Walking a reservation

[BeachClub2014]

The way to fix it is to right-size supply and demand with point cost... There's a reason why this isn't an issue every day....

Okay. You'll get no argument from me.

 

[PolyRob]

Just to add, the fee we pay MS to manage the program is fixed…it’s 12% of the operating budget.

So, the more costs, the less cushion DVC has within their budget.

Meaning, owners can’t pay DVC more…DVC would have to take it from that same 12% they get now.

OH I honestly didn't realize that. So DVC would have to shift funds from other operating expenses in order to staff more MS? Or would DVC have to cover costs above the 12%?

I'm sure the braintrust at DVC can figure out the details of any changes to be implemented to reduce/eliminate walking without harming the average member.

Not sure where the reference to phone calls to member services originates, but not from me. I try to avoid calling them at all.

End of the day, stopping walking is easily accomplished, should DVC desire to do so. That is why I emailed them with my opinion as opposed to just complaining about it here.

I really have 0 faith in this considering how bad the online booking tool is.

The reference to MS phone support is relevant because that was the initial reason for the change in booking this way.

Maybe I am a pessimist, but nothing, especially when dealing with Disney/DVC, is easy.

 

[BeachClub2014]

OH I honestly didn't realize that. So DVC would have to shift funds from other operating expenses in order to staff more MS? Or would DVC have to cover costs above the 12%?


I really have 0 faith in this considering how bad the online booking tool is.

The reference to MS phone support is relevant because that was the initial reason for the change in booking this way.

Maybe I am a pessimist, but nothing, especially when dealing with Disney/DVC, is easy.

Okay. I do have faith in their ability to manage DVC and also address this problem, should they choose to do so, and I hope they do.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Okay. I do have faith in their ability to manage DVC and also address this problem, should they choose to do so, and I hope they do.

It’s a simple algorithm…. will an action cost them money or make them money this quarter. If it’s going to cost them more money (new IT, more calls to MS)… probably not going to happen….

 

[Sandisw]

OH I honestly didn't realize that. So DVC would have to shift funds from other operating expenses in order to staff more MS? Or would DVC have to cover costs above the 12%?


I really have 0 faith in this considering how bad the online booking tool is.

The reference to MS phone support is relevant because that was the initial reason for the change in booking this way.

Maybe I am a pessimist, but nothing, especially when dealing with Disney/DVC, is easy.

DVC gets 12% from us via dues and so that is all they get from us.

Any costs above and beyond that amount would have to come from other income DVC gets. Things like rentals, OTU points, etc.

So, there is a big incentive for DVC to keep costs balanced against that the amount they get from dues since the rest gets to stay with them as profit.

If they had to increase MS to handle more calls, which is what happened when it was book from check out, it’s would eat up more of their budget, which most likely IMO would come from reducing staffing elsewhere and not from dipping into other sources…

 

[BeachClub2014]

It’s a simple algorithm…. will an action cost them money or make them money this quarter. If it’s going to cost them more money (new IT, more calls to MS)… probably not going to happen….

Okay. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and clearing up the issue. I won't debate whether DVC management will or won't make any changes, as there is very little upside to that argument.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm sure the braintrust at DVC can figure out the details of any changes to be implemented to reduce/eliminate walking without harming the average member.

Not sure where the reference to phone calls to member services originates, but not from me. I try to avoid calling them at all.

End of the day, stopping walking is easily accomplished, should DVC desire to do so. That is why I emailed them with my opinion as opposed to just complaining about it here.

The phone calls reference was made by the board last year.

They explained that the reason behind the change to the booking process from check out to check in plus 7 was because the goal was to reduce the amount of time owners need to contact MS to get the trips booked.

 

[BeachClub2014]

The phone calls reference was made by the board last year.

They explained that the reason behind the change to the booking process from check out to check in plus 7 was because the goal was to reduce the amount of time owners need to contact MS to get the trips booked.

Okay. I was just clarifying in my post that I hadn't ever suggested a return to calling MS for reservations. I'm not sure why anyone would want to go back to that hassle.

 

[Sandisw]

My view is the whole situation could be most easily rectified by having a points chart that accurately reflected demand trends...

December - particularly early December is "too good a deal"... which results in this feeding frenzy and pandemonium... The points chart needs to be redone - December is too low for example.... and other seasons - including parts of the summer - are too high in my view.

Much of the year doesn't have this problem. It's these few times that the demand and points are completely out of alignment.

I do not believe they have the ability to adjust the relationship between studios and 1 bedrooms, but that is another part of the problem as well...

Moving between room sizes is definitely something people have a different take on.

Lock offs are declared as 2 bedrooms and several can exist within a unit. So, I don’t think it’s as simple to determine.

We know they can’t raise the lock off premium so whatever that is, can’t be increased.

Point chart adjustments is definitely a good step and they have attempted to do that.

Since we should be getting those in the next month or so, it will be interesting to see if they did anything as a way to deal with this topic?

They also have to submit updated documents every December with the new budget info, which is also when we found out about the new transfer rules last year.

So if they have any plans to update things, then I’d expect owners to find out at the meetings in 3 weeks.