Should longer stays be given a booking priority?

[Shamus]

I recently read where someone stated that one of the proposed changes to the Marriott system included adding a priority booking window for 7-day length reservations. It had me thinking if a similar type set-up would be a good thing or not for DVC.

So what are your folks thoughts on this topic? What if DVC changed the booking window so that home resort stays for X number of days or longer could start booking at say 11 months out and shorter home resort stays at 10 months?

I know that many members bought smaller contracts for short stays and may feel that such a change is unfair because the rules are being changed. But DVC does already reserve the right to enforce minimum stay requirements. Further, early purchasers were required to meet a minimum point purchase that in effect would allow them enough points to reserve a 1-bedroom for 7 days. They could argue that rules were already unfairly changed by allowing smaller contracts to be purchased affecting utilization and the availability of longer stays.

Dean and others have expressed their opinion that similar to the 2010 and 2011 point adjustments, they feel a minimum stay requirement is not an unlikely thing for DVC's future, in an attempt to help fix the apparent occupancy imbalance. I don't necessarily disagree with that, but wonder if giving a priority to booking longer stays may be a better alternative.

I think that the change to 11 months plus 7 was an attempt by DVC to achieve similar results but I'm not sure it has worked like they were hoping. And since they don't restrict changes to those reservation, I feel it is open to the possibility of abuse.

So what do you folks think?

Should longer stays be given a booking priority?

 

[Chuck S]

A minimum stay requirement, and a priority window for full weeks or longer, are really two different issues.

I really feel that the 11 month up to 7 night booking window does, in a way, accomplish the same thing as giving priority to longer stays, as only those members with more points can really take advantage of the automatic ability to extend the stay beyond those 7 nights with a follow up call...and I think the system works well in that respect, so I don't think an additional priority is needed at this time.

Like Dean, I would not be surprised to see them use the minimum stay clause if they see the need to balance reservations, or if they see a huge increase in one or two night stays. Such short stays would drive up the cost of housekeeping, front desk personnel, etc. I really think the vast majority of DVC stays is at least 4 nights in length, so using the minimum stay clause is also probably not needed at this time. But that could certainly easily change in the future.

 

[hakepb]

If I recall my contract, DVC can currently only implement a minimum stay length of up to 5 days.
(Although a 1 week lottery/ system is allowable for 1 or 2 peak weeks. And I think I've heard DVC used to do that 13 month lottery for christmas week)
Beyond that week, DVC would need owner agreement for more 7 day minimum booking weeks.

 

[Inkmahm]

So what do you folks think?

Should longer stays be given a booking priority?

No, I don't think longer stays should be given booking priority.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Oh my, when I read the title, I was thinking "longer stays" as in 2-4 weeks... not 7 days!

 

[Dean]

I recently read where someone stated that one of the proposed changes to the Marriott system included adding a priority booking window for 7-day length reservations. It had me thinking if a similar type set-up would be a good thing or not for DVC.

So what are your folks thoughts on this topic? What if DVC changed the booking window so that home resort stays for X number of days or longer could start booking at say 11 months out and shorter home resort stays at 10 months?

I know that many members bought smaller contracts for short stays and may feel that such a change is unfair because the rules are being changed. But DVC does already reserve the right to enforce minimum stay requirements. Further, early purchasers were required to meet a minimum point purchase that in effect would allow them enough points to reserve a 1-bedroom for 7 days. They could argue that rules were already unfairly changed by allowing smaller contracts to be purchased affecting utilization and the availability of longer stays.

Dean and others have expressed their opinion that similar to the 2010 and 2011 point adjustments, they feel a minimum stay requirement is not an unlikely thing for DVC's future, in an attempt to help fix the apparent occupancy imbalance. I don't necessarily disagree with that, but wonder if giving a priority to booking longer stays may be a better alternative.

I think that the change to 11 months plus 7 was an attempt by DVC to achieve similar results but I'm not sure it has worked like they were hoping. And since they don't restrict changes to those reservation, I feel it is open to the possibility of abuse.

So what do you folks think?

Should longer stays be given a booking priority?

The current system does give a priority if booking up to 7 days. It is in a sense a de-facto minimum in one sense. If (I predict when) they make changes a cancelation and rebooking, it will be even more so. Given the unilateral control over the reservation process they could even make it more so by allowing a formal priority of time for longer reservations and only allowing shorter reservations only at a later time. They could also institute a VIP system where say those with more points or those that bought developer would get a head start.

 

[disneynutz]

If it puts money in the Mouse's pocket, Disney will do anything.

Bill

 

[n2mm]

I don't like be limited to a 7 night booking window. Most of my trips are 12 nights or longer (3 times a year) and booking 7 nights for the first call and having to call back each day can be a pain. I know I could wait to make the second call(s), but if I missed out on my room category because of that, I would be kicking myself. So yes, I would like to make one call and book a 12 night stay. At least make it 10 nights like the ADR dining window.

 

[Dean]

I don't like be limited to a 7 night booking window. Most of my trips are 12 nights or longer (3 times a year) and booking 7 nights for the first call and having to call back each day can be a pain. I know I could wait to make the second call(s), but if I missed out on my room category because of that, I would be kicking myself. So yes, I would like to make one call and book a 12 night stay. At least make it 10 nights like the ADR dining window.

You're better off than you were under day by day. I can't think of any reason to call back day by day for those other 5 days. If you reserve 7 full days at 11 months out day 1, your chances of getting the additional 5 days should be no lower 4 days later than it was day by day. Personally I'd all day 1, day 4 and day 5 but not Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.

However, I am on record as saying that allowing one to book up to a full 14 days would be a good idea though I personally believe the best choice overall would be to allow 7 & 14 days under this method but not odd increments and for other increments to be day by day at 11 months. Tied to the issue I mentioned previously, that I believe changes should be a cancelation and rebooking OR possibly have a points penalty associated.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't like be limited to a 7 night booking window. Most of my trips are 12 nights or longer (3 times a year) and booking 7 nights for the first call and having to call back each day can be a pain. I know I could wait to make the second call(s), but if I missed out on my room category because of that, I would be kicking myself. So yes, I would like to make one call and book a 12 night stay. At least make it 10 nights like the ADR dining window.

Assuming you are calling right at the 11 month window, there is no need to call daily to extend your stay. You can not miss out on your room category by waiting a couple of days to call. The room you reserved on the first call can not be placed back into available inventory until 11 months from your check-out date, so reserve 7 nights, call back to extend 5 days later and you WILL get your extension, unless the room is scheduled to go out of service for maintenance.

 

[JimMIA]

No, I don't think longer stays should be given booking priority.

Me either, and I also don't think it would be good for DVC.

The more limitations and restrictions you put on usage, the more complicated you make things, the less valuable the system becomes for many owners. In particular, a longer-stay priority would hurt owners who live in peninsular Florida (as opposed to Panhandle folks), because many of us take more frequent 2-5 day trips.

The Florida-resident market is a HUGE market for WDW and DVC and I don't think they would benefit by jangling those folks nerves. Instead of staying at DVC, many of us would just stay offsite or use Florida-resident discounts for less expensive trips.

Here on the DIS we tend to think of DVC as the center of the universe, but the truth is the Orlando area is one of the most overbuilt areas in the US and there are many, many other options. It's a very competitive environment, and although DVC has many inherent advantages, it still has a LOT of competition.

 

[castleri]

Assuming you are calling right at the 11 month window, there is no need to call daily to extend your stay. You can not miss out on your room category by waiting a couple of days to call. The room you resevaed on the first call can not be placed back into available inventory until 1 months from your check-out date, so reserve 7 nights, call back to extend 5 days later and you WILL get your extension, unless the room is scheduled to go out of service for maintenance.

Why would there be a one month wait from check out date? I would think it would go back into inventory on the check out date. Guess I don't understand
how it works.

 

[cogero]

No I do not believe in a minimum stay or preferred booking. We generally make our trips 3-6 days long and go 3-5 times a year staying in either 1BR or 2BR. I like the flexibility of Disney.

We have also been booking trips anywhere from 11 months to 3 months out and had luck.

Interesting thread though.

 

[CarolMN]

Assuming you are calling right at the 11 month window, there is no need to call daily to extend your stay. You can not miss out on your room category by waiting a couple of days to call. The room you resevaed on the first call can not be placed back into available inventory until 1 months from your check-out date, so reserve 7 nights, call back to extend 5 days later and you WILL get your extension, unless the room is scheduled to go out of service for maintenance.

Why would there be a one month wait from check out date? I would think it would go back into inventory on the check out date. Guess I don't understand
how it works.

The "1 month" was a typo. I'm 100% positive that Chuck meant to type 11 months.

To clarify, if you reserve 7 nights but need 10 nights, no one else can call to get the 8th night until the 11 month window opens for that 8th night. But since you already have the 7 night reservation, you can call as early as the next day or as late as the day before the 11 month window opens for the 8th night and be guaranteed of getting the reservation extended for the 8th night.

So extending that concept, you can be guaranteed to get the last 3 nights by calling only once more. As long as you get the first reservation and call before the 11 month window opens for the 10th night, you would be guaranteed of getting the last 3 nights you need for your reservation.

 

[Chuck S]

Why would there be a one month wait from check out date? I would think it would go back into inventory on the check out date. Guess I don't understand
how it works.

It was a typo It should say 11 months.

 

[Dean]

Me either, and I also don't think it would be good for DVC.

The more limitations and restrictions you put on usage, the more complicated you make things, the less valuable the system becomes for many owners. In particular, a longer-stay priority would hurt owners who live in peninsular Florida (as opposed to Panhandle folks), because many of us take more frequent 2-5 day trips.

The Florida-resident market is a HUGE market for WDW and DVC and I don't think they would benefit by jangling those folks nerves. Instead of staying at DVC, many of us would just stay offsite or use Florida-resident discounts for less expensive trips.

Here on the DIS we tend to think of DVC as the center of the universe, but the truth is the Orlando area is one of the most overbuilt areas in the US and there are many, many other options. It's a very competitive environment, and although DVC has many inherent advantages, it still has a LOT of competition.

Jim I think a major difference is that once a DVC point is sold, the competition for the usage in terms of DVC courting volumes of guests, is over. Someone will use the rooms associated with those points. It them becomes how best to BALANCE the needs of the system vs the wants/desires of the members. 3-4 years ago would you have expected to see the changes we've already seen? I've been posting that a reallocation was needed since around 1999 or 2000 and I've been told I was nuts, it'd never happen, the backlash was too great the last time, etc. I also posted about the possibility of a priority for a longer stay and again was told it'd never happen and in effect that it couldn't legally happen, but it has for up to 7 days and they could change it if they wanted. Not all of my predictions have come through yet and some likely never will as some are more to get people to think than that I really expect them to happen. What I do expect is that things will change and that someone will not like each and every change.

 

[keishashadow]

hmmm...

those of us who remember their guide touting the flexibility of DVC membership (1 long or several small trips within their allotment of points) raise your:

if they decide to give large/full contracts (200 points?) an edge on booking i can accept that (as an incentive to addon), but not the idea of rewarding using the exact same # of points in one stay vs multiple trips, as it's contrary to one of their original selling hooks.

 

[ABCanada]

One of the great benefits of DVC is the flexibility I would hate to see this lost.

Saying this, there is a significantly higher per day cost, which members are paying in their fees, for the shorter stays. Ignoring the T&T, I suspect the housekeeping and admin costs are very similar whether it is one night or seven nights. The members that are staying seven days are subsidising the members that are staying one or two nights.

My preference, leave the booking but, if possible, have a per reservation, points not $, fee to recognize the additional cost of the shorter stays.

(re booking preference for seven night - I could see people booking for seven nights and shortening their reservation later. This would likely increase the vacancy nights and moves rather than reducing it. The simpler the better.)

 

[Dean]

hmmm...

those of us who remember their guide touting the flexibility of DVC membership (1 long or several small trips within their allotment of points) raise your:

if they decide to give large/full contracts (200 points?) an edge on booking i can accept that (as an incentive to addon), but not the idea of rewarding using the exact same # of points in one stay vs multiple trips, as it's contrary to one of their original selling hooks.

Verbal representations mean nothing, they are not legally enforceable in real estate and owners agreed to this in writing by signing that verbal representations were not binding or by agreeing to the same as a condition of a resale purchase. Realistically timeshares can't be held to every option that was promised in a sales presentation or they wouldn't ever be able to change anything.

 

[skelooch]

I couldn't support any change that gives a booking priority for one member over another, for any reason.

Why should someone have a priority because they are booking a 7 night stay once a year over someone who is booking 4 or 5-5 night stays.
What about those booking 7 nights split stays, should they be penalized.

All I expect is that members are treated equally when it comes to booking a room be it for 1 night or 10 nights.

When they take away my ability to decide when I can go and for how long I have to stay it will be time to sell.
I don't think they would care one bit, because whoever buys my points will be buying into the new rules.