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

[BuffaloJim]

Like the title asks, what's the longest you've ever walked a reservation?

I once started walking a reservation in late October to make sure I got the first week of December at the Wilderness Lodge.

OK, I'm only kidding. I've never actually walked a reservation, although I did make one once for seven nights when I only needed nights 2 through 7. I then canceled the first day at some point after I made the reservation.

So do we have any "Long Distance Walkers" out there?

 

[OKW Lover]

Seems a bit extreem to me. I thought the days of "walking" a reservation were long gone. I can see having to change a day or two as your vacation plans get refined, but generally we book when we know we are going to be there and are done with it.

 

[Pbuttadad]

I walked a week out for my upcoming trip nov28-dec 6. Only because I needed 4 studios and that's the number 1 week supposedly for dvcers

 

[maggiegirl]

What does "walking a reservation" mean?

 

[Kidanifan08]

Given the current wait times to speak with MS by phone, one would have to have a lot of time on their hands to walk a reservation more than a week or two out. The couple of times I walked a reservation for AKV CL and value, I started about a week out. There has not been a time for us yet when we absolutely needed CL or value to make it worth it to walk longer than that.

 

[Kidanifan08]

What does "walking a reservation" mean?

When you book at your home resort with the 11-months, you can book in advance of your arrival and then call MS before the end of your current reservation to add days at the end and remove days from the front until you get to your actual arrival day.

For example, if I want AKV CL for 4/25/15 arrival, I could go on today and book 4/17/15-4/23/15 (if available). Now that room is taken out of inventory until 4/24/15. I then call on 5/23/14 and add 4/23/15-4/30/15, remove 4/17/15-4/22/15, and so in until my trip is booked. This is probably only needed for CL and value at AKV and perhaps BWV standard and BLT standard and TPV at certain times of the year.

 

[disneynutz]

What does "walking a reservation" mean?

Making a reservation prior to the date you really plan to arrive. Adding a day and canceling the first day until all of your actual days are booked.

It's a way to get a jump on others for hard to book reservations at 7 months.

After some booking disappointment at 7 months, we decided to stop playing games, buy where we love to stay, no walking, no waitlists, no uncertainty.

Bill

 

[wildforgoofy]

Making a reservation prior to the date you really plan to arrive. Adding a day and canceling the first day until all of your actual days are booked. It's a way to get a jump on others for hard to book reservations at 7 months. After some booking disappointment at 7 months, we decided to stop playing games, buy where we love to stay, no walking, no waitlists, no uncertainty. Bill

Is the thought that you've already booked a room thus making the chances of just adding on 1 day every day higher then waiting until you can book the entire vacation? Does that make sense?

That's the main reason why I put an offer in for BLT even tho SSR is a better value. I love BLT and wanted the 11 month mark there. Like you said no uncertainty.

 

[chalee94]

Is the thought that you've already booked a room thus making the chances of just adding on 1 day every day higher then waiting until you can book the entire vacation? Does that make sense?

let's say we both want 12/25/15 for 5 nights and for whatever reason, we are both after the last room available.

you think, "i need to call 1/25/15 to book the stay" (11 months out).

i think, "wait - if i call on 1/19/15, i can book 12/19/15 for 7 nights, which includes 12/25/15." so i call early and book that stay.

when you call on 1/25/15, i already have that room booked, so even if you see that the room is available for 12/26/15 on, you cannot book that since the first night is taken.

so i can sleep in and call MS around noon on 1/25/15 to cancel the first six nights of my reservation and book the last 4 nights of my stay which no one else can get to (again, since the first night is taken.)

but except in very rare cases (AKV club level for one), this type of strategy is a waste of time (mine and MS's).

 

[wildforgoofy]

Ok, so let's say the 25th is booked and I decide, that's ok I'll check in the 26th for 5 nights. Would I then have the room from the 26th on, and you'd have to stay with your reservation?

 

[wildforgoofy]

Oh wait I think I get it. I wouldn't be able to book anything because the 11 month for the 26th would be the next day. I think, I'll just call tomorrow, but you'll have already called the 25th (after sleeping in) and changed your reservation.

 

[TSMMANIAC]

I walked a reservation for a GV at the BW for NYE from the week before Thanksgiving in 2011.

 

[BuffaloJim]

I walked a reservation for a GV at the BW for NYE from the week before Thanksgiving in 2011.

That's the answer I wanted to see. Bravo!

 

[robinb]

I walked my Christmas AKV concierge studio reservation for about 10 days prior. I have been frozen out of the same reservation twice after being waitlisted immediately. We enjoy AKV and we really like the club level so it was worth it to me. ETA: I used to be a pro at calling and booking day by day. I still prefer the old system.

 

[wildforgoofy]

That's the answer I wanted to see. Bravo!

I agree! I'm learning all kinds of little tricks on this thread! AMAZING!!

 

[CarolMN]

I walked a reservation for a GV at the BW for NYE from the week before Thanksgiving in 2011.

That's the answer I wanted to see. Bravo!

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.

 

[chalee94]

Oh wait I think I get it. I wouldn't be able to book anything because the 11 month for the 26th would be the next day. I think, I'll just call tomorrow, but you'll have already called the 25th (after sleeping in) and changed your reservation.

 

[wildforgoofy]

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.

But I've also read that people have been burned by trying this method too, right? It's not foolproof. Which would probably keep DVC from making changes.

 

[nalajms]

But I've also read that people have been burned by trying this method too, right? It's not foolproof. Which would probably keep DVC from making changes.

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

 

[robinb]

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

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