New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[disneydisneydoo]

To me, it explains the boost in Saturday arrivals. From what I understood, many that fly in will do so on a Friday and stay off site or at a value (since it's just a bed and a shower that they need). The next morning, they get up early, check in at their resort, and then head out to the park(s). It saves them a bunch of points on Friday night, they get a shower and some rest, and get first shot at the rooms in the morning. Why spend a bunch of points for a shower and a bed?

I agree with you as far as posters on these boards, but I just wonder if all members feel the need to maximize their points in this manner. This is why I wonder if the poll numbers are representative for the membership as a whole.

 

[bookwormde]

Jdg345

Not to mention probably a better chance at their room request than checking in late the night before when you might end up with the dregs.

bookwormde

 

[Kathi OD]

I agree with you as far as posters on these boards, but I just wonder if all members feel the need to maximize their points in this manner. This is why I wonder if the poll numbers are representative for the membership as a whole.

I know that DH and I are not concerned about burning points for weekend nights. Never even thought about it until I read these boards. I personally believe that most members who are NOT on these boards don't give much thought about it either. I think you'd be surprised that most of us don't want the hassle of checking into more than one room once we're at our destination.

Jdg345

Not to mention probably a better chance at their room request than checking in late the night before when you might end up with the dregs.

bookwormde

Again, just from our own personal experience, check-in time hasn't affected our room assignments at all. We have never checked in before 11:30 PM and have always been able to get our special room requests filled. To be honest, several times the rooms we've been assigned have been absolutely wonderful, and we're vacationing at fairly busy times of the year (F&W/Jersey Week/Super Soap WE & Easter).

 

[DebbieB]

I agree with you as far as posters on these boards, but I just wonder if all members feel the need to maximize their points in this manner. This is why I wonder if the poll numbers are representative for the membership as a whole.

I would bet that Sunday to Thursday nights is pretty representative. I noticed when we stayed at OKW that our parking area would be pretty empty Saturday night (we arrived on Saturday) and that almost everyone's parking permit showed a Friday check-out.

The one time we did not get our request at OKW was when we checked in late Sunday afternoon. We always got it on Saturday.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

To me, it explains the boost in Saturday arrivals. From what I understood, many that fly in will do so on a Friday and stay off site or at a value (since it's just a bed and a shower that they need). The next morning, they get up early, check in at their resort, and then head out to the park(s). It saves them a bunch of points on Friday night, they get a shower and some rest, and get first shot at the rooms in the morning. Why spend a bunch of points for a shower and a bed?

I'm not sure, but I think you may have 50% of your posts on this one thread (or another).

 

[toyboy]

Well, the mods closed the polls I put up (though I don't REALLY understand why, since...while related, they weren't discussing the policy much AND it's not like we can post polls HERE?? But...whatever) but I think the sample size was enough to get a good feel for the anecdotal data, anyway.

Sunday seems to be the "most checked in" day (56%).

And the most usual length of stay seems to be between 5 and 7 days (69% fell into one of those categories).

Based on the new policy, I'm more interested in when is the "most checked out" day because that is when more inventory becomes available and you have a better shot and getting what you want. Would you think that would be Friday as folks are leaving to avoid the high points?

P.S. I didn't get the e-mail either!

 

[cc1075]

Today I contacted MS regarding how we would go about reserving four-five weeks over Easter, i.e. this year's vacation begins on March 29 which would mean I would get seven days - call back for seven beginning on Palm Sunday - again call back for Easter - seven days, etc.

The CM explained I would call and get my first seven days - on the eighth day I would call for the next seven (which would begin Palm Sunday) etc. etc. for the remaining days - i.e. four phone calls for four weeks.

The CM assured me that I would have no problem getting my desired dates at the 11 month window even though it was spring break.

Well I will see - we have our reservations for 2009 - so 2010 will be the year of the test for me!

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

The CM assured me that I would have no problem getting my desired dates at the 11 month window even though it was spring break.

IMO, the CM at MS should not have assured that you would get your desired dates during spring break. Someone will get shut out of their desired dates during spring break at the 11 month window. I hope it is not you.

 

[pilferk]

Regarding the polls though - I wonder if the posters on these boards are a representative sample? It seems like most of us are trying to maximize our point usage as much as possible which leads to a lot of Sun - Thurs stays. Do we know for sure that the general population would be booking the same way we would? For example, a co-worker of mine owns DVC, and goes once a year for 7 days. Her arrival day decision is based strictly on airfare more than anything else. She isn't at all concerned about point conservation. She bought just enough points for a week and that's what she does regardless of check-in/check-out day.

Probably not...or at least possibly not.

Again, any poll taken on the dis is "tainted" just because of your sample/audience. I don't, necessarily, think the polls are scientifically or statistically compelling. But it's interesting "enough" anecdotal data to spur the discussion. I wouldn't make any concrete conclusions based on it....

 

[pilferk]

Based on the new policy, I'm more interested in when is the "most checked out" day because that is when more inventory becomes available and you have a better shot and getting what you want. Would you think that would be Friday as folks are leaving to avoid the high points?

P.S. I didn't get the e-mail either!

I think, eventually, we probably would have gotten there.

We can "guestimate" what Diser's habits are, from the sample we got:

Arriving on Saturday or Sunday, staying 5-7 days.

The "most popular" combo looking at the numbers would seem to be Sunday to Friday. We're making some assumptions to get there, but I don't think they're out in left field.

Whether or not that would translate over to "the rest" of the DVC population, I don't know. In talking to other, non-dis'er DVC'ers (we have 3 of them here at work who I talk to regularly) it seems to jive with their habits.

While I suspect some of the objections brought up are correct, on a case by case basis, the "assumptions" in those objections are no more, or less, anecdotal than the info gathered from the poll, so....

 

[pilferk]

Today I contacted MS regarding how we would go about reserving four-five weeks over Easter, i.e. this year's vacation begins on March 29 which would mean I would get seven days - call back for seven beginning on Palm Sunday - again call back for Easter - seven days, etc.

The CM explained I would call and get my first seven days - on the eighth day I would call for the next seven (which would begin Palm Sunday) etc. etc. for the remaining days - i.e. four phone calls for four weeks.

The CM assured me that I would have no problem getting my desired dates at the 11 month window even though it was spring break.

Well I will see - we have our reservations for 2009 - so 2010 will be the year of the test for me!

I would NOT follow the CM's advice.

I'd call back 6 days after your first call to book add on 6 more days to your ressie. You'll end up with ONE extra call to book the last day (I think), but that will give you a MUCH better shot at getting what you want, IMHO.

 

[snowbunny]

What day do you usually arrive at WDW?

Totally depends on flights and other non-point-related factors. A weekend is always part of our 7-day stay, we don't move around regardless of day/time of arrival.

 

[pilferk]

Totally depends on flights and other non-point-related factors. A weekend is always part of our 7-day stay, we don't move around regardless of day/time of arrival.

Anecdotally, we have 3 "non-Diser" DVC members here at work.

All 3 "jive" with the numbers we scooped out for the DIS sample set: They travel/arrive on either Saturday or Sunday, usually and stay 6 or 7 days.

Only ONE of the three do it "to save points". The other two do it because it's simply the most convenient time for them to travel (no extra vacation days, kids out of school days, etc).

There are always going to be lots of differences in large groups....I do know that. And I'll certainly not sit here and say that I'm SURE the DIS sample set is representative of the population as a whole. But my suspicion (just based on my hunch) is that while the trends might be "deeper" amongst the DIS sample set, that the overall trend very possibly holds out to the population as a whole. In other words, I suspect that Saturday and Sunday are, in fact, the "most checked in" day overall.....but maybe not by as wide a margin as it is amongst the DIS sample set. Likewise, I suspect the average trip lasts somewhere between 5 and 7 days....I'm just not sure the mean would be the same (which seemed to trend more toward 5 days) amongst the overall population.

Again, I agree: The DIS probably isn't a pure sample set. But I think what we did see is at least compelling enough to support further discussion. Do I think it would translate 100% to the overall population? No. Probably not.

 

[jdg345]

Jdg345

Not to mention probably a better chance at their room request than checking in late the night before when you might end up with the dregs.

bookwormde

I said that!

... and get first shot at the rooms in the morning ...

 

[pilferk]

Chuck allowed me to repost the polls WITHOUT mention of the "new policy" being related. So no discussion of the new policy in them, pretty please!



http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1881536

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1881526

For those that voted before....if you would vote again, that'd be great!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

Chuck allowed me to repost the polls WITHOUT mention of the "new policy" being related. So no discussion of the new policy in them, pretty please!



http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1881536

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1881526

For those that voted before....if you would vote again, that'd be great!!!

What about the check OUT poll

 

[pilferk]

What about the check OUT poll

I double super duper promise to put that one up within a couple of days. I just don't want to overwhelm the MISC side with 3 seperate polls all running concurrently. I put the two up that were up yesterday. I'll try to get the other one up either late on Friday or over the weekend.

Deal??

 

[dvcdisney]

For those that voted before....if you would vote again, that'd be great!!!

Just did!

 

[jdg345]

I'm not sure, but I think you may have 50% of your posts on this one thread (or another).

 

[jdg345]

Today I contacted MS regarding how we would go about reserving four-five weeks over Easter, i.e. this year's vacation begins on March 29 which would mean I would get seven days - call back for seven beginning on Palm Sunday - again call back for Easter - seven days, etc.

The CM explained I would call and get my first seven days - on the eighth day I would call for the next seven (which would begin Palm Sunday) etc. etc. for the remaining days - i.e. four phone calls for four weeks.

The CM assured me that I would have no problem getting my desired dates at the 11 month window even though it was spring break.

Well I will see - we have our reservations for 2009 - so 2010 will be the year of the test for me!

I'm not sure I would wait that long ... I'd call on day 6 and extend, so that way you only have competition from those staying that same week. If you wait until the 8th day, you've given your room back to the pool and you're going to need to call in with everyone else to compete for it. In the end, you'd end up with 5 calls instead of 4 ... but you have a much stronger chance, imo.