DVC Member Benefits Guide - Section VI: PreOpening Program?

[epicureangirl]

I've been reading the DVC Member Benefits Guide (updated 12/12/07), and section 6 mentions a PreOpening Program, where it sounds like you can switch your existing DVC reservation for a reservation at AKV (with the pre-opening points chart).

Has anyone ever done this? I haven't even heard it mentioned.

Do you think if you book your home resort at 11 months, you can call and ask for it to be switched to AKV (as part of the PreOpening Program)? Or is this just a long-winded way of saying that you can book at the 7 month window? It really sounds like you MUST have a reservation already that you are (in effect) trading for an AKV reservation.

Does anyone want to fill me in on what this really means? I am booking BCV at 11 months out, but would like to switch some days to AKV if this is the case.

Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

Most folks here in the US haven't received their planner, yet. Give us a few days.

 

[tjkraz]

I read a doc on the member website at least a year ago that summarized this "pre opening program." If memory serves, it's mostly a disclaimer explaining how DVC will begin taking reservations for units that are not yet complete--and perhaps not even rolled into inventory--based upon the assumption that they will be complete at the time of occupancy.

Take AKV for example. DVC began taking reservations in May '07 even though it didn't open until July (and many more units followed in later months.) They used construction and sales schedules to predict when units would be available, and allowed members to book reservations accordingly.

If I'm right about the doc, there's probably some wording in there warning that guests can be moved if construction schedules fall behind. Recent reports seem to indicate that DID happen at AKV.

I don't have my planner yet and I'm not going to try and navigate the slower-than-slow member website to find it. But that's my personal recollection.

 

[epicureangirl]

Most folks here in the US haven't received their planner, yet. Give us a few days.

I didn't recieve my planner either -- I'm on the West Coast of Canada so probably won't see one for some time. I actually read the DVC Member Benefits Guide online. Is that the same thing as the planner? If so, it looked really dry and boring.

 

[epicureangirl]

If I'm right about the doc, there's probably some wording in there warning that guests can be moved if construction schedules fall behind. Recent reports seem to indicate that DID happen at AKV.

Yes, you're right it did say that. I was a bit confused on if you had to 'trade' a reservation, or if they were merely taking your home resort points to exchange them for the AKV reservation.

What would be not great, is giving up your home resort reservation at 11 months (BCV in my case), getting the AKV reservation and than the unit not be ready, and have them accomodate you somewhere 'they' deemed equivalent. If I had wanted to go to SSR or OKW etc, I would have booked there in the first place. (Nothing against those resorts, I just want to stay where I plan to)

 

[tjkraz]

What would be not great, is giving up your home resort reservation at 11 months (BCV in my case), getting the AKV reservation and than the unit not be ready, and have them accomodate you somewhere 'they' deemed equivalent. If I had wanted to go to SSR or OKW etc, I would have booked there in the first place. (Nothing against those resorts, I just want to stay where I plan to)

No, that wouldn't be great, but we're in this for another 40 or 50 years. Not every trip is going to be great.

I tend to take the "glass is half full" approach. So far I've been very pleased with our ability to get into rooms early, receive views and locations requested and even with availability at 7 months or less. Our rooms have been clean and reasonably well-maintained. Thus I'm not inclined to fly off the handle the first time something goes wrong.

 

[epicureangirl]

I'm a planner by nature, so to have all my Dinner reservations and meals planned based on where I'm going to be that day, and what the kids would enjoy the most -- being suddenly expected to move to a different resort would not impress me. It's different if it were BCV vs. BWV since they're so close, but ending up at a remote resort puts transportation and TIME into the equation. I would hope that changing resorts was worth a little more than just the 'equivalent' (2 bedroom for 2 bedroom for instance).

In any event, I'm sure I'll take a more relaxed approach after many years of DVC trips under my belt, but what can I say... I'm a new owner and have an expectation of getting what I book, but can easily handle 'glitches' with room cleanliness, views etc. and am very reasonable and polite no matter what happens. But you must admit, AKV is all about the animals and African theming... no other resort is going to really be 'equivalent' if that's what you're looking forward to.