charge for converstion to reservation points

[daisydisney]

We were about to request online to stay @ Fort Wilderness using our vacation points and it appears DVC is now charging $95.00 to convert vacation points to reservation points. We have done this several times and have never been charged. Does anyone know when this began and why ? Seems a rather unfair way for DVC to pad profits.

 

[Chuck S]

We were about to request online to stay @ Fort Wilderness using our vacation points and it appears DVC is now charging $95.00 to convert vacation points to reservation points. We have done this several times and have never been charged. Does anyone know when this began and why ? Seems a rather unfair way for DVC to pad profits.

It has been in effect for a while now, I think since at least January 2008. To my knowledge, no actual reason for the fee has been disclosed by DVC. Many here have speculated that DVC has had some trouble recovering the full cost of the trade to Disney Resorts through rental fees alone, and that the $95 offsets the "behind the scenes" additional costs associated with the trade, such as bookkeeping. Currently Disneyland resort reservations are not charged the fee, but I would expect that to change once the Villas at Grand Californian open.

 

[disneynutz]

We were about to request online to stay @ Fort Wilderness using our vacation points and it appears DVC is now charging $95.00 to convert vacation points to reservation points. We have done this several times and have never been charged. Does anyone know when this began and why ? Seems a rather unfair way for DVC to pad profits.

May be unfair but they did it and there's nothing we can do about it.

They also reduced the number of wait lists that a member can have to two and reduced the number of days that you can book to seven per phone call.

 

[Chuck S]

...... reduced the number of days that you can book to seven per phone call.

Not exactly.

It used to be we could call 11/7 months from our check-out day, so we could book the entire stay, if available. You can still do that.

If you decide to call 11/7 from your check-in day, then you can only book your check-in day plus...up to a total of 7.

As long as you call after your window's check-out day, you can book as many nights as you wish.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

My understanding is that they do not charge the $95 fee for exchanging for campsites but they do for cabins.

 

[daisydisney]

Just got off the phone with DVC and that is correct. Only the cabins require the $95 exchange. However, they said there was NO campsite inventory within 4 weeks of our desired arrival date, so we called the regular WDW reservation number and were able to get the exact dates and type of site we wanted with no problem at all. Apparently the ability of DVC to access resort inventory is carefully managed to make sites available to cash paying guests before DVC point conversions are considered. In this situation, being a DVC member using points puts one on a lesser playing field than cash paying guests. Doesnt seem quite fair.

 

[erionm]

Just got off the phone with DVC and that is correct. Only the cabins require the $95 exchange. However, they said there was NO campsite inventory within 4 weeks of our desired arrival date, so we called the regular WDW reservation number and were able to get the exact dates and type of site we wanted with no problem at all. Apparently the ability of DVC to access resort inventory is carefully managed to make sites available to cash paying guests before DVC point conversions are considered. In this situation, being a DVC member using points puts one on a lesser playing field than cash paying guests. Doesnt seem quite fair.

What type of campsite where you trying to book? DVC points can only be used for Premium and Preferred campsites.

 

[daisydisney]

According to the DVC cast member with whom I spoke, she was searching any type of campsite available to DVC member wishing to access "The Disney Collection". The points chart for 2009 lists only "full hookup", but she claimed to be researching 3 types of sites and could find nothing. Now that we at least have our foot in the door with a cash reservation, I will continue to pursue this with DVC, as obviously there is campsite inventory that DVC cant or wont access. Kind of irritating to say the least. We have been members since 1995.

 

[Chuck S]

It is not surprising at all. Disney Resorts division does not turn all of their available inventory over to DVC reservation availability. DVC/Disney has to recoup the cost of the campsite, and if they feel that they have excess cash DVC inventory, the chances of recouping that cost is diminished. And Disney may feel they have enough DVC Villa cash inventory.

 

[daisydisney]

Certainly makes sense, but puts DVC members at a disadvantage when trying to use their points outside the DVC resorts. I posted on this in a separate thread as well. I do think DVC should make it clear than when attempting to use your DVC points with one of the "collections" that you are likely at a disadvantage to cash paying customers and subject to how DVC and Disney Resorts manipulate their inventories. Not to beat a dead horse, but when trying to book 6 months out in the "value" season, NO availability is quite frustrating.

 

[Chuck S]

I understand you being frustrated. But I think most hotel chains with negotied pricing contracts only make a portion of their inventory available to those contracts. Just as Disney or Best Western may show no cash availability, but there may be availability through Priceline or Expedia or other contracted service. It works on percentages.