DVC Cash Discount Questions

[tjkraz]

I'm casually contemplating adding a weekend night to our May BWV stay with the 25% member cash discount. I have a few of questions regarding the cash discount:

1. Is tax charged for the cash night?

2. When is the payment due for the cash night? Time of booking? Check-in? Other?

3. Any recent experiences regarding availability of a 1B using AP codes? Seems like the pool of AP rooms is getting smaller and smaller--particularly at the Deluxes. I'm also a bit worried about the "Sunday through Thursday" disclaimer on the last round of AP codes--even though it has been applied pretty inconsistenly this time around.

4. If booked under an AP code, I'm assuming that the ressie can't be linked to the DVC point booking, correct?

My understanding is that there is no housekeeping for the cash night under the member discount--no biggie there.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Sorry, I can't help you with these questions - I've never used the DVC Cash Discount. I'm certain, however, that tjkraz will come along and give you great answers to your questions.

 

[tjkraz]

Keep it up, smart guy!

 

[Poohs Pal]

I used the cash discount in October. Yes we were charged tax on the discounted amount. My credit card was charged during our visit, the day after our cash night occurred. I had two nights dicounted and they went on my card as seperate charges. I have been told if you add a AP discount to your exsiting ressie let CRO know you are adding this to your DVC stay and while you are on the line with them they can contact MS and link the two ressie's. Susan

 

[pumpkinboy]

We have linked DVC discounted cash nights and points nights in the same stay, and the process was seamless: same parking pass, same keys, same room and no need to check out and check in again. 11.5% FL rooms tax is charged on the discounted price. They charged my card on the first cash night of the stay.

Notably, it's mainly 1BR and 2BR units that are a better deal than points for weekend nights. Some 1BRs during certain periods are cheaper even at rack rate compared to points prices, and become a great deal if you can nab a DVC discounted rate. I have yet to find an AP rate that comes close to as good a deal as the 25% DVC discount is. Being a finance wonk, I had to make myself a spreadsheet comparing points vs cash prices for the times that my family can get to WDW. Just getting it all onto one sheet where I could compare it really made the situation clear.

 

[DebbieB]

You have to give a credit card # when you make the reservation as a guarantee. They do not charge it until your stay. However, if you would cancel 5 days or less before, they will charge 1 night.

Your DVC cash nights are added to your points nights for housekeeping, keys, parking pass. For example, if you use DVC cash for Friday & Saturday, then points Sunday to Thursday, your trash & towel will be on Monday, day 4 of your combined stay.

If you book an AP room, you get full housekeeping for those nights and it is treated separate. You will need to get new keys & a new parking pass when you switch over to points. There is not a guarantee you will not have to move, but it is unlikely.

 

[PaulaMurf]

I have never used the cash discount, but, after reading some of the posts on here, I think it might be my best plan for a Saturday night at Vero, do I call MS? or CRO? (this is for a 1BR)

TIA

Paula in CT

 

[Poohs Pal]

Yes the discount is allways 25%. Call MS for members discount. Susan

 

[Tagrel]

Just did this for a Saturday night stay in a 1 bedroom at VWL this August. It was a straight 25% off the rack rate + applicable taxes. They took my credit card info, and said I had up to 6 days before arrival to cancel. My card would be charged upon arrival. The cash ressie was linked to my points ressie - no move required. I've also priced AP rates in the past, but the difference, if available at all, was not worth getting new keys/ parking pass or the possibility of having to move. When I tried to do this at BWV last summer there was a couple problems - we had a Boardwalk View reserved on points - so we would of HAD to move for that one night. AND the member cash discount was not available when I called... But an AP rate was... I just decided to use the points.

I was a bit in shock for the one night cash price... Of course, I KNEW on some level how expensive the cash price is, but BOY its nice to use points when you can. Paying cash for that one night left us enough points for 4 nights in December...

Now, if only VERO is available at the 7 month mark I'll be golden! Well, that and if the Hurricanes stay away this next August!

 

[Scoootch]

I have never used the cash discount, but, after reading some of the posts on here, I think it might be my best plan for a Saturday night at Vero, do I call MS? or CRO? (this is for a 1BR)

TIA

Paula in CT

I'd call both and see who has it for less $$. That being said, if you book through CRO, you may end up having to change rooms and/or having to check in and out again. If you book with the Member discount through MS they will link the ressie and you won't have to move -- but depending on how much the room may be, it may or may not be worth it to move if CRO has it for less.

HTH's

 

[bz8bls]

Just did this at OKW during the XMAS Holidays; we used CRO instead of MS for a 2 bedroom (the CRO rate using an AP was just about a 45% discount off of rack rate on the room). We did not have to move out of our room, just went to check-in and they re-issued new room keys for our points reservation.

 

[tjkraz]

Thanks for all of the valuable feedback so far.

One more question. The room we have booked on points is Standard View 1B at BWV. Let's assume for a moment that AP discounts do come out and rates are lower than the 25% member discount. The concensus seems to be that there's a chance we can stay in the same room under points and cash (when booking through CRO), but there's also a chance we would have to move.

My fear is that since we're booked in a Standard View room, it may increase the likelihood of our having to move. If DVC members are booked into all of the SV rooms, the only thing left for that cash night may be a pool / garden preferred view. Thus, we'd almost be forced to move.

Does that logic make sense?

Of paramount importance to us is staying in the same room for the entire trip. Our kids still take naps each afternoon, and not having a room between 11am and 4pm due to a room switch (even within the same resort) almost defeats the purpose of adding another night.

Sounds like my best bet would be to just see if DVC can get me the 25% discount and link the ressies, which should guarantee we stay in the same room for the duration.

Any thoughts?

 

[DebbieB]

I would call now to see about DVC cash availability. I have a feeling it might not be easy at BWV. Try to reserve it and then decide what you want to do.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for all of the valuable feedback so far.

One more question. The room we have booked on points is Standard View 1B at BWV. Let's assume for a moment that AP discounts do come out and rates are lower than the 25% member discount. The concensus seems to be that there's a chance we can stay in the same room under points and cash (when booking through CRO), but there's also a chance we would have to move.

My fear is that since we're booked in a Standard View room, it may increase the likelihood of our having to move. If DVC members are booked into all of the SV rooms, the only thing left for that cash night may be a pool / garden preferred view. Thus, we'd almost be forced to move.

Does that logic make sense?

Of paramount importance to us is staying in the same room for the entire trip. Our kids still take naps each afternoon, and not having a room between 11am and 4pm due to a room switch (even within the same resort) almost defeats the purpose of adding another night.

Sounds like my best bet would be to just see if DVC can get me the 25% discount and link the ressies, which should guarantee we stay in the same room for the duration.

Any thoughts?

My understanding is that staying in the same room if you have a Boardwalk view is virtually impossible. I would not be surprised if that were also true of the standard views.

I agree with your "best bet" strategy - and be sure to ask MS if there will be a problem re your strong desire not to move.

If it were me, though, I'd call the BWV resort direct and ask the room assigner. Or maybe LibertyBelle would know - she works front desk at OKW, but has done room assignments at VWL (I think). In any event, she probably has the contacts at BWV to find out for sure. Maybe you could sent her a PM. If you do, would love to know what you find out. I think "standard view" rules are probably more like those for Boardwalk views than they are like the rules for all other room types.

Best wishes -

 

[pumpkinboy]

My understanding is that staying in the same room if you have a Boardwalk view is virtually impossible. I would not be surprised if that were also true of the standard views.
I agree with your "best bet" strategy - and be sure to ask MS if there will be a problem re your strong desire not to move...snip
snip...I think "standard view" rules are probably more like those for Boardwalk views than they are like the rules for all other room types.

OK, I've got real information on this question. :jumping4:
Actually BWV Std view is not at all like BW view in terms of availability of cash ressies. I got Cash ressies with the 25% DVC discount for both this past November (2BR during F&W) and for this coming April (1BR during NE school vacation), all for weekend nights. For the NOvember ressie, we had weeknights on both sides of the cash nights, and the transition was completely seamless: same room, same keys, everything. Keep trying for those weekend nights tjkraz, they may yet come thru.

 

[CarolMN]

OK, I've got real information on this question. :jumping4:
Actually BWV Std view is not at all like BW view in terms of availability of cash ressies. I got Cash ressies with the 25% DVC discount for both this past November (2BR during F&W) and for this coming April (1BR during NE school vacation), all for weekend nights. For the NOvember ressie, we had weeknights on both sides of the cash nights, and the transition was completely seamless: same room, same keys, everything. Keep trying for those weekend nights tjkraz, they may yet come thru.

Good to know. Thanks for sharing!

Best wishes -

 

[DisneyBill]

OK, I've got real information on this question. :jumping4:
Actually BWV Std view is not at all like BW view in terms of availability of cash ressies. I got Cash ressies with the 25% DVC discount for both this past November (2BR during F&W) and for this coming April (1BR during NE school vacation), all for weekend nights. For the NOvember ressie, we had weeknights on both sides of the cash nights, and the transition was completely seamless: same room, same keys, everything. Keep trying for those weekend nights tjkraz, they may yet come thru.

So, your ressies are for standard view? Because I was told that there is never an opportunity to book BWview rooms with cash, either through MS or CRO. Unless, within the last 30 days before arrival there is an unlikely availability of a BWview room.

 

[pumpkinboy]

So, your ressies are for standard view? Because I was told that there is never an opportunity to book BWview rooms with cash, either through MS or CRO. Unless, within the last 30 days before arrival there is an unlikely availability of a BWview room.

Yes, my ressies were and are for Standard view, which I would expect would be very different from BW view rules. I would expect BW view rooms would be near impossible to get at a DVC discounted cash rate (at least that would be good policy, IMO; I want tohose BW views reserved for us members). Nevertheless, I am going to ask MS every couple of weeks if our weekend nights this coming October (BW view) happen to be available at DVC discount; unlikely to happen but it can't hurt to ask.