Raise Your Voice: Guaranteed Booking Categories at SSR

[TenThousandVolts]

I just sent another email:
Good Morning!
First, let me say I am a happy Disney Vacation Club Member. I own 260 points between Saratoga Springs and Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort. I think the DVC product is of the highest quality and the member satisfaction team does a terrific job. So thank you for you hard work.

I sent off a suggestion several months ago in favor of creating separate booking categories at Saratoga Springs and did receive confirmation that you got my note. I just wanted to follow up and ask if you all have considered this issue any further.

Thanks,
Mr.X
Small Town, USA

Below is a summary of the suggestion- written by the owner of dvcnews.com:

I would like to register a vote in favor of creating separate booking categories at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. Being the largest resort in the DVC family, Saratoga Springs is subdivided into 5 different “neighborhoods”, each of which may hold unique appeal to different guests. However, leaving room assignments in the hands of a human room assigner or subject to the “Rooms Ready” system is an imperfect solution.

In the same way that separate booking categories were created for the “Preferred BoardWalk View” and “Preferred Garden / Pool View” categories at the BoardWalk, it seems fair to create similar categories at Saratoga Springs. Members should be able to guarantee rooms in popular neighborhoods like Congress Park (with its wonderful view of Downtown Disney), The Springs (close to the Carriage House) or The Grandstand (home of the new pool complex) at the time of booking rather than leaving room assignment entirely to chance.

For many, the location of their room and/or balcony view is a make-or-break element of their stay. Creating 5 or 6 different booking categories (one for each “neighborhood”, with Congress Park ideally segregated by “DTD view” and “non-DTD view”) would go a long way toward preparing guests for the unique experience that awaits them.

This change would also create an anticipation and enthusiasm for Saratoga Springs which is currently unheard of among members. It would allow Saratoga Springs guests to share in the same sort of joy currently reserved for those fortunate to book categories like the BoardWalk View at BWV, Savanna View at the Animal Kingdom Villas or an Ocean View room at Vero Beach.

Thank you for your consideration.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Guess what- I got a phone call from a very nice person in Member Satisfaction regarding my most recent email. They said they will forward the idea to their "Leadership Team". The leadership team considers these types of requests and it is up to them if new procedures are implemented.

The more emails they get- the more likely they are to give this serious consideration so send off those emails!

DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com

 

[cobbler]

They have received another email from me. I know my husband loves Congress Park and said if he could almost guarantee getting in that section we would be at SSR all the time.

 

[bobbiwoz]

MS satisfaction team just phoned me regarding the e-mail that I recently sent about this. I do hope the SSR owners, and others who book, get some sort of say about the location of the reservation.

Bobbi

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I just sent Member Satisfaction this email...I hope it helps the cause!
Hello Member Satisfaction, I would like to send you my request for creating booking catagories for SSR. While I am not an owner of that resort, I do own at Boardwalk that has the different booking catogories. I purchased there specifically for that reason. I have been hesitant in staying at SSR because there are no catagory choices. If you would consider creating some (GrandStand area, Congress Park) I would book there in a heartbeat!!! Thanks again for taking time to read my request.

 

[evaready51]

I think things are fine the way they are!!!!

I would not like all those different point levels!!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I think things are fine the way they are!!!!

I would not like all those different point levels!!

Sorry, no offense intended.

 

[bzzelady]

Just sent my email in support of this cause

 

[DVCSAMNH]

I think things are fine the way they are!!!!

I would not like all those different point levels!!

I kind of feel the way you do. But, they really are having a very difficult time getting people to stay in the Carousel. A couple of weeks ago they tried to move me from my requested Grandstand room which wasn't ready to a Carousel room that was. Now, if I wasn't familiar with the layout of the resort, I would have been very unhappy when I figured things out.
If they could somehow do a slightly lower point stay there I think it could help. I know this means that costs would have to go up elsewhere and I'm not too thrilled with that but at least you'd know for a couple of extra points you're not going to get stuck out at the Carousel unless you want to be. Hey, in the middle of winter being out there by yourself might not be so bad!!

 

[tjkraz]

I think things are fine the way they are!!!!

I would not like all those different point levels!!

I don't think anyone is endorsing different point levels--it would simply give members the ability to guarantee a specific area of the resort at the time of the booking.

This type of system is already in place in two resorts--Old Key West and the BoardWalk.

Old Key West recently debuted a "near Hospitality House" category. When booked in this area, members are guaranteed to receive a room in one of 8 buildings closest to the Hospitality House. The point for rooms in this category are identical to the rest of the resort. But it gives members--particularly owners at the resort--some advance knowledge of where they will be staying.

The BoardWalk also has a similar setup. They have two categories called "Preferred BoardWalk View" and "Preferred Garden / Pool View." Again, same points per night but you know at the time of booking what sort of room you will have. The BoardWalk was open for years before these separate categories were created, and suffered daily encounters will guests who expected the BoardWalk view only to be given a pool view or some other "Preferred" locale.

At SSR, giving members the ability to guarantee a great view of Downtown Disney in Congress park or a room close to the Carriage House (Grandstand, The Springs) can only help member satisfaction. I also believe it will reduce the number of members trying to book other resorts at 7 months. If an SSR owner can be guaranteed the DTD view or Granstand location 11 months out, they will be less likely to try and book other resorts. As it stands now, someone who booked SSR 2 weeks out could get a "better" room than an SSR owner who booked 11 months ahead of time. Room assignments often boil down to who gets to the resort first on arrival day or which rooms happen to be clean at the time of arrival.

 

[tjkraz]

I kind of feel the way you do. But, they really are having a very difficult time getting people to stay in the Carousel. A couple of weeks ago they tried to move me from my requested Grandstand room which wasn't ready to a Carousel room that was. Now, if I wasn't familiar with the layout of the resort, I would have been very unhappy when I figured things out.
If they could somehow do a slightly lower point stay there I think it could help. I know this means that costs would have to go up elsewhere and I'm not too thrilled with that but at least you'd know for a couple of extra points you're not going to get stuck out at the Carousel unless you want to be. Hey, in the middle of winter being out there by yourself might not be so bad!!

See my other post above for details on my particular point of view.

In short, I'd rather see the points stay the same with the location simply being guaranteed at time of booking. Categories like Congress Park and The Grandstand would be likely to fill-up first. Those would go to owners calling 11 months out and others who call close to 7 months.

If The Carousel is the last area to fill-up, so be it. Those who call just 1-2 months out will be told when they call that their room will be in The Carousel and they can either take it or leave it.

I don't think Disney made a particularly good decision in designing The Carousel. But as you say, the only way to now lower points there would be to raise them elsewhere. Hopefully members won't have to pay the price for Disney's poor planning.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I really don't think a point chart adjustment is needed at all- and it would be far more difficult for DVC to implement this change if we were talking about reallocation. It can simply be a matter of 'early bird gets the worm'- just like BWV (BW View and Preferred View) or OKW (near HH). I love SSR but I do believe that it may have been designed as somewhat of an overflow resort in preparation for a new wave of offsite expansion. (Just a personal theory of mine). Location at SSR is as much (if not more) of a factor than OKW- and they have 1st come-1st serve location privelges- why not us?
JMHO

I think it is awesome that DVC seems to be working toward giving more attention to member suggestions- even if this doesn't happen- I do feel good that they took the time to call- and I told the person that. She was a really sweet person- made me feel very good about my membership.

 

[JaxDisneyFans]

Just sent an email in support of booking categories. I would prefer no change in the points chart (like OKW), but do want an owner advantage for the Grandstand and Congress Park.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

MS satisfaction team just phoned me regarding the e-mail that I recently sent about this. I do hope the SSR owners, and others who book, get some sort of say about the location of the reservation.

Bobbi

Cool! Did you talk to them or get a message? If you taked to them what did they say?

BTW bobbiwoz- tell your son that his post gave me a BIG smile on mother's day. I thought that was the cutest thing ever! What a clever son you have

 

[jdg345]

I just sent in an email about this as well. Based on this thread, it seems that The Grandstand and Congress Park will be the first to go.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Cool! Did you talk to them or get a message? If you taked to them what did they say?

...

I was told that the requests were going to the Leadership team. The person I spoke with was a very upbeat person, and told me to keep suggestions coming in. The DVC management is always looking for input from the members.

Thank you for the words about Greg! He is my youngest DS, now 30, and ever since we bought into DVC, he has given me great tons of GRIEF about going to WDW so often. His idea of a perfect vacation was a 2 month, mostly backpacking, but with guides, trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. He and his DGF took that trek from December to the end of January. I have to admit Greg really made my day this Mother's Day and I still smile. Thank you for causing me to remember that!

Bobbi

 

[Dean]

I think things are fine the way they are!!!!

I would not like all those different point levels!!

I think the consensus is that the points would stay the same but it would simply be different booking categories. BWV & OKW have this situation currently and both were an after the fact change. Given those assumptions, I can't see anyone who owns at SSR not being in favor unless they simply want to be surprised. The only other gripe might be for someone who books later but that person should have a lower priority than one who books earlier anyway. But even if there were a points differential, I'm sure it would be pretty small and for every increase, there would be a corresponding decrease.

 

[cobbler]

I received a phone call today as well, letting me know they are sending my suggestions to the Leadership Team and that they like getting suggestions from members and so on.

She also said that I wasn't the only one that has made this suggestion

 

[jdg345]

Hmm ... no one called or emailed me back yet ...

 

[PinkTink63]

Thanks TenThousandVolts for starting this thread

I dont want to mess with the point charts at all, just guarantee certain sections/views. I think DTD view is a biggie and so are the golf views of The Grandstand and the Springs section for accessability to the main areas. The Paddocks has gorgeous views also.

I just think the SSR owners should be given priority to guarantee these areas, rather than someone who does not own there just because they got there first.

Boardwalk View and Preferred View at BWV are the same amount of points. Why cant SSR do this?
The great thing about SSR is that there are many wonderful sections and many more members would be pleased than disappointed.

I agree with Dean, It doesnt have to be complicated at all.

I don't have a problem with this, except I do not want to spend more points for what I already have. I take a red-eye flight and arrive in the morning, walk around until about 4:00pm, just so I can get view I want. I'm willing to wait several hours to get into a room so I can get the one I want. Some people just want to get into a room and don't really care about the view, but I do.