Wouldn't it be nice if DVC offered it this way?

[AEN]

Lisa P.

By contrast, when booking a DVC reservation, MS only knows whether there is vacancy or not, at a particular unit size. The resort later sorts through requests and determines room assignments during the week of check-in. This is more labor-intensive.

That is very interesting. I wonder why DVC set up that way. The only thing I can think is that they are trying to accomodate stay overs. Hoping that they will use more points or, better yet, cash at the rack rate.

When booking a Fairfield reservation, the room is usually assigned by owner services, based on availability as seen on their computer screen. So I know the floorplan when I accept the reservation. I'm even able to request certain rooms/floors, etc. I've been told that the first room number(s) suggested by the computer will be those that are vacated on the very day we are seeking check-in.

I think we would see a lot fewer complaints about getting a good view if people had a good idea going in what room they were reserving.

Ok, I don't want to veer off topic. I have done that enough before.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Lisa P.
Just to offer a different perspective, we own points with Fairfield. The entire reservation process is quite different from DVC. Because of this, they are able to accommodate the reservations for an enormous variety:

Some of the original resorts may only offer one unit size. Most newer ones offer everything from studios on up to 4BR penthouses - up to 6 different floorplans per resort - 20 different room types in the system, not counting all the "point saver" rooms w/ limited views! These room types vary according to their floorplans, occupancy limits and basic or luxury features.

FF is a little different if I recall my investigation in the past. We are talking full week's accodations at the initial booking window so they are only booking full weeks at that time. It's not until several months later that you could book shorter stays subject to remaining availability. While they do reserve the right to change the room, I wonder how ofter this happens. Can you imagine this thread on DIS if someone were given exactly the unit they wanted at the time of reservation then arrived and ended up with one that didn't fit their expectations at all? Since it means that the reservation system is doing much of the job of the fron desk, I assume that mens they cut down on that staff somewhat. I also wonder if it means longer holds waiting to make reservations.

 

[montessori]

I've been thinking about the old Disney Village area.

How I miss those days, being able to rent a golf cart and drive over to the Marketplace! You could plug the cart in to keep it charged. We used to go to Pleasure Island at night in our golf cart.
Some of our best vacations were spent in the village area...and in those golf carts!

There were so many different kinds of accomodations in the village resort area. They had the townhouses, the Fairway Villas, the Club Rooms (?), the Treehouses. Maybe a couple more different styles too.
The Club Rooms had a little living room area, a small kitchen area (like in the studios) and a large bedroom with 2 queen beds in it.

The townhouses had bedrooms upstairs and a murphy bed in the living room downstairs. They had a "powder room" downstairs too. And maybe 2 bathrooms upstairs?? It's hard to remember!

The other areas of the resort had different designs and layouts.
You could fit a lot of people in some of the units but they weren't cheap, by any means!
If DVD built the new Saratoga Springs like the old village, members would reserve a unit in the area that best accomodated their needs. Know what I mean? It just seems like that really was a great set-up, with many different sizes and styles to choose from.

I miss the old Disney days.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by montessori
I've been thinking about the old Disney Village area.

How I miss those days, being able to rent a golf cart and drive over to the Marketplace! You could plug the cart in to keep it charged. We used to go to Pleasure Island at night in our golf cart.
Some of our best vacations were spent in the village area...and in those golf carts!

There were so many different kinds of accomodations in the village resort area. They had the townhouses, the Fairway Villas, the Club Rooms (?), the Treehouses. Maybe a couple more different styles too.
The Club Rooms had a little living room area, a small kitchen area (like in the studios) and a large bedroom with 2 queen beds in it.

The townhouses had bedrooms upstairs and a murphy bed in the living room downstairs. They had a "powder room" downstairs too. And maybe 2 bathrooms upstairs?? It's hard to remember!

I remember those too!! Before we bought into the DVC we used to stay in the Village area a lot when I went with my folks.. We stayed in the Townhouses, Treehouses and the Club Lake Villas (aka Club Suites.) That is why the DVC at the time was a perfect fit for us as we always needed 1 or 2 bedrooms... If I remember correctly the Townhouses did have 2 and 1/2 baths.. The treehouses had 3 bedrooms if you counted the little room on the first floor. The Club Suites were nice since they had the bedroom and the living room, however the bathrooms were TINY.. I wonder how much of these old accomodations will make their way into the new DVC resort there. We already know the townhouses are history, but I wonder about the rest...

 

[Lisa P.]

FF is a little different if I recall my investigation in the past. We are talking full week's accodations at the initial booking window so they are only booking full weeks at that time.

Actually, the full-week-only requirement for reservations is only a restriction for stays during the most prime season (out of 4 seasons) and several newer resorts are exempted altogether. For those newer resorts year-round and for all the rest of the resorts in non-prime seasons, there is continuous open booking of nightly stays within the reservation windows.

While they do reserve the right to change the room, I wonder how ofter this happens.

I haven't read of it happening at all on the FF Yahoo group (with about 1300 members, about 2/3 being FF owners). That's why I figured it rarely happens.

Can you imagine this thread on DIS if someone were given exactly the unit they wanted at the time of reservation then arrived and ended up with one that didn't fit their expectations at all?

LOL! Sure can! FF is careful to remind owners that room assignments are subject to change. DVC members already know that requests are never guaranteed at DVC either. I wonder if DVC resort front desks receive more or fewer special requests or complaints about room locations than other resorts or systems.

Since it means that the reservation system is doing much of the job of the fron desk, I assume that mens they cut down on that staff somewhat.

Whenever we've checked in, there have been 3-4 hosts at the front desks and we've always waited less than 10 minutes to check-in. So it seems reasonable to me. I don't know how they structure their office staffing. Since so many FF owners tend to prefer full week stays, they're probably able to reduce front desk staff on weekdays though.

I also wonder if it means longer holds waiting to make reservations.

In the past (a few years ago), I've read more complaints about longer telephone waits. These days, I rarely do, except during those expected seasonal Monday mornings when thousands of people seem to want to book their July 4th or Christmas vacation on the first day it's possible. It hasn't ever been a problem for us.

FF is large, with 450,000 owners. So handling things centrally makes sense to me. It probably doesn't make sense for DVC. DVC has an effective, successful program in how they handle reservations and unit sizes. For that reason, I cannot see it changing significantly.

AEN, the way DVC resorts handle their room assignments is the same way that Disney resort hotels handle theirs. It's also the same for many of the larger timeshare resorts elsewhere, who also have their front desk staff assign rooms. HTH.

 

[Dean]

Thanks Lisa, your updated FF info is helpful as mine is based more on my investigation about 3-4 years ago.

 

[Regina]

Oh p-l-e-a-s-e do not have them use the old layouts as their model.

The Fairway Villas had the master bedroom on the second floor in a loft overlooking the main area. It had a teeny tiny bathroom, with a shower.

The main floor had a nice sized powder room, a somewhat small kitchen, and the murphy bed.

Downstairs from that was the second bedroom with two double beds. There was another tiny bathroom (commode/tub) with a vanity outside.

Closet space was non-existent. Come to think of it, I don't remember dressers either.

The washer/dryer was shared with the other units in a common area.

I joined DVC to get away from these.

 

[Regina]

The topic is reconfiguring the bedding, not exceeding capacity.

Let's keep the focus on that aspect of the discussion.

Thanks!!

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by AEN
DVD found a way to force you to spend more points. Which converts into money.

I don't see how DVD forced anyone to do anything. Buying into the DVC I knew the room layout, the room capacity, points required.. I assume everyone who purchased the DVC was informed of all the policies and rules associated with membership. If the room layout and/or point structure didn't fit with how a family planned on using their membership they had the option of passing on DVC and possibly buying into another timeshare.. DVD isn't forcing me to do anything.

 

[RobDoc]

This is NOT an occupancy thread. There have been two prior warnings and three occupancy posts have now been removed from the thread.

Discussion about occupancy is welcome on the Debate Board. Please feel free to offer all occupancy insight on that venue.

Thanks!

 

[DeeP]

Well after reading all the suggestions for an alternate bed arrangement in the DVC 1 BR, I vote for the bunkbed idea. 3 bunk beds in the master bedroom and 2 bunkbeds in the lr and in the huge OKW 1 BR you could fit at least 3 or 4 bunkbeds in the lr, so that would give you sleeping accomendations for 10 in a 1 BR at BWV, BCV, & VWL and 12-14 people in an OKW 1 BR. Now that would really save everyone some points! LOL
Also for the comment that the 1 br are home away from home and all homes have a king bed in the master bedroom, not so. There are many people that do not have a king bed in the masterbedroom, myself included and my grandparents even had 2 doubles in their master bedroom, and they always considered it their master bedroom!

 

[montessori]

Originally posted by dvcreg
Oh p-l-e-a-s-e do not have them use the old layouts as their model.

The Fairway Villas had the master bedroom on the second floor in a loft overlooking the main area. It had a teeny tiny bathroom, with a shower.

The main floor had a nice sized powder room, a somewhat small kitchen, and the murphy bed.

Downstairs from that was the second bedroom with two double beds. There was another tiny bathroom (commode/tub) with a vanity outside.

Closet space was non-existent. Come to think of it, I don't remember dressers either.

The washer/dryer was shared with the other units in a common area.

I joined DVC to get away from these.

I can't remember the exact layout of each different unit in the Disney Village, although I think we stayed in all of them except the Treehouses.
I didn't mean that DVD should duplicate any of the styles exactly, I am sure there would be a great improvement in the design of the units.
I liked that there were many different sizes and styles to choose from. It was different than any of the DVC resorts now, they have different size units but it's all one big resort, all the same style.
I think it'd be great if they could build the new resort something like the old Village with various kinds of villas, condos, studios, townhouses etc...spread out and separate from one another.
Some villas might have one bedroom, a huge bath, a good size kitchen, and a fair size living area. AND A KING SIZE BED!
In a different area of the resort, a different "neighborhood", the same size unit might have a larger bedroom with 2 queen beds, a smaller bathroom, a smaller kitchen, a smaller living area, and maybe a half bath.

Those old townhouses comfortably accomodated a lot of people and they didn't take up much land.

The acreage is available to offer many sizes and styles of accomodations. Members and other guests would reserve a place in the "neighborhood" that best suits their needs and desires.

And golf carts are a MUST!!

Just thinking out loud here.

 

[AEN]

Regarding all houses having a king, I now remember that Wilma and Fred had two twins. But then again, his car tipped over when the ribs were put on it. .

LOL. Just trying to keep some levity.

 

[JADEMM]

WE SLEPT BETTER AT ASM THAN A 1BR. (Notice I said "slept", that was the only thing more enjoyable and did not compare to our 1BR stay overall). We like the current set up because we can change over the years. We started with 4 of us in a studio and loved the resort compared to Allstars and moderates etc.. Then wanted to try a 1BR and found the kitchen and extra room was great. But the kids keep getting bigger and on our last stay we did a 1BR during the week and then the ASM on the weekend-you guessed it, everyone slept better at ASM-especially the kids (they dont like the pullouts VS a real bed-who would). So we now have done an add on to get a 2BR next time. Should be awesome, but it does cost more for all those points. BUT, the kids will be gone one day soon and then the master with king will be perfect once again. If future resorts offered 2 queens in the 1BR we would for sure go that route for a few more years.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Wow! Just spent half my work day reading the posts on this thread! Don't tell my boss!

Since I have 2 small children under 4, I totally understand why the OP was expressing a "wish" for addiional bedding options in a one bedroom unit. Our family will always opt for the one bedroom unit over the studio because of the full kitchen and washer/dryer - it makes a BIG difference.

Since the kids are so young, they usually sleep in the master bedroom with us. They get scared sleeping alone in unfamiliar places. Besides, DH & I would probably never hear them crying and screaming in the 2nd bedroom in the middle of the night - but the the neighbors might! LOL! I wouldn't put them in the the LR to sleep - they would NEVER sleep! And we wouldn't be able to use the LR past bedtime.

It would definitely be NICE to have them sleep in a separate bed in master suite, since that's where they'll be anyway. I think if DVC was a RENTAL/HOTEL, dual-bed master suites would be very, very, very popular. I may very well request this type of unit, if available. Although, this would open up another "debate" of the jacuzzi tub being open to the room. Since the master suite is no longer "private" - who would want to take a bath open to all?!!! Therefore, the bedroom/bathroom layouts would have to be totally changed.

However, since DVC is a TIMESHARE and we BUY into it for the NEXT 40 YEARS, I think the current bedroom configuration probably works best in the long run. While my kids sleep in our room NOW, they won't for long (I hope not!) and we like the future privacy for DH & myself. For now, we'll live with having both kids in the king bed with us. Heck, they wind up in our bed at home 50% of the time anyways!

So, I think that 2 bed "suites" are a great idea but not necessarily for DVC which has to see members through over 40 years of life style changes.

Now the idea of murpy beds in the Living Room is very appealing to me. I hate unfolding/folding those sofa beds, much less having someone sleep on them. Normally, I prefer having the LR clear of sleeping bodies and all their clutter. However, it will be good in a pinch or if we get a male addition to the family. Also, I envision those pre-teen years where the girls will never sleep and practically "live" in the LR anyway!

It's always nice to have options - the more the merrier. But sometimes the addition of another option may create more complications than DVC may be willing to address. But, I'm sure glad that DVC offers as many options and flexibility as it already does - I know that many timeshares don't.

Now that I've added my 2 cents, how big has the pot gotten?!!!