[DisneyTeacher]

I just read on another site that DVC has started a new booking policy. You can now book your reservation for 7 days based on your check IN date. In the past we had to book day by day based on the check out date. The should reduce the number of calls MS gets every day and should make it easier for us to book a trip.

[DVC Mike]

I think the majority of DVC members will appreciate the change, as it will be viewed as simpler. A lot of new members are always confused as to when they can call and book their reservation.

While I like that people won't have to book day-by-day, this change is open to abuse by certain members gaming the system to get a booking advantage over their fellow DVC members. If I am booking Sunday - Thursday (5 nights), I can now call DVC and book Friday - Thursday (7 nights), and then call back a few days later and cancel just the Friday and Saturday night stays. I just got myself a 2-day booking advantage over those who waited until Sunday could be booked! That's not fair.

The old system, while requiring a lot of work, was actually a level playing field and more fair. However, I am not upset by this change and look forward to not having to make so many calls!

I think DVC has to focus on how they implement changes. There was no advance communication to members, and (as of now) still no notice on the DVC member web site. Apparently, DVC MS was notified of the change on Friday morning. To hear of changes like this from Disney fan sites and not DVC is bad.

[DisneyTeacher]

I don't think I'm disappointed either but I did read about the potential for abuse. I would hate for people to book extra nights just to book earlier but it's going to happen. An easy answer is to cancel the whole reservation if the first nights are dropped but that could hurt all of us too. Eleven months out is early for all of us and plans can change, I would hate to lose my whole reservation if I have to drop my first night if a real reason comes up.

Over all, I think this is a good thing but I do see some potential for abuse.

[delmarjohn]

I had to do that with the airlines.....put trip on hold as dates to fly became available...it was a pain ...one of these days i will be able to use some of my free trips ...i have about 16 trips left to use ...it has become increasingly more difficult to use them

[Dopey]

I can only wish to think about things like that. I am jealous.

[jo-jo]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

I don't think I'm disappointed either but I did read about the potential for abuse. I would hate for people to book extra nights just to book earlier but it's going to happen. An easy answer is to cancel the whole reservation if the first nights are dropped but that could hurt all of us too. Eleven months out is early for all of us and plans can change, I would hate to lose my whole reservation if I have to drop my first night if a real reason comes up.

Over all, I think this is a good thing but I do see some potential for abuse.

That could have caused me trouble with our sept trip. I booked mon thru thur (10 nights) with the thought if SW had really cheap flights on tues, I'd drop the first night. But with the flights we got, we are keeping all 10 nights.

[DVC Mike]

DVC has posted an expanded explanation of their new booking policy on DVCMember.com:

New policy enhances reservation bookings and waitlist procedure.
In response to ongoing Member feedback regarding our reservation processes, last week we introduced a new policy designed to enhance booking guidelines and waitlist procedures.

The new reservation policy now offers Members the opportunity to place one single phone call to secure an entire Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation for as many as 7 nights, beginning on the first day of their booking window (which is 11 months before check-in at Members' Home Resort, or 7 months before check-in at other Disney Vacation Club Resorts). The previous policy required Members to call daily at the beginning of their booking window, piecing together their reservation one night at a time.

As a result of this change, Disney Vacation Club has also streamlined the manner in which Members can make waitlist requests, now allowing Members to make requests for the consecutive nights they require to complete their desired length of stay (from one night up to as many consecutive nights needed or requested by the Member). Previously, Members would place requests on the waitlist for intermittent nights that historically had high cancellation rates and would tie up inventory in an inefficient manner, negatively impacting the overall booking process.

In addition to providing greater Member convenience, the simplification of the reservation process also provides the benefit of reduced call volume to Member Services, thereby shortening Members' wait times and making more efficient use of Member Services resources, which are supported by Members' Annual Dues.

Since the introduction of this new procedure, many Members have expressed excitement about the new policy and the greater convenience and time savings it provides. However, in the past week, some of you have contacted Member Services asking for additional clarification on how the new reservation policy works, the changes to the waitlist process, and Disney Vacation Club's plans to monitor Member activity.

Therefore, to provide additional clarification please review the following frequently asked questions and answers:

Q: Why were 7 nights chosen as the maximum length of stay permitted to book by check-in date at the start of the Home Resort Priority window?
A: Our research has shown that more than 92% of Disney Vacation Club Resort reservations are for a length of stay of 7 or less consecutive nights.

Q: What if a Member would like to reserve more than 7 consecutive nights at the start of the Home Resort Priority booking period?
A: This can be accomplished in more than one way. A Member may call at the start of the reservation booking period to reserve the first 7 nights, and then add to the reservation one night at a time until they reach their desired check-out date. Or, a Member may wait until 11 months and 7 days from their desired check-out date to reserve the entire length of stay in one call.

Q: Can Developer Vacation Points received as an incentive offer also be used to make reservations by the check-in date?
A: Yes. The change in booking guidelines applies to all reservations, including incentive reservations.

Q: Is there a minimum number of nights for which a Member can be placed on the waitlist?
A: No. Members can have a waitlist of only 1 night, if only 1 night is missing from their stay.

Q: Can you explain how Disney Vacation Club will address Member misuse of the policy?
A: Disney Vacation Club is committed to ensuring that rules and procedures are fair and balanced for the entire Membership. Therefore, as with all procedures, our Cast Members are closely monitoring reservation activity to ensure there is not potential misuse, and will modify the rules if needed to protect the overall Member experience.