on-line booking not fair list

[mousefan1972]

I haven't had a chance to use online booking yet. Based on comments, I understand that you can't book a room online if you need to use transferred points. Question - can you use online booking if you need to borrow points from the next use year? Thanks!

Yes, the online system allows points to be borrowed in order to complete a reservation.

 

[Sandisw]

I haven't had a chance to use online booking yet. Based on comments, I understand that you can't book a room online if you need to use transferred points. Question - can you use online booking if you need to borrow points from the next use year? Thanks!

If you have transferred points that are the same home resort and UY as the contract they went in to--and therefore, you can see them as part of your account--I believe you would be able to use them with the online system.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I must admit, being in the position where I also have to still call MS to book (only in this particular instance since we need to use transferred-in points and there is no way to do that online) I am peeved that tomorrow people will be able to book one hour before me and there is nothing I can do about it.

And, to the poster who suggested that it wasn't a fair gripe over the 7-month booking window, it absolutely is if someone can book an hour before me and snag a room I would have liked just because their booking is 'straightforward' and they can do it online whilst mine is not and I have to wait until 9am EST before I can phone MS.

Well, technically, you are not using YOUR contract when booking this "complicated" (I don't think it is that complicated) reservation. If you were using your points banked or borrowed you would have the same window as everyone else. Since you are using (technically) a perk that Disney offers you with being able to transfer in or out points, you are not "entitled" to that extra 1 hour. I don't think you will win any argument with Disney on this one, as they could simply tell you(and all of us) that transferring points will no longer be part of the program.

While I would NOT like to see that happen, and I'm sorry they haven't made transferred points visible on the website, Technically it is not something you are entitled to by contract.

 

[Dean]

If your peeved like me about the 1 hour disadvantage we phone callers now have over on-line bookers please post on this thread and call or e-mail MS or whomever to voice your concerns. I already e-mailed them and got no answer back yet. I tried the e-mail for member satisfaction but it didn't go through so I did it on the DVC member site.

I'm number

1 Paul


we need to let DVC know we are not happy.
Hope I'm not alone in this.

The reality is that even if both were at 9 am, online would be much faster and thus those calling would be at the same disadvantage. I could book 5 or 6 units online before even the very first caller of the day could book 1. Those on different time zones have long argued that the MS times were not fair. The reality is there is no perfect or "fair" system. The best answer is to book online and THEN call them at 9 am if you need something you can't complete online.

What is the reason you can't use online? If it's computer availability, there are ways to get access for a given day if needed. I can think of several ways I could do so without a computer or access at home.

 

[CrazyDuck]

What part of calling in is fair? It may work for people on the East coast, but I'm usually sleeping at 3:00am! I think that they should have the window open at midnight now that they have on-line booking! Besides... you obviously have a computer!

 

[DVCMAUREEN]

What part of calling in is fair? It may work for people on the East coast, but I'm usually sleeping at 3:00am! I think that they should have the window open at midnight now that they have on-line booking! Besides... you obviously have a computer!

Although I do live on the east coast and have an advantage over some, when I really want something (like ADRs) I'm willing to stay up late/get up early to get it. But I do agree, midnight makes more sense than 8 am.

 

[rock_doctor]

I think the issue is that a good number of owners just stay a couple nights at a time and have simple requests. These owners can use the online system very easy. The rest of us are a too small number in comparison for Disney to care about. I lodged my complaint on Saturday, don't expect them to respond nor care.

 

[com_op_2000]

All this on top if the fact that we are already limited to only certain room types and views (none of the lower points options like the AKV Value studios or BLT standard view studios are available with wheelchair access).

Really unhappy DVC-ers here

I was able to book online an AKV value studio this past weekend.

 

[Dean]

I think the issue is that a good number of owners just stay a couple nights at a time and have simple requests. These owners can use the online system very easy. The rest of us are a too small number in comparison for Disney to care about. I lodged my complaint on Saturday, don't expect them to respond nor care.

What type of requests outside of HA unit would require calling to make a reservation? Requests would be able to be added later.

 

[Tamar]

I'm sorry for all the people this is affecting right now. I'm watching with interest....since we already have our Oct 2012 ressie, it'll be quite some time before we use online booking. Hopefully these are just growing pains and everything will work itself out.

 

[gdrj]

So far I'm a fan of On-line. As far as fair or not fair, most things in life aren't neutral to all.


On-line is the future, I currently have a vacation that I have made changes to and am hoping to make additional changes to if availablity opens up I have also borrowed points so I will need to call to make changes, I'm fine with that.

If I end up with not the exact room or even resort...I can live with it...either way I'm still at MK

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Living on the west coast I'm tempted to state that MS hours are not fair for calling either however really it's just more convenient for some members than it is for others. Online booking is the same IMO.

You are not alone - I'll be number 2

I'm on my second email to Member Services. We are unable to use the online booking due to needing an accessible room. There's no choice the online system cannot handle accessible room requests. Therefore we have the one hour time disadvantage and I also noticed there is the ability to book for 14 nights online but only 7 nights by phone.

All this on top if the fact that we are already limited to only certain room types and views (none of the lower points options like the AKV Value studios or BLT standard view studios are available with wheelchair access).

Really unhappy DVC-ers here

Even MS can't do the actual reserving of an HA unit. If I were you I would book the room online at 8am and then call at 9 am for MS to contact special needs to block off a room. You still are on even ground with any other person needing an HA room. Disney is fairly inefficient with their handling of HA rooms from what I've experienced and I'm personally doubtful it will be changing any time soon.

 

[dvc_john]

When they changed the 11/7 month window from check-out day to check-in day, I didn't think that was fair. But I lived with it, and now I like it.
I have no problem with the online 8am start time. As mentioned, MS hours aren't great for those living on the west coast, and they're pretty horrible for those living in Hawaii or Japan.

 

[DougEMG]

What part of calling in is fair? It may work for people on the East coast, but I'm usually sleeping at 3:00am!

Being on the west coast I'd like to see 24 hr online service, I'm usually still asleep at 9am EST. So I've never called first thing at 9am EST.

 

[loadsapixiedust]

Now I have had a response from Member Services let me clarify from that a few points.

I can't say that I agree that it is unfair at this point because every single DVC member has the ability to take advantage of the online system. If someone is more comfortable calling or prefers to call, then that is certainly a choice.

from Member Services

If you need an Accessible Room then you will not be able to use the Member Online Booking.

that's not a choice in my book

I was able to book online an AKV value studio this past weekend.

I'm willing to bet that was not a fully accessible room, if you need an accessible room you had better call and check that is what you have reserved. MS have confirmed to me that there are no fully accessible Value studios. If when you get there that info is wrong would you be kind enough to send me a photo and some details of the room.

If I were you I would book the room online at 8am and then call at 9 am for MS to contact special needs to block off a room. You still are on even ground with any other person needing an HA room. Disney is fairly inefficient with their handling of HA rooms from what I've experienced and I'm personally doubtful it will be changing any time soon.

I did think this might work but they do not want people needing HA rooms to book online and then try later to have an accessible room confirmed. I have to agree that their handling of HA rooms is not ideal.

We do not post a list of room categories that offer Accessible Rooms.
If you confirm a reservation online, then normal cancellation policy will apply even if an Accessible Room is not available.

So if you booked online and then called and found that the room you thought you had just booked wasn't actually available or in fact didn't even exist would you expect the normal cancellation policy to apply?

Each resort has a limited number of Accessible Rooms. Accessible Rooms are not held back. We have to offer all rooms to the general public. Not all of the room categories have an Accessible Room

The situation exists at present where there are a very limited number of accessible rooms - if you need one your choice of resort/room type/view are all restricted. Now we have a situation where all the available accessible rooms could be booked by guests who do not require them (but can book an hour ahead) before any of the guests who do need them get a chance. Lots of people complain if they get an accessible room, rightly so if that's not their choice, but someone who needed that room could have to stay at home because of the way the reservation system works.

I'm just not happy with extra obstacles being put in the way of people who have enough to deal with already and I'm even less happy that DVC doesn't seem to care much that I am not happy

 

[TDC Nala]

Now we have a situation where all the available accessible rooms could be booked by guests who do not require them (but can book an hour ahead) before any of the guests who do need them get a chance.

Can you actually book an accessible room if you don't need one?

Every time I've been given an accessible room, it was at check-in, I didn't ask for one when booking. I assume I was given one because it wasn't being used. They don't assign the rooms when you book them, they assign them just before you arrive.

 

[loadsapixiedust]

Can you actually book an accessible room if you don't need one?

Every time I've been given an accessible room, it was at check-in, I didn't ask for one when booking. I assume I was given one because it wasn't being used. They don't assign the rooms when you book them, they assign them just before you arrive.

Yes anyone can book an accessible room as they are not a seperate booking category. Accessible rooms are included in the general inventory available to book online so if all the rooms in a category are booked then that will include all the accessible rooms. As you say you won't know you have an accessible room until you check in but someone needing to book an accessible room will be told there are none avaialble and be unable to book. As I posted above according to MS accessible rooms are not held back only for those that need them.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Can you actually book an accessible room if you don't need one?

Every time I've been given an accessible room, it was at check-in, I didn't ask for one when booking. I assume I was given one because it wasn't being used. They don't assign the rooms when you book them, they assign them just before you arrive.

What they are saying is that they book up rooms without regards to if it is accessible or not, so for example with AKV concierge they could book all 5 1 BR's between 8am and 9am and in essence the accessible room has been booked by someone and not held back even though the person booking doesn't know that they in essence booked an accessible room.

loadsapixiedust - Personally I'd still book online if it is a limited room type and then call at 9am to block for the accessible room if I were not having to borrow points to do the booking. That is the simple scenario and of course if you have to borrow then it would get risky if they do hold you to the cancellation rules. (I personally doubt they would if you made the call within an hour or two and they couldn't accommodate but of course that's just my best guess and would always be a risk.)

 

[Dean]

The situation exists at present where there are a very limited number of accessible rooms - if you need one your choice of resort/room type/view are all restricted. Now we have a situation where all the available accessible rooms could be booked by guests who do not require them (but can book an hour ahead) before any of the guests who do need them get a chance. Lots of people complain if they get an accessible room, rightly so if that's not their choice, but someone who needed that room could have to stay at home because of the way the reservation system works.

Actually there are currently more HA rooms than needed most weeks, that's why they assign them to those that don't need them. Unfortunately this is the nature of the beast with a points system, the only system that caters to those needing HA units is a fixed week/fixed unit option.

 

[Sandisw]

Now I have had a response from Member Services let me clarify from that a few points.



from Member Services that's not a choice in my book



I'm willing to bet that was not a fully accessible room, if you need an accessible room you had better call and check that is what you have reserved. MS have confirmed to me that there are no fully accessible Value studios. If when you get there that info is wrong would you be kind enough to send me a photo and some details of the room.



I did think this might work but they do not want people needing HA rooms to book online and then try later to have an accessible room confirmed. I have to agree that their handling of HA rooms is not ideal.

So if you booked online and then called and found that the room you thought you had just booked wasn't actually available or in fact didn't even exist would you expect the normal cancellation policy to apply?

The situation exists at present where there are a very limited number of accessible rooms - if you need one your choice of resort/room type/view are all restricted. Now we have a situation where all the available accessible rooms could be booked by guests who do not require them (but can book an hour ahead) before any of the guests who do need them get a chance. Lots of people complain if they get an accessible room, rightly so if that's not their choice, but someone who needed that room could have to stay at home because of the way the reservation system works.

I'm just not happy with extra obstacles being put in the way of people who have enough to deal with already and I'm even less happy that DVC doesn't seem to care much that I am not happy

My response in terms of choice was to the topic of this thread and that is whether or not online booking starting at 8:00 am was fair to all compared to having to call MS at 9:00 am..

The fact that no one can book a HA room online at this time means that every single DVC member who needs and/or wants one of those rooms must call DVC--IMO, a fair policy.

Obviously, there are certain things that online booking can not accomplish yet--using transferred points, specifying contracts, booking HA rooms--and hopefully, that will become an option down the road--but even if it doesn't, the point is that every DVC member at this point has the ability to use online booking if they want to book the inventory that is part of the online system.