New policy on booking more than a week question

[DVC Grandpa]

In 2007 we had booking day-by-day, at the eleven month window to secure 21 days over Thanksgiving. As I read these post, now we can book the fires seven days and then have to wait seven days to book the second week and d again for the third week. In 2007 our first day was Monday 11/12 with the intent on staying thru Saturday 12/1. Under the new booking policy I would book a week starting 11/12, checking out 11/19 at which time I would attempt to book 11/19 thru 11/25 and so on the third week.. By not being able to book day by day what would happed my second week when other members could call for a reservation starting 11/18 and book Thanksgiving week prior to me being able to book my second week which would be starting the 19th thru the 25th? I could be locked out of that second week since I could not start my booking at the same time those who plan to arrive at the end or during my first week. They would be able to book seven days while I would have to wait until the end of my first week to book the second etc.
If this is the way it works the advantage is given to those members who stay seven or less days and it is a disadvantage to those who can stay longer, especially at high occupancy times.
Is this the correct interruption of the new policy?

 

[CarolMN]

Yes, your interpretation is correct.

It may or may not be a problem, depending on where you own and what type of room you reserve.

For example, the new policy will not be a problem for your dates if you are booking SSR at 11 months. But if you are trying to book a standard view unit at the BWV for those dates, it can (probably will) be a problem.

I own at BWV and prefer the SV units. I think the new policy is wrong and was instituted to increase Disney's profits.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Hi CarolMN,

Not sure if I understand. How does the new policy increase Disney's profits? I am definitely not saying you are wrong, just curious as to your interpretation.

 

[TisBit]

I would think that it would just take better planning. I wouldn't bookt the first week on the first day (since it is relatively light season), but rather wait until right before the seven day window for thanksgiving opens up and book that week (the busier time) and than worry about filling it in from there.

Realisticly if you waited until 11.18 to book, you could book the first part of the week that has already gone by, plus thanksgiving.

 

[TisBit]

Hi CarolMN,

Not sure if I understand. How does the new policy increase Disney's profits? I am definitely not saying you are wrong, just curious as to your interpretation.

Only two ways it could increase profits.

1. less day by day calling, less MS agents

2. cater to week long stays over shorter stays, someone stays on property longer, stands to reason they will spend more money

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Only two ways it could increase profits.

1. less day by day calling, less MS agents

2. cater to week long stays over shorter stays, someone stays on property longer, stands to reason they will spend more money

I am not sure that it will help on call sto MS. In fact, a person wanting a longer than a 7 day stay might call multiple times (even day-by-day) trying to gauge availability. If you call on your first day to book your 7 days, why not call the next day and see if you can book an 8 day reservation, including the day before. If it available, then you cancel you prior reservation and rebook. Since you cannot just add a day, this requires MS to actually cancel one reservation and book a new one. The then next day, call for availability on a 9 day stay and so and so on. -- Suzanne

 

[DVC Grandpa]

I would think that it would just take better planning. I wouldn't bookt the first week on the first day (since it is relatively light season), but rather wait until right before the seven day window for thanksgiving opens up and book that week (the busier time) and than worry about filling it in from there.

Realisticly if you waited until 11.18 to book, you could book the first part of the week that has already gone by, plus thanksgiving.

I understand what you are saying about booking the high traveled week but still I am not assured to getting the first or third week as one day may not be available. Why should anyone have to “work out a plan”? Everyone should be treated equal and the only equal way is the allow booking “one day at a time” if someone desired to do so. In allowing a seven day reservation on the first day of a stay is wrong and narrow-mindedness as it is not giving everyone the same chance to make a desired reservation.

 

[TDC Nala]

OK, if I am booking 9 nights at BCV, where I own points, for the food and wine festival, I would have to call on the checkin day at 11 months out, book the first 7 nights, and then because I need to wait 7 days before I do another booking, have drastically reduced odds of being able to book the next two nights?

I think this policy doesn't favor anyone except those who want to book a 7 night stay.

 

[RobDoc]

OK, if I am booking 9 nights at BCV, where I own points, for the food and wine festival, I would have to call on the checkin day at 11 months out, book the first 7 nights, and then because I need to wait 7 days before I do another booking, have drastically reduced odds of being able to book the next two nights?

I think this policy doesn't favor anyone except those who want to book a 7 night stay.

Unless MS has a means to prevent modifications to reservations - you could also reserve 7 days at 11 months and then 2 days later, cancel all but the first two days and make another 7 day reservation - giving you the entire 9 days.

Alternatively, you could reserve 2 days with the first call and then reserve the final 7 two days later.

With a little risk, you could also just call 11 months from the third day and reserve the entire stay. For example, if you wanted 9 nights next May (5/19 - 5/28) you could call today and make the entire reservation with one call.

I suspect that for all but the busiest times or most limited accommodations that reservations longer than 7 nights can still be made with only one call.

The tough ones will be all dates from Thanksgiving - New Years, GVs at any resort, BW and Standard view at BWV, Concierge/Value villas at AKV and 2BR/2Queen bed villas at BCV. Most other dates and villa types can likely be reserved as before without much problem.

 

[CarolMN]

Hi CarolMN,

Not sure if I understand. How does the new policy increase Disney's profits? I am definitely not saying you are wrong, just curious as to your interpretation.

I could be wrong, but I believe that the fees DVC members pay for MS service is capped at a percentage of the annual estimated budget for operating expenses. If it costs them less, Disney keeps the difference. If it costs them more, Disney eats it. In my Component Site POS (for the BWV, dated 3/2000), the percentage is 12%.

It's entirely possible that the fee has been increased as I'm sure somewhere in the POS it says they reserve the right to do so. But I'm pretty sure they have to do something formal (ala a Board of Directors' Meeting) to do that. They can't just raise their fees willy nilly.

I think MS is having trouble keeping up with the membership growth even with all the hiring they've been forced to do lately. The developer points incentive is creating a large demand for MS time since all reservations need to be manually figured out. At some point, they are going to have to figure out how to allow members to do at least the more straightforward reservations online.

I think the changes made to the waitlisting capabilities are also related to MS problems handling the growth in membership, since it takes MS time to complete waitlist reservations. (The computer can match a request, but the software isn't there that will accurately cancel and rebook according to the member's wishes for how the points are to be handled). Day by day waitlisting takes a lot more MS time than one waitlist for the entire time.

Now they also want to decrease the number of calls and think the new policy will do that. (FWIW, I think most day by day calling happens at the 7 month window. There are only a few instances where it's needed at 11 months).

Call me cynical, but I don't think the booking changes are being driven by members, - I think the driving force is Disney's profits. Period. JMHO. YMMV.

 

[TDC Nala]

I suspect that for all but the busiest times or most limited accommodations that reservations longer than 7 nights can still be made with only one call.

The tough ones will be all dates from Thanksgiving - New Years, GVs at any resort, BW and Standard view at BWV, Concierge/Value villas at AKV and 2BR/2Queen bed villas at BCV. Most other dates and villa types can likely be reserved as before without much problem.

so you don't think that a BCV studio during food & wine counts as tough? It'll also be Jersey week (I'm not in Jersey but I prefer to include Halloween) if that matters.

I would probably try the two days from checkin bit but then I run the risk of not getting Halloween.

 

[RobDoc]

Yes, DVC's fee is 12% of the non-tax operating budget so any costs they can control internally go to their bottom line.

I agree about the majority of day-by-day calls being within 7 months - except for GVs and BWV, VB and HH, Standard and BW view at BWV, Concierge and Value at AKV, 2BRs with 2 queens at BCV and dates from Thanksgiving - New Years. I think those situations also utilize day-by-day calls at 11 months for many members - even though some of those situations still don't actually require daily calls.

 

[RobDoc]

so you don't think that a BCV studio during food & wine counts as tough? It'll also be Jersey week (I'm not in Jersey but I prefer to include Halloween) if that matters.

I would probably try the two days from checkin bit but then I run the risk of not getting Halloween.

That time could also be included - as could other specific times thru the year (like MLK in January and Easter and 1BR villas and STudios at HH in the summer). I was using a generality , but there are certainly other specific situations which may also be difficult - whether using the new policy or old policy.

In general, with the exception of specific resorts, villa types and dates, I suspect that most of the year will not be an issue for Home Resort reservations from 11 to 7 months.

 

[CarolMN]

.....(snip).....In general, with the exception of specific resorts, villa types and dates, I suspect that most of the year will not be an issue for Home Resort reservations from 11 to 7 months.

I agree with this.

It's why I think the new policy should not apply during the home resort booking period. That would retain the "level playing field" aspect of reservations at your home resort and should not present a large burden to MS in terms of call volume. I have no data, but my sense is that in the sense of sheer numbers there are far more day by day calls made at 7 months than at 11 months. [Number of calls and length of calls are important for call center staffing. (Used to run a big call center for a telephone company). The second and subsequent calls made for day by day reservations (in my experience) are significantly shorter in length than calls for the first day or for "one call" reservations].

MS should let those of us who own a particular resort specifically for those high demand situations continue to reserve on a first come, first served basis for any given day.

 

[RobDoc]

...
MS should let those of us who own a particular resort specifically for those high demand situations continue to reserve on a first come, first served basis for any given day.

Good thought. I agree that this preserves the Home Resort priority.

 

[Nanajo1]

We usually stay longer than seven days. When I felt I needed to book day by day MS asked what was my ultimate check out date and would hold the letters until I finished. Did that put any kind of a "hold" on my room? If MS is aware of your plans can't they flag you ressie ?
Just trying to figure it all out.

 

[RobDoc]

We usually stay longer than seven days. When I felt I needed to book day by day MS asked what was my ultimate check out date and would hold the letters until I finished. Did that put any kind of a "hold" on my room? If MS is aware of your plans can't they flag you ressie ?
Just trying to figure it all out.

The "flag" was really just a notation that you intended to add more days so they could then wait and send the confirmation letter once the reservation was completed. It did not put a "hold" on the room or give you any advantage in reserving the remaining days you wanted.

IMO, day-by-day reservations were probably not needed as often as they were used for reservations at 11 months since most resorts still have had availability even at 7 months for most dates thru the year.

There is no doubt in my mind that the number of phones call thru the year will be reduced with this change, but there are still dates and reservation types where calls could even increase due to these changes.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

I agree with this.


MS should let those of us who own a particular resort specifically for those high demand situations continue to reserve on a first come, first served basis for any given day.

I could buy into that if you are saying it be done day by day or length of stay, whatever the length.

 

[JaxDisneyFans]

Good thought. I agree that this preserves the Home Resort priority.

Agree w/you both. Anything that preserves Home Resort rights should be the priority. Home Resort owners should always have a level playing field for a particular date at their resort. JMHO.

 

[CarolMN]

I could buy into that if you are saying it be done day by day or length of stay, whatever the length.

I'm saying that the reservation system should not be changed for those who book their home resort before the 7 month window opens. Just leave it the way it was. Change it for non-home resort reservations if necessary, but leave a level playing field for those who book their home resorts before the 7 month window opens.