that are ok with this! With Day by Day, We were booking Days that we were going to use. What is wrong with DVC and Member Services? I would really love to know how many phone calls and confirmations are being mailed and then cancelled and then being mailed and then being cancelled and then being mailed and on and on... our dues are paying for this! Am I the only one in the whole DVC membership seeing this???

You can ask MS to delay sending you your confirmations until you are finished adjusting your reservations!

 

[jelwallace]

The cast members I talked to about walking had no bad thing to say about it. They even looked ahead in the computer to see how the availability was for the next day and told me whether I had a shot of walking the next day when I called. I agree it is 'working the system' but for those of us that have only exact dates to vacation I want to maximize my chances of getting what I would like. I wouldn't worry about it for a simple 1 bedroom at SSR but I would definitely do it for a treehouse or a magic kingdom view at BLT.
For those that don't think there is an advantage at the 7 month window do the math. Yes it is true that you don't get an advantage over the home resort people (11 month reservations) but you are 'competing' with all of the other 7 month people for the reservation. I agree that the true advantage is at the 11 month mark because there are no people who could of booked ahead of you but there still is an advantage at the 7 month mark especially for desired rooms at desired times.
When I talked with the cast members about it they said that walking was having an impact on waitlists. They are seeing waitlists come through slightly quicker because the walkers drop days that are picked up by the waitlist.

 

[dvcdisney]

First off,

To those who say there is no advantage at 7months, I have to disagree. It's not as big an advantage, but let's say I'm trying for a Treehouse at Thanksgiving. Yes anyone who is SSR would be able to stop me at ANY point, but that's only, what, <15% of the total DVC membership? At 7 Months I know I can't beat them, but I am trying to outfox the ~85% that remain.

Am I way off in my thinking or does that make sense?

I see what your saying, but the purpose of "walking" is to ensure that no one else can get that room. For instance, at 11 mths prior, if you book day 1 to 7 and then called back the next day and add day 8 and cancel day 1, there is no way someone can book day 8 because they would not have been able to book day 2.

However, at 7 mths prior day 8,9,10 and so on would be available to all home resort members and could take it from under you. The only reason that you are "walking" is to prevent anyone from booking these next days. The point is that if someone is able to do this then there really isn't a significant advantage of "walking".

"Walking" at 7 mths will still have the probability of having gaps/holes in your reservation. And isn't the reason for "walking" to ensure there are no gaps? So, imho, you might as well just wait to book it at your intended check in date and save yourself many days of calling.

Just my opinion. I hope this makes sense.

 

[Fractal514]

Your point is taken about the home resort owners being able to mess up the walking, but I think you are missing my point.

Yes it isn't a sure thing, but I do think walking would increase the chances. That's all I'm saying. I keep reading people who say walking at 7 months doesn't increase your chances, and I can't help but think it's just people who don't like the practice discouraging it, without actually thinking about how it DOES increase your chances, even if it's only slightly.

I mean, mathematically, I don't see how anyone can argue that walking at any time, even 7 months wouldn't INCREASE your chances of getting what you want, even if there are possibilities for it to get messed up.

To go even further, if this is true that MS could look ahead and tell you what's booked for the next day or even week, then you could really make this work for you, because the odds of a home resident booking at the end of the home resort window aren't as high as at the beginning, I would think.

I agree that this isn't the easiest, or even most honorable way of doing things, but for those of us who don't have the money to buy at multiple resorts, and who would like to do what we can to try and get a special vacation every so often, I think it's a good way of improving your odds. Especially because, as another person posted, others won't think of doing it.