adding concierge service for cash???

[vbfamily]

I hope this is where I'm supposed to ask this.

We are joining DVC-VB as home resort. Just returned from a non DVC trip-6 night WL-6 night VB. We had concierge service at the WL and loved it. We are a family of 4 and ate a lot of food for only $35 extra per night.

When you check in at VWL can you pay cash for access to the concierge benefits or do we really lose that option by joining DVC?

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to this. Our guide said he didn't know. It probably doesn't seem like a big deal but most of our pts are going to be used at VB or WL?

If anyone can help me out I would appreciate it.

 

[prncssjas]

Hi there fellow Michiganian! That's a really good question. Have you considered calling the resort directly? I don't know if that would work...I suppose there would have to be concierge rooms available in to access the area correct? Or even member services?

Hmmm...I am not much help am I? DH and I will be using points on our next trip and it will be with concierge so I know HOW much more it is in points.

Sorry I couldn't provide more info. Regardless, you will love DVC!! Welcome.

 

[vbfamily]

Thank you for the info.

I guess I can always call the resort directly and ask. I know we can use a lot of points to stay in concierge at GF, Poly, etc. but I think we spoiled ourselves when we checked in at WL and had the concierge for only $35/night. We ate at least 2 meals daily up in the lounge and saved a ton of money. Now, when we go back and stay in the Villas it is going to be kind of sad if we can't do the concierge.

I can't call member services yet because we haven't officially joined-still working on the paperwork.

By the way, what do DH and all the other abbreviations mean? Is there a post somewhere that shows new people like me what everything means?

Thanks

 

[prncssjas]

Hi vbfamily!! I apologize for the online lingo!! DH means "dear husband" and I know that there is a list on the DISboards but I am not sure where, and it's a list of abbreviations and codes, etc...it should be really helpful.

When do you close? It's exciting isn't it?!!

Hope someone else can help you.

 

[vbfamily]

We don't have a closing date yet. All we have done is send in our money. Our guide (I think that's what he's called) is on the cruise ship and is going to handle everything when he gets back.

It is exciting. We have been kicking ourselves for not joining sooner. Been to VB three times and WL and always made up excuses why we shouldn't do it. We were at WL 1O/13-10/20 and VB 10/20-10/26 and did not want to leave!!!!!!

We are just glad we are basically going to be going twice a year if we want with our points. We love going to VB in October because everyone is in school and we always manage to have the pool to ourselves once or twice.

Are you a member?

We can't wait to close and get our points and start planning more vacations!!

 

[CarolMN]

Click Here for a list of commonly used abbreviations.

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question re conceirge, either.

 

[prncssjas]

Hi again Vbfamily. Oh yes, we are DVC members and we love it!! We actually own points at VB (that's our home) and we considering an add-on at the BCV. I really REALLY love VB. It's one of the most relaxing vacations I can take. So believe me, I know how you feel.

I hope you find your closing to be a smooth easy process!!

 

[vbfamily]

Do you know what we can expect once we send in our paperwork.

Are there times when closing is not a smooth, easy process

started looking at these boards right after we sent our money in and was surprised by people saying why would anyone buy at Vero Beach and things like that. We think we made the right decision, though. We love the ocean and any side trips we might take to WDW are special bonuses.

Thanks for all of your information

 

[Michelemouse]

No, unfortunately you won't be able to pay to use the concierge services. They only have facilities for the number of rooms designated as Concierge rooms.

While you can still use your points to stay at other resorts (without DVC accommodations) once DVC villas open at a specific resort you cannot use points for regular rooms at that resort. Before the VWL opened DVC members could book WL rooms on points but not any more. The same is true for the Beach Club now. You can still use your points at the Yacht Club but not the Beach Club.

Hope this helps...even if it wasn't what you hoped to hear.

 

[vbfamily]

I do have another question for michelemouse

You said they only have facilities for the number of rooms designated as concierge rooms. We booked concierge, but when we checked in we did not want to be that high(7th floor) so we stayed in 2151 in the lodge but still had access to the concierge food, etc. We booked at concierge rate which was $95 more than a courtyard room, but by not staying on the concierge floor we payed a courtyard room rate and only $35 extra for concierge benefits. I think that is why I'm so fixated on the question-if they can just add the extra $35/nt onto a regular room for the food, etc. then can they add it on to a villa that we paid for with points?

I am making a bigger deal out of this than I need to, we join DVC and we lose the right to stay concierge at any DVC hotel but we can use the points(more of them to stay at the others).

I'm not going to worry about this anymore, just excited to be joining DVC.

Wouldn't it be kind of nice if the Villas at various different resorts had their own little concierge type lounges. It seems like for a additional pts people would take advantage of that-get to talk to other members, etc. Do they have something like that?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Actually, DVC does have a "concierge-type" gathering. On either Thursday morning or Tuesday morning at OKW and BWV, there is a weekly member meeting. They provide coffee, juice, pastries, etc, talk about DVC and pass out prizes to members. And it doesn't cost anything extra.

 

[Richyams]

I just hope you bought VB points with the intent of staying mostly at VB. I hope you didn't fall for the lies DVC sales staff often uses to seel those points. Sometimes they say stuff like "Home resort doesn't matter", "All the sales staff buys at VB, the incentive(MB) is so generous", "Most reservations are made less than six months out, the seven month window is not really a concern"

The MB is so large at VB because they can't sell those points to anyone. They need to lie to move them.

We have had more than one person trying to dump their VB points after they fell for that garbage and then found out that the seven month window DOES matter.

If you bought VB points to stay mainly at WDW, you really should re-consider your purchase.

If you bought VB points to stay mainly at VB, congratulations, VB is a great resort and never mind.

 

[Richyams]

If you could add concierge for cash, I would probably pay $100 a day, as long as my room was near the lounge.

 

[vbfamily]

We did buy pts with the intention of mostly staying at VB. We love the resort and the town. Been there 4 times in 4 years. We did go to WDW and VB last month with cash-haven't closed yet and hope we get to go somewhere at WDW once in a while, but as long as we can stay at VB twice a year we'll be happy.

It seems like we will never be able to get a res at WDW. Does anyone ever luck out? There may be a time when we want to do VB and WDW in the same trip. We always go off season.

Should we already start thinking about an add on somewhere at WDW if we might go there once in the next 4 years?

Thanks for your info. From what I have read a lot of people feel the same way.

I didn't fall for any of the sales pitched. It's a case of going somewhere so many times and falling in love with it and then finding out we can join DVC and go there even more. I wish more people realized how great VB is.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You might be able to get an OKW ressie with VB points. The size of OKW makes it more available.

 

[hoosiergirl]

Hi vbfamily! Welcome to DVC! It sounds like you did the right thing--if VB is where you vacation the most, that's the place to buy! Don't get discouraged and think you'll never be able to get a reservation at WDW. Booking at the 7-month window will be your best bet, especially for non-OKW resorts, but it still never hurts to try any time. I've had to change my reservation several times over the years and as long as I was flexible with dates, I had great success. (We own at VB and OKW, by the way.)

If you're only going to WDW once every 3-4 years or so, I personally wouldn't add-on. Splurge on that concierge service instead!

 

[Michelemouse]

vbfamily -

Even though you did not stay in the designated concierge room I'm guessing that you were still counted as concierge guests and that one of the concierge level rooms went empty.

Think about it this way...if they allowed people to add the concierge service on for only $35/day then far too many people would want to take advantage of that. I just don't think it would be possible.

 

[vbfamily]

You're right. I never thought about the room upstairs sitting empty.

I'm not going to worry about concierge anymore. I just want to start planning another vacation with our points.

We are really excited and hopefully we will get the reservations we want when we need them, if not, maybe we will eventually do an add on somewhere at WDW if it becomes a problem.

Thanks