A difficult question.

[ILuvFairytales]

There was a possibility I was going to put my DVC up for sale. With the downturn of the economy my DH and I need the money. We already had a vacation planned in Nov. I was told that we wouldn't be able to close until after we return, so I put the points back into the account and booked the same room via cash on a DVC membership discount. I assumed that if I was a member of DVC at the time of booking, all was legitimate. Since then I have heard that there is a possibility if the contract sells between now and our vacation and I am no longer a DVC at the time of check in then the discount is not longer eligible and the ressie itself may be expunged.

So anyone ever go through this? Do they look your card up on the computer and see you are no longer a member or do they go by the original booking quote on the room? I don't remember anyone ever asking for my DVC member card when I visit. I don't want to lose this DVC discount and book on my own especially since I could still be a member at the time of my arrival if the timeshare doesn't sell. I even thought about booking another ressie and then canceling the DVC ressie if I sell, and keeping the DVC ressie if I don't.

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Thank you.

 

[vicki_c]

Well only members are entitled to the DVC cash discount on the rooms. I would make the assumption that if you are no longer a DVC owner by the time you pay for the room - upon arrival, you would not be eligible for the discount and they could charge you rack rate.

I don't know this, but it is what seems most logical to me.

I would call Member Services and ask.

 

[dzorn]

I would not expect the discount if you do not qualify for it.

Denise in MI

 

[ILuvFairytales]

Member services does not know the answer.

And to me it seemed logical to think that you receive the discount at the time you book because you are a DVC member at the time. Like if I was a member of AAA and booked a trip and received a AAA discount because I'm a member right now. Or if I book the Very Merry Christmas Party and get a DVC discount and receive the tickets ahead of time.

The only difference is you don't pay for the room ahead of time, but you do the party or the Cirque du Soleil or other show. I have gotten AP discounts on things but then my AP expires, but I still got the discount because I bought it in that time period.

I can live with them charging me the rack rate. I'm more upset that my vacation ressie might be thrown out and we'll be standing there with no place to stay or trying to find a room at the last minute. The other thing that upsets me is I want to partake in the discount if I'm still a DVC member and DON'T want to pay rack rate if I'm still a member.

So should I make 2 reservations and cancel whichever one I need to cancel closer to the vacation and depending on whether I'm a member anymore or not? I'm not trying to swindle the system, I'm trying to receive the perks I'm owed. And I can't wait to the last minute to find out and THEN try and find a place to stay. I'm asking here because no one in member services seems to know the answer so that is what got me wondering... Maybe it is not an issue. If I sell the timeshare, then the next time I go to book, I can't through DVC anymore. But if I'm a member at the time of the vacation planning, then maybe the vacation plans hold firm.

 

[ILuvFairytales]

I would not expect the discount if you do not qualify for it.

Denise in MI

But I do qualify for it......now. Who know 6 mos. from now what will happen. It's a hypothetical question. Do I assume that I will definitely sell it and I won't qualify for the discount and so throw away the discount? Would you do that? And then if I don't sell it I'll be kicking myself for throwing away $1500 in discounts?

I can see both sides but I don't find the logic in not accepting discounts for a timeshare I presently own and will own for the foreseeable future. I wanted to know if anyone had a more definitive answer.

 

[ILuvFairytales]

I did want to say I appreciate the time you both took to give me your opinions.

 

[Dean]

If you close all reservations associated would be canceled. My understanding is that would include any member type cash reservations whether discounted or not. You'd need to be a member at the time of the reservation to actually qualify. Just time it so you don't close before the day your reservations starts. OF course that brings up the question whether you might want to revisit staying on points instead of cash. Good luck, I hope it works out.

 

[ILuvFairytales]

If you close all reservations associated would be canceled. My understanding is that would include any member type cash reservations whether discounted or not. You'd need to be a member at the time of the reservation to actually qualify. Just time it so you don't close before the day your reservations starts. OF course that brings up the question whether you might want to revisit staying on points instead of cash. Good luck, I hope it works out.

Thank you. Good to know. And closing could take 60 days. So I have to time it 60 days before, right? Member services did tell me any outright cash ressies should be fine because they send you to the cash ressie dept and it's just "linked" to DVC Member Services. It's the DVC discount on a Cash Ressie at a DVC resort that is throwing all at Member Services because they handled the ressie themselves and did not have to send me to another department. And that is my reason for the post. That ressie is more susceptible to being expunged upon closing. Which is what I'm afraid of.

Maybe I should go the double ressie route and cancel the one that doesn't work closer to the time I arrive.......And at that time I should know whether the DVC sold and I have 60 days then before it closes to cancel.

 

[canwegosoon]

You could make a room only reservation(frequently discounted rates available) and you have up until 5 days out to cancel with no penalty(I believe)-so that could be your plan B

 

[Dean]

Thank you. Good to know. And closing could take 60 days. So I have to time it 60 days before, right? Member services did tell me any outright cash ressies should be fine because they send you to the cash ressie dept and it's just "linked" to DVC Member Services. It's the DVC discount on a Cash Ressie at a DVC resort that is throwing all at Member Services because they handled the ressie themselves and did not have to send me to another department. And that is my reason for the post. That ressie is more susceptible to being expunged upon closing. Which is what I'm afraid of.

Maybe I should go the double ressie route and cancel the one that doesn't work closer to the time I arrive.......And at that time I should know whether the DVC sold and I have 60 days then before it closes to cancel.

Just offer it for sale now with a closing date specified of on or after X date.

 

[Cajun28]

Member services does not know the answer.

And to me it seemed logical to think that you receive the discount at the time you book because you are a DVC member at the time. Like if I was a member of AAA and booked a trip and received a AAA discount because I'm a member right now. Or if I book the Very Merry Christmas Party and get a DVC discount and receive the tickets ahead of time.

Whenever I book a room using my AAA membership, it is always statesd that I must show proof of membership at check-in.

 

[Inkmahm]

Whenever I book a room using my AAA membership, it is always statesd that I must show proof of membership at check-in.

And ordering the tickets for MVMCP, you pick up the tickets at will call and show your membership card then. They aren't sent to you in advance.

 

[ILuvFairytales]

And ordering the tickets for MVMCP, you pick up the tickets at will call and show your membership card then. They aren't sent to you in advance.

I did not know that about AAA. But as far as my MVMCP tickets, I ordered and paid for them and they were sent to me already. So some tickets are sent ahead of time, and some are waiting for you at will call depending on many factors I presume. I did not know that since I have had mine sent to my home for years.

 

[ILuvFairytales]

Ok. I didn't feel like dealing with the hassles.

So I called WDW reservations and I booked a 2nd room for the same time period. I explained how upset I was about the DVC discounted room I have booked and that I was afraid of losing that room. The very nice gentleman listened to me and tried to find a good discount for that room via my Disney rewards card and my annual pass, and other such options. I was able to get a better discount than when I went thru my DVC membership. So I booked the room and I will cancel my DVC discounted room tomorrow.

Yay! All is good!

Thanks for the insight everyone! Glad this has been resolved. Now if the timeshare sells, I don't have to panic about my vacation. It is a done deal!

 

[Cerigirl]

I have just read all of the posts and am glad you got it sorted. I also hope things pick up for you soon. Over here in England, we are struggling too and we nearly sold one of our contracts for Vero Beach. We pulled it out of the market after a couple of months not selling, but we are still short on money each month

It seems so many people are being affected by money at the moment - take care x

 

[ILuvFairytales]

I have just read all of the posts and am glad you got it sorted. I also hope things pick up for you soon. Over here in England, we are struggling too and we nearly sold one of our contracts for Vero Beach. We pulled it out of the market after a couple of months not selling, but we are still short on money each month

It seems so many people are being affected by money at the moment - take care x

That is very kind of you to wish me well. We have 3 small kids and are in the construction industry and that really got hit after the real estate bubble burst awhile ago. It's tough right now alright, but we've managed to stay afloat due to cutting back with the business and at home. I appreciate your sentiments and send the same right back to you in England.

 

[DebbieB]

Ok. I didn't feel like dealing with the hassles.

So I called WDW reservations and I booked a 2nd room for the same time period. I explained how upset I was about the DVC discounted room I have booked and that I was afraid of losing that room. The very nice gentleman listened to me and tried to find a good discount for that room via my Disney rewards card and my annual pass, and other such options. I was able to get a better discount than when I went thru my DVC membership. So I booked the room and I will cancel my DVC discounted room tomorrow.

Yay! All is good!

Thanks for the insight everyone! Glad this has been resolved. Now if the timeshare sells, I don't have to panic about my vacation. It is a done deal!

That's the advice I was going to give - CRO has much better discounts than DVC for Deluxe & DVC resorts. Usually 40%-45%.

 

[Sandisw]

Ok. I didn't feel like dealing with the hassles.

So I called WDW reservations and I booked a 2nd room for the same time period. I explained how upset I was about the DVC discounted room I have booked and that I was afraid of losing that room. The very nice gentleman listened to me and tried to find a good discount for that room via my Disney rewards card and my annual pass, and other such options. I was able to get a better discount than when I went thru my DVC membership. So I booked the room and I will cancel my DVC discounted room tomorrow.

Yay! All is good!

Thanks for the insight everyone! Glad this has been resolved. Now if the timeshare sells, I don't have to panic about my vacation. It is a done deal!

That is great and I hope that it sells fast. Here is some pixiedust for you!

 

[ILuvFairytales]

That's the advice I was going to give - CRO has much better discounts than DVC for Deluxe & DVC resorts. Usually 40%-45%.

And that is exactly what I found out. I am most pleased with the outcome. I did not want to lose the discount, but when I got a better one thru CRO, it's a no brainer and there are no hassles now. It was getting very stressful.

Thanks for getting ready to post that info. You would have given me the nudge to check it out at the very least. I appreciate you looking at my post and knowing a better route for me. I just needed someone to point me in the right direction.

 

[ILuvFairytales]

That is great and I hope that it sells fast. Here is some pixiedust for you!

Thank you very much! I LOVE pixie dust!