Online Reservation Question

[MinnieMe2]

I've always called to make ressies, but I'm wondering about making our next one online today. Anyone with advice/opinions about how well this does/doesn't work? Will I get confirmation of availability right away?

Thanks!

 

[PamOKW]

It's not really "on-line". You are basically submitting an e-mail. You should get an automatic response that it's been received that will indicate when they'll get back to you. I think it's 48 business hours for MS which I guess would be Wednesday morning. If you've got some time before the trip, it should work okay and save you some time on the phone.

If you've got "options" you should include them in your request -- flexible dates, resorts, accomodations, etc.

 

[MinnieMe2]

Thanks, Pam!

 

[Alexander]

I just did this! Last Sunday to be exact. I knew I wouldn't be able to get MS on the phone during a time they were open and I was available, so I figured I'd give it a go. Here's how it worked:

I requested August 7 to 14 for a studio at BCV.--First Choice
I requested same dates for a studio at OKW--Second Choice

This was again on Sunday sometime in the evening. On Tuesday morning I received an email that we had a confirmed reservation at SSR for the above mentioned dates.

On Wednesday we had a school delay due to snow, so I had a chance to call MS. I wanted to inquire about the reservation and see if it was a matter of one or two of my dates not being available. Our dates were flexible and we really wanted one of our first two choices, and I found it hard to believe that OKW was sold out.

Come to find out, BCV was available with several units for all of our dates. She was confused as to why they booked me at SSR. I was easily able to change the SSR ressie to the BCV that we really wanted. The only possible answer was they did not read my request carefully, and since I was using SSR points, they booked me there.

Everything worked out and I wouldn't have cared if we stayed at SSR, so I guess the moral of my story is.....if you're not actually talking to a person, you'll not know what you are going to get until you get the confirmation email.

 

[DrTomorrow]

To expand on Alexander's post - unless you talk to MS "live", you'll never know what the current availability situation is, and what all your options are.

When we added a single day in a studio to our upcoming May trip, I could have easily sent an email requesting "A Studio at any DVC Resort, SSR being our last choice" (because we're spending 6 nights there, and I wanted to try a different resort). However, when talking to MS, they told me that there was Studio availability at ALL resorts, so I got to pick - went with VWL.

If it were really on-line like others have requested - where I could see which resorts had which room-types available - I'd use it in a heartbeat (like plane tickets and car rentals). But simply firing off an email and getting whatever they wanted to give me makes me a bit nervous....

 

[JodyTG]

Is THIS what my guide was talking about when she said that we have "Online Reservations"? Excuse me...but this is so not. I'm the type that likes instant gratification (uh...verification). I don't like to be left guessing. I would want to know NOW what I can get and then decide what I want to do from there.

I guess once my contract is finished I'll be spending a lot of time on hold for MS.

 

[MinnieMe2]

I called MS this morning, and I'm glad I did as there was availability at VWL for the ten days we're looking for -- except for three nights in the middle! So we talked and had to make some adjustments. An email for this ressie wouldn't have been adequate. Frankly, I'm not sure email for this type of thing would ever be the way to go!

 

[Alexander]

I called MS this morning, and I'm glad I did as there was availability at VWL for the ten days we're looking for -- except for three nights in the middle! So we talked and had to make some adjustments. An email for this ressie wouldn't have been adequate. Frankly, I'm not sure email for this type of thing would ever be the way to go!

I'm glad you got your reservation all worked out! Email is really not a sufficient way to get your reservations made. I ended up calling anyway! I gave the email thing a try since I wasn't going to be able to call until late in the week, and it was only Sunday when I sent the email. It would be nice to make the online reservations, but it's also nice to talk to a person who can guide you around the days that aren't available, etc.

 

[Caskbill]

Is THIS what my guide was talking about when she said that we have "Online Reservations"? Excuse me...but this is so not. I'm the type that likes instant gratification (uh...verification). I don't like to be left guessing. I would want to know NOW what I can get and then decide what I want to do from there.

I guess once my contract is finished I'll be spending a lot of time on hold for MS.

DVC does not have any type of true on-line reservation system. They are working on things, and in Dec '05 they are suppose to have an on-line system for checking your account. This means you can check all the financial stuff, your point balances, and verify reservations you have already made. But note it will only be a passive system allowing you to view what is already there. It will not be active in that you would be able to bank/borrow, check availability, or make reservations.