Raise Your Voice - No changes to SSR booking categories

[DaveH]

The hardest part for all of this is, there are valid reasons for both.

 

[cfd91]

I believe that the simplist way to solve this would be when reservations are made the CM asks what area would you like to stay and if that area is open then great you get it, if its filled then maybe next time you are able to make reservations earlier. Whoever makes reservations earlier gets first dibbs. Instead of getting there at 9 am and checking in and getting the area you request that morning even though you made reservations only 2 months before. That is the most fair way to do it without making booking catergories. I am sure they can make a simple computer program that shows what is available when someone makes a reservation. How could someone argue with this, you know area or even room when you make your reservation. It may be more complicated than this but its maybe just an idea because I am no expert to say the least.

 

[DaveH]

I believe that the simplist way to solve this would be when reservations are made the CM asks what area would you like to stay and if that area is open then great you get it, if its filled then maybe next time you are able to make reservations earlier. Whoever makes reservations earlier gets first dibbs. Instead of getting there at 9 am and checking in and getting the area you request that morning even though you made reservations only 2 months before. That is the most fair way to do it without making booking catergories. I am sure they can make a simple computer program that shows what is available when someone makes a reservation. How could someone argue with this, you know area or even room when you make your reservation. It may be more complicated than this but its maybe just an idea because I am no expert to say the least.

Unfortunately DVC stopped this a while ago. That seems to be the problem and the reason for the calls for categories.

 

[cfd91]

Like I said I am no expert and have only been a DVC member for about 18 months and on these boards for only a few months. When and why did they did DVC stop this? By the way I am learning lots of new things on these DVC boards and I am hooked also. I should be watching football or baseball but I can't help it this is great.

 

[disney54us]

Isn't it sad, and sorry to say, but SSR seemed to be the over building and downfall of that special 'hidden secret' aka DVC, no flames please, I do own 2 add on contracts at SSR. I have read threads that plan wonderful NYE's events etc. but the bottom line is expansion and not handling it well, Been there and it changed with the over development, so how ironic in this time to say Change, keep it! hasn't work at DVC and isn't always good.
Take me back to the good old DVC and b/f building more, fix what you have.

 

[CarolA]

Like I said I am no expert and have only been a DVC member for about 18 months and on these boards for only a few months. When and why did they did DVC stop this? By the way I am learning lots of new things on these DVC boards and I am hooked also. I should be watching football or baseball but I can't help it this is great.

Probably because DVC members seem to think 'request' means gurantee and acted out when their 'request' was not met.

If you ever want to watch something entertaining, hang around check in about 4 pm. Since I generally check in about then it's always fun watching people come storming in to complain about "thier" villa not meeting "thier" requests. Rarely does someone say "I understand it's not guranteed" Instead they loudly DEMAND to be moved to XYX where "I booked"

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Like I said I am no expert and have only been a DVC member for about 18 months and on these boards for only a few months. When and why did they did DVC stop this? By the way I am learning lots of new things on these DVC boards and I am hooked also. I should be watching football or baseball but I can't help it this is great.

For whatever reason they only stopped at certain resorts. VWL and VB both use a room assigner. Not sure about the others.

MG

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Originally Posted by cfd91
I believe that the simplist way to solve this would be when reservations are made the CM asks what area would you like to stay and if that area is open then great you get it, if its filled then maybe next time you are able to make reservations earlier. Whoever makes reservations earlier gets first dibbs....

Unfortunately DVC stopped this a while ago. That seems to be the problem and the reason for the calls for categories.

Yes- if they used a procedure like cfd91 describes there would not be an outcry for booking procedures. DaveH is right, they don't do this anymore. And a guest (DVC member or cash guest) who books 2 weeks out can get the prime room while the DVC member who booked at 11 months gets stuck with the least deirable locations, regardless of the fact that they made their location request 11 months ago. The check-in CMs let you pick and choose and change your assignment at check-in. So for now- the 1st to check-in get the best rooms- regardless of when they booked.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Probably because DVC members seem to think 'request' means gurantee and acted out when their 'request' was not met...

Booking categories should diminish that "acting out". It is DVC's tendency to give in to loud guests that create the need for hard and fast rules regarding categories. If there are categories, it is not open to negotiation at check-in, simple as that.

 

[Lynn5700]

Can somebody explain to me please what you want the changes to be??

What categories are you talking about???

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Can somebody explain to me please what you want the changes to be??

What categories are you talking about???

Booking categories at Saratoga Springs, so people could book a guranteed location, similar to the OKW booking categories. At OKW they recently implemented 2 booking categories. One category is near the Hospitality House, the other category is everything else. This allows those who book early and would like to be close to the main resort ammenities to guarantee a location near them. Saratoga Springs is even more spread out than Old Key West, so it would be nice if they extended the same courtesy to those of us who book SSR.

I would like to be able to book a DTD view room, or book a room close to the Carriage House. Most in favor are NOT advocating for a change in points charts.

 

[Lynn5700]

OH ok gotcha...thank you SSR is huge..I'm surprised they don't do that.

 

[Blahnde]

Can somebody explain to me please what you want the changes to be??

What categories are you talking about???

While I fully appreciate the "moving" argument, I truly believe that while it can be a little bit of a pain for a smaller resort to have multiple categories, SSR is so large that it NEEDS them. And to me, it is not about whether it should have categories, but what categories. Some people suggest by building, but this this my suggestion:

1) Downtown Disney view (which will put you in either Congress Park or the Grandstands),
2) non-view Congress Park, the Grandstands, or the Springs, or
3) the Carosel or the Paddock, or
4) Treehouse Villas.

Right now there are 4 different categories at AKV which is currently much smaller without Kidani, and there are 3 different categories at BWV and BLT. Even once Kidani is fully open, all three of these resorts will be smaller than SSR and they all do just fine with 3-4 booking categories. It has not been a complain-fest about moving due to booking categories at any of these resorts, so it seems to me that SSR could handle it.

And while I do not think it would have to be done, I for one would be willing to pay a few more points for #1, the same as the current point chart for #2 and #4, and a couple fewer points for #3. The difference does not have to be dramatic, but since there is a clear difference in these categories, have those that care about the view pay for it, while giving those that do not care about their location the benefit of "cheaper" rooms.

Blahnde

 

[cfd91]

I seem to like Blahnde's suggestion above. Seem's like it would be fair and let people decide what's important to them and how they would like to use their points.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

While I fully appreciate the "moving" argument, I truly believe that while it can be a little bit of a pain for a smaller resort to have multiple categories, SSR is so large that it NEEDS them. And to me, it is not about whether it should have categories, but what categories. Some people suggest by building, but this this my suggestion:

1) Downtown Disney view (which will put you in either Congress Park or the Grandstands),
2) non-view Congress Park, the Grandstands, or the Springs, or
3) the Carosel or the Paddock, or
4) Treehouse Villas.

Right now there are 4 different categories at AKV which is currently much smaller without Kidani, and there are 3 different categories at BWV and BLT. Even once Kidani is fully open, all three of these resorts will be smaller than SSR and they all do just fine with 3-4 booking categories. It has not been a complain-fest about moving due to booking categories at any of these resorts, so it seems to me that SSR could handle it.

And while I do not think it would have to be done, I for one would be willing to pay a few more points for #1, the same as the current point chart for #2 and #4, and a couple fewer points for #3. The difference does not have to be dramatic, but since there is a clear difference in these categories, have those that care about the view pay for it, while giving those that do not care about their location the benefit of "cheaper" rooms.

Blahnde

While I agree with much of what you say, be careful...

Some of the categories you talk about have a point differential.
I believe the push for booking categories at SSR is for all categories to have the same point requirements.

MG

 

[hakepb]

Is there a DTD view from Grandstand? I was in the "closer" of the "far" buildings, I could only see a few of Cirque's lights through the trees at night. Not complaining about the view, the landscaping was stunning!

Why not have paid, guaranteed reservation requests (That Room Ready or front desk cannot override)? DVC likes extra fees, just put 50% of those fees into the maint fund to keep our dues down.
You could have 2 or 3 main categories and can choose up to one item per category. Of course an extra fee for each item...
I.e. 1) Section: Congress Park, Springs..
2) Room location: Near elevator, near quiet pool, near bus stop, DTD view, Golfcourse view..

 

[DaveH]

I am against the categories in general. If there are categories I would rather see 2 or 3. I have seen suggestions of one for each area. That would force someone like me who is trying to stop uber planning to have to start doing so again. Unfortunately there will always be the folks who abuse the CMs over their rooms.

 

[ACDSNY]

I'm all for having the THV in a separate category, but that's all.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Is there a DTD view from Grandstand? I was in the "closer" of the "far" buildings, I could only see a few of Cirque's lights through the trees at night. Not complaining about the view, the landscaping was stunning!

A few rooms at GS have a very limited view of the edge of West Side. The only full DTD view rooms are in CP.

 

[Feigned]

I would prefer no categories at SSR, except for THVs of course.

I would hate to have to keep changing rooms because a certain category is only available for specific nights. Yes, I have made last minute DVC reservations, where SSR was the only resort available and I gladly took it. I did not have to worry that one night was such and such a view or location, just that I was able to get the same size accomodations each night. I agree with others in that I am against anything that divides up the resort for booking purposes.

I also quite like that on all but 2 of my trips to SSR (9 stays now), I have been able to get into a room when I have checked in. Almost all of these have been before the standard check-in time, including a couple of 7am check-ins. I have taken wherever I can get, as well as asking for specific locations. All that needed to be available was my room size and that makes it much easier to find at least one room available upon check-in, instead of having to see if a 1 bedroom is available in the Grandstand section or so on.

I have also stayed in every section of the resort, except for Congress Park (which was mainly by choice because my family members don't want a DTD view- go figure). I guess I am just not picky, because I do not ABSOLUTELY have to have a room in a certain location. I do make requests when I make my reservations, and I do sometimes ask at check-in if they have rooms in a certain location. At least 75% of the time they have been able to accomodate me. One of the times when we checked in at 7am, we took the only open 1 bedroom in the resort, which happened to be a lovely room in the Paddock. We had a great stay. Even while staying in the Carousel, we found that it was maybe a 5-7 minute walk for us to the CH. I have had longer walks down the hallways of other resorts. I actually didn't even mind this location because I could look out my balcony to see the busses entering the resort and going to the Grandstand and then make my way over to the bus stop just when we needed to. I guess I can find value in any location.

I just think that having room categories complicates it too much. You are not going to be able to please everyone. Eventually I think the complaint will not be "I wasn't able to get my requested location at SSR" to "I wasn't able to get a room in one location for all nights of my stay and I have to move several times" with room categories.

Just my 2 cents.