Suggestion Made - Do People Really Do This?

[bytheblood]

I called MS to add magical express to my next vacation and mentioned that I was nervous about not getting the one I wanted at the beginning of December 2011. The CM who answered the phone at MS suggested that I call in a few days before the arrival date I really want and get a reservation in the system and then drop off the days I don't want later.

Do people really do this? Is it even okay? I think this seems a bit shady and I am not sure that this is acceptable. Am I being too paranoid or am I on track in my thinking? I am thinking that I could be taking up days that somebody else may want for no reason.

Before the Dis police come out and rip me a new one, I really have no intention to do this - I am just curious if this is the norm.

 

[mrsxsparrow]

I called MS to add magical express to my next vacation and mentioned that I was nervous about not getting the one I wanted at the beginning of December 2011. The CM who answered the phone at MS suggested that I call in a few days before the arrival date I really want and get a reservation in the system and then drop off the days I don't want later.

Do people really do this? Is it even okay? I think this seems a bit shady and I am not sure that this is acceptable. Am I being too paranoid or am I on track in my thinking?

Before the Dis police come out and rip me a new one, I really have no intention to do this - I am just curious if this is the norm.

I've actually heard of a lot of people doing this when I was researching DVC. I believe they call it "walking" the reservation.

Here is the thread where I first heard about it.

 

[castleri]

It is apparently being done fairly frequently especially for those prime time periods that are hard to get ever since they went to the calling at 11 months from check in instead of check out. People have reported calling at exactly 11 months and being unable to get their chosen room type and dates so it must be partly from this practice plus just the ones that are part of someones real reservation that they made at 11 months that overlaps someone elses dates because you can reserve up to 7 days at a time. If you are trying for a smaller resort you may want to do this but may not need to for the larger ones like OKW and SSR.

 

[DebbieB]

Which resort & room type are you looking for? At AKV, I would not worry about it unless you want concierge.

 

[SamSam]

I never considered walking a reservation before, but in Feb. 2012, we are celebrating our 40th anniversary and I will be booking a Grand Villa, a 2 bedroom, and a couple of studios at Kidani...it will be Presidents Weekend, which I think may be a problem for the Grand Villa and the 2 bedroom.

We will need the Grand Villa and the 2 bedroom from Sat., Feb. 18, thru Wed.
I think that will be a problem, because I can envision people actually wanting their GV starting on Friday.

So, please no flames, but do you think this is one time I should walk it?

 

[bytheblood]

Which resort & room type are you looking for? At AKV, I would not worry about it unless you want concierge.

We are planning on December 1 - 10, 2011 for a 2BDRM Villa Kidani.

 

[lmshaggard]

I was able to get a 2bdrm at AKL - Kidani at the 7 month mark this year for Dec 15-23. It is also a dedicated 2 bdrm. Now, I did originally book at BLT (my home resort) for the same dates to make sure we had a room and did have a bit of a hard time getting BLT at 11 months.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Is "walking" a reservation necessary? Probably not unless you need a concierge level room at AKV. Is it done? Absolutely, and way more than it needs to be. Do I think it's a bit "shady"? YES! If I ever felt I HAD to "walk" a reservation, I'd sell my DVC and move on to something else.

 

[bytheblood]

Is "walking" a reservation necessary? Probably not unless you need a concierge level room at AKV. Is it done? Absolutely, and way more than it needs to be. Do I think it's a bit "shady"? YES! If I ever felt I HAD to "walk" a reservation, I'd sell my DVC and move on to something else.

This pretty much sums up what I was thinking. I just don't feel right about it. But considering that I have already purchased extra points from a friend to take family, I want to ensure we get our room.

 

[wildernessDad]

I liked the older system better where one called day-by-day to add a day to the vacation. Unfortunately, we don't have the older system.

Walking a reservation is legal. I've never done it, but I wouldn't feel terrible if I felt a need to.

 

[bytheblood]

Would I need to do this to ensure a vacation for Dec 1 - 10 if I call in at 11 months?

 

[SamSam]

Would I need to do this to ensure a vacation for Dec 1 - 10 if I call in at 11 months?

I've never had a problem calling at 11 months for the first part of December.

 

[jkfreeman33]

Wow.....it just keeps getting more and more complicated get what you want. Now we need to call at the 11 month and xx day window in order to get the "real" dates you want.
Crazy!

 

[Mfgs]

I called at the 11 month mark to get a 2 bedroom, savanna view at Kidani for 12/19/10 thru 12/24/10. I got it with no problem. I did call back at 7 months to see if I could switch to BLT, just because we have not yet stayed there and thought it would be nice to be closer to MK at Christmas time. That was completely booked, so we are on the waitlist (still ). I have not yet encountered a problem getting rooms at Kidani at the 11th month mark. Hopefully it will work out for you!

 

[nu2dvc]

We are newer owners, so No, I've never had to walk a reservation.

But I have seen plenty of folks saying they've needed to resort to this. (no pun)

Anyway, I just wanted to add that I scored a THV at the 7-month mark, (for a mid-Nov. trip) as well as a BLT 2BR for the same time frame. Most recently, I booked a 1-BR Boardwalk view at BWV for Dec. at the 7-month mark, so availability isn't as bad as some people seem to think it is. I know the first few weeks in Dec. are especially tight, but I'm not worried about finding a room when I want to and I'm not about to walk a reservation any time soon.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Would I need to do this to ensure a vacation for Dec 1 - 10 if I call in at 11 months?

Depends on what reservation you are looking for. If you want Concierge level at AKV...Yes. If you want any size villa just about anywhere else...No. The "maybe" catagory would be standard view or Boardwalk view BWV. We've never had a problem getting any size villa we have required for the first week of December when we have called right at 11 months, and we go that time every year.

 

[Pig Pen]

I am one of those "let's make just one call and get it over with" people. Once I call, I don't make changes. I have never wait-listed or walked a reservation. If what I want is not available, I go to my 2nd, 3rd, 4th choices. I would rather do a split stay than wait-list or call every day to add days, etc.

Just my OCD personality shining through! Soon we will have online booking - can't wait.

 

[mopee3]

Is "walking" a reservation necessary? Probably not unless you need a concierge level room at AKV. Is it done? Absolutely, and way more than it needs to be. Do I think it's a bit "shady"? YES! If I ever felt I HAD to "walk" a reservation, I'd sell my DVC and move on to something else.

I did this with a ADR for Le Cellier for our trip this coming October, we are staying at Port Orleans(PO) French Quarter the first night before starting a 12 night DVC trip, and my significant other loves the bread sticks at the Canadian place. I had been checking availability at 6 months out before you could make the ressie and nothing, and I mean nothing, was available, so....... I added on to the existing ressie at PO 9 more days, I had already paid the deposit for 1 night, and off I went to make the ADR, well imagine my surprise... I could pick any time for the ADR I wanted. Well after making the ADR I waited for a week, went back and canceled all additional 9 nights before the actual night, thus leaving us with the ADR and the original one night at PO.

People I know were not happy, thought I had cheated someone...etc, Disney maybe? But they haven't seen my wife happily eating bread sticks at Le Cellier.

We are taking our 2 older daughters, ages 39-35, and 3 grand kids for 11 nights next April, and on a whim I checked Le Cellier for room at 6 months. Imagine my surprise, no room. But we aren't staying off DVC the first night so no Le Cellier.


Caio
Moe

 

[Simba's Mom]

I called MS to add magical express to my next vacation and mentioned that I was nervous about not getting the one I wanted at the beginning of December 2011. The CM who answered the phone at MS suggested that I call in a few days before the arrival date I really want and get a reservation in the system and then drop off the days I don't want later.

I'm very surprised and more than a little uncomfortable that a MS CM would actually suggest this practice. Anyone else?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm very surprised and more than a little uncomfortable that a MS CM would actually suggest this practice. Anyone else?

I keep being told that it's not a problem, and so far for my stays that I have thought were critical, I have gotten what I needed without walking. I was particularly concerned about a BC at VB and a standard view BWV 2 bedroom for a period that included NYE. I have always gotten concierge without walking.

They would have to come up with a way to discourage or penalize the changing of reservations, and that would most likely be seen as unfair by many people for valid reasons. So, what can MS do?

Yes, I prefer day by day booking when everyone is trying for the same day. I do not have much hope that that will happen again, and so, YES, I am uncomfortable that MS is encouraging "walking." I will contact MS again to state my disatisfaction with the practice.

Bobbi