What's the longest you've ever walked a reservation?

[LisaS]

It's guaranteed to work for home resort bookings at 11m. Not foolproof for non-home resort bookings at 7m.

It's nearly guaranteed at 11 months. Someone reported being unable to get a night along the way as they walked a reservation. We can only speculate as to the reason why, perhaps a room was scheduled to be taken out of service for repairs or was given to CRO to be booked on cash to pay for a member's exchange. It's rare but it can happen.

If too many members start doing this, you can bet DVC will change the rules to make it less desirable. They could do something like making every change a cancel and rebook or perhaps even charge a fee to change or cancel a reservation. Those type of changes would impact all members. A one-time advantage for you might turn out to cost you more in the long run.

Walking is very seldom necessary.

I agree. As walking becomes more widespread and when it is done for longer periods of time, not only does MS spend more time on the phone with the member who is walking a reservation but also more time processing wait lists. Many members report setting up a wait list at their 11-month window that then came through a week later and it seems likely that was due to someone walking a reservation.

That is the reason why I find walking objectionable. One member ties up inventory that another member wants, causing them unnecessary aggravation. Unfortunately MS's remedy is likely to hurt even more members. It reminds me of when the abuse of point transfers by some members resulted in MS deciding to enforce the "one transfer per UY" rule.

 

[chalee94]

That is the reason why I find walking objectionable. One member ties up inventory that another member wants, causing them unnecessary aggravation.

yep - and what makes it a real problem is when people start trying to "walk" reservations at 7 months. it's not even a real advantage (an owner at that home resort can still jump in and take parts of your reservation at any time) but people are still taking up MS's time and tying up nights they don't want.

(the other issue that would save MS some time is if they would automate the waitlists completely. that would stop people from calling to pick up nights that have been canceled but not run against the waitlist yet.)

 

[robinb]

Many members report setting up a wait list at their 11-month window that then came through a week later and it seems likely that was due to someone walking a reservation. That is the reason why I find walking objectionable. One member ties up inventory that another member wants, causing them unnecessary aggravation.

After being frozen out of AKV concierge twice, even after logging in as soon as I could and putting myself on the WL minutes after seeing I could not book a studio I figured 'if you can't beat them, join them'. I'm sorry if you don't approve but that's what I needed to do to get the reservation I wanted as an AKV owner. I was fine with the fairer day by day system but DVC changed it.

 

[nalajms]

No, it's not guaranteed if all the possible reservations are already taken ("walked" or regular reservations).

It is guaranteed for 11 m, except in the case a room was scheduled to be removed from inventory on a specific date as LisaS has stated, assuming you can "start" the walk. Once you grab that room and book 7 days out, to book that room, others would have to wait till the 11m mark of the your check-out day to book it.

That is the reason why I find walking objectionable. One member ties up inventory that another member wants, causing them unnecessary aggravation.

That's why I have starting using the WL during home resort windows....never had to before, but it's come in very handy over the last year.

 

[robinb]

It is guaranteed for 11 m, except in the case a room was scheduled to be removed from inventory on a specific date as LisaS has stated, assuming you can "start" the walk. Once you grab that room and book 7 days out, to book that room, others would have to wait till the 11m mark of the your check-out day to book it.

There are only 5 (count 'em FIVE) 2-bedroom lock-offs in the AKV Concierge category. If 5 people are already walking (or reserved) all 5 studios (or a combination of studios and 2BRs) when I log into "walk" a reservation I am out of luck. For instance, the first available date for me to book in the 11-month window today is April 19th. There is NO availability for 4/19, 4/20 & 4/21. If I wanted to "walk" for Mother's Day I would be out of luck even if I logged in tomorrow since it is already booked.

 

[MoreTravels]

There are only two active forums that I know of, with many DVC member discussions.

I think this forum is the reason why "walking" becomes so prevalent. It is a victim of its own success.

Like transfer, DVC may change the rules to allow only one change per reservation. Once you make that change, the only way is to cancel and rebook if you still need further changes.

These room-walkers are like domain-squatters... they annoy people so if there is no change, you have to join them because you cannot beat them.

 

[wildforgoofy]

So the whole idea of walking is contingent on being able to get the room and reserve it for 7 days straight to begin with? That makes sense, and makes my head hurt just thinking about it. Lol

 

[hakepb]

It is guaranteed for 11 m, except in the case a room was scheduled to be removed from inventory on a specific date as LisaS has stated, assuming you can "start" the walk. Once you grab that room and book 7 days out, to book that room, others would have to wait till the 11m mark of the your check-out day to book it.




That's why I have starting using the WL during home resort windows....never had to before, but it's come in very handy over the last year.

Don't forget fixed weeks (Aluani and VGF) as another reason you can "walk into a wall of un-availability"

Personally, I thought ******.com reduced members fears about future availability, reducing some "need to walk" due to the current uncertainty.

 

[wildforgoofy]

There are only two active forums that I know of, with many DVC member discussions. I think this forum is the reason why "walking" becomes so prevalent. It is a victim of its own success. Like transfer, DVC may change the rules to allow only one change per reservation. Once you make that change, the only way is to cancel and rebook if you still need further changes. These room-walkers are like domain-squatters... they annoy people so if there is no change, you have to join them because you cannot beat them.

I absolutely agree. I would never want to do this, but if I knew it was the ONLY way to get a specific room I might consider it. Thankfully I travel on the low seasons so this isn't a problem for me.
I also would not like to see a fee for changing a reservations like PP suggested, or a 1 change only policy then cancel & rebook. Maybe after making a change you're required to wait a set period of time before you can change again. Then the room would become available and if someone reserved it great if not the person "walking" could move again. I'm sure there would be ways to cut around that too. At least I tried....

 

[wildforgoofy]

Personally, I thought ******.com reduced members fears about future availability, reducing some "need to walk" due to the current uncertainty.

Out of curiosity I looked up ******.com, and it's not active any longer.

 

[disneynutz]

Out of curiosity I looked up ******.com, and it's not active any longer.

As expected, Disney requested that he shut done the website.

Bill

 

[nalajms]

If I wanted to "walk" for Mother's Day I would be out of luck even if I logged in tomorrow since it is already booked.

Right, you have to be able to start the walk with an available date. When I bought AKV 2 years ago I didn't realize how hard it is to get the CL rooms. I haven't been diligent in checking, but the times that I do, they are gone a few days out. If/when I decided to put effort into it, I'll most likely stalk the site 14+m ahead to find an open date and start walking.

Don't forget fixed weeks (Aluani and VGF) as another reason you can "walk into a wall of un-availability"

I don't believe these come into play unless they sell all available rooms to fixed week. It sounds like less than half are sold as fixed week at VGF....all the more reason to make someone walk a reservation.

 

[hakepb]

Right, you have to be able to start the walk with an available date. When I bought AKV 2 years ago I didn't realize how hard it is to get the CL rooms. I haven't been diligent in checking, but the times that I do, they are gone a few days out. If/when I decided to put effort into it, I'll most likely stalk the site 14+m ahead to find an open date and start walking.


I don't believe these come into play unless they sell all available rooms to fixed week. It sounds like less than half are sold as fixed week at VGF....all the more reason to make someone walk a reservation.

Yes, there are limitations on fixed week sales. But if 30 % of a week is fixed, and owners happen to be walking 80% of that category...then some owner will be "hitting their head" on that sudden inventory shortage.

That may be an extreme example but is theoretically possible.