Concierge Collection -- Warning, Im Grumpy

[jtakh]

and I don't mean one of Sleeping Beauty's dwarfs......


I have tried on at least five seperate occasions to use points to stay at one of the concierge collection properties. I have NEVER been successful in getting a reservation at any of them.

I have 120 points that are due to expire June 1, with the "rule of 4" in mind, I attempted to make a reservation for two measely night at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington DC. I wanted a weekend in mid April.. hardly a prime time for DC. (and no, its not the peak cherry blossom period)

Of course, I am told that there are no vacancies. I checked the hotel's own website and there are lots of rooms available, just not to the DVC members.

Am I to assume that there is only one or two room per property available to dvc members? Im starting to think that the concierge collection is a scam, or a toothless tiger... something advertised to us by DVC, but of very little actual use. I have tried to get reservations in the past in Florida and New York, and have always been told that there is nothing available.

Has anyone ever had any luck... any input would be appreciated.

 

[ToddyLu]

Yes I think others have had luck....they just had it a year or two before the trip....I'm not trying to sound like a smarty pants. I think when you want to use points like that you have to book way in advance and see what you get. That has to be frustrating and I don't think they return you $95 if the reservation doesn't come through. Someone else with much more helpful knowledge will post soon.

 

[CMOORE185]

We have used concierge collection at least twice that I can think of, the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and Shutters on the beach in Santa Monica. Both were great experiences but no longer on the concierge list. The one time we were unsuccessful was at the Grove Park Inn, but we tried to get it at only two months out. I think the key is to book as far in advance as you can, they do have limited space for DVC members.

 

[SusieBea]

And I've been successful not very far out a few times at the Whitehall in Chicago.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I only did it once when I bought my resale which was loaded w/ banked points. I booked 6 months in advance, we stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado in California for 4 fabulous days. I think the key is to book as early as you can. I know some people say it's not the best use of points but I would never have stayed there without DVC.

 

[ssawka]

and I don't mean one of Sleeping Beauty's dwarfs......


I have tried on at least five seperate occasions to use points to stay at one of the concierge collection properties. I have NEVER been successful in getting a reservation at any of them.

I have 120 points that are due to expire June 1, with the "rule of 4" in mind, I attempted to make a reservation for two measely night at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington DC. I wanted a weekend in mid April.. hardly a prime time for DC. (and no, its not the peak cherry blossom period)

Of course, I am told that there are no vacancies. I checked the hotel's own website and there are lots of rooms available, just not to the DVC members.

Am I to assume that there is only one or two room per property available to dvc members? Im starting to think that the concierge collection is a scam, or a toothless tiger... something advertised to us by DVC, but of very little actual use. I have tried to get reservations in the past in Florida and New York, and have always been told that there is nothing available.

Has anyone ever had any luck... any input would be appreciated.

All spring is peak time in DC.

 

[eagle29]

My very 1st trip using my points was actually a Concierge Collection exchange toTopNotch in Stowe, VT. Although the place was great, I quicky realized that a single motel room was no way to use my DVC points. I see your restrictions on your points so your hands are tied a bit, but a better strategy may be to rent those points and make a cash reservation (not sure about their rates if this makes sense). Good luck!

 

[disneynutz]

There have been previous reports on this board and others about the difficulty of using DVC points to book outside of the DVC.

When we purchased we realized that Disney's 500 destinations spiel was mostly a marketing ploy so we knew the limitations before we purchased, unfortunately, many do not.

Bill

 

[BLTLDZ]

There have been previous reports on this board and others about the difficulty of using DVC points to book outside of the DVC.

When we purchased we realized that Disney's 500 destinations spiel was mostly a marketing ploy so we knew the limitations before we purchased, unfortunately, many do not.

Bill

We fell in the catergory of "many do not" Most everything I have learned, has been through the Dis.
HOWEVER, thankfully, we LOVE disney so much, that it is just another reason not to go anywhere else!!

 

[CMOORE185]

I think you can use DVC points to book outside of DVC successfully if you plan ahead, just as you need to to have success booking DVC Hotels.

 

[likestravel]

Bump

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We are three for three with the CC. Lake George, New York City and San Diego this coming April. We don't use it a lot but it is a nice option to have when the cash price of the room and the total number of points are not out of line.

HBC

 

[m3retired]

and I don't mean one of Sleeping Beauty's dwarfs......


I have tried on at least five seperate occasions to use points to stay at one of the concierge collection properties. I have NEVER been successful in getting a reservation at any of them.

I have 120 points that are due to expire June 1, with the "rule of 4" in mind, I attempted to make a reservation for two measely night at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington DC. I wanted a weekend in mid April.. hardly a prime time for DC. (and no, its not the peak cherry blossom period)

Of course, I am told that there are no vacancies. I checked the hotel's own website and there are lots of rooms available, just not to the DVC members.

Am I to assume that there is only one or two room per property available to dvc members? Im starting to think that the concierge collection is a scam, or a toothless tiger... something advertised to us by DVC, but of very little actual use. I have tried to get reservations in the past in Florida and New York, and have always been told that there is nothing available.

Has anyone ever had any luck... any input would be appreciated.

Today was the first time I ever tried to book a CC with my DVC points. We wanted the Grove Park Inn in the Blueridge Mountains over 4th of July. I called this mornng, and they confirmed my reservation already.

We have been very successful using our DVC points at other locations--even booked my son's honeymoon in Cabo (RCI exchange), with confirmation the same day I called.

No complaints here at all!

 

[jodifla]

And I've been successful not very far out a few times at the Whitehall in Chicago.

Yes we were successful there as well!

 

[bwvBound]

We tried booking both Tanque Verde Ranch (when offered) and the Hotel Del Coronado on different occasions. Not successful on either.

 

[TravelingJen24]

One of my family members, who also owns DVC, was able to get Hotel Coronodo last summer for four nights. I have not had any luck and now that the choices are so slim, I'm not sure I would even be interested. You could use them at a Dis property, the Disneyland hotel or Paradise Pier are good choices if you want to come to California. I hope you find something because that is a lot of points to go to waste.

 

[Sammie]

Bill has pretty much the crux of it, DVC is becoming more and more difficult to book anything anywhere except DVC resorts.

And even DVC resorts are becoming harder and harder outside of 7 months.

The limitations I am afraid will only become worse as more and more members are added to the system.

I hope you can find something to use your points for.