New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[pilferk]

Thanks for your replies to my post.

I still think the folks who will gain by not having to call every single day will outweigh those people who will "lose" due to the new rules. DVCBelle's post is one example, and I believe we will see more of posts saying "I would have booked day by day and wasted all that time for no reason" or "I booked a resort I didnt' really want due to needing to be sure I got my entire reservation". I guess only time will tell. I really don't think the sky is falling, but I have been wrong before.

Just a quick point: During the less busy times of year (and February is certainly one of them)...you got the same effect you're talking about now...by booking exactly 11 months from your check out date. You could get your full stay (and not just 7 days of it) in one phone call. You were, likewise, competing with the folks who were travelling right before you and while you were (but nobody staying AFTER you leave). You didn't really NEED to call DBD.

I'm not sure I'd categorize this as "the sky is falling", either. I suspect the biggest, and most noticeable effect will be during the more busy times of year. For other times....you probably won't see much of an effect at all.

But I think everyone, ultimately, "loses"...whether they know it or not...because you're now competing with people who have, inherently (by either owning more points or by happening to travel before you) an advantage over you. And you don't really "gain" anything you didn't already have, with the old system....it just appears different by switching "check in" for "check out".

 

[jdg345]

Just a quick point: During the less busy times of year (and February is certainly one of them)...you got the same effect you're talking about now...by booking exactly 11 months from your check out date. You could get your full stay (and not just 7 days of it) in one phone call. You were, likewise, competing with the folks who were travelling right before you and while you were (but nobody staying AFTER you leave). You didn't really NEED to call DBD.

I'm not sure I'd categorize this as "the sky is falling", either. I suspect the biggest, and most noticeable effect will be during the more busy times of year. For other times....you probably won't see much of an effect at all.

But I think everyone, ultimately, "loses"...whether they know it or not...because you're now competing with people who have, inherently (by either owning more points or by happening to travel before you) an advantage over them. And you don't really "gain" anything you didn't already have, with the old system.

Exactly!

 

[wildernessDad]

Just a quick point: During the less busy times of year (and February is certainly one of them)...you got the same effect you're talking about now...by booking exactly 11 months from your check out date. You could get your full stay (and not just 7 days of it) in one phone call. You were, likewise, competing with the folks who were travelling right before you and while you were (but nobody staying AFTER you leave). You didn't really NEED to call DBD.

I'm not sure I'd categorize this as "the sky is falling", either. I suspect the biggest, and most noticeable effect will be during the more busy times of year. For other times....you probably won't see much of an effect at all.

But I think everyone, ultimately, "loses"...whether they know it or not...because you're now competing with people who have, inherently (by either owning more points or by happening to travel before you) an advantage over you. And you don't really "gain" anything you didn't already have, with the old system....it just appears different by switching "check in" for "check out".

Yep, I agree with the above.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just a quick point: During the less busy times of year (and February is certainly one of them)...you got the same effect you're talking about now...by booking exactly 11 months from your check out date. You could get your full stay (and not just 7 days of it) in one phone call. You were, likewise, competing with the folks who were travelling right before you and while you were (but nobody staying AFTER you leave). You didn't really NEED to call DBD.

I'm not sure I'd categorize this as "the sky is falling", either. I suspect the biggest, and most noticeable effect will be during the more busy times of year. For other times....you probably won't see much of an effect at all.

But I think everyone, ultimately, "loses"...whether they know it or not...because you're now competing with people who have, inherently (by either owning more points or by happening to travel before you) an advantage over you. And you don't really "gain" anything you didn't already have, with the old system....it just appears different by switching "check in" for "check out".

Agreed 100%!

 

[Inkmahm]

Agreed 100%!

Can I add an "amen"?

 

[waltfan1957]

As many have stated before, I also think this new policy could be greatly enhanced if new rules were put in place to "discourage" the practice of walking. I think most of the apprehension is based on the fact that many people (myself included) think that the new policy may drive some people to tie up days they don't intend to use just to walk to their desired reservation. If people use the new system to just book the times they need I think it has a legitimate shot of working out for all, with the exception of Xmas and New Years which I agree could be benefited by a lottery (this seems to be the only suggestion made which is fair to ALL those who want those extremely high demand times).

sorry i dont want to be in a lottery just because of a change in rules, that under the old system of DBD i could always get what i wanted, a lottery is fine if there is an equal no of rooms but we require a HC room of which there are much fewer

 

[WDWguru]

It could be that we're still in that honeymoon period ... or it could be that DBD was never needed in the first for that reservation at this time of year. Either way, if people were doing DBD unnecessarily before, what is to stop them from doing DBD unnecessarily going forward -- just a week earlier?

Because now it's a bigger pain to do so, and it will take more points to do so. I suspect most people won't bother, which will result in the decrease in call volume MS is hoping for and make it even less necessary to stress over.

Just a quick point: During the less busy times of year (and February is certainly one of them)...you got the same effect you're talking about now...by booking exactly 11 months from your check out date. You could get your full stay (and not just 7 days of it) in one phone call. You were, likewise, competing with the folks who were travelling right before you and while you were (but nobody staying AFTER you leave). You didn't really NEED to call DBD.

YES - exactly! Thank you!

 

[waltfan1957]

Well, it wasn't required. You could have hung up and called based on departure day, or later that afternoon. You chose to hold and wait. Why? Because apparently that reservation was worth it to you. It was your choice. And to this I say: Good for you!.

If you wanted it bad enough to wait through all that and get up early, then you deserve it more than someone who doesn't want to wait on hold and doesn't want to be inconvenienced by an early morning call. You worked harder for it, and were rewarded, as it should be.

very well put, totally agree

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Just one comment--the OP didn't say she booked the BWV standard view 11 months out in one call. It was 7 months out. How many times have I read how hard it is to get standard view at BWV unless you own there? That's an example of the internet causing a number of folks to panic IMHO. ITA that many people who booked dbd did not need to.

 

[waltfan1957]

The difference between us is that I saw inequity in the old system. So IMO, they took something that was broke and tried to fix it. Now if after the new system is in place for a bit, and there ends up to be more problems than w/ the old system, fine, complain away. But assuming what and how big the problems may or may not be, before the new system has a chance to work is purely speculation.

what was the inequity you saw. if you mean DBD then why was it DVC that told members to do this

 

[dzorn]

Has anyone else received a phone call from MS? They called in reponse to my email yesterday and let me know there were on the lookout for people abusing the new system and that they were monitoring the "DISboards". Also, that my email was passed on to upper management.

I did talk to Shela this morning about my e-mail. They called several times over the weekend but we were not home. The kids were a little unruly at the time so I was very brief. I just went over my concerns already stated in my e-mail. I did also emphasize that I realize walking reservation is a potential problem, but I was more worried about their possible solution that the potential problem itself.

At this point I think it is just wait and see how this plays out, nothing more to do. If at some time in the future we find this is not working for us then TTS here we come. I hope it would not come to that. If it does I would probably by a smaller resale contract or a smaller add on so we could go every 2-3 year instead of yearly. We love Disney and I would hate to give up DVC all together.

Denise in MI

 

[waltfan1957]

I'd say if all DBD type bookings were stopped we'd be talking a 30-40% or more savings on the cost of MS. If we encourage longer bookings and increase the average length of stay by simply 1/4 to 1/2 day each add another 10-20% savings or more on reduced resort specific costs such as housekeeping, bell services, valet, front desk. I know some of these are currently outsourced but there is an inherent cost to each. And I realize that every benefit has a cost and the system must decide WHERE to draw the line. When do you pay for something for all that not everyone uses such as the pool, internet, cable, concierge, etc; the system must decide and it appears they have done so in this case.

great cant wait for my reduced dues bill in 2009 and 2010 will be even less

 

[waltfan1957]

Well, actually the 11 month reservations issues have gotten worse the last year or two in part due to all those SSR points./QUOTE]

surely you mean the 7 month ressies what with all the SSR haters looking to change,

 

[jdg345]

Because now it's a bigger pain to do so, and it will take more points to do so. I suspect most people won't bother, which will result in the decrease in call volume MS is hoping for and make it even less necessary to stress over.

It won't necessarily take many more points if you're staying for the week. Worst case is you'll have to deal with seasonal overlap. It's also not really more of a "pain to do". Before, you called DBD for a Day. Now you'll call DBD for the week, extending a day and dropping a day. The only 'added work' is telling the CM you want to cancel the day off the front. It does, however, impact other members in a way DBD never did as you would be holding days that someone else may want.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

The number 1 legitimate complaints I have read about the “old booking system” is that not all people can book at 9am because of there working circumstances. The only other complaint is they have to wait until the projected check out date to book multiple days with just one call. As I see it, “multiple day bookers” want to compete with the DBD callers for the available nights but it can be only one or the other.



I suggest that Disney MS be introduce to voluntary staggered start time and perhaps offer 10 or 12 hour shifts so that those not able to call at 9am could call later in the day on a DBD basis. Disney already has operators taking reservations for more than the 8 ½ hours for it’s other many resorts, seven days a week. DVC should consider basic the same reservation practices, perhaps not as long but something that would give those who object to the current available hours, nothing to find fault with. As far as the multiple day bookings with one call … we always have that although it is based on departure date not as the new system, check-in date With extended booking hours, the choice is theirs. Everything should be based on the check-out date, giving no preferential treatment, or advantage, to any member.

Could this solution bring both sides closer together?

 

[jdg345]

Just one comment--the OP didn't say she booked the BWV standard view 11 months out in one call. It was 7 months out. How many times have I read how hard it is to get standard view at BWV unless you own there? That's an example of the internet causing a number of folks to panic IMHO. ITA that many people who booked dbd did not need to.

I agree ... but if it was a special occasion or extra important to the member to get that resort/room/category, then they did so to make sure they got what they wanted. They went through a little extra work just to be sure. Isn't this normally what we all do when we want to make sure something goes a certain way? That way, if it doesn't work out, we can always say we did everything we could have done and there is no second guessing.

These types of people are going to continue to DBD ... just a week in advance.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

great cant wait for my reduced dues bill in 2009 and 2010 will be even less

 

[DVCBELLE]

Just one comment--the OP didn't say she booked the BWV standard view 11 months out in one call. It was 7 months out. How many times have I read how hard it is to get standard view at BWV unless you own there? That's an example of the internet causing a number of folks to panic IMHO. ITA that many people who booked dbd did not need to.

yes - I got the standard view at 7 months out - I have never been able to get it before - this is my first February trip - all the other times were slow times - even dates that would be considered a better time to go based on the point values...

maybe this was never an issue in February but I really loved that I did not have to worry about calling all week.

I don't think the majority of members are going to be dishonest about the system and ruin everyoone's chances of getting their rooms but maybe I am being naive...I imagine those people were already finding ways to work the system anyway!!

 

[toesmom]

Just one comment--the OP didn't say she booked the BWV standard view 11 months out in one call. It was 7 months out. How many times have I read how hard it is to get standard view at BWV unless you own there? That's an example of the internet causing a number of folks to panic IMHO. ITA that many people who booked dbd did not need to.

End of January is typically very slow, so it's not a great indicator of what will happen with this new system. And also, this was the first day for this new booking system, so of course all the nights would be available.

 

[jade1]

yes - I got the standard view at 7 months out - I have never been able to get it before - this is my first February trip - all the other times were slow times - even dates that would be considered a better time to go based on the point values...

maybe this was never an issue in February but I really loved that I did not have to worry about calling all week.

I don't think the majority of members are going to be dishonest about the system and ruin everyoone's chances of getting their rooms but maybe I am being naive...I imagine those people were already finding ways to work the system anyway!!

What size room did you get again?