They wouldn't let me drop my studio in Nov.

[LizL]

I have a 2BDR reserved in November for the first half of the week and a 1BDR for the second half. My parents will be joining us for the first half of our stay. They have to leave a day earlier than expected. So I called member services to drop the 2BDR down to a 1BDR one night earlier. It isn't a big deal points wise, but I thought it would free up a studio for someone on the waitlist. MS told me that I could not do that because there was no 1BDR available for that night. I questioned this because I am already in a 1 BDR with a studio attached (did not request and did not want dedicated room). All I want to do is drop the studio. She again told me I could not do this. I understand it is probably the way the computer reservation system is set up, but it seems to be poor planning on someone's part that changes like this cannot be made. I wasn't asking to add on more space. I wanted to drop it. So I did not change the reservation. Sorry to anyone who needed a studio on the night of the 9th!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I understand what you are saying, but it is the way the units are booked.

There is most likely a waitlist for the 9th.

I understand you are trying to downsize, but MS sees it as you trying to book a 1 bedroom for the 9th. Since they don't have the 1 bdr availability, you cannot book it.

If you cancel your 2 bedroom for that night, it will go to those on the waitlist, not you get the 1 bdr. someone else get the studio.

If the availability was there, you would be able to do what you want.

This is just my opinion, but there is most likely a very good reason the system is set up this way, based on availability, not individual unit parts, (unless booked that way). At some point, they are not interchangeable and that is the point at which the resort is completely booked. This encourages members to use their 11 month window with care, because that is the greatest level of availability.

Members could basically tie up 2 rooms at the 11 month window, keep it up to the 32 day mark, even when the resort is booked to capacity and there is a waitlist, and then decide to drop a portion of the room. DVC would encounter alot of "false" bookings this way and could end up with alot of dropped units at 32 days which would mess up other members.

I know this is not what you are trying to do, but it would happen and we would all be upset about it.

 

[lllovell]

I am also guessing it has to do with the differences between a lock off and a traditional 2 bedroom. With the "room ready" system, they can't guarantee you a lock-off until you arrived (supposidly) nor can they guarantee you that you wont have to move when you change over to the one bedroom.

If another one bedroom was available, I am sure you would have no trouble like Liferbabe said.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree with Liferbabe, I think one of the reasons they have this rule is so that people don't hold a 2 bedroom reservation while deciding if they really need a 1 bedroom or a studio (like when they don't know the final # of people).

 

[spiceycat]

they can't cancel part of your reservation. Your reservation is for a 2-bedroom, not a 1-bedroom and studio.

if you cancel the entire thing.

the whole unit - 1 bedroom and a studio - might just go to someone else that is on the wait list.

So either you be prepared to leave early - as just kept it the way it is.

most of the time when MS does this - it is because they realize that you will lost your room because of the wait list.

 

[LizL]

I understand why they do it and that I don't have a 1BDR + studio reserved. But it seems like they should have a way to change the reservation to free up the studio in siutations like this. To prevent "tying up" unneeded rooms they could put a time limit on it - like not making changes less than 60 days out, etc. I don't have a problem staying in the 2 BDR for the extra night. I was ust trying to help someone out who was stuck on the waitlist. I guess no matter what system they put into place, there will always be some problem with it. With the current system, rooms will be wasted (like my studio) and with the other system, some people might take advantage and "tie up" the rooms unnecessarily. It just upset me this morning that I couldn't release the studio portion of my room to someone who needed it.

 

[Dean]

I understand why they do it and that I don't have a 1BDR + studio reserved. But it seems like they should have a way to change the reservation to free up the studio in siutations like this. To prevent "tying up" unneeded rooms they could put a time limit on it - like not making changes less than 60 days out, etc. I don't have a problem staying in the 2 BDR for the extra night. I was ust trying to help someone out who was stuck on the waitlist. I guess no matter what system they put into place, there will always be some problem with it. With the current system, rooms will be wasted (like my studio) and with the other system, some people might take advantage and "tie up" the rooms unnecessarily. It just upset me this morning that I couldn't release the studio portion of my room to someone who needed it.

This would simply be a cancelation and then a rebooking since no 1 BR is available for the night you want to free up. You can wait list it or keep calling back to try. I'm sure one of the reasons they do this is to keep people from booking just in case reservations then canceling late. There are several approaches to this issue on the front end but all would be as many or more points in the long run than you will lose on the one night.

Actually they can do what you want, they are just not supposed to because it wouldn't be fair to the other members. And while I understand that freeing up a studio might be good for someone, having it available a number of months ago would have been better for someone who likely didn't get what they wanted.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

One thing you may want to consider is that if you go ahead and get on the waitlist for a 1 BR and get it, will you be able to bank the points that will go back into your account?

Also, even if you are in a lockoff unit, you still may have to switch rooms as opposed to just shutting/locking the studio door.

 

[dcfromva]

LizL,
Nov seems like such a long way off--maybe you could use the wait list to accomplish your goal. If it doesn't come through, you stay status quo. If it does come through, you saved yourself a few points....
I was wondering if you could wait list to add an additional day onto the front end of your second reservation (the one that is a 1BR--I am assuming that you already have two ressies because you have two different room categories... ). Then, if the reservation comes through, cancel the last day of your 2BR reservation....

-DC