Raise Your Voice: Guaranteed Booking Categories at SSR

[tjkraz]

Oh and my point about the HH requests is it's just that, basically a request. I don't think in that edition of VM it stated that your request was a guarantee. There is not extra point charge (yet) for the convenience of HH, like there are different point's for different views elsewhere.

As others have said, you are incorrect. Here is the statement from Vacation Magic:

Hospitality Homes: Disney Vacation Club is creating special
room categories at Disney’s Old Key West Resort to identify the
limited number of Vacation Homes located near the Hospitality
House. The new categories, slated to debut this fall, will allow
Members to secure this high-demand location based on availability
at the time of reservation. Before these new categories are
offered for new reservations, existing reservations that include
requests to be near the Hospitality House will be converted to
these new categories (based on availability and in order of booking
date). Currently, there are no plans to charge additional
Vacation Points for these accommodations. Watch
www.dvcmember.com for more details.

Whether it has been implemented or not remains to be seen, but clearly the intent is to make it a separate category (like the Preferred BoardWalk View vs. Preferred Garden / Pool View) with the location guaranteed at the time of booking.

 

[Dean]

Actually, it would impact some members negatively -- specifically those that don't own at SSR. Right now, they have a chance of getting a room at SSR in a great location.

If booking categories are implemented at SSR, it will become like BWV, where mostly owners get the standard/BW view rooms. Thus, the SSR owners would get the high-demand views, and non-owners would get the less-coveted views.

Despite the fact that I am not an SSR owner, I did contact MS and express my support for this. I think the SSR owners deserve this just like us BWV owners do.

As it should be. Owners at a given resort deserve priority, esp if they book early.

Oh and my point about the HH requests is it's just that, basically a request. I don't think in that edition of VM it stated that your request was a guarantee. There is not extra point charge (yet) for the convenience of HH, like there are different point's for different views elsewhere.

It's in transition but this will be a formal booking category going forward, not just a request as others have noted. My understanding is that those with that request have been converted already to the reservation type. Apparently the elevator buildings will be held back as well and generally restricted to those with special needs of some sort.

 

[tjkraz]

I just want to add one other thought to this thread. I know I said this a few (dozen?) pages ago, but I think it bears repeating for anyone who may not want to read the entire thread.

I wholeheartedly believe that DVC establishing separate categories at SSR would benefit nearly all DVC members--not just those who own at SSR. As an owner there myself, one of the things that bothers me about booking at SSR is that you have no idea of where you room might be. In fact, it bothers me to the extent that there have absolutely been occasions when I have booked a resort other than SSR at 7 months solely because of that uncertainty.

If SSR owners know that they can call 11 months out and be guaranteed a room in The Grandstand or a room in Congress Park with a view of Downtown Disney, there is no question that they would be less inclined to book elswehere.

Right now, DVC can't guarantee me that I will get anything other than the worst possible location / view at SSR. So it then becomes a question of whether I would prefer (potentially) the worst room at SSR vs the whatever is available at BCV / BWV, etc. at 7 months.

If DVC were to give SSR owners the ability to guarantee the popular areas of SSR like The Grandstand, The Springs and Congress Park, you eliminate all of the fear and uncertainty which currently leads people to book elsewhere. The net result is that fewer SSR owners book outside of their resort at 7 months. That should help 7-month availability at the other resorts.

I hope that any DVC owner who agrees with this concept--SSR owner or not--will take a moment to share their opinion with DVC. In my mind this is a big acid test to see whether DVC is still interested in responding to the wants and needs of members. There really is no good reason for not making this change.

 

[Dean]

I hope that any DVC owner who agrees with this concept--SSR owner or not--will take a moment to share their opinion with DVC. In my mind this is a big acid test to see whether DVC is still interested in responding to the wants and needs of members. There really is no good reason for not making this change.

I have Tim. While I agree in principle, I doubt it's enough of an issue for most to affect whether they will own there or book there any given trip, I feel you are the exception. I also don't see this issue having any measurable affect on demand though I do see it having a larger role in the level of satisfaction for those that own there. I see this as an issue where the change in question mildly improves the state of owners there and somewhat takes away from non owners that stay there and that's as it should be. It does decrease the uncertainly for both parties. I wonder of the BW view for BWV becoming a booking category has changed demand for non owner at that resort as this is a much larger difference in room type than would be present at SSR.

 

[DVC Mike]

If SSR owners know that they can call 11 months out and be guaranteed a room in The Grandstand or a room in Congress Park with a view of Downtown Disney, there is no question that they would be less inclined to book elswehere.

Right now, DVC can't guarantee me that I will get anything other than the worst possible location / view at SSR. So it then becomes a question of whether I would prefer (potentially) the worst room at SSR vs the whatever is available at BCV / BWV, etc. at 7 months.

If DVC were to give SSR owners the ability to guarantee the popular areas of SSR like The Grandstand, The Springs and Congress Park, you eliminate all of the fear and uncertainty which currently leads people to book elsewhere. The net result is that fewer SSR owners book outside of their resort at 7 months. That should help 7-month availability at the other resorts.

Well, I'm not so sure that a big reason SSR owners may be booking other DVC resorts is the "fear and uncertainty" that they might not get the view/location in SSR that they want. I think there are other reasons which have a larger impact.

However, I wholeheartedly support your effort to get booking categories put in place at SSR (just like BWV, AKV, and now OKW). Owners at a resort deverve this.

 

[tjkraz]

I have Tim. While I agree in principle, I doubt it's enough of an issue for most to affect whether they will own there or book there any given trip, I feel you are the exception. I also don't see this issue having any measurable affect on demand though I do see it having a larger role in the level of satisfaction for those that own there.

I agree that it probably won't be measurable impact. I think we both know that DVC has already reached that point where members are booking so far in advance that short notice reservations are largely a thing of the past.

Still based upon my own mindset and comments I've heard from others, I do believe there will be some positive impact in this regard. For some people that uncertainty about where their room will be located at SSR is the last straw--so to speak--which leads to them booking elsewhere.

I think in particular the rooms that face Downtown Disney would be very popular if made a separate category. That view is on par with the BoardWalk view and many people would be thrilled to be able to secure a room there. Booking that area could develop into a sort of status symbol among owners.

Others would favor areas close to the Hospitality House like The Springs or The Grandstand. I'm sure those who book the dining plan and rely on the resort's restaurants for their meals are less-than-enthusiastic over being assigned to some of the more distant locations like The Carousel.

That's my take. But, hey, if "fairness" and goodwill toward owners is the sole motivation for making the change, that's good enough for me!

 

[tomandrobin]

I see no reason not to have booking catagories at SSR. Currently SSR, HHI, BCV and VWL do not have different booking catagories. The last three is mostly because of location and size of the resort.

DTD view I think would work. I would imagine they could rebalance the points against the carousel section.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

If SSR does not get booking categories, will it affect how many owners eventually sell to get into other resorts that do? Could this eventually increase the resale demands of those other resorts, thus pushing up the resale prices, and conversely deflate SSR's resale value?

 

[TenThousandVolts]

If SSR does not get booking categories, will it affect how many owners eventually sell to get into other resorts that do? Could this eventually increase the resale demands of those other resorts, thus pushing up the resale prices, and conversely deflate SSR's resale value?

I can't speak to future resale values at all but I can tell you as an owner this would greatly increase the "value" of my membership. I plan an add-on in the next year and if this change takes place I am 100% certain I will add-on at SSR. If add-on time comes and they are still playing room assignment roullette at SSR, I will most likely add-on elsewhere. However- I will not sell my orig. SSR points, I really like the resort and plan on staying there often- I would just love to be able to book the location I prefer.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Example in action: My waitlist just came through for my New Years trip. I will not be at SSR for New Years- If I had a guarantee of Congress Park or Grandstand I would not have been on the waitlist at all- A room at SSR in CP or GS would actually have been my 1st choice in all of DVC (tied for 1st with one other room type at another resort) But a room in certain Carousel buildings would be almost my last choice. So to avoid that potential disappointment- I switched.
Just thought I would share that FWIW.

 

[tomandrobin]

Example in action: My waitlist just came through for my New Years trip. I will not be at SSR for New Years- If I had a guarantee of Congress Park or Grandstand I would not have been on the waitlist at all- A room at SSR in CP or GS would actually have been my 1st choice in all of DVC (tied for 1st with one other room type at another resort) But a room in certain Carousel buildings would be almost my last choice. So to avoid that potential disappointment- I switched.
Just thought I would share that FWIW.

No SSR...bummer. SSR-NYE thread

 

[TenThousandVolts]

No SSR...bummer. SSR-NYE thread

I know I am a little sad about it- but I want to try all the resorts and this is a good time for me to try the large rooms at OKW since we have 8 people in a 2bdrm for this particular trip.

 

[DisTravels]

Okay, so i understand the desire to know what you'll see then you look out the window, and it seems a lot of advanced planners would like this option. But on the flip side, diving units into more unit types just decreases overall consecutive availability.

How many owners have had to switch units within the same resort during their stay? This wasn't an issue at SSR, but creating more unit types creates this potential problem at yet another Disney resort.

 

[chipscinderelly]

I just stumbled onto this thread from a link in Tim's signature and have to say I think this is a fabulous idea and as an SSR owner of 2 contracts we'll be sending our communication as well. We LOVE staying in the Grandstand or DTD View area and would like the opportunity to request it as well.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

Well the Beach Club doesn't guarantee a view so I don't know how that is suppose to help you and I make my ressies there at 11 months out so the 7 month rule doesnt affect me either. I have mixed feelings about the room category setup. I think that people who book early should be given preference for the rooms they request however. I usually book day 1 and I have never been given a preference for a room since the BC opened which can be annoying. Good luck

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

You might also get the BCV 's worst view and even the BW depending on what is available at 7 months!

 

[Mississippian]

Well the Beach Club doesn't guarantee a view so I don't know how that is suppose to help you and I make my ressies there at 11 months out so the 7 month rule doesnt affect me either. I have mixed feelings about the room category setup. I think that people who book early should be given preference for the rooms they request however. I usually book day 1 and I have never been given a preference for a room since the BC opened which can be annoying. Good luck

It's not the views these folks are worried about. Some of the SSR units are in dreadful locations. By comparison, every BCV and BWV unit is in a good location. I agree that SSR needs booking catagories.

 

[Saratoga Souris]

Call me crazy.... but I like to be surprised..... I think I LOVE a certain location ...so I request it..... and ..... I get something else!! THen I like the new location EVEN more sometimes!

I don't request anymore. It makes every vacation unique/special when I get a "new place' and I almost always discover something new even after 15 years and a whole lot of stays.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

SSR owner here...

I agree with the idea of some guaranteed booking categories. We have always staying the Congress Park but are trying Grandstand next. Though we wouldn't be devastated not to get our request (there will, after all, be more trips to get our choice), it is nice being able to know in advance that you will not be disappointed.

Since I just started reading the thread and didn't go back to the beginning, is the debate just "categories yes or no?" or have some ideas as to what the categories would be been suggested.

Regarding BWV's...we have stayed a number of times. never standard or Boardwalk view, but really loved the Preferred view overlooking the Village Green.

 

[anabelle]

As others have said, you are incorrect. Here is the statement from Vacation Magic:

Hospitality Homes: Disney Vacation Club is creating special
room categories at Disney’s Old Key West Resort to identify the
limited number of Vacation Homes located near the Hospitality
House. The new categories, slated to debut this fall, will allow
Members to secure this high-demand location based on availability
at the time of reservation. Before these new categories are
offered for new reservations, existing reservations that include
requests to be near the Hospitality House will be converted to
these new categories (based on availability and in order of booking
date). Currently, there are no plans to charge additional
Vacation Points for these accommodations. Watch
www.dvcmember.com for more details.

Whether it has been implemented or not remains to be seen, but clearly the intent is to make it a separate category (like the Preferred BoardWalk View vs. Preferred Garden / Pool View) with the location guaranteed at the time of booking.

I booked OKW yesterday and was told that they are now using the booking categories stated above. I mentioned it would be nice to stay by the HH but I never get it, the CM said that they now guarantee that location. We will see when I get my confirmation what it says.