Suggestion Made - Do People Really Do This?

[kendzee94]

This whole thread is scaring me! We will be calling at the 11 month mark for THV's for Christmas 2011....no I don't want to cheat, but with only 60 and God knows how many are DVC inventory, you all have me scared. I don't believe in "walking", as I feel it is cheating, but will I have to do it to get the days I want? Crazy thing is, we want 10 nights and I am afraid that I won't get what I want!

 

[Raivyn]

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

I didn't realized ADR was tied to your room reservations. How does that work?

 

[DebbieB]

I didn't realized ADR was tied to your room reservations. How does that work?

If you are staying onsite, you can call at 180 days of check-in and make ADR's for up to 10 days of your stay. If offsite, you can call at 180 days for each individual day.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Thankfully I've never had to walk a reservation, it seems like a big pain to have to do it! It also seems to tie up the reservation system and make it harder for others to book!

 

[Raivyn]

If you are staying onsite, you can call at 180 days of check-in and make ADR's for up to 10 days of your stay. If offsite, you can call at 180 days for each individual day.

Ahhh, Thanks for this info! Planning a Grand Gathering as my gift to my sisters and their families, and my 6YO niece would love to eat at CRT...

 

[riatees]

I am also looking to book a Christmas trip for 2011. Am hoping to get a GV at OKW for 12/26 to 1/1. I never had a problem getting a GV calling day by day at exactly the 11 month window, but that was before they changed the system. I don't feel right about "walking" the reservation, but I am afraid that is the only way I might get it at that time of year. Any advice, I've never booked DVC over Christmas before and we are really looking forward to going at this time. Anyone want to chime in on my chances of getting this reservation at the 11 month window. Thanks for any tips/advice.

 

[Disbug1]

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.

There is currently a "Deluxe Studio CL" at AKV available through CRO from the 24th Dec till the 30th of Dec,How is that available for "Cash Reservation" & it has been for months!

 

[Sandisw]

There is currently a "Deluxe Studio CL" at AKV available through CRO from the 24th Dec till the 30th of Dec,How is that available for "Cash Reservation" & it has been for months!

Because that is a different set of inventory and can't be booked on points.

 

[Disbug1]

Because that is a different set of inventory and can't be booked on points.

I thought that the "CL Studios" at AKV were ALL DVC

 

[n2mm]

I thought the term "walking" came from the practice of booking a resort many/several days earlier and each day calling and dropping one of the starter days and adding a day at the end, then the next day doing the same thing, hence the "walking" technique -- sort of like leap frogging. If walking is now considered booking a reservation and not knowing exactly what day you will arrive or depart, then I guess I'm guilty of that one. We travel several times a year and my DD and SIL and kids come mid way through each of our 2 week Spring & Fall trips. Since my SiL is a Deputy Sheriff, I couldn't tell you what his schedule is 7 months from now. So when I know they are coming mid-trip of ours I book them a studio arriving on Sat and departing on Sat. I know that this reservation may be tweaked later. Sometimes they arrive on Friday night and I have to add on a night or they arrive Sunday morning and I have to drop a night. Same thing with the departure day. Sometimes we go home Friday or sometimes Saturday, but don't know until his schedule is posted or he applies for leave and waits for approval. Since I have lots of points, I book their rooms and can hold them until airfare needs to be purchased and schedules are set. While I still feel "walking" is the "leap frogging" of days, I guess I'm a walker since I sometimes have to modify my reservations as the time gets closer.....

 

[Granny]

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.

Wow, I didn't know the CM's at MS were now suggesting this tactic. Like they used to recommend the day-by-day. Kind of defeats the purpose if they were trying to reduce reservation shenanigans.

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.

People certainly do this, though probably not a large percentage of DVC owners. While I don't particularly care for the current rules, there is nothing shady about this. It is within the rules, and now even Disney employees are recommending it.

Like I said, I don't care for the new rules. But if you have enough points to walk the reservation, you won't get complaints from me. The issue is with Disney, not those making the reservation. Just my opinion.