New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[kimberh]

2775 posts; 242 unique posters
19% of the posts were posted by 1 Diser
77% of the posts were posted by 42 Disers

Wow! I knew I was reading one name A Lot. but 19%

 

[jamstew]

Put another way, as mentioned by a PP, you could always book a single day. Everyone knows (or should know that).

As a new member who bought two resale contracts, I never had a tour, or a presentation by a guide, or anyone to tell me how to do anything. Booking a single day is nothing I would have ever thought about...maybe dumb on my part, but since I'd never have considered spending just one night at Disney (and is nothing I could do with my normal timeshare), it just never crossed my mind.

I've been looking into DVC (and reading about it here) for almost a year, and this is something I've never seen come up before now. I'm one of those who has no plans to travel during holiday periods, although I can anticipate the possibility of wanting a 2BR/2Q at BCV during F&W. If I don't get it, it certainly won't be the end of the world.

 

[jdg345]

As a new member who bought two resale contracts, I never had a tour, or a presentation by a guide, or anyone to tell me how to do anything. Booking a single day is nothing I would have ever thought about...maybe dumb on my part, but since I'd never have considered spending just one night at Disney (and is nothing I could do with my normal timeshare), it just never crossed my mind.

I understand what you're saying ... but you're also here on the Disboards ... and I'm assuming you're here, in part, to learn how to best use your membership, yes?

 

[kimberh]

I learned About DBD here on the dis. I have never taken a tour, never met my guide, I have spoke to him on the phone. I remember the Thead, where a few more pointers were pointed out on how to get a hard to get reservation. Dean was awesome on that Thread. I learn something new just about everyday on the dis. I never knew about the Steamboat. Just learned about that. All I can say, is read, read, read. It amazes me that there is so much to know!

 

[Pennykay]

I learned about DBD from my guide when she was helping me book my first reservation. Also, when I called member services, they acted like it was completely commonplace. Until I read this thread I had no idea that it wasn't something that everyone knew about.

 

[bookwormde]

I was looking to do an OKW GV when I purchased so DBD was all over those threads. Also when looking at doing 12/31-1/6 the new years threads also mentioned it regularly.
From what I can see if you researched the more popular times/room/services it was very hard to miss it, although often the reference was come what cryptic unless a member asked of an explanation.
If you were not traveling during these times or wanting these room or services it is understandable that you did not realize DBD was an option and there was no reason for MS to mention it since it was of no value.

bookwormde

 

[jarestel]

Put another way, as mentioned by a PP, you could always book a single day. Everyone knows (or should know that). So there was never any reason to think you could not book a day today, then a day tomorrow, etc. Some people were able to put two and two together, some people weren't. That's not a fault of the system.

In this whole thread, I can't recall one poster who claims they themselves actually put 2 & 2 together and arrived at the plan to book a series of 1-day reservations adding up to their total desired stay. Most claim they heard about DBD from MS, heard about it on internet sites like the DIS and even heard about it from mailmen. But nobody claimed they figured it out for themselves as far as I can recall.

Let's be fair and admit that DBD booking was simply an unintended and unanticipated consequence/byproduct of the original booking policy but it certainly was not a pre-planned bennie for members who were astute enough to discover it.

The fact that it does exist and members make use of it is not a problem for me. Hey, you use the tools available when building the perfect doghouse. But I'm just a little surprised that all of the champions of fairness on this thread don't see any problem with not every member being made aware of a definite booking advantage. Yet all I'm hearing is if a member didn't know about it, then tuff tulips, because "I" knew about it and that's fair enough for me!

 

[jarestel]

Ah, but why is that unreasonable? After all, I'm an owner and I should be able to do whatever I want with my points. It's not like I'm a just some customer of some hotel or car rental place.

You're absolutely right, this is totally reasonable. What was I thinking?????

 

[jarestel]

Let's not blame DVC, MS CM's or your Guide
Blame yourself for not making it your business to find out as much as you could about something you invested a lot of money in.

Hmmm... people use this same argument to justify the fact that many DVC policies & procedures are not set in stone and may change at any time (see new booking policy). It looks like this is a good rejoinder/rebuttal for just about anything DVC related.

 

[pyrxtc]

I see several folks who are defending the new policy suggesting and even advocating to prevent walking that a policy should be put into effect that any reservation changes should require a cancellation or rebook. Can you really make plans 11 months out and never change or modify them? In my short 2 years as a DVC member, here are some of the reasons I have needed to or thought about making changes to my reservations:
1. prego-didn't really want to be puking my entire vacation so wanted to delay it a week or two
2. cheaper flights
3. work requirements/can't get days off
4. death in the family
5. better flight times
6. extending my vacation to visit with family

I for one think that the policy described above would lead me to sell. I don't like the new policy, but this fix would lead me to vacation elsewhere. My inlaws have a great timeshare with locations in Cabo, Vegas, and Tahoe among others and I got DL 35 miles away for my Disney fix. . .

As a side note, if you like the new policy, why do you care if someone who does not, or is scared they won't get their important dates does walk?

I think most of us who want a cancelation policy initiated, would like to have it limited to the first 14-30 days that a reservation is made and then change your heart out. You either know when you made the resiie or you find out 14-30 days afterwards that you have to / want to change your days for soem reason.

yes, if you ahve a large number of points, you can still "walk" but I'm hoping that it won't happen. I have enough points to "walk" my reservation but I would never do so, I ahve enough respect for those who actually want to go on the days I would be walking through to just call when I need to.

 

[jdg345]

In this whole thread, I can't recall one poster who claims they themselves actually put 2 & 2 together and arrived at the plan to book a series of 1-day reservations adding up to their total desired stay. Most claim they heard about DBD from MS, heard about it on internet sites like the DIS and even heard about it from mailmen. But nobody claimed they figured it out for themselves as far as I can recall.

Someone must have figured it out, no? It started somewhere.

Let's be fair and admit that DBD booking was simply an unintended and unanticipated consequence/byproduct of the original booking policy but it certainly was not a pre-planned bennie for members who were astute enough to discover it.

I'm not saying it was a pre-planned benefit, it's just what it is: A tip or trick of the system.

The fact that it does exist and members make use of it is not a problem for me. Hey, you use the tools available when building the perfect doghouse. But I'm just a little surprised that all of the champions of fairness on this thread don't see any problem with not every member being made aware of a definite booking advantage. Yet all I'm hearing is if a member didn't know about it, then tuff tulips, because "I" knew about it and that's fair enough for me!

Actually, I didn't figure it out. It was shared with me as a tip or trick of the system when I went to research hard to get periods. That's all. Like how I researched the best way to get a free upgrade on airfare, and many other things.

If a member did not know about it, they're likely either new, or had no need to book DBD to begin with. It the latter years, it was almost always a CM or guide who volunteered booking DBD was a good idea if you asked about a busy time or could not get your stay at 11 months or early within that window.

These are two very different things: In one case, the system is allowing inventory to be taken before your 11 month window is available. In the other case, a tip or trick is being discussed.

Again, by the same token, the new policy is completely unfair as it hasn't gone out to everyone yet. Walking, would also be unfair by the same token. That said, I think that Walking is unfair to some members as it potentially ties up dates someone else may want. But I don't think it's unfair because DVC hasn't told the world about it in some Official Statement.

Is booking cash unfair? That's not a well recognized policy either, but people do it to save points on weekends and get the most of their membership.

We're talking about education here. Not everything is going to be learned from a Guide or CM, sometimes you need to put the work in yourself and learn the tips and tricks. It's not like the information is hidden.

There is a wealth of information here just on the Disboards, not to mention other sites. Are we to consider every suggestion or tip seen here as being 'unfair' to those that dont read them? I think that's a pretty significant stretch.

 

[jdg345]

You're absolutely right, this is totally reasonable. What was I thinking?????

Well, you can't have it both ways ... am I a customer, or an owner?

 

[jdg345]

I think most of us who want a cancelation policy initiated, would like to have it limited to the first 14-30 days that a reservation is made and then change your heart out. You either know when you made the resiie or you find out 14-30 days afterwards that you have to / want to change your days for soem reason.

yes, if you ahve a large number of points, you can still "walk" but I'm hoping that it won't happen. I have enough points to "walk" my reservation but I would never do so, I ahve enough respect for those who actually want to go on the days I would be walking through to just call when I need to.

Ya know, due to the way the WL works, even a cancel/rebook has a very high chance of you keeping what you wanted anyways. The CM's can hold the room for you as they cancel and rebook the vacation -- it doesn't go back into the queue and trigger the waitlist.

Now, granted, someone could snag that room if they released it into inventory and didn't hold it (if there happened to be a caller on the line asking for the same day) which can and does happen. But there are ways to minimize this type of thing from happening as well.

 

[abeyst]

Well, you can't have it both ways ... am I a customer, or an owner?

It appears from mgmt that we're customers disguised as owners.

 

[abeyst]

Ya know, due to the way the WL works, even a cancel/rebook has a very high chance of you keeping what you wanted anyways. The CM's can hold the room for you as they cancel and rebook the vacation -- it doesn't go back into the queue and trigger the waitlist.

Now, granted, someone could snag that room if they released it into inventory and didn't hold it (if there happened to be a caller on the line asking for the same day) which can and does happen. But there are ways to minimize this type of thing from happening as well.

Since when can they 'hold'?? There's too many posts about ppl losing their first ressie while trying to get the 2nd.


Sorry, I'm wayyyyy

 

[jarestel]

There is a wealth of information here just on the Disboards, not to mention other sites. Are we to consider every suggestion or tip seen here as being 'unfair' to those that read them? I think that's a pretty significant stretch.

What information people get from outside sources is irrelevant... IF DVC, the managing entity for our timeshare system, provides information that guarantees booking preferences for one member via MS, they need to do it for all or else this is an issue of fairness. I'm only discussing DVC disseminated information. If fairness/level playing fields is truly a concept most folks believe in, I can't see why anyone would disagree with this basic premise. However, if the concept of fairness is tinted by personal agendas, this explains a lot of the resistance. Consistency is good!

 

[jarestel]

Someone must have figured it out, no? It started somewhere.

Well, we have some pretty bright people on these boards, yourself included, and nobody has taken credit for "figuring" this out. If it's as easy to figure out as you seem to think, one would wonder why most people don't.

 

[pilferk]

I do see the difference, and as I said in a subsequent post I put policy in quotes because I wasn't sure what to call it, since technically it wasn't an official policy. To me it was a loophole, because regardless of the fact that some MS reps allowed people to do it or told people to do it, never was it stated anywhere in the official rules and regulations that you could book a series of one day reservations but not be required to check out and check back in and be allowed stay in the same room for the whole time. Yes it's a timeshare based on daily rather than weekly reservations, but the rules and regulations required that the reservation be made from your check out date--that means you have to check out that day. Call it a situation, call it a lack of communication (which I totally agree with) but it wasn't a policy, because it wasn't written down anywhere that it was allowed.

I disagree with the notion that since it was never stated, it wasn't an official rule/regulation/policy.

It's not specifically prevented by the rules. It functions within the confines of the rules that ARE presented. Thus, it's "policy by exception". There's LOTS of that within the rules of ANY system, including DVC.

The system would specifically allow you to check in and check out each day. That was a pain for both members AND DVC, because the costs of cleaning and churning the rooms would have been a burden. So DVC streamlined it by "linking". But nothing says they couldn't make you check in and out every day. I would have booked DBD even had that been the requirement....

Again, I'll agree that if the communication of the ability to do it wasn't made by DVC...that's an issue (and it's an ongoing one, apparently) with them. They need to correct that....and not just with this issue. But I don't think DVC's lack of ability to communicate to it's membership should be reason to junk the old for this new system.

 

[Bopsmom]

I disagree with the notion that since it was never stated, it wasn't an official rule/regulation/policy.

It's not specifically prevented by the rules. It functions within the confines of the rules that ARE presented. Thus, it's "policy by exception". There's LOTS of that within the rules of ANY system, including DVC.

The system would specifically allow you to check in and check out each day. That was a pain for both members AND DVC, because the costs of cleaning and churning the rooms would have been a burden. So DVC streamlined it by "linking". But nothing says they couldn't make you check in and out every day. I would have booked DBD even had that been the requirement....
Again, I'll agree that if the communication of the ability to do it wasn't made by DVC...that's an issue (and it's an ongoing one, apparently) with them. They need to correct that....and not just with this issue. But I don't think DVC's lack of ability to communicate to it's membership should be reason to junk the old for this new system.

I would check in check out too-Trash and Towel service EVERY DAY

 

[Chuck S]

Well, we have some pretty bright people on these boards, yourself included, and nobody has taken credit for "figuring" this out. If it's as easy to figure out as you seem to think, one would wonder why most people don't.

I don't think anyone is "taking credit" for the "discovery" because it has been in practice for busy booking periods for years, remember DBD is not a recent trend. It is however, a logical extrapolation from the "11 month from check out" day rule, so many "people" may have discovered it. I was actually encouraged to do so once by MS for an early December reservation at OKW, which has never been necessary. I did not do DBD, and had no problem booking what I wanted on my final check-out. I do think if it became a "problem" it is due to a combination of factors, including MS encouraging it, internet communities, AND developers points promotions. Remember that the original Dev points could be used at all DVC resorts. I don't understand how fully sold resorts (except for having ROFR points in inventory) could possibly have enough points that Dev points don't somehow "oversell" the system.