New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[jdg345]

I'm not questioning why people booked DBD but rather the method they used to do it. There were two approaches: you could book a series of individual reservations and link them together or you could start by booking your first night and then modify your reservation on each call, extending your check-out date by one more night. I see a lot of people recommending the first method (booking individual nights and then linking them) and I've always wondered why people suggested doing it that way.

I guess one reason to set it up as a set of linked reservations was if you intended to try to switch resorts 7 months out. If you set up your DBD as a series of 2-night reservations linked together, you could take advantage of waitlisting DBD at 7 months out, grabbing days as they become available and cancelling individual nights in your original reservation, possible only because you booked it as a series of linked reservations. Other than that, the only reason I can see for doing DBD using linking is if MS had a policy at one time that any changes required a cancellation and rebooking. Then you would have to do DBD by booking a series of one night stays, linked together. But during the time I've been a member there has been no such policy so I just wondered what it is about linking (vs. extending) that causes people to recommend doing DBD booking that way.

It continues to come up in this discussion, that people took advantage of being able to book one-night stays and MS voluntarily linked them to avoid having people checking in and out every day. It seems so convoluted that I figured there was a bit of DVC history that I was unaware of that caused DBD bookings to be done that way.

I believe that DBD started by making individual daily reservations and having them linked together. As DVC got wise to this, they made some changes on their end to note the complete LOS and extend the original reservation.

At least, that's what I've been able to gather.

 

[dvcdisney]

There were two approaches: you could book a series of individual reservations and link them together or you could start by booking your first night and then modify your reservation on each call, extending your check-out date by one more night. I see a lot of people recommending the first method (booking individual nights and then linking them) and I've always wondered why people suggested doing it that way.

When I called DBD, my reservation was modified each time (I guess in some of my posts I said link, but I thought that was what they were doing. And in some instances, they did say they just linked it together). I didn't ask them to do this. I didn't know that there was any other way. I called and when I gave them my membership number, they immediately wanted to know if I wanted to add the next day. And I said yes, and that was it. When I checked the website, it shows that my reservation was modified.

I do think if you do the the other method of linking one day at a time, it would generate multiple reservation numbers. Is that the case? or do they link it and give you one reservation number at the end?

Personally, I don't think it would have made a difference for me. But I can see how the other method may be beneficial in those circumstance.

hmmm, I learn something everyday.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I believe that DBD started by making individual daily reservations and having them linked together. As DVC got wise to this, they made some changes on their end to note the complete LOS and extend the original reservation.

At least, that's what I've been able to gather.

That's my perception of it as well.

 

[jdg345]

That's my perception of it as well.

It certainly saves on confirmation letters. The stack of them I have from walking is scary.

 

[dvcdisney]

It certainly saves on confirmation letters. The stack of them I have from walking is scary.

I wonder if you could just ask them not to bother. And when you've book the dates you want, you can just ask for a copy or just print the confirmation number from the website. It sure would save on trees.

 

[LisaS]

I wonder if you could just ask them not to bother. And when you've book the dates you want, you can just ask for a copy or just print the confirmation number from the website. It sure would save on trees.

And dues.

 

[dvcdisney]

And dues.

 

[jdg345]

I wonder if you could just ask them not to bother. And when you've book the dates you want, you can just ask for a copy or just print the confirmation number from the website. It sure would save on trees.

It's automatic. Trust me, I don't want the mail.

 

[jdg345]

And dues.

That's why they needed to reduce call volume ... it balances out the added costs of all the confirmation letters the new system generates.

I have them all, should probably box them up and send them to Jim Lewis when I finish walking this in 6 months.

 

[tammymacb]

I have enough points to stay in a 2 bdrm on HHI alternating 4-5 nights each high season. My DS also owns points there.

We decided that we would combine points and get a GV for 4 nights late next June. We hashed out how whether we should split call OR transfer ( which we didn't want to do ) points. The problem was that if I *a* didn't want to transfer points or*b* didn't want to borrow points for the GV ,we couldn't get one. If I used my points for 3 nights and then sis called to make a ressie for the last night, chances were that exactly at 11 months the GVs would be gone.

I'm so glad Disney decided to *inhance* our vacation.

 

[dvcdisney]

It's automatic. Trust me, I don't want the mail.

Well, when I called DBD before, they said that they can hold it until the end. It sounds like they have some control over it.

Maybe this could be a suggestion. Do you think members would get upset if the confirmation letters are sent out to those that want them. I mean, once the booking is done, MS would ask if you want a confirmation letter for that reservation. That way, maybe some people will decline in order to help DVC's bottom line and lower our dues as well. For those who have website access, maybe there can be an option to print them out ourselves if we wanted it.

In the meantime, we save on paper and stamps.

What do you think?

 

[keishashadow]

It certainly saves on confirmation letters. The stack of them I have from walking is scary.

lol
MS always asked if i was 'done' when i made a one day ressie, noted the file & holds the confirmation...leading me to think it certainly wasn't out of the norm activity

1st one to walk really needs to post (then the rest of the walkers can blame it all on you)...although imagine the flaming

rose tinted blinders on - im still of the opin unless prohibition of walking is communicated in writing, it should be permissable

 

[Disneyhappy]

lol
MS always asked if i was 'done' when i made a one day ressie, noted the file & holds the confirmation...leading me to think it certainly wasn't out of the norm activity

1st one to walk really needs to post (then the rest of the walkers can blame it all on you)...although imagine the flaming

rose tinted blinders on - im still of the opin unless prohibition of walking is communicated in writing, it should be permissable

I agree - The commercial renting policy is in writing so I can understand that the DVC team members assigned to police this have the right to take action against the member. Without a "no walking" written policy, the DVC team referenced by MS that are policing this issue may simply be in place to monitor the situation and report back to see if there is enough abuse to make yet another change in policy. I am curious as to how they could enforce anything since walking is not "disallowed". Perhaps DVC has a "catch all" phrase in the contract somewhere that they will try to enforce. My bigger concern is that all of Disney's changes within DVC and WDW parks etc. are leaving a bad taste in my and DH's mouth that is becoming worse and worse with each decision/change. I wish I could put my finger on it but the allure is slowly receding for us and it is making me very sad as we have invested so much love, money, energy and time in all things Disney. We just returned from a split stay between WDW and Universal. We are all bummed that our Thanksgiving trip is to WDW and not Universal. I hate that we feel this way!!! I hope we start to pick up that Disney magic feeling again as we get closer to Thanksgiving. Sorry for the rant!

 

[jdg345]

Well, when I called DBD before, they said that they can hold it until the end. It sounds like they have some control over it.

Maybe this could be a suggestion. Do you think members would get upset if the confirmation letters are sent out to those that want them. I mean, once the booking is done, MS would ask if you want a confirmation letter for that reservation. That way, maybe some people will decline in order to help DVC's bottom line and lower our dues as well. For those who have website access, maybe there can be an option to print them out ourselves if we wanted it.

In the meantime, we save on paper and stamps.

What do you think?

I'll check later on tonight; I'm assuming I have at least one per change, but I might have less.

That said, I would want some sort of confirmation, but would settle for an e-confirmation. There have been reports of folks going to check in and finding out that they don't have a room. Having that hard copy could be very helpful at times like those I would think.

In this day in age, I'm surprised that there is no setting for email based versus paper based confirmation letters.

EDIT: Settle is the wrong word. I would *prefer* an e-confirmation, period.

 

[waltfan1957]

As others have pointed out there was no policy against it either . You could make the opposite argument--had they wanted to make it official and encourage people to do it they would have. They would have included it in the literature, planning book, website, emails etc.

As far as I can tell it was neither officially sanctioned nor officially forbidden. I call it a loophole, jdg calls it a tip or trick of the trade (both valid comparisons), but it wasn't a policy.

so when DVC MS actually tell you to book DBD they are not encouraging you to do so

 

[waltfan1957]

*******
Members seem to be going around and around about DBD being a policy or not and claiming that members did not know about it. For many, many years DBD has been suggested, recommended, and advocated by member services and DVC vacation guides/sales reps. On the member web-site regarding the new reservation policy it also reads as follows:

"The previous policy required members to call daily at the beginning of their booking window, piecing together their reservation one night at a time."

Sounds like it was even a bit more then a tip or a trick of the trade and much, much more then a loophole to me. Note it reads "previous policy".

maminnie

what the word policy no it cant be

 

[BeccaG]

When you're on the "main" DVC-Planning page, you see the thread title. Then you see who and when the last post was by. To the right of that, you see the number of replies.

Click on that number and you get a break down, by user, of the number of posts.

Oh that's cool! I was looking for something in the thread page itself but on the main screen makes sense too

 

[BeccaG]

I'm not questioning why people booked DBD but rather the method they used to do it. There were two approaches: you could book a series of individual reservations and link them together or you could start by booking your first night and then modify your reservation on each call, extending your check-out date by one more night. I see a lot of people recommending the first method (booking individual nights and then linking them) and I've always wondered why people suggested doing it that way.

It continues to come up in this discussion, that people took advantage of being able to book one-night stays and MS voluntarily linked them to avoid having people checking in and out every day. It seems so convoluted that I figured there was a bit of DVC history that I was unaware of that caused DBD bookings to be done that way.

First I doubt Lisa that there is any DVC history you are unaware of. Your posts are always so thought out and well informed!!

Secondly, I was one of the folks who described day by day booking as a linking of several individual one night reservations. However, that is not how I booked DBD, it was merely a commentary on what it was in essence. The one and only time I booked DBD (for the whopping three DVC trips I have taken or booked) was to book five rooms for my family and myself which was my Christmas gift to them. It was super important to me to get the rooms so I called DBD.

 

[dvcdisney]

That said, I would want some sort of confirmation, but would settle for an e-confirmation. There have been reports of folks going to check in and finding out that they don't have a room. Having that hard copy could be very helpful at times like those I would think.

In this day in age, I'm surprised that there is no setting for email based versus paper based confirmation letters.

But a confirmation printed at home is just as official as the one they sent. What's important is the confirmation number. I don't even take my letter out when I check in, they just take my id and look it up. I keep it with me in case they can't find it and so I have the confirmation number.

Actually, I'd prefer to print out my confirmation from the website, that way, it's private. They can send an email stating that my letter is available for viewing or printing. That would work out very well.

I don't consider myself innovative so I'm really surprised that this hasn't been implemented. It's a very minor thing, but it would benefit, the WHOLE SYSTEM. (I think I'll bring this up on another thread).


Imagine the savings!

 

[waltfan1957]

It did if you knew about and most others didn't.

As I said, I understand you can't admit the old policy may have been unfair because if DVC is reading this thread they'll think "Well now everyone thinks the old policy was unfair as well so we can't go back to that". Which would be counter-productive to your stated goal of bringing back the old system. Believe me, I get it!

at least you admit their was a policy