On-Line Reservation Question/Observation

[ScottakaMickey]

I made my first on-line reservation today and I guess I thought that it would be more then an email system with a 3 business day delay before you find out. Is this correct or do some reservations get confirmed right away?

I took the MS number survey and that was one of the questions they asked. I don't see any advantage at all to on-line reservation if I could have waited til tomorrow I would know if my request was available, now I have to wait longer.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Chuck S]

That is correct, the current online reservation system is simply an email request to MS. While it works fine for most reservations, for peak times I would definately call MS and get immediate confirmation/availability.

 

[ScottakaMickey]

Thanks Chuck,

I guess I am not a patient man. So, if I call MS tomorrow will they be able to see my email request and cancel it?

 

[veenstra56]

I know that alot of people disagree, but I think that the reservation system stinks. I can't understand why members can't have an instant online reservation option. It would be more difficult for Disney to pull off than a normal hotel reservation system, but it is certainly not impossible.

Many folks prefer to talk to a human being when making reservations, but there is no reason why we can't have an online option.

 

[disneynutz]

Many folks prefer to talk to a human being when making reservations, but there is no reason why we can't have an online option.

There is a big reason why DVC doesn't have a online option, Money. Until the DVC member count gets large enough to justify the expense, we will never see online reservations.

 

[ScottakaMickey]

There is a big reason why DVC doesn't have a online option, Money. Until the DVC member count gets large enough to justify the expense, we will never see online reservations.

Actually, I think the cost to staff a call center, especially if you staff it here in the US, which Disney does, is much more expensive then building a technology solution that allows customers to "Do it themselves". This assumes that the automation eliminates the call center.

I think there needs to be a more automated solution, but I also think having a call center is still needed, so it is actually an added cost that DVC isn't ready to make right now to have both solutions.

 

[disneynutz]

Actually, I think the cost to staff a call center, especially if you staff it here in the US, which Disney does, is much more expensive then building a technology solution that allows customers to "Do it themselves". This assumes that the automation eliminates the call center.

I think there needs to be a more automated solution, but I also think having a call center is still needed, so it is actually an added cost that DVC isn't ready to make right now to have both solutions.

This topic was discussed at great length b4. DVD is on their own as a separate business entity. They have their own IT guy, their own servers, network, etc. They do have access to Disney data but it is limited and not always in real time. The DVC website is maintained by a DVD employee with help from contractors. The reason that DVC MS CMs put us on hold is that they need to log in to several different programs to process our transactions. They do have plans for improvement but change comes slowly. Think of DVD and the DVC as a very small company working for a HUGE company.

 

[Granny]

Many folks prefer to talk to a human being when making reservations, but there is no reason why we can't have an online option.

Aside from the challenge and cost of developing the complex on-line system, there is the practical matter of booking times. Right now, you can book when MS opens in the morning for your 11 month or 7 month window. Would that now switch to people staying up until midnight to do the same thing at 12:01 a.m.?

I know that many people think that on-line booking would be nice, but it would most certainly not be simple. The aspect of which year's point you are using, whether you have Reservation Status or Holding Status points, etc would mean that the booking menu would be rather complex, especially for DVC novices.