Testing On-Line Reservations for DVC Website

[kmcrosby]

Got a call yesterday from DVC asking if we would be interested in testing a new on-line reservation system for the DVC website. The caller indicated that DVC had hired an independent third party to conduct the testing and that they were trying to find people in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to spend a few hours trying it out and giving feedback. If so, we would be compensated with a check for $150 for our time. Of course I said yes. The date of the testing is the 2nd week in Nov. The third party consultant is supposed to get in touch with me to schedule the time. Maybe DVC is finally getting serious about adding this feature to the website? Has anyone else received a call to participate in a study like this?

 

[keishashadow]

very interesting test group, wish we were included

 

[twinklebug]

Oh man - I wish they'd test in the MA area. I'd love that job. I'd break it - hehe.

 

[colonialtinker]

I wish they would call me, I would love to test their system. Too bad I'm not in the test area.

 

[hakepb]

Make sure you test reserving the various BCV 2BR categories (il.e some with dual-queen? or how does that go?)

What other things should the OP "Test"?

 

[twinklebug]

Make sure you test reserving the various BCV 2BR categories (il.e some with dual-queen? or how does that go?)

What other things should the OP "Test"?

Hehe - concerige rooms - make sure only those from the DIS can access them.

The testing company should have a script the testers need to follow - tellign them what tasks they need to run and report back any issues. Very rarely will they say "go have fun"

 

[kmcrosby]

Thanks for the suggestions. Any other options that you'd like tested, please let me know. I'll try and post a report after the test is finished.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Thanks for the suggestions. Any other options that you'd like tested, please let me know. I'll try and post a report after the test is finished.

Yes I have one: How to get real room requests or the text box to work correctly on the online checkin screen.

Also how can we gauge the level of rooms left at any one time, I know that is pushing it.

 

[dallastxcpa]

I also received a call yesterday. They said either myself or my husband could attend. Should be interesting.

 

[islandtimect]

What phone number did they call you from?? I keep getting calls from Texas ph # 972-655-5216 and checked online and maybe it's a telemarketer. I haven't picked up yet, but if it's DVC I will!

 

[dallastxcpa]

No, it was a 407 number. I normally don't answer calls from numbers I don't know, but when I saw it was from Orlando I thought, "This could be interesting."

 

[kmcrosby]

I didn't check the caller ID number. My DD answered the phone and the caller ID did say Disney Vacation Club, not a third party.

 

[Sammie]

Interesting, I hope if they implement it, it works better than Disney Reservations online and dining.

 

[TinkGirl]

I got the call yesterday too. My husband passed me the phone since I'm our planner. I wanted to participate, but I am a teacher and really can't go to Irving in the middle of the day. My husband said yes. The caller said someone would be calling him to see if he qualifies as a participant. He said they asked questions about his computer skills.

 

[hakepb]

Interesting, I hope if they implement it, it works better than Disney Reservations online and dining.

What if they hired consultants just to put the blame on someone else?

 

[zulaya]

Very interesting that they are doing this in Texas only.

How would that be a true test? If they were smart, they'd have people from all over the country trying this on their home computers, from a variety of browsers. I'm sure they want to run data from specific computers, but it seems like a very small control group to me.

They better not make it only compatible with crash-prone, super-slow, IE. They need to make sure that at the very least it's optimized for Firefox.

They need to make sure that accurate inventory ~ meaning real-time that refreshes every minute ~ is visible. Why do through all the trouble of doing this online, if by the time you get to confirming it, it's gone.

Once you select a room from inventory, it needs to be saved for you ~ meaning no one else can take it ~ until you check out OR a set amount of time, like 5 minutes or so. If you don't confirm your reservation in that amount of time, then that room is returned back to inventory where it can be taken by someone else. (a la Ticketmaster)

All room categories need to be covered.

Room requests need to be listed and if your request isn't listed, there needs to be an "Other" option to select with a small text box to explain. "Other" should only be allowed to be added one time.

 

[CarolMN]

I think they should start with a real time view of inventory. No reservations. No real time account changes. Just a real time look at inventory.

Making reservations for one room at 11 months will be easy for those who have only one contract.

Figuring out how to let members bank, borrow, cancel, modify, transfer points between contracts, use holding points, reallocate points, sign up for the waitlist, etc. all without making a mess of their accounts will be tough.

Figuring out how to keep the system from crashing will be tough.

Dealing with all the members who couldn't make it work right the first time will be very tough - entitled members will all be demanding a reservation for something that is sold out because they would have gotten it if only (fill in the blanks. DVC fault, of course)

If they only allow online reservations for the very simple straight forward reservations, then dealing with the "but that's not fair" crowd will be a pain.

Perhaps my middle name should be Thomas, but I cannot believe DVC can pull off such a complicated reservation system without starting with baby steps. Whatever they do, I hope they have a good back up plan!

 

[tlbryant383]

I am a new DVC member in the DFW area, so if you have the info on the testing, I would love to test the online reservations too.

 

[disneynutz]

The reason that they have selected the Dallas area is because the IT vendor that Disney uses for the DVC has a office there.

Bill

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

I'm just wondering if anyone thinks that once they implement an online reservation system for booking rooms that they then might start charging you a fee for using Member Services to make your reservation by phone. Believe me, I hope that doesn't happen.

But is that even a possibility?