Are Treehouse Villas standing empty?

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Look at this thread. All these people are talking about getting 35-40% off discount booking Treehouse Villas through disney. How can that be?
I don't understand that. People on DVC boards talk about lack of availability.
I have never tried to book there myself, or looked at dates. But the only way it should be open to book through Disney is if it is standing empty.
And general public can get 35-40% off while DVC members can't get it?!?

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2937965#

 

[Sandisw]

Someone else may have more up to date information, but I don't believe that all 60 treehouses have been declared into DVC at this point. Those that are not would not be eligible for member bookings.

This could be why there are people getting them via cash.

 

[CarolMN]

My understanding is that all 60 THV have been declared.

So those available for cash are most likely there because owners have used their points to trade for non-DVC options in The Disney Collection, The adventurer's Collection or the Concierge Collection. Many people use points to cruise on the DCL (and those take a lot of points), so it doesn't surprise me to see some of the THV available for cash.

 

[wdrl]

CarolMN is correct. The last of the 60 Treehouse Villas were declared on September 28, 2011, for the DVC inventory. With that declaration, all of SSR was declared for the DVC inventory.

In addition to members' exchanges causing inventory to be shifted to Disney cash reservation operation, Disney can also use the SSR points it controls to offer cash reservations to the general public. By regulation, Disney must retain at least 2% of each DVC's total points. It probably has a lot more than just 2% of SSR points because of points reacquired through the foreclosure process and points it has yet to sell.

 

[Donna M]

And I just traded out 228 SSR points for the cruise.

 

[DizDays]

My understanding is that all 60 THV have been declared.

So those available for cash are most likely there because owners have used their points to trade for non-DVC options in The Disney Collection, The adventurer's Collection or the Concierge Collection. Many people use points to cruise on the DCL (and those take a lot of points), so it doesn't surprise me to see some of the THV available for cash.

But aren't they all SSR points? I didn't think there were specific Tree House Villas points. And 2% of 60 is only 1.2 so I'm curious what Tree House inventory is being sold unless it's 2% of all SSR points and they're using a larger amount for Tree House. Does that make any sense or am I just confused?

 

[wdrl]

This reminds me why it pays to read the source material before I say anything. On the thread cited by the OP, the posters are talking about getting a discount on the Treehouse Villas a year or two ago. No one has posted that they are currently getting a discount on a Treehouse Villa from CRO.

 

[disneynutz]

If Disney wanted to I guess that they could hold back 2% of SSR and have them all THV. That would be something like 26 THV units for cash guests.



In fact if the "hold back" is in units, they could hold back Grand Villas for cash guests.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

I personally do not think Disney routinely rents out the 2% or so it owns at each resort. I think these are mostly kept for administrative purposes, and only rented if Disney is sure they won't be needed for that purpose. That determination would be made close to arrival date.

The THV sent to CRO are almost surely due to SSR owners who use their points outside of DVC or RCI. Some of the villas sent to CRO as a result of that trading out could be THVs as well as 2 bedrooms, GV, 1 bedrooms & studios. Because the THV are so popular, I do not think very many THV nights are sent to CRO, but surely some THV room nights are sent there.

As wdrl posted, the referenced thread is an older one. Those THV villas could have been those owned by DVC prior to the declaration. AFAIK, we have not seen reports of recent discounts on those units.

 

[Sammie]

I think we as DISers are in the minority that do not use their DVC to trade out.

In talking to friends that work for DVC, trading out, is very popular with a very large percentage of the membership.

 

[DizDays]

In talking to friends that work for DVC, trading out, is very popular with a very large percentage of the membership.

That surprises me. I have never traded out. I was under the impression it was rather difficult to do so (not to mention an expensive way to use points).

 

[cwdefouw]

That surprises me. I have never traded out. I was under the impression it was rather difficult to do so (not to mention an expensive way to use points).

It is certainly not the best use of points if you are looking for maximum value. However, comparing maximum value to maximum flexibility and vacation options is important too. We have actually done more "Trading out" then staying within the DVC resorts. It is not difficult at all, just call member services, tell them what you want and they check availability. If there is availability, they book it for you and transfer the points. That is all there is to it. We have done about 5 cruises, and several stays from the concierge collection, plus Disney Land Paris, we love the option of not having to stay at at a DVC resort everytime.

 

[DizDays]

It is certainly not the best use of points if you are looking for maximum value. However, comparing maximum value to maximum flexibility and vacation options is important too. We have actually done more "Trading out" then staying within the DVC resorts. It is not difficult at all, just call member services, tell them what you want and they check availability. If there is availability, they book it for you and transfer the points. That is all there is to it. We have done about 5 cruises, and several stays from the concierge collection, plus Disney Land Paris, we love the option of not having to stay at at a DVC resort everytime.

Perhaps I misspoke by saying too difficult to book. You pointed out well the few step process. What I meant was I heard it is difficult to get what you want and people frequently run into lack of availability. I would imagine it would be easier with a cruise due to volume of cabins. Perhaps it's only RCI that's a challenge.

I appreciate your response. You provided me with a different perspective you don't hear much regarding trading out. Perhaps we'll consider giving it a try. Thanks!

 

[drusba]

That area with the treehouses has always been a difficult sell for Disney through CRO and thus you get the discounts for units it is renting. Disney hit gold with the treehouses when it turned them into DVC because it is the DVC members, mostly frequent visitors with many who like to have some seclusion and something very different from tahe typical hotel, that generated high demand for them but you will never get that kind of demand from those renting through Disney. As far as DVC reservations go, the treehouses are usually gone before the 7 month window opens.

 

[Dean]

I think we as DISers are in the minority that do not use their DVC to trade out.

In talking to friends that work for DVC, trading out, is very popular with a very large percentage of the membership.

Online members at places like DIS tend to be far more knowledgeable about what they own and how best to use it. It's always been true that we hear about members, even friends or acquaintances of DIS members, who simply don't understand or use what they have reasonable. Things like owning and not using at all letting the points go to waste. Things that make most of us cringe.

That surprises me. I have never traded out. I was under the impression it was rather difficult to do so (not to mention an expensive way to use points).

You have to anticipate what people say when they use the term trading out. For most, they are referring to timeshare exchanges, mostly RCI but BVTC to a degree. Some will use it for the cash equivalent exchanges as well. The situation and experiences will be totally different. Though DCL has become far more difficult to get anything which I see as a favor to the members looking at that option.

If Disney wanted to I guess that they could hold back 2% of SSR and have them all THV. That would be something like 26 THV units for cash guests.



In fact if the "hold back" is in units, they could hold back Grand Villas for cash guests.

Bill

I don't think DVC has ever stated what they hold back other than to say it's usually in the 2-4% range. This is mainly slated toward maintenance but they could use any extra and any additional unsold or ROFR inventory for the same purpose. That includes other resort points at 7 months out.

IF, repeat IF, DVD is using the tree houses as a major option to utilize the points they own and offer rentals, I see this as good for the membership as a whole and bad for those looking to use DVC for cash equivalent exchanges given the current points points structure. That means they're using a lot of points for less in return and thus getting less in cash than they might with other choices.

 

[ColonialMouse]

That area with the treehouses has always been a difficult sell for Disney through CRO and thus you get the discounts for units it is renting. Disney hit gold with the treehouses when it turned them into DVC because it is the DVC members, mostly frequent visitors with many who like to have some seclusion and something very different from tahe typical hotel, that generated high demand for them but you will never get that kind of demand from those renting through Disney. As far as DVC reservations go, the treehouses are usually gone before the 7 month window opens.

Hmmm. We did a cash stay in a THV last October. Now I'm typing this sitting in a THV with our first trip as DVC members. (We were lucky to get 5 of 7 nights in a THV b/c someone cancelled a couple months ago.) Good advertising tool, though we bought resale, so I guess not exactly what DVC is trying to sell...

Bruce

 

[Mom2six]

The thread referenced by the OP is actually a recent thread. It is about whether or not you can use the military discount offered through 9/30/2012 on THV. It is not a discount open to the general public, only those in or retired from the US military. Perhaps the availability of THV don't figure into whether or not you can use the military discount there.