New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[Deb & Bill]

Think Jim Lewis will get a big promotion out of this?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think this is an excellent point, even if I don't agree with the new policy. This may prove to the members who complained about DBD booking that it wasn't the big deal they thought it was, for the majority of the time.

Do you think members actually complained about booking DBD? Or just about the busy phone lines. If it's just about the busy phone lines, this change will probably make the wait even longer.

 

[jdg345]

I'm sure I read this in an earlier post, but really don't want to go back and look for the answer, but would you say that this new booking policy affects mostly those members wanting to book vacations during the peak periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYE) and/or wanting a room in one of the limited room categories (AKV concierge, etc)? Since I joined, I've booked vacations for May, September and early October. I did book a few days the week before Christmas but had to cancel. In each case, I called at the 11-month window based on my check-out date and booked the previous days all in one phone call. I didn't book DBD. I'm sure I'll want to experience the holidays in WDW at some point, but if I vacation mostly in May and/or Sept (any week of the month), do you think I'll have a problem securing a 7-night reservation if I call promptly at the 11-month window based on my check-in day (followed by DBD if the first night isn't available)?

I don't think you'll have any issue as it looks like your 11 month priority window is at SSR. It's a big resort, so you should be able to get anything you want.

 

[jdg345]

Exactly why I posted it. When I said that people were told they could only waitlist that one day, she said that wasn't true.

If days 1-3 are not available, but days 4-7 are, all it takes is someone cancelling days 1-3 for your entire 7 days to be open and your waitlist fulfilled.

So ... basically, you're back to the DBD free-for-all on day2, so you could have members that get their first 7 days, miss the 8th, get the 9th, and miss the 10th, but get the 11th?

So ... what did this fix again?

 

[jdg345]

Hi, As I understand "WALKING" is that you would START booking your reservation before the DATE you actually wanted to arrive and then call back each day and CANCEL your first day and ADD on a day(always KEEPING a 7 day reservations) until you actually HAVE the 7 dates that you want?? Is this WHAT it means or I am totally off ?? This is what I think DVC-MS will try to STOP if TOO many members are booking this way.

Yes, that's what walking means ... and so far, it's been working.

I also have a ?? I have a 4 day reservation(Feb.15,16,17,18th) at the BCV booked a few months ago for February(Presidents WEEK) I want to add 3 nites (for a total of 7) but used all of my BCV points so I have to wait until July and book with OKW points. If I am looking to arrive on the 12th of February,will I be able to book 12,13,and 14 on the 12th of July?? Or if I add them at the other end of the week 19th,20,21st can I call on the 15th of July since this will become a 7 nite stay?? Thanks, Joan

Technically, if you have the points, you could start on the 7th of July, which would get you through the 14th. Then, on the 12th, you can cancel the previous days you didn't need.

 

[jdg345]

Think Jim Lewis will get a big promotion out of this?

I've already nominated him ... haven't you?

 

[jdg345]

That seems to imply that Disney put thought and research into this decision.

Unless I'm missing something, the 7-day limit serves no useful function. All it does is force people wanting to stay more than 7-days to make multiple phone calls, wasting both their time and MS.

And, if you can waitlist your first day *and* book +6, we're back to the same old DBD booking situation all over again.

At this rate, the only way to reduce calling into MS is going to be an online booking system.

 

[Dean]

That seems to imply that Disney put thought and research into this decision.

Unless I'm missing something, the 7-day limit serves no useful function. All it does is force people wanting to stay more than 7-days to make multiple phone calls, wasting both their time and MS.

I'm sure they did put thought and discussion into it and they have data on the usual LOS based on home resort, etc. The 7 day allowance does serve a purpose. It allows you to book 7 days on one phone call. They could have chosen 10 or 14 or even 3 if they'd wanted. IF they cont to allow adding DBD it likely does not serve a purpose. If they change and stop adding DBD, it serves a larger purpose. Regardless, it still serves as somewhat of a de-facto min LOS. I think it's unlikely they'll allow people ongoing to drop the first day(s) without it being a cancelation and rebooking though it may take 6-12 months to settle out. Regardless the number of people who would call a month before their trip and then call DBD dropping days and adding days along the way is likely to be extremely small. I think it's a safe bet that the ultimate number of phone calls will decrease with this change even if they allow the above to cont.

 

[Laurabearz]

maybe I misread your note. My interpretation of your post I responded to was that those who were responding to DVC as a positive simply didn't understand the changes and if they did, they would not be happy. If that's the case I do think you were selling them very short, if I misunderstood, I apologize.
.

Yeah I guess I didnt clearly express my thoughts... (nothing new there)

I think folks totally understand the changes and most people will be Great! We can now book MORE than 11 months out! How cool is that! And be happy with it. I would like to believe that most of the people dont try and think of ways to abuse the system, that whole point morphing thing really amazed me!!. I was like Who thinks of things like that!!! (No offense to you Dean, I am happy you think of all the angles(I think) because you strike me as a fairly honest man. lol You are quite helpful) I just dont think most DVCers think about all the angles.

That seems to imply that Disney put thought and research into this decision. .

]Maybe they looked at their records and saw the vast majority of trips were 7 days and under. Just think about how many here move on weekends... I am sure lots just book Sun through Thursday... So Maybe in their eyes 7 days was plentiful.

Unless I'm missing something, the 7-day limit serves no useful function. All it does is force people wanting to stay more than 7-days to make multiple phone calls, wasting both their time and MS.

]If you didnt have to make multiple phone calls before to book your vacation, you really shouldnt have to now. Before to make a 10 day vacation you eitehr called DBD (10 phone calls) Called every other day (5 Calls) or called the last day you checked out (1 Phone call)

If you called DBD Now you call once at day one then 3 more times aka total of 4 phone calls to complete your DBD reservation. which is 6 LESS than the old way. And dont forget the bigger chance of a swiss cheese reservation if you call DBD for 10 days for a highly sought after room... Now it's all or do an 11 month Waitlist for it, which would most likely come through, with AKV Concierge an exception to that, but that's an issue with supply)

Now if before you called on the last day (1 phone call) then for sure now, you can do that too... Or.. better yet call on day 3 or 4 and book the 7 days out and 4 days before in ONE phone call.... Even better than waiting until the LAST day to book your reservation....

It will be interesting to see what DVC does next to address the walking a reservation issue, and I would be interested to know if walking was address would that make the some of you feel better about the change??

 

[squirrlygirl]

So ... basically, you're back to the DBD free-for-all on day2, so you could have members that get their first 7 days, miss the 8th, get the 9th, and miss the 10th, but get the 11th?

So ... what did this fix again?

If you get the first 7, and call DBD to add, you should not end up with any holes in your reservation. The only people that could be booking that day 8 on day 2 would be people who have already secured a room and taken it out of inventory. If someone's 11-month window is just opening up, they would not have access to inventory that the previous owners have booked, so they couldn't "steal" your days. And I'm beginning to wonder if THIS is what the change is about....once you've secured your first day, you can guarantee yourself an uninterrupted vacation-something that DBD couldn't do.

BUT, if someone were to waitlist for their stay because days 1-3 aren't available, and you haven't booked DBD (because you're planning on calling on day 8 to add days), then there could possibly be a waitlist that could be filled which would steal some of your days if one of the previously booked rooms is partially cancelled and it coincides with the still-open end days that haven't hit the 11-month window and a shooting star flies through the sky in the moments before you call to extend your vacation.

 

[Dean]

Yeah I guess I didnt clearly express my thoughts... (nothing new there)

I think folks totally understand the changes and most people will be Great! We can now book MORE than 11 months out! How cool is that! And be happy with it. I would like to believe that most of the people dont try and think of ways to abuse the system, that whole point morphing thing really amazed me!!. I was like Who thinks of things like that!!! (No offense to you Dean, I am happy you think of all the angles(I think) because you strike me as a fairly honest man. lol You are quite helpful) I just dont think most DVCers think about all the angles.

I would take exception with the idea that thinking of ways to use a system to your advantage is being dishonest, the exception would be if you had an insider giving you preferential treatment. You can bet if DVC sees much of people calling a week or more before their trip, booking 7 days, then calling DBD to drop a day and add a day that there will be a change to stop this as there should be. Not because it's wrong but because it makes no sense administratively.

 

[BroganMc]

HA's are another great example of a specialty booking class. Actually, more than anything else b/c if someone doesn't get their AKV concierge they can move to any other type of room including HA. Having a sister that needs HA it just isn't as easy to go the other way. I can see that it would be very important to have completely equal opportunity at reserving one at 11 months.

I was thinking about this even more......wow what a mess the wait list could be in this situation!

In my experience the wait list is useless for HA rooms. And yes, being able to book one is a make-or-break requirement for my vacation. Simply put, without a roll-in shower I don't bathe and therefore won't go.

It's not a matter of making me happy with a view or service. It's really the same as if you were offered a room without running water.

But I doubt anyone who has never needed the amenities for the disabled ever considers these things. Which is why the disabled have to keep re-educating folks.

 

[mrdiscranky]

]Maybe they looked at their records and saw the vast majority of trips were 7 days and under. Just think about how many here move on weekends... I am sure lots just book Sun through Thursday... So Maybe in their eyes 7 days was plentiful.

The question isn't why they picked 7-days for the limit, the question is why have a limit at all. It serves no purpose, other than to increase the amount of calls people need to make for a longer reservation.

 

[Laurabearz]

The question isn't why they picked 7-days for the limit, the question is why have a limit at all. It serves no purpose, other than to increase the amount of calls people need to make for a longer reservation.

Someone made a statement that they just randomly picked a time frame, and I just offered up a suggestion as to why they did that. I dont think they decided to make it week blocks to SCREW anyone... I think they looked at the majority's vacation habits and thought it was a good thing.

Maybe the computer program needed a peramiter? Maybe this sets up online booking? Maybe there is a reason for the time frame, but having one wasnt just to make someone's life harder...

And if you read my previous post you will see it DECREASES the amount of calls for longer reservation unless you opt to WALK your reservation, then well.. your working the new system in your favor like the old calling DBD it's just a bit harder now....

 

[kfalsey]

I called reservations today and they had the fri and saturday I wanted but not the wed , thursday before and the sun, mon, tues after that I wanted. So I stated can I take the fri and sat, and wait list for the wed, thurs and the sun, mon, tues and she stated yes. I was going to do it but decided to wait list for the full week in a one bedroom and a studio instead, but, she was going to allow me to do it, that is to wait list for split days. Maybe it was ok because it was for so late for the mid august. Is it before the 7 month window that the new policy, only booking 7 days in a row only exists?, Here , today, I could not get the first day of my stay the wednesday, or the thursday or sunday , mon, or tues after, but could get day 3 and 4 the fri and saturday. What about this?

 

[tidefan]

The question isn't why they picked 7-days for the limit, the question is why have a limit at all. It serves no purpose, other than to increase the amount of calls people need to make for a longer reservation.

This I completely agree with. Why have a limit at all?

 

[LisaS]

The question isn't why they picked 7-days for the limit, the question is why have a limit at all. It serves no purpose, other than to increase the amount of calls people need to make for a longer reservation.

I agree. The current set of rules appears to make it unnecessary to restrict people to booking 7 nights or less at the start of the 11-month window. Maybe it hasn't dawned on them yet or maybe they think people will be even more upset if they eliminate the restriction, even though it doesn't appear to matter if they do.

Unless I'm missing something, once someone books their first 7 nights they have that room blocked and will be able to extend it provided they call back within the following 6 days. They eliminated any competition for that room by not allowing someone to book anything if the first night of their stay is not available. Otherwise someone who had to waitlist for the first 6 nights but could book the 7th night would be competing against someone trying to extend their stay.

 

[FLYNZ4]

I agree. The current set of rules appears to make it unnecessary to restrict people to booking 7 nights or less at the start of the 11-month window. Maybe it hasn't dawned on them yet or maybe they think people will be even more upset if they eliminate the restriction, even though it doesn't appear to matter if they do.

Unless I'm missing something, once someone books their first 7 nights they have that room blocked and will be able to extend it provided they call back within the following 6 days. They eliminated any competition for that room by not allowing someone to book anything if the first night of their stay is not available. Otherwise someone who had to waitlist for the first 6 nights but could book the 7th night would be competing against someone trying to extend their stay.

Lisa,

I believe that you are 100% correct IF and only IF the number of units in your booking class remains constant from day to day. If the number of rooms changes... then the argument breaks down.

There are a number of things that can cause the number of rooms to change:

• Non-dedicated inventory (IE: 2BR lockoff could be a 1BR + Studio or vice versa)
• Inventory removed for maintenance
• Inventory removed for II exchanges
• Inventory removed for cash reservations (IE: compensate for points used for cruises)
• Probaly many other situations

In those cases... if the number of units in your booking class is decreased... you no longer have a guaranteed room waiting for you... so you might lose out it you waited 6 days to book. You would be better off booking at 9:00 every day.

/Jim

 

[mello]

But, according to this logic, you will have priority over those arriving after you, and they will have priority over those arriving after them, etc...

Theoretically, yes. But I don't see how that priority will benefit me if I want to arrive at WDW on Dec 23 and stay through Jan 3.

 

[mello]

Whatever thought I was responding to was talking about booking at 6 months out-not at the beginning of a booking window

Oh, I can't even find that post now, but it is entirely possible that I confused everyone by typing 6 months instead of 11 months, which is what I meant to post. I know I typed 180 days first, and then edited it because I've had the dining window on my mind since I just made my 180 day ADRs. Sorry for any extra confusion I may have sown there!