Bay Lake Incentive Vacation Points

[Bay Lake Family]

We recently joined DVC in the Bay Lake Towers development. As part of our incentive to purchase, we were granted a matching number of points that could only be used at Saratoga Springs if we visit WDW. We are now being told they can only be used after the opening of Bay Lake Towers on 8/4/09, but must be used before 10/3/09. We were aware of the 10/3 expiration date, but were not told of the 8/4 start date requirement. Has anyone else run into this situation? Is the start date restriction true, or is it at all flexible? Any other advice if we want to use the points in late July? Thanks for any tips.

 

[diding]

Hi there, we also recently joined DVC with the Bay Lake Towers and also were awarded the matching points. We already used the matching points for a reservation that we have confirmed for Saratoga Springs on Feb. 22, so we didn't run into that problem. However, we were informed of the expiration date of 10/3. Hope this helps you.

 

[LisaS]

That doesn't sound right. There are restrictions on your BLT points. Any stay booked on your BLT points cannot begin until the occupancy date of your Unit at BLT. But there should be no restrictions on your developer points other than the 10/3 expiration and the limited list of places where they can be used. Those are supposed to fill the gap until you can use your BLT points.

Just curious, who told you you cannot use your developer points until Aug 4th?

 

[Bay Lake Family]

Thanks for the info. Did you book the Saratoga Springs through the member services website, or how did you do it?

 

[alice99]

I think you have to book over the phone. I don't see the developer points in my account. Nor do I see the reservation I made with the developer points. Seems like they are treated differently.

 

[mickey0930]

I was told during the tour of DVC that the matching points could possibly be extended to Dec 31st in some situations. I dont know what those situations are, but they are worth you finding out.

 

[Bay Lake Family]

We tried to book through the member services website and got a reply saying we could not use these points until 8/4. We sent a reply email trying to confirm the date and I left a message with the sales rep to try to clear it up, but have not heard back yet. I am assuming it is a misunderstanding that I am trying to use my developer points and not my BLT points, and that it will be cleared up with no problems, but wanted to see if others had run into this problem. Thanks for your speedy reply.


QUOTE=LisaS;30182178]That doesn't sound right. There are restrictions on your BLT points. Any stay booked on your BLT points cannot begin until the occupancy date of your Unit at BLT. But there should be no restrictions on your developer points other than the 10/3 expiration and the limited list of places where they can be used. Those are supposed to fill the gap until you can use your BLT points.

Just curious, who told you you cannot use your developer points until Aug 4th?[/QUOTE]

 

[LisaS]

Give MS a call rather than using the online form. It's easier to straighten these things out if you talk to someone rather than sending emails back and forth.

 

[gotrojansgo]

I know for a fact that's not right because we used ours to book a SSR 2BR in early June. I did try to use it to switch that reservation to THV today, but I ran into the restriction that the developer points don't count as "Home Resort Points," so I'd have to use our other SSR points instead. I guess I'll be trying again on the 22nd. Fingers crossed!

 

[LisaS]

I know for a fact that's not right because we used ours to book a SSR 2BR in early June. I did try to use it to switch that reservation to THV today, but I ran into the restriction that the developer points don't count as "Home Resort Points," so I'd have to use our other SSR points instead. I guess I'll be trying again on the 22nd. Fingers crossed!

That's correct. Developer points are not SSR points. So you cannot use them to book SSR or THV in the home resort booking window.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I would call MS tomorrow. i think the problem might be arising because you are trying to book on the website. DPs are not on the website, in your account. They are handled separately through MS and I believe, only by telephone.

Good luck

 

[ChelleinNC]

We tried to book through the member services website and got a reply saying we could not use these points until 8/4.

I would call MS tomorrow. i think the problem might be arising because you are trying to book on the website. DPs are not on the website, in your account. They are handled separately through MS and I believe, only by telephone.

Good luck

I agree with anonymousegirl. The computer thinks you're trying to use your BLT points, because developer points (usually) don't show up online. Call MS, they're open 7 days a week from 9-5:30 eastern. Making ressies online is slower than calling because it's done manually--someone comes in and reads your email, looks it up and books it, then emails you back

 

[rkwier]

I agree with the others - give MS a call. The DP are in a separate system than the regular DVC points, so you will not be able to make on-line reservation requests. The DVC system will only recognize your BLT points, so you are getting the message that you cannot use them until the resort open date of 8/4/09. The only restriction that we had was that we had to make the reservations within the 7 month window. We already used 1/2 in January and will use the other 1/2 in September.

 

[irisbud]

we recieved the DP as well, and probably plan to bank them into RCI but haven't decided for sure on that yet.

We have a Feb 1 use year. I thought that this meant that, as of Feb 1, we had our regular points to use as we wish. We were NOT told that we would have to wait until BLT opened to use those points, only that the DP would have to be used at SSR before October 3rd OR used for/banked into RCI, but we could not bank them for WDW

I thought the 160 points we purchased with the Feb use year were ours to do with as we wished, only the DP had restrictions?

 

[spiceycat]

you can use them - just call ms - tell them you are using dp - before you start with the reservations. (they have to go to another space in the system)

these points won't show up in the DVC member site.

 

[cocoaguy]

DP can be used anytime from the day you sign up till 10/3 I bought in Dec and used point in Feb 17.18.19.20th and then Aug. 1.2.3rd.

 

[alice99]

The BLT points (not the developer points) are not available for use until 08/04/09, because you have nothing to put into inventory until the resort opens. You can't take from inventory before that date because you have nothing to contribute until then.

The developer points can be used anytime between now and Oct. 3rd, but the location is restricted to Saratoga Springs or Disneyland. SSR is probably where these points were drawn from, using SSR inventory.

That is how it was when I purchased in Nov., unless they have changed the restrictions.

The original post sounds like a mixed up combination of the 2 sets of restrictions.

 

[JLitfin]

I just reserved a reservation using my DP yesterday and the CM told me that my reservation is booked but they are handled differently than my DVC pts. She has to fill out a form with all the necessary information that gets sent over to a separate dept that handles the DP reservation. I was told that I would receive a confirmation in about 7-10 days, (or longer they are behind with processing DP reservations), she couldn't give a confirmation number since these reservations go through a different dept.

This is my first time using DPs, the cm was very helpful and answered all my questions.

 

[irisbud]

The BLT points (not the developer points) are not available for use until 08/04/09, because you have nothing to put into inventory until the resort opens. You can't take from inventory before that date because you have nothing to contribute until then.

The developer points can be used anytime between now and Oct. 3rd, but the location is restricted to Saratoga Springs or Disneyland. SSR is probably where these points were drawn from, using SSR inventory.

That is how it was when I purchased in Nov., unless they have changed the restrictions.

The original post sounds like a mixed up combination of the 2 sets of restrictions.

Okay, that makes sense, though I wish our guide had been clear on this as it significantly changes our plans. I guess I should have read the contract better, as we were told that, with our Feb 1 use year, 160 regular points would drop into our account that we could use, and we would also have the 160 DP.

We were actually told the DP could be used at WDW or DL before Oct 3, OR banked into RCI like regular points. Does anyone know if this is correct? I am hoping that it is, as we don't really want to use 160 points at WDW before OCT 3rd. We could, but we would have to use them frivolously, which makes no sense unless its necessary to avoid losing them. I was thinking a short 3 night trip before Sept (we have some airline credits that will be expiring) then maybe a week in Jan 2010.

DH wants to use some of the points for RCI. If we can't use our DP points towards that or can't split them beteen that and Disney, I guess the 3 nights will be all the extra Disney I get this year, as we can't do another full week until at last late fall or early winter because of our work schedules, and I promised DH we would bank some points for RCI...

Sorry for the . Just trying to make sense of the DPs...

 

[5forDiz]

Irisbud, although you can't use your BLT points for a stay at any other DVC if check-in date will be before BLT opens, you may still make reservations right now at BLT or any other DVC that will use those points just as long as that stay begins on or after BLT's opening date & subject to the usual booking window rules ( reserve as far as 11 months from now at BLT & 7 months from now at any other DVC resort ) - perhaps this is what your guide was referring to when he said they are available now "to use".

I don't really know how it works with depositing DPs to RCI but if you have DPs that you will not make use of you can always try posting your DPs over on Rent/Trade Board; there may be someone interested in renting a reservation that can be made with the DPs.

Best wishes and congrats on your membership !!