Current policy for VGC cancellations?

[Lesley Wake]

I have an upcoming 1-night stay at the Villas Grand Californian using points which expire Jan 31st, so I won't be able to use them at WDW (I'm a Disneyland local). Does anyone have experience with what the current procedure if the hotel isn't open by the time of my reservation (mid-September)? Are they extending points, and by how long (if they would extend it by 2 months that would be IDEAL, as I have a March WDW trip planned).

Also, I have 26 points that couldn't be banked since they were already banked points (still not sure how that happened since I used plenty of points this past year so I should have used up all those banked points, but I'm still a DVC newbie so didn't monitor things well enough). Originally I had a night booked in August which used all 26 points. I could see the writing on the wall, so moved to September which is using 22 points. Currently there are no other nights available in Oct-Jan which would allow me to use the points. If Disney still doesn't open the VGC, do you think I could argue all 26 points should be extended, since I had to change my original date due to the closure? (I'm well aware that is likely not going to be the case and it's only 4 points, but it's still points I would prefer not to just lose!

Thx in advance!

 

[Sandisw]

As of now, there will be no extension as your points don’t expire until the end of January.

Technically, by the POS, one remedy is to allow owners of a closed resort use points at other resorts..which they are currently doing.

Now, if VGC remains closed all the way through a January, is it possible they will give VGC owners some special extension? Maybe, but IMO, it is unlikely.

There are many owners who are going to lose points this year and no way for them to solve everyone’s issue, and is bound by the contract as well,

You do have the option to deposit into RCI, or could try to rent a night to someone for a stay at WDW.

 

[New Mouse]

As of now, there will be no extension as your points don’t expire until the end of January.

Technically, by the POS, one remedy is to allow owners of a closed resort use points at other resorts..which they are currently doing.

Now, if VGC remains closed all the way through a January, is it possible they will give VGC owners some special extension? Maybe, but IMO, it is unlikely.

There are many owners who are going to lose points this year and no way for them to solve everyone’s issue, and is bound by the contract as well,

You do have the option to deposit into RCI, or could try to rent a night to someone for a stay at WDW.

I disagree that its unlikely as they have already set the precedent that they will extend usage for owners with other use years. They cant arbitrarily do that.

 

[DebbieB]

I disagree that its unlikely as they have already set the precedent that they will extend usage for owners with other use years. They cant arbitrarily do that.

The difference is no DVC resort was open at that time. All but 2 are open now. That may factor in.

I had a res for the end of September, I cancelled last Sunday. They allowed borrowed points to go back.

 

[Lesley Wake]

As of now, there will be no extension as your points don’t expire until the end of January.

Technically, by the POS, one remedy is to allow owners of a closed resort use points at other resorts..which they are currently doing.

Now, if VGC remains closed all the way through a January, is it possible they will give VGC owners some special extension? Maybe, but IMO, it is unlikely.

There are many owners who are going to lose points this year and no way for them to solve everyone’s issue, and is bound by the contract as well,

You do have the option to deposit into RCI, or could try to rent a night to someone for a stay at WDW.

I guess I'm not asking for anything special. I just wanted to know what the current procedure is, for example from someone who had a booking in August that was cancelled. It seems unfortunate if they were to treat it all the same even though the closed resort is on the other side of the country than the open ones.

 

[Sandisw]

I disagree that its unlikely as they have already set the precedent that they will extend usage for owners with other use years. They cant arbitrarily do that.

As I mentioned, based on contract, one option is to allow owners at a closed resort to use elsewhere, which is happening.

They have also extended banked 2018 points to all members with UYs that were impacted in some way , so it not really arbitrary

Since there is no requirement to extend at all, but allow owners of closed resorts the ability to use within the system, there really is no reason that must do more.

Now, one thing they could consider is when the hotel side open is allow points to be used there even if not qualified To book if nothing can be booked at VGC due to lack of availability.

Again, I think it all depends on when it open but if they were going to make some further changes, I think we would have heard by now.

 

[KPeterso]

I have an upcoming 1-night stay at the Villas Grand Californian using points which expire Jan 31st, so I won't be able to use them at WDW (I'm a Disneyland local). Does anyone have experience with what the current procedure if the hotel isn't open by the time of my reservation (mid-September)? Are they extending points, and by how long (if they would extend it by 2 months that would be IDEAL, as I have a March WDW trip planned).

Also, I have 26 points that couldn't be banked since they were already banked points (still not sure how that happened since I used plenty of points this past year so I should have used up all those banked points, but I'm still a DVC newbie so didn't monitor things well enough). Originally I had a night booked in August which used all 26 points. I could see the writing on the wall, so moved to September which is using 22 points. Currently there are no other nights available in Oct-Jan which would allow me to use the points. If Disney still doesn't open the VGC, do you think I could argue all 26 points should be extended, since I had to change my original date due to the closure? (I'm well aware that is likely not going to be the case and it's only 4 points, but it's still points I would prefer not to just lose!

Thx in advance!

Am kind of stuck in the same situation here too. I have 26 banked AKV points that will expire 12/1 (December use year) and 12 AKV banked points that will expire 2/1 (Feb use year). I am also a DL local and not wanting to go to WDW yet. I have 17 of the AKV December on a Sept - 1 night reservation as well as a reservation I made at 11 months out (using some banked and some current VGC use year points) at VGC. I would try to reallocate the November reservation to use up my AKV points, but since I made the reservation at 11 months, it would be a problem with home resort advantage (although I am open to ideas if anyone has any). I am hoping I get to use the November reservation, but I have serious doubts on the September one (expect it to cancel tomorrow). I am going to let DVC cancel it and if I can find something to add to November, keep that one. And the Feb points, I have waitlisted for a night in January to try to find something for those points. I kind of hope we get some consideration for these points but honestly, I am not hopeful right now.

 

[KPeterso]

Not sure if your reservation is cancelled yet, but mine for 9/17-9/18 at VGC cancelled today. Now to think some more what to do with those points.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Not sure if your reservation is cancelled yet, but mine for 9/17-9/18 at VGC cancelled today. Now to think some more what to do with those points.

Mine for the 19-20 is still up there... guess I'll prob be in the next round of cancellations.

And whats weird is I could still book it for 15-17! Ugh, Disney IT at its finest

 

[KPeterso]

Mine for the 19-20 is still up there... guess I'll prob be in the next round of cancellations.

And whats weird is I could still book it for 15-17! Ugh, Disney IT at its finest

Yes, you will probably be the next round of cancellations next Thursday.

And yes, when I was originally cancelled for 7/14-7/17 a few months ago, I got no notice or email (check the dashboard), and I thought it was somehow cancelled by accident. I re-booked it and and then saw the news and it was eventually cancelled again for me.

 

[New Mouse]

Of note, I was told by DVC today that 2019 points would be allowed to be banked to 2020 if Disney cancels. 2018 points, they are still undecided. December use year.

 

[MightyDuck001]

I had an Aulani reservation that was cancelled with no reopening date for the resort. I was told tough you can go to Disney World or you can make a reservation in the spring when the point values are so high you don’t have enough for a room.

 

[icc2515]

Of note, I was told by DVC today that 2019 points would be allowed to be banked to 2020 if Disney cancels. 2018 points, they are still undecided. December use year.

Thanks for that info. While not Dec UY I have a reservation for Nov 1st that I made back in Apr when I had to cancel my trip to VGC due to Covid. 195 points for a 1BR with a Feb UY. Sure I could cancel it, but I want to go. It's hard to get a reservation for a non owner at VGC. The problem that Disney has created is that the owner has more leverage if Disney cancels the reservation than if the owner cancels. Notice the quoted statement and the "if Disney cancels". They don't want to cancel any reservations, yet they don't want to open their hotels. I mean they could open the VGC, they opened the WDW DVC's before the parks opened. There are other hotels in the Disneyland area that are open. They don't want to open them and they don't want to cancel the reservations. Yep, this problem is Disney's making. Just like I said with the WDW DVC's, DVC has a legal obligation to open the owners timeshares so that the owners can make use of them. If other timeshares are open (they are in CA) then DVC needs to open theirs. The owners are paying for the labor and well, everything else for the VGC so Disney might as well just open it. I still feel that one of the main reasons Disney opened WDW is because of the DVC monster they created. Notice it's a monster now and a cash cow all the time before the pandemic. I think that they feel that VGC is such an itty bitty DVC that nobody will notice.

Before anybody asks, yes I would go to VGC without Disneyland being opened. I went to WDW and paid to stay at the B a non Disney resort while the theme parks were closed and only Disney Springs was open. I'm sure that I can find something to do in all of LA. I even enjoy riding the Metolink and subway and taking in the beautiful sights of LA. Maybe even rent a car and sit in traffic for couple of days.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for that info. While not Dec UY I have a reservation for Nov 1st that I made back in Apr when I had to cancel my trip to VGC due to Covid. 195 points for a 1BR with a Feb UY. Sure I could cancel it, but I want to go. It's hard to get a reservation for a non owner at VGC. The problem that Disney has created is that the owner has more leverage if Disney cancels the reservation than if the owner cancels. Notice the quoted statement and the "if Disney cancels". They don't want to cancel any reservations, yet they don't want to open their hotels. I mean they could open the VGC, they opened the WDW DVC's before the parks opened. There are other hotels in the Disneyland area that are open. They don't want to open them and they don't want to cancel the reservations. Yep, this problem is Disney's making. Just like I said with the WDW DVC's, DVC has a legal obligation to open the owners timeshares so that the owners can make use of them. If other timeshares are open (they are in CA) then DVC needs to open theirs. The owners are paying for the labor and well, everything else for the VGC so Disney might as well just open it. I still feel that one of the main reasons Disney opened WDW is because of the DVC monster they created. Notice it's a monster now and a cash cow all the time before the pandemic. I think that they feel that VGC is such an itty bitty DVC that nobody will notice.

Before anybody asks, yes I would go to VGC without Disneyland being opened. I went to WDW and paid to stay at the B a non Disney resort while the theme parks were closed and only Disney Springs was open. I'm sure that I can find something to do in all of LA. I even enjoy riding the Metolink and subway and taking in the beautiful sights of LA. Maybe even rent a car and sit in traffic for couple of days.

So far, owners who canceled trips during times when Disney stayed closed got the same extensions as those that allowed Disney to do it. There have been no reports of people getting anything extra because they waited for Disney.

All of my trips were canceled by me for times when Disney was closed, and they did bank my points late as well as return all borrowed points.

Now, I do think it’s worth waiting if one would go.

 

[New Mouse]

Thanks for that info. While not Dec UY I have a reservation for Nov 1st that I made back in Apr when I had to cancel my trip to VGC due to Covid. 195 points for a 1BR with a Feb UY. Sure I could cancel it, but I want to go. It's hard to get a reservation for a non owner at VGC. The problem that Disney has created is that the owner has more leverage if Disney cancels the reservation than if the owner cancels. Notice the quoted statement and the "if Disney cancels". They don't want to cancel any reservations, yet they don't want to open their hotels. I mean they could open the VGC, they opened the WDW DVC's before the parks opened. There are other hotels in the Disneyland area that are open. They don't want to open them and they don't want to cancel the reservations. Yep, this problem is Disney's making. Just like I said with the WDW DVC's, DVC has a legal obligation to open the owners timeshares so that the owners can make use of them. If other timeshares are open (they are in CA) then DVC needs to open theirs. The owners are paying for the labor and well, everything else for the VGC so Disney might as well just open it. I still feel that one of the main reasons Disney opened WDW is because of the DVC monster they created. Notice it's a monster now and a cash cow all the time before the pandemic. I think that they feel that VGC is such an itty bitty DVC that nobody will notice.

Before anybody asks, yes I would go to VGC without Disneyland being opened. I went to WDW and paid to stay at the B a non Disney resort while the theme parks were closed and only Disney Springs was open. I'm sure that I can find something to do in all of LA. I even enjoy riding the Metolink and subway and taking in the beautiful sights of LA. Maybe even rent a car and sit in traffic for couple of days.

Agreed, I do think they are beyond negligent at this point as they have closed the resorts on their own free will.

 

[murphy7573]

Wow...Determination and dedication to really use that rez if this is the lengths you’re going to go to !

“Maybe even rent a car and sit in traffic for couple of days.”

Hella’ funny...Made me laugh !

I have a VGC rez in the 2nd week of Jan.

Huh...We’ll see....don’t know if I really wanna’ sit in L.A. traffic on “The 5” to use it tho ? I might be receiving the divorce papers soon after that or be put on a 5150 hold.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Before anybody asks, yes I would go to VGC without Disneyland being opened. I went to WDW and paid to stay at the B a non Disney resort while the theme parks were closed and only Disney Springs was open. I'm sure that I can find something to do in all of LA. I even enjoy riding the Metolink and subway and taking in the beautiful sights of LA. Maybe even rent a car and sit in traffic for couple of days.

With most of LA shutdown, you wouldn’t even get the “joy” of traffic that much! I’ve had to make a couple quick runs to my office in downtown LA to pick up things for working from home, but even on a Friday at typical rush hour time, it’s been half the time! Definitely not complaining about that!

And honestly, I’d think Disney could get a reasonable amount of people booking reservations even if the parks weren’t open. Just look at how busy Downtown Disney can get for people who crave some of that Disney Magic. Even with the cost of the hotels, they would jump at chance to do an occasional staycation!

 

[mentos]

Yeah, there is no legal reason for VGC (GCH, and all the hotels) to be closed. Economic? Sure, but now we're running up against Disney keeping the properties closed by choice and not by some force majeure.

Currently, there is no extra extension, but I'm torn between the two outcomes: DVC saying "go book in Florida" vs. DVC granting additional extensions to VGC contract holders.

It's messy. I actually have a gut feeling that there might be a legal issue involved here, but I'm not an attorney.