New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[jdg345]

Lets be clear here:

You "can't" because you choose not to...for whatever good, valid, and personal reason you have.

You have the opportunity to. You have (I assume) a phone. MS is open. They will take your call and give you your room (provided you're toward the front of the line). The reason you can't take the opportunity has nothing to do with the system. The SYSTEM is fair. Life might not be...

With the new system, you simply don't have the opportunity to, based on an event completely out of your control (how many have booked with MS, and for how long, during the preceeding 7 days). In this case, the reason is because the SYSTEM isn't affording you the opportunity. The SYSTEM doesn't appear to be fair. Life still might not be...

I think that's a remarkable point as to the "fairness", here.

Excellent Post and Very Well Said!

 

[Deb & Bill]

...The other thing I told her was that I think people were defensive because there was no communication ahead of time about this new policy change. People don't like to be side swiped by things like this. She agreed, and said they KNOW that was a mistake and that it wont happen again. ...

So, how loudly did you chuckle on that comment, Diane. The best news we could hear right now is that Jim Lewis has been promoted to President of Disney Adventures.

This is just mistake number whatever in a series of mistakes that will continue.

Just wait until they tell us all that we can only check in on Saturday and we have to check out the next Saturday. And they are adding coin boxes to all the washers and dryers.

I tried to warn everyone about a year or so ago that things were going downhill fast.

 

[WDWguru]

...Of course, all of this will be VERY important when on-line booking comes into play. When that happens, someone in California can call at 8 PM and book December 25-Jan.1 while the poor guy in New York is getting up at midnight to make sure he gets his 11 month booking window on-line at 12:00:01 AM.

Yeah, but right now it's a pain in the butt for those of us out West. I have to get up and call at 7am (those in CA have to do so at 6am) if I want to get in when MS opens. For me personally, staying up until midnight would be EASIER than getting up and calling at 7.

Oh, and booking the Illuminations and Wishes cruises I've had to call on was really fun - on the phone at 4:55 AM! Thank goodness we couldn't find a time to fit one in for October!

 

[jdg345]

So, how loudly did you chuckle on that comment, Diane. The best news we could hear right now is that Jim Lewis has been promoted to President of Disney Adventures.

This is just mistake number whatever in a series of mistakes that will continue.

Just wait until they tell us all that we can only check in on Saturday and we have to check out the next Saturday. And they are adding coin boxes to all the washers and dryers.

I tried to warn everyone about a year or so ago that things were going downhill fast.

I suspect they'll be removing the complimentary coffee, soaps, and shampoos soon too due to overwhelming member request and the concern for hygiene.

btw, I don't disagree with you. I'm just wondering what gave you the heads up? Something in Lewis' background?

 

[crisi]

What if you don't have enough points to "walk" your reservation? This is going to happen. People don't have enough points to do it, or they'd have do that permanent thing called borrowing to secure something, possibly messing up their future plans.

This isn't any different then the previous recommendation that you book your home at 11 months - then book where you want to stay day by day at seven months - holding onto the original reservation just in case you didn't get all the days so you didn't need to switch resorts. Not everyone had the points to pull that one off either. People with lots of points have always had "advantages" us points poor people haven't - they can tie up points in reservations that they may not use - this is no more than a variation of that.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I suspect they'll be removing the complimentary coffee, soaps, and shampoos soon too due to overwhelming member request and the concern for hygiene.

btw, I don't disagree with you. I'm just wondering what gave you the heads up? Something in Lewis' background?

It was just a feeling I had. What with the end of Vacation Magic. Changes in the wind. How they made announcements for AKV.

 

[bookwormde]

This thought came to light on another thread.

So your waitlist can only be received as a chunk, from what I see there is nothing to keep you from calling as often as you like to check to see if the individual days are available.

This system is really effective at reducing the number of calls to MS and saving money. HA HA

bookwormde

 

[dvcdisney]

Again, I don't understand how someone can complain DBD was unfair because someone might be able to book a few hours before they could, but think that people being able to book more than 7 days before them is okay.

Ditto.

 

[jdg345]

This thought came to light on another thread.

So your waitlist can only be received as a chunk, from what I see there is nothing to keep you from calling as often as you like to check to see if the individual days are available.

This system is really effective at reducing the number of calls to MS and saving money. HA HA

bookwormde

Exactly!

People will waitlist for the chunk and then just call in every day, likely more than once, to see if any one day is available yet. Of course, this serves to make the chunk waitlist harder to fill for those not doing that.

It's pretty clear they are going to have to hire 2-3x as many CM's as they would have had they just left things alone.

 

[jdg345]

It was just a feeling I had. What with the end of Vacation Magic. Changes in the wind. How they made announcements for AKV.

Agreed; I'm curious to see how BLT ends up announced. From what a little birdie has been tweeting, it's likely to be the same mess, if not worse.

 

[jarestel]

I suspect a year from now when DVC makes new "enhancements" to whatever program, the same old group of "change is not good" folks who hated the banking changes, the OKW extension, the new booking policy, etc, will be here railing against the latest blow to vacation freedom. But the bottom line is, they will still be here. And that says more than a hundred posts or e-mails to MS or to Jim Lewis (which he will never see)!

 

[lisareniff]

I have been lurking on this thread but haven't posted until now. Until I had time to let it sink it and not rush to judgement (or I'm just not talented enough at writing my emotions)

The part of all this that upsets me the most is the manner in which they decided and implemented this change. This did this without regard to the owners of the property. Just changed one of the most important rules without informing anyone. Now when one of my kids tries to do this during a game, I inform them that that is cheating. That's how I feel about the DVC management right now, that they are cheaters. OK, cheaters seems rather harsh but is to the point, they are lacking in professional integrity. It saddens me to have purchased property from those who do not deal with their membership in an honest upfront manner, something I value greatly.

Now as far as the new reservation system...
I do see some advantages. One call and you know where you stand. Done. Less call volume = lower costs. Encourages longer stays = lower costs. I think that some DBD booking wasn't needed. I was surprised that DBD for a studio at BCV the first week of Dec was not needed (when I decided to switch from a 1bdrm to a studio at the end of my DBD for the 1 bdrm).

However.... I am one that may be affected. I purchase a 150pt VB contract for the purpose of staying at a Beach Cottage every other year for Sun- Thurs nights during Pres. week or April break. The 5 weekday nights are 300pts, but each weeknight is 150 pts. I am not sure I will now be able to get this reservation. I guess I could do a three day walk??

My other contract is BCV. We do go during winter or spring break but think that we will be OK here. We don't need a 2 bdrm w/2 Q's, but it is nice.


Somethings I would like them to change or 'enhance'...
-Eliminate walking by putting in a cancelation delay period. (i.e. you cant cancel reservation days for period of time after making it if made before the 11/7 month time)

-Create a waitlist holding inventory, so that there is a greater chance of getting a multiple day waitlist. So when a day is released it goes in a holding area for a couple days, when the waitlist program is run their will be a greater chance of bigger blocks of time for those that have reached the top of the list.

I think NYE/Christmas is a big problem. I don't know how that is going to go.

 

[jdg345]

I suspect a year from now when DVC makes new "enhancements" to whatever program, the same old group of protesters who hated the banking changes, the OKW extension, the new booking policy, etc, will be here railing against the latest blow to vacation freedom. But the bottom line is, they will still be here. And that says more than a hundred posts!

They'll be here, but it may be to say that this is why they have no points (or very few) remaining. Or there could be quite a few 'I told you so's" as well.

 

[jarestel]

They'll be here, but it may be to say that this is why they have no points (or very few) remaining. Or there could be quite a few 'I told you so's" as well.

Mights & maybes again... It's hard to argue with that. But I do concede that in a year if this new system has turned out horribly for the majority of DVC members, I won't mind admitting it. I'm just not ready to concede that point before anyone has lost a single thing yet.

 

[dvcdisney]

I suspect a year from now when DVC makes new "enhancements" to whatever program, the same old group of "change is not good" folks who hated the banking changes, the OKW extension, the new booking policy, etc, will be here railing against the latest blow to vacation freedom. But the bottom line is, they will still be here. And that says more than a hundred posts or e-mails to MS or to Jim Lewis (which he will never see)!

As long as they handle the announcement and actual changes better so they don't create a mess like this one, I think most people will have less problems with it. I agree, there are people who will complain about every change, however, it is their perogative.

I personally, was fine with the way they handled the banking changes. They provided an announcement BEFORE they implemented the change. Definitely unlike this current "enhancement". I guess DVC underestimated the importance of the booking policy for many of us.

 

[bookwormde]

jarestel

I am a change person, I love change I am always looking to make thing “better”. It just has to be done with enough forethought and effort that it does not make more messes than it fixes. I learned this lesson long ago.

While Jim Lewis will never see the emails I cannot imagine that any of his subordinates are brave enough not to let him know what is going on. Nothing an executive hates more than getting blindsided at a cocktail party. That a good way to get a 1 way out the door (do not embarrass the boss rule).

bookwormde

 

[dvcdisney]

Just curious. Does anyone think that the reason why they didn't announce it earlier, BEFORE the implementation is because they knew it wasn't going to be welcomed?Does anyone think it's possible that they think that announcing it too early would create larger problems? For example, if they announced it 6 months ago, it is conceivable that those who do not like it would complain for 6 months and thereafter. If they don't mention it until it was effective, then there is a chance that there will be a few months of complaints until (as maybe they were hoping) members call in and have no problems with the new system and inevitable stop complaining about it.

Possible?

 

[Snookies]

This isn't any different then the previous recommendation that you book your home at 11 months - then book where you want to stay day by day at seven months - holding onto the original reservation just in case you didn't get all the days so you didn't need to switch resorts. Not everyone had the points to pull that one off either. People with lots of points have always had "advantages" us points poor people haven't - they can tie up points in reservations that they may not use - this is no more than a variation of that.

You have made an excellent point here. Financial writers say that wealth breaks market imperfections in the sense that it provides financial staying power. The same is true with respect to DVC points. As you have said, a member with surplus points has the opportunity to take advantage of an unforeseen opportunity like this. A point-constrained member will not have the opportunity.

So, how loudly did you chuckle on that comment, Diane. The best news we could hear right now is that Jim Lewis has been promoted to President of Disney Adventures.

This is just mistake number whatever in a series of mistakes that will continue.

Just wait until they tell us all that we can only check in on Saturday and we have to check out the next Saturday. And they are adding coin boxes to all the washers and dryers.

I tried to warn everyone about a year or so ago that things were going downhill fast.

Although "downhill" may be a matter of perpsective, I agree with the basic points you make. I think the basic direction of DVC management decisions is significantly different than it was even a few years ago. I also think that operating decisions may be being made without market research, member surveys, or member input to accomplish either marketing goals or operating cost reductions. Typicall, a decision is made, an announcement of the decision is made, sometimes indirectly, and the typical rationale is something along the lines of DVC management has listened to your input (when they haven't formally requested any) and is making a change due to member demand. This seems to have become standard operating procedure with Disney Parks and Resorts. When initially questioned about the Holiday Surcharge for some WDW dining locations in June, the initial answer was that the surcharge was being imposed because of guest demand. Although there are at least 2 ways to interpret that statement (i.e., 1 way is to claim that they are arguing that guests are demanding higher prices; the other is to note that they are imposing the surcharge in a high demand period), the way these announcements are being made seems to be disingenous at best. In other words, WDW management in general and DVC management in particular will make a decision and, if challenged, will answer that the change was due to guest or member input. If questioned about how input was received, they'll answer that they didn't formally request information, but rather, evaluated comments they had received over time. I frequently suggest that anecdotes are not evidence because they may not be representative of overall consensus. This is just as applicable to DVC management as it is in general. The current direction of DVC management reminds me of the Paul Pressler / Cynthia Harris era at Disneyland in that most decisions seem to be driven by marketing opportunity and operating cost reduction. Frankly, they have the right, and probably the responsibility, to evaluate their decisions this way. My real concern is whether those decisions detract from the value of membership. In some cases, I think they have. I'm not particularly sure this is one of those instances, but, as many have pointed out, it may be.

 

[mrdiscranky]

I suspect they'll be removing the complimentary coffee, soaps, and shampoos soon too due to overwhelming member request and the concern for hygiene.

You joke, butkeep in mind Disney "justified" the removal of tips and appitizer from the Dining Plan by saying they did it in response to visitor complaints.

 

[bookwormde]

Dvc disney

I do not think they had any idea how quickly members would find the multitude of inequities in the system and figure work around which would negate and time savings for MS.

I would find it plausible that they waited until after the 7 month window for Thanksgiving through New Years was over so the real test would be 6+ months away with only spring break and a few select resort/room/services categories being a major issue in the interim. In 6 months is when the bulk of the membership will really begin to see the problem when they call in exactly at 9:00 am and there is no availability. I would not want to be the MS person who has to explain this after all the unrealistic announcements that DVC has put out.

bookwormde