DVC- Are resorts really for members first?

[kpgclark]

I called Disney today to see if I could get a Beach Club Villa Studio for Thanksgiving because that was the only day not available using points. They said no studios were available (not surprisingly) and in fact no units whatsoever were available at that location. He said that the units went EXCLUSIVELY to members first. Now I have a friend that reserved two one bedrooms at the Beach Club Villas over Thanksgiving using a travel agent. This was done more than a month ago I think. How is this possible? I don't get how this works.

 

[zurgswife]

There is always a percentage that disney holds for cash paying guests...at all DVC resorts I think it is something like 4% of the available rooms.....The person you spoke with must have been misstaken...

 

[WDWorld2003]

I'd like to know that, too..... I was reading on the resorts posts where people were reserving the Fairytale Package for August at OKW and BWV...... I also thought these were for members until 60 days out. Shouldn't DVC members be allowed booking rights first or does Disney keep a certain number of rooms for themselves?

 

[RobDoc]

When DVC members use Magical Beginnings or use their points for any non-DVC option (cruise, Disney Collection, Concierge Collection), the points given up are made available to CRO for cash reservations. At 11 months, there should be little availability for cash reservations at any DVC resort, but as the time progresses, more cash availability is there as points are used in the manner mentioned. DVC also holds back 2-4% of the total points to be used for maintenance or cash rental as needed.

In addition, any DVC rooms still unreserved at 60 days are made available to CRO for cash reservations.

Keep trying though, I'm sure some rooms will open up for DVC reservations.

Good Luck!

 

[reneesam]

It has been suggested that more cash rooms are available currently because so many members used their points for the Member Cruise earlier this year.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I have noticed the same thing also. You can go to disney.com and find availability, but call to book through MS and they have nothing. I understand everything Doc says, and that makes sense, but I called to see if there was any studio available for October, Nov., or early Dec. and was told that BCV and BWV are completely sold out. It makes me rethink buying into DVC ( I just signed my papers, I still have 15 days to back out)

 

[JOC]

Lexxiefern,
Remember that October/November and early December are popular times for DVC members because of the Food & Wine Festival and holiday decorations, so you would need to make reservations at your 11-month window to get the specific dates you want. Also, it's already within the 7-month window for non-BCV/BWV owners to swap their home resort reservations at OKW/VWL/HH/Vero for BCV/BWV so that could also have greatly impacted availability at those two resorts. I think you'll have an easier time getting the room you want next time because you'll have the 11-month reservation window to your advantage.

 

[ronw]

Also, since BCV is not yet sold out, there are still rooms that have not yet been declared into member inventory. My guide said last week that it is about 80% sold.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Lexxiefern
I have noticed the same thing also. You can go to disney.com and find availability, but call to book through MS and they have nothing. I understand everything Doc says, and that makes sense, but I called to see if there was any studio available for October, Nov., or early Dec. and was told that BCV and BWV are completely sold out. It makes me rethink buying into DVC ( I just signed my papers, I still have 15 days to back out)

For DVC it's becoming increasingly necesssary to reserve at 11 months out and in some case (Dec) you need to call and reserve each day at at time when that day opens up. Just the nature of the beast. It's also true that there are cash rooms that are not and never will be available for points.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
When DVC members use Magical Beginnings or use their points for any non-DVC option (cruise, Disney Collection, Concierge Collection), the points given up are made available to CRO for cash reservations.

Doc -

This is where I get confused. Any idea how they decide which nights/room sizes to give back? I don't understand why members aren't first and than as much general public at a certain point, late in the game. I know it gets complicated with banking and borrowing but I also thought there was something (sorry I forget the technical term) where we get credit back on our dues if they "over rent" our room inventory?

Hope this makes sense
Sandy

 

[CarolA]

Lexxiefern,
I notice you seem to have a lot of concerns about your purchase. I do want to point out that you are NOT getting unbiased feedback on these boards. I mean this group (including me) is obviously full of Disney fans! However, the decision to buy has to be fully comfortable for you. I know that I waited several years to buy. Part of that was financial, I wanted to meet some other goals before I put this much money into "fun" and part of it was a comfort level thing (would I really want to go to Disney that much). For me it has been a very good purchase, but if you are truly concerned then it might not be for you. Just a thought and I hope you are upset by me stating it!

 

[CarolA]

The other thing to consider is that if DVC held everything back until 60 days prior thier chances of it being sold to a customer decrease! If those rooms are not used and income does not come in our dues would likely go up!

I have a feeling that rooms are released based on a combination of a lot of things. However, while I see that people are getting Fairy Tale at OKW for August, I rarely see people stating they can't get what they want at OKW for points. (I have always found OKW easiest to get at the last minute!)

I think most DVC members are NOT like me and do book ahead. Disney knows this and probably has some good historical data on how bookings go to allow them to forecast what to release to CRO inventory.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by InstImpres
I don't understand why members aren't first and than as much general public at a certain point, late in the game. I know it gets complicated with banking and borrowing but I also thought there was something (sorry I forget the technical term) where we get credit back on our dues if they "over rent" our room inventory?

Hope this makes sense
Sandy

Members are always first- and in this case, as Dean pointed out, late Nov/Early Dec is a very popular time at DVC resorts and we're within the 7 month window already for that time period.

In addition, members have "given" CRO a lot of points to use for cash reservations. CRO must be able to use those points - in this case CRO is a member.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by InstImpres
Doc -

This is where I get confused. Any idea how they decide which nights/room sizes to give back? I don't understand why members aren't first and than as much general public at a certain point, late in the game. I know it gets complicated with banking and borrowing but I also thought there was something (sorry I forget the technical term) where we get credit back on our dues if they "over rent" our room inventory?

Hope this makes sense
Sandy

First you must remember there are several groups of points that go for cash and they are treated differently. First is the points not yet declared into inventory. The units (multiple villas grouped together) are not even available for points and are only for cash. Once they are declared into inventory the reverse is true. There is a relative over abundance of points rooms for a while that are not available for cash. Then there's the points given up for exchanges and the like. DVC tries to spread these over less busy times, avoid holidays and the like. the downside is that we get less return in cash and therefore higher points charges for DCL, CC and the like. The last is inventory not reserved at the 2 month window. That income goes directly to DVC and offsets other costs including our dues.

 

[Lexxiefern]

Originally posted by CarolA
Lexxiefern,
I notice you seem to have a lot of concerns about your purchase. I do want to point out that you are NOT getting unbiased feedback on these boards. I mean this group (including me) is obviously full of Disney fans! However, the decision to buy has to be fully comfortable for you. I know that I waited several years to buy. Part of that was financial, I wanted to meet some other goals before I put this much money into "fun" and part of it was a comfort level thing (would I really want to go to Disney that much). For me it has been a very good purchase, but if you are truly concerned then it might not be for you. Just a thought and I hope you are upset by me stating it!

I like alot of things about DVC. I definately want to vacation in disney every year. DVC will allow me to do this without having to talk my DH into going every year - this way we already "prepayed" so we go. I haven't yet taken advantage of the 11 month window. Hopefully when I do so I will be able to get the vacation dates I really want. I am just a little disheartened that I could not get another room in October. (I am already booked for an 8 night stay and I really wanted my sister to come along) Hopefully my waitlist will come through. If in the future I am not able to get any of the dates I want at the 11 month window, then I might reconsider my purchase. And, if need be, sell. Hopefully it won't come to that though.

Sorry if I sounded uncomfortable or upset......I just really want my sister to come along!!

 

[mzzbuzzlightyear]

Hi,
Throughout the many years of going to Disney, and then later, through the DVC, I have almost always gotten the times that I wanted.

Call them back; sometimes on the same day, rooms become available as people cancel out for one reason or another. I was recently waitlisted for a 2 BR at HH on a Monday. When I called Wednesday about another reservation, I was told that my waitlist day had come in. This was for May 28!

So give another call...and good luck!
June