Number of People Walking

[rlduvall]

I'm at the point that I either have to drop this chase for my own sanity, or we need a bigger team looking into it. I'm an adult and can accept the answer to what is going on provided it falls under the reservation rules laid out that we agreed to, but I'm very upset that Disney is jerking us around giving us different answers, no answers and then we see missing days pop up for cash sales.

I have been following everyone's comments about the AKV value studio fiasco even though I haven't responded much. I, too, experienced the inability to book during the first 2 weeks of December as the inventory was not available when at least one room should have been. I have been beyond frustrated about the whole thing because I'm pretty sure we will never get a "truthful" response from Member Services. Regardless, I went ahead and sent off a pretty strongly worded email just right now because twinklebug is getting me, rightfully, stirred up. I'm sure they won't read it thoroughly or will choose to ignore the facts I set out, but I will let you know what type of response I get. It does taint my warm fuzzy feeling for DVC - especially in light of all the current changes. I feel like the more Members bring it to their attention and keep complaining, the less they can "sweep" it under the rug.

 

[twinklebug]

I have been following everyone's comments about the AKV value studio fiasco even though I haven't responded much. I, too, experienced the inability to book during the first 2 weeks of December as the inventory was not available when at least one room should have been. I have been beyond frustrated about the whole thing because I'm pretty sure we will never get a "truthful" response from Member Services. Regardless, I went ahead and sent off a pretty strongly worded email just right now because twinklebug is getting me, rightfully, stirred up. I'm sure they won't read it thoroughly or will choose to ignore the facts I set out, but I will let you know what type of response I get. It does taint my warm fuzzy feeling for DVC - especially in light of all the current changes. I feel like the more Members bring it to their attention and keep complaining, they less they can "sweep" it under the rug.

I'm sorry, don't mean to cause anyone anxiety, it's my nature to make sure everyone is playing by the rules and to ensure systems keep flowing along as designed.

I have alternate plans for December so the problem with the values not popping up is not a game changer for us. What concerns me is: if Disney is now going to make a habit of taking the club and value rooms away from us for popular times, it will make a difference as to how valuable our coveted home resort advantage is.

 

[Bearval]

With the rumor that Disney is going to be cracking down on FP abuse what are the chances they will target “walking” next?

 

[TexasChick123]

With the rumor that Disney is going to be cracking down on FP abuse what are the chances they will target “walking” next?

Maybe, but they don’t seem to care at all about it. With the FP thing, some people are getting a benefit without paying Disney for it. With walking, they wouldn’t be paying for the benefit. I don’t like walking either and find it annoying, but I don’t think they care unless it results in loss of income for them.

 

[Bearval]

Maybe, but they don’t seem to care at all about it. With the FP thing, some people are getting a benefit without paying Disney for it. With walking, they wouldn’t be paying for the benefit. I don’t like walking either and find it annoying, but I don’t think they care unless it results in loss of income for them.

People walking has not impacted me yet but if it did I would be PO.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

With the rumor that Disney is going to be cracking down on FP abuse what are the chances they will target “walking” next?

Different reasons for "concern". I doubt they care much about it especially with online modifications now.

 

[keishashadow]

I have been following everyone's comments about the AKV value studio fiasco even though I haven't responded much. I, too, experienced the inability to book during the first 2 weeks of December as the inventory was not available when at least one room should have been. I have been beyond frustrated about the whole thing because I'm pretty sure we will never get a "truthful" response from Member Services. Regardless, I went ahead and sent off a pretty strongly worded email just right now because twinklebug is getting me, rightfully, stirred up. I'm sure they won't read it thoroughly or will choose to ignore the facts I set out, but I will let you know what type of response I get. It does taint my warm fuzzy feeling for DVC - especially in light of all the current changes. I feel like the more Members bring it to their attention and keep complaining, the less they can "sweep" it under the rug.

Disney Cardinal rule: if you don’t like the answer you get the first time, keep calling. Ha, not sure it’s going to apply here. I’m thrilled I was able to first snag studio at kidani, then waitlist for standard J studio came thru. I feel as though I am ‘wasting’ my waitlist for the value at this point.

Not that I don’t discount something fishy possibly happening. Yet, can’t say I agree with your statement as to “at least one should have been” available. Can’t remember how many value studios offhand, but think 8 + 10? Regardless, only so many to go ‘round & those weeks seem to get more crowded with DVC members every year. Odds of success drop even more with walking becoming more well known strategy.

 

[rlduvall]

Not that I don’t discount something fishy possibly happening. Yet, can’t say I agree with your statement as to “at least one should have been” available. Can’t remember how many value studios offhand, but think 8 + 10? Regardless, only so many to go ‘round & those weeks seem to get more crowded with DVC members every year. Odds of success drop even more with walking becoming more well known strategy.

We are all talking about how between midnight and 8:00 a.m., before the 11 month online booking window would open, it showed 8 nights out as all booked - not just 7 nights. Even the walkers got shut out during that time period and no-one can explain it.

 

[keishashadow]

We are all talking about how between midnight and 8:00 a.m., before the 11 month online booking window would open, it showed 8 nights out as all booked - not just 7 nights. Even the walkers got shut out during that time period and no-one can explain it.

Yes, I understand, I was there but didn’t see any anecdotal reports posted as to possibility of those who took a ‘long walk’ (as in a month or so as people have mentioned) having slipped thru and snagged all the rooms

Although, not for a minute do I put it past DVC to be manipulating inventory
To benefit their interests. Just playing devil’s advocate here, can’t assume anything

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes, I understand, I was there but didn’t see any anecdotal reports posted as to possibility of those who took a ‘long walk’ (as in a month or so as people have mentioned) having slipped thru and snagged all the rooms

Although, not for a minute do I put it past DVC to be manipulating inventory
To benefit their interests. Just playing devil’s advocate here, can’t assume anything

Walking always displays a certain trait - nights are released back as walkers move on. This can't be argued to have been that. Even with the 5 concierge studios you never see what has happened with the value villas.

 

[keishashadow]

Walking always displays a certain trait - nights are released back as walkers move on. This can't be argued to have been that. Even with the 5 concierge studios you never see what has happened with the value villas.

Probably true in general. I watched like a hawk for two weeks, never did see them populate. Not that I always do, others can snag if quicker on the draw. Waitlist function usually has come through @ both AK & BW for the lesser priced values when I’ve been ‘walked out’.

 

[SL6827]

So has Disney claimed all the CL DVC rooms at the AK during the first week in December or have they released them back to the DVC members?

 

[rlduvall]

So has Disney claimed all the CL DVC rooms at the AK during the first week in December or have they released them back to the DVC members?

A few days ago, a CL DVC studio room at AK was available for December 13th which would indicate yes, they did release something back at least for the 2nd week of December - which is also a week involving the mystery disappearance of value studios.

 

[twinklebug]

So has Disney claimed all the CL DVC rooms at the AK during the first week in December or have they released them back to the DVC members?

A few days ago, a CL DVC studio room at AK was available for December 13th which would indicate yes, they did release something back at least for the 2nd week of December - which is also a week involving the mystery disappearance of value studios.

Yes, I pieced together a CL stay for my son and his wife that week. Had the option of adding one more night when it popped up yesterday morning but in that trying to make plans with him is about the same as getting Pooh Bear to commit to a plan I opted to leave it.

Note: starting just after midnight a few nights back it looked as though Disney was cleaning house. CL studios were popping up, but only one or two at a time and were always even numbered days. They'd appear for anywhere from moments to hours, so it could have been them releasing their holds and filling people's waitlist days. I know one of mine came through the day before, but it was an odd numbered day. It seemed strange how there was that even day pattern to them though as they marched through early December.

 

[ParkHoppers]

So Disney pulling these rooms is a results of walking IMO. Disney figures most people will just blame the walkers for the missing rooms at 11 month window. Guess we have the walkers to thank for giving Disney some cover.

 

[gillep]

So Disney pulling these rooms is a results of walking IMO. Disney figures most people will just blame the walkers for the missing rooms at 11 month window. Guess we have the walkers to thank for giving Disney some cover.

Disagree. This activity pattern looks nothing like walking. Anyone who has been booking DVC for a bit, and paid attention to how things are loaded, would immediately recognize that this behavior is NOT related to walking, and not something that could be the result of the action of the members based on the constraints of the booking system and how days open to us for booking. I know that people like to blame walking for everything but whatever is going on with value rooms, and has been going on for what 40 days or so now, is so far out of the norm that I do not believe that it is even remotely related. There are multiple threads about this on multiple DVC discussion sites and many people have gone to DVC over this, they are just not getting any real answers.

 

[twinklebug]

Disagree. This activity pattern looks nothing like walking. Anyone who has been booking DVC for a bit, and paid attention to how things are loaded, would immediately recognize that this behavior is NOT related to walking, and not something that could be the result of the action of the members based on the constraints of the booking system and how days open to us for booking. I know that people like to blame walking for everything but whatever is going on with value rooms, and has been going on for what 40 days or so now, is so far out of the norm that I do not believe that it is even remotely related. There are multiple threads about this on multiple DVC discussion sites and many people have gone to DVC over this, they are just not getting any real answers.

Yes, this has nothing to do with walking. It is possible, however, that Disney thought the walking explanation might cover up what is going on.

I fear that the only way we'll get some answers would be to write to the President/VP. I don't have her name handy, but in my searches I saw that the VP is new as of last summer and has her experience in finance. What a coincidence that she comes along in June, and then in August we start seeing this odd behavior going on with getting reservations.

 

[ParkHoppers]

Disagree. This activity pattern looks nothing like walking. Anyone who has been booking DVC for a bit, and paid attention to how things are loaded, would immediately recognize that this behavior is NOT related to walking, and not something that could be the result of the action of the members based on the constraints of the booking system and how days open to us for booking. I know that people like to blame walking for everything but whatever is going on with value rooms, and has been going on for what 40 days or so now, is so far out of the norm that I do not believe that it is even remotely related. There are multiple threads about this on multiple DVC discussion sites and many people have gone to DVC over this, they are just not getting any real answers.

People on sites like this may recognize the activity pattern doesn’t look like walking but most who own DVC and don’t walk just go in at the 11th month and see nothing available. Those people then call DVC to complain about lack of availability. Maybe they Googled DVC lack of availability and saw a snippet about walking. My point is that it could look like walkers were to blame if you were not on a Disney forum. Which many many are not. Remember most booking at the 11 month window are not looking at the booking system ahead of booking. So they would be oblivious of what looked like walking or not.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So has Disney claimed all the CL DVC rooms at the AK during the first week in December or have they released them back to the DVC members?

I did not notice them being unavailable like the Value. They've shown the normal walking type scenario.

 

[ziravan]

I did not notice them being unavailable like the Value. They've shown the normal walking type scenario.

They were all removed from 12/2 - 12/9. They began showing back up on the 9th. In fact, I reacquired my walk on the 9th and pushed my dates to the 15th.

Same thing as values but they showed back up after a week.