DVC discount for April?

[LVSWL]

Just curious if anyone has been able to get a DVC discount for April yet? We have a cash ressie for the first night of our stay in April and I called today to see if we could get a DVC discount. First the CM said "yes the DVC is available" then "let me check something" then "no, I'm sorry it's not."
I said to her well, you just said it WAS available, and she said I know, but I'm sorry, it's not...
So..I was just wondering if anyone else has had any luck.

 

[tjkraz]

If you're talking about the 25% cash discount, its availability varies depending upon resort, room class, room size and day.

They only offer the discount when the combination of historical trends and current booking levels suggest that they will not be able to fill certain rooms with members using points. In other words, DVC may offer the discount for April 10th in a Saratoga Springs One Bedroom, but not for April 12th in an Animal Kingdom Villas Savanna View Studio. (Both hypotheticals, of course.)

Even if other April guests have been able to secure a discounted room, it doesn't have any real bearing on whether the discount will be offered for your resort / dates / room size.

 

[janni518]

Confused as to why they'd discount at all during their peak season.

 

[tjkraz]

Confused as to why they'd discount at all during their peak season.

They will if they can't fill all of the rooms with members using points. Better to put SOMEBODY in the room rather than leave it empty. The revenue from these discounted rooms (less admin overhead) goes as a credit against the resort's annual dues.

As for April being peak season, things may be busy around Easter but late-April is traditionally a pretty slow time. And even during busy seasons it's not a given that the resorts will be at 100% occupancy. Those high point costs are an effective deterrent for many members.

 

[Alexander]

A few years ago, I was able to get and AP rate at OKW for a studio on Saturday night before Easter. So I guess it depends on how full the resort appears to be. I have a feeling with the economy as it is, there may be discounts coming out. Some people may have reserved their rooms, but not booked travel or purchased tickets yet. They may end up backing out.

 

[wilma-bride]

I was able to book a 2-bedrom at VWL this past April, for two nights, with DVC discount (16th and 17th April). I booked this 7 months beforehand although I don't know whether that made a difference as to whether a DVC discount was available or not

 

[LVSWL]

Thanks for the replies guys. We have usually been pretty lucky with these in the past at different times of the year, so I was just curious. We are hoping to switch to points at the 7 month window anyway, and this is our backup plan if that falls through.