Should DVC Do Away with Reservation Requests?

[kweaver]

Smoking/Non Smoking and Handicapped/Non Handicapped should be guaranteed reservation categories. I could care less about the other requests...though I understand that views are very important to some people.

Considering Disney's big marketing push is Magical Gatherings, I do think they should allow members who have multiple villas reserved to be able to be in the same building or on the same floor (asssuming that is what the occupants requested! )

 

[Chuck S]

But, the smoking and handicap rooms were included in the overall point total to determine the availability for usage of your DVC points for the state of FL. In otherwords, if everyone who simply "requests" non-handicap and "non-smoking" rooms was guaranteed it, there would not be enough rooms to fulfill the legal obligations of the timeshare to make the X number of rooms available to owners. In otherwords, the resorts would be illegally oversold.

 

[WDWMom]

I would like to see all requests taken away except S/NS and HC/NHC. No non smoker should ever have to stay in a stinky room with stinky pillows and try to sleep and I do not want smokers to smoke in non-smoking rooms. HC rooms are needed for the HC. I personally do not like them, but it would not ruin my vacation if I had one. DH hates them, but that is his problem.

As far as the other requests, specific rooms (give me a break), locations, near elevators - you get what you get. We have requested specific buildings at OKW and used to get them met, but not so in the past 3 years. We are told what is available and we pick from that. We have been in a few areas we did not care for, but we got over it. Never given the speech "I paid a ton of money for this vacation..." Who care??? We all did. No one is more special than anyone else.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I think the flaw there Chuck is that the decision to accept a smoking room is the individuals choice. DVC has made a room availible. If I call for a ressie & MS tells me NS is unavailible I'll simply change my dates - that's how important it is to me.

 

[kweaver]

I'd consider changing my dates for a non-smoking room as well.

I'd also make sure I booked as soon as possible in order to confirm a non-smoking room.

 

[Chuck S]

I think the flaw there Chuck is that the decision to accept a smoking room is the individuals choice. DVC has made a room availible. If I call for a ressie & MS tells me NS is unavailible I'll simply change my dates - that's how important it is to me.

But that was NOT included in the disclosure statements at the time of purchase. Disney has to legally make it possible for all members to use their points in any given year at their home resort. If n/s and non-handicap become a guaranteed class of rooms, it could then be argued that Disney has made it impossible to utilize their points, and believe me, someone would file a suit; and even though there is a good chance of winning for DVC, the legal costs to fight the claim would be added to our dues.

The only way that it could be done would be for a resort to go completely non-smoking. And I don't see this happening on a voluntary basis, it would be by the passage of a law. And forget a guarantee for non-handicap, as those rooms were included in the initial public offering of availability.

 

[KNWVIKING]

The solution to smoking-non smoking is to carefully monitor the requests. A smoking room can very easily become a NS room. DVC knows well in advance what the room mix will be so there should be no reason they can't guarantee me a NS room at the 11/7 month windows.... or even a much shorter time span for that matter.

The bottom line though is that there has to be a way of letting people know when they book the trip if S/NS or HH/NHH is availible. Checkin is definitely the wrong time.

 

[Chuck S]

A smoking room can very easily become a NS room.

I don't know about "easily", it would require re-painting, deep cleaning of carpet, draperies, and furnishings, if not replacement of those items...all at a cost to our dues.

With a "guarantee" smokers could also claim that Disney has made it impossible to use their points...so what, the room is switched from smoking to non every other month?

Again, until the resorts go completely non-smoking, I don't see a "guarantee" being absolute. What if a guaranteed room-type goes out of service for an unexpected plumbing problem, or other damage?

 

[KNWVIKING]

The "smoking" furniture could easily be stored till it's needed for the next smoking room. Carpet cleaning & those iozier (sp) work fast. Painting isn't always required. But we can argue this back and forth but that's not the point I'm trying to make.

If I call MS a month or so out & they say NS isn't availible I wouldn't expect them to convert one just for me. Same goes if I was a smoker. But with their computerized booking matrix working with the normal ongoing room refurbs, it shouldn't be a real problem to be able to guarantee S/NS to at least the 11/7 month windows.

 

[lllovell]

I have issues with the smoking thing here. I have a son that has not been diagnosed as having asthma or other problems (except allergies) but I suspect it is coming. On our last trip, we got there late (checked in after 11) because we drove down from Atlanta after work. We took the room assigned to us, never being told it was smoking (though I requested non-smoking). As a matter of fact, we didn't even realize it until we found an ashtray on the last day of our trip. There was no smell. There was no problem for the rest of us, but my son was miserable. From the moment we got there, he had allergy problems. Bad ones. The up 1/2 the night coughing kind. The runny nose all day and all night kind. The eyes watering so badly in the mornings that it looked like he was crying. While it could have been any number of things, I suspect it was the smoke left over in the room, etc. Proof - don't have any. Upset, not enough to have gone screaming through the lobby demanding things, but enough that if we check into a hotel again and are given a smoking room, we won't stay there.

I don't have a "medical excuse" because my son has not been diagnosed as I said. Should I get my doctor to give me a note? Nah - because the truth is that we come down often late in the evening and it is really going to have to be up to me to change our way of traveling to not have this happen anymore. Sat morning trips (wasting 1/2 a day) instead of Friday night. That way I know I have a better chance of getting what I "wish" for - which is a non-smoking room so my smallest child can enjoy our vacations too. Views don't matter to me. His enjoyment does.

Count me on the list of people that would not mind Disney going smoke free completely, but I dont insist on it. I don't gripe when we walk past smoking areas, I just make sure we don't dawdle there. I do think that a limited number of smoking rooms should be made available and if you are not able to get those when you make your reservation, then try another resort. There are WAY more non-smokers in this world now than smokers. Somehow disney needs to strike a better balance.

Handicapped - it doesn't matter to me. Provide as many as are necessary and if I get one, I get one.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I would rather NOT be at a resort, than to be at a particular resort in a smoking or handicapped room. If a cm said, "You can have BCV in a handicapped room, or OKW in a non-handicapped room." I would certainly pick OKW, and I would be THRILLED to have been given the choice.

I agree with Beca and the others that would rather change resorts than be placed in a smoking room. If our stay is short, (4 days or less) I will accept an Handicap Accessible unit but not for longer stays.

I make sure to request these 2 preferences and reiterate at check in "I dont care about the view or location, but may we please have NS and a bath tub?"

If DVC can make Boardwalk View a guarantee, why cant they make smoking a guarantee? It's all about the # of units, once they have filled the NS requests, everyone else that books should be informed of such and decide how important NS is to them on an individual basis.

 

[Chuck S]

We took the room assigned to us, never being told it was smoking (though I requested non-smoking). As a matter of fact, we didn't even realize it until we found an ashtray on the last day of our trip.

Actually, this brings up another issue entirely. If you could not smell lingering smoke, and your only "proof" was finding an ashtray...I would guess that you probably did have a non-smoking room, but that a smoker was placed there and housekeeping brought them an ashtray...it seems to happen often when smoking rooms are not available for smokers. THAT is a pet peeve of mine. I have no problem with people smoking outside on a balcony, or in a public area, if they are assigned a non-smoking room. But please, DON'T SMOKE INSIDE. It is also possible that the previous tenants did not smoke inside the room, but that your son is so sensitive to the smoke, that enough allergens lingered from the smokers suitcases and clothing being stored in the room that it had a detrimental effect on him

 

[Frozenfingers]

Disney has to legally make it possible for all members to use their points in any given year at their home resort. If n/s and non-handicap become a guaranteed class of rooms, it could then be argued that Disney has made it impossible to utilize their points,

Chuck, what you are saying may have some basis.. I'm not a lawyer (thank God.. it's bad enough being hated for a DVCer) I think the point being made here is no one is saying smokers can't use their points.. they just need to get in line with the rest of us. I'm willing to change my dates, and even change resorts to get accomodations that will make my family comfortable.

I would expect no less from a smokingmember.. they can change their dates to get the accomadations which makes them comfortable. Or, they can choose not to smoke in a nonsmoking villa. If they get a room before me.. good for them! I think both groups should be able to make that important decision themselves. If the only room I can get at my home resort is a smoker because (and howwould anyone know) the smokers took all the non smoking rooms.. I would know that months out and it would be my choice to book it or not.. In other words.. I can have my meltdown at home, rather than at the front desk at checkin.. I can still use my points elsewhere.. If inventory stands empty, it would soon be converted to a NS space...

Before I get flamed.. yes I realize that smokingmembers actually have an advantage they can book both classifications and be quite comfortable with either one (as long as they abide by the NS rule). Nothing new there.. they can have allergies and request a non smoking anyway.. who's the wiser?

I was sold Deluxe Accomodations on a space available basis..That I was a smoker didn't enter into the purchase agreement.

 

[lllovell]

You have valid points Chuck and I didn't ask when we checked out because I could not see how it would make any difference. We had stayed. We were given the bed rails I asked for. Everyone was wonderful. He was just super over allergied for the trip (usually its the oposite down there - which is why it was so noticable for me).

I don't hold Disney responsible for rule breakers. How can they be?

As for the little guy, since we drive, I have bought a small air filtration device to take with us on future trips. Hopefully that will work da Mommy magic and keep it from happening again.

 

[Dean]

But, the smoking and handicap rooms were included in the overall point total to determine the availability for usage of your DVC points for the state of FL. In otherwords, if everyone who simply "requests" non-handicap and "non-smoking" rooms was guaranteed it, there would not be enough rooms to fulfill the legal obligations of the timeshare to make the X number of rooms available to owners. In otherwords, the resorts would be illegally oversold.

HC for medical reasons are booked directly now. NS or Smoking should be booked directly. If the room you want is not available then you have the choice and LIVE with it. There's really no reasonable way to book Non HC rooms, someone will have to get them. At some point there will be enough people needing them but at this time they are not. Not reasonable to try to block them but still reasonable to attempt to honor requests. IMO, it is unreasonable to expect requests for a single room or even a single building to be taken seriously. This is part of the problem as some are too specific in their requests.

But that was NOT included in the disclosure statements at the time of purchase. Disney has to legally make it possible for all members to use their points in any given year at their home resort. If n/s and non-handicap become a guaranteed class of rooms, it could then be argued that Disney has made it impossible to utilize their points, and believe me, someone would file a suit; and even though there is a good chance of winning for DVC, the legal costs to fight the claim would be added to our dues.

The only way that it could be done would be for a resort to go completely non-smoking. And I don't see this happening on a voluntary basis, it would be by the passage of a law. And forget a guarantee for non-handicap, as those rooms were included in the initial public offering of availability.

I don't see anything in the legal issues that would preclude this issue being addressed. I think you're assuming that DVC is legally obligated to have it the way it was when you joined and that is not the case. The mix has already changed immensely toward FAR fewer smoking units at DVC, esp at OKW. And while I know some disagree, I could easily see the resorts going all NS ON PROPERTY, not just in the rooms. I could also see the legislature addressing this issue in this direction.

 

[Chuck S]

OK, but happens, if say, they guaranteed me a non-smoking dedicated 2 bedroom, and the last one that day is taken out of service due to a water leak and water damage. Should I be upgraded to a GV? Now, you may say, no, a lock-off would do...but remember lock-off and dedicated are also "reservable" accomodations, and with little kids, you don't want the additional entrance.

What other "requests" should receive upgrades...view, location, non-handicap, 1st floor, 2nd floor, 3rd floor?

Hence they came up with the "medical needs" request for priority...but alas, a lot of folks seemed to be working the system on that one, so back to requests are only requests.

Because of the high occupancy rates at DVC resorts, there isn;t a lot of "wiggle room" for the room assigners. I really think that passing a law that applies to accomodations is what will eventually happen, it takes the monkey off of Disney's (or any hotel operator's) back.

 

[smjj]

As for me. I like being able to make a request. I understand it is not a guarantee. The only one I would be somewhat upset about is if we were assigned to a room that was very smokey. I do not feel it would be un-realistic to have smokers pay an extra point a night for a smoking room. After all, it take more labor and cleaning products to rid the room of this fowl discusting odor..smjj

 

[Dean]

OK, but happens, if say, they guaranteed me a non-smoking dedicated 2 bedroom, and the last one that day is taken out of service due to a water leak and water damage. Should I be upgraded to a GV? Now, you may say, no, a lock-off would do...but remember lock-off and dedicated are also "reservable" acc

DVC would have to have an out just like hotels do. And if they guarantee a smoking room or NS, and can't deliver, they should offer compensation.

Remember there is more upkeep for rooms that have been smoked in. Many timeshares are actually going all NS in part for this reason.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Dean,
I am not sure, but I think HC is a request, not a guarantee.

Medically, I am not HC, but since March I have spent all 4 vacations in a wheelchair, due to injury, surgery, and recovery, and was not able to get a HC room at any time. The best they could do was 1st floor at OKW, and WLV, and near the elevators at BWV. Tubs were a nightmare when I HAD to have a shower. All 4 times I insisted that MS note it on my ressie that a HC room was needed, and all 4 times they were unavailable upon check-in. In fact, when I checked in at midnight at CBR I had to trundle myself over to my room by myself, in the dark, in a wheelchair, with my luggage. I was nearly hysterical, and yes, I embarrassed myself with a meltdown upon check-in. There was NO ONE at the resort who could assist me. I insisted on moving to a different resort, and they moved me to BWV 3 days early. The wonderful bell services brought me over in a van, and even helped me unpack. The room was not HC, but I was able to get around while waiting for my family to arrive. The trip from Hell turned into the trip from Heaven, thanks to the BW staff. Some things are more important than getting your requests.

 

[lenshanem]

I would rather have a dumpster view with non-smoking guaranteed and a non-handicapped studio so I can have a tub for the kids over a FANTASTIC view and/or location with non-smoking not guaranteed and we end up in one and my daughter has to use her inhaler all week long.

If they would make non-smoking and non-handicapped rooms a booking category the view wouldn't be that important. They could do away with that in my opinion. A nice view is great, but a smoke free room with a tub is even better and extremely important to me for my daughter.