Disney Vacation Club adjusts 2010 Vacation Points charts

[Towncrier]

Perhaps this has been mentioned before, but here is my take on the reallocation. Originally DVC anticipated that there would be greater demand for weekend rooms and that weekdays would be less desirable. They skewed the points to make it "expensive" for the weekends. And perhaps they made it TOO expensive because a common thread is how to avoid the weekends by either moving to a value resort, going offsite, or simply arranging vacations around the weekends. When we first joined DVC, our guide even went so far to suggest that we use our points Sunday through Thursday and pay cash for the weekends. We did this for a couple of trips, especially since DVC members received a discount on cash reservations (is this still the case?). Eventually we added on enough points to stay more than 6 nights. I did the math and the best value was, of course, to say Sunday through Thursday. The next best choice (for lowest average points) was to stay either 6 or 12 nights. And so we started staying 12 nights each year, arranging our stay around one weekend of higher points.

With the new scheme, we will have to drop back to an 11 night stay if we want to visit once a year. Although I am disappointed by this turn of events, I understand the need for DVC to rebalance the point charts based on historic use. Perhaps the result will be a more efficient use of inventory and maybe reduced costs. And maybe we will be less concerned about booking a shorter trip through a weekend.

 

[RobDoc]

...

I sense there was much the same uproar when the weekend points were increased. I wasn't around but it appears all the hell-raisin' on one little internet forum didn't have much impact on changing it back.

...

The last change was announced in 1994 - long before there was a DIS or any website with as large a DVC following as enjoyed in the many internet DVC sites now - so there was no big uproar to be heard and the changes affected a fairly small group of owners anyway. The weekend points were lowered at that time too and (except for Adventure Season which saw an increase for both weekdays and weekends).

Here is a link from 2006 with a comparison of the changes (announced in 1994) for 1996 thru 2009 for OKW. It will be interesting to see the actual (and official) point charts for 2010 whenerever they are made available to the members. The original point chart at OKW was valid from opening in 1991 thru the end of 1995.

OKW Point Chart comparison

 

[MICKEYFAN28]

Look at it this way. Some people will like it and some won't !! That is obvious.
Will this affect my vacation habits? Yes. Do I like it? No. It cuts my stay down a little. But it is what it is and I'll deal with it. My biggest problem is dropping it on us this way is wrong!!! They should have given more notice. I am taking a family with us for twelve days next week and if they ask about checking into DVC I WILL DISCOURAGE them! Four people have bought into disney because of me. Two of my uncles, my brother in law and my best friend. I have never complained before and dealt with everything that has gone down with a grain of salt. I won't stop using my membership but if this stuff keeps happening I will not reccomend it to anyone anymore and my spending habits with disney will change.
Eric

 

[LoveToDisney]

I have been reading this thread and am hoping for the best. When we bought (from a seasoned member of the sales staff), we were told that the "week" totals would always be the same within seasons but the time periods within the seasons could change and the point distribution throughout the week could change so we bought with the thought of staying a week each time. Now we are a few points short of being able to stay a full week in some of the seasons if these unofficial charts become official. If DVC was planning on adjusting the WEEK totals (at some point in the 40-50 years of ownership), I believe that very possibility should have been declared via the sales person BEFORE we chose how many points we needed for a week's stay.

 

[jmtf2004]

But where do I get an extra 30 points without:
#1) buying more points (not going to do that especially with how I see DVC is trending)
#2)downgrading to a smaller unit which is not possible with my family of 5 and sometimes 6 (teens so they're adult sized---need a 2 bedroom)
#3)going in a season with lower points (also not possible with kids in school).

It looks as though there were some problems with the charts that were posted incorrectly. Without knowing what the official points charts from DVC will look like, you cannot be absolutely certain that your anticipated 30 point shortfall is what you are going to be dealing with.

Hopefully, with a bit of the revised official points charts won't show such a drastic difference. If it turns out to be a few points rather than 30, perhaps you could get away with borrowing a few for the foreseeable future...leading to a deficit down the road, but maybe by that point you will have more flexibility in vacation time, or have the ability/desire to add on.
If it does turn out you do have this large shortfall of 30 points, I agree with you, and many others who would be in the same boat that this would be both frustrating and disappointing. Unfortunately you have been counting on the points structure remaining unchanged for the duration of your contract...as has been mentioned many times in this thread already, the allocation of points was not guaranteed to remain the same in the contract you signed when you purchased DVC.
Here are my suggestions to add to your list:
1) Change your length of stay - you could alternate years with shorter and longer stays, or vacation every other year by banking/borrowing
2) Top up by renting points from another member and keep your traditional plan
3) Pay cash for the extra nights and keep your traditional plan. There are discounts on cash rates available for members and usually some very attractive rates for room only stays for AP holders - these are both limited, and also not guaranteed to be available at the time you might be vacationing, and this might require switching rooms/resorts partway through your stay, so not perfect, but you would be able to keep your traditional length of stay.
4) Start saving your pennies, and if it turns out your feelings towards DVC mellow at some point, maybe you can take advantage of better resales prices for an add on down the road. If they don't mellow, you might also want to start researching other timeshare companies that offer fixed week plans, since you don't have flexibility with your vacation time. It is my understanding that there are companies that offer fixed weeks at high quality resorts <gasp> offsite that are still very convenient to WDW. Who knows, you might find a great deal...and then end up selling your DVC....

 

[DeeCee735]

 

[lugnut33]

And I think I'm about 1,300 miles away in Wisconsin. We always fly, too.

fellow cheesehead

I have a great idea. How about you people who are saving points under the new system donate them into a pot that people who are losing points can use to make up for their loss?

Inkmahm, I believe you are wrong in your opinion that people who are losing points shouldn't be upset. They have every right to be, as do the people who have bought recently to only now learn they didn't buy the correct amount of points to meet their needs.

And why would Disney make this change... it's all about the money.

 

[Bob Price]

I agree I am more upset with the way thing are planned then poorly executed.

Denise in MI

Poorly executed AND poorly communicated.

 

[KLR-wlv]

This change indicates - to me - DVC's change to discouraging less than week stays. The way the reservation system is now it benefits higher point owners who can "walk" a reservation- and now weekday folks are disproportionately hit with this increase. Whatever you thought of the weekday/weekend point distribution - THAT is the system DVC has had for 16 years - that is what we bought into - and that is what we have planned with. THe only way you are not hurt by this to the tune of about 15% - 20% is if you typically do only weekends, or stay a full week. So DVC ceases to be much of a deal - to me. And I think management is getting a little high if they think they can continue to increase points and pricing to the extent that they have in the past couple months and have the loyal legion follow along. I was about to put $16000 into BLT until this decision - with $16000 I could buy 2 very good weeks with any number of timeshares and be assured of 2 weeks in a 2br. $16000 at BLT would - for now - assure me of a 1 br for 5 nights premier season - every other year. Until they reallocate again. $16000 is just too high for MAYBE a 5 night vacation every 2 years. That is what it is. I will adjust my vacation habits which will not include disney every year. I know I won't be missed - however these very interesting decisions in this economic climate will be fun for me to watch.

 

[wildernessDad]

They put these things out there on their website and then rip them off when they are found to contain mistakes.

I have a suggestion for Disney: Have someone check these things BEFORE you incorporate them into your website. I am assuming that there were mistakes somewhere on their points chart(s).

 

[Inkmahm]

fellow cheesehead

I have a great idea. How about you people who are saving points under the new system donate them into a pot that people who are losing points can use to make up for their loss?

Inkmahm, I believe you are wrong in your opinion that people who are losing points shouldn't be upset. They have every right to be, as do the people who have bought recently to only now learn they didn't buy the correct amount of points to meet their needs.

And why would Disney make this change... it's all about the money.

I didn't say I didn't understand them being upset. They had an advantage with points that they are now losing. I said I thought the change was fair.

p.s. No one staying Sun-Thurs every volunteered to give me extra points to cover my weekend stays...

 

[bonybroad]

Dh wants to sell our membership - he is MAD! I want to buy an add-on at VWL (which I wanted to do before this whole debacle).
We have bigger issues to work out, obviously!

 

[lugnut33]

I didn't say I didn't understand them being upset. They had an advantage with points that they are now losing. I said I thought the change was fair.

p.s. No one staying Sun-Thurs every volunteered to give me extra points to cover my weekend stays...

You know why they never volunteered them? Because everyone knew how many points were needed for the last number of years. They hadn't changed. And when they bought they purchased a certain amount of points for a reason, now that dynamic has changed.

Look, if they came in and raised your weekend points requirements I'd think that stinks also and I'd expect you to be upset. No matter how much you're going to say it's fair, the people who are losing points in this deal are going to see it differently. It's coming out of their pocketbook (because their points don't go as far), unexpectedly.

 

[pakhowe]

I didn't say I didn't understand them being upset. They had an advantage with points that they are now losing. I said I thought the change was fair.

p.s. No one staying Sun-Thurs every volunteered to give me extra points to cover my weekend stays...

The difference is you bought into a system which you knew favored weekday stays. For people to complain about weekend points being higher than weekday points is like buying a house next to an airport and then complaining about the noise. Many of us were mislead at the time of purchase. That is my beef.

 

[jamstew]

Ok, please know that I just ask this question in innocence.

If Disney wants to fill up its rooms every day of the week, then why isn't every day the same number of points within a given season and room category?

I certainly understand the larger the room, the more points and the various busy seasons such as summer and holidays. But I've never understood why Disney penalizes weekend stays so much ... that DVC folks actually try to avoid the weekends ...

Thanks for your insight -- I'm new (owned for 2 years) and want to learn!

I've been thinking the same thing since I started reading this thread. Like you, I'm new, so I'll be interested to see what the response is.

I personally like to avoid weekends, not just because of the points, but because the parks are generally more crowded.

 

[Doctor P]

The difference is you bought into a system which you knew favored weekday stays. For people to complain about weekend points being higher than weekday points is like buying a house next to an airport and then complaining about the noise. Many of us were mislead at the time of purchase. That is my beef.

NO ONE and I mean NO ONE was mislead at the time of purchase, at least if they read the documents carefully. The POS and other legal documents clearly state their ability to reallocate points, there was a precedent for reallocating points, and the only statements upon which one can rely are those in the legal documents. I understand why people would be disappointed, and I am concerned about the timing of the change with only two days to go until 2010 reservations begin and the way it wasn't communicated. But, the change itself will likely just be another thing I need to adapt to in using my membership if the originally posted charts are anywhere close to what ends up being finalized.

 

[Inkmahm]

The difference is you bought into a system which you knew favored weekday stays. For people to complain about weekend points being higher than weekday points is like buying a house next to an airport and then complaining about the noise. Many of us were mislead at the time of purchase. That is my beef.

Exactly. I knew what I bought, I read the paperwork. I never complained about weekend points being higher at the time and I knew that that could change. I wasn't "mislead" as I know to read any contract I sign and not believe any hype given by salespeople. No matter what I buy, but especially for something that cost almost $50,000.

 

[dis-happy]

Why the assumption that the charts which were posted are incorrect? I have full belief that those were supposed to be the new charts. They didn't come into being overnight (my own experience on the member website is evidence that they beta tested several months ago....for one day at least I showed a 170 pt. completed stay as being a 195 pt. stay, which lines up with the new point chart).

What will happen next? It's possible that due to the outcry there will be new modifications. I'm sure all the IT people are working overtime for the next few days....Since it's more than just posting a new chart (all the code for the system has to be rewritten for MS by the Sunday deadline) I wouldn't be halfway surprised if they back off the changes for a year.

 

[kristenrice]

How about a new IT department and computer upgrade as the next "member enhancement"

 

[mooneyda]

I just have to wiggle waggle points ( roll over here transfer there) to fit my vacation needs and plans .