Thoughts about online booking

[Brandis]

I realizie that not much has been said from Disney's side regarding the Online Booking tool for DVC, but I'm curious what members think or expect of it.

It seems that most agree that the system will have the same operating hours as the MS phone lines in order not to give online users an advantage.

But I think the advantage would only lie directly at the first day of the 11 or 7 months deadlines. Wouldn't it make sense to give 24h access to bookings which happen after the 11/7 months deadlines? Or do you see a problem there as well?

 

[disneynutz]

Everything depends on their software, hardware, and Disney.

The software could have limited abilities, the hardware might have a max number of users, and Disney could offer one version to direct buyers and a different version to people who bought resale. They might also offer different capabilities to people who own a certain number of points.

Bill

 

[Disneyfn420]

It seems this goes into effect tomorrow, same day Obama is going to Disney to talk about tourism...lol Anyway, it looks like a small amount of members will be able to book right away and they will keep increasing the number. Did anyone get word that they will be able to book online tomorrow?

 

[Nanajo1]

Aware of Disney's checkered past with on line applications I'm not to optimistic that this will launch. I have little faith that reservations will be done without problems. My worry is how long will it take to find out that you need to call to straighten things out?

 

[juncker]

Personally, I'm still calling MS to make reservations. I do usually use online booking for other things, but DVC can be complicated. Having someone to ask questions to is great. I've never had problems with MS so I'll continue to use them for actual bookings.

The one thing that I would love would be to just see resort availability online, so that when I do call, I already know what I can expect to be availble or booked. I'm glad they are going forward with this, however I'm keeping my expectations low.

I could see myself going over to online booking in the future after the bugs have been worked out. I'm sure that enough feedback and lessons learned will be posted on Disboards soon enough.

 

[drusba]

I suspect by midnight tomorrow, we will have seen the following posts on this board:

1. Trying to do on-line booking, but cannot find the link on Disney's site. The search engine gives me availability of rooms at All-Stars.

2. Tried to do on-line booking but the site would not let me do it. It just says "Error no. 87459349."

3. Cannot get in at all to the members' site, anyone else having this problem?

4. The site is asking me whether I want to use current use year points. Are those my December 2011 points if I have a December use year and I am trying to reserve the first week of December?

5. How do I get the on-line booking system to provide the 24 points that Disney will sell me to complete a reservation?

6. Where is the prompt to put in requests?

7. Why won't it accept my request for savanna view when I am trying to reserve a value villa at AKV?

8. The site was real, real slow and when I tried to book, it eventually said there was no studio available at the resort I wanted? Did I make a mistake by not just calling in the first place?

9. Oh no! I think I used the wrong points and forgot to bank before I completed the reservation, is there a way to go in and make chamges to a reservation already made? Shouldn't they have a warning that tells you that you should consider banking points first before doing a reservation.

10. How do you link your reservations on the site?

11. Why can't I order the dining plan when reserving on-line?

12. Where is my reservation, where are my points? Clicked reserve and nothing happened but now my account is showing all the points used without showing any reservation. What do I do?

 

[RumpleMom]

I would be happy with being able to look online to see what is available, then call to try and get it.

I moved our next vacation up just so I could call before this new "enhancement".

For our last trip, I was making online ADRs and noticed a button that said I could check in online, as I was 9 days before travel. I clicked on it and was pleasantly surprised that it had a DVC ressie option. It accepted my DVC ressie number.

I started the process and came to the request section, so I asked for SSR Paddock area, which I had verbally requested with Member Services at the time of booking.

It wouldn't take it, and a box popped up to live chat with a CM, so I did.

I was told that DVC members needed to call Member Services to check in. Huh? I know this isn't true. I also now know that I shouldn't have bothered with the regular site and should have used the DVC site. But I was hoping Disney's computers were improved.

I told DH we are traveling sooner for our next vacation because I wanted our next ressie to be booked well before tomorrow.

I hope I was just being overly cautious and that everything goes smoothly and we all love it.

 

[Muhlenberg]

Drusba, you hit the nail on the head.

How about...

Server too busy.

 

[js]

Drusba, you hit the nail on the head.

How about...

Server too busy.

I REALLY feel sorry for those that have 11 or 7 month ressies tomorrow. I'm next week and I can tell you I will be calling, I have to move points, resorts, etc.

BUT, Muhlenberg....Just want to say your name came right out at me when I saw it.
My dd wil be starting 'Berg in the Fall 2012 as a biology major

 

[Laurabearz]

I suspect by midnight tomorrow, we will have seen the following posts on this board:

1. Trying to do on-line booking, but cannot find the link on Disney's site. The search engine gives me availability of rooms at All-Stars.

2. Tried to do on-line booking but the site would not let me do it. It just says "Error no. 87459349."

3. Cannot get in at all to the members' site, anyone else having this problem?

4. The site is asking me whether I want to use current use year points. Are those my December 2011 points if I have a December use year and I am trying to reserve the first week of December?

5. How do I get the on-line booking system to provide the 24 points that Disney will sell me to complete a reservation?

6. Where is the prompt to put in requests?

7. Why won't it accept my request for savanna view when I am trying to reserve a value villa at AKV?

8. The site was real, real slow and when I tried to book, it eventually said there was no studio available at the resort I wanted? Did I make a mistake by not just calling in the first place?

9. Oh no! I think I used the wrong points and forgot to bank before I completed the reservation, is there a way to go in and make chamges to a reservation already made? Shouldn't they have a warning that tells you that you should consider banking points first before doing a reservation.

10. How do you link your reservations on the site?

11. Why can't I order the dining plan when reserving on-line?

12. Where is my reservation, where are my points? Clicked reserve and nothing happened but now my account is showing all the points used without showing any reservation. What do I do?

"Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night"

 

[pmcpmc]

that you been selected to be the first members to be given the facility to book

 

[Brandis]

I suspect by midnight tomorrow, we will have seen the following posts on this board:

1. Trying to do on-line booking, but cannot find the link on Disney's site. The search engine gives me availability of rooms at All-Stars.

2. Tried to do on-line booking but the site would not let me do it. It just says "Error no. 87459349."

3. Cannot get in at all to the members' site, anyone else having this problem?

4. The site is asking me whether I want to use current use year points. Are those my December 2011 points if I have a December use year and I am trying to reserve the first week of December?

5. How do I get the on-line booking system to provide the 24 points that Disney will sell me to complete a reservation?

6. Where is the prompt to put in requests?

7. Why won't it accept my request for savanna view when I am trying to reserve a value villa at AKV?

8. The site was real, real slow and when I tried to book, it eventually said there was no studio available at the resort I wanted? Did I make a mistake by not just calling in the first place?

9. Oh no! I think I used the wrong points and forgot to bank before I completed the reservation, is there a way to go in and make chamges to a reservation already made? Shouldn't they have a warning that tells you that you should consider banking points first before doing a reservation.

10. How do you link your reservations on the site?

11. Why can't I order the dining plan when reserving on-line?

12. Where is my reservation, where are my points? Clicked reserve and nothing happened but now my account is showing all the points used without showing any reservation. What do I do?

Very good list, now we just can pose the number of the problem we have.

Right now, it's no. 1 for me.

It seems they are still working on it, it says "We are currently unable to access your Disney Vacation Club Membership information while we perform scheduled system activities."

 

[Muhlenberg]

I REALLY feel sorry for those that have 11 or 7 month ressies tomorrow. I'm next week and I can tell you I will be calling, I have to move points, resorts, etc.

BUT, Muhlenberg....Just want to say your name came right out at me when I saw it.
My dd wil be starting 'Berg in the Fall 2012 as a biology major

I was a math major...not many of those.

 

[disneynutz]

I just noticed that Disney left themselves an out. The announcement on the member website says January 19th. It doesn't say which year!

Bill

 

[Starr W.]

I just noticed that Disney left themselves an out. The announcement on the member website says January 19th. It doesn't say which year!

Bill

I just was on the DVC member website and noticed that.

As I have said before, thank goodness I don't need to do anything with reservations until April at the earliest.

 

[wildernessDad]

I suspect by midnight tomorrow, we will have seen the following posts on this board:

1. Trying to do on-line booking, but cannot find the link on Disney's site. The search engine gives me availability of rooms at All-Stars.

2. Tried to do on-line booking but the site would not let me do it. It just says "Error no. 87459349."

3. Cannot get in at all to the members' site, anyone else having this problem?

4. The site is asking me whether I want to use current use year points. Are those my December 2011 points if I have a December use year and I am trying to reserve the first week of December?

5. How do I get the on-line booking system to provide the 24 points that Disney will sell me to complete a reservation?

6. Where is the prompt to put in requests?

7. Why won't it accept my request for savanna view when I am trying to reserve a value villa at AKV?

8. The site was real, real slow and when I tried to book, it eventually said there was no studio available at the resort I wanted? Did I make a mistake by not just calling in the first place?

9. Oh no! I think I used the wrong points and forgot to bank before I completed the reservation, is there a way to go in and make chamges to a reservation already made? Shouldn't they have a warning that tells you that you should consider banking points first before doing a reservation.

10. How do you link your reservations on the site?

11. Why can't I order the dining plan when reserving on-line?

12. Where is my reservation, where are my points? Clicked reserve and nothing happened but now my account is showing all the points used without showing any reservation. What do I do?

Don't forget this one?

13. What happened to online booking? I thought we'd get it today, but it's not available.

A. That will be delayed indefinitely.

 

[Laurabearz]

Maybe that's what Obama is going to announce at his press conference today

 

[Disbroads]

I see a lot of negativity and cheap shots out here. According to this thread,
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2863804

things look good. I can't wait to see it.

I have an IT background enough to know given the main reservation system replacement in late '10... This is just a different user interface from what CMs see, but the database is the same and the business logic that gets availability and stores reservation records should be the same.
So other than "look and feel", I'd bet online is using the same programs behind the scenes as when you call.

 

[disneynutz]

I see a lot of negativity and cheap shots out here. According to this thread,
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2863804

things look good. I can't wait to see it.

I have an IT background enough to know given the main reservation system replacement in late '10... This is just a different user interface from what CMs see, but the database is the same and the business logic that gets availability and stores reservation records should be the same.
So other than "look and feel", I'd bet online is using the same programs behind the scenes as when you call.

The interface looks pretty clean and seems functional. I pulled availability on a few dates and didn't book. Here's hoping that the back end works well, I have had more than my share of Disney IT problems in the past.

Bill

 

[tjkraz]

I see a lot of negativity and cheap shots out here.

What else is new.