Quote: For us, the 1 year reservation window is not the worst part.
What I really do not like is the fact that the DNR wants your payment in full whether you make a reservation for a month from now, or a year from now. I was told this by email from a DNR employee.
So if you make a reservation for Memorial 2009 and want to stay 5 night, you will pay $128.50 on June 2nd 2008 to the DNR with no real benefit of that money (this year) other then having a reservation for a whole year. So during 2008, we will be paying for this year, and next year, ALL this year. We can't plan with out having confirmed reservations.
I also don't like that you are charged $8.50 to an out-of-state and out-sourced company, and then if you want to cancel that reservation, you are charged $10.00 to cancel it.
Sorry for the rant, but we are not made of money. But we do like to go camping at Minnesota State Parks.
Not that we like it, but those of us who camp regularly in WI SPs have been used to this exact scenario for years. Welcome to the modern world of outsourcing... At least it's probably not a company in India or China!
Well, I emailed the Directors a very polite letter, but no response yet. I am not really expecting one I guess.
One thing I did suggest was, for future major changes, it would be really great if the DNR could somehow involve the end users and get opinions, or even a heads up that the change is being considered, to give us time to weigh in on the issue. This is the second major change in the past couple of years that came out of the blue.
Either way, this will change the way we camp, and we'll not be able to use the state parks as much anymore. Less revenue from this camping family for the park system. We might be able to do a few last-minute trips, but that will remain to be seen, and will depend on cancellations I guess.
Well, I do understand that for different camping styles this may be a bad change. Again, for us it is not. How is the State of MN going to loose revenue if they are still able to book the parks full? The difference I see for those that don't like to make their plans that far in advance, is that either there will be space available closer to the camping date or there won't and you won't get in. So it is correct, they may not get the revenue from one specific family that they did in the past, but they will still be getting it from someone else. Now it will be me because I will have a chance to get in when I make my summer plans a year in advance.
I also understand about the concern of the state holding our money for up to a year in advance, but after the year of the change when our fees potentially double up, it will be a wash going forward. COE charges me the full amount 6-months in advance when I make my reservation too.
Would it really have been beneficial for the state to solicit feedback from end users when the responses and desires would not have all been the same. I for one, along with other people and family I camp with, would have suggested a longer reservation period than the 90-day one. Personally I would have prefered 6-months and not the full year.
Again, It's just my prefference based on the way we plan our camping. I do feel bad for those who are negatively impacted by the change.
* This post was
edited 03/26/08 10:34am by SS Slacker *
Dan & Tracy
2 kids ages 4 and 6
2003 HR Neptune 36PBD
300 ISB Cummins/5-Speed
karmasasha wrote: I have never reserved in MN parks and will not. I too call beforehand and then take off. I come in during the week M-F and no problem.
I'm glad that that works for you.
My vacation time is too precious not to have reservations, especially after all the planning.
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