New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[Doctor P]

As someone who goes at Christmas time, I think the new policy absolutely stinks. There is no reason whatsoever that someone who checks in on Xmas day should have any more right to a New Year's Eve reservation than someone who begins their vacation on December 30. Day-by-day was fair. The new system is not.

 

[Dis13]

I've read all through the thread(s) re: the booking changes; however, all of the concern is about booking at the beginning of the 11 month window.

What about ressies made during the 10/9/8 month window? Will we now be limited to booking just 7 days at a time?

 

[skelooch]

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.

Read Doc's post early on in the thread.

 

[jdg345]

I've read all through the thread(s) re: the booking changes; however, all of the concern is about booking at the beginning of the 11 month window.

What about ressies made during the 10/9/8 month window? Will we now be limited to booking just 7 days at a time?

Nope, you should be able to book as long as you like (points allowing) as long as your departure date is no further than 11 months + 7 days from your booking date.

 

[DVC92]

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.

In section 2.4 of the DISNEY VACATION CLUB MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT, DVC is given the right to change the terms and conditions of the agreement and the rules and regulations (the original reservation procedures are attached as exhibit A); however, this section states the following: "Notice of any changes shall be disseminated to each Club Member.... at his last known mailing address PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ANY AMENDMENT."

 

[jdg345]

In section 2.4 of the DISNEY VACATION CLUB MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT, DVC is given the right to change the terms and conditions of the agreement and the rules and regulations (the original reservation procedures are attached as exhibit A); however, this section states the following: "Notice of any changes shall be disseminated to each Club Member.... at his last known mailing address PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ANY AMENDMENT."

I received a letter about the changes ... didn't you?

Oh, wait ...

 

[tjkraz]

Read Doc's post early on in the thread.

If you're talking about booking several days before your intended arrival just to get a jump on bookings, I don't see how that's any more opportunistic than what people have done in the past.

Even though it was a practice endorsed by DVC, one could argue that day-by-day bookings was taking advantage of other members. All of the guidelines distributed to members state that reservations should be made 11/7 from the checkOUT date.

People book days they know they will later cancel because they aren't certain of exact arrival and departure dates.

People book multiple unit sizes knowing that one will later be canceled because they don't know how many will be traveling.

People pre-book dates strictly for rental purposes--and I'm not talking about these so-called "commercial renters."

Regardless of what reservation system is in use, people will learn how to manipulate it to their greatest advantage. In your case, ultimately you will be keeping only the days that YOU actually want, and the rest will be released to other members. I don't see that as causing any more harm to members than the other forms of abuse that already exist.

 

[CheapMom]

As it stands now there is no benefit or drawback to the new system- Now you can have equal opportunity by calling 7 days befor your chek-in date, and then day-by-day it- and cancel the front 6 days later.

I do like the new waitlist change- as I was never comfortable waitlisting day-by-day, so that is a good change for me, those old day-by-day waitlist gamblers won't be able to scoop up single days, thus decreasing my chances for waitlist success.

 

[RobDoc]

As it stands now there is no benefit or drawback to the new system- Now you can have equal opportunity by calling 7 days befor your chek-in date, and then day-by-day it- and cancel the front 6 days later.

I do like the new waitlist change- as I was never comfortable waitlisting day-by-day, so that is a good change for me, those old day-by-day waitlist gamblers won't be able to scoop up single days, thus decreasing my chances for waitlist success.

No - you cannot call day-by-day after your initial call and change the original reservation. If you want more than 7 days to the original reservation, you'll need to wait until day 8 to add more days or make another reservation for another 7 days and cancel days from the first reservation.

There are ways to avoid this, but there is no question that you won't be able to make day-by-day changes to the original reservation until 11 months after the end of the dates for that reservation. MS has already addressed this possibility and will not allow daily changes, It would require cancelling the original reservation and rebooking the additional 7 days or cancelling days from the original reservation and making a new reservation - all based on availability.

 

[TDC Nala]

What it will do to me is - I will probably be staying at Old Key West a lot.

The only thing that will bother me is the possibility that I won't be able to get a BCV studio for longer than a week at 11 months during the food and wine festival.

 

[Kiderak]

No - you cannot call day-by-day after your initial call and change the original reservation. If you want more than 7 days to the original reservation, you'll need to wait until day 8 to add more days or make another reservation for another 7 days and cancel days from the first reservation.

There are ways to avoid this, but there is no question that you won't be able to make day-by-day changes to the original reservation until 11 months after the end of the dates for that reservation. MS has already addressed this possibility and will not allow daily changes, It would require cancelling the original reservation and rebooking the additional 7 days or cancelling days from the original reservation and making a new reservation - all based on availability.

We haven't seen anything addressed yet. Still waiting for the official policy change with restrictions to be updated.

 

[alldiz]

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.

Let your conscience be your guide.

If you're talking about booking several days before your intended arrival just to get a jump on bookings, I don't see how that's any more opportunistic than what people have done in the past.

Even though it was a practice endorsed by DVC, one could argue that day-by-day bookings was taking advantage of other members. All of the guidelines distributed to members state that reservations should be made 11/7 from the checkOUT date.
People book days they know they will later cancel because they aren't certain of exact arrival and departure dates.

People book multiple unit sizes knowing that one will later be canceled because they don't know how many will be traveling.

People pre-book dates strictly for rental purposes--and I'm not talking about these so-called "commercial renters."

Regardless of what reservation system is in use, people will learn how to manipulate it to their greatest advantage. In your case, ultimately you will be keeping only the days that YOU actually want, and the rest will be released to other members. I don't see that as causing any more harm to members than the other forms of abuse that already exist.

Hmmm. Can you imagine how upsetting it was to call exactly at 7 am to have your ressie gone....You thought you had to wait till checkout day to call. Savvy dis'ers already called. Most people don't Dis....and don't know about day by day.
Kerri

 

[CheapMom]

No - you cannot call day-by-day after your initial call and change the original reservation. If you want more than 7 days to the original reservation, you'll need to wait until day 8 to add more days or make another reservation for another 7 days and cancel days from the first reservation.

This conflicts with other information I have seen, including a 1st hand report on another board from a pretty reliable DVC old hand who just made a made his second phone call- and added day 8 to his 7 night reservation- exactly 7 months (nonhome resort) prior to the date of day 8.

 

[danielle782001]

Putting opinions about the actual policy change aside...PLEASE....

Is it the majorities opinion that you have better shot at getting what you want if you plan to arrive on a Friday or Saturday?

I am not looking to twist the system for some evil benefit...I am just looking to be able to book a vacation for my family and have a shot at getting what we want...We usually do the 7-night stay and will have to use points on the weekend no matter what, so is it in our best interest to book from Friday to Friday?

Anyone want to help me with this one? Please?? Thank you

 

[RobDoc]

As with many aspects of MS, they are not always consistent in following their own policies. I'm sure there will be situations where some members will be treated differently than others. It's the nature of the beast and DVC has done this for years - but the policy is that day-by-day changes aren't supposed to be allowed.

However, as long as MS will allow modifications to existing reservations, there are number of ways where the end result will be achieved just by calling daily and cancel a day at the start of a reservation, cancel dates at the end of an existing reservation and make an entirely new 7 day reservation to end up with a stay of more than 7 days.

If I wanted a 10 day reservation - I could call and reserve 7 days now - tomorrow I could cancel all but day 1 and then make another 7 day reservation and have MS link them together and thus I'd have an 8 day reservation. I could then do the same thing until I have all 10 days - linked together as 4 separate reservations and all reserved well before the old "11 months from checkout" policy.

As long as MS will allow modification to existing reservations and continue to allow reservations to be made for up to 7 days there will be ways to use the new system to your advantage. It's all in what MS is going to allow and how consistent they will be following whatever "offical" policy they come up with.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Anyone want to help me with this one? Please?? Thank you

I don't know that there will be a difference no matter which day you choose to start your vacation. We usually do 10-12 nights and often start our vacation on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

 

[Inkmahm]

I do hope you are correct, but now I have a perceived risk that by starting the ressie on a Sunday I may find certain room types already taken by folks arriving Fri or Sat.; that risk is what I thought I had avoided by buying where I wanted to stay.

Same here. Although I'm even more worried as we generally arrive on a Tuesday or Wednesday!

 

[Inkmahm]

I have existing 7 night reservation in our family name at SSR for february 2009.

I want to try to change last 2 nights for BWV Boardwalk view studio.

best way before was to wait until 7 months and call.

Now I can't do that. Actually I can, but there's a good chance that a family may have booked the BW view room before I even have the chance at the 7 month window. So to get around that...

Can I do it this way...

Change existing reservation into friend's name to be later changed back into our family name at the end of the bookings.

Book in July under mine and dh name for BWV BWview studio for 7 nights only planning to keep last 2 nights. Of course book for arrival date of original reservation, planning to only keep last 2 nights (we have enough points to do this).

Then drop 1st 5 nights on 2nd ressie at BWV. Wait past 30 days of course (ok for my banking points deadline), keeping only the days I originally planned anyhow.

Then drop last 2 nights on 1st reservation at SSR.

Then change name on 1st reservation back to ours.

Then we'll have 5 days SSR and 2 days BWV in our name.

I know I can't have 2 reservations for same days under my name, but if I wait for arrival date for last 2 nights, I bet for that time period, they won't be available.

I know it's confusing, but can I do it this way? Can you tell I really prefer the previous booking system?

I suspect that you could. And I prefer the previous booking system, too. It would make cases like yours so much easier to book!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I suspect that you could. And I prefer the previous booking system, too. It would make cases like yours so much easier to book!

I sincerely hope you don't HAVE to do it that way. I hope the system somehow works so people don't have to finagle it to make a simple booking. However, I'm worried too, since now not everyone has the same chance to book the same ressie.

 

[zulaya]

Well, here's my reply from Member Services...

Thank you for contacting Disney Vacation Club.

We appreciate you're taking the time to share your feedback about our
recent reservation booking window policy changes, and we'd like to
apologize for the disappointment you've shared in your message. Prior
to making any modifications to our procedures, we carefully analyze the
impact the adjustment will have to our Members, our operation, and our
business as a whole, taking Member feedback into consideration as well.
Over the years, Members have expressed their frustration with having to
contact us on a daily basis to reserve high-demand travel periods. This
was a major factor in our determination to make this revision. This
adjustment will allow our Member Services Advisors to assist many
Members with their travel plans on one phone call instead of multiple
phone calls over several days. Our hope is that our Members will
appreciate the opportunity to confirm their plans more efficiently than
they have been able to in the past, and in being more timely, we can
provide overall better service to our Members.

Thank you again for sharing your concern. Your feedback is important to
us.

Sincerely,

Disney Vacation Club Member Services