New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[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.

There is always going to be resistance to change, ie "I bought DVC based on these everlasting assumptions". DVC has a responsibility to ensure the program works well enough for the majority of its members, and that, IMO, should be their focus. As has been said, whenever there is any kind of change there will be winners and there will be losers. Regardless of any individual preferences, as long as the winners outnumber the losers, the change was probably for the best.

 

[jdg345]

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.

I agreed with that! It was too confusing for me otherwise! Do I tip? Don't I? I can't read the small print on this receipt, I don't understand the breakdown. Help me Disney! Help me!

 

[Inkmahm]

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

You HAVE worked in corporate America! My one rule is that I can never make my boss look stupid. He hates looking stupid. He can forgive almost anything but when he looks stupid, watch out!

 

[jeankeri]

Sheila called back today. Since I sent my e-mail to 2 different e-mail addresses, I received 2 call-backs. So, what I did ask her this time was to confirm the new policy for me. If I call for a 7 day stay, and my first day is not available, but the rest of my days are, can I waitlist the first day and book the rest? No. I waitlist the entire week, the waitlist is 'active' after the last day, so unless I call DBD to then book the remaining days that were available during my first call (unless they are snatched up by a waitlist that goes active the next day), I will still need to call DBD to book my week, because my booking window only opens if the first day is available.
I also mentioned to her that I had read the new explanation of changes on the website and thought the wording was interesting that the feedback to the change has been positive, but some members needed clarification of the new policy. I told her that I was not confused by the new policy. I do not like it. Furthermore, her explanations to clarify the new policy make me like it even less. I asked her if her higher ups were receiving the negative feedback as well, and not being given the spin that we just have questions. She assured me that they are keeping track of the negative reports and passing them on.

 

[mrdiscranky]

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?

I don't think so. I honestly don't think they thought it through at all.

 

[jarestel]

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?

Advance notice would have been the preferable way to go, but I don't think anything would have changed significantly either way. The policy wouldn't have been affected based on a few dozen comments in either instance.

 

[zulaya]

On one hand, I think they thought we'd all go down on our hands and knees and praise them for making it "easier." And they didn't think through the problems.

On the other hand, I think they knew 100% that this would not be well received. And that's why they didn't have it implemented until the 7 month window for Thanksgiving/Dec/Xmas/NYE was past. They wanted to give themselves some breathing room, maybe to work out the kinks, but probably hoping that in 6 months everyone who isn't happy will be resigned to it and just accept it. They are hoping time will erase our memories, or at least our feelings on this matter.

The problem with that is the first time someone is shut out of the reservation for TG/Dec/Xmas/NYE, then the wave of complaints they are getting now will be a drop in a bucket compared to the flood they will receive when this happens.

I'd love to see the stats on the number of calls MS receives in 6 months. And then I'd like to see how Jan 09 call volume compares to Jan 08 call volume. I'm willing to be proven wrong. I'm willing to be convinced that this all works out, saves MS money on calls and that there are fewer calls coming in. I just don't think that they are going to see the sweeping savings they project.

 

[snowbunny]

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.

So? It's not that he can't go online at midnight, he just doesn't want to. That is his choice.

A choice similar to that, it has been pointed out, made by the person who chooses to work in a job that does not allow her or him to get on the horn and hold waiting for MS every morning by 9:00 am for a week.

Once online booking comes (and it will), the poor guy in New York will always be able to add an associate member or get someone else to do his booking, just the same as has been suggested here under the old system.

 

[bobbiwoz]

...
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.

...

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??



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)


...

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

I agree with all this...we never had a BC before, loved it, and I'm just hoping we can get one again, with our 150 VB contract as well.
Bobbi

 

[jdg345]

I agree with all this...we never had a BC before, loved it, and I'm just hoping we can get one again, with our 150 VB contract as well.
Bobbi

These are pretty much only available at 11 months, DBD?

 

[bobbiwoz]

These are pretty much only available at 11 months, DBD?

I don't think that's the case year round. We've been to VB in March, and met people who booked one at less than 7 months for that time. So...the question is really, did I have to book day by day for my June stay this year? I don't know the answer. A weekend day is 132, Sunday to Thursday 53, that's a big difference, and would break the bank for us.

Bobbi

 

[dvcdisney]

I'd love to see the stats on the number of calls MS receives in 6 months. And then I'd like to see how Jan 09 call volume compares to Jan 08 call volume. I'm willing to be proven wrong. I'm willing to be convinced that this all works out, saves MS money on calls and that there are fewer calls coming in. I just don't think that they are going to see the sweeping savings they project.

I would like to see the stats as well.

I just can't believe this would generate SIGNIFICANTLY less calls.

 

[lisareniff]

These are pretty much only available at 11 months, DBD?

Not Bobbi, but For the Sun-Thurs weeks that we are wanting (school breaks) it is necessary.

 

[jeankeri]

The only thing I see that this new policy has assured is that no one has an advantage in booking a future vacation. No one can have anything set in stone, whether it be travel dates or room types, no one can be assured that they can most likely get the room/dates they wish (if it is really important to them to have those dates/rooms) by devoting their peresonal time to get them (because the posts here by members who have used DBD-myself included-it has been successful). Now everyone can be stressed before that first phone call not knowing if their vacation is even available anymore. Why doesn't everyone LOVE these new rules.... .

 

[jdg345]

I don't think that's the case year round. We've been to VB in March, and met people who booked one at less than 7 months for that time. So...the question is really, did I have to book day by day for my June stay this year? I don't know the answer. A weekend day is 132, Sunday to Thursday 53, that's a big difference, and would break the bank for us.

Bobbi

Thank you!

And lisareniff too!

 

[wildernessDad]

I've been in and out of this thread over time. Can someone who has talked with MS about this specifically summarize basically what the rules are now and what we can and cannot do? I've heard that 'walking a ressie' will be frowned upon, but don't know what the consequences will be if one does that.

 

[Dean]

You agree the policy is broken and will needed further fixes to make it work properly. You also agree that it's going to hurt some people. Are you really surprised that people are upset?

PS - For what it's worth, I'm starting to come around and think that the system can work if fixed. But I think the fix isn't to prevent people from dropping days - it's to prevent them from adding days to a reservation.

Not broken but not at it's best yet. Even at it's worst the new system is better than the old IMO.

I hope you know that I don't think you are unsympathetic. I, myself, very much understand your views. To be honest, I do not have any plans on going during Christmas and NYE, so I am not in complete panic mode. And I know you are probably tired of hearing about the idea of "fairness" and it is obvious that we are seeing this concept from different views. But I just don't think it's right that one member has any priority over another member in the same boat.

Although, I hope that I will not have any problems with this new system, I can forsee myself getting upset with MS if/when I don't get the reservation I wanted. I will now always assume these problems will be as a result of DVC's new policy (which I believe is unfair). I cannot see how I can do any better to control my reservations. I don't think I want to "walk" the reservation, so I'm quite upset that I may consider it (and I know this is a personal choice).

I think all the disagreements are based on different points of view and I think we can all respect that. But it doesn't mean we will be satisfied with it. I am not surprised that other members, like yourself, like the new system. I was surprised that DVC had changed it.

While I do like the new system up to a point, it's that there are a number of issues here. One is fairness to the members, which I would define differently than every room being available 11 months out every day. I'd personally put the issue of a single user getting their entire reservation (up to a point, ? 14 days) above that of a single day being available for a new reservation. Another is fairness to the system, which is a different type of fairness to the membership as a whole and any potential buyer. The maint fee $$$ figure heavily into this equation. And as I said before, for every member that loses out now, there was always someone calling 11 months out before and losing as well. Thus there is no truly FAIR system unless you use a lottery system for each and every day with more demand at 11 months out than supply. I'd caution those that think this is a big change not to look at any other timeshares, they wouldn't be able to survive the shock.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

I've been in and out of this thread over time. Can someone who has talked with MS about this specifically summarize basically what the rules are now and what we can and cannot do? I've heard that 'walking a ressie' will be frowned upon, but don't know what the consequences will be if one does that.

As of now, it’s not. What would be considered walking one, two, three or how many days? They have to consider that travel plans may have to be adjusted between 11 months and arrival.

 

[CarolMN]

I just had another conversation with member satisfaction. She told me that they ARE looking at this and will see how it plays out and change where they may need to. 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. In fact, I see this new policy making on-line booking a LOT more difficult when it comes to getting what you want.

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.

Now, I for one want to stop reading and replying to this thread!!! Let's all take a break and go enjoy our nations Birthday!

So? It's not that he can't go online at midnight, he just doesn't want to. That is his choice.

A choice similar to that, it has been pointed out, made by the person who chooses to work in a job that does not allow her or him to get on the horn and hold waiting for MS every morning by 9:00 am for a week.

Once online booking comes (and it will), the poor guy in New York will always be able to add an associate member or get someone else to do his booking, just the same as has been suggested here under the old system.

You are both assuming that if (or when) we get online booking that the window would open at Midnight, Eastern time. Makes more sense to me that the online booking window would open at 9 am Eastern - the same time it opens now. Do you think they will allow online booking to have a "head start" over the callers? Of course, they could, but I would be surprised if they did (even after this last change). Just my opinion. OK if you disagree.

 

[Dean]

I do believe that there are those who are happy with the new system, but I cannot see it being the majority. Now I don't have any stats and that's why I wished they could publish the percentage of those who does or doesn't like it. I am just curious. Just because I do not like the new system and do not agree with the reason for changing the system doesn't mean that I don't empathize with those who do.

The additional info supported my feelings that a major portion of this was related to personnel costs. Diane also touched on a point I made some 100 pages or so, that this is likely a necessary step to online booking. Not that it couldn't be done another way but this change will make it much easier. I think you can rest assured they'll make the changes to make sure that BDB calls are at a minimum, as they should, IMO.