Disney Vacation Club adjusts 2010 Vacation Points charts

[Chuck S]

There are lots of ideas how DVC could have lessen the impact of this change. I have posted a few as have others.


boowkormde

Do you really expect DVC to allow more than one transfer per year, and re-open that opportunity to transfer points to commercial renters? We know that isn't likely at all.

The only thing I see them seriously considering is allowing current BLT owners to add-on smaller contracts than 100 points. And there really is no reason to not make that exception, IMO.

 

[bobbiwoz]

...

The only thing I see them seriously considering is allowing current BLT owners to add-on smaller contracts than 100 points. And there really is no reason to not make that exception, IMO.

Not a BLT owner but I do hope that this comes to pass. I've asked MS to allow that.
Bobbi

 

[Chuck S]

I understand that, and I'm considering it. I hate whiners, but understand, I just need a place to express my disappointment. Our budget is tight (thus the small contract and every other year trip), so adding on isn't as easy as picking up the phone. I was really looking forward to our 2010 trip and showing the grandparents around our new "home away from home" and now I have to change our plans or figure out a solution. All I am saying is I'm sad and feel a bit sucker punched, because I was clueless until a couple minutes ago. Sue me.

I do understand your frustration, and feel it was very, very badly handled by DVC. Unfortunately, there really aren't any solutions. An apology from DVC on the way the announcement was handled would be nice, but still we'd all be in the same boat without any real, long term solution, other than adding points, or if it is only a couple of points difference, either always borrowing from the next year, or getting a decent sized point transfer from another member that you can draw on for several years.

 

[MrsG]

I guess we were lucky that we got a good guide. When we purchased our original contract, he told us that the points can fluctuate. What goes down in one spot goes up in another. He made that very clear to us. It is unfortunate that some people were so unaware of this.

 

[Sammie]

Isn't that EXACTLY what they did on the studio glassware issue?

I will give them that one, but they are past due for a few more explanations, heck I don't really want to them to have to back track and make an explanation, I want them to get it right in the first place.

If they truly need to make adjustments then handle it professionally, explain the reason and do it. It will go over a whole lot better than the slip shod way they have been doing things lately.

Other than housekeeping and maintenance issues I am satisfied with the product on the resort level, however I very disappointed lately in the way changes are presented to the membership. I might not agree with the changes all of the time and that is fine, but their delivery stinks.

 

[Sammie]

I understand the allocation, but am sad because I am one of those who bought a small contract (100 pts) in order to go every other year, stay in a 2 bdrm at BCV Sun-Thurs. Well, that is blown for me now. Not everyone has loads of points or can even afford it. I wish they would have given us a heads up and an opportunity to talk to a rep in order to fix the situation if it does indeed impact ourtravel needs.

Now I'm guessing I will just stay on property one less night. I never thought it was smart for the weekends to be so much more expensive - did they not think we would avoid staying on the expensive nights! I'm just really, really sad because I love staying at the Beach Club, and one less night feels awful!

Before I would give up a day, I would check availability at OKW. Rooms are so much larger and with the new slide the pool is really awesome.

 

[puntagordabob]

The only thing I see them seriously considering is allowing current BLT owners to add-on smaller contracts than 100 points. And there really is no reason to not make that exception, IMO.

Yes....I think that would be a good plan on their part.... In a short while (year or so) I can see a desire to add 25 more points to offset the point chart change they just made....having to add 100 points after already ownin 160 at BLT seems a bit excessive. I think the 100 point buy-in for exisiting DVC Members who are currently NON-BLT owners is acceptable however.

 

[bookwormde]

Chuck S

Somehow I do not think that “commercial renters” are going to gain much advantage from say limit of 40 points in the additional 4 transfers per year since they deal in thousands

bookwormde

 

[Sabor]

I guess we were lucky that we got a good guide. When we purchased our original contract, he told us that the points can fluctuate. What goes down in one spot goes up in another. He made that very clear to us. It is unfortunate that some people were so unaware of this.

No, you just paid attention and listened, instead of hearing what you wanted to hear.

I would wager that no guide ever told a buyer, that points for a specific room in a given season would never go up.

 

[pyrxtc]

Quoted from "tarzanman" - For the AKV point chart it is all good news. The points went down for weekly stays in all categories except Concierge level 1 Bedroom villas which had no change.

That is not true ! My week in a savannah view 2 bed went from 270 to 272 for the week. It definately screws up some of my vacation plans !

 

[gonzalj1]

Points have gone up in the past, just not at all resorts at the same time. OKW in 1996 had a full re-allocation. We also used to have a lottery system for Christmas week stays. They could return to that, also, if needed. It was a mess, though.

You submitted your name, if you were chosen, you could reserve the dates. If you did not reserve the dates after you were chosen. you could go back on the list for next year. If you declined the following year, you were removed from the list. Like I said, it was a mess, and I'm glad I didn't travel that time of year.

There was also no reference to home resort priority for the lottery, Hilton Head and Vero Beach users had the same priority in the lottery as OKW owners.

Points have not, and never will, go up. Points have been, and probably will be again, reallocated. The entire number of points to stay in the same room at the resort for the year has not changed. Nor will it. Period. End of Story.

I understand people are upset that they're preferred vacatin times may have gone up. I get it. However, please do not spread misinformation. For every increase there was a corresponding decrease. Guaranteed.

My planned 2010 and 2011 vacations just got less expensive and I can now book another night with my exisiting points. How could I do that if points went up?

Disney was well within their rights to make this change. They gave us ample notice (a year). I agree there could have been a little more communication around it. But all in all they did what they could legally. They never broke of even bent the contract we signed.

 

[CheapMom]

I would wager that no guide ever told a buyer, that points for a specific room in a given season would never go up.

I am also surprised at the number of people who are saying that their guides were untruthful about the possibility of the points changing. Before I bought I asked my guide and I got the truth about the possibility of reallocation.

 

[photobob]

I guess we were lucky that we got a good guide. When we purchased our original contract, he told us that the points can fluctuate. What goes down in one spot goes up in another. He made that very clear to us. It is unfortunate that some people were so unaware of this.

I think it isn't that we weren't aware, I was aware. I was told by my guide that there can be slight adjustments made. I was given an example of if one category of rooms at a resort went up slightly in points, another category would go down slightly to balance out.

Given that example I expected SLIGHT adjustments to be made now and then, I never dreamed they would make such wholesale changes. I don't consider a room costing me 25 more points next year for a five night stay to be a slight adjustment.

 

[Chuck S]

Chuck S

Somehow I do not think that “commercial renters” are going to gain much advantage from say limit of 40 points in the additional 4 transfers per year since they deal in thousands

bookwormde

But what would be gained by increasing the number of transfers? And, how would it be practical to say you can have ONE transfer of unlimited number of points, or 4 small transfers of points? 2009 UY transfers are just starting, and 2010 transfers haven't begun, so there is plenty of time for one larger transfer rather than 4 small transfers, I don't see this as an advantage. And can you imagine the MS calls "You never told me I was limited on the size of each of the transfers, you told me I could do 4 per year." I still think it opens a window that is best left closed.

 

[CheapMom]

Points have not, and never will, go up. Points have been, and probably will be again, reallocated. The entire number of points to stay in the same room at the resort for the year has not changed. Nor will it. Period. End of Story.

I think this is not accurate- some rooms did increase in their annual allotment of points- because in some cases they took points from on room type and applied it to another, isn't that so?

It was still legal, the way they did it (assuming the charts are actually balanced) but I wanted to clarify or get clarification on that point. Some rooms did go up, I think.

 

[Sandisw]

I feel bad for those people who did not understand the point allocation system with Disney but I know in talking with my DVC guide, she explained this very specifically. What she told me was that while things could change, in most cases, the points for the resort would always stay the same. She even went as far and said that changes were rare but could happen so to plan on some flucuation, especially around holidays and such. I talked to her several times over the course of 6 months and she always told me the same thing--of course, I asked a ton of questions to make sure I understood.

I ended up going resale and don't have my closing documents yet, but I have heard from other people that this information is also clearly stated in those papers. If I had been told there could not be a change and then read in the papers that there could, I would have called my guide immediately to ask for clarification. Is it possible that people just didn't read the paperwork closely?

Of course, I am one who will benefit from the lower cost of weekends because I am a teacher and can only travel on long weekends or summer. I live in NY and with the old point allocation it pretty much ruled out my ever going for a short weekend trip. Now, it makes it feasible every few years.

 

[Kmango]

Quoted from "tarzanman" - For the AKV point chart it is all good news. The points went down for weekly stays in all categories except Concierge level 1 Bedroom villas which had no change.

That is not true ! My week in a savannah view 2 bed went from 270 to 272 for the week. It definately screws up some of my vacation plans !

We have planned around the same week, but we'll just borrow or bank 2 points each time around, and we'll be fine. You'll be too.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Sabor :No, you just paid attention and listened, instead of hearing what you wanted to hear.

That is just so unfair. I fully believe that some people did not have this information devulged to them as clearly as it could have. With tens of thousands of Members do u really think all transactions gave FULL disclosure of the rules ? Heck....tons of people on this thread are even saying they highly doubt the guides even thought an allocaton of this magnitude would happen. Because if they did, why don't they suggests "cushions" to all potential Members ?

And besides, we were also told about point fluctuations at time of signing and that they could happen. It was made out to be as if they would be small allocations. I'm coming up (between OKW and AKV), 30-36 points short per year every year. I could adjust alot better if it were 2, 5, 7 points........but our guide knew full well what we had planned to do with our OKW points. She knew we had an offsite timeshare and we clearly told her we would use OKW to supplement our stay in Orlando with weeknight points.....so for you to make a statement like the above Sabor....you are clearly chastising alot of us who knew about allocation but never expected such a drastic one or those that may not have received full disclosure. Do you really think every single guide over the past decade was totally forthright with all information ?

Given that example I expected SLIGHT adjustments to be made now and then, I never dreamed they would make such wholesale changes. I don't consider a room costing me 25 more points next year for a five night stay to be a slight adjustment.

Precisely photobob !

 

[bookwormde]

Chuck S

You open another issue; some have reported that 2009 transfers have been happening for quite a while. The correct small number of points is not always available this just maximizes the flexibility for those effected. Yes I know you can always borrow or bank extras but this bring on its own set of issues and problems and if a member has points at multiple resorts and makes multiple reservations this is important.

bookwormde

 

[Chuck S]

Points have not, and never will, go up. Points have been, and probably will be again, reallocated. The entire number of points to stay in the same room at the resort for the year has not changed. Nor will it. Period. End of Story.

True, and I mis-spoke, I should have said that points for adventure season studio increased at OKW from the original point charts, just as there have been seasonal changes to room types with this re-allocation.

For instance, studios in Adventure season increased in 1996 from 7/17 or 69 per week to 8/20 or 80 per week under the current chart, but there was a weekly decrease to 9/16 or 77 per week for 2010.

Estimating maximum reallocation at OKW, as the POS lists "use days" not points at the maximum for a 230 point contract for all seasons would be:

Studio - 15 use days = about 15 points per night - 105 per week
1 Bedroom - 7 use days = about 32 points per night - 224 per wek
2 Bedroom - 5 use days = about 46 points per night - 322 per week
Grand Villa - 3 use days = about 76 points per night - 532 per week

There are some fractions, since it is a legal definition of full "use days" and not a maximum point chart.

You should be able to pull similar info for other resorts from their respective POSs.