New DVC Perks... Your Opinions...

[DebbieB]

I don't mean to hijack- but it seems really strange that they don't have this already. Is there a reason they don't have this? With all the talk about the operational costs of MS you would think this would be a no brainer. I agree it would be nice for II availability as well- but I huess that is another issue altogether.

Who would foot the bill for the development of the new reservation system? I assume member dues. I think that is why it's so slow, they don't want to hit us with big dues increases to develop the system quickly.

I don't think this will be a very popular idea around here, but I'd love to see the 7 month window change to more like a five month window. It would be nice to not have to book so far in advance to get my home resort (BWV). It would still give people from other resorts plenty of time to try to get the smaller resorts five months out, and give owners a little extra time to finalize their plans.

Keep in mind the contract only requires a 1 month priority. So they could change it to 11 months home resort, 10 months other resorts. I think 5 is pushing it too far. If your home resort is soldout, you would have to be sitting on your hands until 5 months to make plans elsewhere.

 

[bwvBound]

Not popular? No kidding! I'm already a bit testy when it comes to DVC's whole Home Resort hoopla ... I'd be very disappointed with decreasing the 7-month window. I'd rather go back to booking through II ... which I usually have "in hand" 9 months out.

I don't think this will be a very popular idea around here, but I'd love to see the 7 month window change to more like a five month window. It would be nice to not have to book so far in advance to get my home resort (BWV). It would still give people from other resorts plenty of time to try to get the smaller resorts five months out, and give owners a little extra time to finalize their plans.

 

[BroganMc]

I don't think this will be a very popular idea around here, but I'd love to see the 7 month window change to more like a five month window. It would be nice to not have to book so far in advance to get my home resort (BWV). It would still give people from other resorts plenty of time to try to get the smaller resorts five months out, and give owners a little extra time to finalize their plans.

That's easy. Own at a larger resort. Then you won't have any short term booking worries.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think this will be a very popular idea around here, but I'd love to see the 7 month window change to more like a five month window. It would be nice to not have to book so far in advance to get my home resort (BWV). It would still give people from other resorts plenty of time to try to get the smaller resorts five months out, and give owners a little extra time to finalize their plans.

Well, that went over well didn't it!!??? And no, you most certainly don't need to be buying points at a larger resort, or even at BWV!!!

 

[jade1]

I don't think this will be a very popular idea around here, but I'd love to see the 7 month window change to more like a five month window. It would be nice to not have to book so far in advance to get my home resort (BWV). It would still give people from other resorts plenty of time to try to get the smaller resorts five months out, and give owners a little extra time to finalize their plans.

We usually plan at 11 months but would be fine with this idea.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Who would foot the bill for the development of the new reservation system? I assume member dues. I think that is why it's so slow, they don't want to hit us with big dues increases to develop the system quickly.

Development costs would be offset somewhat by reduced administrative costs of MS operations. As an added bonus telephone wait times would be reduced. All of those members on hold for up to 20 minutes many days that are charged to DVC's toll free number would save a whopping amt. right there. But of course, depending on the actual $numbers you are right, it might not be cost effective.

 

[msdis]

One that I would like is the ability to purchase the Epcot After 4 Pass and the Water Park After 2 Pass... both are Florida resident annual passes... I'd especially love the Epcot After 4 pass since the gf and I LOVE visiting Epcot...

This is something we have wished for for a long time. We are passless this year & maybe next, but if we could buy just the Epcot after 4 pass we would buy it every single year.

 

[tubtruck]

I don't think this will be a very popular idea around here, but I'd love to see the 7 month window change to more like a five month window. It would be nice to not have to book so far in advance to get my home resort (BWV). It would still give people from other resorts plenty of time to try to get the smaller resorts five months out, and give owners a little extra time to finalize their plans.

I would like to see the complete opposite a 9 month window to book any resort.

 

[tubtruck]

I would like to see extra fast passes given out to people staying in Disneys own resorts and hotels, perhaps 1 exra pass per day in value resorts, 3 per day in mods and 7 per day in DVC and other delux accommodations, the increase in extra passes for Disney hotel guests could be offset by a reduction in non disney hotel guests having the number of fast passes per day limited to once every 4 hours or the privelege removed from them completly.

 

[Starr W.]

I would like to see the complete opposite a 9 month window to book any resort.

The last time I talked to MS, booking at 11 months, she said "Wow you're booking early."

I don't think that would work(though it would be okay with me) as the MS told me the stats pretty much show the average ressie is made in the 7-8month timeframe. Don't know if they included the major holidays, Xmas & Easter(when most US k-12 schools have a break).

She also mentioned the "small" resort owners are the ones that are now starting to use that 11 month window after finding out that if they wait at certain time periods they can't get the room class they wanted.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I'd love to see an Epcot After 4 pass myself. Epcot is our favorite resort and we love to eat at the restaurants there. We could very easily spend an entire week in a DVC resort and not go to any parks if we had the abililty to get into Epcot for dinner and for strolling around WS. I've oftened wondered why they don't sell this kind of pass to the general public.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I would like to see the complete opposite a 9 month window to book any resort.

I wonder how many people make ressies between the 11 and 7 month intervals in there home resorts. I would think it would not be that many myself, but I could be wrong. Personally, I'd like a 9 month instead of 7 month window myself.

 

[Chuck S]

I wonder how many people make ressies between the 11 and 7 month intervals in there home resorts. I would think it would not be that many myself, but I could be wrong. Personally, I'd like a 9 month instead of 7 month window myself.

I always book during our priority window. I occasionally have to modify a reservation (add a day/drop a day) after the 7 month window kicks in, but I have never changed resorts.

 

[jgus]

As far as being able to book online, this concept must exist in some form on the MS system, why wouldn't they be able to put it on the web for us? This should pay for itself by reducing the number of people on the phones.

I like the idea of making the booking closer together for home resort and all others. Maybe 11 months and 9 months.

 

[bicker]

why wouldn't they be able to put it on the web for us?

Often the answer to this question is security.

 

[Judique]

I don't mean to hijack- but it seems really strange that they don't have this already. Is there a reason they don't have this? With all the talk about the operational costs of MS you would think this would be a no brainer. I agree it would be nice for II availability as well- but I huess that is another issue altogether.

The last phone survey I did (the one when you call MS and they ask you to stay on the line after your call for a quick survey) they were still asking if we would prefer online booking.

 

[Judique]

Keep in mind the contract only requires a 1 month priority. So they could change it to 11 months home resort, 10 months other resorts. I think 5 is pushing it too far. If your home resort is soldout, you would have to be sitting on your hands until 5 months to make plans elsewhere.

That's a good point to make. I have multiple resorts and depend often on the 7 month window to get added days.

 

[Judique]

Development costs would be offset somewhat by reduced administrative costs of MS operations. As an added bonus telephone wait times would be reduced. All of those members on hold for up to 20 minutes many days that are charged to DVC's toll free number would save a whopping amt. right there. But of course, depending on the actual $numbers you are right, it might not be cost effective.

My guess is telephone users would still be on hold as they reduce MS personnel. When I have to call hotel chains that now survive mostly through the net, the service is not any better then it was before the net in relation to wait times. The service IS better with a live individual however, as online booking doesn't always show you every room a hotel has to offer if you are looking for something even slightly special.

 

[Judique]

I'd love to see an Epcot After 4 pass myself. Epcot is our favorite resort and we love to eat at the restaurants there. We could very easily spend an entire week in a DVC resort and not go to any parks if we had the abililty to get into Epcot for dinner and for strolling around WS. I've oftened wondered why they don't sell this kind of pass to the general public.

Could we extend this idea to all parks after 4? I'd love to get up earlyand take a morning walk around the lake (BWV) and then have coffee on my balcony, make a lazy breakfast and go lay around the pool, tidy up and take a drive out to the outlets, back to the room for an after lunch nap and then spend the evening wandering the parks or downtown.

 

[goofy4tink]

I wonder how many people make ressies between the 11 and 7 month intervals in there home resorts. I would think it would not be that many myself, but I could be wrong. Personally, I'd like a 9 month instead of 7 month window myself.

I do! If I know when I'm going, then I'm on the phone on the 11 month day!! The one time I wasn't was this past Jan....I wasn't planning on doing WDW in early Dec '07, so didn't call to book. But, I changed my mind, missed the 11 mo. window by 3 weeks, and couldn't get BW view.
But, if I decide to head down 'spur of the moment' so to speak (into that 7 mo window), then I'm happy with anyb resort I can get.
I would hate to see them go to everyone book at the same time. What would be the sense in buying at a particular resort then? If I want to stay mostly at BWV, then that's where I buy. In fact, my dh said that was the only place he would consider buying! I sure wouldn't like it if I went to book and my resort was booked by other resort owners. If you want to stay predominently at BW then buy there. Same with BC or WL or whatever. Then, if you can't get your resort you can try others. But don't go to one window for all...so not fair. I knew when I bought at BWV that it was a smaller resort and I would have to book it early at those popular times.