What everyone think about the new policies for DDP?

[DenLo]

Maybe the renter will be able to add the DP during online check in. Disney would be crazy not to make that an option, but their IT staff doesn't always think about these things.

 

[kimberh]

Maybe the renter will be able to add the DP during online check in. Disney would be crazy not to make that an option, but their IT staff doesn't always think about these things.

This would only make sense, but that would probably be the the easy option. Let's hope someone in the IT dept thinks of this.

 

[sweetinmaine]

If this is true (and I am only questioning the CM, not you, Sammie), then I think DVC has stumbled on another way to discourage renting. IMO, very few renters will agree to give the owner CC info (unless it is a one-time use card), and very few owners will want to mess with collecting $$ ahead of time and paying DVC on the renter's behalf. Those that do will probably be even more firm about no-cancellations.

If I rented (and I haven't to date), I would tell the renter to arrange for a one-time, pre-loaded credit card for the exact amount required. That would limit the renter's risk and simplify things for me. If the renter decided to cancel the DP, then the refund would go to the card and the renter could get his/her money back without me involved (except to actually call to request the cancellation).

I believe that the policy change is directly related to the reservation system upgrades. It appears that MS and CRO will be using pretty much the same system. There may be more changes coming because of this. We'll see.

I think the use of the preloaded debit/credit card is the best idea. I wouldn't want someone's credit card number and I certainly wouldn't pass mine on to someone that I didn't know.. You can buy the cards at many banks, supermarkets and drug stores.

 

[funatdisney]

If this is true (and I am only questioning the CM, not you, Sammie), then I think DVC has stumbled on another way to discourage renting. IMO, very few renters will agree to give the owner CC info (unless it is a one-time use card), and very few owners will want to mess with collecting $$ ahead of time and paying DVC on the renter's behalf. Those that do will probably be even more firm about no-cancellations.

If I rented (and I haven't to date), I would tell the renter to arrange for a one-time, pre-loaded credit card for the exact amount required. That would limit the renter's risk and simplify things for me. If the renter decided to cancel the DP, then the refund would go to the card and the renter could get his/her money back without me involved (except to actually call to request the cancellation).

I believe that the policy change is directly related to the reservation system upgrades. It appears that MS and CRO will be using pretty much the same system. There may be more changes coming because of this. We'll see.

I agree with the notion that requiring payment of DDP at time of reservations will add another obstacle to renting and, therefore, may discourage some renting of a member's points.
I have rented my points because of the economy. I never really wanted to rent my points, but the last two years have been tough. The option of renting my points has been an important way for me to keep my points. Thank you for this solution. I think that will work. I can't wait to not have to rent my points and go back to vacationing more at DL and WDW.

So, when the on-line booking is available, won't that cause a problem when there are lots of members making reservations during the high volume times like for December reservation? Will we still be able to make a call into MS?

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip)......

So, when the on-line booking is available, won't that cause a problem when there are lots of members making reservations during the high volume times like for December reservation? Will we still be able to make a call into MS?

I have no inside information, but I would be totally shocked if the on-line booking eliminated the ability to call and make reservations via MS.

Remember that the general public has been able to make on-line reservations for some time and CRO still exists. I am not worried about MS going away. On-line booking may reduce the number of CMs staffing Member Services, but I do not see it ever going away.

I think that those booking on-line will be competing with the MS CMs for the same pot of rooms. No other way to do this (and reap the cost benefits) unless they plan to divide the points inventory into multiple pots somehow.

Some here seem to think that the online system will allow members to begin booking at 12 am the day the 11 month (or 7 month) window opens. I believe that the booking will start for all at 9 am Eastern, just the way it does today.

 

[mybabesuz]

.

So, when the on-line booking is available, won't that cause a problem when there are lots of members making reservations during the high volume times like for December reservation? Will we still be able to make a call into MS?

I think the online booking is going to change a lot of things.
Frankly, it worries me.
How will this affect waitlists?
Will they even still have a waitlist?
What about the people with tons of points who book peak weeks just to rent?
Will it be even easier for them to book all the rooms and make less available for the rest of us???

 

[cseca]

I agree with the post on renters getting a prepaid cc to pay for DDP. And even better, if you have citi MC I think you can give someone a Virtual Acct # to do so. There's no charge and you don't have to worry about someone stealing the # since it's a one time use only.

I think the online booking is going to change a lot of things.
Frankly, it worries me.
How will this affect waitlists?
Will they even still have a waitlist?
What about the people with tons of points who book peak weeks just to rent?
Will it be even easier for them to book all the rooms and make less available for the rest of us???

OP sorry that this post is OT:

I agree that there are lots of questions regarding the scope of the online booking system.

But I think this will help a lot of members who does straight bookings. As much as I like talking to MS, if I only want to book I would rather go online to check my options. I always feel like I'm wasting their time by asking "which resorts are available for those dates?" if my preferred resort is not available.
This way I can check and decide without wasting their time.

I also think there will be limitations on what the system can do. Certain things might still be required to "Contact MS". Maybe if you change the names on the ressie you have contact them. Or if you have to borrow points to cover your ressie or if you book other disney hotels (outside DVC), maybe changing (adding/substracting dates to) the ressie, etc.

From your list of concerns, I don't see how the last 2 questions would be different with through online vs. MS booking.
Currently they can still rent a bunch of rooms, the difference is now they don't have to call in.

But I am curious about the waitlist system. I wonder if they'll be able to "fix" it properly.

I hope hope hope with the implementation of the online system they won't decide to charge us to call MS in the future.

 

[jennypenny]

I hope they add the option of adding the DDP online. Otherwise, it's just another phone call I have to make to MS right before the trip. There is no way I'll pay for the DDP any sooner than I have too. I wonder if it will affect ADRs. They always ask if you are on the dining plan. If you haven't added it yet, I wonder if they will be able to tell that.

The last two trips we just used the TIW card and felt that was sufficient. I only like the DDP when we're traveling with family and splitting the bill might be troublesome.

I just wish they'd stop adding reasons for me to call MS. What if the day I call happens to be 7/11 months out from Easter or Christmas or Thanksgiving? I'll have trouble getting through. I'll have to keep track of that.

 

[funatdisney]

All good responses on the on line booking questions which brought up more questions to mind. How will the on line booking handle the booking of which points to use for a reservation? (no answer required - just a thought) I have VGC points and SSR pionts. I definitely want to keep my VGC points strictly for bookings for VGC, since these rooms are very limited in number and it is the resort I am most likely to visit. (I wish there was more than one DVC in DLR) I don't have a problem with using my computer for lots of different transactions, but it seems to me that booking my DVC points for a reservation will not one of transactions I will feel comfortable with on line. As we all know DVC can be very complicated.

Anyway, time will tell and I am happy to know I can rely on the DisBoard community to help me sort it out.

 

[patsal]

My guess is there will be a little circle to click to tell them which points to use. Right now I use the website to request my reservation for summer. Usually I want OKW 1 BR for July/August and I have no worries about it being full up. In the request space I put which contract I'd like the points taken from and in which order. If I've banked points I note for them to use banked points first. In the 8 or so years I've been doing this I have had no problems or issues that needed to be resolved. I've even done a request for AKV CL at 11 months and gotten it with no issue.

 

[funatdisney]

patsal, thank you for sharing your detailed experience with on line booking. It is reassuring to know that someone has had a good experience with on-line booking. We stay at the VGC most of the time where it can be difficult to book a room at busy times of the year which is quickly becoming most of the year. So your experience with booking at AKV CL at 11 months is very encouraging.

 

[smacky1]

With this new policy doesn't it eliminate the option of DP for only 1 part of a 2 resort stay. Having all linked together with only 1 reservation number would require you to have the dinning plan for your whole trip. How will this affect DVC members use of DDP? Will you just not add it at all? I was considering a 2 room change and adding the DP on the studio portion as we would be without a kitchen....what will happen now?

I was wondering the same thing. We often do a split stay with part of it at a 1 bedroom and a few days in a studio. We do DDP for the studio portion but not the one bedroom.

 

[Sammie]

If this is true (and I am only questioning the CM, not you, Sammie), then I think DVC has stumbled on another way to discourage renting. IMO, very few renters will agree to give the owner CC info (unless it is a one-time use card), and very few owners will want to mess with collecting $$ ahead of time and paying DVC on the renter's behalf. Those that do will probably be even more firm about no-cancellations.

If I rented (and I haven't to date), I would tell the renter to arrange for a one-time, pre-loaded credit card for the exact amount required. That would limit the renter's risk and simplify things for me. If the renter decided to cancel the DP, then the refund would go to the card and the renter could get his/her money back without me involved (except to actually call to request the cancellation).

I believe that the policy change is directly related to the reservation system upgrades. It appears that MS and CRO will be using pretty much the same system. There may be more changes coming because of this. We'll see.

Of course as with all things Disney, it will be interesting to see how it plays out. If I had spoken to any other agent at MS I would question as to whether they know for sure what they are going to do but I have talked to this agent before and he used to work with member satisfaction before moving to the phones, so he usually is on top of what is going on.

He was pretty adamant that whoever's name is on the reservation they are going to have to be the one to pay for the DDP.

Online book will never completely eliminate call in booking, as some people do not have computers. I know that for DVC members that number is pretty small but it does exisit and you have to take in that at times people will be away from home and not near a computer and might need to call and book.

My greatest concern for online booking is making sure the right points are used for the reservations such as banked points, points from a certain contract, points in holding.

I know some of you are very adapt at the point situation, but I have say at times my real life gets in the way lately of my thinking clearly and I have enjoyed having someone at MS, know what they are doing.

 

[funatdisney]

While reading and discussing this topic of paying for DDP with credit card, brings another question. Will there be a cut off date (like with cancellation of a reservation) to cancel the prepaid DDP? It will be interesting to see what their policy will be regarding canceling the DDP. I would imagine that they will mail a receipt along with another reservation conformation letter or send another letter with the information of the purchased DDP?

 

[Sammie]

While reading and discussing this topic of paying for DDP with credit card, brings another question. Will there be a cut off date (like with cancellation of a reservation) to cancel the prepaid DDP? It will be interesting to see what their policy will be regarding canceling the DDP. I would imagine that they will mail a receipt along with another reservation conformation letter or send another letter with the information of the purchased DDP?

My understanding and again this is strickly based on what I was told by MS that the prepaid DDP will not allow cancellations, just like booking for the Food and Wine.

 

[funatdisney]

Well that is interesting. Good to know for renters and members.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I am not sure what it will do with regards to those renting, but I am willing to bet it will eliminate alot of confusion at check in regarding whether the guest/member added the plan or not. I always seem to see people arguing with the CM that they 'did/did not' want the dining plan on their reservation. Prepaying for it will put a stop to that.

David

I'll still never understand WHY Disney doesn't just let you add it on at check in... Sounds like they are leaving money on the table as adding it at the last minute shouldn't affect ANYTHING at Disney.

 

[mikron]

I don't see it being a problem, unless your guest is not comfortable sharing a credit card with you.

Then they will just have to do without the dining plan.

They could buy a Disney gift card for the amount of the DDP and give the member that #, After MS is given the # the card balance is 0.

 

[TDC Nala]

My understanding and again this is strickly based on what I was told by MS that the prepaid DDP will not allow cancellations, just like booking for the Food and Wine.

so once you add it to the reservation and pay for it, you can't remove it? Even if you cancel the reservation, you still have to pay for DDP? That's how it works with the food and wine bookings. Even if you don't go, you can't cancel them.

That makes no sense.

I wonder if it will affect ADRs. They always ask if you are on the dining plan. If you haven't added it yet, I wonder if they will be able to tell that.

This will only matter if you are trying to book CRT or a dinner show without prepaying in full. For any other reservation it makes no difference whether you are on the dining plan or not at the time you book.

 

[sean-1966]

I've always wondered why it didn't just say on the reservation letter Disney sends out "Dining plan added." Wouldn't that solve all the problems and the need to prepay for the Dining plan?