I think the biggest part of the problem is that the new system is based on the first day of the reservation. If you base it on the last day (or 7 days if 8 days or more) it takes away the advantage 1 week vacations have over shorter vacations and makes critical dates available to everyone at the same time.
I have come to the conclusion that technically the new system is not “repairable”
So what is the solution? Here is my suggestion if I was running
DVC (assuming we are not going back to the old system). IT accomplished the following.
Reduces CM workload by allowing fewer chunks for building a reservation at the 11 and 7-month thresholds.
Gives everyone the same opportunity (phone dialing speed excluded) to book 1 special day.
Partially rebalances the booking advantages between short, weekly in multiweek vacations.
Limits multiple rentals of the same high demand resort/class rooms at the 11 and 7-month thresholds (serial renters cannot book 2 or 3 of a class during this preferred period).
It does not fix the wait list change, which I still have not figured out their logic. I will just waitlist the one day and make a nuisance of myself calling about the others each day (I do not think this will be less work than just entering them day by day).
Ok so they want to block things out in week chunks. Everyone pick this idea apart and tell me if it is better than the newly adopted system. When you first call you can book any group of nights in the next 7 days. If one (or more of your nights is not a available then you are automatically waitlisted for it.) You may not make any other reservation for this 7-day period and for this resort and room class for 7 days. This keeps people from doing day by day and multiple splitting stays to gain an advantage. You can make a reservation for the days 8-14 when they are within 7 days of all your requested reservation dates but the same rules apply. (So you will only book on the day that will finish out your reservation). For those over 14 days the process repeats.
My version of the program announcement.
NOT FROM DVC
Reservation Booking Enhancement
Thanks to a recent service enhancement, Members may now place a single phone call to request a full reservation of as many as seven-nights prior to the unrestricted window, members may make one reservation per resort/room class per based on 11 months before their check out date or the 7th day of a multiweek reservation for home resort reservations, and 7 months before their check out date or the 7th day of a multiweek reservation for other Disney Vacation Club Resorts.
One extension (up to 7 days) may be made for the 7 days following week last day of the above reservation so long as check out date or the 7th day of a this reservation extension, is 11 months before for home resort or 7 months before for other Disney Vacation Club. This process can be repeated for members reserving the full 7 days on the previous extension to allow for longer reservations.
Incomplete reservations may be booked, missing days will automatically be waitlisted. Waitlist for days with a check out date before the 11-month and 7 month windows respectively may only be cancelled by canceling the associated reservation, after the check out date passed the 11-month and 7 month windows respectively they may be cancelled or modified as per previous policy.
This enhancement includes no additional restrictions on reservations involving check out dates, which are less than the 11-month and 7 month windows respectively.
Members may continue to cancel and modify reservations as needed but may not rebook a cancelled date until the check out day for the cancelled day is within the 11 month and 7 month windows respectively.
NOT FROM DVC
Here are some examples.
All member trying for the same resort and room type, and is home resort.
Member A wants to book a 7 days starting on Friday June12th 2009. Calls on July 12th 2008. If available gets 6/12 check in 6/19 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days.
Member B wants to book a 5 days starting on Sunday June14th 2009. Calls on July 12th 2008. . If available gets 6/14 check in 6/19 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days. Member B may not book any other days for this week period 6/12-6/19 for this resort and room class for 7 days.
Member C wants to book a 1 days starting on Thursday June18th 2009 (It is his 10th wedding anniversary and promised his wife that he would get her this resort and room class (substitute any high demand holiday). Calls on July 12th 2008. . If available gets 6/14 check in 6/19 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing day. Member C may not book any other days for this week period 6/12-6/19 for this resort and room class for 7 days.
Member D wants to book a 9 days starting on Friday June14th 2009. Calls on July 12th 2008. If available gets 6/12 check in 6/19 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days. Calls on July 14th 2008. If available gets 6/20 check in 6/21 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days. Member D may not book any other days for this week period 6/21-6/26 for this resort and room class. When complete the reservation is linked.
Member E wants to book a 14 days starting on Friday June14th 2009. Calls on July 12th 2008. If available gets 6/12 check in 6/19 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days. Calls on July 19th 2008. If available gets 6/20 check in 6/26 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days. Member E may not book any other days for this week period 6/21-6/26 for this resort and room class. When complete the reservation is linked.
Member F wants to book a 18 days starting on Friday June14th 2009. Calls on July 12th 2008. If available gets 6/12 check in 6/19 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days. Calls on July 19th 2008. If available gets 6/20 check in 6/26 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days. Calls on July 23th 2008. If available gets 6/27 check in 6/30 check out if not automatically waitlisted for missing days Member F may not book any other days for this week period 6/21-6/26 for this resort and room class. When complete the reservation is linked.
1st thing this does is to eliminate any value of booking and then canceling the front of the reservation.
Second it makes critical dates available to everyone on the same day (though it may effect the rest of your reservation).
Gaming the system:
First essentially everyone could split his or her 8-day or less reservation into 2 pieces (still less work for CMs than day by day). For 9-15 day reservation they could be split into 3 pieces and 15-22 days could be 4 pieces) basically everyone could “grab” a first chunk of there reservation and then wait to 7- from there last day to complete (or for long reservations the end of the next 7 day chunk)
1 and 2 days stays 2 could be day by day but could not be extended for 7 days. 3-8 day stays could be any combination of 2 chunks but the later chunk could not be extended for 7 days and so forth with longer reservations.
Every one would be free to create their chunks as they saw fit for competitive purposes, special day requirements, or any other needs as long as they follow the core rules.
You could cancel any part of your reservation at any time (but could not rebook during the 7 day time period unless you cancel the entire chunk.
bookwormde
