Possible MS changes to changing names on reservations

[robinb]

That is totally crazy, especially when you are booking 11 months out. I am going to send an e-mail.

I just called my guide who will look into this. I'll post back here when I know more.

 

[DebbieB]

I just sent an e-mail, I copied the above posting.

>>>I think this is totally wrong. I often book at 11 months and am not sure who will be coming with me. My aunt could come, my nieces, my friends. If I don't know exactly who is coming at 11 months I will risk losing my reservation? If someone changes their mind about coming, I will lose my reservation? I could see this rule if you are changing the reservation from the members name to someone else. But not when the member is still on the reservation. If this is true, I will be selling my membership. It makes DVC totally unflexible.<<<<

I'll let you know if I get a response.

 

[keishashadow]

geewhiz, thanks for the support look forward to hearing what your guides have to say mine's out of the office.

esp hearing that the info I was given is incorrect.

jim summarized what the CM stated as their intent:

I don't think anyone's said they would cancel a reservation just because you made it in someone else's name. I think they're talking about making a ressie in your name and then wanting to change it to someone else. They're not trying to stop the practice of reserving for other people; what they are really trying to stop (I think) is speculative bookings by commercial renters during peak time periods.

My read on the speculative possibility of this rumor is they're saying they'll still change names, but it would be a cancellation and re-booking...which means subject to availability.

If there was no availability, I guess you'd keep the ressie and try again later -- or, if you were changing it for a reason other than rental (giving it to a relative, for example), you could ask for a supervisor and explain it to them.

I explained to the CM last week that if i decided to book the cruise, the renter would be my oldest DS, still was told "no". Just wondering would they require - a family tree for verification; or would the accommodation be based upon one's ability to whine well to get around what I was told is a policy?

fyi, must be nice to be special & never get carded for id

perhaps I just don't look like the sort who belongs in the club

 

[dcfromva]

Okay, so I doubt this rumor is true, since it is definitely against the POS. Now as for the showing ID to check in....I have NEVER in 11 years of member ship had to do that!!! I usually walk up to the counter and present my DVC membership card and credit card, and have NEVER been asked for anything else.

In the past I have always been asked for government issued ID. On one occasion, I pulled out the first available ID (which was ID issued by the Federal Govt) and the CM refused to accept it. What she really wanted was my driver's license--which I was having trouble finding. I finally did find it, but I was wondering what would happen if I didn't. (I was wondering --Does it say somewhere that you have to present your DL to check in?)

 

[DebbieB]

I travel alot for business and I'd guess about 1/2 the time I am asked for photo ID. I assumed it was because I am paying with a credit card which is charged at checkout and they want to make sure the names match.

 

[dcfromva]

I called member services to make a reservation this past Nov. We have some friends that we want to treat for a weekend at WDW for F&W festival in October. When I called to make the reservation, I didn't have their address/phone number with me so I asked the CM to just put one room under DH's name and the other room under my name. Then, I would call back to fix it. The CM balked. At first she refused to do it because I told her my intentions were the change the name. (The CM was so adamant insisting that the policy was inflexible that I was wondering if DH and I were going to have to spouse swap in order to keep the two rooms! )

Finally, I just asked her to make the reservation as outlined and I would worry about the consequences later. When I called back (I made the ressie day by day) I had no problem changing the name (maybe because it was over Fri/Sat stay?) But, at the time I was confused as to why this was an issue.

 

[Liljam]

I just called MS because I may have to add a person or two to our May ressie and I really wanted to verify this. She said she had never heard anything of the kind, and she wanted to check with her supervisor about changing names and canceling. She said they will not have to cancel a ressie just to change a name and that this should not be a problem at all. She also told me as long as I call within 48 hours to verify all the names, that would give them time to add or subtract them! Hope this info helps - and i hope it is correct. It seems like it depends on who you ask at MS. I even mentioned a new computer program being the reason and she said that we can still change the names without canceling!

 

[keishashadow]

I just called MS because I may have to add a person or two to our May ressie and I really wanted to verify this. She said she had never heard anything of the kind, and she wanted to check with her supervisor about changing names and canceling. She said they will not have to cancel a ressie just to change a name and that this should not be a problem at all. She also told me as long as I call within 48 hours to verify all the names, that would give them time to add or subtract them! Hope this info helps - and i hope it is correct. It seems like it depends on who you ask at MS. I even mentioned a new computer program being the reason and she said that we can still change the names without canceling!

my issue wasn't related to changing/adding a name to our names on a ressie

it was taking our names OFF the ressie & adding DSs & DIL as sole occupants

there never was a problem for us as to adding an additional guest within room occupancy guideline (except that all must be on DP whether they're in the room one day or the entire time)

 

[MarieA]

I just called MS to add a night to an already existing reservation and while I had them on the phone I asked about the rumor on this thread. The CM said she hadn't heard anything about not being able to change names on reservations. She said she couldn't see how they could enforce this since people get sick, can't get off from work, etc. and many times when this happens members give their reservations to family members and friends. She stated that the only policy they currently have in place which requires a cancellation when the primary name on the reservation is changed is for DCL.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I just called MS to add a night to an already existing reservation and while I had them on the phone I asked about the rumor on this thread. The CM said she hadn't heard anything about not being able to change names on reservations. She said she couldn't see how they could enforce this since people get sick, can't get off from work, etc. and many times when this happens members give their reservations to family members and friends. She stated that the only policy they currently have in place which requires a cancellation when the primary name on the reservation is changed is for DCL.

Good!...This, I hope is the definitive word!!!!

Bobbi

 

[JimMIA]

It may just be that the MS CMs have the same problem we have. They hear something they don't understand, they ask someone, that person offers an opinion, then another -- pretty soon they have a pretty good rumor going!

Then one of us calls, and ...

 

[CarolAnnC]

In the past I have always been asked for government issued ID. On one occasion, I pulled out the first available ID (which was ID issued by the Federal Govt) and the CM refused to accept it. What she really wanted was my driver's license--which I was having trouble finding. I finally did find it, but I was wondering what would happen if I didn't. (I was wondering --Does it say somewhere that you have to present your DL to check in?)

I have often used my FOID card (Firearm Owner Identification Card) as government issued ID instead of a DL without any problem. However, maybe they are scared off, LOL!

 

[ExCastMember]

They're doing this because there are a lot of members that go off and sell vacation times through their own private companies. They've had a lot of issues with certain members and was causing a lot of headaches for the cast members not just the vacation club members who were frustrated with not getting time periods they wanted because of greedy members trying to make a buck.

I agree. I am thankful that DVC may be taking some action to help reduce some DVC owners from speculatively booking prime vacation times and renting them for profit (i.e., commercial renters).

The practice of some members booking "choice/prime" reservations, not with the intent of actually using them for themselves, their family, or their friends, but with the sole intent of selling them to a non-DVC member for profit, is unfair to other DVC members.

It’s undeniable that if people stop pre-booking reservations for the sole purpose of renting months down the road, more people will be successful at booking their preferred accommodation at 11 or 7 months.


On the other hand, I'm not so sure the rumored change we are discussing in this thread is the right approach.

 

[keishashadow]

i'm not about to call & ask (again ); several peeps in this thread said they were going to call or email their guide...receive any responses?

did see the other post as to commercial renters (should free things up a bit ), we sure don't fall into that category

 

[DebbieB]

No response yet.

 

[DebbieB]

I just got this response:

Thank you for contacting Disney Vacation Club Member Services.

We appreciate your message. Based on the nature of your comments, I
have forwarded your message to our Member Satisfaction team for further
review. You may expect to be contacted again with regard to your
message within 5 business days.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,
Larry

 

[keishashadow]

thanks, keeping fingers crossed that they're not going to hard-line this, especially if it only happens infrequently for the member

 

[ExCastMember]

I just got this response:

Thank you for contacting Disney Vacation Club Member Services.

We appreciate your message. Based on the nature of your comments, I
have forwarded your message to our Member Satisfaction team for further
review. You may expect to be contacted again with regard to your
message within 5 business days.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,
Larry

HA! Good luck.... Member Satisfaction team..... [shakes head]

 

[kimberh]

I just called MS to add a night to an already existing reservation and while I had them on the phone I asked about the rumor on this thread. The CM said she hadn't heard anything about not being able to change names on reservations. She said she couldn't see how they could enforce this since people get sick, can't get off from work, etc. and many times when this happens members give their reservations to family members and friends. She stated that the only policy they currently have in place which requires a cancellation when the primary name on the reservation is changed is for DCL.

Hopefully Sanity at Last.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I'll leave a VM for my guide for the morning. He usually calls me right back when he gets in since the only time I ever call him is to add on points.

We'll see what the guides' take is on this (although it may be a brand new, completely different response...as a matter of fact, I expect it to be).

Making it so you cannot change ANY names seems like overkill to me.