Will a Rental Crackdown Reset DVC Resale Prices?

[Sandisw]

Yea, the value rooms are a catch-22. They are fewer points because the rooms are smaller and more like a hotel room than a DVC villa (that might be our opinion rather than fact!), and people who want to stretch their points for an extra night's stay, book them. If you put the points equal to a regular studio, then no one would bother with them except as a last-minute option!

As for the AKV Club rooms, those points are already much higher than other AKL points. And if they add on more rooms with access to the Club, then you'll have Club guests complaining the lounge is too full and not attractive! Pros and cons. Pros and cons.

And that was my point…the only way that those 5 rooms..up to 10..won’t be gone at 8 am every day is to substantially change the points for them and under value the others.

Plus, to add more CL rooms, they’d have to lower the points on the other rooms as well.

 

[@dvcdudes]

Can I please clarify exactly what walking is based on my assumptions from this thread... (and yes sorry I am new!):

- People want to book a trip for specific dates but they are not open at the 11 month mark yet
- People then book a trip closest to the dates they want and then as and how those dates become available they 'walk'/modify the reservation to include those dates?

If this is the case - do they get priority over someone creating a new reservation for the desired dates as they are simply extending/modifying an existing one? If so, I don't see why people do it or the benefit?

Forgive my nativity!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We are not going to explain it to you, because we don't want any more walkers!!!

Walking is grabbing a reservation 11 months out that might be a few days (or even weeks) prior to the actual date you want. Then later modifying the reservation, changing it to the actual dates you want to stay. In some situations, it can block out other members from gaining access to the dates they want.

 

[Nabas]

And that was my point…the only way that those 5 rooms..up to 10..won’t be gone at 8 am every day is to substantially change the points for them and under value the others.

Exactly. If they changed the AKV Club Studios to (for example) 40 points per night, then demand probably would plummet.

It feels that people are not complaining "I want a Club Level room." Instead, it's "I want a (relatively cheap) Club Level room."

I suspect if Club rooms were 40 points per night, these would be a lot easier to book. We already see this for the Club level one-bedrooms. At 46 points per night, you can find a night for these here-and-there. Change those to 60 points per night and a lot more would open up.

The reason I so desperately chase after BWV Standard View rooms is because they are so much cheaper than Garden/Pool View rooms. But if they were only 1 point per night less, I wouldn't be disappointed paying 1 point per night more for a Garden/Pool View.

People think walking is the problem. It's not. The real problem is that some rooms are a much better value than others. Disney can solve that with another change to the point charts.

 

[Hubalorian]

Can I please clarify exactly what walking is based on my assumptions from this thread... (and yes sorry I am new!):

- People want to book a trip for specific dates but they are not open at the 11 month mark yet
- People then book a trip closest to the dates they want and then as and how those dates become available they 'walk'/modify the reservation to include those dates?

If this is the case - do they get priority over someone creating a new reservation for the desired dates as they are simply extending/modifying an existing one? If so, I don't see why people do it or the benefit?

Forgive my nativity!

The simplest way I can think of explaining it is like this.

Let’s assume there is only 1 AKV Super Savannah view room. If I book it for a week from February 6 to 13, no one else can book it 11 months out until February 13 because that’s when it becomes available again. However if I didn’t want the 6-13 but wanted Feb 20-27 I can go in everyday or every other day and modify my room until I land on the dates I want.

 

[Nabas]

The simplest way I can think of explaining it is like this.

Let’s assume there is only 1 AKV Super Savannah view room. If I book it for a week from February 6 to 13, no one else can book it 11 months out until February 13 because that’s when it becomes available again. However if I didn’t want the 6-13 but wanted Feb 20-27 I can go in everyday or every other day and modify my room until I land on the dates I want.

As you walk, I can waitlist behind you, grabbing the nights that I want. I've done this a few times and successfully pieced together the nights I want.

The problem is not the walkers. The problem is the people who are not walking. They are holding onto the nights that I want, meaning I'll never be able to book them. Demand is too high for those nights.

The solution is to make nights more expensive (in terms of points) for the high demand rooms. Make them expensive enough, and the person who has those nights might decide to never book them, thus freeing them up for me. Or I'll decide I don't want them because they are too expensive for me.

 

[Sandisw]

Exactly. If they changed the AKV Club Studios to (for example) 40 points per night, then demand probably would plummet.

It feels that people are not complaining "I want a Club Level room." Instead, it's "I want a (relatively cheap) Club Level room."

I suspect if Club rooms were 40 points per night, these would be a lot easier to book. We already see this for the Club level one-bedrooms. At 46 points per night, you can find a night for these here-and-there. Change those to 60 points per night and a lot more would open up.

The reason I so desperately chase after BWV Standard View rooms is because they are so much cheaper than Garden/Pool View rooms. But if they were only 1 point per night less, I wouldn't be disappointed paying 1 point per night more for a Garden/Pool View.

People think walking is the problem. It's not. The real problem is that some rooms are a much better value than others. Disney can solve that with another change to the point charts.

The same thing would happen at RIV and VGF which sees the difference in booking between SV and PV/LV.

Close the gap some and that would help a great deal.

I see that now for VGF on August and resort studios. Can get all the nights I need for my nephew in Lagoon view but waiting on one night for the standard view.

But, one thing for sure that could impact resale value and contracts is making the product worse by limiting bookings, changing, names, etc.

Take away flexibility and might mean that not as many people want it or want as many points.

 

[Nabas]

The same thing would happen at RIV and VGF which sees the difference in booking between SV and PV/LV.

Close the gap some and that would help a great deal.

I see that now for VGF on August and resort studios. Can get all the nights I need for my nephew in Lagoon view but waiting on one night for the standard view.

But, one thing for sure that could impact resale value and contracts is making the product worse by limiting bookings, changing, names, etc.

Take away flexibility and might mean that not as many people want it or want as many points.

Yes. People don't want specific categories of rooms. Disproportionately, they want the cheapest category of rooms.

Close the gap between the expensive and cheap rooms, and things will balance themselves.

 

[lowlight]

I find the term abuse interesting.

I’m not sure how to define walking, as a term, but walking is (IMO) unethical. I can cut you in line in the grocery store and there isn’t a single thing in the world you can do about it, I haven’t broken a law or regulation, and I may not be a “line abuser”, but I’m definitely not a good guy. Right?

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Based on a lot of the responses regarding supply and demand for low point standard view studios, then on behalf of those of us who book preferred view 1BRs…

 

[Ruttangel]

I mean AKV Club is 158 points a week when I travel and Value is 69 points.
But, the food, drinks and most importantly the cast member service you get is easily worth it.

However, 90 points is a massive difference, you could stay a full extra week at a value room

Please don’t mess with point charts

 

[lowlight]

As you walk, I can waitlist behind you, grabbing the nights that I want. I've done this a few times and successfully pieced together the nights I want.

DVC should definitely put this in their “how to use your membership to book a stay” brochure.

“To book a 7 day consecutive stay, simply waitlist every night you want after the walkers have passed your desired date, then call into member services and merge 7 reservations, and voila! Please sign next to the Mickey and date next to the palm tree. Welcome home!”

 

[BeachClub2014]

I've posted a new "walking" reservation poll, as I'd be interested to see how we DISboarders respond. Here's the poll: https://www.disboards.com/threads/r...r-reservation-activity.3939505/#post-65299495

 

[lowlight]

Next week on DVC Of Our Lives…
<a href="https://imgflip.com/i/8ews73">

 

[hilltopper152]

Who says Disney wants to ‘fix walking’? I don’t believe they mind it at all in fact the process was explained to us during our onboarding call with member services when we bought our initial contract.

Just got off phone with MS and explained how I was walking points. She partially shamed the act but said she understood and has once told an older member about it so she could get a room. Not sure how you stop it... I just look at is me wanting it more and trying hard to get it. Generally walking is only useful at the 11 month window as rooms are not so available at 7 month window in a clean fashion. Once the walking and high demand day has the dust settles it works out. Check back a few days after the window passes and there is rooms. I rather have the ability to walk points into future and the "trouble" it causes versus having to log on each morning 7 times in a row gambling to complete a full reservation. Walking is just an aspect of this product which is still fair to everyone other than people that dont have enough points to reach out 7 days in the future.

Disney probably does care because people complain but they also probably do not care enough to adjust it because it makes snese to leave it as is.

 

[Genie+]

Can I please clarify exactly what walking is based on my assumptions from this thread... (and yes sorry I am new!):

- People want to book a trip for specific dates but they are not open at the 11 month mark yet
- People then book a trip closest to the dates they want and then as and how those dates become available they 'walk'/modify the reservation to include those dates?

If this is the case - do they get priority over someone creating a new reservation for the desired dates as they are simply extending/modifying an existing one? If so, I don't see why people do it or the benefit?

Forgive my nativity!

Owners walk so they can start booking prior to 11 months, usually starting during a time frame when demand is less so they can even get ‘in’. Walks can be flipped by the amount of days in the reservation. A week long reservation can be walked (flipped) every 7 days. Certain rooms (like standard view) and/or seasons (like Dec) often require walking, otherwise face near 0% chance to secure at 11 months. It’s a compounding problem because more walks means more need to walk, followed by more walks and need to walk, etc. I doubt this doesn’t keep growing so likely a change comes sooner or later.

 

[@dvcdudes]

The simplest way I can think of explaining it is like this.

Let’s assume there is only 1 AKV Super Savannah view room. If I book it for a week from February 6 to 13, no one else can book it 11 months out until February 13 because that’s when it becomes available again. However if I didn’t want the 6-13 but wanted Feb 20-27 I can go in everyday or every other day and modify my room until I land on the dates I want.

Ahh ok. Thanks, that makes sense and I can see why it’s detrimental to others. Just to confirm I’m not looking to do this, I just didn’t understand what it was. Thank you!

 

[Unclelude]

Ya know, this wouldn't be a problem if everyone just bought more points and stayed in 1BRs... cmon you standard studio walkers ... full kitchen, washer/dryer ... ooh - ahhh... go ahead, try it sometime... book a 1BR 4 months out.... you might like it!

 

[@dvcdudes]

Owners walk so they can start booking prior to 11 months, usually starting during a time frame when demand is less so they can even get ‘in’. Walks can be flipped by the amount of days in the reservation. A week long reservation can be walked (flipped) every 7 days. Certain rooms (like standard view) and/or seasons (like Dec) often require walking, otherwise face near 0% chance to secure at 11 months. It’s a compounding problem because more walks means more need to walk, followed by more walks and need to walk, etc. I doubt this doesn’t keep growing so likely a change comes sooner or later.

Thanks that’s helpful context!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I’m not sure how to define walking, as a term, but walking is (IMO) unethical. I can cut you in line in the grocery store and there isn’t a single thing in the world you can do about it, I haven’t broken a law or regulation, and I may not be a “line abuser”, but I’m definitely not a good guy. Right?

Agree with your line abuser example - unethical. But it's apples and oranges comparing it to walking. It's not line cutting. It's not against the rules. I don't see how unethical comes into play. I just know it annoys a few folks a great deal, and I respect that annoyance. But it's done within the rules of the people using their contracts and their points. There will just have to be a lot of agreeing to disagree with the different levels of concern around walking reservations. We personally don't do the walking. But I dread the thought of any 'fix' Disney might try to implement to curb the few situations during the year.