Difficulty using DVC points at the fort?

[Donna]

Has anyone else had any luck lately in getting a DVC points reservation at the fort? It seems since they took the $95 fee away, there are less points allocated to fort wilderness. I've been calling since I have 54 pts that have to be used by 7-31-09 but haven't had any luck in either of the two weeks (in june) i've requested. If worse comes to worse, I guess we'll have to go down a few days early and stay at OKW, which isn't exactly shabby, lol, but i really wanted to use them at the fort since I can use them for preferred at a full hook up point cost.

 

[disneystick]

Yes...I've tried using my DVC pts. at the Fort and unfortunately the pts come out way later then normal reservations. And folks booked prime dates yrs. in advance. Out of 4 times trying...I was only successful with 1 trip over spring break to use my pts. So I'm with you...use the pts. for a couple night stay. However, I would probably do it reverse....camping first - DVC last.

Good luck and have a great time....because the Fort is one of the best campgrounds ever!!!

 

[becky1960]

I was just looking at June 09 (2 Weeks) and there is availibilty online. I would not know how to apply Dvc pts online. You might make a reservation and then call to apply.

 

[Donna]

I was just looking at June 09 (2 Weeks) and there is availibilty online. I would not know how to apply Dvc pts online. You might make a reservation and then call to apply.

well, DVC only allots so many points to the Disney Collection (which are disney resorts outside of dvc). so even though it shows online there is availability, for use of points, it is much more limited than the TRUE availability. I know it sounds complicated, but i am used to it with DVC, lol.

it works the same way in reverse. Some dvc members cannot get a DVC room on points, but if you called CRO, you would have no trouble booking with cash. It's totally separate inventory from points vs. cash.

i am pretty sure, even if i told them i have the two weeks booked on cash (which i do), they cannot even convert that to points availability. It's just strange cause the last two times i used points, i got exactly what i wanted and then they came up with the $95 non-dvc resort charge and everyone complained since that is MORE than most sites cost! so then they decide to take away the fee but guess what, less points are there to use.

This trip is my BIG birthday trip and i want everything to work out for me. I guess i'll just keep calling member services and hope for some pixie dust!

 

[KristinU]

There's always the route we went...The Timeshare Store to sell...no more worries about trying to use points when/where we want to

 

[Donna]

There's always the route we went...The Timeshare Store to sell...no more worries about trying to use points when/where we want to

i already sold 3/4 of our points to BUY the RV! i am not ready to give up whats left altogether. i like having the option of using them at the fort, hopefully, that will continue and not be a problem in the future. Plus, we like the HH resort and you can't beat $100 off an AP!

 

[KristinU]

True on the AP discount - we're about to take the last trip on our discounted APs.

And I just re-read and hope I didn't come off snarky! Just sharing what worked for us.

We got fed up when the dues went up again and it pushed us over $1000 a year in dues...plus with our nice little chunk from the sale we got to buy our camper and put a porch on the house. (and still have our $1000 a year budgeted to go towards a room or a site).

Oh, and I'm sure you're right in the allocation of sites as far as booking with cash then switching over to points - I think they treat them like apples and oranges. I know even with package vs. non-package they do. I had booked our site last winter (before we even bought our camper - LOL!...we would have tented it, though). Then wehn they made the dining plan available to AP holders I called to get it added - I would have had to cancel my site-only and get a "package" with the site and the DDP...and of course they were booked, so we didn't get the DDP after all.

Best of luck getting your birthday reservation, Donna! Persistence often pays off.

 

[daddyscooltv]

I haven't had much luck either this year on points. I had around 13 resies this year for the Fort and I think only 3 of them was I able to use DVC. It's really upsetting that I have almost 400 DVC points and I can't even use them where I want to. I would love to sell them but the wife still likes to stay at the Beach Club. At least they did do away with the $95 fee for the Fort or I would and sold all the points I have.

Chris

 

[Donna]

And I just re-read and hope I didn't come off snarky! Just sharing what worked for us.

oh no, not at all! having dvc for so long was a nice asset and i sold mine for way more than i paid for them so it was a win win. luckily, i had 3 separate contracts so i sold off one large and one small, and kept a medium, lol. i just couldn't bring myself to totally give up my DVC, at least not til 2042, lol.

 

[F4disneyfan]

My in laws have used their points twice once in Dec 06 for a cabin and then just this past Oct during Food and Wine.

 

[hulagirl]

Donna...I booked a cabin on points and we're leaving on Monday. Did they get rid of the fee for cabins too, or only campsites, do you know? I paid the fee some time ago....maybe in April.

I hadn't heard about this at all.

 

[cquick]

There's always the route we went...The Timeshare Store to sell...no more worries about trying to use points when/where we want to

did you sell all your points? why, if I may ask?

 

[Donna]

Donna...I booked a cabin on points and we're leaving on Monday. Did they get rid of the fee for cabins too, or only campsites, do you know? I paid the fee some time ago....maybe in April.

I hadn't heard about this at all.

It's only the camp sites, according to the member site. I guess cause the fee was more than the sites! ridiculous!
i imagine on the cabins, the allocation is the same since the fee still applies.

 

[docbrown]

You have a third option: book on cash and rent out the points you would have used for the reservation. The bonus on the side is, that if you have to cancel the reservation, on cash you have up to 5 or 6 days prior the arrival to cancel without penalty; while with points once you convert your DVC points to make the reservation, you can't deposit them back to your account. They are reservation points not DVC points anymore.

 

[Donna]

You have a third option: book on cash and rent out the points you would have used for the reservation. The bonus on the side is, that if you have to cancel the reservation, on cash you have up to 5 or 6 days prior the arrival to cancel without penalty; while with points once you convert your DVC points to make the reservation, you can't deposit them back to your account. They are reservation points not DVC points anymore.

This is something i've been trying to do, but within my family. I have other people going on this birthday trip who are staying at ASMovies. I am offering cheap rent and they can stay a few nights in a DVC resort instead! i guess they don't want to move half way through the trip but I would!

I'll be on the phone to MS at 9:00 tomorrow morning to try again!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

I'll be on the phone to MS at 9:00 tomorrow morning to try again!

Please be sure to post and let us know how it went this morning! One of the things that we have been excited about was the low points that it costs to stay at the campgrounds vs. a DVC resort. I'll be so disappointed if it turns out that we are never able to get what we want. By the way, how far out in advance can you try to book at the campground? 7 months???

 

[Donna]

Please be sure to post and let us know how it went this morning! One of the things that we have been excited about was the low points that it costs to stay at the campgrounds vs. a DVC resort. I'll be so disappointed if it turns out that we are never able to get what we want. By the way, how far out in advance can you try to book at the campground? 7 months???

no, holly; with dvc points, it's 11 mos. instead of 7! I did not start trying at exactly 11 mos and with the popularity of the fort, that is probably necessary.

i'll give it a try at 9!

 

[Donna]

Well i just called and again, nothing except for cabins is available. I asked who can i write to , to inquire about less point allocation since the removal of the fee and he gave me the member satisfaction team email address so I will email them and let you know what they say.
It'd be just like Disney to remove the fee so that they look like the good guy but make less points available behind the scenes!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

It'd be just like Disney to remove the fee so that they look like the good guy but make less points available behind the scenes!

If that is the case, we all need to write and complain! That is so unfair. I'd be willing to pay the $95 fee if it meant that I could get what I wanted.

 

[Donna]

If that is the case, we all need to write and complain! That is so unfair. I'd be willing to pay the $95 fee if it meant that I could get what I wanted.

holly,
that is exactly what i said this morning. Writing seems to help cause they DID remove the fee after many complaints but like I said, i can't help but wonder if they lowered the allocation. I wrote to them this morning so i'll let you know what i hear back.