New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[LisaS]

You can "play" the game with only two nights worth of points, but if you are booking limited room types (AKV-C, GV) at popular times you will get outplayed by those who have enough points to book seven days out while you are only booking two days out.

Your example was if you want Sun-Thurs, start booking Fri/Sat and then cancel/book. There is a good chance that others who are playing the walking reservation game and are booking seven days out will have those Friday and Saturday nights already booked up. When you go to book that Friday you will most likely have already been shut out. Understand this most likely will not be an issue for most regular room types that are being booked at less than peak holiday times.

All you have to do is start booking the same day they do. They start by booking 7 nights, you start by booking 2 nights. They can wait 6 nights to slide their reservation forward by 6 nights, you have to call the next day to move yours forward 1 night. Both of you have blocked anyone from claiming nights that start when your reservation ends because those nights cannot be booked yet. So the only difference is that those with fewer points have to make more calls to MS.

 

[zulaya]

I shouldn't be surprised that we are on page 62 already considering how many pages the mug issue took up...

Here's a thought, and in hindsight, I should have just spouted this out at Sheila when she called me today:

Given that there obviously a significant number of members that are unhappy with this issue...

I think this is the first time I've ever heard it reported from multiple people that MS has a dedicated team of people monitoring this issue...

and that many members have already pointed out the significant problems with certain times of year and certain booking categories...

Coupled with the ways to abuse the system that have already been pointed out with "walking" a reservation ahead of the dates you actually want...

Would it not be simpler and more efficient for everyone, Members and MS alike, to just go back to the way it was last week?

Yes, I know that will make some people feel that they have to call day-by-day. But wouldn't it be a more level playing field? I can't recall anyone having an issue about the previous policy. At least nothing that was 62 pages long on one of the more popular DVC boards online.

I know someone who loves this new policy will yell at me. I'm sorry if you like this new policy, but looking at it objectively, I really feel that it has created more problems than it has solved.

 

[Laurabearz]

For the Masses, I think this policy will be welcomed with open arms...

For those few trying to book Certain rooms for Certain dates, this policy sucks.

We (the DISers) are most definatly the minority when it comes to DVC opinions. Most members dont have a clue...

 

[jekjones1558]

I would also like the old status quo because I worry about new rules limiting the ability of members to cancel days without rebooking. We have OFTEN had to change our dates because of medical issues and I have so much appreciated that DVC did not penalize us for circumstances we could not control. When we bought DVC we LIKED the flexibility. Now we absolutely NEED it!

 

[DVC Mike]

Would it not be simpler and more efficient for everyone, Members and MS alike, to just go back to the way it was last week?

I think it's interesting how the new policy change has been sliced, diced and dissected, and folks have come up with multiple ways to try to circumvent the new booking rules to get an advantage over their fellow members. Now, even though the policy hasn't even been in place for one week, people want to go back to the prior policy.

Why can't we give the new policy a chance? Why can't we wait and see if we're negatively impacted or not?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Why can't we give the new policy a chance? Why can't we wait and see if we're negatively impacted or not?

I wrote to Jim Lewis and told him that I didn't like this new policy but that I could live with, but please please please don't make any other changes to the way the policy is currenlty being implemented.

But otherwise, I don't think it is premature to look at the best way to deal with the new policy. Why wait until you find yourself unable to book your annual vacation before you try to learn how to maximize your likelihood that you can book the vacation? -- Suzanne

 

[ACDSNY]

For the Masses, I think this policy will be welcomed with open arms...

I'm one of the Masses...I like the new policy. No matter what system is in place someone will try to find a way around it or find where it's not fair to one group or another. You can't please everyone.

 

[Starr W.]

For the Masses, I think this policy will be welcomed with open arms...

For those few trying to book Certain rooms for Certain dates, this policy sucks.

We (the DISers) are most definatly the minority when it comes to DVC opinions. Most members dont have a clue...

There's another DVC family at our kids' elementary school, besides Rock'nRobin who posts here. They bought on a DCL cruise, planned on using for more cruises and they were under the impression you could just call anytime and get someplace at WDW.

They looked at me like I had horns growing out of my head for saying I book Thanksgiving and Easter at 11months!

I think the vast majority of owners are some where in the spectrum between those people I met and the DVC fanatics that post on internet forums.

 

[tiggercrew]

I have to admit that I don't know yet if this new policy will be a negative for our family or not...we don't usually travel at peak times or book holidays. What I do have a problem with is that apparently not all of the CM's understand this new policy. I called on 6/24 to book our vacation for 5/22-5/29 (2 weekend nights in a studio and 5 nights in a 2BR). I had no problem booking the 2 nights in a studio but was told that I could not book the 5 nights in the 2BR until 11 months from my check-out date because I wasn't booking 7 nights in that unit. I had her repeat this information because I thought I had misunderstood her at first. Instead of arguing the point, I did as I have read on this board and called back to get another CM. I immediately asked if I was able to book a 5 night reservation 11 months from check-in and the CM said "yes, you may book up to 7 nights" so I was able to complete my reservation.

I understand that this change was implented to lessen the number of calls that MS must answer, but unfortunately, if the CM's give out erroneous info and the members have to hang up and call right back, I don't see that calls are going to decrease.

 

[snackyx]

All you have to do is start booking the same day they do. They start by booking 7 nights, you start by booking 2 nights. They can wait 6 nights to slide their reservation forward by 6 nights, you have to call the next day to move yours forward 1 night. Both of you have blocked anyone from claiming nights that start when your reservation ends because those nights cannot be booked yet. So the only difference is that those with fewer points have to make more calls to MS.

The only problem is when do "they" start booking? It has been well documented throughout this epic thread that you would back your reservation out seven days from when you actually want to book and then "walk it forward". Of course, if you want to outguess the other guy you would start booking eight days out. Wait! Why not nine days out? Ten? Twenty? Fifty?

It does get ridiculous but the longer you start clogging up the system the better YOUR chances are. My only point is someone who is booking the maximum seven day out reservation will have an inherent advantage over someone booking two days out. If enough people start booking seven days out it would effectively block out the reservations for limited available room types at popular times. If there is a unified "start" time for any given period you could keep up, although it would take alot more calls to MS to keep "walking" the reservation forward.

 

[LisaS]

I understand that this change was implemented to lessen the number of calls that MS must answer, but unfortunately, if the CM's give out erroneous info and the members have to hang up and call right back, I don't see that calls are going to decrease.

I think the changes are also intended to increase the chances of booking a contiguous stay rather than a reservation with one or more missing nights in the middle that may never come through on the waiting list.

 

[RobDoc]

I think it's interesting how the new policy change has been sliced, diced and dissected, and folks have come up with multiple ways to try to circumvent the new booking rules to get an advantage over their fellow members. Now, even though the policy hasn't even been in place for one week, people want to go back to the prior policy.

Why can't we give the new policy a chance? Why can't we wait and see if we're negatively impacted or not?

How is it possible to "circumvent" a policy which was created by and is completely controlled by DVC? If DVC does not want the new policy circumvented, they will accomplish that and if they don't care, they will continue to invite the daily modifications they have allowed since the new policy began last week.


IMO, it's a very healthy discourse to evaluate the potential effects of the change as they pertain to the way each member uses his/her membership. Much in the way similar discussion about the removal of mugs from Studios resulted in a change in the policy shortly after it's implementation - discussion about the way this change will affect the membership - real or imagined - is a responsible function of this forum.

 

[huey578]

I think it's interesting how the new policy change has been sliced, diced and dissected, and folks have come up with multiple ways to try to circumvent the new booking rules to get an advantage over their fellow members. Now, even though the policy hasn't even been in place for one week, people want to go back to the prior policy.

Why can't we give the new policy a chance? Why can't we wait and see if we're negatively impacted or not?

I agree, let's give this new policy a try.

 

[LisaS]

The only problem is when do "they" start booking?

Exactly, and "their" problem is when will I start booking. I'm not claiming that small point holders will have any better idea about when to start booking, only that you don't need enough points for 7 nights to compete on an equal level.

My only point is someone who is booking the maximum seven day out reservation will have an inherent advantage over someone booking two days out.

More points allows you to book further into the future but I think the game is all about your start date, not how many nights you can book from that point forward as long as you can book at least two nights. The person who makes the best guess about how far in advance to start calling will win, not the person with the most points. Let's say there are 5 ultra-primo rooms available at some resort and 10 people who want them for the same dates. Five of those people have only enough points to book 5 weekday or 2 weekend nights, the other five have thousands of points each. The five small point holders make a lucky guess and call one day ahead of all of the large contract holders and they book as many nights as they can which may be as few as 2 weekend nights. As long as MS lets them slide that reservation forward one day every day, they have blocked out the large contract holders from getting those dates.

 

[jdg345]

Exactly, and "their" problem is when will I start booking. I'm not claiming that small point holders will have any better idea about when to start booking, only that you don't need enough points for 7 nights to compete on an equal level.

More points allows you to book further into the future but I think the game is all about your start date, not how many nights you can book from that point forward as long as you can book at least two nights. The person who makes the best guess about how far in advance to start calling will win, not the person with the most points. Let's say there are 5 ultra-primo rooms available at some resort and 10 people who want them for the same dates. Five of those people have only enough points to book 5 weekday or 2 weekend nights, the other five have thousands of points each. The five small point holders make a lucky guess and call one day ahead of all of the large contract holders and they book as many nights as they can which may be as few as 2 weekend nights. As long as MS lets them slide that reservation forward one day every day, they have blocked out the large contract holders from getting those dates.

Something tells me it would be the large contract holders that would be more likely to book early than the smaller ones, but time will tell.

What a mess this 'improvement' has created, doncha think?

 

[dzorn]

I really have a problem not allowing you to book 2-7 if day 1 is not available. I can always decide to shorten my trip if day one does not come through. If they wanted to reduce calls I should be able to book day 2-7 then waitlist for day one. By not allowing this I may have to call back every day with the chance someone called before me and books my day two. Then if that is not available then call again the next day. So I could end up calling 7 days in a row not getting anything and wait listing for the whole week. If you only have certain days to go then you may be up the creek without a paddle instead of just shortening vacation by a day.

Denise in MI

 

[jdg345]

I really have a problem not allowing you to book 2-7 if day 1 is not available. I can always decide to shorten my trip if day one does not come through. If they wanted to reduce calls I should be able to book day 2-7 then waitlist for day one. By not allowing this I may have to call back every day with the chance someone called before me and books my day two. Then if that is not available then call again the next day. So I could end up calling 7 days in a row not getting anything and wait listing for the whole week. If you only have certain days to go then you may be up the creek without a paddle instead of just shortening vacation by a day.

Denise in MI

Yup ... as others have said, it seems the new policy that was apparently designed to reduce DBD calling is going to lead to just as much, if not more, DBD calling. Ironic, isn't it?

 

[jdg345]

Exactly, and "their" problem is when will I start booking. I'm not claiming that small point holders will have any better idea about when to start booking, only that you don't need enough points for 7 nights to compete on an equal level.

More points allows you to book further into the future but I think the game is all about your start date, not how many nights you can book from that point forward as long as you can book at least two nights. The person who makes the best guess about how far in advance to start calling will win, not the person with the most points. Let's say there are 5 ultra-primo rooms available at some resort and 10 people who want them for the same dates. Five of those people have only enough points to book 5 weekday or 2 weekend nights, the other five have thousands of points each. The five small point holders make a lucky guess and call one day ahead of all of the large contract holders and they book as many nights as they can which may be as few as 2 weekend nights. As long as MS lets them slide that reservation forward one day every day, they have blocked out the large contract holders from getting those dates.

More points also allow you to book multiple parallel reservations all in one shot.

Do you think we'll see more or less Christmas/NYE Vacations on eBay in 2009 than we do for 2008?

 

[LisaS]

Yup ... as others have said, it seems the new policy that was apparently designed to reduce DBD calling is going to lead to just as much, if not more, DBD calling. Ironic, isn't it?

I don't think it was just about fewer calls to MS. I think this was an attempt to come up with a set of booking rules that would allow most members to book their entire reservation in one call, improving member satisfaction while also reducing call volume. I think they also are trying to reduce the number of "Swiss cheese" reservations (reservations with several wait listed nights in between check in and check out). Reducing the number of guests who have to change resorts (or room types within a resort) multiple times during their stay would reduce housekeeping costs and wait times at check in for all members.

 

[jarestel]

I know someone who loves this new policy will yell at me. I'm sorry if you like this new policy, but looking at it objectively, I really feel that it has created more problems than it has solved.

Don't consider this yelling, but actually, the only problems this new policy has created thus far is in the realm of hypotheticals, theoreticals, and what-ifs. If we were really interested in being objective, we might wait to see if any/all of these doomsday scenarios actually materialize before rushing to judgement.