walking a reservation for Dec. 2017

[BWV Dreamin]

So today October 8, 2017 is not available. The days before and after are but not the 8th. This is for standard studio at VGF. So walking is happening.

 

[Dean]

EXACTLY! Any cure will be almost certainly be worse than the problem that currently exists. (And I refuse to believe any change will be implemented that causes more work for MS - such as keeping track of changes or taking lots more calls, even if software could be developed to do it).

As I've posted before, I find allowing walking to be inappropriate and that it should be stopped. I put this on DVC, not on the members who use it as long as it is currently allowed. My vote would be a cancelation and rebooking rather than allowing changes. It doesn't completely remove the issue but it effectively does. Charges to change or charges to change over a couple are also OK in my book. One system I use doesn't even allow one to cancel and rebook on the same phone call.

 

[CarolMN]

........(snip)...... My vote would be a cancelation and rebooking rather than allowing changes. It doesn't completely remove the issue but it effectively does. .............

I don't think that will help unless the software is changed to check the waitlist immediately after each cancellation. And I think that would slow the system down to unacceptable levels for both MS and online bookers.


Sometimes we just can't make everything "fair" and I know you agree with that.

As already stated in other posts, for some times and some booking categories, there is just more demand than the system can handle. There will always be some who end up disappointed that they couldn't get their preferred choices. As far as I know, no one has been shut out of their home resort if they attempted to book when the 11 month window opened. They may not have gotten a studio or the view they preferred, but they could have gotten a different view or a 1 bedroom or larger villa.

 

[Dean]

I don't think that will help unless the software is changed to check the waitlist immediately after each cancellation. And I think that would slow the system down to unacceptable levels for both MS and online bookers.


Sometimes we just can't make everything "fair" and I know you agree with that.

As already stated in other posts, for some times and some booking categories, there is just more demand than the system can handle. There will always be some who end up disappointed that they couldn't get their preferred choices. As far as I know, no one has been shut out of their home resort if they attempted to book when the 11 month window opened. They may not have gotten a studio or the view they preferred, but they could have gotten a different view or a 1 bedroom or larger villa.

We'll have to disagree. Making it a cancelation and rebooking would save a ton of phone calls and likely speed up the system rather than slow it down. Now I'm sure many would cancel then rebook online so one change they could make in addition would be to not have cancelation immediately available which they likely need to do anyway to help the wait list. The basis for my view is that I don't think holding something one has no intention of using is appropriate. In many ways, a charge for changes could be best or could be combined.

 

[edk35]

Ok someone tell me what walking a ressie means?

 

[chalee94]

Ok someone tell me what walking a ressie means?

http://www.disboards.com/threads/walking-a-reservation.3436706/

 

[edk35]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/walking-a-reservation.3436706/

Thanks.....I will check it out.

 

[ziravan]

Simple solution that affects walking and only walking:

Any booking that includes days outside the 11 month window cannot be modified until all days booked fall within the 11 month window. A reservation that includes days that fall outside the 11 month window can only be modified by being cancelled in its entirety.

The ability to modify a reservation that starts at the 11 month window and includes dates beyond the window would only begin AFTER the availability of future dates is fair game for everybody.

 

[Dean]

I don't think that helps unless they refuse changes until several days after the 7 day window opens going forward. IMO there has to be some type of penalty for holding something that one doesn't plan to use whether it be financial or to actually decrease the chances of getting what one wants. Ideally you'd like to do so in such a way that doesn't hurt those who do limited reservations and have to change but didn't plan to. Or there has to be some incentive to the system with limited numbers like part of a VIP system with limited numbers involved which would exclude resale buyers going forward.

 

[crisi]

I don't think that helps unless they refuse changes until several days after the 7 day window opens going forward. IMO there has to be some type of penalty for holding something that one doesn't plan to use whether it be financial or to actually decrease the chances of getting what one wants. Ideally you'd like to do so in such a way that doesn't hurt those who do limited reservations and have to change but didn't plan to. Or there has to be some incentive to the system with limited numbers like part of a VIP system with limited numbers involved which would exclude resale buyers going forward.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. At eleven your reservation should be locked once you make it for say ten days from the checkout day. Make all the changes you want to the reservation for airfare, etc. after that. A similar rule at seven months for adding and subtracting days - but which will allow for resort switches (i.e. and cancel and a rebook).

 

[Dean]

I've said this before and I'll say it again. At eleven your reservation should be locked once you make it for say ten days from the checkout day. Make all the changes you want to the reservation for airfare, etc. after that. A similar rule at seven months for adding and subtracting days - but which will allow for resort switches (i.e. and cancel and a rebook).

Anything that allows people to hold things they don't intend to use and/or encourages members to have multiple interactions with MS related to a single reservation hurts other members plain and simple. Like day by day before, it's a loophole, not a planned option. There are a number of ways to improve it though it's likely nothing will be 100% perfect but they all have to been painful for a certain segment of the membership to be successful. Like most things, trying to make it a little better but allow this and that exception will never work and is not reasonable IMO. Any fix has to stop walking or penalize those who do in lost $$$ or lost or restricted points. Here's a Marriott example, if you reserve early and are not the top VIP levels, you pay 20% more points and if you change, you lose the extra.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Anything that allows people to hold things they don't intend to use and/or encourages members to have multiple interactions with MS related to a single reservation hurts other members plain and simple. Like day by day before, it's a loophole, not a planned option. There are a number of ways to improve it though it's likely nothing will be 100% perfect but they all have to been painful for a certain segment of the membership to be successful. Like most things, trying to make it a little better but allow this and that exception will never work and is not reasonable IMO. Any fix has to stop walking or penalize those who do in lost $$$ or lost or restricted points. Here's a Marriott example, if you reserve early and are not the top VIP levels, you pay 20% more points and if you change, you lose the extra.

Day by day never reserved anything people never intended to use. That's why it was a fair system.

MG

 

[Dean]

Day by day never reserved anything people never intended to use. That's why it was a fair system.

MG

IMO anything that encourages extra phone calls for a single reservation is unreasonable, to that end, day by day was equally unfair. Another issue is day by day also created the possibility that you had part of what I wanted and vice versa. I believe the current system, as flawed as it is, is far more reasonable than day by day.

 

[nicki.momof3]

I am currently walking a reservation for Nov 11-18, 2017. Started 2 weeks ago. This is for a standard studio at VGF. I have never walked and know I am extremely early. But this is for a family members honeymoon so I didn't want to take any chances.

I started my walk 3rd week of September ( beginning of FW). As far as VGF is concerned it has been available up to this past weekend for 7 consecutive nights ( so far my current ressie ends 10/14/17). What I have noticed is the first week of October, BWV standard, BLT standard, and AKV value studios all have less then a week availability and are obviously being walked.

My biggest concern for walking this ressie is getting through FW, Jersey week and those walking for Thanksgiving . I'll post more observations as I walk through the rest of October .

OMG - Who has the time to call and change a reservation for 2 months. That is a VERY VERY committed walk. I only travel Christmas and spring break weeks. I have never in 10 years (we go 2x a week) walked a reservation and I have never not gotten what I wanted. Most years I am also able to switch to a more desirable resort at 7 months (BWV standard - BCV).

I personally don't think walking should be allowed.

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

I'm hoping for a BLT standard dedicated 2 BR for Dec 1st - 9th. If I can't get a standard and we go to lake, we have to drop a night (borrowing all my 2018 points too for this trip) so I'm pretty motivated. We also have two preschoolers, and we did a split stay last time and it worked but we'd just prefer less hassle this time. I'm still unsure if I should try to walk (never done it before) or just let the cards fall where they do. I know I'm basically picking one of the hardest to get types at the hardest time of year to get it...and I sure wish it was easier, but I've been watching availability right now and it's clearly something lots of people are walking...so i guess this is the game right now.

 

[Dean]

I personally don't think walking should be allowed.

I agree and have said so many times. It ties up reservations the member doesn't intend to use and it makes for more phone calls to MS which makes it more difficult to get help on other matters and increases costs. But it's currently allowed, though not intended, so any beef would be with DVCMC not the members using it, IMO. Personally I feel there should be some type of penalty to change or cancel. Making each change a cancelation and rebooking would help, adding charges to do so or over a SMALL number of say 1 or 2 every 200 points would also help. I'd also like to see wait lists tie up points so you'd need the extra points to do so. But nothing will be absolute or perfect.

 

[kristenrice]

I need some enlightenment (or coffee...it's still early)...

Let's say Member X goes online at 8am today and books a studio at BLT for 11/7-11/14 even though they want to check in on 11/13. Then, a few seconds later, Member Y goes online to book 11/7-11/14 and it is full. If Member Y waitlists the reservation, wouldn't he get those days when Member X cancels 11/7-11/13?

My caffeine may be kicking in now and I think the issue would be that the entire stay has to become available at the same time for the waitlist to fill. This means that Member Y would have to check daily to book and waitlist individual days.

I have walked reservations (AKV value studio during F&W) and been the recipient of a waitlist that was filled when a walker cancelled (BWV std 2 BR in Oct, BWV p/g 1BR in Oct) so I can speak from personal experience. My opinion is that if someone wants to walk a reservation, that is their prerogative. I don't believe that it is unfair to anyone. It may make it more difficult (more effort needed) to get a desired reservation, but I guess I don't consider it unfair.

 

[Dean]

I need some enlightenment (or coffee...it's still early)...

Let's say Member X goes online at 8am today and books a studio at BLT for 11/7-11/14 even though they want to check in on 11/13. Then, a few seconds later, Member Y goes online to book 11/7-11/14 and it is full. If Member Y waitlists the reservation, wouldn't he get those days when Member X cancels 11/7-11/13?

My caffeine may be kicking in now and I think the issue would be that the entire stay has to become available at the same time for the waitlist to fill. This means that Member Y would have to check daily to book and waitlist individual days.

I have walked reservations (AKV value studio during F&W) and been the recipient of a waitlist that was filled when a walker cancelled (BWV std 2 BR in Oct, BWV p/g 1BR in Oct) so I can speak from personal experience. My opinion is that if someone wants to walk a reservation, that is their prerogative. I don't believe that it is unfair to anyone. It may make it more difficult (more effort needed) to get a desired reservation, but I guess I don't consider it unfair.

We'll have to disagree, I feel otherwise for the reasons noted above. But you're assuming that member gets what they would have gotten anyway and that is possible but not a truly correct assumption.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I have monitored availability since I started the walk mid September. Up until the second week of October, there was availability and could have started my walk then. Since this was my first time, and a very important reservation ( a honeymoon), I took no chances and started early.

From the middle of October until the present, there has been consistent walking with no availability for the standard view studios at VGF. Lake view studios continue to be available.

I have only had to call twice a week since I started. It has not been much of an inconvenience but you do have to watch the calendar very closely as the "call" days can change by one day. If you wait to the last possible day to move your reservation out, and don't pay attention to the calendar, it's very easy to be out of that reservation. Two more calls and I'm done.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree that there should be some kind of restriction on this but not being able to revise dates goes too far. What if something happens and I need to arrive a day later or leave a day earlier. I shouldn't lose my reservation. I think a waiting period makes sense.

I am concerned about my 12/2 BWV reservation (boardwalk view), I plan to reserve on 1/2.