Why can SSR owners book other DVC resorts...

[Dean]

Originally posted by stacy6552
Wait a minute. I own at SSR. why shouldn't I get a priority booking window at my home resort? Everyone else did.

At the BCV, the owners had a priority booking window, and then the resort opened up to all other DVC members, equally. The only members who get priority booking there are BCV members. No other member should get priority over anyone else.

The same goes for all other resorts.

When the SSR window opens, it will open to eveyone equally, as it should. To have SSR members book later than other non-owner members is not to treat them equally.

All owners get a priority between 11 and 7 months, that has not changed.

I called in Dec to book my trip at SSR, my home resort, at my first opportunity. Had the resort been booked up, it would have been booked by other SSR owners. Would this have been the same set of circumstances had my booking window opened at the regular 11 mos mark? Yes.

If Terry, a BCV owner, calls on Feb 4, at her first opportunity to book at SSR and it is booked solid. Then it is booked by SSR owners. Are these the same set of circumstances if she were to call at her first opportunity at the regular 7 mos mark? Yes.

Yes but in addition Terry may find other resorts booked up as well by other DVC owners including SSR owners without the opportunity to book at SSR resort.

So even though booking on Feb 4th yields the same results for all non-ssr owners, trying to book there, you want to change the process for SSR owners, which does potentially yield a different result for them, just because?

wow what a welcome to the neighborhood.

Quite the contrary. DVC changed the process for SSR in a way that is not in keeping with the rules and gives SSR buyers (soon to be owners) an advantage for non home resort reservations. As I said before, this is a problem with DVC's decisions, not the new buyers at SSR. And I do think that most of them understood, more than DVC did initially, the advantage provided. I also feel like SSR is going to act as a holding pond for DVC points to be used elsewhere, esp at BWV, BCV and VWL. That is also how the system works so I'm OK with it but I think all will find that the above resorts will be harder to get at the 7 month window out of proportion to the added SSR points sold. Or, put another way, I think many will buy SSR with the intent to use them elsewhere in a far larger percentage than any other DVC resort.

 

[dcfromva]

I was thinking about another aspect regarding this discussion .... Pre-sales have been going on for several months. Would we be having this discussion if Disney had selected Jun 17th 2003 as the first date that SSR could book and then starting in November for non SSR DVC members and going according to the 11 month and 7 month priorities (for dates after the SSR units opened)?

-DC

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by SSRex
I am another new SSR owner and I understood and followed the rules as they were spelled out very clearly on posts in this forum. [...] Everything I know about DVC I learned reading the threads here.
Thank you for some very interesting reading and all of the helpful knowedge I have learned from many of you over the past months.

Originally posted by madonna31
We may not be *smart* - but some of us know how to use these Dis boards; thus as a result of this thread; I am smart enough to understand this advantage now.

See, that's my point: If some DIS folks (arguably some of the brightest - and most detail-oriented - DVCers) needed posts here to figure out the benefit of this change - or argue if there even was a benefit - can you really imagine a never.heard.of.DVC.before.today couple walking in the BW offices and understanding the benefit enough for it to make a difference in their purchase decision?

IMHO, I feel that, to most (non-DIS, first.time.DVC) potential SSR buyers, the perceived benefit is too minimal - and too confusing - to make it a Disney-caliber marketing ploy.

[Now if you're suggesting that this was targeted to DVC add-ons, who already understand the subtleties of 11/7, I would agree with that.]

But I agree with others; thanks so much for an informative and interesting discussion!

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I'm sure DVC is planning on making up their error to all the current members.

Didn't you hear.....DVC is going to allow all non-SSR members a 13 month booking window for SSR reservations made for Feb 1st-March 31st, 2042.

 

[jaysue]

LOL, JF..good one good one

 

[stacy6552]

Terry or any other non-ssr owner is not obligated to wait until Feb 4 to book anywhere but SSR. People book where they can, when they can (usually at their home resort during the 11 mos window) and then change to the resort they really want, later after that booking window opens.

To wait until the window opens, would be a rookie mistake, not a slight by Disney.

 

[Terry S]

Since I am Terry, I will let you know that I won't be booking anywhere else and changing. I bought at the resort that I plan on staying a majority of the time (the one I really want), if you didn't then that is a rookie mistake.

 

[stacy6552]

Sorry, Terry. I almost included a "not to pick on Terry but to build on what Dean said, building on......" clause, because I was having trouble cutting the quote. I hope you don't think I was picking on you or pointing to you personally. I know you aren't that green, so to speak.

 

[burnsoc]

Absolutely fantastic thread! Anytime you get Webmaster Doc and Dean to reply to the same thread you know it's going to be good. And how about the quoting from the multi-site public offering statement? Truly breathtaking. I'd like to give a nod to Nick for his ability to bring levity to the discussion with his smilie portrayals. A word of thanks to Edward for bringing this inequitable situation to my attention. Stacy, your tenacity in defense of SSR owners has been admirable. There is however an unfair advantage being given to SSR owners. When you can make a reservation at my home resort at this time, but I cannot make one at yours, then the scales of justice are tipped in your favor. That is indisputable. It pleases me to no end to be a part of a timeshare with so many intelligent members. Long live the minutiae!
-Chris

 

[Terry S]

Thanks Stacy, no offense taken. I agree with Chris, I love your passion for your home resort. Trust me I am just as passionate about my BCV's.

 

[PamOKW]

I think the concern people are expressing is that the DVC system is out of whack when people can book at other resorts but do not offer anything in exchange. It becomes a game of musical chairs -- someone will be left without a seat if the "seat" is at SSR and the contestant isn't allowed to use that one.

As Doc pointed out, hopefully DVC with their access to facts and figures have decided the risk of someone being left without a chair is minimal or non-existent. I'm sure they are planning that most new SSR owners will be booking SSR as their first choice and the ability to book elsewhere is more of a release valve in case there is no availability. Can you imagine calling to make your first reservation and being told there is nothing at your home resort (not just for the dates you request but for your alternates as well)? Being able to book elsewhere might alleviate the pain.

Doing pre-sales so far in advance for a resort that is being built in phases is something new for DVC. This "unequal" period is coming to an end very soon and hopefully few if any members have actually be adversely effected.

 

[stacy6552]

Whle I appreciate the acknowledgement, I do think its a bit misplaced or ill gotten. I dont think this has ever been a battle between different resort owners. I merely want what it the most fair middle ground for all members.

Some non-ssr owners are crying "foul" and the only thing I have done is apply common logic to the arguments. If you want Disney to do something different, you're going to have to point to real losses that are a result of the system and not of owner mismanaging their planning.

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

I don't think that we are going to past the 7 month window thing with Stacy, no matter how much we try to describe the situation. She has been given a right / priveledge by DVD/DVC that she feels is justifiable.

I agree that the her tenacity on behalf of all SSR members is great. She is going to bat for all of them.

ROOKIE MISTAKE
I agree with Terry that the biggest rookie mistake that any DVC Member could make would to be buy at a resort that is not where they intend to spend most of their vacations. After the completion of SSR (what is like 1200 rooms????), there will be very little inventory at the 7 month windows.

Other posters have stated that membership currently stands around 80,000. There is little chance that anyone will be able to get peak ressies at anything, but their home resort. I mean, heck how many posts do you read on a daily basis about people making day-by-day ressies at the 11 month window. How can expect any inventory to be available?

"Now, back to your regularly scheduled post...."

How many people currently own contracts (are in the process of purchasing) @ SSR? Who knows... Of those, how many are existing DVC Members just adding on @ the new resort? Again, only DVC knows for sure, and they are not going to tell me that kind of information. These two factors actually could have a major impact on the actual damage done by this mistake by DVC. If most of the SSR members are existing members, then not much harm at all. If most are new DVC members, then there is larger opportunity for a much larger impact on room availibility.

I would be really interested to know the number of units that have been reserved using SSR points for the period of let's say May 19th - July 6th. This period would emcompass two REALLY BIG HOLIDAYS, as far as Disney is concerned, and the Member Homecoming Event (I think that I am going to start another thread on this...). Obviously, DVC is never going to release this information to me (I wonder if they have a legal obligation to release it?). What I am really wondering is if the total number of points currently held in ressies for the above stated period exceeds the points that can be spent only on SSR for the same period.

My final interesting thought... Stacy continues to say that they only the same rights given to all members. If those members wanted a room that bad, they could have booked at the 7 month window themselves. Ok, let's say that you wanted that 4th of July weekend at the 7 month window. DIdn't the 7 month window for checkout on July 5th occur on December 5th? If so, SSR members had MORE of an opportunity to find a vacant unit than exisiting members.

Edward

 

[PamOKW]

Originally posted by stacy6552
What was done in the past? There seems to be the implication that no new BCV owner could book a trip ahead of the opening. Then how did members stay there for grand opening? Are you saying that members from other resorts were given the oppertunity to book first?

The question about BCV is a good one. Does anyone remember how that was handled? BWV actually opened before sales began so this problem didn't exist. I'm a little fuzzy on VWL -- I think sales began just shortly before opening. I think they began taking DVC reservations from everyone at the same time -- VWL owners had their 11 month advantage but not an opening day advantage.

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

Originally posted by PamOKW
The question about BCV is a good one. Does anyone remember how that was handled?

My understanding is that yes there were presales, but on a certain day (March 5th 2002???), ALL DVC MEMBERS could book BCV according to the 7 & 11 month window (this was only like 3 months before the opening). This gave every member an equal opportunity to be first to stay at the new resort. Fair or Unfair, not sure....But this is what happened. I am sure that there was a good mix of new and existing members there for the Grand Opening.

 

[burnsoc]

Stacy,
I have pointed to a real "loss". I am not allowed to book at SSR at this time for my May trip, but an owner at SSR can book now at both of my home resorts (VWL,BCV). The problem is not with the normal system (11 and 7 month booking guideline), but with DVC making an exception to their rules for SSR owners. The fair thing would have been for SSR owners to have several months booking privilege at their home resort then in February let SSR owners book other resorts when non-SSR owners can book at SSR. Your argument that it's unfair that someone who owns at the other resorts would have an unfair advantage at seven months over SSR owners doesn't hold water. It's fair when your resort is available for booking at 7 months by all members. I have yet to see any "mismanaging their planning" in these threads. The other posters are only saying that SSR owners have an advantage for these two months over the other DVC resorts owners. In the grand scheme of things this is trivial and doesn't apply after February. I guess "logic" is in the eye of the beholder.
-Chris

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by FriendsOfEeyore
[...]Other posters have stated that membership currently stands around 80,000. [...] I mean, heck how many posts do you read on a daily basis about people making day-by-day ressies at the 11 month window. How can expect any inventory to be available? [...]

This is something I like comment on every now and then. Please remember that the DIS DVC community is a small percentage of all DVC owners - and (I believe) a very non-representative group. Like DISers in other areas (PS, AP, Room Discounts, etc), we tend to spend extra time in order to truly understand the system - and make the most out of it. When I was considering DVC last fall, I talked to a few acquaintances who were DVC owners, and they barely knew anything - and I'm not talking SSR details, but "when can I make a ressie" and "banking/borrowing" basics. None had ever even heard of day.by.day ressies, none ever called up right at the 11/7 date, several didn't correctly understand the 11/7 windows, and one didn't know about banking - they thought that if they couldn't use all of their points in a year, they were automatically gone! Compare this to us DIS DVCers who not only have Caskbill's wonderful DVC Planner, but who use all of it's arcane features!

Pointing this back on topic, IMHO there are enough 'less sophisticated' DVC owners at all resorts so that there shouldn't be too much trouble for us dedicated DVCers to still have a chance, even at the 7 month date. [Of course, if I'm wrong, I'll gladly refund every penny you paid me for my opinion ]

 

[debbiedoo]

I am a current SSR owner, and I hope that I can help some of you understand. I bought into this in Oct 2003, and was told that I could book as of dec 1. Right before dec 1 I received a letter that the opening dates had changed. If your contract was for certain buildings 1a-1q I think, your date went from May 7 to opening to May 17. i am in 3a. We were scheduled to open June 1 and now it is June 7. Yes I am from leary about booking anythin close to the opening date!!

Why they gave us a 2 month jump on our resort, so we would have 1st advantage. But look at it like this what is going to happen if Fl has any heavy rains and they have to delay one more time, would you not be upset as well?!?!?!

I have not even booked anything yet, but am looking into traveling towards the end of the year.

Any questions just ask, it seems like I am talking with MS almost every other day here lately, with my own membership!!

 

[burnsoc]

DrTomorrow, I agree with your opinion. I think it might be a bit harder to get in at seven months, but not impossible. Us Dis'ers tend to be hardcore planners and know the system inside and out.
debbiedoo, I agree that you should have an advantage on your home resort. The discussion is more that you have an advantage at booking other resorts that is not reciprocated. What should have been done is to allow you to book SSR starting Dec. 1 and then book all other resorts in February, when the rest of the DVC membership can book at SSR.
-Chris

 

[debbiedoo]

I forgot to mention that the first 6 dvc resorts are dvc 1 and from ssr on dvc 2. Did you know that after dvc 1 expires, that we can no longer stay at your resorts!!! yep. Also we can not stay on any property until our building is up. For example that may 17th people can not use any of their points until may 17th. I an scheduled to open on June 7th. I can not use any of my points until then. If there is another delay in opening, then I can still not stay at any of the resorts. I hope that this may clear the air a little for everyone. If any more questions just ask!!