So, how fast do these member cruises sell out thru Member Services?

[aroundtheriverbend]

Is this a same day thing, get on the phone first thing if you want it? Expect to be on hold for an hour? Or does it take a few days? Thanks!

 

[cbnsoul]

There were reports of waits of several hours on hold with MS, at least last year. The one cruise they had sold out the first day. With two cruises announced this year, you may have a better chance of getting what you want but the phone lines are probably gonna be a nightmare!

 

[tjkraz]

There were reports of waits of several hours on hold with MS, at least last year. The one cruise they had sold out the first day. With two cruises announced this year, you may have a better chance of getting what you want but the phone lines are probably gonna be a nightmare!

Agree.

One of the biggest concerns should be getting the cabin class that you really want. All cabins are limited in number and once they're gone, they're gone.

If you want to go, you need to be prepared to call at 9am eastern and understand it's possible you will be on hold for several hours. There's really no other way around it. They aren't accepting requests via fax, email or any other method.

It's POSSIBLE that there will be unbooked cabins on the 12th but there's no way to predict that. And it may not be the cabin class(es) you had in mind.

 

[dis2cruise]

Where are the prices for the staterooms?

 

[erionm]

If you want to go, you need to be prepared to call at 9am eastern and understand it's possible you will be on hold for several hours. There's really no other way around it. They aren't accepting requests via fax, email or any other method.

Booking begins at 8am eastern.

Where are the prices for the staterooms?

http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc...tsChart_DisneyCollection_2012MemberCruise.pdf

 

[tomandrobin]

Last year we started calling when the lines opened, using 4 phones. We did not get through until 2pm and did not complete the reservation until after 4pm.

Luckily, we wanted a Cat 5 and that was about the only thing left.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The phone system has issues. I called on two lines a few years ago. Line 1 I called right at opening. Two hours later I called on line 2 as line 1 was still on hold. Got right in....

When I pointed this issue out to DVC they acted like it was my fault thier phone system queue does not work.

(and after all that I cancelled. I just can't justify paying extra for a sales pitch )

 

[scooter7487]

My wife and I went on the 2010 dvc members cruise. Someone told me to call at 8:59.50. I did got right through cm said I will transfer you over to dcl and bam discontected. 3 hours later 3 phones over 600 redials got through. Not a happy camper then on hold for another 1.5 hours. Got a navigators verandah on wonder and had a great time. I am surenothers have a more positive experience but the process is a mess in my opinion.

Nice thing aboutnthe cruise gratuities are covered in price, little gifts, special speakers and movies. We had a very nice time.

 

[tjkraz]

The phone situation is tough to deal with. I'm by no means a telephone system expert but I've worked for a couple different companies who had sizable call centers. Management of the phone system fell under my responsibilities.

DVC has about 150-200 phone reps on staff. Normally they don't all work at the same time, but cruise booking day is all hands on deck.

Problem is the call volume on cruise booking day is just enormous compared to a typical business day. The Disney Dream has over 1200 cabins. There could be 1500 people calling right at 8am. With many people calling on 2-3 phones, the call volume could be 5000 or more.

There are phone systems which can handle that capacity, but it doesn't make sense for DVC to have a system which can handily accommodate it.
To borrow a Jim Lewis phrase you don't build a church for Easter Sunday. Given the fact that DVC is spending our money (dues), I don't think it would be wise to spend 2-3x as much on a more elaborate phone system just to accommodate a once-per-year event.

Most people get through the queue without incident but given the volume, I think some fallout would be very difficult (and costly) to avoid. Some problems will be rooted in human error--like the prior post--which a better phone system and more phone lines wouldn't fix.

All of that said, I think DVC is crazy to accept bookings for TWO cruises on a single day. That alone has the potential to double call volume.

Unless DVC has taken steps to streamline the booking process, this could turn into a real comedy of errors with callers trying to book 2500 cabins in a single day. We'll see...

 

[tomandrobin]

To expand on Tim's Post....

To further complicate the booking process, DVC has to coordinate with DCL reps to make all reservations. DVC can not book the cabins direct.....they are two separate reservation systems.

 

[CarolMN]

Given the popularity of those cruises, DVC should really just use the special seasons preference process to book it. It's essentially a lottery.

Those interested & qualified to go just submit their name by a certain time and when the booking date arrives, all those MS reps just call people and make reservations until the ships are full or until everyone on the list has been called.

It just seems so silly to make all those people sit on hold for hours and hours. Not necessary with a little planning.

 

[mjy]

Given the popularity of those cruises, DVC should really just use the special seasons preference process to book it. It's essentially a lottery.

Those interested & qualified to go just submit their name by a certain time and when the booking date arrives, all those MS reps just call people and make reservations until the ships are full or until everyone on the list has been called.

It just seems so silly to make all those people sit on hold for hours and hours. Not necessary with a little planning.

Agree wholeheartedly!

 

[mjy]

All of that said, I think DVC is crazy to accept bookings for TWO cruises on a single day. That alone has the potential to double call volume.

Unless DVC has taken steps to streamline the booking process, this could turn into a real comedy of errors with callers trying to book 2500 cabins in a single day. We'll see...

My thoughts as well. I think we're going to hear a lot of horror stories this time around. Two cruises booking on the same day? Yikes!