DVC 3/16/20 update - all resorts closing 3/20/20

[DVC Doctor]

Dear Members,

As we continue to make timely decisions based on guidance of health agencies and our medical teams, and adjust our precautionary measures at Disney Vacation Club for the safety of our Members, Guests and Cast Members, I want to provide you with an important update.

In alignment with this guidance, Disney is temporarily closing its resort hotels at Walt Disney World Resort, including all Disney Vacation Club properties. The closure also includes Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. The closures become effective at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20, and will extend through the end of the month. This will give Members and Guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements or book alternative accommodations. At this time, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort will remain open.

We know that you have questions about your membership during these uncertain times. Please know that our teams at Disney Vacation Club are committed to assisting you and providing you with as much flexibility as possible with your future vacation plans. Disney Vacation Club Member Services will continue to assist you with reservation changes during their regular operating hours. As we anticipate high call volume in the days ahead, we encourage you to visit disneyvacationclub.com for general information and ask that you contact Member Services only if you need assistance with an existing reservation.

Regarding your reservations, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify a few important points in order to make the change process as smooth as possible. As we have shared, Disney Vacation Club has lifted the close-in reservation cancellation restrictions and will return any of your points back as vacation points or reservation points without placing them into holding. In the meantime, all points banking rules remain in place. While we understand the banking policy might create some frustration, please realize that this is in place to ensure that the membership as a whole avoids future inventory constraints.

Clearly COVID-19 is impacting us all in numerous ways – and I want to thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time. Our team at Disney Vacation Club is focused on serving you, our Member community, as we plan ahead for a return to normal operations.


With appreciation,
Signature
Terri Schultz
Senior Vice President
Disney Vacation Club, Guided Adventures & Expeditions and Golden Oak

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just got this as well.

 

[tjkraz]

Not all....

At this time, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort will remain open.

 

[CarolMN]

"In the meantime, all points banking rules remain in place. While we understand the banking policy might create some frustration, please realize that this is in place to ensure that the membership as a whole avoids future inventory constraints".

This is not consistent with what many have been reporting. Perhaps they intend to stop granting the exceptions in the near future. My guess is that an extended closure would really strain the system, and an extended closure is looking more likely with each passing day.

 

[tellingson]

"In the meantime, all points banking rules remain in place. While we understand the banking policy might create some frustration, please realize that this is in place to ensure that the membership as a whole avoids future inventory constraints".

This is not consistent with what many have been reporting. Perhaps they intend to stop granting the exceptions in the near future. My guess is that an extended closure would really strain the system, and an extended closure is looking more likely with each passing day.

I think they are mostly referring to banking points twice. With respect to putting points back where they came from if you borrowed, I don't think that would affect inventory since they aren't changing beyond their normally usable lifespan. But I may be wrong.

 

[Marionnette]

I think they are mostly referring to banking points twice. With respect to putting points back where they came from if you borrowed, I don't think that would affect inventory since they aren't changing beyond their normally usable lifespan. But I may be wrong.

But that’s not what it says. “All point banking rules remain in place.” I don’t think that we can assume that there will be further exceptions to the banking deadlines, given that the email also addresses avoiding “future inventory constraints”.

 

[CarolMN]

But that’s not what it says. “All point banking rules remain in place.” I don’t think that we can assume that there will be further exceptions to the banking deadlines, given that the email also addresses avoiding “future inventory constraints”.

Agree. Once DVC Management saw the volume of those requests and exceptions, they may have decided to stop granting them going forward to avoid a larger problem down the road. Initially, they may have thought the closure would be 1 - 2 weeks. Now that CDC guidance is recommending no large gatherings for the next 8 weeks, DVC management no longer thinks those exceptions can be accommodated without significant harm to the system as a whole.

 

[tellingson]

Agree. Once DVC Management saw the volume of those requests and exceptions, they may have decided to stop granting them going forward to avoid a larger problem down the road. Initially, they may have thought the closure would be 1 - 2 weeks. Now that CDC guidance is recommending no large gatherings for the next 8 weeks, DVC management no longer thinks those exceptions can be accommodated without significant harm to the system as a whole.

Let me change the conversation slightly so that almost everything they have done conforms.
“All point banking rules remain in place.”

This means that you can't double bank. This also means that you need to bank before your 4 month window. Banking deadline enforcement has always been a bit loose in extenuating circumstances (new members and not understanding the system, I've heard family emergencies etc).

What the policy does NOT mention is borrowing rules or points going into holding. This is the majority of what Member Services has been doing. Points aren't going into Holding, and they are moving back to their original location.

Edit: After rereading the email

"As we have shared, Disney Vacation Club has lifted the close-in reservation cancellation restrictions and will return any of your points back as vacation points or reservation points without placing them into holding."

Banking still follows the rules. I just don't think this is as big of an issue as was suggested.

 

[CarolMN]

Several members have reported that MS banked points after their deadline following the cancellation. Perhaps MS noted that as a one-time exception, but I do not recall any of the reports mentioning that.

 

[Yinn]

Several members have reported that MS banked points after their deadline following the cancellation. Perhaps MS noted that as a one-time exception, but I do not recall any of the reports mentioning that.

It'd be interesting to see if anyone has had the banking deadline extended from today onwards. A lot of those reports were from last week. So the question really is - has anything changed today?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I could see them saying late banking only for canceled stays of 30 days from March 13 or less when the parks were announced to be closed.

 

[mswhittaker]

Hilton Head Island is closing Friday as well.

 

[Sandisw]

Agree. Once DVC Management saw the volume of those requests and exceptions, they may have decided to stop granting them going forward to avoid a larger problem down the road. Initially, they may have thought the closure would be 1 - 2 weeks. Now that CDC guidance is recommending no large gatherings for the next 8 weeks, DVC management no longer thinks those exceptions can be accommodated without significant harm to the system as a whole.

I also wonder if they will stop allowing borrowed points to be returned to their original UY?

 

[DVC Doctor]

I also wonder if they will stop allowing borrowed points to be returned to their original UY?

Not sure, but I was able to do that on friday.

I think if you have banked points from April 2018 and you put them in April 2019 and made a March 2020 reservation and now have to cancel, you are pretty much hosed and will lose the points on March 31, 2020

However, if you borrowed points from April 2020 and you put them in April 2019 and made a March 2020 reservation and now have to cancel, then those points can be returned to the April 2020 use year.

Moral of story....it is better to borrow points than bank points.

 

[Sandisw]

Not sure, but I was able to do that on friday.

I think if you have banked points from April 2018 and you put them in April 2019 and made a March 2020 reservation and now have to cancel, you are pretty much hosed and will lose the points on March 31, 2020

However, if you borrowed points from April 2020 and you put them in April 2019 and made a March 2020 reservation and now have to cancel, then those points can be returned to the April 2020 use year.

Moral of story....it is better to borrow points than bank points.

As of yesterday, it appears they have removed the exception to put borrowed points back,

The only penalty being waived today, from most reports, is that holding is being eliminated,

But everything else is back to normal, I think that is going to frustrate and upset a lot of members with March/April vacations who didn’t cancel last week when they were doing it.

 

[tellingson]

As of yesterday, it appears they have removed the exception to put borrowed points back,

The only penalty being waived today, from most reports, is that holding is being eliminated,

But everything else is back to normal, I think that is going to frustrate and upset a lot of members with March/April vacations who didn’t cancel last week when they were doing it.

Yep, I'm glad I cancelled when I did. That being said, until I see the points actually show back up in my 2020 use year, I don't see it as a sure thing.

Member services said that it takes 7-30 days. She said it probably won't take 30, but will probably take at least 7.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Now Aulani is the only resort to remain open after March 20. HHI and VB will also be closing.

 

[The Jackal]

As of yesterday, it appears they have removed the exception to put borrowed points back,

The only penalty being waived today, from most reports, is that holding is being eliminated,

But everything else is back to normal, I think that is going to frustrate and upset a lot of members with March/April vacations who didn’t cancel last week when they were doing it.

They changed things once again and will put borrowed points back, for now.

 

[Yinn]

They changed things once again and will put borrowed points back, for now.

Officially or just a report of someone who had it done?

 

[starry_solo]

Officially or just a report of someone who had it done?

there’s a website from DVC that says it