Requesting a reservation via the DVC website

[Donald is #1]

Does the reservation request from the DVC member website work well? Have you tried it? I was thinking about trying it since I probably can't call until Thursday night. Am I just better off waiting and calling MS?

Thanks everyone

 

[disneynutz]

Does the reservation request from the DVC member website work well? Have you tried it? I was thinking about trying it since I probably can't call until Thursday night. Am I just better off waiting and calling MS?

Thanks everyone

The web form emails MS. Depending how busy they are it can take several days for them to work your reservation.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

The web form emails MS. Depending how busy they are it can take several days for them to work your reservation.

If this is the case then... NO! Call MS directly.

 

[gracelrm]

I've used it a few times when we weren't going at hard-to-get times. I immediately received an email saying our reservation would be processed and that it might take 2-3 business days to hear back from them. I had no problems either time I used this.

 

[Donald is #1]

Thanks everyone. Hmmm now I have a decision. I think that I will call MS for this trip but maybe I'll try it for my next trip when I book at the 11 month window.

 

[Bill K]

The website has advantages. You can email when they are closed. The emails are time and date stamped, might be usful during busy times First come first served.

 

[Chuck S]

I prefer to call and get immediate confirmation, but I have also used the email system in the past without any problems. I would definately us the phone system if my reservation request was for a popular holiday timeframe.

 

[cymomtx]

I have used it for all my reservations with no problems. Booked both of my Thanksgiving trips and received the confirmation email withing 24 hours.

 

[DMKEDM]

Seems to me it makes sense to email tonight (or tomorrow), since you can't call til Thursday...highly likely you'll hear back before Thursday.

I've used the system a couple of times and got my reservations as requested within 3 days each time. Don't know how easy it would be to work with if back-and-forth were required (i.e., waitlisting or changing dates, resorts, villa types in response to availability)...each time I've used it I got exactly what I wanted when I wanted it...but I'd bet you'll get a faster response emailing tonight than waiting for Thursday to call...

 

[Demosthenes]

I use the website. I like it since I get to clearly communicate my preferences to the reservations agent; I've never had a problem.

 

[Donald is #1]

Thanks everyone! Maybe I will try. I never have time at work to make any personnal calls (just too busy & forget until I get home) so Thursday nights are normally my best time to call. I'll update everyone if I give it a try.

 

[TinkGirl]

I used the website because it was Sunday, and I would not be able to call during the day Monday from work. After about a day and a half, MS e-mailed me what was available. I had the option to call or e-mail to confirm. I think you can give them permission to book on the spot if your request is available. It was easy.

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, I just put a request in for my May trip. It will be interesting to see how long this takes and how well it works. I will be very happy if it goes well because for me, booking via a website is easier since I can do it when I get home from work.

 

[blame my sister]

I like the fact that you can compare points as well. But when I did it they e mailed back the next day. But I still like to talk to someone.

 

[beachblanket]

The website has advantages. You can email when they are closed. The emails are time and date stamped, might be usful during busy times First come first served.

I wouldn't assume that emails get queue priority. As example, let's say I want to book on a day by day basis for a high demand holiday period right at the 11th month window. My first "window" (ergo, 11 months to the day from first check out day) happens to falls on a Sunday.

So I email member services on the preceding Saturday afternoon a minute after they close, thinking that will put me at the "front of the line" for my check out day; ergo, since the email is "time and date stamped," it will be processed in front of any subsequent requests for that space .

Well, highly unlikely,. Since my email came in right after MS closed on Saturday, it is going sit unopened until MS staff return on Monday.

At 9am Monday, other members competing with me for the same space will be calling MS the second it opens. Trust me, MS is not going to be reading my email any earlier than that (in all likelihood, it will later, perhaps hours later) so plenty of those who waited to phone are going to beat me to the punch. Or put another way, by sending an email, you are delegating control of your place in the ressie line to a third party that has no particular interest in where you fall in it.

Bottom line: if you care about maximizing the likelihood of getting what you want, phone is the way to go.

 

[Chuck S]

I wouldn't assume that emails get queue priority. As example, let's say I want to book on a day by day basis for a high demand holiday period right at the 11th month window. My first "window" (ergo, 11 months to the day from first check out day) happens to falls on a Sunday.

So I email member services on the preceding Saturday afternoon a minute after they close, thinking that will put me at the "front of the line" for my check out day; ergo, since the email is "time and date stamped," it will be processed in front of any subsequent requests for that space .

Well, highly unlikely,. Since my email came in right after MS closed on Saturday, it is going sit unopened until MS staff return on Monday.

At 9am Monday, other members competing with me for the same space will be calling MS the second it opens. Trust me, MS is not going to be reading my email any earlier than that (in all likelihood, it will later, perhaps hours later) so plenty of those who waited to phone are going to beat me to the punch. Or put another way, by sending an email, you are delegating control of your place in the ressie line to a third party that has no particular interest in where you fall in it.

Bottom line: if you care about maximizing the likelihood of getting what you want, phone is the way to go.

While I agree emal isn't the best way to book for holiday time periods, I HAVE had emails answered after regular MS hours. In fact, they've been answered, with reservations booked, on a Saturday before the MS phone reps had Saturday hours, when they were closed on weekends.

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, I used the on-line form for a long weekend in May. I put in my first choice as AKV Concierge Studio. I know that it wouldn't be available but I had to ask! Anyways, I put in my second choice as AKV Savannah view studio. (My second choice was actually what I figured that I would get. ) Well, I submitted the on-line form last night and when I came home from work today, I had an email from MS stating that they had booked the SV room for me.

From a timing point of view, I definitely wasn't at the top of the queue because the email didn't come in until just before 5 PM.

 

[ILuvDVC2]

Well, I used the on-line form for a long weekend in May. I put in my first choice as AKV Concierge Studio. I know that it wouldn't be available but I had to ask! Anyways, I put in my second choice as AKV Savannah view studio. (My second choice was actually what I figured that I would get. ) Well, I submitted the on-line form last night and when I came home from work today, I had an email from MS stating that they had booked the SV room for me.

From a timing point of view, I definitely wasn't at the top of the queue because the email didn't come in until just before 5 PM.

You might want to check back with DVC to see if the concierge room is available on your travel dates over the next couple of months. I am staying at AKL in a few weeks and they said the concierge level wasn't ready yet, so they couldn't book it. perhaps they are holding off on taking reservations on those rooms until they know for sure the concierge rooms are finished being converted to DVC units.

Just food for thought... if getting concierge is important to you, it might be worth a phone call now and then.

Either way, have a great trip!

 

[Donald is #1]

You might want to check back with DVC to see if the concierge room is available on your travel dates over the next couple of months. I am staying at AKL in a few weeks and they said the concierge level wasn't ready yet, so they couldn't book it. perhaps they are holding off on taking reservations on those rooms until they know for sure the concierge rooms are finished being converted to DVC units.

Just food for thought... if getting concierge is important to you, it might be worth a phone call now and then.

Either way, have a great trip!

I think that I may do that. I think that I will probably call to see if I can go on a waiting list for Conceirge. I will be perfectly happy with the savannah view room. But it would be neat to stay at the conceirge level since the points difference really isn't that great.

 

[J and R's mom]

Congrats Donald is #1!

You will probably even be able to get the concierge room if you go ahead and waitlist for one. Did you request on your form to be added to the waitlist if it wasn't available?

Congrats and good luck!