Advice please on upcoming DVC reservation

[gmarine]

Hi, We have a DVC reservation for August made by a friend using their DVC points. Our trip was for our sons 16th birthday who has a disability and compromised immune system so we are thinking we shouldnt make the trip and called Disney to inquire. Disney rep said they would advise us not to make the trip but we had to call DVC. Because the reservation wasnt made with our DVC account our friend called DVC member services to see about moving the reservation to next year but was told because the reservation was made with points that expire in September 2020 the reservation cant be changed to a later date. I dont understand how that could be possible. From what they are saying the parks arent going to be fully open, dining not fully open and many resort amenities arent going to be available so how can they not make exceptions to expiring points and allow changes ? Does anyone have any advice they could share or contact information for someone at Disney that I could try ? Any help or advice is much appreciated.

 

[Minniesgal]

DVC has contractual rules that have to be followed and a finite number of rooms. They cannot just extend all points or they won't be able to honor reservations next year. If the resort is open before these points expire they will not extend them. There are timeshare laws and contractual rules that define this.

 

[gmarine]

Of course but if the resort isnt fully open and many amenities closed then owners and renters are not getting what they paid for.

 

[siren0119]

Of course but if the resort isnt fully open and many amenities closed then owners and renters are not getting what they paid for.

Dining and parks are not considered amenities of the DVC that they would be required to honor or reimburse. You are buying a share of real estate when you buy DVC. Just real estate. The parks, the dining, the Disney experience outside the resort are carrots they dangle, but DVC members aren't guaranteed anything with regard to those things.

 

[gmarine]

I understand that but many amenities at the resorts are closed as well.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Unfortunately I think it will be an uphill fight to get any type of extension. If Disney extended all points from people who shouldn't or don't want to travel during this time the entire system would get completely out of balance. As the previous poster said, DVC is legally run much different than the cash side. It has strict timeshare laws it has to follow. The amount of "pixie dust" they can sprinkle on situations like yours is severely limited, both legally and also given the sheer number of members who are in the same/similar boat as you.

As far as the amenities, most are not guaranteed in a DVC purchase. There is no real recourse if the main pool is closed or your favorite quick service is closed. Basically all we are guaranteed is a room. Considering the parks will be somewhat open and pools should be too during August, I think getting an extension is not too likely.

Is there any way your friends will let you sublet the reservation? Getting at least some of your money back will be better than nothing.

 

[Bayoumomof3]

Hi, We have a DVC reservation for August made by a friend using their DVC points. Our trip was for our sons 16th birthday who has a disability and compromised immune system so we are thinking we shouldnt make the trip and called Disney to inquire. Disney rep said they would advise us not to make the trip but we had to call DVC. Because the reservation wasnt made with our DVC account our friend called DVC member services to see about moving the reservation to next year but was told because the reservation was made with points that expire in September 2020 the reservation cant be changed to a later date. I dont understand how that could be possible. From what they are saying the parks arent going to be fully open, dining not fully open and many resort amenities arent going to be available so how can they not make exceptions to expiring points and allow changes ? Does anyone have any advice they could share or contact information for someone at Disney that I could try ? Any help or advice is much appreciated.
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[cm8]

I understand that but many amenities at the resorts are closed as well.

Did Disney release what was available and not at each resort? I’m not seeing where they have stated that many amenities will be closed?

 

[Bayoumomof3]

from what I can understand,they have made exceptions with points that were scheduled during the closure time, but being they are open the time you are scheduled to go, that would not be applicable. Ordinarily, if you want to bank expiring points, that needs to be done 4 months before they are due to expire, otherwise they go into a holding account and you will lose them unless they are used. Seems like that is the most likely scenario in your case.

 

[bluejasmine]

There actually hasnt been an announcement on what will not be open at the resorts so you really dont know that the amenities wont be open.
Since DVC is real estate I'll put it you like this.
You buy a house well then a pandemic hits and the restaurants and gyms near by are closed, you cant back out of your home for that?
Its unfortunate but it's a contract for property nothing like paying for a hotel

 

[siren0119]

I understand that but many amenities at the resorts are closed as well.

Those still aren't reimbursable. If the pool is broken during your DVC stay under normal circumstances, you don't get a reimbursement for it.

And as some have mentioned, they haven't officially stated what will and won't be open at the individual resorts, so I'm curious what amenities you believe are closed.

 

[Minniesgal]

Of course but if the resort isnt fully open and many amenities closed then owners and renters are not getting what they paid for.

Yes they are with DVC you are paying for a room nothing more. The contracts are clear on that. Renting DVC is nothing like booking a Hotel room, too few people understand that

 

[Sandisw]

The points were used to book a room and it will be available during your trip,

DVC has stated that QS and restaurants, as well as pool and resort amenities will be available, but on a limited or different basis.

Exactly what that will actually be is yet to be determined. So, because DVC is a timeshare and not a hotel, there is no legal reason to allow these points to receive an extension,

An owner or their guests lack of access to parks or any other amenities is not a qualification, as heartbreaking as it is.

I am sorry that this trip isnt all it is supposed to be.

 

[gmarine]

Thank you for the replies.

 

[dismedvc]

If the points expire at the end of September, your friend must have an October Use year. The deadline for banking those points was May 31, 2020. Not sure if DVC would allow those points to be banked 2 days late, especially since it has been so hard to get through to Member Services these past few days. (However, since the points could have been banked online, not being able to get through to Member Services might not be relevant.)

 

[Marionnette]

I understand that but many amenities at the resorts are closed as well.

Irrelevant. The amenities like pools, splash pads and community halls are not guaranteed to be open when we visit. There are plenty of times that pools in particular have been closed for refurbs and guests have been granted the ability to hop to another resort’s pool.