Raise Your Voice: Guaranteed Booking Categories at SSR

[mamaprincess]

I definitely would love a to be able to guarantee a location. DTD view and now apparently Grandstand are hot commodities. A lot of people love the springs. If I book at the 11mos window, I feel like I should be able to guarantee a room over some one who booked at the last minute. This way owners are already guaranteed priority over non owners.

Like TenThousandVolts said the points charts don't have to change to do this.

 

[tjkraz]

But, to change that now I would feel like I was being charged more, even if they lessened the points somewhere else. We have a minimum amount of points right now, and we have it figured how we can take advantage of those points to our needs.

Just to re-iterate, what is being here would NOT necessitate a change in the point charts. The BoardWalk Villas currently has categories called "Preferred BoardWalk View" and "Preferred Garden / Pool View." The nightly point requirements for these two rooms classes is EXACTLY the same. The only difference is that owners at the BW have a much better shot of getting a BW View room due to the 4-month booking advantage.

At SSR, someone who books exactly 11 months out could easily end up with a room in The Carousel (which most agree is the least appealing part of the resort.) At the same time, someone booking 2 months out (or 2 days out) could get a picture-perfect view of Downtown Disney. It just depends on how rooms happen to be assigned at check-in.

What is being suggested is to create separate room classes so that an owner booking 11 months out could be GUARANTEED a room in a particular section of the resort or with a particular view. Owners at SSR would have the first shot at booking a DTD view room in Congress Park...or a room in The Springs near the main pool...or a room in The Grandstand near the new pool complex.

Those who are not owners at SSR, or who book on shorter notice, will get whatever unbooked sections remain.

Incidentally, the two separate classes I referenced at the BoardWalk were just created about 4-5 years ago. For the first few years the resort was open, there was just one "Preferred" room class, and guests wouldn't find out until they arrived whether they got a BW view or not. The two classes were created in respose to member demand, so there is precedent for a move like this.

 

[mamaprincess]

My name is Joy ... . My husband Michael and I have been DVC members at Saratoga Springs since April of 2004. During our first trip in June 2004, we stayed at Saratoga Springs in Congress park. Our room had the most fantastic view of Downtown Disney and was so conveniently located. Since that first wonderful trip, we have been chasing that view with no luck in 4 subsequent trips. Because membership has grown and the resort has increased in size with many different sections and views, it has become glaringly apparent that there are locations that are far more desirable than others. Rooms close to the Carriage house and main pool, rooms with Downtown Disney views and golf course views and now the grandstand because of the new feature pool are now prized by members.

What I am hoping DVC will do is to offer members the ability to guarantee rooms in certain sections and/or with certain views at the time of booking. This does not mean that room categories or a new point chart would need to be created. This would simply make the 11mos window mean something for members at Saratoga Springs. Right now we have to battle with those who book at the 7mos window for rooms in extremely desirable locations. I don't believe this has to or should be the case. Our 11mos. window should allow us the ability to book the most desirable locations if we decide to take advantage of the 11mos window. Owning at Saratoga Springs should have some sort of real advantage for it's members.

Please consider this and respond as soon as you can. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Joy and Michael ...
DVC members since April 2004, Saratoga Springs

 

[Sammie]

I can understand the wants, but don't think most have enough background in room assignment to understand why DVC or Disney will never do this.

For one they book their resorts at higher occupancy then other destinations. Also what happens if that room category is not even available on the day you check in. What do they do with you then.

Also how do they seperate room assingments for members versus cash. Doesn't the percentage of inventory available for cash change based on how many members trade out.

So does a member that books at 11 months get preference over a cash guest that booked at 12 months.

In order for this to actually work the room would have to be blocked at 11 months out and that is never going to happen.

Also are they going to time stamp each reservation. I mean what if member A calls at 7am and member B calls at the exact same time but with a different agent, who gets the first dibs.

The idea sounds good but implementation is not that easy and I think would create more headaches than the value of the change. The only way they would do it is to create different point structures so you book it at the time of the reservation just as they do for BW.

Also something to consider, is that when you do a room block you have to realize that you have taken that room out of service for the entire period. Are you willing to let rooms set empty while that room waits for the guest to check in.

For example Guest B is in Congress Park until June 5. But another guest that wants Congress Park is not checking in until June 7, do you leave it empty for 2 days. Or do you go ahead and put a guest in it that is there on June 5 that is staying a week, even though that fills up all the Congress Park rooms.

Believe me you really don't want them doing this.

 

[tjkraz]

The only way they would do it is to create different point structures so you book it at the time of the reservation just as they do for BW.

Different point structures are unnecessary, but again it would be just like BWV.

Instead of having 800+ rooms available for booking at SSR it would be (approx):

180 Congress Park
140 The Springs
180 Grandstand
220 The Paddock
90 The Carousel

Each of these would represent separate room classes at the time of booking. If one is calling for a 2B Dedicated and first choice is Congress Park, that inventory would be checked first. If there are no dedicated 2Bs available in the CP inventory for those dates, the member could try for The Grandstand.

If DVC can handle all of the separate classes at the BoardWalk and ALV, this should be no problem. In fact, given that all of AKV is only about 450 rooms, I suspect that the above SSR room classes are much larger than each of AKV's. AKV will have 6 different room classes (Jambo House Value, JH Standard, JH Savanna, JH Concierge, Kidani Standard and Kidani Savanna.)

CRO cash rooms would have to be pulled from a specific inventory at the time that Disney exercises its right to redeem the points. Nothing difficult about that.

The only drawback I see is added expense involved with waitlist requests for other views. But now that DVC has streamlined the waitlist process, that's not as much of a hurdle as it was a month ago.

 

[tjkraz]

Also something to consider, is that when you do a room block you have to realize that you have taken that room out of service for the entire period. Are you willing to let rooms set empty while that room waits for the guest to check in.

For example Guest B is in Congress Park until June 5. But another guest that wants Congress Park is not checking in until June 7, do you leave it empty for 2 days. Or do you go ahead and put a guest in it that is there on June 5 that is staying a week, even though that fills up all the Congress Park rooms.

Congress Park has over 180 units. That's more rooms than are in the BWV BoardWalk View or Standard View categories. Heck, it's 25% larger than all of VWL.

If DVC can make those classes work, they should be able to do the same for the large neighborhoods at SSR.

 

[Madi100]

Just to re-iterate, what is being here would NOT necessitate a change in the point charts. The BoardWalk Villas currently has categories called "Preferred BoardWalk View" and "Preferred Garden / Pool View." The nightly point requirements for these two rooms classes is EXACTLY the same. The only difference is that owners at the BW have a much better shot of getting a BW View room due to the 4-month booking advantage.

At SSR, someone who books exactly 11 months out could easily end up with a room in The Carousel (which most agree is the least appealing part of the resort.) At the same time, someone booking 2 months out (or 2 days out) could get a picture-perfect view of Downtown Disney. It just depends on how rooms happen to be assigned at check-in.

What is being suggested is to create separate room classes so that an owner booking 11 months out could be GUARANTEED a room in a particular section of the resort or with a particular view. Owners at SSR would have the first shot at booking a DTD view room in Congress Park...or a room in The Springs near the main pool...or a room in The Grandstand near the new pool complex.

Those who are not owners at SSR, or who book on shorter notice, will get whatever unbooked sections remain.

Incidentally, the two separate classes I referenced at the BoardWalk were just created about 4-5 years ago. For the first few years the resort was open, there was just one "Preferred" room class, and guests wouldn't find out until they arrived whether they got a BW view or not. The two classes were created in respose to member demand, so there is precedent for a move like this.

Thanks. I understand now. And, I would be completely for it. We don't arrive until later in the afternoon this trip, and our chances of getting our request are pretty slim, I'm sure. It's a great idea, and there needs to be SOME perks for being members at the resort.

 

[mamaprincess]

Thanks Tjkraz for your insights. I hope that enough SSR owners believe that this is viable and would be an advantage for us. Hopefully enough SSR owners will speak up and hopefully we can get this done.

 

[Mokat76]

OK, I'll be the rain on the parade. While I like CP and sometimes request it, it really doesn't matter where I stay. I don't belong to SSR for the sterling view of DTD. I belong so I have a comfortable place to rest up between my in-park adventures.

The gamesmanship that would be involved in getting preferred view rooms is really just annoying. If I think I have to call in at the opening bell on exactly the 11-month date to get a DTD view if that's what I want, I'm going to be more than a tad peevish. What if I'd like a DTD or golf course view but don't know at exactly the 11-month point that I'm going to be able to go to WDW? Am I forevermore out of luck?

OK, so you don't like Carousel. Will it kill you to stay there? Will it ruin your vacation? Is it really that much of a show-stopper than you want member services to completely revamp the reservation system--which, by the way, is a costly proposition--so you can feel special? Special is being at WDW. Special is being able to afford owning a "home" there. We're already among the elite because we can afford DVC. Let's not lock up all the "good" rooms for the folks who plan every trip to WDW 11 months out. Geez.

 

[spiceycat]

when the 50's section at Okw opened it was very, very unpopular. away from everything, some of the same complaints that are against parts of SSR. Okay it did have its swimming pool. but underwise a very unpopular area. well some members started to stay there and guess what they loved it. Now it is a pretty popular area.

some people may appreciate it being far from everything. give it a chance to get is own following.

every dvc resort is different, because every dvc member is different. just because you think something is awfully doesn't mean the other owners of SSR will think that too.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Great email MamaPrincess! I am going to work on something and send it off tomorrow.

Thanks for posting the contact info TenThousandVolts

YW- and thank you for inspiring me to start the thread. I was going through that "Are you annoyed by the free dining/value upgrades" thread and I wasn't annoyed until someone mentioned the competition for room locations. Then the more I thought about it, my annoyance had nothing to do with the upgrades- it all had to do with the lack of booking categories at SSR. The free upgrades just put a spotlight on an area that IMO needs improvement.

 

[edk35]

count me in if they keep it simple. (do not change point charts). I could see them re allocating points at CP, GS, or SP and lower them at Carousel. It doesnt seem to be desired by many.

I wonder if adding another pool at the Carousel section would help make this more desireable? I don't think they have one do they?? I can see both sides of this......since it is so spread out. I guess we will understand more once we stay there for our first trip home.

 

[Sammie]

Congress Park has over 180 units. That's more rooms than are in the BWV BoardWalk View or Standard View categories. Heck, it's 25% larger than all of VWL.

If DVC can make those classes work, they should be able to do the same for the large neighborhoods at SSR.

But see that is the problem, the more rooms you have the greater the difficulty. It is very easy to block off the smaller amount. The larger amounts will mean less rooms available on any given day due to the process of assigning rooms.

If they do this you are going to decrease your inventory of rooms available. I for one do not want that. You could end up with guests having to move in the middle of stay simply because of room availability. I will gladly take Carousel over moving midweek.

 

[tjkraz]

OK, I'll be the rain on the parade. While I like CP and sometimes request it, it really doesn't matter where I stay. I don't belong to SSR for the sterling view of DTD. I belong so I have a comfortable place to rest up between my in-park adventures.

Then why would you care either way?

The gamesmanship that would be involved in getting preferred view rooms is really just annoying. If I think I have to call in at the opening bell on exactly the 11-month date to get a DTD view if that's what I want, I'm going to be more than a tad peevish.

Given that the DTD view rooms represent about 10-12% of the resort, I propose that you would have a lot better odds of getting such a room if it were guaranteed at the time of booking rather than just adding it as a request.

What if I'd like a DTD or golf course view but don't know at exactly the 11-month point that I'm going to be able to go to WDW? Am I forevermore out of luck?

"Forevermore out of luck?" Grandstanding there just a bit?

What do you do? You make a decision when you book. It's that simple. If you change your mind later, you call and see if a room is available in a different location. If not, put that at the top of your list for next trip.

OK, so you don't like Carousel. Will it kill you to stay there? Will it ruin your vacation?

For some, the answer is undeniably yes.

I think there are two main issues driving this discussion:

1. Member satisfaction. Getting what you prefer--be it the great view of DTD, proximity to the main pool, golf course view, etc.

2. Home resort booking advantage for SSR owners. I accept the fact that I have little chance of getting a BW view room by not owning at the BoardWalk. At the same time, is it so much to ask that I be able to have first crack at the type of room that suits me?

Is it really that much of a show-stopper than you want member services to completely revamp the reservation system--which, by the way, is a costly proposition--so you can feel special?

Really? What would it cost?

AKV has 6 different booking categories. What needs to be re-vamped to create 5 or 6 separate categories at SSR?

Sounds to me like the system can already accept different room blocks for a single resort. I bet all they would have to do is to define the different classes in the reservation database, count the number of rooms in each, then pick a day to implement the new system. It would be 11 months before everything truly went into effect, but I don't see any great hurdles.

Besides, DVC gets 12% of our dues as a managment fee whether they spend it or not. Frankly I don't see the harm in communicating such a request to DVC so that it's at least considered.

Special is being at WDW. Special is being able to afford owning a "home" there. We're already among the elite because we can afford DVC. Let's not lock up all the "good" rooms for the folks who plan every trip to WDW 11 months out. Geez.

"Special" is unique to each person.

On two occasions above you stated that it really shouldn't matter where one stays. Now you're apparently concerned with all of the "good" rooms getting taken by those who can plan far in advance. So which is it?

 

[tjkraz]

But see that is the problem, the more rooms you have the greater the difficulty. It is very easy to block off the smaller amount. The larger amounts will mean less rooms available on any given day due to the process of assigning rooms.

Sorry, you lost me on that one.

In simple terms: Why is it possible to have 3 room classes at BWV and 6 room classes at AKV, yet 5 or 6 classes at SSR is unreasonable?

 

[Sammie]

Sorry, you lost me on that one.

In simple terms: Why is it possible to have 3 room classes at BWV and 6 room classes at AKV, yet 5 or 6 classes at SSR is unreasonable?

The larger number of rooms allows for a larger number of booking possiblities. If you limit your bank of rooms to draw from you are decreasing your inventory.

It is easier to book guests into a resort with 810 rooms than a resort with only 180 which is what Congress Park is because at any given time you are going to have more inventory to choose from.

Due to being able to match room availability to the time frame of the guest the more selective you get the more you decrease your inventory.

I am sorry if that is not clear but you would really have to understand how difficult room assignment is to see the problems.

Disney resorts consistently overbook categories and therefore that is what happens when people get upgrades. DVC does not have that flexiblity. Since they don't have that option at times due to when someone is checking out, and someone else is checking in rooms will sit empty. That is going to cost everyone.

They can do this but what will happen is decrease inventory. I would rather have a room anywhere than have to book 2 reservations to get a room for a week or more.

 

[vascubaguy]

The only guaranteed option at SSR I'd like is DTD view, though I know some would prefer to have a golf course view. I don't necessarily agree with trying to offer a guarantee for a certain area at the resort. I mean it would be nice, but not sure the cost benefit would be there for the logistical nightmare it would create and the number of complaints when people didn't get what they wanted.

Of course, then you would also introduce the question of what exactly is a DTD view. The last time at stayed at SSR and got a DTD view... it was actually the view of the DTD parking lot, but if I stretched out over the balcony a bit I could see a bit of the Cirque building.

 

[BroganMc]

Sammie, if I understand you correctly you're saying the problem is that members will want to book only one section and leave the rest of the resort empty. Meanwhile mebers will be competing for the same section and no one gets what the want for the entire length of stay.

The only thing is I don't think members all want the same section. Some want DTD View, while others want to be near High Rock Springs pool (the Springs). Now folks want to be in Grandstand but then what if they want a water view? Paddocks has the best water views of the place. Perhaps Carousel is butcher's leftovers now, but then it can be the perfect spot if you are driving or want a quicker entry/exit (plus it has a nice private pond over there).

So for me, I tend to request Grandstand, Springs or Congress Park. Either would make me happy. And I'm adding Paddocks to my list of possibles. If I could have some guarantee of my room assignment then at least I'd know where I am.

Basically we're just letting members have some forehand knowledge and input into their room assignments. Certainly anything that keeps members from having to race over just to have a chance of getting a room location they prefer is just nuts.

 

[tjkraz]

They can do this but what will happen is decrease inventory. I would rather have a room anywhere than have to book 2 reservations to get a room for a week or more.

Everything you describe has been happening for years at BWV and I don't see anyone there campaigning to get rid of the BW view. It will also be true of AKV, yet I think few (nobody) would favor combining the Savanna and Standard view categories.

SSR's size alone dictates that it will always be the last resort to fill. Disagree if you will but I don't think the entire concept should be disregarded simply because it will help those who want to book on 2-3 weeks' notice. If people want to go that badly, they will pay the price and accept a split stay. People willingly do it now, moving from one resort to the next--or one room class to the next--because they have no other options available.

Incidentally, I can think of one other very good reason to consider this proposal--the impact on other resort bookings at 7 months. Right now if I book SSR at 11 months, I have to live with the fact that my room may be in my preferred section of the resort--or it could be in the worst location possible. That fact alone is sufficient to drive people to attempt to book elsewhere at 7 months. Why fret over the possibility of being put in The Carousel or The Paddock if you can book AKV Savanna view at 7 months?

Now, if I KNEW 11 months out that I would absolutely have the room that I want (DTD view, golf course view, The Springs, etc.), it would have a dramatic impact on my desire to book elsewhere.

In my opinion, such a system would unquestionably increase the percenatage of SSR owners staying at their Home resort.

 

[Madi100]

If it comes to me making the request and KNOWING I'll get it at time of booking or me arriving and requesitng a section and I might not get it, then I'd be all for the change. I hate it, hate it, hate it that people who are non owners can make reservations at other DVC resorts before I can. I don't care what the reasons, I don't like it. It would be nice if SSR had some sort of members first perk.