Member Cruise Call.....

[Tink10]

I just checked my voice mail this morning & had a call from MS......

They told me that even though I wasn't chosen in the random drawing to book the Member Cruise (I've never been on one), they had staterooms available and I could call at my leisure to book if I still wanted to reserve .......

 

[Scratch42]

Looks like the demand that they anticipated from previous members who complained that they couldn't get thru, etc, etc, etc. just wasn't there!



Have Fun Sailing!

 

[Tink10]

We decided that we'd rather take 3 trips to WDW with the points, rather than use them for a measley 4 day cruise.......

 

[LIFERBABE]

Looks like the demand that they anticipated from previous members who complained that they couldn't get thru, etc, etc, etc. just wasn't there!



Have Fun Sailing!

Many people reported on the cruise board that they were also, after being notified that they had not "won".

It seems many that were selected, compared the costs/points with other options and came to the same conclusion as Tink. That and having to pay in full if paying cash is a big drawback right before the holidays.

 

[cobbler]

Maybe they called a couple more if others that were chosen declined or were unreachable.

They called me 3x and left messages. I was chosen though. I was on my way home from Disney so I couldn't answer the phone but I would have declined anyway because I didn't realize at the time that payment was due in full at the time of booking.

I did ask about that after the SSR condo meeting though.

 

[cgcw]

Looks like the demand that they anticipated from previous members who complained that they couldn't get thru, etc, etc, etc. just wasn't there!



Have Fun Sailing!

It also sounds as if the communication between the DVC Planning team and the DVC Members is just about as lacking as it was for SSMC06.

If DVC truly read the surveys they received back after SSMC06, they would have seen this was a very big sore point with a lot of members (at least those involved on the DIS). It doesn't sound as if they have tried to mend the ways with tactics like calling people who were already told that they were not going to be in the first calling period. They could have worded their "rejection" letter a little differently, as in, we haven't selected you for the first round, but if there are still openings at the end of the day, we will gladly call you.

For those of you sailing, I hope you have a wonderful experience. I am looking forward to hearing about the end result. I hope you are not disappointed in how the planning for this cruise turns out.

 

[RachelTori]

Well, I got a call from MS today too. "We know you weren't selected in the lottery, but......"

I'll admit, there's a part of me that really, really, really wants to go on the Member Cruise, but we're going to "pass". (I took the original rejection as a "sign" that it wasn't meant to be - this time. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!!)

I'll appease myself next October at the Food & Wine Festival!!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I also got a call today.

I was kind of in agreement with the argument that the lottery should have been for all members.

The call today sort of rubbed me the wrong way, especially knowing that previous cruisers felt dismissed by DVC with the lottery.

If the lottery did not book all the set aside staterooms for first timers, then I think those rooms should have been left for the general call fest on Saturday. It kind of irked me that even those not chosen in the lottery still have first priority over members who have been on the cruise before.

I know, I know, its a marketing decision....but I really got the impression that some people were pretty disillusioned by the whole thing.

THe first thing my DH said when we heard the VM was "NO!" LoL

I do hope anyone, first timer or not, has a great time if they get a room on the 07 cruise. We are sticking to our plan to go in September.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I received the call at home (DW answered that one) and MS left a message for me on my cell phone too -- and I thought I was the special "one" to get the phone call.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just checked my voice mail this morning & had a call from MS......

They told me that even though I wasn't chosen in the random drawing to book the Member Cruise (I've never been on one), they had staterooms available and I could call at my leisure to book if I still wanted to reserve .......

Yup, I just got my call about 5 minutes ago. However, I was going to go with another solo DISer, who's now on vacation herself. Once we got the "sorry you weren't selected" Email, we stopped planning. Had we known we were selected, things would have been different. But now, hearing about the cost (vs. a regular cruise) and the payment requirements (pay all up front-a few weeks before Christmas), I really think it was just as well. But to have things happen this way-"No, you weren't selected", then "Yes, you are now selected" really p**ses me off.

 

[disneyokw]

My family were one of the members selected and we received the call at 9:18 am on Saturday. My parents booked their cruise and I'm getting to wonder if they were the only ones who booked so far.

I am happy for them that they get to do a Member cruise but understand why everyone is pissed off. My mother was afraid that my father would get so annoyed with never getting through the phone and would decide to not to go. So when this new getting a call came we had to try for it. She always wanted to meet other DVC members. They are both seniors and do not really use (understand) the internet. I give my mother everyones trip reports, complaints, etc. I just feel bad that she does not know you all but boy does she love to talk about Disney and DVC.

Hope whoever is going has a great time by meeting fellow DVCers. The members are the ones who make being a member of DVC great.

 

[debm]

Well I guess I am one of the minority. I felt like it was a very nice thing they did today when they called me. I think they are trying to avoid the situation that happened last year with people being on hold forever. I was not chosen for the lottery but they called me today and I was able to book. I think they are doing it because they either have extra people working or have some time on their hands to call in between other stuff. How nice of them to call me today rather than bring a bunch of extra staff in on Saturday to handle us all calling them. Guess I just feel differently about it. We are splurging and going on this cruise because we've sailed many times but not on a Member cruise--and the neatest part is it is just my hubby and me! Kids are staying for the first time with the grandparents. 14 years and we've never gone anywhere by ourselves! I was very excited today!!!

 

[Karin H-L]

Well, after specifically NOT getting an e-mail telling us we were selected for last Saturday morning's lottery of those first-timers allowed to book the members-only cruise, (nor one telling us we HADN'T been chosen) my DH got a call shortly after 6:00 a.m. West Coast time telling us that DVC has messed up and that we SHOULD HAVE gotten an e-mail, we HAD been selected. they're sorry, and did we want to book the members-only cruise?

Did we??!! Heck yea! So DH, who was at work at the time, called and woke me up and told me that DVC would be calling me in about a half hour after she finished with another member, to get our booking info.

Needless to say, we got 2 cabins and are so excited! We can't believe our luck!!! And we were worried how we were going to work it out next Sat. for trying to call in when I have to work early in the AM (not possible to call in) and DH would also be otherwise engaged.

Now we don't have to worry! Woo hoo!

Countdown to Oct. 21, 2007!!!

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

We booked on Dec 2, very happily.

Here's another opinion on the calls being received this week....

After the results were emailed and members knew whether or not they had been 'chosen' there were a significant number who posted that, regardless of the fact that they were chosen, they were no longer interested. I realize that the cash cost had a great deal to do with this, but I still felt that it was a shame that those early booking spots were allocated to members who didn't want them while so many were disappointed not to be chosen.

I'm happy that DVC decided to offer those spots, wasted by others, to those who want them.

 

[trishy]

Totally agree with Goofy's apprentice's assessment. We booked on 12/2 and will be happily joining the first timers. Good luck to those who are waiting to get "the call" and to those who will be calling on 12/9.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I was a "winner" in the lottery. They did call me on December 2. I wasn't here for the calls (I honestly had forgotten they were calling and didn't rush to the answer the phone calls that morning). They called at least twice and left voice mails, like this "...Ummm, Jennifer, are you there? We're calling regarding the cruise." LOL they almost seemed shocked I wasn't answering.

 

[jcl]

any idea about what type of cabins are currently available. I got the call yesterday that we can bo0ok even though we lost the lottery. In the interim, my husband already picked vacation and not that week. i am really on the fence now.

 

[Jynohn]

I just got the call this morning. We were interested in going because it fell on our 10th anniversary, but after getting the "you weren't selected" email we had already gone ahead and made other plans. I guess it turned out for the best as we'll now get 2-3 more trips out of the points we would have spent for the cruise.

 

[debm]

jcl----when they called me yesterday (Tuesday) morning she said all cats were available except she wasnt' sure about Cat4. I was not able to get a Cat 11 on Deck 7 but got one on Deck 6 and there was plenty of availibility it seemed everywhere else. Good luck!

 

[bpmorley]

I got the call too. I was told I could only book this coming Saturday. I think I'm going to pass this time around.