BWV -- Is this a bad idea?

[CRSNDSNY]

We are renting DVC points and staying in a Standard BWV Studio this December. Is it a bad idea to not call DVC to make a room request? I already said non-smoking, but I mean something like 'closer or further from elevators', 'top floor' or 'lower floor'...is this a bad idea to not make a request? It will be me and DH for two nights pre-cruise.

What do you think?

 

[BounceyOne]

As a DVCer I can tell you standard view at BWV sells out at the 11 month mark and requests are taken at the time of booking. Calling now would probably not get you anything then non smoking, which you already asked for.
The standard rooms are also very limited in the amount of them, so you don't get much of a choice anyway.
I would be happy to be staying in such a wonderful place and enjoy whichever room I got.

Someone else might suggest something different, just my opinion.

 

[JOC]

If being on a "top floor," "lower floor" or "close to the elevators" is that important to you, then I would ask whoever you rented the points from to call and have those requests annotated on your reservation. Can't hurt to try, right?

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by BounceyOne
I would be happy to be staying in such a wonderful place and enjoy whichever room I got.

That's kinda what I thought anyway. Thanks!

Originally posted by JOCIf being on a "top floor," "lower floor" or "close to the elevators" is that important to you, then I would ask whoever you rented the points from to call and have those requests annotated on your reservation. Can't hurt to try, right?

Being the first time we're staying at this resort, I really don't think anything more than Non Smoking is important to us.

Thank you everyone!

 

[Disbug]

From BWV and we had a STD view 1-BR which we loved! 4 days before leaving I faxed a request to the BWV and received exactly what I wanted! So, there is hope!! (Never hurts to politely ask...)

 

[DebbieB]

I would put in a request for top floor, you can see the fireworks from Illuminations from most of the top floor standard views.

DVC is no longer preassigning rooms by date of reservation. When you arrive, they will try to find a room that you can occupy immediately that meets at least ONE of your requests.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=416553

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=417365

 

[Deb & Bill]

DVC has also asked the members not to fax any requests in. They have announced that all requests are taken by MS and not by the hotel.

Also, you will need the member to contact MS since you technically are not supposed to contact them without a member ID.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
Also, you will need the member to contact MS since you technically are not supposed to contact them without a member ID.

I've already contacted DVC with the reservation number before to make sure the reservation was in my name. They were very polite and friendly and never said that I should have the member contact them instead. Are they just being nice by not saying that to me?

 

[Deb & Bill]

They call it Member Services because it's for members. You are supposed to give them your Member ID number every time you call. So only the member should call with changes to the reservation. It is very difficult to get into MS sometimes and I'd be upset if I couldn't get into MS and a non-member was busy with them on the phone. It's a service that we pay for with our dues.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
They call it Member Services because it's for members. You are supposed to give them your Member ID number every time you call. So only the member should call with changes to the reservation. It is very difficult to get into MS sometimes and I'd be upset if I couldn't get into MS and a non-member was busy with them on the phone. It's a service that we pay for with our dues.

Geez, sorry. I will remember that.

 

[ArcticWildMan]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
They call it Member Services because it's for members. You are supposed to give them your Member ID number every time you call. So only the member should call with changes to the reservation. It is very difficult to get into MS sometimes and I'd be upset if I couldn't get into MS and a non-member was busy with them on the phone. It's a service that we pay for with our dues.

I don't mean to be rude, but if a person who is renting points can't call in for fear of "upsetting" a DVC owner, then maybe renting points should be discontinued.

While DVC people who rent points don't make money per se, it easily covers the yearly dues paid and a renter should be allowed to at least have the "priveledge" of calling Member services.

 

[diathoney]

I totally agree with you ArcticWildMan. I would not rent points (which I am doing for our September stay) if I couldn't call member services and verify the reservation. When I pay a member for their points, I am "renting" their DVC membership. The member isn't be using their points - I am. If DVC didn't want members renting/loaning/giving points, they wouldn't allow reservations to be made in other people's names. When we toured DVC, the guide even explained renting to us. He said he even rented out his points sometimes!

 

[Deb & Bill]

DVC does not encourage members renting out their points. In fact, they discourage it in all the literature that we sign when we purchase. If you are not a member and you rent, you are not entitled to DVC privileges. That's in the literature, too.

If you want to talk to MS, have your owner make a three way call.

I don't rent out my points/reservations and never will.

When I pay a member for their points, I am "renting" their DVC membership.

You are not renting their membership. You are merely using a reservation that they made with their points. You are not entitled to any DVC member benefits as a renter. Only guests (without a transfer of cash for the reservation) are entitled to DVC member benefits. However, that's not to say it won't happen.

 

[ArcticWildMan]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
DVC does not encourage members renting out their points. In fact, they discourage it in all the literature that we sign when we purchase. If you are not a member and you rent, you are not entitled to DVC privileges. That's in the literature, too.

Funny, that was one of the big selling points when we took the DVC tour this past trip at WDW.

If you want to talk to MS, have your owner make a three way call.

And this differs in what way from just calling ourselves? If anything, it ties the lines up longer due the complexity of the call.

I don't rent out my points/reservations and never will.

That's great. But unless you can convince every other DVC owner to stop renting, you are complaining to no avail.



You are not renting their membership. You are merely using a reservation that they made with their points. You are not entitled to any DVC member benefits as a renter. Only guests (without a transfer of cash for the reservation) are entitled to DVC member benefits. However, that's not to say it won't happen.

I really don't think talking to a Member service rep to verify a room request or to make a request is a benefit that is unique to just the DVC elite. That's just part of DVC and any person who is staying at DVC property no matter what their membership status is, has a right to talk to them.

By your reasoning, you don't have any right to drive on the roads out of your own state, visit parks, use any public facilities, etc... since you haven't paid directly for them.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

While MS will probably allow someone renting points to verify that the reservation is in their name, MS will not allow anyone other than the member to make any changes to the reservation. If you want to request a specific view, floor, etc, the member you rented from will have to call for you.

I don't know that I would go as far as Deb & Bill and state that non-members should not call member services under any circumstances. BUT Member Services is for DVC members ONLY. If you are renting points, you are supposed to only deal with person you rented points from. You are not entitled to call Member Services. This is no different than booking a travel package through a TA and then expecting the resort to discuss or change your package for you. The 800 number to MS is paid for by member dues. Excessive calls to MS means DVC members pay more, which will mean eventually renters will pay more as well.

 

[ArcticWildMan]

Originally posted by TIdoublegaER
While MS will probably allow someone renting points to verify that the reservation is in their name, MS will not allow anyone other than the member to make any changes to the reservation. If you want to request a specific view, floor, etc, the member you rented from will have to call for you.

I don't know that I would go as far as Deb & Bill and state that non-members should not call member services under any circumstances. BUT Member Services is for DVC members ONLY. If you are renting points, you are supposed to only deal with person you rented points from. You are not entitled to call Member Services. This is no different than booking a travel package through a TA and then expecting the resort to discuss or change your package for you. The 800 number to MS is paid for by member dues. Excessive calls to MS means DVC members pay more, which will mean eventually renters will pay more as well.

That's reasonable. I really don't want to deal with Member Services when it comes to the reservation itself.

Checking on a room request or just checking to verify that a reservation didn't disappear or get changed by mistake, isn't going to burden MS and is no different than the DVC owner him/herself calling.

IMO, as long as DVC is going to allow rental of points, they had better expect a minimum of interaction with the people who are paying the rental fees or they should just end all rentals.

 

[TIdoublegaER]

I really don't think talking to a Member service rep to verify a room request or to make a request is a benefit that is unique to just the DVC elite. QUOTE]

But it is a benefit unique to DVC. That is why it is an 800 number and not a toll call like the rest of WDW phone numbers. DVC members pay for this number just for our use. The membership number is the first thing that the rep asks for. The member's SSN is to be provided if the member number is not available.

That's just part of DVC and any person who is staying at DVC property no matter what their membership status is, has a right to talk to them.[/

Sorry, you are wrong. DVC members book reservations through Member Services ONLY. All Non-DVC members make their reservations through CRO or WDW Travel (or whatever it is called now), unless renting points from a member, which is a private transaction. A non-DVC member booking a room, through CRO or renting, has no right to call Member Services.

 

[ArcticWildMan]

Wow!! Guess I'm a second class visitor who doesn't even have a right to enquire about a basic room request if one was made.


Thanks for the education!!


Where can I join this super elite club?

 

[ArcticWildMan]

Oh and please don't sneer too much at me when I'm there in December. I promise I won't get in your way and disrupt your private, special world


Do I get a special sign I have to wear around my neck while I'm there that says "Second class resort guest?" I wouldn't want to tarnish the experience for those that are paying dues by breathing the air or sitting in a chair they paid for

 

[TIdoublegaER]

IMO, as long as DVC is going to allow rental of points, they had better expect a minimum of interaction with the people who are paying the rental fees or they should just end all rentals.

But DVC (Disney) can't refuse to allow rentals. We bought a lease for years deed, which has a bundle of right attached to it like other real estate ownership. Think of it as sub-letting an apartment. If you sublet from someone, do you think the building owner is going to deal with you or tell you to contact the person whom your lease is with if there is a problem?

If for some reason the person who was renting their points decided to cancel the reservation, the person who rented would have to follow up with the person they rented from. They would have absolutely no recourse against Disney at all. I think you will find, other than verifying a reservation, MS will not be very helpful to any non-member calling.