Weird call to MS today - waitlist and cash res surprises

[KelNottAt]

I called to book our villa for Marathon weekend: January 12 (Sat) & 13 (Sun), 2008.

I wanted a 2br standard view at BWV. None available. (Rats! 10+ months in advance.) So I booked a 2br BW view instead.

Next I wanted to waitlist for the 2br standard. She said, "OK, but the waitlist can't be in your name." Fine, whatever, I put it in DH's name. This seemed a little weird to me. Anyone know why this rule exists?

Next she told me that the waitlist will auto-confirm and, if it comes through, my BW view will automatically cancel itself. Huh? "What if I really need the BWview villa in addition to the SV?" (This is a long shot, but we might actually be a party of 10, not 6.) She said, "Well, if you choose to be called, instead of opting for auto-confirm, you might be able to keep both." (might!?!?)

So, I chose the phone notification option.

There were other oddities in the way she handled the call. For example, before putting me on the waitlist, she had to check that I didn't need to borrow first. This was (not kidding) 10 seconds after she told me I had 200 points left in for the use year.

The call lasted 40 minutes and she put me on hold 4 times while she checked things. I asked her if she was new, but she wasn't.

I really don't mind a long call as long as the rep is pleasant. She was. But, what troubled me was her apparent lack of knowledge, combined with some rules I'd never heard of.

I have to admit, I'm left wondering if I should call back to confirm everything she told me. Come to think of it, I will call back. I want to give them my cell# for the waitlist call instead of what else they might have on record.

One last thing - Is it true that discounted cash reservations must be made less than 60 days in advance? I wanted to add Friday 1/11 on cash. But, no, I can't book it until Nov 11. I've only booked cash once before (Hilton Head) and would have sworn I did it at the 7-month window.

So, does any of this seem strange to you? Or, am I the one who's got things wrong?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'd definitely call back! None of this sounds particularily accurate. Of COURSE you can waitlist and be called day by day if you choose, and you can waitlist in your own name too. Something smells wrong with her response.

 

[SSDonut]

I don't think I'm nearly as savvy as you about a lot of the things you're mentioning, but I will throw in my 2 cents on the 60 days/cash ressie thing. I don't think this is right at all: partly because it really doesn't make any sense and partly because I just booked a cash ressie more than 90 days out. . .

I agree with your "if they're nice" you can deal with other issues, but it is sort of frustrating to hang up from a call with them and feel pretty unsure everything you spelled out actually got handled. . .

 

[Chuck S]

I'd definitely call back. Never heard of those rules, except the auto-confirm thing.

 

[Boston5602]

Last March I made a ressie for last week of August ( about 5 to 5 1/2 months out ) and got a discounted room.

 

[disneynutz]

We are new to DVC this year. So far my several calls to MS have only been completed correctly once. We asked for non smoking and our mailed conformation says SMOKING REQUESTED. While on the call to correct I confirm our DDP. No DDP indicated.

On a separate res I confirm a wait list for one day in the middle of our stay. No wait list entry.

Now I understand why we wait in the call Que for MS. They deliberately screw everything up for job security.

 

[jennypenny]

You can't book the discounted cash room for 1/08 yet because rates aren't posted yet for '08 (not sure what a 60-day rule is?!). Otherwise, your CM was having a bad day. Maybe it's that lousy Disney coffee. I know I can't function without a decent cup of java in the morning

Jenny

 

[DanenRox]

Tell me about discounted rooms please. I'm already thinking of adding 2 nights to our Jan '08 DVC stay....I thought I was on the lookout for codes or something. We are DVC and AP owners. (it's snowing!)

 

[PamOKW]

Tell me about discounted rooms please. I'm already thinking of adding 2 nights to our Jan '08 DVC stay....I thought I was on the lookout for codes or something. We are DVC and AP owners. (it's snowing!)

If available, a DVC owner can book a room at a DVC resort for 25% off rack rate. The DVC owner must be staying in the room.

To the original poster......sounds like someone was "earning their ears". I'd call back tomorrow and make sure everything is set up as you wanted.

 

[snyderla]

when I booked BWV last year and waitlisted for a standard view they put it in my name. I did autoconfirm since I knew standard was what I really wanted.

 

[lisareniff]

I wonder if this has anything to do with 'not putting two rooms in a owners name' rule(?) that started at the beginning of the year. I was not sure how many would be joining me on an early december trip, I had enough points and wanted to reserve both a studio and 1 bedroom. I was not allow to put both in my name but had to use my friends name. Not sure what they are trying to do but I canceled on ressie today and switched the name on the ressie.

 

[carolina_yankee]

It sounds like this part of their rule to block multiple reservations at the same time in one person's name to cut down on renting reservations.

If the OP wants the SV instead of the PV, it would probably be OK. If the OP wants both the SV and the PV at the same time, one would have to be in the name of the other guests. Of course, that raises the problem of what to do with the guests if the waitlist doesn't come through and they're on the trip.

Dirk

 

[Starr W.]

We had a reservation with my name for May, DH had absolutely no problem calling MS and putting us on the autowaitlist for VWL which included cancelling the SSR and borrowing 13 points(since I had banked the balance of 06 already). It took him all of perhaps 10 minutes to do this.

Though he did call late in the afternoon.

 

[TEK224]

Last week I booked SS for marathon weekend 08. I'm hoping to switch the ressie to BWV @ the 7 month window. But i did book 2 nights as cash and was given the discounted rate.

Terri

 

[JerJan]

I just booked a dedicated 2 bedroom at SSR for 6 nights in August and I waitlisted for BCV and VWL with no problems.....seems strange to me too.....Good Luck!!!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Call back and double check. that was totally weird.

Next time, the minute you start having bad vibes about your castmember, hang up and call back. I usually make a lame excuse like, "oh, my dog just got out, I need to go get her, I'll call back!"

And then call back and hope for someone who's more on the ball.

The one time I didn't go with my gut and instead believed the lady when she said "the computers are down and I can't give you a confirmation number" it turned out she was lying and just really screwed up the ressies.