Vero 1-beds and New Special Request Policy

[KMarie]

Hello again folks,
I've gone through the pages of posts on the New Special Requests Policy, and thought I'd share some observations and experiences as the policy will affect getting a 1-bedroom with an ocean view at Vero.

As you know, there are very few 1-bedrooms with an ocean view at Vero -- about a half dozen or so I've been told by Vero staff. And, there is no guarantee that when you request a 1-bedroom with an ocean view that you will get it. But, I have always been told by staff and others that making your 1-bedroom reservation and request for a direct ocean view as early as possible increased your chances that your request could be honored. I bought add-ons at Vero to have the 11-month booking advantage, which allowed me to make reservations earlier than if I didn't own there.

It seems to me that this new policy on requests diminishes one of the virtues of the 11-month window. If my lone request for an ocean view is considered only if such a room is clean upon my arrival, then it is entirely possible that someone who never made the request for an ocean view and made their reservations months after I made mine, will get the room with the view. It should be based on when you make your reservation, not when the cleaning staff has completed its work.

Now, here's a case in point. I was at Vero in January this year. The hotel was not crowded. I had a Inn room and asked if I could upgrade to a one-bedroom with an ocean view. If there was no ocean view available, I would stay where I was. I could see by walking around the resort that there were at least two empty 1-bedrooms with an ocean view.

I was given a very hard time about this upgrade request by a staff member at the front desk. The person would not tell me whether a 1-bedroom with an ocean view was available, maintaining the resort "doesn't sell the rooms that way." The person would not tell me which rooms were available so I could see where in the resort they were or if they even had a partial ocean view. It was like whether a 1 bedroom had an ocean view was some huge secret!

It was then I was told by a supervisor that the powers that be at Disney were talking about this new special request policy. I was told then that requests like a 1-bedroom with an ocean view would be honored if such a room happened to be clean when you arrived. I indicated at the time I thought it was not wise and would cut into the benefits of the 11-month window. Now, they've adopted that policy for every resort.

In the case of my trip in January, it turns out there was some conference or convention at the resort, and the 1-bedrooms with an ocean view were assigned to those "cash paying" guests.

I'll be going back to Vero in January. I've made my reservations for a 1-bedroom with the lone request of a direct ocean view. I made them at the 11-month window. How much do you want to bet that no such rooms are available when I check in?

We'll see.....

 

[PamOKW]

By January, they will hopefully have reversed this policy to cut down on the bloodshed at the front desks of the resorts.

I don't mind not getting everything I want every time I go. However, I feel we should all get what we want at least some of the time. I also don't agree with this reported shift in not honoring requests policy.

I can understand what is probably happening at Disney. Their costs are being greatly increased by the number of faxes and phone calls....sometimes repeated faxes and phone calls... that are being driven by discussion boards such as these. It is probably driving them nuts. However, in the case of DVC, I don't see why they can't continue to take requests through MS and assign rooms based on booking. If they return member faxes once or twice with indications that they should contact MS only, the faxes should stop.

 

[kathleena]

I agree with your comment on the 11 month home resort window. The new polciy takes that away and gives advantage to people who are able to get ot the resorts early in the day.

I have already written and sent my letter to DVC to complain about the new policy.

 

[floridafam]

Don't really have much to say on the new policy.

I think that they were silly for not telling you where the 1br's were when you wanted to move. My gosh, you were at the resort!

Saving the ocean view one bedrooms for cash paying guests-also silly. Why should these be reserved for them? I can think of no valid reason they should be given priority over members. This better not be the norm at VB

 

[Dean]

One should not be upgraded by request without paying the higher points costs no matter how empty the resort is.

 

[lat]

I have not read about the new room request policy. But I was told, when I made my reservation for VB for next April for a 1-br unit, I was told that they can no longer put in "ocean view" as a room request because there are very few and created too much disappointment.

 

[msdis]

Other than NS I seldom make requests and if I do it is usually one and only one, like an upper floor. Almost never do our requests get honored. We get ground floors and even smoking rooms. Has anyone ever considered that those who are screaming at the front desk are leaving those of us who are meek to take the crappy rooms that are left. After the posts here I almost expect they will dump whatever is left on us because our DEMANDS are so few that we are easy prey. If indeed there is this new policy I love it. Some of us need to take our diapers off, stop being so selfish, and grow up. We don't always get our way all the time no matter how loud we scream. Welcome to the real world! BRAVO DVC!!!

Disclaimer-handicap and NS for REAL medical related issues do not apply. (yes, I think people lie)

 

[Sammie]

Basically according to CM's that work at DVC resorts, especially WDW ones, more members wanted to get into the rooms earlier than the standard 4pm more than they wanted the requests to reflect when they booked their ressie.

I am sure if more members request the change back to the way it was they will listen.

 

[Dean]

Disclaimer-handicap and NS for REAL medical related issues do not apply. (yes, I think people lie) [/B]

When I first had to start with the NS for medical reasons, I asked them about getting a medical documentation. I assumed it would be needed but they said no. I can tell you though that most physicians would sign off on this type of request if not specific. They wouldn't put an incorrect diagnosis but to say a person needs non smoking for medical reasons, I bet 98% would sign a paper that said that. So if you required a paper signed by a physician, you'd only weed out the ones that wouldn't go to that extent of contacting a physician. Besides, we'd be talking medical reasons in the general sense and not in the government or HMO sense as the latter would have a medical review team and be willing to reject applicants if appropriate. DVC wouldn't be willing or even able to turn down the requests.

 

[msdis]

My point was to acknowledge that people with real medical reasons would be at the top of the list no questions asked!! But I am all too familiar with people who lie. More often than not, the person who really needs something will not speak up where someone who really does NOT will throw a fit and make demands. Your point is so real in today's world. I have spent 23 years dealing with "medical" issues of varying degree in different professions and no disrespect to those who seriously have a real problem as there are so many unfortunate people, but when you see and hear what I have, you become desensitized and unsympathethic to those that you KNOW are milking the system. They would make Julia Roberts and John Travolta look like amateurs. Of course no one will challenge these people, we live in a sue society. The sad thing is the rest of us have to put up with them and their demands and go to work to support them and the costly repercussions that have resulted(ie. healthcare and insurance among others).