New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[squirrlygirl]

I would like clarification on this as well. If I want to book 7 nights, but only nights 4-7 are available, I would like the option to book those nights that are available since they're within the 7-night window. Then I would either waitlist for nights 1-3 or extend my vacation beyond the 7 nights I originally wanted by doing DBD booking, if that's what they're allowing. (Did that make sense? )

I also spoke with Joy wave2: Hi, Joy!) and if I followed her correctly, if day 1 is not available, you could waitlist for the entire stay (up to 7 nights). If someone cancels the first few days, then you would get your waitlist. Otherwise, I guess you could call back when the 11+7 window opens up for those available days later in the week and book then.

I asked about the waiting for a week to extend instead of DBD, and she said there is a slight chance that someone who waitlisted at say day 2 or 3 could have their waitlist come through if an earlier stay booked by someone else was cancelled. (day 4-7 were already available, and days 1-3 were part of an earlier-booked stay that was cancelled a couple days later) So it appears that if you MUST have a certain room, extending DBD starting on day 2 will guarantee it whereas waiting until day 6 or so carries a risk if others are booking and then cancelling the front end.

 

[LIFERBABE]

My idea to limit "walking" is to only allow changes that will keep at least 1 day of the original reservation intact.

That would allow the flexibility to change for flights on either side, but when your reservation evolves to the point where none of the revised days were part of the original reservation, that should be a violation and prompt a total cancellation and rebook.

It's all going to be a total PITA for MS to keep up with and I surely don't want them to take away all flexibility but at least this way, a reservation can only "walk" 7 days to either side and not for months.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

Once a member gets the initial seven day reservation at 7 + 11 months, is my thinking correct that only then the “playing field” becomes equal?

If your first call results in the requested first day not being available and you can’t “waitlist”, therefore you have to call back the second day just to start your seven days all over again, why wouldn’t members opt to use all available options at your disposal such as starting early and secure those first seven days? We are allowed to book DBD after the seventh day and until that “playing field” becomes equal, all options/tools must be on the table and the “walking” or “rolling” method must be one option. If DVC wants to continue with first seven day reservation enhancement program, then they have to realize that members will start early bookings in order to level that “playing field” as soon as possible.
If you opt to “per book” or not, it is your decision, just as the DBD booking was an option in the prior reservation system. Unfortunately not all members have the points to do so, where under the old system the “pre booking” wasn’t a tool necessary to level that “playing field”.

 

[tea pot]

Help..... I'm so confused! When I first read this change I thought great,
now I don't have to call every day.
When did it get so complicated? Am I missing something???

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I also spoke with Joy wave2: Hi, Joy!) and if I followed her correctly, if day 1 is not available, you could waitlist for the entire stay (up to 7 nights). If someone cancels the first few days, then you would get your waitlist.

I don't queston that this is what you were told, but it seems contrary to what most others are reporting. The more common explanation is you can waitlist for Day 1 only, not all 7 days. For a Day 2 waitlist, you must call back the next day.

In addition, even is you could WL for all 7 days, I am not sure your would get your reservation just because a couple of the days were cancelled by another member. With the concurrent elimination of the DBD waitlist, you should only get any nights if all 7 nights become available and then, of course, you will get them all. -- Suzanne

 

[MichiganMouse1967]

I'm sure I read this in an earlier post, but really don't want to go back and look for the answer, but would you say that this new booking policy affects mostly those members wanting to book vacations during the peak periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYE) and/or wanting a room in one of the limited room categories (AKV concierge, etc)? Since I joined, I've booked vacations for May, September and early October. I did book a few days the week before Christmas but had to cancel. In each case, I called at the 11-month window based on my check-out date and booked the previous days all in one phone call. I didn't book DBD. I'm sure I'll want to experience the holidays in WDW at some point, but if I vacation mostly in May and/or Sept (any week of the month), do you think I'll have a problem securing a 7-night reservation if I call promptly at the 11-month window based on my check-in day (followed by DBD if the first night isn't available)?

 

[dianeschlicht]

As long as they will allow "walking" by adding days, I don't have too much issue with it. I guess it will be a royal pain to book ahead like that, but it is what it is. The only time I really see it being a huge issue for me personally is when I want to book Concierge, holidays and especially New Year's Eve, since we usually start a January trip on that night.

It really peeves me that now we no longer have an equal chance of booking each day, but if that's the way it is, than I'll adjust and do what I have to do...It just angers me though.

 

[ransom]

Thanks for asking about this.

You're welcome!

So given these two pieces of information, they may as well let people book longer stays on the first call. Once those members secure their first 7 nights they have other members blocked out. The end result will be the same either way, they are just forcing them to make more calls to MS.

You're exactly right. Someone didn't have their thinking cap on when this policy was proposed.

 

[squirrlygirl]

I don't queston that this is what you were told, but it seems contrary to what most others are reporting. The more common explanation is you can waitlist for Day 1 only, not all 7 days. For a Day 2 waitlist, you must call back the next day.

Exactly why I posted it. When I said that people were told they could only waitlist that one day, she said that wasn't true.

In addition, even is you could WL for all 7 days, I am not sure your would get your reservation just because a couple of the days were cancelled by another member. With the concurrent elimination of the DBD waitlist, you should only get any nights if all 7 nights become available and then, of course, you will get them all. -- Suzanne

If days 1-3 are not available, but days 4-7 are, all it takes is someone cancelling days 1-3 for your entire 7 days to be open and your waitlist fulfilled.

 

[ransom]

Exactly why I posted it. When I said that people were told they could only waitlist that one day, she said that wasn't true.

Hmmm. I think, at least in my case, we may be talking about different things.

I asked whether one could book days 2-7 if day 1 was not available. The answer to that was, "no."

I didn't ask about waitlisting the seven days on day 1.

 

[Joan S.]

Considering that the 'Official Word' appears to be that you can book Day-8 on Day-2, it doesn't look like the loophole is being closed -- more like officially allowed.

Hi, As I understand "WALKING" is that you would START booking your reservation before the DATE you actually wanted to arrive and then call back each day and CANCEL your first day and ADD on a day(always KEEPING a 7 day reservations) until you actually HAVE the 7 dates that you want?? Is this WHAT it means or I am totally off ?? This is what I think DVC-MS will try to STOP if TOO many members are booking this way. I also have a ?? I have a 4 day reservation(Feb.15,16,17,18th) at the BCV booked a few months ago for February(Presidents WEEK) I want to add 3 nites (for a total of 7) but used all of my BCV points so I have to wait until July and book with OKW points. If I am looking to arrive on the 12th of February,will I be able to book 12,13,and 14 on the 12th of July?? Or if I add them at the other end of the week 19th,20,21st can I call on the 15th of July since this will become a 7 nite stay?? Thanks, Joan

 

[LisaS]

My idea to limit "walking" is to only allow changes that will keep at least 1 day of the original reservation intact.

That would allow the flexibility to change for flights on either side, but when your reservation evolves to the point where none of the revised days were part of the original reservation, that should be a violation and prompt a total cancellation and rebook.

It's all going to be a total PITA for MS to keep up with and I surely don't want them to take away all flexibility but at least this way, a reservation can only "walk" 7 days to either side and not for months.

Requiring at least a one day overlap would give an advantage to large point holders. If I only have enough points to book 5 weekday nights and someone else wants those same weekday nights but has enough points to book the weekend nights temporarily, then under these rules they can start booking two days ahead of me. In order to be on an equal footing, I need to start booking on the same day they do and be allowed to walk my reservation two days past my original check-out day.

 

[Dean]

Dean... The thought of walking a reservation would have never ever occurred to me, if I hadn't read it here.... But I will admit my brain is just not wired that way. I also feel that MOST DVC members wouldn't even even consider walking a reservation. To Me that's not selling them short, that's thinking highly of them

maybe I misread your note. My interpretation of your post I responded to was that those who were responding to DVC as a positive simply didn't understand the changes and if they did, they would not be happy. If that's the case I do think you were selling them very short, if I misunderstood, I apologize.

The new policy includes “As a result of this enhancement, waitlists are now available only for the full length of stay.” I have a concern also about the “full length of stay” part.
Since we go only once a year, our stay covers up to five weeks. If I am waitlisted for a day, does this mean, in theory, the entire five weeks is waitlisted? I agree I could get several reservations and link them together reducing that waitlist period. This is another example of how the “enhancements” have not been thought out and the member has to take action to remedy the flaw by terminating the reservation and restarting another in order to cut the waitlist day(s) clear of actual booked days. This in turn would create a better chance acquiring the waitlisted day. I can’t see being waitlisted to five consecutive weeks.

What you should do is call 11 months out from your preferred date of arrival and book a week. Then in a week call back and add another week. If you end up with any days not being available or change resorts, you'll automatically have different reservations and any wait list would be separate. In those situations it would be possible to have two different wait lists for the same day (end of one reservation and prior to another). Given that everyone would be under the same "entire reservation wait-list", the chances of getting such a wait list would be much higher. It's also likely DVC will hold days in some situations since they might have days available that don't complete any wait list but fall within several. We still have to see how this sorts out.

 

[bookwormde]

Joan S

I hope I have this right.

The short answer is yes. With the exception of wait lists everything is the same at and inside the 11 and 7-month windows.

The only issue is that anyone who is booking a full week on the days of 2/8-2/11 will have prior rights to those days if by chance a full week is available (ha ha). Also anyone who has booked a 7-day reservation ending before 2/11 at the 7-month window and has been continuously extending will have priority for those dates also.

Extending the other end would be a new reservation, which would when complete, be linked. At least that’s the common sense view, unless you have enough points to book a full week and cancel the last 3 days (or the first three days in the first case) and it happens to be available.

bookwormde

 

[jamstew]

I'm sure I read this in an earlier post, but really don't want to go back and look for the answer, but would you say that this new booking policy affects mostly those members wanting to book vacations during the peak periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYE) and/or wanting a room in one of the limited room categories (AKV concierge, etc)? Since I joined, I've booked vacations for May, September and early October. I did book a few days the week before Christmas but had to cancel. In each case, I called at the 11-month window based on my check-out date and booked the previous days all in one phone call. I didn't book DBD. I'm sure I'll want to experience the holidays in WDW at some point, but if I vacation mostly in May and/or Sept (any week of the month), do you think I'll have a problem securing a 7-night reservation if I call promptly at the 11-month window based on my check-in day (followed by DBD if the first night isn't available)?

I also generally travel in May & September, and I didn't have any trouble yesterday booking all 7 days of my trip beginning May 26, even with a Tuesday arrival.

 

[Dean]

With a limited number of premo rooms and membership growing. it's only natural that these rooms would become harder to get. And with some members wanting only to stay in these rooms the supply will never be able to meet demand. However those of you who desire these rooms will have an opening when all the members in this group( premo rooms ) start booking BLT.

With the exception of AKV, all resorts that are "high demand" are sold out. Thus there is a fixed amount of competition for certain room types. The exception will be AKV due to the limited supply of concierge and value rooms and a growing membership.

A presumably official interpretation of the policy from DVC Executive Communications is that after booking your first 7 days with one call, days 8 and beyond can be booked day-by-day (if desired) beginning at "day 2," i.e. call Jan 1st for Dec 1-7th, call Jan 2nd for the 8th and so on. This being the case, what would the rationale be for capping the initial reservation to 7 days? Longer reservations would eliminate the DBD calls once and for all, which I assume is the goal of MS.

Likely Arbitrary but based on usage patterns.

 

[BroganMc]

As the new system works I think it will end up screwing me royally for NYE '09/'10. The reason: I book a HA studio Dec 30 - Jan 2. Since there are so few HA studios available, I need to book these day-by-day for such high demand times. I can't afford bumping up to a 1bedroom as I did in April (there was no HA studio availability) at NYE.

I guess I could walk my reservation since my use year begins in December. But then won't I be spending almost my entire January on the phone with MS making and cancelling reservations just for 3 days?

When I talked to MS about it I was not reassured by the wait list alternative. In my experience, MS never calls Special Needs to confirm HA availability before confirming wait lists. When I tried using it in the past I was always offered rooms that were not accessible and had to block the transaction manually.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hi, As I understand "WALKING" is that you would START booking your reservation before the DATE you actually wanted to arrive and then call back each day and CANCEL your first day and ADD on a day(always KEEPING a 7 day reservations) until you actually HAVE the 7 dates that you want?? Is this WHAT it means or I am totally off ?? This is what I think DVC-MS will try to STOP if TOO many members are booking this way.

Considering that the members satisfaction team is relaying in their calls that this change was done b/c of members requests to only make one phone call then I don't believe they were necessarily trying to stop day by day callers, per say. Just trying to satisfy members who only wanted to make one call. If that really was the intent then the walking of the reservation isn't necessarily a loophole in their eyes. Part of my thought that this is correct is b/c they selected 7 days as the limit and they stated that for a majority of members that was the length of stay that they normally did. By chosing the 7 days they already have said that one phone call isn't completely what they were trying to do or they could have lengthened the number of days so no one would have to call twice.

Now, if their real intent had nothing to do with members requests but was an attempt to reduce phone calls in general to reduce costs then I think this would be something they would address.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

As the new system works I think it will end up screwing me royally for NYE '09/'10. The reason: I book a HA studio Dec 30 - Jan 2. Since there are so few HA studios available, I need to book these day-by-day for such high demand times. I can't afford bumping up to a 1bedroom as I did in April (there was no HA studio availability) at NYE.

I guess I could walk my reservation since my use year begins in December. But then won't I be spending almost my entire January on the phone with MS making and cancelling reservations just for 3 days?

When I talked to MS about it I was not reassured by the wait list alternative. In my experience, MS never calls Special Needs to confirm HA availability before confirming wait lists. When I tried using it in the past I was always offered rooms that were not accessible and had to block the transaction manually.

HA's are another great example of a specialty booking class. Actually, more than anything else b/c if someone doesn't get their AKV concierge they can move to any other type of room including HA. Having a sister that needs HA it just isn't as easy to go the other way. I can see that it would be very important to have completely equal opportunity at reserving one at 11 months.

I was thinking about this even more......wow what a mess the wait list could be in this situation!

 

[mrdiscranky]

Likely Arbitrary but based on usage patterns.

That seems to imply that Disney put thought and research into this decision.

Unless I'm missing something, the 7-day limit serves no useful function. All it does is force people wanting to stay more than 7-days to make multiple phone calls, wasting both their time and MS.