please explain 11 month + 10 booking to me?

[KAT4DISNEY]

I tend to agree aside from the fact that there are < 20 value studios at AK. It doesn't take but just a few people smart enough to know how to work the system to screw the pooch on this one. Again, I Agree in most cases, but this is a prime example of why it doesn't work as intended, unless, of course; you're the one working the system.

I'm not bad-mouthing walking in general. I've actually considered doing it a couple of times too, but have just never had to.

And again I'd contend that it was always a little difficult to get even with the past reservation rules and nothing has changed. Honestly I like the new system way better than the old. The old system led people who were concerned to book day by day and that left lots of holes in availability that you could run in to unexpectedly.

We could have weeks guaranteed everywhere and then no worries. The system I knew I was buying in to allowed much more flexibility than that although I also understood that I might not get exactly the room I wanted every time. I'll take that any day even though I might not get concierge anytime I want. The only resort that really troubles me and has from the start is VGF with starting fixed weeks and still having regular points. IMO DVC did owners there no favors by having fixed weeks - it only made a small resort even smaller at the most popular times. Poly shouldn't be as bad because it's larger although I wouldn't mind seeing DVC drop the fixed week.

 

[DVC Mike]

Do we really believe walking has become that plentiful that every time we don't find the room we want, it can automatically be blamed on walking? Really? I think walking gets talked about a lot on these boards. But I really don't think the practice is used nearly as much as people assume.

A poll on another forum had 28% of members saying they have walked a reservation, with another 17% saying they haven't yet, but plan to.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A poll on another forum had 28% of members saying they have walked a reservation, with another 17% saying they haven't yet, but plan to.

Which is 28% of the people who answered your poll who are people on discussion boards and know about walking. How many people was that total?

What that represents of the whole DVC ownership is unkown but it's probably very little.

 

[freediverdude]

It just doesn't seem like it's something you would normally think of doing when doing your reservation, the normal member wouldn't know about it. So when a typical member logs on at 8am 11 months out and certain room categories are already gone, and they're like what the heck. Because a small number of people know the "secret" to getting them. It's those kind of scenarios that I just hate. It should just be whoever has the fastest fingers at 8am. That's how launches of other products go. And if you don't get your whole reservation on that day, then say "ok, didn't get it this year, I'll have to do another room category."

 

[DVC Mike]

What that represents of the whole DVC ownership is unkown but it's probably very little.

Likely true, as members of discussion boards are much more likely to be aware of the practice, while regular folk are clueless. However, with posts on Facebook describing the practice having reached over 20,000 people, it is becoming a bit less of a secret.

 

[tasha99]

It just doesn't seem like it's something you would normally think of doing when doing your reservation, the normal member wouldn't know about it. So when a typical member logs on at 8am 11 months out and certain room categories are already gone, and they're like what the heck. Because a small number of people know the "secret" to getting them. It's those kind of scenarios that I just hate. It should just be whoever has the fastest fingers at 8am. That's how launches of other products go. And if you don't get your whole reservation on that day, then say "ok, didn't get it this year, I'll have to do another room category."

Odds are, they didn't lose the room to walking, unless they were looking for a high demand room during a high demand time. But . . . I much prefer a system where knowledge or skill can give me a leg up to one that is essentially a lottery.

 

[CMOORE185]

I understand the sentiment you are expressing but do disagree that an owner that can't get exactly the room they want has a right to be angry. Other than the few people that bought fixed weeks none of us are guaranteed to get a room at 11 months anytime we wish. The good thing is that we most likely will but still, it's not guaranteed. I also think the fix would probably hurt more. Since it's equal for everyone to walk a reservation if they wish I don't feel anyone is at a significant disadvantage.

However I also believe that most reservations are bookable at 11 months. The ones that are difficult were difficult under the previous booking system too.

I usually do not get involved in the walking arguments, but it is not equal for everyone because I am sure the majority of members do not even know what walking is. They just think the first opportunity to book is at 11 months.
I just dislike the fact that people have a need to work the system.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I usually do not get involved in the walking arguments, but it is not equal for everyone because I am sure the majority of members do not even know what walking is. They just think the first opportunity to book is at 11 months.
I just dislike the fact that people have a need to work the system.

Considering that there are many reports of CM's recommending or telling people how to do it I don't think there's any true disadvantage. But coupled with the fact that it's so easy to learn about it either via the web or even in calling MS, there is the part that, IMO there's next to no reason to do it for the vast majority of reservations.

 

[tjkraz]

It just doesn't seem like it's something you would normally think of doing when doing your reservation, the normal member wouldn't know about it. So when a typical member logs on at 8am 11 months out and certain room categories are already gone, and they're like what the heck. Because a small number of people know the "secret" to getting them. It's those kind of scenarios that I just hate.

Bingo.

Considering that there are many reports of CM's recommending or telling people how to do it I don't think there's any true disadvantage. But coupled with the fact that it's so easy to learn about it either via the web or even in calling MS, there is the part that, IMO there's next to no reason to do it for the vast majority of reservations.

But people actually have to call MS--and get a rep that's willing to share--or be part of some online community to be privy to such information. And even on a far-reaching site like the DIS, seems like barely a week passes when thread like this one pops-up asking "what is this 'walking' thing?"

As for the "no reason to do it", I'm sure people are most apt to "walk" when it comes to scenarios which are already difficult to book. Things like:

- AKV Value and Club
- BWV Standard and BW View
- BCV 2 Queen rooms and maybe any/all Studios
- BLT Theme park and Standard View
- VGF Studios
- Poly lake view (?)

So you're taking situations where demand already far exceeds availability and further limiting access to members who happen to be in-the-know.

And we shouldn't ignore 7 months. Thanks to the Availability Tool, all members can see what's available weeks and months in advance. If a member wants to book BLT (or VGF, or BCV, or VWL, or...) but they're still a couple weeks away from that 7 month window, why not book now and "walk" the reservation? It's not as reliable as walking at 11 months but it sure does increase the odds of success.

The original booking scheme allowed owners to call based upon their checkout date. That lead to an ever-increasing number of owners booking day-by-day to circumvent the rule. Heck, people blindly booked day-by-day without even knowing if all of their dates would be available courtesy of an Availability Tool.

In my mind we've pretty much reached the same point we were at 6-8 years ago with day-by-day. More and more people are doing it because the knowledge is spreading and because of an overriding (perhaps even irrational) fear that "if I don't do it, someone else will and they'll take my room."

None of us can put a $$$ figure on the cost of "walking" but it's certainly increasing call wait times at Member Services.