DVC Member 25% discount

[RobDoc]

There have been several recent threads asking about the 25% discount for DVC members for cash nights at DVC resorts.

Today, I was able to get the discount for a Sat night at HH for next July - right at the 11 month priority. We have gotten the discount many times in the past, but many times have not been able to even get a cash night (with or without the discount) until within about 6 months. A few times, we've made the cash reservation (at rack rate) and then were pleasantly surprised a few months later to get a revised confirmation letter indicating that the discount had been applied - even without further phone calls.

This time, MS knew already from past history that the villa would not likely be needed for point reservations and applied the discount to the cash rate immediately.

It never hurts to ask!

 

[JohnNJ]

Doc:

I have a "what if":

I make a reservation at 11 months out using points for the weekdays and cash for the weekends. At the time of the reservation there is no member discount available, so I book it at rack rate.

When we get close to the actual vacation date, may I switch the cash nights to points if the discount doesn't come through? If yes, what's the latest date I can make the switch? Is there an availablity issue?

There are weekend days in early December that would be less if I use points over the full rack rate, assuming $10 per point. Thanks.

 

[RobDoc]

My experience has been that if you already have a cash night booked thru MS, they will automatically apply the discount if/when it becomes available. It can't hurt to call and ask about it if you haven't heard by 90 days prior to arrival, but I've usually just received al revised confirmation with the discount already applied by that time. I think the key may be to have the cash night booked as far ahead as possible- I assume they will apply the discount to the earliest cash reservations once it is released.

You can't "switch" cash nights to points- since they come from different inventory. (If there is availability for a reservation on points, you can just make the reservation and cancel the cash night- but if there is no availability you won't be allowed to just "switch" to points.) In some cases the cash nights are made from rooms available due to members using points for non-DVC options. The discount may not be available for some dates. In most cases, I'd expect that weekends will have the best opportunity for the discount.

Good luck!

 

[Luigi's Girl]

This time, MS knew already from past history that the villa would not likely be needed for point reservations and applied the discount to the cash rate immediately.

It never hurts to ask!

This confuses me a bit. How on earth was it possible for me to get the member discount for a cash night on Nov. 12 at BCV when MS told me the entire resort is sold out for points and cash? I've been calling for months and last Friday I was successful in getting the discount even though I figured it would probably never be available at that resort especially during F&W.

 

[Ali and boyz]

There have been several recent threads asking about the 25% discount for DVC members for cash nights at DVC resorts.

Today, I was able to get the discount for a Sat night at HH for next July - right at the 11 month priority. We have gotten the discount many times in the past, but many times have not been able to even get a cash night (with or without the discount) until within about 6 months. A few times, we've made the cash reservation (at rack rate) and then were pleasantly surprised a few months later to get a revised confirmation letter indicating that the discount had been applied - even without further phone calls.

This time, MS knew already from past history that the villa would not likely be needed for point reservations and applied the discount to the cash rate immediately.

It never hurts to ask!

I am new to all this and just about to book our first trip home at SSR using points but also book 2 nights at VB on cash. when you book do you ask the cost or do you ask about member discount or............. do they automatically tell you.

 

[RobDoc]

They've told me the cost without asking each time, but don't hesitate to ask about both the cost and availability of the discount if MS doesn't offer the information.

 

[Man_Of_Leisure]

I have a question. If you are making a cash ressie why do you have to wait for the 11 month window? It was my understanding that there are so many rooms or 'x' amount of space set aside at each resort for non DVCers.

Man Of Leisure

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I am new to all this and just about to book our first trip home at SSR using points but also book 2 nights at VB on cash. when you book do you ask the cost or do you ask about member discount or............. do they automatically tell you.

If you want the member cash discount, be sure to ask at booking. If you book member cash rack rate, be sure to ask if the member discount is available yet. If not, call back to try and get it. MS will give you an idea of when member discounted cash rooms will become available. There is no waitlist for member discount rooms.

 

[CarolMN]

I have a question. If you are making a cash ressie why do you have to wait for the 11 month window? It was my understanding that there are so many rooms or 'x' amount of space set aside at each resort for non DVCers.

Man Of Leisure

You don't - if you book your cash stay through CRO/WDWTC and there is availability. There often isn't before 11 months.

The absolute earliest MS will book a cash reservation is 11 months prior to check out - and that is relatively rare. Cash resrvations made through MS come from member inventory and are only available if DVC determines that all the rooms will not be reserved for points. It just wouldn't be right for them to take a room from member inventory before members even have a chance to book!

Best wishes -

 

[Man_Of_Leisure]

Cash resrvations made through MS come from member inventory and are only available if DVC determines that all the rooms will not be reserved for points. It just wouldn't be right for them to take a room from member inventory before members even have a chance to book!

Best wishes -

Your response leads me into my second question. How can DVC determine if a room will be available (not reserved for points) at 11 months when many DVCers have not had the opportunity to make a reservation at that point, i.e. those of us who do not have home resort advantage and must wait till the seven month window or those DVCers with home advantage yet may not make ressies until the 10th, 9th or 8th month out?

Man of Leisure

 

[RobDoc]

Your response leads me into my second question. How can DVC determine if a room will be available (not reserved for points) at 11 months when many DVCers have not had the opportunity to make a reservation at that point, i.e. those of us who do not have home resort advantage and must wait till the seven month window or those DVCers with home advantage yet may not make ressies until the 10th, 9th or 8th month out?

On the rare occasions when there is cash availability right at 11 months (as in my HH reservation), MS bases it on past history for that date. In the case of HH on Saturday nights, there have been few reservations made for the summer months - most likely because of the extremely high point requirements. Saturdays are even higher than Fridays- and many Fridays will have availabilty for cash reservations.

As I mentioned in the OP, the most likely days to find the cash discount available will be weekend nights - especially at the onsite DVC resorts. I'm sure there are few cash discounts available for weeknights (winters at HH and VB being the general exception).

Regardless, cash availability is tied to past performance for each resort based on room type, season and weekend vs weekday.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

When I booked my upcoming November trip this past December at the 11 month mark I booked 7 nights on points and 1 weekend night on cash at VWL. When I was able to switch to BCV at the 7 month mark (yes I was very lucky) I also was able to reserve the cash night there also. Again I was very lucky when I called last week and the Member Discount had become available.

 

[Ali and boyz]

On the rare occasions when there is cash availability right at 11 months (as in my HH reservation), MS bases it on past history for that date. In the case of HH on Saturday nights, there have been few reservations made for the summer months - most likely because of the extremely high point requirements. Saturdays are even higher than Fridays- and many Fridays will have availabilty for cash reservations.

As I mentioned in the OP, the most likely days to find the cash discount available will be weekend nights - especially at the onsite DVC resorts. I'm sure there are few cash discounts available for weeknights (winters at HH and VB being the general exception).

Regardless, cash availability is tied to past performance for each resort based on room type, season and weekend vs weekday.

we were going to go midweek to VB on cash. do you think I would be better going at the weekend on cash and staying at SSR during the week on points purely from a dvc discount point of view. I am assume (forgetting about the DVC discount for the moment) that the cash rates are the same for each night as I was only given one cost

 

[CarolMN]

we were going to go midweek to VB on cash. do you think I would be better going at the weekend on cash and staying at SSR during the week on points purely from a dvc discount point of view.

Yes. You will spend less points if you do it that way. As Doc already posted, you are more likely to find availability for cash on the weekend nights andthus also more likely to get a member discount.

I am assume (forgetting about the DVC discount for the moment) that the cash rates are the same for each night as I was only given one cost

Yes - the cash rates are the same for week nights as they are for weekend nights.

Best wishes -

 

[Ali and boyz]

is friday nights classed as weekend rates or is it sat and sun

thanks

 

[CarolMN]

is friday nights classed as weekend rates or is it sat and sun

thanks

Friday and Saturday nights are the higher points nights. These are the nights that we mean when we talk about weekends "costing" more than week nights. Sunday through Thursday nights are the lower week night points.

Best wishes -

 

[Ali and boyz]

Friday and Saturday nights are the higher points nights. These are the nights that we mean when we talk about weekends "costing" more than week nights. Sunday through Thursday nights are the lower week night points.

Best wishes -

thanks Carol, getting ready to do our very first points and cash booking this week . think I asked everything now . can't wait

 

[CarolMN]

thanks Carol, getting ready to do our very first points and cash booking this week . think I asked everything now . can't wait

Good luck - hope you get everything you want on the first try. Be sure and let us know how you do!

Best wishes -

 

[Ali and boyz]

Good luck - hope you get everything you want on the first try. Be sure and let us know how you do!

Best wishes -

thanks Carol,

welllllllllllllllllll now I am thinking (sat with the calculator ) I might not use as many points if I paid cash for the weekend at SSR and used the points for two nights midweel at VB. I worked it out and I wouldn't need to borrow into next years points to do that. only thing is how likely / lucky would I be to get a 2br with the full disabled facilities midweek for next July at the 7 month window at VB .

 

[Mike]

Does anybody know if the Member Discount is ever offered for a OKW 2 BR Lock-off unit? I just called and was able to get the discount for a dedicated 2BR for a Fri and Sat night in July but we have to be in a lock-off since our friends won't be joining us until mid-week. MS told me that they do not have the discount available for a 2BR lock-off. I asked her if that was because it just wasn't available at the time or do they just not offer the discount on a 2BR lock-off. She was not able to answer. Does anybody know the answer to this? This has really thrown a wrinkle into my plans. I'd appreciate any help.


Thanks!