New policy for reservations based on check IN date

[nocknock]

I had a problem yesterday and I am devastated! We were planning our first trip to Vero Beach. I bought a Vero on resale about 4 months ago. I planned and planned.

I was the first caller of the day(9am. I wanted to book June 21st for 7 nights. They told me that it was sold out until June 26th. I asked her how that could be since it was the first day of the booking window( I missed the change on here). She said that I should have called sooner. I was very upset. I told her that this is not a fair plaing field anymore and that this was ruining my trip. She said everyone else is thrilled the change. I asked for a manager.

The manager said that I was the only complaint that they ever had from anyone who owns DVC. That they informed everyone. I said that I never got any notification. She said that it was been on the web site for weeks. I explained that I have never successfully gone on the web site and that was not a way to notify people. I also told her that people will start complaining as soon as they are unable to get something they want.

I am considering reselling my Vero. The only reason I want it is for the Beach Cottage and I am disgusted with Disney right now.

Day by Day booking may have been a pain, but it is fair. This is not.

 

[maminnie]

I had a problem yesterday and I am devastated! We were planning our first trip to Vero Beach. I bought a Vero on resale about 4 months ago. I planned and planned.

I was the first caller of the day(9am. I wanted to book June 21st for 7 nights. They told me that it was sold out until June 26th. I asked her how that could be since it was the first day of the booking window( I missed the change on here). She said that I should have called sooner. I was very upset. I told her that this is not a fair plaing field anymore and that this was ruining my trip. She said everyone else is thrilled the change. I asked for a manager.

The manager said that I was the only complaint that they ever had from anyone who owns DVC. That they informed everyone. I said that I never got any notification. She said that it was been on the web site for weeks. I explained that I have never successfully gone on the web site and that was not a way to notify people. I also told her that people will start complaining as soon as they are unable to get something they want.

I am considering reselling my Vero. The only reason I want it is for the Beach Cottage and I am disgusted with Disney right now.

Day by Day booking may have been a pain, but it is fair. This is not.

nocknock:

I am so sorry to hear this.

I don't know why the member services rep told you that you should have called sooner. You called at 9:00 am the first day you could call; 11 months from your check-in of June 21. Basically because of the new reservation policy of check-in +7, it appears that those members who had check-in dates earlier then you and more specifically possibly Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20 may have secured all of the inventory through Friday, June 26. So by the time you were able to call on the 21st, all inventory (which as I understand Beach Cottages are very limited) was gone. This is a good example of what a number of members have been upset about thoughout this thread. By the time you called for Sunday-Sunday, all inventory for a specific type of accommodation may have been gone by those members who arrived sooner. This type of scenario could possibly occur for other members in the future not just for accommodations that are limited in number but also accommodations in general during busy/peak travel times.

Once again I am sorry this happened to you and hope that it works out for you. I would recommend your sharing your personal experience with the Member Satisfaction Team who is supposedly monitoring this policy. Also if you read through this thread, it is highly unlikely that DVC has not received any complaints about the new policy so I don't know why the manager said that to you either unless she was referencing that you were the first member that had a specific reservation problem. (As members have indicated this is a slower period of time for booking reservations.)


Thank you for sharing your experience.
maminnie

 

[danielle782001]

I had a problem yesterday and I am devastated! We were planning our first trip to Vero Beach. I bought a Vero on resale about 4 months ago. I planned and planned.

I was the first caller of the day(9am. I wanted to book June 21st for 7 nights. They told me that it was sold out until June 26th. I asked her how that could be since it was the first day of the booking window( I missed the change on here). She said that I should have called sooner. I was very upset. I told her that this is not a fair plaing field anymore and that this was ruining my trip. She said everyone else is thrilled the change. I asked for a manager.

The manager said that I was the only complaint that they ever had from anyone who owns DVC. That they informed everyone. I said that I never got any notification. She said that it was been on the web site for weeks. I explained that I have never successfully gone on the web site and that was not a way to notify people. I also told her that people will start complaining as soon as they are unable to get something they want.

I am considering reselling my Vero. The only reason I want it is for the Beach Cottage and I am disgusted with Disney right now.

Day by Day booking may have been a pain, but it is fair. This is not.

Let me give you a hug...A am so sorry that this happened to you...

I hate the idea but I knew that it would happen to someone...When this thread first started I expressed my concern for those people not active on this website or on the DVC member site....I also expressed my concern in an email to DVC...I emailed them with a list of concerns about the new policy...My cheif complaint was that we were not informed by mail before the change went into effect...Please call your guide and let him/her know what happened and also write a letter of complaint...They need to know what they did with this policy change had such a negative impact on your plans....

Sorry again...Maybe you should look into a different vacation this year and plan for Vero next year...There are so many wonderful places you can visit with DVC...I know it sucks to change your plans when you have your heart set on something...We found out the hard way to when we booked our first trip...We had to change the dates by a week and the location because I did not know about DBD booking...Now I am more informed and sometimes still do not get what we want...

The system is far from perfect, which we have successfully proved on this thread...

Good luck with future planning...I hope you can find something else that you will make you happy.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Besides you can always get air at 11 months out, the only question is then the price and itinerary.

That is just NOT accurate. It's been my experience that you cannot buy airline tickets 11 months out from the date of your flight. Checking Jet Blue today, you can only buy tickets for about 7 months out from now. Please tell me which airline you book tickets for 11 months out?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I had a problem yesterday and I am devastated! We were planning our first trip to Vero Beach. I bought a Vero on resale about 4 months ago. I planned and planned.

I was the first caller of the day(9am. I wanted to book June 21st for 7 nights. They told me that it was sold out until June 26th. I asked her how that could be since it was the first day of the booking window( I missed the change on here). She said that I should have called sooner. I was very upset. I told her that this is not a fair plaing field anymore and that this was ruining my trip. She said everyone else is thrilled the change. I asked for a manager.

The manager said that I was the only complaint that they ever had from anyone who owns DVC. That they informed everyone. I said that I never got any notification. She said that it was been on the web site for weeks. I explained that I have never successfully gone on the web site and that was not a way to notify people. I also told her that people will start complaining as soon as they are unable to get something they want.

I am considering reselling my Vero. The only reason I want it is for the Beach Cottage and I am disgusted with Disney right now.

Day by Day booking may have been a pain, but it is fair. This is not.

This is EXACTLY what those of us who hate this new booking system have been saying would happen. You need to send a letter to the customer satisfaction team at DVC. THey have had plenty of complaints from all of us! They just don't want to acknowledge them!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have a walking question. Let's say I start to "walk" a reservation by calling 7 days out from my first expected check in day and nothing is available but the last day (which is the real first day I want), can I then waitlist those previous days and drop each as I add to the end, or will they not let me drop the waitlisted days? I'm so confused about this. My plan was to call for Kilamanjaro Club level 7 days ahead of my preferred check in day to secure the first day (which would be the last day of the original reservation), and then start walking forward until I get what I really want. The stickler is what if the earlier days aren't available and I have to waitlist? Has that been discussed elsewhere in the thread?

 

[danielle782001]

That is just NOT accurate. It's been my experience that you cannot buy airline tickets 11 months out from the date of your flight. Checking Jet Blue today, you can only buy tickets for about 7 months out from now. Please tell me which airline you book tickets for 11 months out?

This is my experience as well...We always fly Southwest and we have never been able to book at 11 months....Currently they are booking until the beginning of January...I was not able to book my flight for my December 12th trip until June 26th...It has gone the same way for us using Southwest for several years now.

 

[Inkmahm]

It's far more than just cost in $$$. That flexibility has a negative as well. It orphans days, leads to lower occupancy rates (actually saturation rates). A more predictable system also makes it easier to book if you fit in to that predictability and leads to more uniform points usage and thus predictability for both the members and the system.

There is NO benefit to me if DVC decides to require 7 day stays! Period. I would NOT have purchased DVC if that were a requirement.
Many of us purchased BECAUSE we could book a few days here and a few days there, not a strict 7 day period starting on a Sat or Sun. I HATE "standard" timeshares that require such things. Rather than make DVC like the rest of your time shares, why not just sell DVC and buy more of the others? Let the rest of us be!

 

[Inkmahm]

This is EXACTLY what those of us who hate this new booking system have been saying would happen. You need to send a letter to the customer satisfaction team at DVC. THey have had plenty of complaints from all of us! They just don't want to acknowledge them!

It's a perfect example and I also encourage the OP to complain to the customer satisfaction team. Not only about the new policy but about how rudely she was treated in being told she should have called sooner.

Wait, maybe the CM meant she should have called earlier to start walking her reservation! Have they started to give out instructions to walk, just like they used to give out instructions to call DBD?

 

[bookwormde]

Nocknock

Sorry for being a “victim” of the new reservation system.

I also not know what the MS was talking about when they said to call earlier, sounds like they need more training.

I am wondering if the Member Satisfaction Team is not “sharing” the information that there are members who are not happy at all with the new policy. Who ever talks with them next might ask them this question.

I would keep calling back every day on the off chance someone is walking their reservations through your dates.

bookworwmde

 

[dianeschlicht]

Nocknock

Sorry for being a “victim” of the new reservation system.

I also not know what the MS was talking about when they said to call earlier, sounds like they need more training.

I am wondering if the Member Satisfaction Team is not “sharing” the information that there are members who are not happy at all with the new policy. Who ever talks with them next might ask them this question.

I would keep calling back every day on the off chance someone is walking their reservations through your dates.

bookworwmde

That was my thought too. Now could I get my quesion answered? I'm not sure how I would go about this.

I have a walking question. Let's say I start to "walk" a reservation by calling 7 days out from my first expected check in day and nothing is available but the last day (which is the real first day I want), can I then waitlist those previous days and drop each as I add to the end, or will they not let me drop the waitlisted days? I'm so confused about this. My plan was to call for Kilamanjaro Club level 7 days ahead of my preferred check in day to secure the first day (which would be the last day of the original reservation), and then start walking forward until I get what I really want. The stickler is what if the earlier days aren't available and I have to waitlist? Has that been discussed elsewhere in the thread?
As for booking 11 months out... that is how we MUST do it with NWA if we want to get Frequent flyer seats. They become available 330 days ahead.

 

[dvcdisney]

I had a problem yesterday and I am devastated! We were planning our first trip to Vero Beach. I bought a Vero on resale about 4 months ago. I planned and planned.

I was the first caller of the day(9am. I wanted to book June 21st for 7 nights. They told me that it was sold out until June 26th. I asked her how that could be since it was the first day of the booking window( I missed the change on here). She said that I should have called sooner. I was very upset. I told her that this is not a fair plaing field anymore and that this was ruining my trip. She said everyone else is thrilled the change. I asked for a manager.

The manager said that I was the only complaint that they ever had from anyone who owns DVC. That they informed everyone. I said that I never got any notification. She said that it was been on the web site for weeks. I explained that I have never successfully gone on the web site and that was not a way to notify people. I also told her that people will start complaining as soon as they are unable to get something they want.

I am considering reselling my Vero. The only reason I want it is for the Beach Cottage and I am disgusted with Disney right now.

Day by Day booking may have been a pain, but it is fair. This is not.

I'm sorry about your experience. I don't understand why they would tell that you should have called earlier. Are they instructing you to "walk" your reservation?

I cannot believe they told you that you are the only one who has complained. We have all complained and have received numerous calls.

I hope you were able to get the manager's name and if you are going to write a letter, I would suggest you give them his/her name and explain why you are very upset.

 

[Chuck S]

To answer the air question, most discount carriers like Southwest, Jet Blue. etc. do not book 11 months out...more in the 6 to 7 month area. The legacy carriers, American, Delta, NorthWest, etc. do book at 11 months out. It really depends upon which carriers serve your airport.

Now, back on topic for this thread...I am so sorry that nocknock was not able to secure the desired beach cottage at Vero. I would definitely communicate this to Member Satisfaction, along with the fact that you were told to call earlier, even though July 21 was 11 months prior to your arrival date. This is exactly the scenario that many posters on this thread have been concerned about, and why I consider this new system unfair to members, even though it is doubtful it will impact my vacation plans at OKW.

We shall see when I try to book Early December 2009, since DBD calling was never needed at OKW for a 1 bedroom during that time frame before. I was always able to secure the reservation, even if a called a day or so after the departure date window. If I have trouble this year, you can bet DVC will hear about it! I didn't have any trouble booking a Studio for next June 3 to 10 calling on July 5th, which was a couple of days into the new window. I think the most impact will be for the people at the smaller resorts during peak times.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

To answer the air question, most discount carriers like Southwest, Jet Blue. etc. do not book 11 months out...more in the 6 to 7 month area. The legacy carriers, American, Delta, NorthWest, etc. do book at 11 months out. It really depends upon which carriers serve your airport.

Actually because the legacy airlines book 330 days from the flight day, the prior booking system of 11 months from check out came close to allowing you to book both a room and flight on the same day. Because 11 months and 330 days are not exactly the same, however, it was not always an exact match.

With the new system, there is no way you could book a multi-night stay and your flight on the same day as the reservation. You might be able to book you arrival flight but would need to wait a number of days until you book your departure flight. So, this new system may have also made coordinating travel more difficult.

-- Suzanne

 

[jeankeri]

.

I have a walking question. Let's say I start to "walk" a reservation by calling 7 days out from my first expected check in day and nothing is available but the last day (which is the real first day I want), can I then waitlist those previous days and drop each as I add to the end, or will they not let me drop the waitlisted days? I'm so confused about this. My plan was to call for Kilamanjaro Club level 7 days ahead of my preferred check in day to secure the first day (which would be the last day of the original reservation), and then start walking forward until I get what I really want. The stickler is what if the earlier days aren't available and I have to waitlist? Has that been discussed elsewhere in the thread?
]
If only the last day of the reservation is available, and you waitlist for the entire week, your waitlist does not become 'active' until that last day, which could have been booked by another member. You have no hold over the room that was available on you first call. You can only 'walk' a reservation that you have been able to book, not waitlist.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I had a problem yesterday and.......They told me that it was sold out until June 26th........said that I should have called sooner.

Indeed, the only way nocknock could have called any sooner for this reservation would have been if they walked into what they wanted.

Sorry to hear for the negative impact this policy has had on your vacation plans. Nobody can dispute that this situation is the direct result of the new policy, and exactly what people have feared. Sure, one can argue that even at 9 am 11 months in advance of the first night there's no guarantee that you'd get what you want, but now there isn't even a chance at the 22nd through the 26th, and the 11 month window hasn't even opened yet for those days. Nocknock was shut out before ever having a chance at the reservation. That is just wrong, unfair, and not what many of us think DVC is supposed to be about. Then DVC goes and lies about there being no complaints about the new system? What a joke. I haven't had a problem yet, but the change and DVC's behavior leave a bad taste in my mouth and have me thinking the dreaded "sell" word. I'm not going to do anything rash yet, but even just feeling that way is unpleasant. It will be interesting to see if this change and it's repurcussions have any impact on resale inventory in the future (with a corresponding impact on new DVC sales)?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I was the first caller of the day(9am. I wanted to book June 21st for 7 nights. They told me that it was sold out until June 26th.

There are lots of people here on the DisBoards who are very good at problem solving. Anyone have any concrete advice for nocknock about WLing, alternate accomodations or any other solution that might be acceptable for her to vacation at Vero during here desired time frame next year? -- Suzanne

 

[dzorn]

That is just NOT accurate. It's been my experience that you cannot buy airline tickets 11 months out from the date of your flight. Checking Jet Blue today, you can only buy tickets for about 7 months out from now. Please tell me which airline you book tickets for 11 months out?

Even if you can book 11 months out, flights are canceled and changed all the time. That's why I would hate to see a complete cancel and rebook policy. I would rather let the few who will walk get away with it. Member are at the mercy of the airlines industry they should not lose their whole vacation because of a change.

Denise in MI

 

[jdg345]

I would still like to see something put in place to prevent manipulation of the system that will keep availability of the resorts fair to all. This DBD and walking sounds illogical to me. And quite frankly I have better things to do with my time than calling MS daily to get a room. Oh yeah I also have to make a living and am not sitting by a phone for days in a row to place that daily 9 am call. I am sure that the majority are in that situation.

Understood, and it sounds like you had success calling at 11 months based on departure anyways, so DBD -- while an option for you -- did not seem necessary. If you wanted to do it, you could have during your lunch hour, etc.

Keep in mind that the new system is less fair, or at least as unfair.

For example, assuming you knew about DBD, you could call in the afternoons under the old system. This would grant someone a few hours leg up over your ability to call, but all the rooms would be available on that given day.

Assuming you did not know about DBD, you would have called based on departure date, so you would be competing with those leaving before you.

Now, with the new system, in a best case scenario when you call based upon arrival date, you are competing with those that have been able to book your days for the last 7 days or more. Without taking walking into consideration. If you add in walking, they have access to inventory potentially weeks before you.

If you were upset that with DBD someone might get a few hours advantage against full inventory, this should really concern you since someone might be getting several days advantage against partial inventory.

 

[Inkmahm]

Even if you can book 11 months out, flights are canceled and changed all the time. That's why I would hate to see a complete cancel and rebook policy. I would rather let the few who will walk get away with it. Member are at the mercy of the airlines industry they should not lose their whole vacation because of a change.

Denise in MI

I'm dealing with that issue right now. I have three trips planned to Orlando in October, December and next March. All 3 of them have been disrupted by Midwest Airlines canceling service to Orlando other than seasonal service and the seasonal service flight times not matching my needs. I couldn't be flexible in changing my flight dates because I'm locked in to the dates I have reserved with DVC (including AKV concierge in March). Instead, I've had to change all of our plane tickets to another airline and now have to redo all the car reservations, too.