DVC-please do away with cash inventory!

[kamgen]

It is getting really frustrating for many of us that we cannot get reservations but non-members can on cash. I understand why they had this availability in the past, but now that there are TONS of members all trying to get ressies, it no longer makes sense. Just today I checked for a last minute ressie for this month. MS told me they only had openings at SSR. But through Disney, you can get a room at BCV, AKV and VWL.
I know there is arguments for both sides of this, but I say enough is enough. If someone wants to stay at a DVC resort, they should be members or staying on member points. JMHO.

 

[tjkraz]

Might want to read some of the comments in this thread to understand how the process works:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2045122

Without cash inventory, there would be no exchange programs. DVC would have to remove the option to use points for DCL, non-DVC resorts (Poly, Grand Californian, Disneyland resorts, Disneyland Paris, etc.), Adventures by Disney, Concierge Collection and so on. Those options may not be of interest to you but they are to many other members.

DVC could also try to outlaw point renting altogether. Right now the #1 reason that they have to allow renting is because Disney is a renter itself (the CRO rooms.)

Cash inventory also comes from the points DVC re-acquires via ROFR and unsold inventory. Disney isn't going to sacrifice that revenue just to give DVC members a little more availability.

The existence of cash inventory is just something we have to live with. It may be an "evil", but it's a necessary evil.

 

[kamgen]

I do appreciate the information and I do understand the reasoning around it. However, there are people who get the Cash ressies without any of those affiliations....they are not other TS folks trading in. What frustrates me as that ANYONE can get a ressie and members cannot. I do appreciate our getaway options, etc... however, I do not appreciate that anyone can go to the Disney World website and book a villa and members cannot. I know I speak for many members when I say this. There has to be a way to increase member availability. Thanks.

 

[tjkraz]

When a MEMBER uses points for a Disney Cruise or any other non-DVC option, DVC takes their points and turns them into accommodations to be offered thru CRO. Yes anybody can book the room through CRO, but the process all begins with a MEMBER saying "I want to use my points for DCL instead of a DVC room."

Effectively, the room went to a member first. It was the member's choice to TRADE the room for a Disney Cruise (or other option).

Again, without the revenue generated by those cash reservations our trading options would disappear. DCL is not willing to take 500 DVC points as compensation for a cruise. They want the cash (or cash equivalent balance sheet transfer) from DVC. DVC then has to recoup the $$$ and their only means of doing that is to rent cash rooms with the members' points.

 

[Tozzie]

I do appreciate the information and I do understand the reasoning around it. However, there are people who get the Cash ressies without any of those affiliations....they are not other TS folks trading in. What frustrates me as that ANYONE can get a ressie and members cannot. I do appreciate our getaway options, etc... however, I do not appreciate that anyone can go to the Disney World website and book a villa and members cannot. I know I speak for many members when I say this. There has to be a way to increase member availability. Thanks.

You are misunderstanding, when someone uses points to book a cruise or a room at Disneyland those points are turned over to CRO in the form of cash inventory, also the developer hold back a certain amount of points and doens't sell them at all those are also turned over to CRO to rent and the revenue is used to off set MF other. Your plans are last minute, are you suggesting that all rooms remain available to anyone who wants to book at anytime, suppose they did that and then they weren't able to book the rooms then what? I love WDW but once in a while I would like to go someplace else and I am glad I would be able to use points to do that.

 

[kamgen]

Thank you again. And I do understand how it works. But I still dont agree or like it. And as someone who has been a member for over 8 years and has attended the Open House various times with prospective members, this is never explained. So I can see how members would be unhappy when they cant get a ressie and someone else can. IMHO, if you want to stay at a DVC resort, you should be a member, know a member, or not be eligible to stay. While some people may not like that, that is how I feel.
I know Disney need to recoup money, and I agree with that. I just know they could come up with a better system to allow those who are members to reap the benefits either way. IT is terrible that when we exchange out of DVC we are hurting our fellow members. Not fair, not right. JMHO. Thanks again.

 

[Chuck S]

Without cash nights being available through CRO, how do you propose for DVC to pay the Cruise lines and Adventures by Disney, and Disney Collection?

The only options are increase EVERYONES dues substantially so that only those that trade to non-DVC location reap the benefits or simply not allow DVC points to be used for cruises or any other Disney Collection venue. I for one, do not wish to be paying for someone else's cruise through a substantial increase in dues.

 

[kamgen]

Tozzie- I am not only talking about last minute reservations. I talk to a lot of members who find that even 7 and 8 months out, there is nothing on points, only cash.

I am not misunderstanding and realize that Disney needs to recoup the money so members do not have to pay. I dont want to pay either. However, I do think there is a better system they could devise and I am entitled to not like the fact that non-members get to stay at DVC resorts when members cannot. I can get the point of why it works this way without having to like it.

 

[Tina]

Perhaps a solution (and I'm not delving too deep in to the details of making it work) would be to offer 2 types of DVC memberships -- (A) Those that can trade out and (B) Those that can not trade out. B option memberships would be allowed to book any available DVC room as long as they have points available. B memberships would never be allowed to trade out. Like I said, I'm not delving too deep into the mechanics of making this work, but a girl can dream, can't she? I never trade out and probably never will.

 

[kamgen]

Tina- thanks for trying to understand and offering a solution idea (even though we know it wont happen! LOL!)
We have traded out twice in 8 years but plan to later as our kids get older. So we would not want a different membership. But any idea is better than no idea!

Still it comes down to a simple issue, members being shut out while ANYONE can stay at a DVC resort. Despite all the explanations and justifications for it, it is still frustrating and annoying to pay membership and dues and be asked to pay more out of pocket for a room.

 

[tjkraz]

Still it comes down to a simple issue, members being shut out while ANYONE can stay at a DVC resort. Despite all the explanations and justifications for it, it is still frustrating and annoying to pay membership and dues and be asked to pay more out of pocket for a room.

Despite the explanations and justifications, it is also frustrating and annoying that the US economy is in the tank and that the auto industry is bankrupt. Still there are certain fundamental truths that cannot be ignored while trying to remedy those situations.

I'm not trying to make light of the situation because I'm sure most of us would prefer that rooms somehow flip back to DVC members rather than sitting unbooked on the CRO site. But it's just one of those necessary evils.

Here are two other ways to look at it:

1. If "Joe" had decided NOT to use points for DCL and instead spent them for DVC accommodations, the rooms you see on the CRO site would STILL not be available for your short-notice booking. Instead Joe would have the rooms booked with his points.

2. If Joe decided to rent his points and pay cash for the cruise, again the short-notice booking would not be available. The non-members renting Joe's points would already be booked into the room.

 

[TLPL]

Still it comes down to a simple issue, members being shut out while ANYONE can stay at a DVC resort. Despite all the explanations and justifications for it, it is still frustrating and annoying to pay membership and dues and be asked to pay more out of pocket for a room.

Well the solution is simple then, non-DVC members shut out at any DVC resorts. And DVC member shut out of DCL, Adventure by Disney, non-DVC resorts, and no world passport, no Concierge collection, RCI neither. And if they also shut out other DVC members who doesn't own at that DVC resort, I am sure it will guarantee everyone be able to book at their own resort whenever they want to. ok you can thank me now.

 

[blondietink]

Hopefully when Kadani Village and BLT open later this year, then some of this trouble getting ressies will be over with. But, I also think it depends on what season you are traveling also. If you are wanting to go in high season or a season that gets heavy DVC use, then you could still have issues if you don't book far enough in advance.

Last summer I had some points to use or lose so less than 5 weeks out I called to see what was available. I had my choice of 4 resorts and grabbed AKV. So, I think if you keep an open mind on what resort you want, you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[DebbieB]

I used points at Disneyland 3 times this year, total of 211 points. So that opened up several room nights at BWV for cash. I really enjoyed my nights at Disneyland, I didn't want to have to pay cash for them when I have points available.

blondietink also mentioned Kidani at AKV and BLT. That's another source of cash rooms - points that DVC owns that have not been sold yet go to CRO for cash.

 

[simzac]

We have traded out twice in 8 years but plan to later as our kids get older. So we would not want a different membership.

Without the system set up as it is now, you would not be able to trade out at all, but apperently you like that option. You can't have your cake and eat it too. JMO

 

[Tozzie]

Tozzie- I am not only talking about last minute reservations. I talk to a lot of members who find that even 7 and 8 months out, there is nothing on points, only cash.

I am not misunderstanding and realize that Disney needs to recoup the money so members do not have to pay. I dont want to pay either. However, I do think there is a better system they could devise and I am entitled to not like the fact that non-members get to stay at DVC resorts when members cannot. I can get the point of why it works this way without having to like it.

There is no guarantee that at 7 or 8 months out there would be room either because if you didn't allow points to be used anywhere else the members using those points elsewhere may have booked those rooms already. As for your not understanding your statement that people without any of those affiliations can get room screamed that you didn't understand.

It seems you are annoyed because you want to be able to stay when and where you want to but you don't want others to have the same options available to them. So by your thinking I should not be able to use my points somewhere other than DVC so that you can stay where you want when you want.

 

[Tina]

I used points at Disneyland 3 times this year, total of 211 points. So that opened up several room nights at BWV for cash. I really enjoyed my nights at Disneyland, I didn't want to have to pay cash for them when I have points available.

blondietink also mentioned Kidani at AKV and BLT. That's another source of cash rooms - points that DVC owns that have not been sold yet go to CRO for cash.

Ahhh... I forgot about Disneyland. I also like to use my DVC points to stay there. I'm going again this summer. I guess I should say that I don't trade out of Disney Resorts, but I do trade out of my home resort.

 

[Disney Pappy]

I totally agree with BlondieTink. With AKV & BLT owners getting developers points and their home resorts not open yet this is creating a "shortage" of rooms available. Hopefully this will improve by this time next year.

As DVC membership grows planning will become even more important; I have been a member for over 4 years and have made about 12 trips to WDW providing rooms for both family anf friends. Maybe I'm lucky but I have always been able to get accomodations that I wanted. I've even made a short term ressie, calling on a Fri afternoon for a Sunday check-in in Sept. As all of the new members learn how to use the system it is bound to cause a shortage of rooms at popular times. As a DVC member we get rooms subject to availability. That doea not mean ALL members can get a room on new years eve for example.

I do agree it is frustrating that you as a member cannot get a room but "Joe Traveler" call go on line and book a room at a DVC resort that is unavailable to you. These were the terms we agreed to when we signed on but that does not make the pill any easier for the OP to swallow.

Just my 2 cents

 

[mikesmom]

Actually, you are not shut out. You can pay cash.

 

[CarolA]

Are you willing to give up the ability to trade to any other Disney owned entity? If so then, the OP's idea is great.

However, I think most of us won't embrace it!

And DVC can't just give CRO the "last minute" unsold stuff. That's not the way folks vacation at Disney. And Disney isn't going to only take the "unpopular weeks" They probably have plenty of rooms ALREADY!