Walking Reservations

[CarolMN]

One issue with this.

Not all of my family can commit to a trip 11 months in advance. For my big family trips I always book two rooms under my name at 11 months and change the lead guest when it is decided. This is why I want an "Is this a rental?" checkbox. I agree that no rental reservations should be made at 11 months is a great idea, but we don't need to punish large family trips to accomplish this.

Agreed. This is us. 50% of our trips we bring friends/family and will have multiple rooms. I'm always the lead guest to get things started on all of them until details are worked out much later. Then I'll put a different family member as lead guest on the other room(s). Since I'm entitled to book the multiple rooms, I don't want the extra hoops to jump through because of issues a small percentage of others might create sometimes.

MS could allow these type of requests when ever the member is also staying in a separate reservation. Should be easy to explain and for MS to confirm when the request is made to change the lead guest.

 

[eticketplease]

Nah, I don't think that would change a thing. The people who rent out the spec reservations from DVC members with no refunds are not doing it 8 months in advance. I am on a number of DVC rental groups on FB and the vast majority of people are looking for a villa just a couple months out.

They might not be renting them then but they are grabbing them at 11 months and holding them until they can call and adjust the name is what I think is happening.

 

[CarolMN]

Nah, I don't think that would change a thing. The people who rent out the spec reservations from DVC members with no refunds are not doing it 8 months in advance. I am on a number of DVC rental groups on FB and the vast majority of people are looking for a villa just a couple months out.

I have no problem with reservations made at or after the 7 month window opens.

For me, the issue is the spec reservations made during the home resort priority period for the purpose of renting. That limits availability for holiday & other popular periods as well as for the least expensive studios or other coveted views. It's my opinion that members who want to stay in those villas/ dates should have priority over those who plan to rent them to others.

Again, I don't object at all to reservations made after the 7 month window opens.

 

[lowlight]

One issue with this.

Not all of my family can commit to a trip 11 months in advance. For my big family trips I always book two rooms under my name at 11 months and change the lead guest when it is decided. This is why I want an "Is this a rental?" checkbox. I agree that no rental reservations should be made at 11 months is a great idea, but we don't need to punish large family trips to accomplish this.

In the past, when I've complained about the unfairness of walking, I was told on several occasions- "maybe you purchased the wrong product".

 

[Sandisw]

One issue with this.

Not all of my family can commit to a trip 11 months in advance. For my big family trips I always book two rooms under my name at 11 months and change the lead guest when it is decided. This is why I want an "Is this a rental?" checkbox. I agree that no rental reservations should be made at 11 months is a great idea, but we don't need to punish large family trips to accomplish this.

And this was the exact situation that I mentioned at the meeting and the board member agreed that changes that could impact this would be an example of unintended consequences they’d consider carefully before making a rule change.

It’s easy for business affairs who monitors to watch the number of lead guest changes.

Process them all and when an owner seems to have too many, send a warning.

There is a lot DVC can do to update rules that are common sense and fair that will make commercial renting harder without impacting the flexibility of DVC for the average owner.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Were you not able to utilize the modify feature of changing a DVC reservation? If you were trying to replace one DVC res with another, you really shouldn't need to cancel, let alone lose both reservations. Sorry to hear this.....

It would not allow modifying to a different resort. But on a positive note, I stalked nonstop and got another nite that worked

 

[TinkAgainU]

...Again, I don't object at all to reservations made after the 7 month window opens.

I do. I STRONGLY feel owners on the Deed should have priority over renters or even giving away points. If the owner is not there, with a card on file, I would love to see those priorities a couple weeks After owner present bookings. Note, they could still allow an owner to book multiple rooms for family as long as the owner is booked the same approximate dates. Not gonna happen, but wish it could.

I've met so many people who have sold their DVC after being frustrated at bookings recently.

 

[Mouseforward]

In the past, when I've complained about the unfairness of walking, I was told on several occasions- "maybe you purchased the wrong product".

I don't recall ever saying that.

Walking is one of the items where if it was stopped for everyone we would all benefit, but we all have to play on a level field. I see no point in chastising people for walking on the forums when DVC has been silent on the issue. If it was banned for all then I would be happy not walking. If DVC does not stop it for everyone, then I reluctantly will waste the extra time walking my reservation rather than taking the leftovers.

 

[eticketplease]

It would not allow modifying to a different resort. But on a positive note, I stalked nonstop and got another nite that worked

Were you using non grandfathered resale points? VGC should have been able to modify to VDH if not.

 

[Sandisw]

I don't recall ever saying that.

Walking is one of the items where if it was stopped for everyone we would all benefit, but we all have to play on a level field. I see no point in chastising people for walking on the forums when DVC has been silent on the issue. If it was banned for all then I would be happy not walking. If DVC does not stop it for everyone, then I reluctantly will waste the extra time walking my reservation rather than taking the leftovers.

I think that is where most people are about it. If they can find a way to stop walking that doesn’t create limitations that impact far more owners, I don’t think anyone would object.

Regardless, if DVC decided to stop modifications all together, which they can, we all have to accept it even if we think it’s a bad move.

DVC said they’d be open to rules changes if they can find a way that doesn’t create unintended consequences.

Since nothing has happened yet, my speculation is that they haven’t yet found on they believe is better.

If they do, we will see the HRR updated.

 

[MicheyMouse]

So are people basically booking a full week and then modifying by one day, every single day until they get what they want? Seems like a lot of work that could easily be screwed up if so.

 

[muppets3d]

So are people basically booking a full week and then modifying by one day, every single day until they get what they want? Seems like a lot of work that could easily be screwed up if so.

You don't need to modify daily, you only need to modify often enough so your reservation remains within the 11-month window opening, but some people do modify daily - especially if they don't have enough points for a long walk, only a few nights. Or let's say you started your walk in a high points season and are walking towards a lower points season, you can add nights as you walk.

I know some people walk for months, I'm not that dedicated - a night to a week is all I'll do, tbh. I'd rather just pick a different view or room type. But I am blessed with enough points to have that option, I guess.

 

[Wedgeout]

So are people basically booking a full week and then modifying by one day, every single day until they get what they want? Seems like a lot of work that could easily be screwed up if so.

No..once you hit that initial lucky grab (like getting into a popular virtual queue!), the rest is stress free. Can go in any time of the day to modify. For a week long reservation, I pick ever 4-5 days to give a little buffer just in case a glitches or website issues.

 

[walt34]

I think that is where most people are about it. If they can find a way to stop walking that doesn’t create limitations that impact far more owners, I don’t think anyone would object.

I disagree. Even without commercial renting there will be a scarcity of some room types during some periods of the year at some resorts. The question is how to allocate those rooms to the people who want them (who will get them and who will not). Walking is a way to increase your chances to get these rooms if it's really important to you. Everyone can do it but it takes some work. If walking is prohibited and nothing else changes, the 8am 'lottery' at 11 months would decide this. Given the weakness of DVC IT systems (who will get Rex while trying to book?) I don't feel this would be better in any way.

 

[Sandisw]

I disagree. Even without commercial renting there will be a scarcity of some room types during some periods of the year at some resorts. The question is how to allocate those rooms to the people who want them (who will get them and who will not). Walking is a way to increase your chances to get these rooms if it's really important to you. Everyone can do it but it takes some work. If walking is prohibited and nothing else changes, the 8am 'lottery' at 11 months would decide this. Given the weakness of DVC IT systems (who will get Rex while trying to book?) I don't feel this would be better in any way.

This had nothing to do with specific rooms. My comment was that people want to see booking rules that prevent walking of any room…which is the ability to modify reservations an unlimited number of times with no penalty…DVC said they’d be open to rule changes if they find a better way.

There is one way to 100% stop it…go back to booking from check out vs check in.

But it means people will play the 8 am game every day…like they did before with calls to MS…which is why they changed that…

They won’t have to but people will just to be sure that they have the best chance for all dates.

For those specific rooms, demand outpaces supply so even without walking, those rooms will remain difficult.

One change DVC. can make for those specific rooms is the special seasons lottery. That puts everyone with an equal chance.

 

[robinb]

I have no problem with reservations made at or after the 7 month window opens.

For me, the issue is the spec reservations made during the home resort priority period for the purpose of renting. That limits availability for holiday & other popular periods as well as for the least expensive studios or other coveted views. It's my opinion that members who want to stay in those villas/ dates should have priority over those who plan to rent them to others.

Again, I don't object at all to reservations made after the 7 month window opens.

I misunderstood your suggestion. I thought you meant no lead name changes between the 7 and 11 month window, not no name changes at all on reservations booked within the 11-month window.

No, I could not get onboard with that. 95% of my reservations are booked in the 11-month window and 100% of the reservations I rent are ones that I booked and realize I can't use after all. That restricts my legal and approved use of my membership.

FWIW, I have booked spec rentals years ago and I found that they are actually difficult to rent. I went through all the effort of booking a reservation at 11-months exactly, listing it for sale, and finally waiting until the month before the check-in date just to fail to rent it. I figured I made someone off the waitlist happy, so there is that.

 

[walt34]

This had nothing to do with specific rooms. My comment was that people want to see booking rules that prevent walking of any room…which is the ability to modify reservations an unlimited number of times with no penalty…DVC said they’d be open to rule changes if they find a better way.

People are against walking because they believe it will reduce scarcity - which I don't believe it will. There will still be more people who want a room in the weeks before Christmas than there are rooms. The question is how these rooms are allocated. Today it's first come first served with walking making it possible to come very early if it's worth it to you. It's like getting in line the night before to get the new iPhone. People who want to walk up in the morning might not like it but they had the same chance and it just wasn't worth it to them.

One change DVC. can make for those specific rooms is the special seasons lottery. That puts everyone with an equal chance.

In my opinion, a lottery wouldn't be better, because it can't take into account how important a specific date is to you. Is the date really important to you (you might be restricted in when you can take vacations, need to sync up with others, travel might be difficult to you) or are you just giving it a try?

This is all just my personal opinion. Others will disagree.

 

[muppets3d]

People are against walking because they believe it will reduce scarcity - which I don't believe it will. There will still be more people who want a room in the weeks before Christmas than there are rooms. The question is how these rooms are allocated. Today it's first come first served with walking making it possible to come very early if it's worth it to you. It's like getting in line the night before to get the new iPhone. People who want to walk up in the morning might not like it but they had the same chance and it just wasn't worth it to them.

In my opinion, a lottery wouldn't be better, because it can't take into account how important a specific date is to you. Is the date really important to you (you might be restricted in when you can take vacations, need to sync up with others, travel might be difficult to you) or are you just giving it a try?

This is all just my personal opinion. Others will disagree.

Keep in mind that with a lottery, it would presumably only apply to certain room categories at certain times of year. Other room categories like value studios at AKL may be subject to lottery year-round. I envision the lottery as playing out a bit like a waitlist - book the view you can get, and enter the lottery for what you really want.

 

[WillRad]

People are against walking because they believe it will reduce scarcity - which I don't believe it will. There will still be more people who want a room in the weeks before Christmas than there are rooms. The question is how these rooms are allocated. Today it's first come first served with walking making it possible to come very early if it's worth it to you. It's like getting in line the night before to get the new iPhone. People who want to walk up in the morning might not like it but they had the same chance and it just wasn't worth it to them.

In my opinion, a lottery wouldn't be better, because it can't take into account how important a specific date is to you. Is the date really important to you (you might be restricted in when you can take vacations, need to sync up with others, travel might be difficult to you) or are you just giving it a try?

This is all just my personal opinion. Others will disagree.

Agree with the walking comments. Don’t think banning walking would improve availability. Getting rid of walking would simply move the advantage away from those willing to commit and lock points into a walk very early and instead give it to people running bots to auto book reservations as soon as window opens (mostly larger commercial renters with IT resources/expertise).

Finding a way to reduce the spec reservation market would probably do a lot more for availability. Maybe capping total annual lead guest changes per membership based on total points. After that, a rebooking would be required for lead guest changes.

 

[walt34]

Keep in mind that with a lottery, it would presumably only apply to certain room categories at certain times of year. Other room categories like value studios at AKL may be subject to lottery year-round. I envision the lottery as playing out a bit like a waitlist - book the view you can get, and enter the lottery for what you really want.

Well, if you have the points to book 1BR and then waitlist for a studio (without borrowing those points from next year, as you cannot return them after winning the lottery) lucky you. I still prefer mechanisms where I can work to achieve something to pure chance.

Btw, I don't need to walk as I travel at times when there is enough availability. But it gives me comfort that I could walk if I needed a week before Christmas.