Okay... How do I book?

[Maistre Gracey]

I'm planning a large family trip next year. I will be booking a cottage at VB for four nights, and a GV at AKV for 11 nights.

I'm willing to put the effort into "walking" my reservation.

How far in advance should I begin the walking process? I figured one week before the first day of my stay, but I'm not sure about three things:

1) Cancellation policy.
2) What happens if the first six days of the ressie are unavailable.
3) What's the best way to book four days at VB if I don't have enough points to book an entire week in a cottage?

I will book the whole week at AKV, with intentions of cancelling the first six days (DBD) and adding days at the end. Is there a penalty for doing this?

If the first chunck of days at AKV are not available, will DVC let me book the last day only? That's the only day that will be certain to be available if I start booking seven days early.

I am totally lost about the VB ressie...

Sorry to upset anyone opposed to the walking process, but it's really DBD in reverse.
That said, if I can't book the last day if all the rest are gone, than I will need to start walking earlier..

Thanx for any input...

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Anyone with suggestions or thoughts??

MG

 

[Laurabearz]

What are the dates of your trip?? That would have some bearing on when other's might think you need to start walking

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Dates of travel will make a big difference.

We have used the VB cottages twice, each time in the month of April. Reservations were made within the 7 month booking window. The other relevant question is whether or not you will be booking weekend nights. Our friends usually stay at VB twice a year as part of their vacation and report that they often see that there are available cottages empty on the Fri or Sat. This year ours was ready for us to move in at 8 am Saturday morning as it had been vacant the previous night.

Depending on the time of year I'm not sure that 'walking' will be necessary as DBD booking has not been necessary for us during the month of April.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

. . . .How far in advance should I begin the walking process? I figured one week before the first day of my stay, but I'm not sure about three things:

1) Cancellation policy.
2) What happens if the first six days of the ressie are unavailable.
3) What's the best way to book four days at VB if I don't have enough points to book an entire week in a cottage?

. . . .MG

In repsonse to your questions:

1) There have not been any changes to the cacncellation policy at this time. As long as you are within 11 months of that night, you can cancel any night subject to the same rules on holding points and your banking deadlines.

2) If the 1st day of your reservaiton is unavailable, you cannot book or WL for any other days. You can WL for that one day, which appears to then be "linked" if you call the next day to WL for the another day, etc., so you do not have a DBD WL. So the key to "walking" a reservation is that you need to have availability on the first day you call. Your guess as to what day that would be is probably as good as anyone else's guess.

3) You do not need 7 nights worth of points to walk a reservation. You only need enough to book 2 weekend nights. You can call for a Fri/Sat reservation, book that (assuming Fri is available). Call back the next day, cancel Fri, keep Sat (it now 11 months away), book Sun and probably Mon as well, for the same or fewer points. Call back the next day (or the day after), cancel Sat, keep Sun (it now 11 months away), keep Mon (which is attached to Sun or if you skipped a day in calling, is within the 11 month window), book Tues and probably Wed as well, again for the same or fewer points. You now have a 4 night vacation arriving Sun and leaving Thursday.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Okay.. The ressie will be for October 2009. I know it's not the busiest time of year, but it is for a cottage and GV. The dates are also not flexible..

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

In repsonse to your questions:

1) There have not been any changes to the cacncellation policy at this time. As long as you are within 11 months of that night, you can cancel any night subject to the same rules on holding points and your banking deadlines.

2) If the 1st day of your reservaiton is unavailable, you cannot book or WL for any other days. You can WL for that one day, which appears to then be "linked" if you call the next day to WL for the another day, etc., so you do not have a DBD WL. So the key to "walking" a reservation is that you need to have availability on the first day you call. Your guess as to what day that would be is probably as good as anyone else's guess.

3) You do not need 7 nights worth of points to walk a reservation. You only need enough to book 2 weekend nights. You can call for a Fri/Sat reservation, book that (assuming Fri is available). Call back the next day, cancel Fri, keep Sat (it now 11 months away), book Sun and probably Mon as well, for the same or fewer points. Call back the next day (or the day after), cancel Sat, keep Sun (it now 11 months away), keep Mon (which is attached to Sun or if you skipped a day in calling, is within the 11 month window), book Tues and probably Wed as well, again for the same or fewer points. You now have a 4 night vacation arriving Sun and leaving Thursday.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

Thanx..

Okay, than I guess I need to start walking 1 week and 6 days before check in. I believe that will mathematically guarantee me (as much as DBD using old method) achieving my desired dates.
The worst case scenario would be the first six days could be unavailable due to someone booking a whole week the day before me. If I then call every day at opening, the 7th day I will be able to book a whole week.. which will include the first day of my trip. After that, I can book 10 more days using DBD. That's a possible 17 phone calls.

Does that sound right??

Now, the VB cottage..
How can I walk without having a weeks worth of points? If I don't have a week's worth, I may be 3 days behind others trying to book the same 4 days.. Right? I mean, someone else may have booked the Friday & Saturday 3 days earlier as part of a whole week.
See what I mean??

Thanx!..

MG

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thanx..

. . . .Now, the VB cottage..
How can I walk without having a weeks worth of points? If I don't have a week's worth, I may be 3 days behind others trying to book the same 4 days.. Right? I mean, someone else may have booked the Friday & Saturday 3 days earlier as part of a whole week.
See what I mean??

Thanx!..

MG

Whether you walk using 2 nights or 7, you can always be behind someone who booked before you. But once you get that first night, you have tied up that room until YOU stop your walking tour!

To illustrate, let's assume there is only 1 cottage. You call to book Days 1-2 exactly 11 months out from Day 1 check in. If Day 1 is available, Day 2 has to be available. Day 2 can't be booked by someone who hasn't also booked Day 1. Of course, Day 1 may not be available.

Once you book Days 1-2, someone else calls the next day to book Days 2-3. They are told there is no availability becuase YOU already have booked Day 2. As a result, only YOU can book Day 3. That is why you can call back any time that day, cancel Day 1 and book Day 3, etc.

The ony difference with a week's worth of points, is that you will not need to make as many phone call becuase when you book Days 1-7, you can wait until Day 7 to call back and be guaranteed that you can book Days 8-13. If you wait until Day 8, however, you will compete with other members for that booking.

The key is starting your reservation 11 months from check in on a day that is available. While the common wisdom is that Fri may be the most available, this will not always be true, such as the Fri before Thanksgiving.

The sooner you start calling, the more likely it is that you can be unsuccessful (i.e., call to find no availability), yet still be successful enough to actualy book the reservation you want because you call back the next day (or the day after that) and find it available. This is why some have suggested that you can start calling now for NYE 2009, but this is only necessary if you believe that today is that last day that will have availability for the kind of room you want.

Yes, it is complicated. Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[Ragtime Gal]

I'm not sure I get why you should bother to start walking more than seven days in advance of a hard-to-get date, unless you think that every 11 month booker will be walking their reservation too. Once you get that first day that you need, you're okay, right?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Again, thank you,... But I still don't get it.
Perhaps I'm just dense. Here's my thoughts...

If I want 4 nights starting on the 8th, I can't start walking on the 1st because I don't have enough points to cover 7 days.
Other Members who do have enough to cover 7 days in a cottage, can book the night of the 8th on the 1st.
Thus, I may not get the cottage on the 8th, or 9th,or 10th for that matter.

Where is the flaw in my thinking?

MG

 

[danielle782001]

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Again, thank you,... But I still don't get it.
Perhaps I'm just dense. Here's my thoughts...

If I want 4 nights starting on the 8th, I can't start walking on the 1st because I don't have enough points to cover 7 days.
Other Members who do have enough to cover 7 days in a cottage, can book the night of the 8th on the 1st.
Thus, I may not get the cottage on the 8th, or 9th,or 10th for that matter.

Where is the flaw in my thinking?

MG

If you think that the last available night up to and including the 8th will be the 1st, here is what you do:

11 months from check-in on the 1st, call and book the 1st and 2nd.

The next day, call and cancel the 1st and book the 3rd. You now have the 2nd & 3rd.

The key is this: No other member calling on the 2nd could have booked the room you are in on the 3rd (no matter how early they call) because you have blocked them by booking the 1st and 2nd. They could only book other rooms from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

For example, let's say there are 12 cottages available and 12 members call and book them starting on the 1st. Everyone but you calls and books the 1st through the 7th. You book just the 1st and 2nd.

Another member calls on the 2nd to book that one night. 11 of the rooms are unavailable for the 2nd - 7th and cannot be booked by this member. The other room -- your room -- was only booked from the 1st to the 2nd but still cannot be booked by the new caller becuase you already have it reserved for the 2nd. The new caller can WL the 2nd but is blocked from booking (or WLing) any nights after the 2nd.

Of course, as a practical matter, not every room will be booked starting on the same day and each guest will have a different length of stay. So some members will check out each day and new inventory is likely to be available to new callers each day. But remember, this inventory is coming from other members not extending their reservation to cover that night. It is not the inventory that you have already locked up for as long as you care to "walk" it.

And so it goes, with you calling again the next day, cancelling the 2nd and booking the 4th. Repeat until you get the reservation you want.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Here's the thing...

A poll might be useful...has anyone ever stayed 7 nights in a cottage? What is the usual vacation length. I think, that on average, stays at VB may be less than a week as DVC'rs are combining with an orlando vacation.

I don't want to give you a false sense of security but I don't think that you will any trouble getting your reservation if you try right away at the 11 month window.

Why don't you try placing a call to MS the week before your 11 month opens. Ask how booked up the cottages are. Then make your decision about 'walking'. I did this for booking my SSR GV for next March break. I didn't want to call day by day and we were on vacation during the opening of the 11 month window. I called a couple times and there was plenty of availability for the two weeks just passed (meaning that they didn't book up on the first day of the 11 month window). I know that it isn't a perfect predictor but it may help alleviate your worry. I would hate to see lots of members 'walking' unnecessarily and causing themselves frustration, extra work and worry.

I hope that you are successful !!!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Here's the thing...

A poll might be useful...has anyone ever stayed 7 nights in a cottage? What is the usual vacation length. I think, that on average, stays at VB may be less than a week as DVC'rs are combining with an orlando vacation.

I don't want to give you a false sense of security but I don't think that you will any trouble getting your reservation if you try right away at the 11 month window.

I hope that you are successful !!!

Thank you!!

I totally agree that most people do not stay for 7 nights in a cottage.
That said, they don't have to stay 7 nights, but only need enough points to book 7 nights for me to get locked out.
They can book a week, then cancel a few days off their ressie.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

If you think that the last available night up to and including the 8th will be the 1st, here is what you do:

11 months from check-in on the 1st, call and book the 1st and 2nd.

The next day, call and cancel the 1st and book the 3rd. You now have the 2nd & 3rd.

The key is this: No other member calling on the 2nd could have booked the room you are in on the 3rd (no matter how early they call) because you have blocked them by booking the 1st and 2nd. They could only book other rooms from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.

For example, let's say there are 12 cottages available and 12 members call and book them starting on the 1st. Everyone but you calls and books the 1st through the 7th. You book just the 1st and 2nd.

Another member calls on the 2nd to book that one night. 11 of the rooms are unavailable for the 2nd - 7th and cannot be booked by this member. The other room -- your room -- was only booked from the 1st to the 2nd but still cannot be booked by the new caller becuase you already have it reserved for the 2nd. The new caller can WL the 2nd but is blocked from booking (or WLing) any nights after the 2nd.

Of course, as a practical matter, not every room will be booked starting on the same day and each guest will have a different length of stay. So some members will check out each day and new inventory is likely to be available to new callers each day. But remember, this inventory is coming from other members not extending their reservation to cover that night. It is not the inventory that you have already locked up for as long as you care to "walk" it.

And so it goes, with you calling again the next day, cancelling the 2nd and booking the 4th. Repeat until you get the reservation you want.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

Suzanne, thank you for your patience with me..
I will need to re-read your explanation when I'm fresh & awake..

MG

 

[lisareniff]

Hey MG! I'm a little concerned about the BC ressie as well. Suzanne layed it out very well but our specific example may help...

We use two years worth of VB points for a Sun-Thurs reservation, exactly. I don't think it would work for me to use borrowed points because then I would need to use them the next year and we alternate years at VB. I worked it out in my head what I would have to do, IF (big IF) I decided I needed to walk a reservation.

I probably wouldn't go as far back as the week before unless I heard reports of problems booking. For you, especially in October. So with my 300 points (150 current, 150 banked), I would...

On Day 1, book Fri(150) and Sat(150), total used 300 pt for Fri-Sat
On Day 2, cancel Fri(150) and book Sun(60) and Mon(60), total used 270pts for Sat-Mon
On Day 3, cancel Sat(150) and book Tues(60), Wed(60) and Thurs(60), total used 300pts for Sun-Thurs

Final result, Sunday-Thurs. reservation for 300pts. If I thought it was necessary I could start this farther back in the previous week.

Not sure what days of the week you were going. IF you have enough points for the Fri and Sat night before your trip then you are all set and can begin walking whenever you think you need to with your booking time/category. If you do not have enough for the whole weekend (it is alot!) then you could start reserving on Sat for as many points as you have, cancel Sat and reserve the rest, etc.

HTH

Love those BC's

 

[pyrxtc]

Sorry to upset anyone opposed to the walking process, but it's really DBD in reverse.
That said, if I can't book the last day if all the rest are gone, than I will need to start walking earlier..

Thanx for any input...

MG

Walking is not DBD in reverse unless your brain is in reverse. Walking is booking days that you never intend to use and taking them away from people who actually want to stay there for those days but can't because of you.

DBD booking was calling evry day to get a room that you WANTED so you coudl stay there.

I hope that you start your walking and they institue a new policy that there is no cancelations allowed wihtin the 1st month and they inform you of this after they make your reservation while they are giving you the spiel about all the other policies but you don't pay attention because you've think you heard it all before.

 

[Ragtime Gal]

I hope that you start your walking and they institue a new policy that there is no cancelations allowed wihtin the 1st month and they inform you of this after they make your reservation while they are giving you the spiel about all the other policies but you don't pay attention because you've think you heard it all before.

Why would you hope for something bad to happen to someone? Very un-Disney like of you!

 

[Chuck S]

All discussions of the new reservation policies are limited to this thread.