New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[robinb]

Correct, or you could borrow more points, buy more points or buy an II timeshare and try to trade in. You could also work on private trades with members.

As if I could trade in with an II trade over NYE *snort*. Well, to put it bluntly, that just sucks for me. I bought the points at BWV after I knew how the system worked and it worked well over the past few years. I have always gotten what I wanted. Now it will work against me as I have no intention of buying more points and borrowing is a PITA. I guess I will have to put all my eggs in the waitlist basket.

 

[LisaS]

...if DVC started telling people that they couldn't link their ressies and might have to move out if they booked day by day, that would have been ugly)

There is nothing to link when you book day by day. You start with a 1-day reservation and modify it on subsequent calls to extend the check out date by one day. You would only need to link it if you booked it as a series of 1-night reservations instead of a one multi-night reservation.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I don't really understand the better flights or the work won't let me since we check with work ebfore even booking and we pay whatever the airline makes me pay for the day I want to leave. I can't imagine changing my arrival date on a price of the airline. I checked out the prices before I book also. I just learn to deal that some flight prices cost mroe than other days. Also learn that most mid-week flights are cheaper then flying out near/on the weekend.

I am not sure what airline you fly, but on American Airlines, you cannot book more than 330 days prior to the return flight. For example as of today, I can book a flight through May 17. Of coruse, with SW, you cannot even book for December yet!

With DVC's new policy, I can book today for an arrival May 22, departing May 28, so I will never be able to book my airfare before my 11 month window opens. -- Suzanne

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Do we know for a fact it would release the 4th and the 5th? There's nothing in the POS that says the stay has to be continuous that I've seen. Sure, you're opening up the chance of MS messing up the reservation, but they do have the capability to cut stuff up and rebook it without it triggering a waitlist. Others have cancelled/rebooked on the fly to reutilize points (Changing a ressie using Current points to Borrowed points so the Current can then be banked, for example).

My recent experience was that MS would not allow you to release days in the middle of a reservation without rebooking either all the dates before or after (after filling any applicable waitlists). I think the computer system refuses to allow a single reservation number for non-consecutive days. I have never had a problem cancelling nights at the beginning or end of the reservation. -- Suzanne

 

[simmons_m]

Can someone re-post the policy? I do not see any changes within our DVC Member site, according to the site we can book vacations that have a check-out date on or before "x" date.

Currently, you may request a reservation at your Home Resort for vacations that have a check-out date on or before May 22, 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 22, 2009, based upon availability.

Can someone provide their thoughts on how this might impact October or January vacations at the 11 month window?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Dean]

So a plan for the worst mentality? One should expect/plan DVC to become just like every other average timeshare even though one of their biggest marketing points is that they are not?

With timeshares one should plan for the worst and hope for the best. How much or well they market a specific items really has no meaning. Basically if it can change, it likely will. To me this has been a predictable change though most said it couldn't happen when I suggested it as a possibility over the years.

the only real change I would like to see to this new 7-day rule is to make it a 10 day rule. I've stayed longer than 7 days for more times than I have stayed shorter stays. If we can do 10 days of meals and a 10 day ticket, then why not 10 days of rooms?

With Bluegreen one can reserve up to 14 days at one time. Each change is a cancellation and rebooking. Those with enough more points have a formal advantage of 1, 2 and now 4 months to reserve over the rest of the members who own less points. One can complain it's unfair or one can go out and buy enough points to be in the priority group. Same with Marriott where you can reserve 12 months out but if you're reserving multiple units for concurrent or consecutive reservations, you can reserve 13 months out FROM THE FIRST DAY. Again, one can complain or buy one or more extra weeks. In both cases I've invested dollars, time, education and energy to being in the priority group. If the rules change against me, sucks for me, but I still have great underlying options that will work, just likely not as well as they currently do.

 

[Dean]

As if I could trade in with an II trade over NYE *snort*. Well, to put it bluntly, that just sucks for me. I bought the points at BWV after I knew how the system worked and it worked well over the past few years. I have always gotten what I wanted. Now it will work against me as I have no intention of buying more points and borrowing is a PITA. I guess I will have to put all my eggs in the waitlist basket.

Actually DVC is getting easier to trade into. Christmas and NY are not the impossible trade they once were, same for Easter. I personally don't see baking or borrowing as big deals if you are early in your UY and plan accordingly. I predict you'll actually have an easier time getting what you want and without calling day by day but we shall see.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Can someone re-post the policy? I do not see any changes within our DVC Member site, according to the site we can book vacations that have a check-out date on or before "x" date.

Currently, you may request a reservation at your Home Resort for vacations that have a check-out date on or before May 22, 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 22, 2009, based upon availability.

Can someone provide their thoughts on how this might impact October or January vacations at the 11 month window?

Thanks,Mike

Part of the issue most of us are having with this change is that NOTHING has been officially stated or communicated about it. As you note, even the website still has the old policy on it. The only thing we really have to go on is what we are told by MS. I spoke with them both yesterday and today. They didn't find out about it until Friday morning either. This whole thing just looks so hastily done.

As for impact....It really depends on where and what type of accommodations you are looking for. If you are trying to reserve something in high demand and low availability, you could find you are out of luck even on your check-in day booking window. I'm talking things like AKV concierge, and value, BWV Boardwalf view or standard or GVs, BCV 2 bedrooms with two beds, etc. etc. etc.

 

[skelooch]

I can't wait to hear what the new cancellation policy will be that they read to you when you make a reservation. I still find it hard to believe that this change, which went into effect on the 19th is still not mentioned on the DVC website. Did they really think that this was going to make everyone happy. IMO of all the changes DVC has made since becoming a member this is by far the worst. I just can't find any redeeming value to this, and I don't ever recall any posts from members suggesting any kind of change similiar to this or complaining about the current system. Probably because the current system worked equally well for everyone.

If DVC is going to force us to "work" the system to our individual advantage then that's just what we will all probably do.
So I'll take this oportunity to apoligize to all my DVC neighbors for the reservations they can't get because DVC forced me to do something I have no right doing.

The next change will be removing for 11 month booking window advantage at your home resort.

That' my 2 cents on the issue.

 

[dianeschlicht]

For what it's worth, I was not read any "cancellation policy" yesterday other than the usual "more than 30 days before the start of the trip" one.

 

[skelooch]

Well they better start modifying the cancallation policy, or they're just encouraging people to cheat. Could they really be that stupid.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well they better start modifying the cancallation policy, or they're just encouraging people to cheat. Could they really be that stupid.

BUT, I think any change to the cancellation policy will hurt more people in the long run. Why should you be penalized if your vacation time gets changed by your job or you have some other reason that you have to change an arrival or departure date?

 

[jdg345]

Well they better start modifying the cancallation policy, or they're just encouraging people to cheat. Could they really be that stupid.

Some would say it's not cheating if it's not prohibitted by the POS. That's one of the issues with this new policy -- they're going to have to create a bunch of additional rules and complexity (at least it seems so) in order to keep people with bunches of points from taking advantage of it.

It just seemed like it would have been better to leave it all as it was.

 

[skelooch]

BTW Hi Diane
I had the pleasure of meeting you and DH at the VWL last year, hope you're both doing well. Hope to see you again sometime.

 

[jdg345]

BUT, I think any change to the cancellation policy will hurt more people in the long run. Why should you be penalized if your vacation time gets changed by your job or you have some other reason that you have to change an arrival or departure date?

I agree with you here, but what are the options? If they don't change cancellation policies around, people are just going to reserve early and make DBD updates to extend the back-end and cancel the front-end. Or in cases like Christmas/NYE, just continue to extend.

 

[skelooch]

BUT, I think any change to the cancellation policy will hurt more people in the long run. Why should you be penalized if your vacation time gets changed by your job or you have some other reason that you have to change an arrival or departure date?

I agree 100% that's why this is a terrible change.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree 100% that's why this is a terrible change.

There hasn't been any change to the cancellation has there?

 

[skelooch]

Some would say it's not cheating if it's not prohibitted by the POS. That's one of the issues with this new policy -- they're going to have to create a bunch of additional rules and complexity (at least it seems so) in order to keep people with bunches of points from taking advantage of it.

It just seemed like it would have been better to leave it all as it was.

As long as this is going to be the new policy, I'm glad I have enough points to play the game they want us to play.

 

[skelooch]

There hasn't been any change to the cancellation has there?

I did'nt even know of the new policy until I stumbled across it here about an hour or so ago. I'm going to be making a reservation tomorrow, you can bet your life I'll be asking about.

 

[tjkraz]

If DVC is going to force us to "work" the system to our individual advantage then that's just what we will all probably do.
So I'll take this oportunity to apoligize to all my DVC neighbors for the reservations they can't get because DVC forced me to do something I have no right doing.

I don't understand this statement.

What does this change force you to do with your points that would cause harm other members?

People have always "worked the system" to their own advantage in the past. My expectations are that all members will continue to do whatever they feel to be to their greatest benefit.