Online availabilty and Reservations

[jshuff1]

Does anyone know when we will be able to check availabilty and make reservations on the DVC member website? I heard a while back that they were updating there computers for this so we didnt have to call member services every time to see if something was available...

 

[erionm]

From '2010 Condo Meeting Highlights' in the 'News' section of the member website:

Question: Online Booking – When will Members be able to book online reservations?

Response: We are very excited about the recent implementation of two new resort systems that will enhance our capabilities and the progress in designing and developing an easy to use online booking process.

When the new Member Online Booking site launches, in addition to the things you can already do online – Members will be able to book vacation points reservations at Disney Vacation Club Resorts.

• Search for resort availability
• Book "points" reservation and immediately receive confirmation
• View bookings online (past and future)
• And, even waitlist if necessary

It is expected to be available to Disney Vacation Club Members in Late 2011.

 

[Akliebert]

Awesome!!! I can't wait until this is up and running!!

 

[disneychic]

I hope that the late 2011 is still the target date for this

 

[mjc2003]

This is going to be a very interesting development. One one hand, it has to happen and it's sort of amazing it has not yet been implemented. On the other hand, it's going to create a ton of movement as people book, rebook and re-rebook vacations while playing around with different dates, and switching based on availability, all b/c it's easy to do and you don't have to call anybody to do it.

I wonder, will the booking window open at midnight at the 11 month mark? EST? Doesn't that give an advantage to those in other time zones?

No matter how it plays out, get ready for availability to disappear at prime locations during prime weeks, and get ready for lots of WL's to come through.

 

[Deb & Bill]

They have been promising this for the last few member meetings. If it works as good as the computer upgrade that occurred this week, you won't want it to happen.

 

[chalee94]

They have been promising this for the last few member meetings. If it works as good as the computer upgrade that occurred this week, you won't want it to happen.

seems like there have been a lot of issues with segmenting reservations as well...hope for the best, but don't expect too much early on, i guess...

 

[dzorn]

With Disney IT department I can see all kinds of problems with on line activity.

I do wish they would change it to show active waitlists.

Densie in MI

 

[juncker]

I see a lot more walking reservations too when you don't have to make a call to a person who realizes what you are doing.

 

[normr]

I got excited by this too recently, but then someone burst my bubble reminding me that they've been saying they were going to do this for years now, I hope with all the advances in computers and software that it does soon become a reality.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I got excited by this too recently, but then someone burst my bubble reminding me that they've been saying they were going to do this for years now, I hope with all the advances in computers and software that it does soon become a reality.

I was just there during the computer upgrade last week. It was a mess.

 

[Starr W.]

This is going to be a very interesting development. One one hand, it has to happen and it's sort of amazing it has not yet been implemented. On the other hand, it's going to create a ton of movement as people book, rebook and re-rebook vacations while playing around with different dates, and switching based on availability, all b/c it's easy to do and you don't have to call anybody to do it.

I wonder, will the booking window open at midnight at the 11 month mark? EST? Doesn't that give an advantage to those in other time zones?

No matter how it plays out, get ready for availability to disappear at prime locations during prime weeks, and get ready for lots of WL's to come through.

I own Wyndham and they have online booking for reservations starting at 10 months(which is like DVC at 7 months), when points are points. You need to call in for a home resort priority reservation which in Wyndham's system is 13-10 mark.

The online booking opens at 7am Eastern time and closes at 11pm Eastern time.

It works really well and you would be surprised at what is sitting at the 10 month window. Used up my points at my one home resort and had to wait until the 10 month mark to book. No problem getting a 2br at Old Town Alexandria for a week during Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC.

Though I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for DVC to go online. I'm still blue in the face waiting for Starwood to do it too after years of promising.

 

[disneynutz]

The last date that I was told by MS is the end of August.

Bill

 

[Starr W.]

The last date that I was told by MS is the end of August.

Bill

Want to get a pool going on the date?

 

[JimMIA]

It works really well and you would be surprised at what is sitting at the 10 month window. ... No problem getting a 2br at Old Town Alexandria for a week during Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC.

Oh WOW, what a great snag! I'm going to be online at 7 AM in a few weeks looking for some 10-month luck out west for Summer 2012.

With DVC, I'd expect a late and uncertain, bumpy implementation. But once it gets up and running, it will be a great improvement for members...and also one which should lower dues a little due to the cost effectiveness.

It will be nice to see DVC dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th Century.

 

[Starr W.]

Oh WOW, what a great snag! I'm going to be online at 7 AM in a few weeks looking for some 10-month luck out west for Summer 2012.

With DVC, I'd expect a late and uncertain, bumpy implementation. But once it gets up and running, it will be a great improvement for members...and also one which should lower dues a little due to the cost effectiveness.

It will be nice to see DVC dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th Century.

Would have preferred to call in during ARP, but didn't have enough OTA points for the 2br, need to use some Pool points. I was sweating it out, but was happy to see that 2br sitting there.

While doing some research with the system, I've seen a few resorts/timeframes that the "experts" say you can't get without the ARP.


My money is on the late, uncertain bumpy implementation for DVC.

Basically given up on Starwood, it's not that hard to call in and book my ski week and I usually don't need to be on the phone asap.

 

[Disbroads]

This is going to be a very interesting development. One one hand, it has to happen and it's sort of amazing it has not yet been implemented. On the other hand, it's going to create a ton of movement as people book, rebook and re-rebook vacations while playing around with different dates, and switching based on availability, all b/c it's easy to do and you don't have to call anybody to do it.

I wonder, will the booking window open at midnight at the 11 month mark? EST? Doesn't that give an advantage to those in other time zones?

No matter how it plays out, get ready for availability to disappear at prime locations during prime weeks, and get ready for lots of WL's to come through.

I would hope that to keep everyone on even ground for availability, they "define" the start of the day as 9 AM Eastern, when MS starts answering phones. Some people aren't computer literate or confident enough to self serve on the Internet.

 

[dianeschlicht]

They have been promising this for the last few member meetings. If it works as good as the computer upgrade that occurred this week, you won't want it to happen.

Exactly! Scares me to death at what a disaster this could be. I also agree that something has to be done about the time zone issue. Maybe they will have to say "midnight eastern time" will be the change over, so it doesn't matter where you are calling from.

 

[Starr W.]

Exactly! Scares me to death at what a disaster this could be. I also agree that something has to be done about the time zone issue. Maybe they will have to say "midnight eastern time" will be the change over, so it doesn't matter where you are calling from.

I know the Wyndham system opens at 7am eastern and shuts down at 11pm eastern. When I was trying to book Alexandria the other week, I tried to get on to get into the reservation section and it wouldn't let me at 6:58 EDT.

Now there online booking is just for their 10 month window(which would be like DVC 7 month). If you want to use your home resort priority(13-10 months) you have to call in for those reservations. Call center opens at 8am weekdays, 9am weekends.

It's one of things I really like about Wyndham, I've been very happy at what I've been able to book at the 10 month or later.

I believe Marriott's old online system also didn't open until 9am eastern, as I know people would be online refreshing and on the phone trying to book their weeks.

 

[paults]

I want to talk to a CM to make my ressies. I hope it doesn't happen till 2042.

with Disney past website problems this will be a nightmare