New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[jdg345]

I am not sure what you mean by "reallocating" them to OKW without rebooking?

She posted on this. Basically, she pull the OKW points of the ressie and use the AKV points instead (at 7 months). That leaves her with the OKW points.

 

[jdg345]

Well, my email was good, but my letter to Jim Lewis was a LOT better!! I could get another call

If it went through!

 

[Chuck S]

I also found out how to solve my problem with the 42 points I want to use from AKV next year. If I can't get what I want I CAN reallocate them to OKW at the 7 month window without rebooking.

Time will tell if this policy stands, or if they will only do it if there is still availability at OKW (and likely there would be). Otherwise, suppose the reverse it true, you book AKV at 11 months, substitute OKW points, and bank the AKV points, that would give you double 11 month priority windows on those points.

For instance, you book a stay at 11 months at AKV, swap points to OKW at 7 months and bank AKV, then at 11 months, you again use those banked AKV points for an AKV reservation, combining them with current points, then swap the current points for OKW and bank the current AKV points reservation. It would potentially give someone twice as much 11 month priority as they should have.

Personally, I think they need to dump all these changes, at least until they can really look at the potential for abuse and the possible effects on home resort booking windows.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If it went through!

I mailed it snail mail.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Time will tell if this policy stands, or if they will only do it if there is still availability at OKW (and likely there would be). Otherwise, suppose the reverse it true, you book AKV at 11 months, substitute OKW points, and bank the AKV points, that would give you double 11 month priority windows on those points.

For instance, you book a stay at 11 months at AKV, swap points to OKW at 7 months and bank AKV, then at 11 months, you again use those banked AKV points for an AKV reservation, combining them with current points, then swap the current points for OKW and bank the current AKV points reservation. It would potentially give someone twice as much 11 month priority as they should have.

Personally, I think they need to dump all these changes, at least until they can really look at the potential for abuse and the possible effects on home resort booking windows.

AT first I was not following how that gives me a double 11 month booking advantage. I get it now though. I guess that was why I was pretty sure I couldn't do that, but she said it was possible. My only other option is to book something at 7 months out with those points or rent them out. There isn't really enough to rent though.

 

[jekjones1558]

Congratulations, Diane, on your call from Joy and your resolution to your points issue! You are just full of good news!
BTW, when you make the call to reallocate the points, don't be surprised if you get a CM who says you can't do it. I have been down this road a couple of times regarding point reallocation, being told to call at 7 months and then being told "No can do" when 7 months rolls around. I have learned to just hang up and call back and talk to someone else.

 

[jdg345]

I put my name, address, phone, email and member number down. She actually had my member page up when she called me, so she knew I had made a 7 month ressie using the new system already.

Ah, I hadn't done that I don't think. I may have sent it from the email that matches my DVC info though, so it would have been easy to find me.

They really did not expect this kind of reaction. She did, however, see why it was a problem for people booking low available units or at high occupancy prime times like holidays and for those staying more than a week. I got the impression that the majority of people stay either Sun-Thur. or a week. I suspect that is what prompted the change.

Agree ... once I started talking about small contracts, prime times, primes units, and longer reservations, they were like ... "Ohhhhh ... ".

I also discussed how people might reserve days they don't really want in order to get a jump on those arriving before them. I'm sure they saw I had booked a 7+ as well, which I quickly morphed into a 2-9 with very little difficulty.

 

[jdg345]

Yes, but I can bank the OKW points and leave my AKV contract alone so I can do the bank and borrow/book middle year thing with my AKV points in 2010/2011/2012. I kind of jumped the gun and got off schedule because I was so eager to use my new points this past year!

Ah! Perfect! I can't believe I didn't suggest that to you. I typically find myself doing just that (re-allocating reservation points) just before banking time to make sure I don't leave anything go to waste.

 

[jdg345]

I thought my original email was good, but I only included my member number. I have a snail mail letter that's much better and I'll be sure to include pertinent information.

They should be able to find your phone/contact number from your member number ...

This might be the first day they start callbacks, so you might be in queue.

 

[jdg345]

Time will tell if this policy stands, or if they will only do it if there is still availability at OKW (and likely there would be). Otherwise, suppose the reverse it true, you book AKV at 11 months, substitute OKW points, and bank the AKV points, that would give you double 11 month priority windows on those points.

That shouldn't work, you can only reallocate points if those points could have been used to begin with. That's why Diane has to wait for her 7 month window to open up.

For instance, you book a stay at 11 months at AKV, swap points to OKW at 7 months and bank AKV, then at 11 months, you again use those banked AKV points for an AKV reservation, combining them with current points, then swap the current points for OKW and bank the current AKV points reservation. It would potentially give someone twice as much 11 month priority as they should have.

Oh, I see where you're going with this. In a way, it allows one to double up their available points at 11 months on a smaller contract. It does shrink your 'other' contract though by as many points as the contract you're doubling though, so you would always have that many points unused year over year if you kept doing it. Never really thought of that, Great Catch!

Personally, I think they need to dump all these changes, at least until they can really look at the potential for abuse and the possible effects on home resort booking windows.

Agree.

 

[jdg345]

I mailed it snail mail.

Awww! You should have sent it cc: email.

 

[dianeschlicht]

They should be able to find your phone/contact number from your member number ...

This might be the first day they start callbacks, so you might be in queue.

Yes, that was what I was thinking too. I actually had responded to their first form letter email and told them how disappointed I was with the form letter and the fact that they didn't address my specific questions. I think the specific questions is what actually triggered the call.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Awww! You should have sent it cc: email.

Well, I did send it both email and snail mail and it took several email addresses before I had one that didn't get rejected. Who do you want me to cc? I can still do that!

 

[jdg345]

Well, I did send it both email and snail mail and it took several email addresses before I had one that didn't get rejected. Who do you want me to cc? I can still do that!

Oh, I see ... I was just suggesting that you send it to him via email as well.

What worked for you? james.m.lewis or jim.m.lewis?

 

[dianeschlicht]

James.m.

 

[farmergirl]

Diane, I am SO glad that you got a call. You must have written one heck of a letter to receive a call back.

Please continue to email/call/mail Member Services with your thoughts if you haven't already!

I did make a call to MS but I would like to send and email as well. Could someone please post the best list of email address to send our concerns to. I know I have seen a few on this thread but I have no idea where. Thank you.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I did make a call to MS but I would like to send and email as well. Could someone please post the best list of email address to send our concerns to. I know I have seen a few on this thread but I have no idea where. Thank you.

Send it via the website, and that will be the easiest and also the best.

 

[jdg345]

I did make a call to MS but I would like to send and email as well. Could someone please post the best list of email address to send our concerns to. I know I have seen a few on this thread but I have no idea where. Thank you.

From what I understand, email sent through the website is typically re-routed based on the content. They will likely route it to the DVC Satisfaction Team for you.

Of course, you can reach them directly here:

DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com

If using that email address, I would include your Full Name, Member Number, and Contact phone as part of your signature.

Using the website, all of that information is apparently required and attached as part of the email form.

 

[Paradise East]

Here's a thought that just crossed my my mind after reading the 700+ messages in this topic over the last several days.

I am more to the thinking that this new booking rule WAS triggered by DVC membership that DOES NOT read or know of these forums.
Not by Walt wanting to increase income or trying to cut back on CR hours and so on.

I read earlier today that membership in the DVC has increased from 100,000 to 300,000 (or 400,000, not sure which) in the last several years.

How many DVC owners use or read these forums? 20,000 maybe ? These members have learned the ins and outs of "tweaking" the system but the vast majority of the other 280,000 owners have no idea about dropping days, adding days etc and so on. Most of them don't know yet about the 11 +7 from arrival date change until the book comes out in the fall.

When they go to make a ressie, probably more times from not, the times they are requesting are not available so the complaints start rolling in and CR decides changes need to be made.

Just a thought

Dave

 

[TSMIII]

Here's a thought that just crossed my my mind after reading the 700+ messages in this topic over the last several days.

I am more to the thinking that this new booking rule WAS triggered by DVC membership that DOES NOT read or know of these forums.
Not by Walt wanting to increase income or trying to cut back on CR hours and so on.

I read earlier today that membership in the DVC has increased from 100,000 to 300,000 (or 400,000, not sure which) in the last several years.

How many DVC owners use or read these forums? 20,000 maybe ? These members have learned the ins and outs of "tweaking" the system but the vast majority of the other 280,000 owners have no idea about dropping days, adding days etc and so on. Most of them don't know yet about the 11 +7 from arrival date change until the book comes out in the fall.

When they go to make a ressie, probably more times from not, the times they are requesting are not available so the complaints start rolling in and CR decides changes need to be made.

Just a thought

Dave

That's a good point and certainly sounds possible. Like several others have said, the new policy will hurt some and help some as most new policies do. I would tend to think though that this type of concern would have been voiced right along. Maybe now with substantial growth in recent years, the voices were getting too loud to ignore...we'll probably never know for sure.

Fortunately for us, in our situation, we are not negatively impacted with either policy, but I do feel for those who have for a long time been used to one system and now it has changed for the worse for them. Especially those who have strategically purchased specific quantities of points in order to accomplish the right number of nights in the right category during high demand times - they may now have to increase their ownership in order to maintain the same degree of success in booking those vacations.