DL Resorts available with "Holding" points

[NorCalTim]

I was talking to member services yesterday and was told that as of Wednesday, you could now use points that are in a "Holding" status for reservations at the Disneyland Resort within the 60 day window! This seems like a big benefit to us west coasters who get stuck with holding points and can't make it all the way back to WDW for a last minute trip to use the points. Maybe this means they're getting closer to announcing plans for a DL DVC!! As a newbie am I understanding the value of this "new" possible benefit right? Only 22 days to our first trip "home" for a two week stay!! -A Proud new owner at BCV.

 

[RobDoc]

Holding Account points have always been usable for the non-DVC options within the 60 day period - except for the last 60 days of your Use Year. Did they suggest there has been a change in that policy?

Since MS has to "pay" for the non-DVC options using reservations made with those points, they have excluded the last 60 days from making reservations to travel during that period whether the points are current or holding account points. You can make reservations for that time period as long as it's made prior to the last 60 days in your Use Year. The Breakage Period is when any unreserved DVC accommodations are turned over to CRO for cash reservations, so Disney already had the opportunity to make reservations during that time frame and, in the past, would not accept reservations during the last 60 days to travel during that period.

 

[NorCalTim]

Doc- Sorry that I did not explain myself fully- rookie mistake!! We have an October UY and I was asking MS that if we had to cancel our winter trip to WDW (I had just gotten out of four days in ICU) would we be able to make a late reservation at DL. We have to go to L.A. every September for Doctors appointments and I we always do DL so I thought that might be a good way to use up "Holding" points. They said that the policy had changed the day before and that they were now allowing bookings within the last 60 days of your use year for the DL resorts. I thought maybe I had misunderstood but I just received the following written reply from MS. I guess it's not a huge change but in my particular situation it's nice to know that there's another option if you get "stuck" with last minute holding account points.

"**This is the modification to the 60-day rule that you are writing about.

Beginning with reservations requested on December 21, 2005, Members can book and travel to the three
Disneyland® Resort hotels within the last 60-days of their Use Year.

The 60-day rule being modified only for reservations at the Disneyland Resort hotels?.

Since we have opened a Preview Center on the West Coast, we have been able to welcome many new
Members into our family. We are modifying this policy for the Disneyland Resort hotels as a
convenience to all Members, and especially our West Coast neighbors, in order to offer additional
travel flexibility during the entire Use Year.

Hope this helps to clarify your question."

 

[Dean]

Reduce points tables during what should be the busier times and now increased flexibility of holding account points. DL must be having a tough time filling their rooms.

 

[Laurabearz]

That is good information to know. Thanks for sharing!

 

[CarolMN]

Reduce points tables during what should be the busier times and now increased flexibility of holding account points. DL must be having a tough time filling their rooms.

Interesting. According to many posts on the DL Forum, DL is NOT having trouble filling the parks - lots of posts re unexpected crowds in "off season". Posters say it is the 50th Celebration.

Apparently, the "crowds" are not chossing to stay at the DL Resorts.

Best wishes -

 

[gppnj]

Reduce points tables during what should be the busier times and now increased flexibility of holding account points. DL must be having a tough time filling their rooms.

I've heard that the occupancy rates of the DL hotels are higher than the WDW hotels (though not necessarily the WDW DVC hotels).

 

[La2kw]

Reduce points tables during what should be the busier times and now increased flexibility of holding account points. DL must be having a tough time filling their rooms.

Not at all. Occupancy rates are pretty high from what I understand. I think it has more to do with the fact that they are pushing DVC out here now and they have no DVC resorts here. They need to do something to make it more attractive since WDW is very far away and not as big a resort destination for us West Coasters. Hawaii, Mexico, Disneyland and other California destinations are probably bigger draws than Florida.

Points at the Disneyland Resort Hotels have increased dramatically over the past few years. Even the "reduced" points at the GC are quite high. I paid 26 points per night when the hotel first opened. The same room now at the same time of year would cost me 37 points per night. Points won't go too far that way. I think that a DVC resort out here at Disneyland is imminent. I doubt if I would add on points here though since I live about 90 minutes away from Disneyland and go so frequently. I can get better cash deals on hotels not owned by Disney if I need to spend the night. Many directly across the street from Disneyland.

 

[Dean]

Not at all. Occupancy rates are pretty high from what I understand. I think it has more to do with the fact that they are pushing DVC out here now and they have no DVC resorts here. They need to do something to make it more attractive since WDW is very far away and not as big a resort destination for us West Coasters. Hawaii, Mexico, Disneyland and other California destinations are probably bigger draws than Florida.

Points at the Disneyland Resort Hotels have increased dramatically over the past few years. Even the "reduced" points at the GC are quite high. I paid 26 points per night when the hotel first opened. The same room now at the same time of year would cost me 37 points per night. Points won't go too far that way. I think that a DVC resort out here at Disneyland is imminent. I doubt if I would add on points here though since I live about 90 minutes away from Disneyland and go so frequently. I can get better cash deals on hotels not owned by Disney if I need to spend the night. Many directly across the street from Disneyland.

The fact that DVC has acutely reduced the points costs at DL hotels and now are allowing increased flexibility with holding account points tell only one story. That Disney wants more people, or at least more DVC people, at DL. Since there are currently (and not likely to be) a DVC there, the only explanation that makes any sense is that the occupancy is less than anticipated. To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, if the unlikely is the only explanation, it must be true.

 

[La2kw]

The fact that DVC has acutely reduced the points costs at DL hotels and now are allowing increased flexibility with holding account points tell only one story. That Disney wants more people, or at least more DVC people, at DL. Since there are currently (and not likely to be) a DVC there, the only explanation that makes any sense is that the occupancy is less than anticipated. To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, if the unlikely is the only explanation, it must be true.

This from Miceage.com:
Anaheim, on the other hand, has surprised Burbank with the incredible strength of the 50th promotion and the record attendance it's brought in. The three Anaheim hotels Disney owns have seen their occupancy rates hover above 95% for quite a while now, and the plans for an additional Disney hotel in Anaheim are moving forward.

Granted, this is a rumor, but Miceage is extremely accurate with their rumors.

 

[Dean]

This from Miceage.com:
Anaheim, on the other hand, has surprised Burbank with the incredible strength of the 50th promotion and the record attendance it's brought in. The three Anaheim hotels Disney owns have seen their occupancy rates hover above 95% for quite a while now, and the plans for an additional Disney hotel in Anaheim are moving forward.

Granted, this is a rumor, but Miceage is extremely accurate with their rumors.

Sorry, I'll take the facts over rumors. And since I can see no reason to pull DVC members specifically in, such as a new DVC resort, I must assume the obvious. Same as SSR, when DVC has specials that reduce the cost per point.

 

[JimC]

The fact that DVC has acutely reduced the points costs at DL hotels and now are allowing increased flexibility with holding account points tell only one story. That Disney wants more people, or at least more DVC people, at DL. Since there are currently (and not likely to be) a DVC there, the only explanation that makes any sense is that the occupancy is less than anticipated. To paraphrase Sherlock Holmes, if the unlikely is the only explanation, it must be true.

DL has been a day resort and CA's addition did little to change that. DVCers would be more likely to stay for a few days and stay at a DL resort. So giving incentives for DL visits makes sense to me. When we were there in September the GC was pretty full but there was a large convention there at the time.

Also DL has off-site competition that one can easily walk from -- unlike WDW where off-site (heck even on-site) means car or bus most of the time.

 

[Dean]

DL has been a day resort and CA's addition did little to change that. DVCers would be more likely to stay for a few days and stay at a DL resort. So giving incentives for DL visits makes sense to me. When we were there in September the GC was pretty full but there was a large convention there at the time.

Also DL has off-site competition that one can easily walk from -- unlike WDW where off-site (heck even on-site) means car or bus most of the time.

I understand that and it simply confirms my thoughts that Disney has trouble filling the resorts. The question is what is different now that Disney has reduced the cash price such that DVC can lower the points AND allow usage of holding account points that will not be able to be utilized to much degree for cash rentals. The other way to look at it was that DVC had suddenly gotten more efficient at renting out the points but I see no indication this is the case and we haven't seen a reduction of any other option.

IMO, there are only three possible explanations. Either Disney feels they need to bolster the hotel usage for some reason, are getting more money for the cash rentals or Disney wants more DVC members there. And since I can see no reason at all to think that a DVC member is any more valuable at DL this year than last or that DVC is getting more cash per point on cash rentals, I'm back to my original conclusion. I wonder if anyone keeps up with cash prices well enough to know if there are more cash specials than usual this time of year.

 

[JimC]

I understand that and it simply confirms my thoughts that Disney has trouble filling the resorts. The question is what is different now that Disney has reduced the cash price such that DVC can lower the points AND allow usage of holding account points that will not be able to be utilized to much degree for cash rentals. The other way to look at it was that DVC had suddenly gotten more efficient at renting out the points but I see no indication this is the case and we haven't seen a reduction of any other option.

IMO, there are only three possible explanations. Either Disney feels they need to bolster the hotel usage for some reason, are getting more money for the cash rentals or Disney wants more DVC members there. And since I can see no reason at all to think that a DVC member is any more valuable at DL this year than last or that DVC is getting more cash per point on cash rentals, I'm back to my original conclusion. I wonder if anyone keeps up with cash prices well enough to know if there are more cash specials than usual this time of year.

We agree. I suspect they want Disney wants the points used at Disney resorts so they can capture the dining and shopping dollars.