New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[MICKEYFAN28]

I don't like this new policy at all! I had a reservation for ten nights booked at my 11 month window. I called this morning at my seven month window and was only able to change the first seven nights to a different resort. I now have to call back on july 2nd to try to switch over the remaining days. For those of us taking longer stays I think this is going to shut us out of longer trips. I'm not going at a super busy time and they claim there are over 100 rooms left but what happens if I want to go next december and the days for my extended stay aren't there!! Why should disney now dictate how long I want to go for? I'm just bothered by this. I like taking longer trips and feel if I have the points I should be able to use them!!

 

[jdg345]

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.

Perhaps to an extent, but I believe there is a real issue in booking reservations longer than 7 days (people have already been affected by this, and don't like it). It's also an issue to book split stays. It's also an issue to book +7 if the first day is not available but the next X are. All of these problems exist right now, and aren't hypothetical or theoretical.

UPDATE: And as I posted this, it just so happens someone else posted right before complaining about the reality if not being able to book more than 7 days.

 

[jarestel]

UPDATE: And as I posted this, it just so happens someone else posted right before complaining about the reality if not being able to book more than 7 days.

You can still book your entire stay 11/7 months from your checkout date if you only want to make one phone call. The person complaining wasn't saying they were shut out of the extra days, only that another call would be required to complete the reservation.

 

[tidefan]

The more I read through this thread, the more that I think that a point reallocation may be the best solution. If so many members want to go over Christmas and New Years that there is a very skewed demand for the rooms, then simple economics dictates that they may need to rearrange point levels to get the demand evened back out over the year.

Additionally, if the speculation on this board is true that more members go Sun-Thurs instead of over weekends and DVC sees that increasing trend, then the obvious solution to that would be to decrease weekend points somewhat and increase weekday points.

I don't know that this is what some members would want, but in creating the apparent mass demand for certain times/certain places, membership may very well be driving a change like this.

Also, I think that DVC has created its own monster by offering concierge. While I don't see the worth of it, there are apparently many that do. In that case I think DVC has two choices as to what to do in the future. Either increase concierge offerings at new DVCs or just get rid of offering it alltogether. I suspect that the latter may be answer. I really think that concierge is giving DVC a severe headache...

 

[jdg345]

You can still book your entire stay 11/7 months from your checkout date if you only want to make one phone call. The person complaining wasn't saying they were shut out of the extra days, only that another call would be required to complete the reservation.

But you could do that under the old system. The new system isn't helping them do that. In fact, since this person supposely can't book the last few nights for 7 more days, there is narrowing opportunity to complete their reservation as compared to how it was under the old system.

Regardless, I'm thinking about trying to book a room for Christmas through NYE 2009 starting now under one of my accounts. If anything, it'll be interesting to see how closely DVC is monitoring things and how long they'll let me walk it before dropping me a line.

 

[mikeandkarla]

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.

This seems to be one of the issues that hasn't changed from the old booking system. Inconsistency!

 

[bookwormde]

I am curios is anyone who wants to give the new system a chance, trying to book a highly competitive reservation in the next month?

bookwormde

 

[jdg345]

I am curios is anyone who wants to give the new system a chance, trying to book a highly competitive reservation in the next month?

bookwormde

What's highly competitive in the next month? The next big thing is really Thanksgiving 2009 no? Though, if I try for Christmas, I should be able to get Thanksgiving on the way. In fact, I have a theory that would allow me to do just that.

 

[bookwormde]

OKW grand villa weekday

bookwormde

 

[Laurabearz]

I don't like this new policy at all! I had a reservation for ten nights booked at my 11 month window. I called this morning at my seven month window and was only able to change the first seven nights to a different resort. I now have to call back on july 2nd to try to switch over the remaining days. For those of us taking longer stays I think this is going to shut us out of longer trips. I'm not going at a super busy time and they claim there are over 100 rooms left but what happens if I want to go next december and the days for my extended stay aren't there!! Why should disney now dictate how long I want to go for? I'm just bothered by this. I like taking longer trips and feel if I have the points I should be able to use them!!

A WEEK ago you would have had to wait until July 2nd to change your reservation to antoher resort (unless you called DBD) but today your all upset about being able to book the first 7 days a week early? ??

 

[jdg345]

OKW grand villa weekday

bookwormde

In June? I suppose since they're so inexpensive. I need to see if I have OKW points to play with at 11 months; I don't think I do.

UPDATE: I do not have OKW points to play with at this time.

Unfortunately, the issue with testing this is that we lock up a high demand room we don't really want and keep it out of the hands of other members that might need it.

That said, if someone is able to walk and retain a high demand room for 2-3 weeks straight, I am not quite sure how anyone could suggest the new system wasn't broken.

 

[jdg345]

This seems to be one of the issues that hasn't changed from the old booking system. Inconsistency!

QFT!

 

[MICKEYFAN28]

I would rather call day by day! I think the way the new system works it will decrease my chances for an extended stay. I feel the way the new system is set up it will be manipulated even more and decrease my chances for extended stays. I never go for just 7 days nor do I want to. I like going for longer trips 10 to 14 days. A busy time period could decrease that chance especially trying a non home resort.

 

[Tamar]

I have to admit, I am just shaking my head right now. I posted a suggestion that this policy (or something very similar) should be considered a few months ago. I was trying to figure out if I should buy a small number of AKV points so that we could stay 3-4 nights concierge every few years, but didn't want to invest the money and end up with one of those "swiss cheese" reservations.

Without exception, everyone who responded hated the idea, if I remember, so I figured it just wasn't meant to be.

Now it's happened, and I'm pleased, but DH is quite certain we'll never get our std view 1 bedroom ressie during F&W because SOMEONE who starts their vacation earlier will now be able to beat us to it. Nothing I can say will change his mind. I've ended up having to put a moratorium on talking about it.

I guess time will tell.

 

[jdg345]

I have to admit, I am just shaking my head right now. I posted a suggestion that this policy (or something very similar) should be considered a few months ago. I was trying to figure out if I should buy a small number of AKV points so that we could stay 3-4 nights concierge every few years, but didn't want to invest the money and end up with one of those "swiss cheese" reservations.

Without exception, everyone who responded hated the idea, if I remember, so I figured it just wasn't meant to be.

Now it's happened, and I'm pleased, but DH is quite certain we'll never get our std view 1 bedroom ressie during F&W because SOMEONE who starts their vacation earlier will now be able to beat us to it. Nothing I can say will change his mind. I've ended up having to put a moratorium on talking about it.

I guess time will tell.

Since DVC reads these boards ... I think what you're saying here is that this is all *YOUR* fault?

 

[Laurabearz]

Since DVC reads these boards ... I think what you're saying here is that this is all *YOUR* fault?

 

[Tamar]

Ooooh, don't tell DH!

 

[tidefan]

One other thought...

If the conventional wisdom of this board is correct, then we SSR owners now have our first distinct advantage in the system since the resort is so large, we will all most likely not have an issue getting in at any time.

I do feel for those that have to have a specific room type/specific time. One thing that I see over and over, specifically with BWV, is the "I bought points specifically to get XX view at YY time". Well there are only so many of those rooms, regardless of what kind of reservation system DVC has. If there are 300 rooms avaiable for NYE for instance and 400 people that "specifically bought points for NYE at BWV", then 100 are going to be unhappy regardless of what reservation system is in place. I think that this is what Dean was alluding to when he said that it is somewhat the price you pay for having a flexible reservation system.

I also agree with LisaS that this change is designed to get rid of reservations with holes in them.

 

[jarestel]

Under the "old" system, whenever someone couldn't get exactly what they wanted, when they wanted it ("flexibility at work!"), it was always blamed on those wretched spec renters who had reserved massive blocks of rooms simply for the filthy motive of enriching themselves.

Now, whenever someone can't get exactly what they want, exactly when they want it ("flexibility is why I bought DVC"), it can be blamed on this stupid new booking system ruining all of our plans. At least it gives the poor ole spec renters a breather!

 

[Tamar]

Okay, now that I look back at the post, I see I suggested something a bit different....but close. And I predicted the concerns with the policy as it has rolled out...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=22174393#post22174393&highlight=