RAT and Book Online Have Changed

[drusba]

Am I correct in thinking that the order resorts are listed is dependent on the availability? I prefer it just being alphabetical - less confusing when the resorts stay in the same spot. I kept thinking I was scrolling too fast and missing Jambo in a search, but then found it was way down in the list and not next to Kidani.

I do not think it is listing resorts in order of availability. For example, I have found it listing some resorts first where some rooms had partial availability, followed by one were all rooms were available, followed by another where some rooms had partial availability, etc. I still have not figured out how the system is determining order of resorts but whatever it is, it has thus far, in my tries, not put Jambo and Kidani in sequence. One thing it does appear to be doing is listing partially available rooms at a resort in order of most consecutive days open to least consecutive days rather than the previous, easier to follow, order of room size from studio to GV

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I do not think it is listing resorts in order of availability. For example, I have found it listing some resorts first where some rooms had partial availability, followed by one were all rooms were available, followed by another where some rooms had partial availability, etc. I still have not figured out how the system is determining order of resorts but whatever it is, it has thus far, in my tries, not put Jambo and Kidani in sequence. One thing it does appear to be doing is listing partially available rooms at a resort in order of most consecutive days open to least consecutive days rather than the previous, easier to follow, order of room size from studio to GV

I'm almost positive the order pattern is:

Number of categories with full availability followed by alphabetical if there are identical number of categories available, followed by number of partial available and secondary sort alphabetical.
If none with full availability then number of rooms with partial availability followed by alphabetical if there are identical number of categories available.
If no availability then alphabetical.

This places resorts with more room categories at the top most of the time because they will have the most "rooms" available. The resorts with fewer categories end up lower.

 

[drusba]

I'm almost positive the order pattern is:

Number of categories with full availability followed by alphabetical if there are identical number of categories available, followed by number of partial available and secondary sort alphabetical.
If none with full availability then number of rooms with partial availability followed by alphabetical if there are identical number of categories available.
If no availability then alphabetical.

This places resorts with more room categories at the top most of the time because they will have the most "rooms" available. The resorts with fewer categories end up lower.

If I undestand what you are saying correctly, then when resorts all have some available rooms for the full time you are searching, the resorts will be listed in order of high to low available number of room categories regardless of how many room categories may be partially available or gone. Thus, Aulani, which has the most room categories, 19 (hotel, standard studio, 1BR, lock-off 2R, dedicated 2BR, plus the same for island garden, pool, and ocean view, plus standard and ocean view GVs), will always be first if all its room categories are available, while Poly with only 3 room categories, will always be last if all rooms are avaialble everywhere. That does appear to be what the system is doing.

However, when resorts are tied for available number of room categories, it does not appear that the listing of them alphabetically is holding true all the time. Variances i have found so far are Boulder Ridge being listed before Beach Club and Boardwalk when they have the same number of room categories available, but listed after Villas at Grand Californian or Villas at Grand Floridian when those have the same number of room categories available as Boulder Ridge. I have seen Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo listed after Bay Lake Tower when they have the same number of room categories, and Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani listed after SSR when they have same number of room categories available. So I am not sure what the definitive answer is for that tied category.

In any event, the system would be so much easier if it had just retained the alphabetical order of the resorts from before, because then you would always know where to find a particular resort on the page, and if it had retained the calendar for all room categories including fully open room categories, but instead someone from Disney IT decided it should be much more complex rather than easier.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

In any event, the system would be so much easier if it had just retained the alphabetical order of the resorts from before, because then you would always know where to find a particular resort on the page, and if it had retained the calendar for all room categories including fully open room categories, but instead someone from Disney IT decided it should be much more complex rather than easier.

Absolutely!!!!!

But yes, what you understood from my post was correct. I didn't search a whole lot of dates so the other alphabetical probably didn't fully expose itself. Maybe VWL is still a bit of a hang on for the afore mentioned Boulder Ridge (I so dislike that change - sorry). Anyway, it doesn't explain why it would end up ahead of Beach Club etc. I did always have PVB pull up last unless it had availability when others did not. Those 3 categories placed it at the end. Whenever I had Jambo in a different place the villa availability accounted for the location so I didn't see it ordered after BLT.

Alphabetical order all the time was the most simple. I don't get smooth scrolling going thru the resorts with this RAT and a couple of times completely blew past a resort and had to go back to find where it was.

 

[jagson]

Found site very user friendly, even for someone with limited internet skills, like me.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm really going to miss being able to see the full calendar with what days are already gone. That was so handy to see when you weren't really locked into specific dates yet. If you were flexible about resorts & dates you could sort of piece together a trip based on availability and now you can't. Not a fan. This is going to be even more tedious.

 

[LisaDKG]

Do you think that they actually consult DVC site users when deciding, in their divine wisdom, to rearrange things, all under the guise of streamlining or improving? It is really hard to understand their thought patterns in the changes that they make - I know that I have been asked to give feedback on occasion but I really can't see how any frequent users would have given recommendations that have led to the current set up...

 

[Babydreamz]

Do you think that they actually consult DVC site users when deciding, in their divine wisdom, to rearrange things, all under the guise of streamlining or improving? It is really hard to understand their thought patterns in the changes that they make - I know that I have been asked to give feedback on occasion but I really can't see how any frequent users would have given recommendations that have led to the current set up...

Well it's Disney IT so they probably took everyone's opinion and then did all the opposite.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm really going to miss being able to see the full calendar with what days are already gone. That was so handy to see when you weren't really locked into specific dates yet. If you were flexible about resorts & dates you could sort of piece together a trip based on availability and now you can't. Not a fan. This is going to be even more tedious.

It's more like a booking tool IMO rather than a fully functioning tool to show availability.

 

[pangyal]

I'm really going to miss being able to see the full calendar with what days are already gone. That was so handy to see when you weren't really locked into specific dates yet. If you were flexible about resorts & dates you could sort of piece together a trip based on availability and now you can't. Not a fan. This is going to be even more tedious.

THIS.

 

[drusba]

Well it's Disney IT so they probably took everyone's opinion and then did all the opposite.

Yes, Disney asked members and everyone answered, "In showing availability I want resorts listed in order of number of available room classifications rather than the previous alphabetical method, and I want partially available rooms listed in order of number of consecutive days open rather than just smaller to larger room size as done before. And, by the way, if rooms are available, please, please, please, eliminate that nice, useful calendar you provided before."

It is just mind-boggling how Disney's IT group thinks. If they had to create member identification files today, they probably would want to do it as middle name first, last name, first name last.

 

[Anal Annie]

I just used the contact us via email option on the website to send my thoughts on the new RAT. I said I wanted to be able to see a full resort availability calendar to plan with. Yeah, I know it's probably futile but maybe if enough members sent a note it would sink in?!?!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I just used the contact us via email option on the website to send my thoughts on the new RAT. I said I wanted to be able to see a full resort availability calendar to plan with. Yeah, I know it's probably futile but maybe if enough members sent a note it would sink in?!?!

I plan to send my feedback.

I also did on the last change. In some ways this new one is a little more along the lines of the original - ie, that it doesn't also bother being a place to learn about the resorts which was something I didn't like the RAT to do - I prefer a tool to be best at what it's for. But of course they had to change more than just that.

 

[CarolMN]

I can't help but wonder if the changes to RAT are an indication that Disney intends to replace the current booking engine. Stay tuned

 

[Donna M]

I just went onto the site to check it out with an April vacation we usually go on, but can't this year. I thought it was great. I put in my information and saw what I needed to see. I am a big fan of the update.

 

[Anal Annie]

DVC just called me for more specific information about my email that I sent about the changes. The call gave me the chance to clarify more about what I dislike with the latest changes. Doesn't mean it will GET anywhere but I felt better expressing my preference for being able to see the entire calendar.

 

[Drewmama]

When I try to use the RAT, I select my dates, room type and resorts but when I try to click on the button to check availability, nothing happens. Does anyone else experience this? It's frustrating.

 

[BillPA]

The sad part of this new tool, is we PAY for it. Even though it's not so usable. Disney just has a way with things, much like how Goofy would do it.

 

[tjkraz]

When I try to use the RAT, I select my dates, room type and resorts but when I try to click on the button to check availability, nothing happens. Does anyone else experience this? It's frustrating.

Are you selecting a beginning AND ending date range for trip? Had similar problem until I realized I'd only tapped on the arrival date.

 

[drusba]

The sad part of this new tool, is we PAY for it. Even though it's not so usable. Disney just has a way with things, much like how Goofy would do it.

Actually we do not pay for it in the way you may think. Member Services and the reservation systems are paid for as follows:

You have two entities involved in MS and the reservation system, whose difference is on corporate paper rather than the persons who work for the entities, who are the same as it relates to MS and the reservation system, Disney Vacation Club Management Corp. (DVCMC) and the Buena Vista Trading Co..(BVTC).

Officially, BVTC is in charge of providing all services, including all computer-related services, relating to exchanges including the member exchanges done between DVC resorts at 7 months out. DVCMC is in charge of managing the resorts and also in charge of Member Services and the reservation system, including any computer-related services, for reservations made by members at their home resorts. Again, the personnel involved and operations are really the same.

BVTC receives payment for its services as follows: (a) it gets a $1 per member per year fee in the dues called the DVC Reservation Component; (b) plus any fees charged for exchanges to non-DVC resorts, e.g., RCI, the Disney hotels, the Disney Adventures, the concierge collection; and (c) a portion of the breakage income. It has no other source of income from dues.

DVCMC's portion of the operations of MS and the reservation system is paid out of the following sources: (a) a portion of the breakage income, and, if needed (b) the management fee in the dues equalling 12.5% of the annual dues budget less property taxes, the management fee, and some other items.

The breakage income is that earned by Disney's rentals of rooms available 60 days out or less from any given arrival date. As to any given resort, breakage income goes first to offset dues up to to 2.5% of the total budgeted dues (less property taxes and some other items). Once it reaches that 2.5% (which it has always done), breakage income goes next to BVTC for up to an amount equal to its actual total costs plus 5% of that amount. Once breakage income exceeds the 2.5% dues offset and the amount BVTC can get, the excess goes to DVCMC. We do not know the annual amount of breakage income except it has been reported before that it is usually more than the 2.5% plus the maximum amount that goes to BVTC.

As one might notice from the above, the amount we pay as dues for MS services and the reservation system does not vary according to the costs of those services. In dues, you pay that $1 per member charge and the 12.5% management fee, neither of which change based on the costs of MS or the reservation system. In fact, if there were no computer systems, the dues you would pay would be the same, and if there were an extremely expensive and perfect system, the dues you would pay for it would be same. However, there is a significant incentive built into the method of payment for MS and the computer systems for Disney to provide the cheapest services and computer systems it can, because the less it spends on those services, the more of the breakage income and management fee it gets to keep as profit.