DVC Member - Resort Cash Ressie Discount Questions

[Tina]

Hi eveyone,
I'm still new and still learning all the ins and outs of DVC and have a few questions for you. We have a trip booked for VWL in May 2006. I was planning to buy airline tix today and found that the morning flights are pretty much sold out. If I take a later flight, we'll lose at least half a day and this is a 4 day trip with my friend and her daughter (who are first-timers). So I started looking into going one day earlier. I don't want to use points because it would fall into the higher category Saturday night stay. Can you tell me about the cash ressie discount program?

* How much is the discount?
* Does it apply to all Disney resorts or just DVC?
* Can the discount be applied to Value Resorts?

I looked into just booking 1 night in a WL room and right now the Disney website is coming up with a price of $345 for just the one night on 5/6/06 (no tix)!!! That's insane. We're AP holders, but the AP rates don't run into May yet. Any suggestions are welcomed.

 

[mom2alix]

I ran into the same problem with our May trip and the airline schedules and was able to get a Friday night in a VWL studio with the member discount for less than what it would have cost me to rent points. (29 points @ $10 vs. approx. $260 for cash ressie). The difference in airfare more than made up for the cost of the room.

We've never stayed in a studio, but it won't kill us for one night and we check into our 2 bedroom the next morning. Besides, who can complain about an extra night at Disney?

Give MS a call, it can't hurt to ask what the cash rate would be for the night you need. You might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Tina]

Thanks. It sounds like we're in the same boat -- but I think $260 for that first night would be too high for us. Especially since we'll be arriving in the late afternoon and really only sleeping there. I'm hoping to find something decent in the range of less than $150 -- which is why I'm considering a Value or Moderate -- but I'd hate to have to move, especially since we'll have a small child with us -- and I'll be without my DH this trip. I think I'll call MS in the morning and see what they can do for me.

 

[CarolMN]

Have you considered staying near the airport for that first night and then just geting a very early start the next day? You can find some pretty good bargains at the hotels near the airport on Saturday nights.

If you won't have a car for this trip, I'd just go with the value and have Disney move your luggage for you.

Best wishes -