OC Parks Automated Parks Reservations System FAQ
When Did the OC Parks Automated Reservations System Become Activated?
OC Parks launched the automated reservation system on May 2, 2005.
How Can I Access the System?
Log on to www.ocparks.com 24 hours a day/7 days a week and follow the prompts for making a reservation or call 1.800.600.1600 to place a reservation through our call center available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Pacific Standard Time, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
How Does It Work?
Simply log on to www.ocparks.com from any computer or any time of day, click on reservations and follow the prompts. Or call 1.800.600.1600 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Pacific Standard Time, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, to place your reservation with one of our friendly representatives. A non-refundable processing fee of $12 applies payable at the time of making your reservation.
Customers may place secure reservations in real time and pay with a credit or debit card. After placing the reservation(s), they will receive a system generated email or postcard confirmation and information about the specific park or reservation site.
Customers will still need to acquire a user permit for special events through the OC Parks Permits Office accessible at (949) 585-6427, (949) 585-6429,or (949) 585-6430 or at www.ocparks.com/permits.
What Are the Fees?
A non-refundable processing fee of $12 applies payable at the time of making a reservation. In some cases a cancellation fee may apply. Additionally, various other fees are based on the type of reservation you are making.
For example day use group area and shelter fees are based on group size ($75 for 1-50 people; $125 for 51-150; $225 for 151-250 people and so on).
Campsites are $15 per day per site for up to 8 people and 1 vehicle. $13 for seniors 60 plus and handicapped. An extra vehicle is $5 per day and domestic pet fee is $2 per day.
Weddings, receptions, and special event rates also are based on group size, but are charged at an hourly rate depending on the location of the facility and amenities.
Visit www.ocparks.com for more fee information.
How Far In Advance Can I Make a Reservation?
Reservations can be made 12 months in advance with the booking window opening on the 1st of each month. For example, any reservations for the entire month of June 2006 inventory will open up on June 1, 2005 allowing you to place a reservation up to one year in advance of your required date.
Do I Need to Pay More Than One Processing Fee for Multiple Reservations?
It depends on the situation. For instance, if you are a camper making a reservation for several contiguous days, one $12 processing fee will apply. However, if you are a catering company making several non-consecutive, one day reservations, a $12 transaction fee will apply to each reservation made.
What if I Need to Cancel My Reservation?
You may cancel your reservation. However, a $10 cancellation fee will apply if you cancel prior to 48 hours of your reservation. If your form of payment was received by credit or debit card, you will receive a refund back to your card of the amount you paid for your reservation. Refunds by check may be granted through the call center. Refunds will not be granted within 48 hours of the reservation.
What if I Need Technical Support Online?
The system will provide you with some troubleshooting options and the ability to email the vendor for tech support. You also have the option of calling 1.800.600.1600 to place a reservation through our call center available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Pacific Standard Time, excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Is Call Center Assistance Available in Languages Other Than English?
Callers will be able to also get assistance in Spanish.
Can I Still Make a Reservation In Person?
You can still come to the County’s regional recreational facilities and make your reservations during regular business hours. But we encourage you to use one of the automated methods for convenience and expedition. It also frees up staff to tend to other park related tasks.
What About User Permits, Will I Still Need One and How Is It Secured?
The reservation system and non-refundable $12 processing fee is separate from user permits whose rates are based on the type of event, facility/location, and group size. When placing your reservation, the online system will refer you to the Park Permits Department (www.ocparks.com/permits) to complete the necessary steps to finalize your reservation. Likewise, if you are speaking with a rep from the Call Center, he/she will refer you to the OC Parks Permits center at (949) 585-6427, or (949) 585-6429, or (949) 585-6430.
What am I Able to Reserve at the Parks?
The automated system enables the public to reserve day use picnic shelters and large group areas, campsites, and wedding locations that require reservations in urban parks such as Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Craig Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park, Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Mason Regional Park, Mile Square Regional Park, camping parks such as Caspers Wilderness Park and O’Neill Regional Park; and wedding locations at the various above named and select others such as Heritage Hill Historical Park and Santiago Oaks Regional Park.
In phase two of the reservations system launch (date has not yet been determined), the public may schedule sport fields and interpretive programs and classes at applicable County facilities such as Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and its onsite Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center and the Orange County Zoo.
Why Did OC Parks Move to A New System?
The automated online and call center reservations system brings the parks into the 21st century by streamlining operations, adding efficiency, improved customer service and convenience and making it easier to do business in real time. It is also in line with our strategic plan to become more customer focused and add value (expeditious reservations processing and convenience) to the overall recreational experience enjoyed by our millions of customers each year.
Is the Taxpayer Picking Up the Cost of This New System?
No. The system is being implemented with zero out-of-pocket expenses for the County since there were no up-front application development costs. Instead the system pays for itself with user-based transaction fees, which are charged at Board-approved, non-refundable processing rate of $12 for general reservations.
How is This System Better?
An automated system replaces the outdated Point-of-Sale system currently in place. It reduces staff time needed to complete a reservation by reducing the amount of paperwork and transactions associated with the manual method. By using a web-based system and call center personnel whose only focus is accepting and processing calls, customer convenience is added. The need to drive to a park to fill out paperwork during business hours is eliminated since customers will have the ability to pay by credit or debit card over the phone or online.
The new system also adds other potential e-commerce opportunities such as one day being able to purchase annual park passes or pay for concession services online. Other benefits include stretching taxpayer dollars in times of tight fiscal government spending/funding by re-assigning staff time that would normally go toward processing reservations to other tasks.
