Will we ever be able to check availability online?

[famcruisefun]

Just wondering - is there a plan to ever be able to check DVC availability online? I ended up making 3 calls today to get my dates worked out - because random days were available during the time I wanted, so had to stop and reconfigure which I didn't want to keep MS on the phone while I did. It would be so nice to be able to see what's available when and then call and make reservations.
Am I crazy to think this would be helpful? Is there a reason why it hasn't been done? Maybe this is a topic that's been done over and over - sorry if it is - I've been away from the boards for a bit.

 

[bwvBound]

Solid web development isn't Disney's strong suit.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Solid web development isn't Disney's strong suit.

What an understatement!!

 

[Mtnman44]

I'm guessing that most of the DVC membership is not as web savy as we here on the DIS are. I'll bet that DVC knows that a large portion (most?) members would still call MS for most stuff and thus the Return on Investment for major web dev and integration just isnt there.

 

[disneynutz]

Just wondering - is there a plan to ever be able to check DVC availability online?

When mickey grows hair.

 

[famcruisefun]

Ok - that's what I figured - it's a dream... Guess I should have wished harder during the 2 years of Million Dreams...

 

[drusba]

There's hope. After essentially every other hotel in the nation went to on-line booking, it took Disney only about 6 years to figure out how to do it for its hotel bookings. So we still have to give it some time. Right now, they are still trying to figure out how to make Disney's general website work properly with Apple's Safari browser and the fact that Steve Jobs has essentially owned the place for two years apparently has not helped to accelerate the process.

 

[Chuck S]

Don't forget that any real-time availabity shown online could easily disappear while you are dialing, or waiting on hold. It would not be cheap to institute real time availability and of coure the initial programming and system integration would be paid for through our dues.

Given Disney's web history, I'm just as happy they have not attempted this.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I still cannot fathom that there would be a negative cost benefit to implementing online booking (I know people say there are issues and this and that). The cost savings of phone and staff costs, I would think, would be huge.

Then again, if Disney just moved to a VOIP based system for their offices and resorts, the costs would be significantly less too.

 

[DebbieB]

I still cannot fathom that there would be a negative cost benefit to implementing online booking (I know people say there are issues and this and that). The cost savings of phone and staff costs, I would think, would be huge.

Then again, if Disney just moved to a VOIP based system for their offices and resorts, the costs would be significantly less too.

The problem with DVC is people have multiple use years, multiple resorts, transfers, banking and borrowing. That could be programmed but the next issue is many members don't understand the rules. For example, you have many new members who think they have to borrow points to make a reservation for next year.

 

[drusba]

There is a misconception that some have concerning dues. Whether Disney goes to on-line booking or not will not change your dues one way or the other. In fact, if they were to fire all of MS employees or decide to buy them all Cadillacs (to save GM from possible bankruptcy), your dues would not change one way or the other. This is because MS and the reservation system are basically funded by dues sources where the percentage or amount per year is fixed. That operation is funded from the following sources of your dues:

1. Each member is charged a $1 reservation fee per year.

2. There is a annual management fee at each resort which equals 12% of the total of all other operating expenses, i.e., that fee helps fund MS and reservation systems and though total amount of that fee changes per year based on total of other dues, the percentage does not.

3.There is the $95 fee charged per exchange to non-DVC resorts.

4. There are amounts that go to funding MS from rentals of rooms that are still available at 60 days or less out. Those amounts are first applied to reduce dues but only up to 2% of the total operating costs for each resort. Amounts received over and above that 2% total then go to funding MS.

As a result, regardless of whether MS/reservation systems costs go up or down, the amount you pay in dues for those costs will not change.

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

Ok - that's what I figured - it's a dream... Guess I should have wished harder during the 2 years of Million Dreams...

Famcruisefun ......... Step back from the ledge, you've been dreaming again.

1 - You can not fly, at least not by jumping.

2 - Yes you need to work for a living, you don't own a money tree.

3 - No online availability or booking for DVC.

Keep dreaimng though, it helps us all get through the day.

 

[jfinke]

That could be programmed but the next issue is many members don't understand the rules.

Winner!

That and Disney apparently cannot find competent programmers to outsource to.

 

[OntFamily]

Don't forget that any real-time availabity shown online could easily disappear while you are dialing, or waiting on hold. It would not be cheap to institute real time availability and of coure the initial programming and system integration would be paid for through our dues.

Given Disney's web history, I'm just as happy they have not attempted this.

Real time availability is a function of every major hotel web booking system. Even if we didn't move to reserving rooms on-line, it would be simple for DVC to move to on-line availability, so we could do "what if" scenarios, with the knowledge when we call MS to book the room, the availability could change (which is no different than booking a normal hotel room).

 

[Chuck S]

Real time availability is a function of every major hotel web booking system. Even if we didn't move to reserving rooms on-line, it would be simple for DVC to move to on-line availability, so we could do "what if" scenarios, with the knowledge when we call MS to book the room, the availability could change (which is no different than booking a normal hotel room).

Regular hotels rarely operate at the high occupancy rates common with DVC.

Plus you have several inventories, that shift rooms between them. For instance, intra-Disney trades shift rooms to CRO, II trades shift rooms to II. You'd also need a system that can tell if what will be availabe are connecting rooms, for the difference between a 2 bedroom lockoff vs a one bedroom and a studio.