This is so NOT cool....

[kristenrice]

UGH!

My family wants to stay at BWV next October so I transferred in BWV points so that I could make the reservation at the 11 month window (they want standard view). I knew that I would have to call MS to make the reservation so I marked it on the calendar. I knew that I would have to be on the phone at 9am sharp so that I could get on the waitlist as soon as possible. Since the hubby is up at deer camp, I made arrangements for the kids to get picked up for church, knowing that there is no way I would make it there by 9:30...

I was on the phone, dialing, at 9am sharp. When it finally rang through to the menu, I found out that they are ONLY taking bookings for the Member Cruise right now. I can either book online (which I cannot do because of the transferred points) or I can CALL BACK AFTER 2:30pm. Was there any heads-up or announcement about this?! I would have called yesterday and got on the waitlist with an extra night, then just dropped it in a few days. Now, my whole schedule for the day is out of whack...AND I will now be even further down on the impossible waitlist.

I know...it's not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things....but it is just frustrating when the plans you make for months and months just don't go as you expect them to. Oh well, I guess I will be doing this all over again at 2:30.

 

[LVSWL]

Thanks for posting this. I have been trying to get through to add to an existing resize and have had no luck. Hope you are able to get what you want .

 

[bobbiwoz]

This was mentioned yesterday on the Disboards, and it has been the case on past MC booking dates. I hope you do get what you want!!!

 

[rstamm]

I was just going to post why can't I get through now I know.

 

[disneynutz]

So a booking that makes Disney money is more important than members booking a resort stay, imagine that! Why can't they do both?

Bill

 

[drusba]

Unfortunately, be aware that standard view studios and 2BRs went to full for Oct 15, 2016 before 8:15 a.m. this morning.

 

[RAD]

Just wondering why you had to call in to make the reservation vs just doing it online?

 

[kristenrice]

Is there really that great of a demand for the Member Cruise? I seem to recall that they had trouble even filling the last one. I have never taken a cruise (Disney or otherwise) so I honestly don't pay much attention to it. I guess it just seems like they should be able to handle the "increase" in call volume without having to completely shut out those members who have to call for other issues or reservations.

 

[kristenrice]

Just wondering why you had to call in to make the reservation vs just doing it online?

I am using transferred points so I cannot do it online. I own at AKV/HHI so I transferred in some BWV points.

 

[kristenrice]

Unfortunately, be aware that standard view studios and 2BRs went to full for Oct 15, 2016 before 8:15 a.m. this morning.

Yeah, I knew that would be the case and I was fully planning on wait listing. I wanted to make sure I got on the list as soon as possible.

 

[disneynutz]

Just wondering why you had to call in to make the reservation vs just doing it online?

I thought that online was down today for maintenance?

Bill

 

[RAD]

Unfortunately, be aware that standard view studios and 2BRs went to full for Oct 15, 2016 before 8:15 a.m. this morning.

IMHO if you want either a standard, Boardwalk view or GV you need to check into walking a reservation to increase the odds you will get what you want.

 

[RAD]

I thought that online was down today for maintenance?

Bill

Web site says the downtime starts at 10PM EST on Sunday so it's up today until then.

 

[drusba]

As to the member cruise taking preference, MS was misleading. It had on its phone system for a few weeks, including through yesterday, a warning that it will start taking cruise rservations on Nov 15, that it expects volume to be high, that it recommends doing online reservations for DVC resorts, but if you need to call expect longer delays. It said nothing about not taking room reservation calls at all for most of the day but instead simply said the delay when you call may be longer than usual. Frankly, if MS had good sense, it would set it up so that it does not start taking cruise reservations on the set date, Nov 15, until 1 or 2 in the afternoon.

 

[kristenrice]

IMHO if you want either a standard, Boardwalk view or GV you need to check into walking a reservation to increase the odds you will get what you want.

I was fully intending on walking the reservation, but I was booking with transferred points (which have an OCT UY) so I had to call. Since I couldn't even initiate a reservation before October 1 (meaning I was already into the peak vacation times) AND I had the 1-hour delay, I was always shut out of the first night by the time I was able to call. I knew going in that this would be the probable scenario.

 

[kristenrice]

NOT HAPPY!!!!

I waited until 2:30 to call and get on the waitlist....but now....I get a message that says Member Services is closed for training and I need to call back TOMORROW!!

Fortunately, I happen to have tomorrow off of work (vacation) but still...what the heck? This is pretty ridiculous....I mean, did this "training" suddenly come up? I accidentally dialed a little early (2:28pm) and the "call after 2:30" message was being played. If they knew Member Services would be CLOSED at 2:30, why didn't they put that in the recording???

 

[rstamm]

I just off the phone with member service and did my transaction.

You need too punch in that you want the member cruise and it took me right to a cast member.

 

[LisaS]

Is there really that great of a demand for the Member Cruise? I seem to recall that they had trouble even filling the last one. I have never taken a cruise (Disney or otherwise) so I honestly don't pay much attention to it. I guess it just seems like they should be able to handle the "increase" in call volume without having to completely shut out those members who have to call for other issues or reservations.

Regardless of whether they fill the ship or not, those with a preference for a certain cabin type will call as soon as booking opens. My impression from reading past threads about booking the member cruise is that you need to have your 1st, 2nd and maybe even a 3rd choice ready because by the time you get through to MS, your first choice may be fully booked. I don't know if it's still the case but in past years, some people would be on hold for an hour waiting to get through to MS. So, yes, there is a booking frenzy on the day they begin taking reservations. It usually calms down by mid afternoon.

There was some discussion on this in the last day or two. For example, drusba mentioned it in the thread I started about the website maintenance scheduled for this evening: http://www.disboards.com/threads/members-website-maintenance-nov-15-17.3463241/#post-54736050 I started that thread in hopes of forewarning anyone who needed to call MS or do something online to get it done on Saturday. I'm sorry you didn't see it because it sounds like it might have been helpful.

 

[rstamm]

I originally tried to get to member services but it kept looping me back to member cruise prompt so I just hit it and got right through to a cast member who can help with your booking transactions.

 

[kristenrice]

Ok.... I can breathe now....

I did the online chat and "Vern" told me that they were advised that there is a problem with their phone line. I called back and it's working now...I'm on hold with an estimated 6 minute wait time.


Waitlist...Here I come.