Making DVC Reservations Online

[Jeremy&Susan]

Has this subject ever come up at town hall meetings?

What was the DVCs put on it?

 

[HUFF590]

I voted NO, simply because the DVC system (borrowing, banking, transfers, etc) is so complicated. Imagine the "newbie" complaints "I didn't know that banking/borrowing was final...I didn't read the screen before I hit "Yes." or "I didn't mean to cancel my existing ressie, unless there was a one bedroom available, can I have my studio back, now, please?" I think it will create a lot of problems for the MS phone reps and a lot of unhappy DVC owners. I'll agree the convenience would be nice, but there are just to many "rules" that apply to point ressies that don't apply to cash ressies.

I AGREE

 

[simzac]

I voted NO, simply because the DVC system (borrowing, banking, transfers, etc) is so complicated. Imagine the "newbie" complaints "I didn't know that banking/borrowing was final...I didn't read the screen before I hit "Yes." or "I didn't mean to cancel my existing ressie, unless there was a one bedroom available, can I have my studio back, now, please?" I think it will create a lot of problems for the MS phone reps and a lot of unhappy DVC owners. I'll agree the convenience would be nice, but there are just to many "rules" that apply to point ressies that don't apply to cash ressies.

This is exactly why I also voted no.

 

[JimC]

Yes it would be complex at first for us to use. But no more so than other technology advancements. I still question if they can program all the functionality for a single roll out. I think what is likely is an initial release of online reservations using your current year points only within the DVC resort system. Additional features could be added over time. I like being able to log on and making a reservation when it suits me rather than during their business hours.

 

[flechette]

I think what is likely is an initial release of online reservations using your current year points only within the DVC resort system. Additional features could be added over time. I like being able to log on and making a reservation when it suits me rather than during their business hours.

I was about to post the same thing! They could start really slowly, perhaps even open the system up with making reservations only at your home resort and only with current available points. Next step would add in making reservations at 7 months at other DVC, etc. Disney could announce that they want to do this in stages and each stage is 6-8 months so the entire process can go as slowly as D-Corp wants it too.


Hubby said he hopes this is a reality by the time we join- we both hate using the phone

.

 

[Caskbill]

The DVC system is extremely complex, more so than most probably realize. I probably know best because I've been writing a point tracking program (to be released later this year).

Here's some of the issues:

Home resort vs non-home resort and the 11/7 month windows.

Classification of points in someone's account (Regular, Banked, Borrowed, Reservation, Holding)

Multiple resorts. (Someone owns OKW and VWL and wants to use 100 OKW points and 32 VWL points to book BCV at 7-months)

Not to mention the regular 'choices'. If you book a hotel room on line, you can probably select smoking/non smoking, and the system checks if a room is available.

With DVC you have different resorts, different villa types, different 'views', different seasons, different days of the week, all which must be checked for availability. And if available, determine the point requirements.

And the list goes on....
Should you be able to bank? Should you be allowed to borrow (knowing that borrowing can only be done at the time you actually make a reservation)
Should you be allowed to transfer points.
How do you tell the system what points you want to use. Maybe you want to use VWL points at OKW, even though you also have OKW points. Maybe you want to use regular points, even though you have some banked points in your account.

Finally to incorporate all this into a 'live' session, where CM's are making reservations continuously. (Last I knew of, about 80-100 CM's man the phones every day). If you see what you want, and put in all the information, what happens during the 5-minutes it took you to do everything. Did the availability disappear because 80 people were on the phone making similar reservations. (One thing that would help is to only have it available when MS was closed, and putting temporary holds on an available reservation (maybe 5-minutes), while you input your data.)

Could a program be written? Certainly. Would it be cost justifiable? Unknown. Would it be easy to use or too complex for most users. Again unknown. How many would actually use it? Those of us here on this board probably would, but we're about 1% of all owners. Aside from development costs, would it cost more to maintain the system than any savings received from reduced CM workloads.

In a previous thread I suggested that just a way to check availability would be a great first step. When MS closes for the day (or weekend), a basic 'snapshot' is taken of what's available. Users could go on line and check, thus saving a call to MS. When they find what they want is available, then they call the next day and make the reservation.

Just .02

 

[Tom and Jen]

Hey Caskbill,

I was looking forward to your input on this thread.

Figured you would have one of the best views on this idea simply due to all the work you've done on the Planner and Point Tracker.

I know I am not the only one eagerly awaiting your final product.

How about this. Since we know your system works, it being designed by a member who knows what a member would like it to do. Take all this fine work you've done for us, sync it all up, give MS a call, and give them a nice figure for all your man hours. Be sure it is something to retire early with, and a year long / life time supply of points at the resort of your choice.

T.

 

[JimC]

...Finally to incorporate all this into a 'live' session, where CM's are making reservations continuously. (Last I knew of, about 80-100 CM's man the phones every day). If you see what you want, and put in all the information, what happens during the 5-minutes it took you to do everything. Did the availability disappear because 80 people were on the phone making similar reservations. (One thing that would help is to only have it available when MS was closed, and putting temporary holds on an available reservation (maybe 5-minutes), while you input your data.)...

I agree with the "hold". That is what II does with exchanges. It is removed from inventory while you complete the process. I believe it is a thirty minute hold so one could have time to verify any ancillary reservations as well.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I voted "no" because with a system like DVC's, there are too many rules and regulations and too many intricacies that could make a totally on line booking system nearly impossible. Besides, I want to KNOW if there is a mistake made!