Will we ever see online booking for dvc resorts?

[rcchello]

I really think they will put in an on-line reservation system someday at least for the off times. I also think they may have to reinstate the lottery for peak demand weeks.

If people think it is unfair now when people who can call when MS opens get all the prime rooms for peak times and the insanity of day by day calls to MS, it will really be insane if they let the tech savvy, quick typers get the prime rooms.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I really think they will put in an on-line reservation system someday at least for the off times. I also think they may have to reinstate the lottery for peak demand weeks.

They used to have a lottery for peak times? When was that and how did it work?

 

[Chuck S]

They used to have a lottery for peak times? When was that and how did it work?

In the very early years of DVC, if you wanted to go at Christmastime, you had to sign up at least 14 months in advance. Then the names were selected (I don't remember the method). You were then called, and if yo declined, you could stay on the list for one year. If you declined a second time, you were deleted from the list and had to sit out a year before submitting your name again. There was no home resort advantage for the lottery. OKW was the "onsite" resort, with VB and HHI.

 

[CarolMN]

In the very early years of DVC, if you wanted to go at Christmastime, you had to sign up at least 14 months in advance. Then the names were selected (I don't remember the method). You were then called, and if yo declined, you could stay on the list for one year. If you declined a second time, you were deleted from the list and had to sit out a year before submitting your name again. There was no home resort advantage for the lottery. OKW was the "onsite" resort, with VB and HHI.

It was still around for the first few years the BWV were available. I hated it and was very glad to see it go away.

It didn't seem right to me that a non-BWV owner had the same chance to book BWV for that peak time as did a BWV owner. BWV had higher dues than the other resorts, and the only ownership perk we had for that was the ability to book ahead of those who owned elsewhere!

Anyway, for the last few years the "special seasons lottery" existed, those who entered it didn't reserve all of the rooms and so there was still inventory left when the 11 month window opened. So DVC decided the lottery was unnecessary going forward.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Thirty-nine years ago, we sent men to the moon and safely returned them to earth.

Surely we can master online DVC booking.

 

[moethorne]

I'm dreaming of the day online booking happens. I have not had to use MS much but everytime I call I get someone who does not know how to read the system. And it is so painfully slow. I called about dinning reservations today and spent 30 waiting to be told there are non available. Made me wonder should I have called dinning directly insted of MS?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

In the very early years of DVC, if you wanted to go at Christmastime, you had to sign up at least 14 months in advance. Then the names were selected (I don't remember the method). You were then called, and if yo declined, you could stay on the list for one year. If you declined a second time, you were deleted from the list and had to sit out a year before submitting your name again. There was no home resort advantage for the lottery. OKW was the "onsite" resort, with VB and HHI.

It was still around for the first few years the BWV were available. I hated it and was very glad to see it go away.

It didn't seem right to me that a non-BWV owner had the same chance to book BWV for that peak time as did a BWV owner. BWV had higher dues than the other resorts, and the only ownership perk we had for that was the ability to book ahead of those who owned elsewhere!

Anyway, for the last few years the "special seasons lottery" existed, those who entered it didn't reserve all of the rooms and so there was still inventory left when the 11 month window opened. So DVC decided the lottery was unnecessary going forward.

Yuck - I don't think I would like that very much at all!!! Hopefully they'll never feel the need to bring that system back.

 

[las3888]

I agree with a PP that Disney's computer systems in general seem very antiquated. I love Disney, but 'systems' is not where it should be for a corporation like this...just my 2 cents. I really really really would just love to check availability online. It would be nice to even just be able to check a waitlist online.

I am hoping one day....maybe the Disney systems people need a little more pixie dust or something...

 

[rcchello]

Disney spends their computing money where it brings in the max $$$$$, their main sites are probably the most advanced one in the business. They handle over 27 million customers and expect to bring in $1Billion in 2008.

How much additional revenue do you think a online booking system will bring in?

 

[Chuck S]

Disney spends their computing money where it brings in the max $$$$$, their main sites are probably the most advanced one in the business. They handle over 27 million customers and expect to bring in $1Billion in 2008.

How much additional revenue do you think a online booking system will bring in?

Truthfully, it won't bring in any revenue at all, since bookings would be on points. But Disney also would not be the ones paying the development and site mainteance costs, it would be us, the members, just like we pay for Member Services. It just isn't a priority. It will cost the membership $$ to develop and maintain.

 

[drakethib]

It would be nice, but it has gotten easier (IMHO) to book my ressies with 7 day a week DVC reps

 

[jade1]

Truthfully, it won't bring in any revenue at all, since bookings would be on points.

Really? How about new sales? There are a lot of computer users out there these days. Online booking would be a great selling point if done correctly. If they are in a DVC presentation and a rep fires up the website and shows a potential buyer how easy it is to reserve rooms online, as well as the flexibilty, they may understand the concept much better and be more inclined to buy. I've tried many times to explain the DVC system to friends that have some interest, but they have a hard time understanding unless you spend hours. Often I say for example, heck you could probably get a room at SSR next week (or next month) if you want, but to show them would be revealing. Again just a snapshot of current availability over the next 11 months would be a huge improvement IMO.

 

[Chuck S]

Really? How about new sales? There are a lot of computer users out there these days. Online booking would be a great selling point if done correctly. If they are in a DVC presentation and a rep fires up the website and shows a potential buyer how easy it is to reserve rooms online, as well as the flexibilty, they may understand the concept much better and be more inclined to buy. I've tried many times to explain the DVC system to friends that have some interest, but they have a hard time understanding unless you spend hours. Often I say for example, heck you could probably get a room at SSR next week (or next month) if you want, but to show them would be revealing. Again just a snapshot of current availability over the next 11 months would be a huge improvement IMO.

Why should we, as DVC owners, be asked to pay for a system that brings no financial rewards to us?

Remember, sales benefit Disney, but the reservation system would be paid for by owners, not Disney. DVC has to justify the expense for its members.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Why should we, as DVC owners, be asked to pay for a system that brings no financial rewards to us?

Remember, sales benefit Disney, but the reservation system would be paid for by owners, not Disney. DVC has to justify the expense for its members.

Yes, and with all the possible problems it could bring, I'd much rather my dues money go to giving real people jobs instead of a few ITs who don't know the DVC system. After all, look how many flaws there are in the booking computers now. There are lots of "rules" that don't get followed because the computer systems at MS weren't programed to institute them correctly. At least when I'm talking to a real person, they can manually "fix" what the computer does wrong.

 

[moethorne]

What financial rewards do we get as owners now unless we resell? I think computer access will help with resale as mentioned above. Other time-share are moving to computers like interval. Why not DVC? Even just to check availabilty would be helpful. They would still need people. There are always questions and special requests. If they are not going to computers they need to at least add more hours for MS. As a two working parent family calling during the regular business hours in not very convient and I live on the east coast I can not imagine what a pain it must be for people in different time zones.

 

[Chuck S]

I doubt seriously that computer reservations would have any impact at all on resales, and it likely wouldn't have any impact on new DVC sales, either.

I still don't see throwing in more $$ on dues to develop an expensive system that would still require a lot of human interfacing with MS.

Even if they only showed availability and you had to call for a reservation, as quickly as availabiliy changes (I've lost a reservation while on the phone with MS) imagine the following conversation.

MS: "Good morning, Member Services, this is Peter Pan. Could I have your membership number and last four digits of your social, please?"

Mem: "Sure, my number is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and my social is xxxx, I'd like to reserve the one bedroom unit that is showing on the internet at BWV for June 1 to June 15."

MS: "I'm sorry, I'm not showing that availability, it must've been filled."

Mem: "Oh, no, it is showing on my screen rght now, I know it is available, and I want it."

MS: "Again, I'm sorry sir, but the system currently shows no availability."

Mem: "Well, let me talk to a supervisor."

MS: "One moment."

SUP: "Good morning, this is Tinkerbell, may I help you."

Mem: "Yes, I see a room available on my screen and I want it, and the other agent says I can't have it."

SUP: "One moment...I'm sorry, sir, there is no availability, would you like to waitlist?"

Mem: "No, I don't want to waitlist, I want the room showing on my computer."

SUP: "Sir, again, there is no room, have you hit the refresh icon?"

Mem: "Oh, well this system is stupid. I'm going to post about how bad it is all over the internet."

 

[moethorne]

I doubt seriously that computer reservations would have any impact at all on resales, and it likely wouldn't have any impact on new DVC sales, either.

I still don't see throwing in more $$ on dues to develop an expensive system that would still require a lot of human interfacing with MS.

Even if they only showed availability and you had to call for a reservation, as quickly as availabiliy changes (I've lost a reservation while on the phone with MS) imagine the following conversation.

MS: "Good morning, Member Services, this is Peter Pan. Could I have your membership number and last four digits of your social, please?"

Mem: "Sure, my number is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and my social is xxxx, I'd like to reserve the one bedroom unit that is showing on the internet at BWV for June 1 to June 15."

MS: "I'm sorry, I'm not showing that availability, it must've been filled."

Mem: "Oh, no, it is showing on my screen rght now, I know it is available, and I want it."

MS: "Again, I'm sorry sir, but the system currently shows no availability."

Mem: "Well, let me talk to a supervisor."

MS: "One moment."

SUP: "Good morning, this is Tinkerbell, may I help you."

Mem: "Yes, I see a room available on my screen and I want it, and the other agent says I can't have it."

SUP: "One moment...I'm sorry, sir, there is no availability, would you like to waitlist?"

Mem: "No, I don't want to waitlist, I want the room showing on my computer."

SUP: "Sir, again, there is no room, have you hit the refresh icon?"

Mem: "Oh, well this system is stupid. I'm going to post about how bad it is all over the internet."

How is that different to what happens already? You've lost reservations yourself. That is a worst case senerio and sure it may happen but the person on the computer who just booked that ressie via computer is happy and did not waste 20min giving thier whole life history to a CM and then management. 30min of time saved has got to count for some finacial gain on both ends.

 

[Chuck S]

How is that different to what happens already? You've lost reservations yourself. That is a worst case senerio and sure it may happen but the person on the computer who just booked that ressie via computer is happy and did not waste 20min giving thier whole life history to a CM and then management. 30min of time saved has got to count for some finacial gain on both ends.

Again, an online system won't be cheap, it will be paid for by member dues, and will basically duplicate services already available by phone...which we all agree will still be needed even with an online system. So where is the savings?


You can already "save time" by sending an email request.

 

[vacationman]

I do not understand all of the resistence to this concept. Since the time DVC started, Disney has made improvements to their reservation systems through various computer based programs. Each of these improvements has been paid for by DVC members. Why is this one any different? The management of DVC has a duty to all DVC members to use our money is the most efficient manner possible while keeping up Disney standards of quality and service.

At the point in time where a workable system can be developed where the benefits to the members (either financial or in service level) outweigh the cost, it should be done. Count me among the many members who would like such a system right now. Having benefited from ease of the Hilton Grand Vaction Club's on-line system (you still can call in and talk to a live person if you want) I believe most DVC members would find such a system superior to the current call in system.

I don't understand all of the negative comments from folks who think DVC would roll out a mess of a system. Why would anyone expect that? From my experience, DVC (and Disney) are far smarter than some folks posting here give them credit for.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't understand all of the negative comments from folks who think DVC would roll out a mess of a system. Why would anyone expect that? From my experience, DVC (and Disney) are far smarter than some folks posting here give them credit for.

Because their current computer system is a mess of a system, that would lead me to believe that an online system would be no better.

Updating their system just to add a new resort is a major overhaul. Look at how long AKV was listed as "null." Each of those upgrade cost and fixes would be doubled, one for the call in center, one for the integrated online system.

If current call in reservations are lost before booking, it will only get worse with online booking.