Walking Reservations

[xdan0920]

Well, outside the usual culprits, there have been plenty of resorts with studios open beyond those two when I was deciding for my Feb trip.

That’s great.

I’m traveling in November and the only studios not being walked or already completely booked are OKW and Saratoga.

Luckily I can hop on another website and book a few dozen/hundred studios for my dates!

 

[Brian Noble]

I suspect these are mostly professional renters who have computer programs/algorithms to help secure the walks more easily.

Why would they do this? If I am a professional renter, I probably have a fair number of points. If I have a fair number of points, I don't need e.g. the Wine and Dine weekend, I just need some dates at high-margin resorts, and if I don't get some particular dates, fine I will just get others. So I wouldn't need to walk them, I just need to book them.

That's not to say that there aren't automated mechanisms some people use for booking. I am sure there are. But a commercial renter would be more likely to use them just to book something when they have points available.

Instead, I suspect the increase in walking is just happening because more people know about it, they (rightly or wrongly) think they need to do it, and so they do---and that creates the impression that there are more times/units that need to be walked, which generates a self-reinforcing loop. I've certainly see this play out watching availability. There is a pretty clear pattern of walking---only the 11-month-to-the-day day is booked, and it keeps moving. Even some of those day-of days last a few hours after 8AM. So, definitely not a time when walking needed to happen.

I’m traveling in November and the only studios not being walked or already completely booked are OKW and Saratoga.

Those are still almost all in the home resort window. That's probably not things that are being walked, those are things that were probably booked by home resort points. Some of those may have been speculative rentals, but most are probably just owners using their points.

 

[xdan0920]

Those are still almost all in the home resort window. That's probably not things that are being walked, those are things that were probably booked by home resort points. Some of those may have been speculative rentals, but most are probably just owners using their points.

They have been being walked day by day for at least 2 weeks. I check daily. It happened again this morning. Take the Poly for example. Every morning for the past week, the 7 month window day has been sold out by 8:01a. The days behind have started to come back as people walk forward, but it is 100% happening.

For some rooms, you are right, they got mostly booked in the home window. Again, I can go right to a board sponsor and book that way though.

 

[Brian Noble]

And that's an unneccessary walk, because you can go behind them and pick up days. Annoying, but c'est la vie.

 

[xdan0920]

And that's an unneccessary walk, because you can go behind them and pick up days. Annoying, but c'est la vie.

For now. Unless they land on the same dates I want, and therefore the rooms never drop out the back.

 

[Brian Noble]

Then I recommend getting up before 8 to make the reservation, because that's just a situation of more owners wanting the room than there are rooms. It doesn't matter what Disney does for those---someone is not going to get it.

 

[xdan0920]

Then I recommend getting up before 8 to make the reservation, because that's just a situation of more owners wanting the room than there are rooms. It doesn't matter what Disney does for those---someone is not going to get it.

I joined the parade this morning. Got in at 8:00:01

Nov 2 was booked by 8:01

 

[Brian Noble]

Problem solved!

I did not think to book my October long weekend until after the 7-month window opened, but caught a couple of cancellations in the shuffle. First to Jambo-SAV, and then to PVB-Resort. Might still try to make one more change, but maybe not.

 

[Boardwalk III]

For now. Unless they land on the same dates I want, and therefore the rooms never drop out the back.

Exactly!

 

[lowlight]

I joined the parade this morning. Got in at 8:00:01

Nov 2 was booked by 8:01

I know you and I have had the same issues for awhile, and you probably don’t want to hear this, but sell your contracts and rent. It’s so much easier and the deals I’ve received on renting are in the ~13$ a point realm and are for the tough times of years. Disney is never going to fix the walking and spec renting issues, and it’s only going to get worse.

 

[Sandisw]

That’s great.

I’m traveling in November and the only studios not being walked or already completely booked are OKW and Saratoga.

Luckily I can hop on another website and book a few dozen/hundred studios for my dates!

If you are booking 7 months, lack of availability isn’t due to walking. Not saying there may not be some going on, but because an owner can go in and block it, it’s not as useful

Many of those rooms were booked a long time ago. I get that some of those dates may be rented and that upsets you.

But your post made it seem as though you were talking 11 month window which is when walking works. So, I was relating to 11 month bookings.

Once you get to 7 months, owners have had 4 months to secure rooms.

So, if all you are seeing is OKW and SSR, it means owners of those other resorts booked during home resort periods.

Just wanted to clarify that we were talking about two different booking windows and that for the 11 month booking right now, very few rooms are being walked.

 

[xdan0920]

If you are booking 7 months, lack of availability isn’t due to walking.

Those rooms were booked a long time ago. I get that some of those dates may be rented and that upsets you.

But your post made it seem as though you were talking 11 month window which is when walking works. So, I was relating to 11 month bookings.

Once you get to 7 months, owners have had 4 months to secure rooms.

So, if all you are seeing is OKW and SSR, it means owners of those other resorts booked during home resort periods.

Except I am watching the rooms being walked in real time. As I previously stated.

 

[Sandisw]

I joined the parade this morning. Got in at 8:00:01

Nov 2 was booked by 8:01

Except some of the studios have clearly been booked prior to today.

I just did a quick check and when you expand the window, many resorts don’t have much left to even snag at 7 months.

Walking aside, you aren’t going to get them tomorrow morning as they are booked.

Plus, if you are saying they are not coming back, then what you are seeing is non resort owners who want to trade into those resorts like you do.

 

[Sandisw]

Except I am watching the rooms being walked in real time. As I previously stated.

Again, I just checked too and respectfully, its beyond walking.

As I posted, I looked at every resort for the month of November just now and there are only a handful of resorts that still have openings for next November, where someone could even attempt to walk it forward to dates further in November.

So, if a room is already gone for several days before the 7 month window it’s been booked by an owner.

Now, not saying some are not trying to walk but once you get to 7 months, there are already holes which makes walking difficult.

 

[xdan0920]

Sorry. You guys are right. No one is walking (except me now)

 

[Sandisw]

Just to add, I am not questioning that things are getting booked immediately

But, no one is walking BWV resort view or BW view right now because it’s fully booked already aside a day here and there.

Thats what I am referring to. The only rooms that can potentially be walked right now are those that still have enough November availability to do so.

Someone going on tomorrow who wants to book a November trip, has very few options left, even if they try to walk because owners have already booked things up.

Because this thread is about walking, just want to be sure new people understand what it is and is not.

 

[Sandisw]

Sorry. You guys are right. No one is walking (except me now)

I am glad you got your room!

 

[Brian Noble]

there are only a handful of resorts that still have openings for next November, where someone could even attempt to walk it forward to dates further in November.

In fairness, @xdan0920 was looking at PVB, where (at least for the resort-view longhouses) there is availability throughout the month.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Then I recommend getting up before 8 to make the reservation, because that's just a situation of more owners wanting the room than there are rooms. It doesn't matter what Disney does for those---someone is not going to get it.

Sadly, getting up before 8 (that's 4:45am here in California) morning after morning after morning has often Not worked for me (and yes, I'm waitlisting too, in case something comes up I don't catch during my multitude of checks during the day. Granted, I'm looking at VGF, BWV, and AKL - lower point options. But it is simply not a fun project for me anymore so I've been downsizing again. And we booked cash Epic Universe trip already for the dates I cannot seem to get at the 11 month mark 'cause that was so stinking easy. Willing to bet a Mickey Bar I'm not the only one

 

[Sandisw]

In fairness, @xdan0920 was looking at PVB, where (at least for the resort-view longhouses) there is availability throughout the month.

That’s fair but the initial post stated except for OKW and SSR all studios are booked because of walking.

So, my responses were to that as I thought it was 11 month booking they were discussing

If rooms are not coming back, then it may not be a case of walking but rather that it’s demand.

It looks to me that even PVB aren’t necessarily being walked but booked as there are days not coming back.

Just think it’s important for those new not to think that if they go to book a room and miss out it’s because it’s walking.

ETA: Even SSR can be and probably is walked…we just don’t see it because it’s pretty easy to get.

Meaning walking can occur without it being the reason that rooms are booked and rooms can get booked for reasons other than walking.

At 7 months, it’s less likely it is walkers vs people wanting those dates.