DVC Golf

[Dell]

I will be staying at OKW this Sept. Yesterday I tried to set up tee time 90 days out as specified in the DVC Golf Program. I could only book the Palm on one of the three consecutive days I plan on playing. (the other two days being more than 90 days out.) Called today to do the next day booking for E.P and O.R. and after being on hold for a short while, the CM said the only times remaining (90 days out) was very late in the afternoon, not ~10am that I was looking for. I also could not book more than one course per day (I wanted to play 2, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.) But if I wanted to I could also book the next day (more than 90 days out) but the only time was also very late in the pm. also.
Have the policies changed or am I just getting a negative response from a less than enthusiastic CM. I have in the last 4 years played all 5 courses in three days, booking ~ 60 days in advance without a problem. Something change in Disneys attitude toward DVC? or have the golf courses become that much more busy. (I understand the Magnolia course is closed)
The CM also mentioned that times can be made 150 days out on some packages. Anybody else have any problems with DVC Golf?

 

[PamOKW]

Not sure what the problem might be, but possibly they've got tournaments playing. I know conferences/conventions sometimes hold golf events on the courses which would rule out use by individuals for that period of time.

 

[Dell]

Well I called back in about 1 hour, got a different CM and tried to book times. Was identified by my phone # and was put on hold. Came back to me and asked if I was DVC. I said yes. Was put on hold again and in about 1 minute was disconnected. Dial tone. Am I just having a bad day??

 

[janiejo]

Dell, sorry for all your troubles. When we went May 25 - June 1st, my husband made three tee times at about 60 days out. He did not have any trouble getting the courses he wanted or times. When a friend decided to play with him one day (he was staying off-site and arriving during our stay,) my husband called back May 12th and was able to switch times and courses. (He wanted to play Osprey Ridge on Tuesday instead of Sunday.) Anyway, he only lost about 20 minutes to make the changes. (Had a 10:04 a.m. tee time - ended up with 10:24). He has the DVC golf card for reduced fees if booked at 10 a.m. or after. They seemed to treat him very well. Interestingly enough, he decided to add a day of golf while there. When he connected with the golf course line, a gal kept him on the phone for over 10 minutes. He requested a tee time of 10 a.m. or after. She finally found him one at 11 something, he said great, then told her it was through the DVC card. She said, "oh, you didn't tell me that." She reworked the reservation, and said, "ok, now it is for 9:56 a.m." He again stated it was with the DVC golf card. She said yes. Of course, when he got to the course to check in, the guy who was on duty said my husband was the 4th person to have been given a tee time before 10 a.m. with the DVC golf card. He gave my husband real customer service, honored the price, etc. Obviously, they were having trouble with the people who booked tee times understanding what the card was for. I would say don't give up and keep trying. Are you dialing, (407) WDW-PLAY? I think that is the # my husband uses when he makes his tee times. Good luck and keep us posted on how you end up!

ps One more thought - could the CM be confusing DVC with the new summer golf promo in the Vacation Magic about unlimited golf for $99? It is good for all the golf, including cart, played after 3 p.m. That's a heck of a price - I don't have my Vacation Magic yet, but read it on the member website. Maybe that is the problem?

 

[Bigcat]

And why can't they give us the costs after September.?.

 

[Captain Hook]

I'm looking to play all on all five courses the week after the tournament in Oct. I wish they would list the prices for after Sept.

 

[NJParkhopper]

Dell, did they say why Magnolia was closed? Was it for course maintenance, tournament?

 

[Dell]

The Mag is closed due to lack of irrigation. I guess the lake they used to water it with dried up. It was in poor condition and they made the decision to close it so they could let it recover. They are also supposed to make some changes to some holes for the tournament in OCT. Last I heard it would reopen Sept. 23, the day I leave from there to come home. (some cm's said it would be open sooner)

Try this site: www.wdwgolf.com

 

[drusba]

We just returned and used the DVC golf program. Here is what we found (we always had two players):

1. The new DVC golf card cost $85 plus tax. It has an unnoticed benefit. If you buy it anytime during a month it is good for one year to the end of the month of purchase. In other words, we bought on June 11 and it does not expire until June 30, 2002. Net result: if you go the same time each year, you can actually get to use the same discount card for that next year's trip.

2. It was very easy to get Mon to Fri times between 10 and 10:40 simply by calling one or two days before. Exception is that Eagle Pines and the Osprey had special tournaments going on Friday June 15. Weekend times were a little more difficult except for the Palm and Lake Buena Vista. In other words if you cannot get times now for Sep, I would not be too concerned--after 10 is just not a real high demand time during the hot summer months which includes Sep. The only ones you may really need to reserve early (30 to 60 days before) are the weekend times. There could be numerous reasons for reluctance to give times 90 days out-- they could be waiting to see if some tournament/convention group they have been talking to is going to take a day or that day already has such a group (that would likely be true if they are telling you only late afternoons are available for a particular course); they try to close each course one day each week and the closure times for Sep may not yet be decided; they may be aeriating the courses during Sep and may have not yet decided actual days for doing so.

3. Did not try booking two rounds a day so don't know why you cannot. However, be aware that you likely do not want to book that second daily round as a DVC discount round. If you play once during a day and then play a second time, the second round is half the regular price(keep first receipt and show it when paying for second round). The usual undiscounted after 10 Sep prices for the courses are $50 to $65 depending on course (Osprey is the highest) and even those prices drop after 3. Thus, that second round at half the usual course price is going to cost less is you don't insist on using the $35 DVC rate.


I assume you are not calling Member Services to get times. You should call the master starter at 1-407-WDW-GOLF.