New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[wildernessDad]

Yup, it sounds like you've got it. You can drop Day-1 and add Day-8 to walk, or keep Day-1 and Add Day-8 if you want to extend. Something to think about: If you think starting a week earlier makes sense, and everyone agrees with you, don't you now need to start 8 days earlier to make sure you get ahead of them?



Ironic, isn't it? Plus, if you start booking a day or two before then, as above, going 8, 9, 10, etc days ahead ... then you're even generating more call volume!

Given that logic, one could start their reservation NOW and keep walking the reservation for months until the actual date pops up.

 

[jdg345]

Thank you very much for helping me understand

Anytime!

Okay, this is like advanced calc...I don't get what you are saying...

If you want to do a split stay, is it treated as two different check-in dates...In other words if you want to stay at WL for three nights, do you call from the day of that check-in then call back in three days to add the three additional nights at BWV on the day of that check-in...OR can you do it all at once?

Sorry...I feel so stupid...I actually have to Masters degrees and I am not getting this new policy..Call it "Mommy Stupids", just to make me feel better

Sorry, we're talking about two different things here.

WL in the post you replied to stood for Waitlist, not WLV (Wilderness Lodge Villas). With the new policy, you cannot 'pre-book' a split stay. One of the limitations of the new policy is that to book 7 days in advance, the category and resort must be the same across the whole period.

Also, remember, that you can book 2,3,4,5, or 6 days in advance. It doesn't have to be 7 -- it's just that they only allow UP TO (7) days.

So, no, you cannot do a split stay with the new policy. You would have to:

Jan 11th: Book WLV for 3 days.
Jan 14th: Book BWV for 3 days.

Of course, if you're booking based on your overall departure day, you can book anything you want. So, instead of the above, you can also:

Jan 14th: Book WLV for the previous 3 days, Book BWV for 3 days forward.

Just remember that doing it this way means someone else could have locked up your WLV days before you, either through extending vacations or starting theirs a few days before you arrive at BWV.

Here's another option -- and this is why I say this system benefits those with more points as you have more flexibility if the first resort rooms are more expensive per night, etc:

Jan 11th: Book WLV for 6 days.
Jan 14th: Book WMV for 3 days, Cancel the last 3 days of WLV ressie.

This way, you know you at least have a 6 day stay guaranteed and you can try to get your split.

The new system creates sooo many variations, it actually complicates more than it simplifies, imo.

 

[jdg345]

Given that logic, one could start their reservation NOW and keep walking the reservation for months until the actual date pops up.

That's exactly right! And I myself have said mutiple times in this thread that you can essentially start booking December 2009 right now, today.

 

[alldiz]

That's exactly right! And I myself have said mutiple times in this thread that you can essentially start booking December 2009 right now, today.

While I don't want to see a restriction on cancellations on the average "Joe".....I think MS will catch on to the abuse with obvious
"walking a reservation". There is always a few in the crowd that ruin it for everyone.
Just sayin.....we'll have to see how this plays out......this is not as cut and dry as paper and coffee mugs.
Kerri

 

[danielle782001]

Anytime!



Sorry, we're talking about two different things here.

WL in the post you replied to stood for Waitlist, not WLV (Wilderness Lodge Villas). With the new policy, you cannot 'pre-book' a split stay. One of the limitations of the new policy is that to book 7 days in advance, the category and resort must be the same across the whole period.

Also, remember, that you can book 2,3,4,5, or 6 days in advance. It doesn't have to be 7 -- it's just that they only allow UP TO (7) days.

So, no, you cannot do a split stay with the new policy. You would have to:

Jan 11th: Book WLV for 3 days.
Jan 14th: Book BWV for 3 days.

Of course, if you're booking based on your overall departure day, you can book anything you want. So, instead of the above, you can also:

Jan 14th: Book WLV for the previous 3 days, Book BWV for 3 days forward.

Just remember that doing it this way means someone else could have locked up your WLV days before you, either through extending vacations or starting theirs a few days before you arrive at BWV.

Here's another option -- and this is why I say this system benefits those with more points as you have more flexibility if the first resort rooms are more expensive per night, etc:

Jan 11th: Book WLV for 6 days.
Jan 14th: Book WMV for 3 days, Cancel the last 3 days of WLV ressie.

This way, you know you at least have a 6 day stay guaranteed and you can try to get your split.

The new system creates sooo many variations, it actually complicates more than it simplifies, imo.

You have helped me out a great deal

 

[jdg345]

While I don't want to see a restriction on cancellations on the average "Joe".....I think MS will catch on to the abuse with obvious
"walking a reservation". There is always a few in the crowd that ruin it for everyone.
Just sayin.....we'll have to see how this plays out......this is not as cut and dry as paper and coffee mugs.
Kerri

The problem is that then we're leaving it up to Disney to decide what is abuse and what is not and I don't know that that is the best solution. DVC already has issues with consistency (just look at those told they can add a day on day 2 and those told they need to wait until day 8).

The bright side, of course, is that if you did start to book December 2009 now, by the time you got all the dates you *really* wanted, you'd know everyone in MS by name.

 

[snackyx]

While I don't want to see a restriction on cancellations on the average "Joe".....I think MS will catch on to the abuse with obvious
"walking a reservation". There is always a few in the crowd that ruin it for everyone.
Just sayin.....we'll have to see how this plays out......this is not as cut and dry as paper and coffee mugs.
Kerri

If stringent measures are put into effect regarding cancellations there will be pitch forks and torches outside the DVC headquarters--wherever that is. The "flexibility" issue will be heard loud and clear, and those with legitimate reason to have to cancel/move days will be unjustly impacted.

I think a more reasonable modification could work: once a reservation is made you must wait 10 days before you can make any changes to it. If you try to change before ten days the entire reservation must be cancelled and rebooked with inventory available at that time.

This would, in effect, stop the "walking" reservation, which by defination has to be changed on a day by day basis. If you legimately had to change a reservation, you would just have to wait the ten days before you could do it without having to rebook the entire itinerary.

 

[snackyx]

The bright side, of course, is that if you did start to book December 2009 now, by the time you got all the dates you *really* wanted, you'd know everyone in MS by name.

...and you can bet they would all know yours, and you would not be getting any Christmas cards from them.

 

[jdg345]

You have helped me out a great deal

I'm happy I was able to help answer your questions! Please stay tuned though as we still don't have details in writing from DVC, so all of this could still change.

 

[kenny]

Ok started reading through some of this but 60 pages is just too much.

Just for my clarification, if you wanted to book more than 7 nights (say 8 nights in total), you call and book the 1st 7 nights say 11 months in advance from check in, correct?

Could you call up the next day, which is 11 months from day 2 of your ressie and add day 8 and or do I have to wait 11 months from day 8 to "add" this day?

Thanks

 

[Inkmahm]

Given that logic, one could start their reservation NOW and keep walking the reservation for months until the actual date pops up.

Yes, one could. I wonder if one will?

 

[LisaS]

I usually handle change well. However, this one has left me feeling powerless when it comes to booking exactly what I want out of my DVC membership. Our future travel dates are left up to fate. We are booked 6 night @ AKV 2 bdrm Concierge and then moving over to BCV 2 bdrm (Queen in 2nd rm) for another 6 nights at the beginning of March. Can't help but feel this trip will be one of its kind . We purchased points at AKV due to the fact that they offer concierge service. I am opposed to the new changes.

AKV Concierge consists of only five 2BR lockoffs. Most of those are split up and booked as 1BRs and Studios. There are probably at most TWO 2BR villas and at times maybe only ONE 2BR villa available to be booked so booking Concierge requires a lot of luck!

Under the prior booking system, you risked not being able to get all of your nights. For example, calling day by day you could get your first night, end up on a waiting list for the second night, then get your 3rd night, etc. Meanwhile there is someone else with a similar problem: they got the nights you didn't and are waitlisted for the nights you booked. You are both hoping the other cancels their stay so your waitlist comes through and you can avoid changing rooms every other night.

With the new booking system, you will either get all of your nights or none of them on your first call (assuming you are staying 7 nights or less). If you don't get that first night you can go on the waiting list for that night and call again the next morning. You may get all of the rest of your nights on that next call. If not, add that night to your waiting list and try again the next morning. Your possible outcomes are: you get all your nights on the first call, or you are on the waiting list for one or more nights but get all remaining nights, or you are on the waiting list for all of your nights. But you will not end up with every other night booked and the alternate nights on the waiting list. So in some ways, this new system is better in that if you get lucky on your first call, you are all set. You don't have to hope your luck holds out over those 6 or 7 days of day-by-day phone calls where if you were just one minute late dialing in one morning you would be out of luck. And if you don't get all your nights, at least the ones you got are in a block, and your wait list is for the remaining block.

 

[jdg345]

If stringent measures are put into effect regarding cancellations there will be pitch forks and torches outside the DVC headquarters--wherever that is. The "flexibility" issue will be heard loud and clear, and those with legitimate reason to have to cancel/move days will be unjustly impacted.

I think a more reasonable modification could work: once a reservation is made you must wait 10 days before you can make any changes to it. If you try to change before ten days the entire reservation must be cancelled and rebooked with inventory available at that time.

This would, in effect, stop the "walking" reservation, which by defination has to be changed on a day by day basis. If you legimately had to change a reservation, you would just have to wait the ten days before you could do it without having to rebook the entire itinerary.

The interval would be tough, and would only help to mitigate. And what happens to the family that made reservations today because they were going to drive and find out a day or two later that they are now going to fly, so they want to extend their trip on both ends? They could get the front side right away, but now need to wait 10 days to get the back end of their trip extended?

Either way, it would not be impossible to get around this kind of moratorium either.

 

[jdg345]

...and you can bet they would all know yours, and you would not be getting any Christmas cards from them.

Maybe they will ... if I buy them some nice presents with all the profits I make spec renting.

j/k, of course.

 

[jdg345]

Ok started reading through some of this but 60 pages is just too much.

Just for my clarification, if you wanted to book more than 7 nights (say 8 nights in total), you call and book the 1st 7 nights say 11 months in advance from check in, correct?

Could you call up the next day, which is 11 months from day 2 of your ressie and add day 8 and or do I have to wait 11 months from day 8 to "add" this day?

Thanks

There has been no confirmation from DVC on this. CM's have told callers both "Call Tomorrow" and "Call in a Week".

I can tell you that from first hand experience, I have been able to book Day-8 by calling the next day. Several other posters have had similar success.

 

[alldiz]

The problem is that then we're leaving it up to Disney to decide what is abuse and what is not and I don't know that that is the best solution. DVC already has issues with consistency (just look at those told they can add a day on day 2 and those told they need to wait until day 8).

The bright side, of course, is that if you did start to book December 2009 now, by the time you got all the dates you *really* wanted, you'd know everyone in MS by name.

It's always the problem and genius child stands out...not sure which category to put this in

If stringent measures are put into effect regarding cancellations there will be pitch forks and torches outside the DVC headquarters--wherever that is. The "flexibility" issue will be heard loud and clear, and those with legitimate reason to have to cancel/move days will be unjustly impacted.

I think a more reasonable modification could work: once a reservation is made you must wait 10 days before you can make any changes to it. If you try to change before ten days the entire reservation must be cancelled and rebooked with inventory available at that time.
This would, in effect, stop the "walking" reservation, which by defination has to be changed on a day by day basis. If you legimately had to change a reservation, you would just have to wait the ten days before you could do it without having to rebook the entire itinerary.

Do I hear a Clearly if someone is cancelling and adding a day repeatedly......this is what needs to call a red flag.
Kerri

 

[snackyx]

The interval would be tough, and would only help to mitigate. And what happens to the family that made reservations today because they were going to drive and find out a day or two later that they are now going to fly, so they want to extend their trip on both ends? They could get the front side right away, but now need to wait 10 days to get the back end of their trip extended?

Either way, it would not be impossible to get around this kind of moratorium either.

There will be an exception to EVERY stop-gap measure that is put into place. Trust me--SOMEONE'S ox is going to be gouged.

The "walking reservation" seems to be the loophole that needs attention, and I think a ten day moratorium is reasonable. Yes, someone somewhere will make a reservation that--legimately--has to be changed within ten days, but I believe this will be on the far end of the bell curve when compared to the cancel-a-day/add-a-day changes that would otherwise be made en masse.

The message from MS at the initial time of booking would be "any changes made to this reservation within the next ten days would require the entire reservation to be cancelled and rebooked with inventory available at the time of the cancellation. Changes made outside of the ten day limit are allowed without any penalty." This way, if you are booking days that you know you will not be using and just plan on cancelling over the next several days you will be stuck with them for ten days while others can make their reservations for the prime dates. Now, if you have a boatload of points, you can make as many individual reservations as you want and cancel all or part after the ten day period, but that would require a LOAD of points and it would not be reasonable to consider this a wide spread issue.

 

[farmergirl]

Ok started reading through some of this but 60 pages is just too much.

Just for my clarification, if you wanted to book more than 7 nights (say 8 nights in total), you call and book the 1st 7 nights say 11 months in advance from check in, correct?

Could you call up the next day, which is 11 months from day 2 of your ressie and add day 8 and or do I have to wait 11 months from day 8 to "add" this day?

Thanks

When I talked to Member Services they told me I had to wait till the 8th day to add on any additional days. This is what i was told anyhow.

 

[danielle782001]

There will be an exception to EVERY stop-gap measure that is put into place. Trust me--SOMEONE'S ox is going to be gouged.

The "walking reservation" seems to be the loophole that needs attention, and I think a ten day moratorium is reasonable. Yes, someone somewhere will make a reservation that--legimately--has to be changed within ten days, but I believe this will be on the far end of the bell curve when compared to the cancel-a-day/add-a-day changes that would otherwise be made en masse.

The message from MS at the initial time of booking would be "any changes made to this reservation within the next ten days would require the entire reservation to be cancelled and rebooked with inventory available at the time of the cancellation. Changes made outside of the ten day limit are allowed without any penalty." This way, if you are booking days that you know you will not be using and just plan on cancelling over the next several days you will be stuck with them for ten days while others can make their reservations for the prime dates. Now, if you have a boatload of points, you can make as many individual reservations as you want and cancel all or part after the ten day period, but that would require a LOAD of points and it would not be reasonable to consider this a wide spread issue.

We need some type of policy to prevent members from starting to book weeks to months in advance of their 11/7 month window...It is too bad that we have to worry about how people can mess with the system but it is a fact of human nature...That is why there are rules and laws to govern society...And maybe our society needs some governing too

 

[farmergirl]

There has been no confirmation from DVC on this. CM's have told callers both "Call Tomorrow" and "Call in a Week".

I can tell you that from first hand experience, I have been able to book Day-8 by calling the next day. Several other posters have had similar success.

Yes I was one that was told to call back on the 8th day. So you are just calling on the 2nd day and adding on without canceling days off the beginning or your reservation??? Did I get that right?