New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[bookwormde]

There are a few separate issues, which this has created. This first, of the potential for rolling booking probably can be solved technically with minimal damage to current DVC flexibility. The issue of long reservation being able to book the same day before short reservations is a much more difficult issue, this preference is going to be technically very challenging to adjust for as is the full week vs. weekday only issue.

bookwormde

 

[CarolMN]

Copied this from my MULTISITE PUBLIC OFFERING STATEMENT (I added the highlighting):

"c. The Home Resort Priority Period. As set forth in each DVC Resort's Membership
Agreement and Home Resort Rules and Regulations and as disclosed in the Disclosure Document, DVCMC
has implemented a Home Resort Priority Period at each DVC Resort. During the Home Resort Priority
Period, a Club Member receives an exclusive right to reserve the use of a Vacation Home at his or her Home
Resort with respect to a given Use Day on a first come, first served basis, with other Club Members who own
Ownership Interests at his or her Home Resort, eleven months through and including eight months in
advance of that Use Day. Club Members who own Ownership Interests at other DVC Resorts may only
attempt to reserve the use of that Vacation Home for that Use Day during the period commencing seven (7)
months in advance of that Use Day. This Home Resort Priority Period is subject to the special season
preference rights as more particularly described below."


Since other BWV owners can reserve a given use day before I am allowed to do so (because I don't want to arrive earlier), I have to wonder if the new policy is in violation of the POS. I think I will ask this in my email message to DVC (which I am still composing).

Although I'm sure DVC reserved the right to change the rules, most of the "right to change the rules" provisions I've found so far, say the Board of Directors have to authorize it. Doubt this was done (yet) for this policy.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

What would everyone say if the seven day reservation would be changed to fourteen, twenty-one, twenty-eight or even higher?

 

[jdg345]

Not to be too callous about this, but if a high point member is willing to burn a day or two of points, possibly Friday or Saturdays, then those are their points to burn. I really doubt you would see very much of this scenario.

My solution was a way to make this new revised reservation system from being "worked" by people making numerous reservations that they would just cancel on a day by day basis: cancel the first, add a day on the end, repeat repeat repeat until you have what you want when you want. Of course, the argument is to trash this "new" system and go back to the previous. I'm not arguing either way, but if you are going to keep this new system plug the obvious loopholes to reduce abuse.

The issue is that by plugging loopholes, you also run the risk of penalizing others who aren't trying to take advantage of the same.

 

[jdg345]

What would everyone say if the seven day reservation would be changed to fourteen, twenty-one, twenty-eight or even higher?

I think that would help those who want to keep their longer vacation plans intact, but open other avenues for abuse as well.

At the end of the day, I don't know what was broken about the old system -- so I don't know why they are trying to complicate it ... especially since they seemed to just decide this and not communicate it to anyone.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Several posts have stated that the new policy as we know it so far favors those who have plenty of points. They can speculatively book a Fri - Thurs stay and drop the weekend days later where a lower point contract would not have that flexability. How about throwing a new wrinkle into this scenario - make it a 5 day window instead of 7 days. While I agree that this will not mitigate some of the issues discussed in this thread it would help offset the advantage that larger point contracts have over smaller ones for most member bookings.

 

[Caskbill]

I'll echo that sentiment.

The odds of a resort being fully booked more than 11 months out (with the new +7) is very, very slim......

But the odds of booking some very special dates will definitely go down, most likely to the point where you won't be able to get your reservation, at 9:00 am at 11-months.

NYE is the perfect example. Suppose I want to check in on 12/31 for 5-nights, BWV standard Studio. This puts most of the vacation in January, which is Adventure season instead of the last week of December, which is still very crowded, and is Premier season.

Well, many of those NYE nights will already have been booked by those who are checking in on 12/25. If that group didn't reserve all the Studios, then those checking in on 12/26 get their shot. Follow by those checking in on 12/27, then the groups checking in on 12/28, 12/29, and 12/30. By the time I can reserve my 12/31 checkin, I'll tell you for certain that there will be absolutely zero BWV Std View Studios still available. There probably won't be any BWV studios (std or preferred), and a good chance no 1-B/R villas either. I don't need a 2-B/R for just two people, so what are my options?

Who knows, maybe the only things left will be at the larger resorts. But I can't use my BWV points to book that 12/31 checkin anywhere until 7-months. And by then maybe all the Studios at those resorts have already been booked for 12/31.

Bottom line, as a BWV owner, with only enough points to reserve a Studio, this change means I can never get NYE there ever again. Can't even 'play' the system and book on the 25th for 7 nights. That would be a minimum of 156 points for a std view studio (181 for preferred). Compared to booking 5-nights, checking in on the 31st, which could be as low as 67 points, depending on weekends. Someone owning just 100 BWV points is essentially locked out of ever getting a BWV NYE reservation with a checkin date of the 31st.

 

[RobDoc]

Copied this from my MULTISITE PUBLIC OFFERING STATEMENT (I added the highlighting):

"c. The Home Resort Priority Period. As set forth in each DVC Resort's Membership
Agreement and Home Resort Rules and Regulations and as disclosed in the Disclosure Document, DVCMC
has implemented a Home Resort Priority Period at each DVC Resort. During the Home Resort Priority
Period, a Club Member receives an exclusive right to reserve the use of a Vacation Home at his or her Home
Resort with respect to a given Use Day on a first come, first served basis, with other Club Members who own
Ownership Interests at his or her Home Resort, eleven months through and including eight months in
advance of that Use Day. Club Members who own Ownership Interests at other DVC Resorts may only
attempt to reserve the use of that Vacation Home for that Use Day during the period commencing seven (7)
months in advance of that Use Day. This Home Resort Priority Period is subject to the special season
preference rights as more particularly described below."


Since other BWV owners can reserve a given use day before I am allowed to do so (because I don't want to arrive earlier), I have to wonder if the new policy is in violation of the POS. I think I will ask this in my email message to DVC (which I am still composing).

Although I'm sure DVC reserved the right to change the rules, most of the "right to change the rules" provisions I've found so far, say the Board of Directors have to authorize it. Doubt this was done (yet) for this policy.

... and for those troubled that some owners could reserve before others even at 11 months - add in the provisions of the "Special Seasons Preference list" and you will be even more troubled since that provision would allow owners at other resorts to reserve before you could - even earlier than 11 months.

Years ago, when we did have the "Special Seasons" list members members could reserve for Christmas week (12/24 - 12/31) regardless where they owned as long as they were on the list. The use of that list was discontinued since it was never needed to fill those dates (it has not been used since 1999) - but it could be revived in the future and is already noted in the POS.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Copied this from my MULTISITE PUBLIC OFFERING STATEMENT (I added the highlighting):

"c. The Home Resort Priority Period. As set forth in each DVC Resort's Membership
Agreement and Home Resort Rules and Regulations and as disclosed in the Disclosure Document, DVCMC
has implemented a Home Resort Priority Period at each DVC Resort. During the Home Resort Priority
Period, a Club Member receives an exclusive right to reserve the use of a Vacation Home at his or her Home
Resort with respect to a given Use Day on a first come, first served basis, with other Club Members who own
Ownership Interests at his or her Home Resort, eleven months through and including eight months in
advance of that Use Day. Club Members who own Ownership Interests at other DVC Resorts may only
attempt to reserve the use of that Vacation Home for that Use Day during the period commencing seven (7)
months in advance of that Use Day. This Home Resort Priority Period is subject to the special season
preference rights as more particularly described below."


Since other BWV owners can reserve a given use day before I am allowed to do so (because I don't want to arrive earlier), I have to wonder if the new policy is in violation of the POS. I think I will ask this in my email message to DVC (which I am still composing).

Although I'm sure DVC reserved the right to change the rules, most of the "right to change the rules" provisions I've found so far, say the Board of Directors have to authorize it. Doubt this was done (yet) for this policy.

I am livid about this change and would love to know who is the best person to write to. I book the first week of december SV BWV studio S-TH. I will never be able to get this with this new rule.. I can not lengthen my vacation because believe it or not my husband actually has to work.. I bought at BWV contract just for this purpose. I am so upset!

 

[CarolMN]

... and for those troubled that some owners could reserve before others even at 11 months - add in the provisions of the "Special Seasons Preference list" and you will be even more troubled since that provision would allow owners at other resorts to reserve before you could - even earlier than 11 months.

Years ago, when we did have the "Special Seasons" list members members could reserve for Christmas week (12/24 - 12/31) regardless where they owned as long as they were on the list. The use of that list was discontinued since it was never needed to fill those dates (it has not been used since 1999) - but it could be revived in the future and is already noted in the POS.

Even though I never wanted to visit during the "Special Seasons" time, I hated the SS concept. It just seemed wrong to pay the higher dues for the BWV and then lose out to a non-BWV owner for a high demand time. I was happy they discontinued it even though it would never have affected me.

That said, at least the SS lottery process gave everyone participating the same chance at those dates. You didn't get a better chance at a reservation by entering the lottery sooner or by having more points.

 

[Inkmahm]

I agree that there is often a knee jerk reaction to the idea of change, in any fashion. Some would say it that the ones that fight this change are the ones already "working" the system with day by day bookings anyway.

With the new system there will be loopholes, with the old system there were loopholes, there is no perfect system out there. I don't necessarily disagree with the change, I can see a management perspective of keeping costs down by eliminating many of the day by day bookings that tie up the call center and require more employees. Yes, there will still be those that are working the system, but for the greatest part of the DVC community (those especially that don't look at the tips and tricks here on Dis) there will not be a lot of change or they may feel better because they have a better chance against the "experts".

As far as those that feel that disney is saying one vacation is more important than another, I don't see that....and I feel that the reverse argument could be made. Maybe they do value a "full" vacation and don't want members who are trying to go to have so many holes in their vacation. Maybe the idea of first come first serve is just that, the people who arrive first are given a priority for their length of stay vs someone who arrives later.

What were the loopholes in the old system, exactly? Everyone had an equal chance to call exactly 11 months in advance of the night they wanted at 9 am. Fair for all, no favoritism to any.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

What were the loopholes in the old system, exactly? Everyone had an equal chance to call exactly 11 months in advance of the night they wanted at 9 am. Fair for all, no favoritism to any.

I agree!

 

[RobDoc]

I am livid about this change and would love to know who is the best person to write to. I book the first week of december SV BWV studio S-TH. I will never be able to get this with this new rule.. I can not lengthen my vacation because believe it or not my husband actually has to work.. I bought at BWV contract just for this purpose. I am so upset!

You can contact DVC at :

DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com

This contact email address may be used both by those in favor of the new policy as well as by those upset by the change.

 

[goldilocks_63]

"To combat "abuse" of the system any reservation made where THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRIP OR MORE is cancelled ..."

____

I now reserve 10-11 months in advance to get the rooms, but often don't know what exact days I'll fly (depends on airfare & availablility) and who will come.

SO I would hate to loose booking flexibility because people are gaming the system be dropping off days that they don't need....

Anyone else have this problem coordinating with kid's schedules, work, and airplanes?

Goldi

 

[dvcnewgirl]

You can contact DVC at :

DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com

This contact email address may be used both by those in favor of the new policy as well as by those upset by the change.

Thank you!

 

[RachelTori]

Here's what my "Alerts" look like on the DVC website:

You may bank up to 100% of your Vacation Points for Member ID number XXXXXXXXXXXX until the end of July 2008. Select the Bank Vacation Points link below to bank Vacation Points online or contact Member Services at (800) ******** or (407) **********.
Currently, you may request a reservation for a Disney Cruise Line® vacation that has a sail date on or before June 21, 2010, some sailings may not be available for booking at the 24-month window.
Currently, you may request a reservation at your Home Resort for vacations that have a check-out date on or before May 21, 2009, based upon availability.
Currently, you may request a reservation at any Disney Vacation Club Resort for vacations that have a check-out date on or before January 21, 2009, based upon availability.
This Use Year's remaining Vacation Points for Member ID number XXXXXXXXXXXX will expire on the last business day of November 2008.

Under the "new" rules, what dates would be applicable?

 

[danielle782001]

At this point, I'm just curious to see HOW/WHEN they make the "official" announcement of this new policy!

I am a member that is a bit upset that they made this major change without making it public...I feel really bad for the people that are planning to book trips during the next week or so that do not read these boards....If you do not read these boards you would not know of this change...Therefore, there wil be people waiting until check-out date (instead of calling day-by-day) that will not know that there are people that booked their week in full already..It is not fair to change such a major booking policyw without announcing the information...

As for working the system, I think that people work the system no matter what it is...There are people that book trips that they have no intension on using with the old policy...Sadly there are always people that use the system for their own benefit...I do like the idea of not having to call day-by-day and I also think they should make the rule about not dropping days...I would really like to see the official policy change to see if they have made plans to combat the problem of people booking days they do not plan to use.

 

[RobDoc]

Here's what my "Alerts" look like on the DVC website:

You may bank up to 100% of your Vacation Points for Member ID number XXXXXXXXXXXX until the end of July 2008. Select the Bank Vacation Points link below to bank Vacation Points online or contact Member Services at (800) ******** or (407) **********.
Currently, you may request a reservation for a Disney Cruise Line® vacation that has a sail date on or before June 21, 2010, some sailings may not be available for booking at the 24-month window.
Currently, you may request a reservation at your Home Resort for vacations that have a check-out date on or before May 21, 2009, based upon availability.
Currently, you may request a reservation at any Disney Vacation Club Resort for vacations that have a check-out date on or before January 21, 2009, based upon availability.
This Use Year's remaining Vacation Points for Member ID number XXXXXXXXXXXX will expire on the last business day of November 2008.

Under the "new" rules, what dates would be applicable?

"Currently, you may request a reservation for a Disney Cruise Line® vacation that has a sail date on or before June 21, 2010, some sailings may not be available for booking at the 24-month window.
Currently, you may request a reservation at your Home Resort for vacations that have a check-in date on or before May 21, 2009, based upon availability.
Currently, you may request a reservation at any Disney Vacation Club Resort for vacations that have a check-in date on or before January 21, 2009, based upon availability."

The new policy allows you reserve based on 11 months from check-in date - so today you could reserve the night of May 21,2009 (plus the next six nights) at your Home Resort. You could also reserve 7 nights at non-Home resorts for January 21, 2009. The change is basically that you can reserve from check in rather than checkout and we can now reserve up to 7 nights from that arrival date.

 

[NejTheLion]

Whatever you feel about the new policy (love it or hate it), I cannot believe that DVC instituted this without notifying the membership in advance.

Now, we usually visit WDW in less busy times. The busiest time we've gone recently is Columbus Day weekend for F&W Festival, and at 11 months, we've never had a problem getting what we want. So, the problems that may come with booking the busiest days of the year won't apply to us, but we understand the concerns many of you have.

Our concern is that we don't want to lose the option of cancelling days at the beginning or end of our trips. We've never used that as an abuse of the system. In fact, we've never even done day-by-day booking because it hasn't been necessary for us. But particularly when we go down for the F&W Festival, it's hard to know for sure when we'll want to be there. We typically book Friday through the following weekend's Sunday, checking out on Monday. Sometimes, depending on things that come up at work, we have to cancel that Friday night or fly back on Sunday rather than Monday. That's not something we can always control, and we'd hate to lose that flexibility.

This year, we actually have two weeks booked - one in October and one in November - because the schedule for the festival comes out near the end of the summer. Once we see what the schedule is, we'll cancel one of those weeks at BCV and hopefully make some waitlisted people very happy. But we wouldn't have to hold off on cancelling for so long if Disney could get a preliminary schedule out sooner.

 

[CarolMN]

I am a member that is a bit upset that they made this major change without making it public...I feel really bad for the people that are planning to book trips during the next week or so that do not read these boards....If you do not read these boards you would not know of this change...Therefore, there wil be people waiting until check-out date (instead of calling day-by-day) that will not know that there are people that booked their week in full already..It is not fair to change such a major booking policy without announcing the information.......

It's really not going to affect those people. Only a few will even notice.

There's practically nothing that will fill up that fast for July dates for those who book at 11 months. If you get what you want, who cares, right? Maybe concierge at AKV will be full, but most already know getting concierge is a long shot anyway given the very limited number of units.

As far as the 7 month bookers, how will they know if someone who booked a few days ago got the last unit? 7 month bookers are (or should be) prepared to waitlist. Anyway, January usually has quite a bit of availability at 7 months.

I also think the way they are implementing the change stinks. But their history has not led me to expect anything better. If enough members complain, perhaps they will reverse or modify it, just as they did the styro cup vs real mug thing.