Villa availability on the internet... any chance?

[disney dumbo]

Sure would be nice if I could see villa availablity on the computer! I don't care if it wasn't 100% accurate... ball park would be helpful. I don't care if I can't book online... at least I could think through the process of what I want to book before calling MS.

Every time I check on a reservation... and it's not exactly what I need... I hang up and then think... well what about ___________ is it available? Then another 20 minute hold session. UGH!

Hate it that my brain doesn't come up with all the combinations I need... until I hang up!

Seems like Disney could do that fairly easily on the DVC site... it's member protected and all!

 

[Caskbill]

This very topic has been discussed here in the past. The thought is they could download a 'snapshot' of availability every night that members could simply display. It would not be a 'live' display, but just what the reservation status was at the close of business the preceeding day.

This would be much easier than having a full fledged on-line reservations system, and could cut down on the phone calls quite a bit.

As to whether DVC has any such plans or not is anybody's guess.

 

[crisi]

It may also increase the number of complaints - "what do you mean there isn't availablity, you had six of those rooms available yesterday!" People have expectations of real time data - difficult with reservation systems.

 

[JimMIA]

I'm with crisi. I don't think online availability checks -- even realtime -- are of any benefit, and would probably cause more problems than the system would be worth.

DVC needs online booking. They need to drag their computer system into the 20th century -- it's not like online booking of anything is really a revolutionary idea!

From the info Doc posted during the association meetings, it seems there is a glitch in DVC's survey. They ask people how they would prefer to book, and it sounds like there can only be one way. In addition, most people equate "online" with the current email booking they have. Not many of us would give up the real, live CMs at MS for email booking, so most people select telephone. From that flawed survey, DVC thought we didn't want online booking -- or so they said (it's kinda hard to believe they're actually that dense, but...).

Hopefully, we will eventually get realtime online booking like Motel 6 has, and keep the ability to talk to a CM when we need to. It would drastically reduce their MS workload and wait times.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm not advocating for online booking until the complaints about the current system are resolved. And not until the "fixes" run flawlessly for at least a month!

Online booking for points reservations is complicated. Given all the complaints there are about the current website (not available, log in screen flaky, can't bank, etc.) does anyone really think DVC is willing and able to do a decent online reservation system?

I don't think DVC is willing to spend the money it would take to put an online system online and I'm not sure they should (if it's our dues money that will pay for it).

In the meantime, I think a nightly snapshot would be a good thing. It would be easy enough to put a disclaimer on it that says it's just a snapshot and not real time data.

 

[JimMIA]

Online booking for points reservations is complicated. Given all the complaints there are about the current website (not available, log in screen flaky, can't bank, etc.) does anyone really think DVC is willing and able to do a decent online reservation system?

You know, I read those posts just like we all do. But I have NEVER had a problem logging in. I've never had a problem bringing up my account records -- either points or dues. I've never had a problem paying dues online. I've never had a problem banking online.

I don't doubt that some people have difficulties, but I haven't had them.

I also don't see that a booking system for points is any more difficult than a standard hotel booking system for a hotel chain that has multiple properties and several types of rooms at each site. This is not rocket science.

As far as cost, I think it's a "pay me now, pay me later" choice. As membership grows, the staff at MS will have to grow, and the wait times on the phones will probably grow. Online booking is WAY cheaper in the long run -- which is exactly why all of the large hotel chains (with booking options 50 times more complicated than DVC) use online booking.

Even WDW, as technologically backward as their Internet sites are, has online booking.

 

[snowbunny]

I also don't see that a booking system for points is any more difficult than a standard hotel booking system for a hotel chain that has multiple properties and several types of rooms at each site. This is not rocket science.

Completely agree. Not only motels but airlines have figured out how much cheaper it is to make people book online - I had to pay a $15 fee last month to book through a UA agent (in India) because I needed to speak to a human being for something specific.

I fail to see how hotel reservation booking, even with points, is more complicated that airline booking with its many levels of fares, cancellations (esp. Southwest), credits, and logistical issues.

Disney management has been incredibly slow to see the value of a first-class web operation. Not just for DVC but all of WDW. The family of sites is poor.

 

[disney dumbo]

The thought is they could download a 'snapshot' of availability every night that members could simply display. It would not be a 'live' display, but just what the reservation status was at the close of business the preceeding day.

That would be AWESOME!!! I think it would free up their agents and phone lines so much! I wouldn't want to give up the 800 number and a live agent to talk to... but I'm in a situation with holding account points... and it's driving me crazy to have to call for availablity.

If I had a rough idea... I might could figure out what I could do... and book with 1 phone call... maybe even could do the email. But please don't take the 800 away. Even with all the great info from the wonderful people on this board... DVC life can be complicated!

 

[rsimon]

We were discussing this with DVC people this last week and were told they are working to roll it out this year. So, we'll see.. I'm relatively new to this so I am not sure how much I can trust what they tell me.

 

[DebbieB]

They have been saying "this year" for the past 3 or 4 years.

I think it is much more complicated than an standard booking system. You have people with multiple contracts, borrowing, banking, etc. Plus many people don't really know the DVC rules - example: they think they have to borrow points to make a reservation now that will actually be current year when the stay takes place. I just think it would be mess considering the current system makes many mistakes with trained MS people doing the reservation.

 

[disney dumbo]

They have been saying "this year" for the past 3 or 4 years.

I think it is much more complicated than an standard booking system. You have people with multiple contracts, borrowing, banking, etc. Plus many people don't really know the DVC rules - example: they think they have to borrow points to make a reservation now that will actually be current year when the stay takes place. I just think it would be mess considering the current system makes many mistakes with trained MS people doing the reservation.

I agree a booking system would be complicated... but a picture of availablity would be soooooo helpful! (and easy!)

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm not advocating for online booking until the complaints about the current system are resolved. And not until the "fixes" run flawlessly for at least a month!

Online booking for points reservations is complicated. Given all the complaints there are about the current website (not available, log in screen flaky, can't bank, etc.) does anyone really think DVC is willing and able to do a decent online reservation system?

I don't think DVC is willing to spend the money it would take to put an online system online and I'm not sure they should (if it's our dues money that will pay for it).

In the meantime, I think a nightly snapshot would be a good thing. It would be easy enough to put a disclaimer on it that says it's just a snapshot and not real time data.

Yep, my thoughts exactly. I do NOT want a half***** system that doesn't work any better than their current one does. I frankly like being able to talk to someone when I book. We have all seen instances where someone starts to rebook a reservation, cancels their existing one, and before the agent gets it completed, the new one is no longer available. Those kinds of issues would be amplified greatly in a totally online system. I'm one of those who always votes "no" on the on-line booking issue when I get that survey after an MS call.

 

[dvcdisney]

I'm with crisi. I don't think online availability checks -- even realtime -- are of any benefit, and would probably cause more problems than the system would be worth.

DVC needs online booking. They need to drag their computer system into the 20th century -- it's not like online booking of anything is really a revolutionary idea!

From the info Doc posted during the association meetings, it seems there is a glitch in DVC's survey. They ask people how they would prefer to book, and it sounds like there can only be one way. In addition, most people equate "online" with the current email booking they have. Not many of us would give up the real, live CMs at MS for email booking, so most people select telephone. From that flawed survey, DVC thought we didn't want online booking -- or so they said (it's kinda hard to believe they're actually that dense, but...).

Hopefully, we will eventually get realtime online booking like Motel 6 has, and keep the ability to talk to a CM when we need to. It would drastically reduce their MS workload and wait times.

I agree as well. DVC does need online booking. I'm sure they can upgrade their system to be in line with so many other airlines, hotels etc that offer online booking. I think they should have on the members only website an account where your available points can be used. And when you start choose the date and resort, the total points that you can use can flash in front of you so for those that are not sure, you will be able to know how many points you are eligible to use based on home resort priority, banked, borrowed and available points. Does this seem reasonable?

I do believe this will cut down on the phone call to MS. And it would leave more time for those who choose not to use online or those with special requirements that only MS can handle. Other than that, everyone else should be able to book it online.

I would understand that there may be concerns about hours of MS. To be fair, I think that online booking should only be available during the MS hours.

As for checking availability online. I don't think it would be that helpful because unless you book it, it may not be there the next second. For me, I wouldn't get my hopes up if I look at the availability and it's there. Nothing is guaranteed until it's booked.

As for the survey, I chose online booking because I thought they were truly looking into this and thought that if more people would prefer online booking, they will introduce it. But I see what you mean about many people thinking it meant email booking. And yes, in that case I would have chosen telephone.

 

[Tinker74]

I agree with Carol....

 

[crisi]

I agree a booking system would be complicated... but a picture of availablity would be soooooo helpful! (and easy!)

I accidently clicked over on rent trade - and something occurred to me, and I think rentals alone are the reason Disney will never put in a simple "check for availability" system. They really don't seem to like rentals (and from their point of view, that makes sense) and they really don't want to give us additional functionality that makes renting points easier. Being able to check availability over the internet - even if its "as of last night" will make life a lot easier for people who rent.

 

[tjkraz]

Taking Member Services hours to 7 full working days per week doesn't strike me as a move they'd be making if plans were in the works to provide alternative booking methods.

 

[abner1776]

I originally thought that a "picture" of availability would be great and I was thinking back to last night when I saw great airfares of $184 RT from Beantown for selected dates and so wanted to know right then and there if the was availability at any of the DVC resorts so I could go ahead and book it...a need a midwinter "sun" fix....

A "picture" of the villa availabilty last night would only tell me if villas were not available, but really would not tell me if villas were available cause I would have to call MS this morning and who knows what may have changed in the meantime. I could have jumped and booked the airfare only to call MS and find out.."no room at the Inn"....ugh...

As far as helping out the renters, the overall issue of renters needs to be addressed once and for all regardless of whether or not this would help or hurt them....but that of course...is a whole nother issue...

 

[tfc3rid]

Wow... If only Disney would have strong ties with a very innovative computing giant...

Maybe then something could happen....

 

[crisi]

I originally thought that a "picture" of availability would be great and I was thinking back to last night when I saw great airfares of $184 RT from Beantown for selected dates and so wanted to know right then and there if the was availability at any of the DVC resorts so I could go ahead and book it...a need a midwinter "sun" fix....

A "picture" of the villa availabilty last night would only tell me if villas were not available, but really would not tell me if villas were available cause I would have to call MS this morning and who knows what may have changed in the meantime. I could have jumped and booked the airfare only to call MS and find out.."no room at the Inn"....ugh...

As far as helping out the renters, the overall issue of renters needs to be addressed once and for all regardless of whether or not this would help or hurt them....but that of course...is a whole nother issue...

And thats where the complaints would start - with people being very disappointed that the non-real time web site SAID there was availability and they booked their tickets based off that!

It has to be real time. It has to allow booking. And it has to give you some period of time to back out of the transaction completely - just in case your Ding fare disappeared while you were getting your DVC room.

 

[ACDSNY]

I agree we need real-time on-line booking system. As a west coaster by the time I get to call MS is closed. The new days/hours will help, but I prefer on-line.