New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[Dean]

While it's good to track the info and should be done, the one problem is we don't have the comparison number on the old method. Thus it'll be essentially impossible to compare and use this info as an argument in either direction. I'm sure DVC has a significant amount of this type of info but I doubt even they have enough specific info to compare the ultimate success rate of one vs the other.

Quoting myself seemed to be the best way to make this additional point. That is that it will take a while for things to shake out and if there are changes, additional time for those changes to work their way through. It will likely be a year or two before one can know the true impact. Factors that will likely change over time include that it will take time for everyone to know and truly understand the change and that it will take a while for members to become comfortable. The former issue would potentially make results now better than later. The latter would vary based on the experience of how successfuL (or not) one tended to be in getting what you wanted. For example, if this survey is positive, it will likely help the system be successful and if negative, likely put people to walking if that option remains. Personally I tended to do DBD but have no intention of walking a reservation.

 

[bookwormde]

CarolMN

I think I have got it now, thanks again for the great explanation.

I was just trying to figure out if there was value in checking for individual days that are on a waitlist. It sounds like there will still be days which become available because they could not be combined to make a waitlist block and by calling they could be booked DBD after the 11 month or 7 month windows have passed.

Thanks

bookwormde

 

[LisaS]

I was just trying to figure out if there was value in checking for individual days that are on a waitlist. It sounds like there will still be days which become available because they could not be combined to make a waitlist block and by calling they could be booked DBD after the 11 month or 7 month windows have passed.

I was surprised to hear that MS will allow us to call to fill in individual nights of our waitlists since it will increase the number of calls and increase the number of reservations with holes in them, both of which are contrary to what I thought are the goals of the new booking system. One particular concern I have is that if I want to book a week just prior to a busy period, it's possible I will get shut out by "walkers" who are holding those dates temporarily and I will end up on the WL. As they walk their reservations, days will open up but unless all of my nights become available at one time, my WL won't fill. People who call a few days after I do for the same dates I need will be able to book some of their nights and go on the WL for far fewer nights than I need, making them more likely to get their WL filled. So to maximize my chances of getting my reservation, I will need to call several times a day to see if any of my nights have been freed up by walkers. I imagine we'll end up with a thread here for walkers to post the date and time they plan to call MS and what nights they will be cancelling so that those of us on the WL can try to coordinate our calls to grab any nights that go into the booking pool.

Bottom line: Walking plus the elimination of the DBD WL is a bad combination. If they bring back the DBD waitlist, then this problem goes away. If I end up on the WL due to walkers, I will eventually get my nights filled in as they walk past my date and have no need to call MS at all, let alone multiple times a day.

 

[simzac]

While it's good to track the info and should be done, the one problem is we don't have the comparison number on the old method. Thus it'll be essentially impossible to compare and use this info as an argument in either direction. I'm sure DVC has a significant amount of this type of info but I doubt even they have enough specific info to compare the ultimate success rate of one vs the other.

My reason for suggesting the tracking thread was not to compare this system to the old one. It was solely to see if indeed problems exist at the 11 month mark in making reservations, nothing else. I know other members will be interested in the 7 month mark and other time frames, but any reservation made after the 11 month mark was always a maybe because it could have been reserved even 1 day before you.

 

[Laurabearz]

I was surprised to hear that MS will allow us to call to fill in individual nights of our waitlists since it will increase the number of calls and increase the number of reservations with holes in them, both of which are contrary to what I thought are the goals of the new booking system. One particular concern I have is that if I want to book a week just prior to a busy period, it's possible I will get shut out by "walkers" who are holding those dates temporarily and I will end up on the WL. As they walk their reservations, days will open up but unless all of my nights become available at one time, my WL won't fill. People who call a few days after I do for the same dates I need will be able to book some of their nights and go on the WL for far fewer nights than I need, making them more likely to get their WL filled. So to maximize my chances of getting my reservation, I will need to call several times a day to see if any of my nights have been freed up by walkers. I imagine we'll end up with a thread here for walkers to post the date and time they plan to call MS and what nights they will be cancelling so that those of us on the WL can try to coordinate our calls to grab any nights that go into the booking pool.

Bottom line: Walking plus the elimination of the DBD WL is a bad combination. If they bring back the DBD waitlist, then this problem goes away. If I end up on the WL due to walkers, I will eventually get my nights filled in as they walk past my date and have no need to call MS at all, let alone multiple times a day.

I have always chosen to waitlist day by day and do not like the new all or nothing system. You expressed it wonderfully Lisa Thanks!

 

[bookwormde]

LisaS

I would assume that if you wanted to modify your waitlist to not include the day you got by calling that you would loose your place “in line” on the waitlist. I do not see how MS could stop people booking and leaving the waitlist in place if they have enough points and just canceling the extra days depending on how the reservation is finally filled.

Yes this is one of the issues, which I do not think MS thought trough before they made this change. It is likely to generate many more additional calls than all the new policies saved put together.

I agree the unanticipated issues of walking and the new wait list policy and the potential for picking up days by calling when taken in combination are likely to cause some serious inefficiencies and difficulties for members.

bookwormde

 

[Dean]

My reason for suggesting the tracking thread was not to compare this system to the old one. It was solely to see if indeed problems exist at the 11 month mark in making reservations, nothing else. I know other members will be interested in the 7 month mark and other time frames, but any reservation made after the 11 month mark was always a maybe because it could have been reserved even 1 day before you.

I understand, it would be nice to have the before and after comparison. My point was it will be essentially impossible to draw any conclusions in comparison of before and after. Still it will be nice to have real time info.

 

[LisaS]

LisaS

I would assume that if you wanted to modify your waitlist to not include the day you got by calling that you would loose your place “in line” on the waitlist. I do not see how MS could stop people booking and leaving the waitlist in place if they have enough points and just canceling the extra days depending on how the reservation is finally filled.

Yes this is one of the issues, which I do not think MS thought trough before they made this change. It is likely to generate many more additional calls than all the new policies saved put together.

I agree the unanticipated issues of walking and the new wait list policy and the potential for picking up days by calling when taken in combination are likely to cause some serious inefficiencies and difficulties for members.

bookwormde

Yes, good point about losing your place in line when you break up your WL. Depending on how it's implemented, maybe one piece of it maintains its place in line and any newly-created mini-WLs would be added to the end of the list. However, by breaking your WL up into pieces, you potentially improve your chances of filling them since you will need fewer nights to come through at one time.

 

[jade1]

My point was it will be essentially impossible to draw any conclusions in comparison of before and after.

Not for me, have never had a problem XMAS/NYE at 11 months, split stays or otherwise at VWL or BCV. Should be very easy to draw a conclusion-heres hoping its just as easy (or easier).

 

[Dean]

Not for me, have never had a problem XMAS/NYE at 11 months, split stays or otherwise at VWL or BCV. Should be very easy to draw a conclusion-heres hoping its just as easy (or easier).

Any such conclusions would have no real validity in comparing since you don't know who or how many did have issues previously.

 

[jade1]

I understand, it would be nice to have the before and after comparison. My point was it will be essentially impossible to draw any conclusions in comparison of before and after. Still it will be nice to have real time info.

Well what real time info are you talking about? If I have no problems for NYE week DBD in the past, and if for example I call to arrive DEC 27 for 5 nights and find all 5 nights already gone, I was thinking of reporting that on the tracking thread (likewise if successful). Your saying that means nothing because we dont know how it worked before. Why report anything then? Again, what real time info would it be nice to have then?

 

[keishashadow]

so, today when i call to make ressie for 1st day (no walking & success story) @ 11 month window, when the CM is doing the spiel @ the end as to cancellation periods he states something to this effect:

if you need to cancel the 1st day of the reservation, it will be forfeit

i stopped him there, he said i misunderstood...he meant it would be forfeit if we didn't check in until the next day?

know i've zoned out in the past & didn't pay attention to the script they usually rattle off but, i don't recall hearing this before . Of course, it's valid practice, not questioning that...

perhaps i've got enhanced paranoia

anybody else hear this lately?

 

[Doctor P]

so, today when i call to make ressie for 1st day (no walking & success story) @ 11 month window, when the CM is doing the spiel @ the end as to cancellation periods he states something to this effect:

if you need to cancel the 1st day of the reservation, it will be forfeit

i stopped him there, he said i misunderstood...he meant it would be forfeit if we didn't check in until the next day?

know i've zoned out in the past & didn't pay attention to the script they usually rattle off but, i don't recall hearing this before . Of course, it's valid practice, not questioning that...

perhaps i've got enhanced paranoia

anybody else hear this lately?

I remember this spiel from before. They have always said that if you don't check in the first night, all of your points for the entire visit are forfeited (i.e., as soon as the trip starts ALL the points are considered used, not just the first night's points). If you CANCEL on the day of check in, I think you cancel the first night's points but the rest go into a holding account if I am remembering right.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Dang, I was gone for nearly a week, and I was hoping this dead horse would have been buried by now, but I see we are still kicking him around. Don't get paranoid, folks! That "spiel" about the forfeiture has always been part of the script. It's just that I rarely give them time to finish it. I usually finish it for them so they don't have to say it.

 

[DebbieB]

I remember this spiel from before. They have always said that if you don't check in the first night, all of your points for the entire visit are forfeited (i.e., as soon as the trip starts ALL the points are considered used, not just the first night's points). If you CANCEL on the day of check in, I think you cancel the first night's points but the rest go into a holding account if I am remembering right.

I believe if you cancel on the day of check-in, all points are forfeited.

 

[LisaS]

I believe if you cancel on the day of check-in, all points are forfeited.

That is my understanding as well.

keishashadow, I wonder if this is what happened. The MS CM said "If you cancel on your check-in day, all points are forfeited." (which is the usual spiel) and you thought he said "If you cancel your check-in day, all points are forfeited."

 

[Doctor P]

I believe if you cancel on the day of check-in, all points are forfeited.

OK. Couldn't remember on that one.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Regarding the not checking in on the first day. I have spoken to MS regarding the booking of the night before our arrival just to be sure that we had a room on check in, which would be much before noon, and I was told that if you tell them that you are arriving early the next day it is noted and the room isn't cancelled. We have not done that yet, but have it planned for a future stay.

Bobbi

 

[jdg345]

I was told yesterday by a MS supervisor that any cancelled days do not go back into inventory and cannot be accessed by any CM, until any and all waitlists are filled, it's built into the system.

Then either they have finally fixed the system, or we're getting conflicting information. If the system was 'fixed', it was done so recently. A few weeks ago someone was able to call in and book a day they were not WL'd for, which I was on the WL for. If this is the case, how did that happen?

That said, the information I have was not based on this anecdotal evidence, it just so happened that this supported exactly what I had been told in the past.

 

[jdg345]

That is my understanding as well & I'm quite sure it is correct - but there are some here who believe otherwise.

I've posted this before, but for those who may have missed it -

When someone cancels a day for which there is a waitlist, the computer knows it and takes the day(s) out of the general inventory. It puts the match in the "waitlist file". I believe this is a "real time" process.

Once a day is in the "waitlist file", it is no longer available for anyone else. The computer knows there was a match to a waitlist, but it cannot make the actual reservation on its own, so a CM needs to complete the process.

CMs work the "waitlist file" matches in the order of closest to arrival first. Those whose waitlists have come through quite a ways in advance may not find out about it right away if the CMs are busy or if there are lots of matches ahead of theirs. When the phones are busy, it is my belief that the waitlist work is put aside (as are email messages and other "non-urgent work) and everyone answers phones. That's just the way call centers work.

While you may very well be correct, the information I have is quite different from this. Is this recent? How far back does it go?

The reason so many members report calling and finding out that their waitlist has "just come through" is that many CMs will look at the "waitlist file" if the caller mentions waitlisting. If the match is there, the CM can just complete the process at that time and the caller who called to check on his waitlist hangs up happy. But the caller did not get anything he wouldn't have gotten anyway. He just found out about it sooner.

Understood, but it should not be possible under this system for someone without a WL to book a day which is on someone else's WL.

Also, under the new WL policies, does it piece the days together? Or does it require all X rooms to be cancelled and matched at the same time? For example, I'm WL'd January 3rd-5th and I'm the only person on the list for any of those days. If someone cancels January 3rd, does it go into the 'waitlist file'? My information says it does not. In fact, my information suggests that not only does someone (or someones) have to cancel the 3rd-5th, but they need to do so between WL batch runs -- which do not occur realtime (again, based on the information I have).