DVC-please do away with cash inventory!

[Tozzie]

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

This is not entirely true as far as developer points go, the only DVC resort that most not all but most of these points can be used at is SSR and SSR was available for the OP.

As for "Joe Traveller" he isn't booking a room that is unavailable to another member he is booking my room so that I can go to California and stay at a DL hotel on points. So either way the room isn't available.

 

[kamgen]

WOW
I am surprised to get such flames here when most of the members I know are unhappy as well with how it works. Again, not sure I am being understood. I do understand the way it works and realize what is behind the system. Just saying that I dont have to like it and I can wish it was different.
And by the way, I do plan and have been lucky to almost always get a ressie somewhere.

Guess I will keep my opinions to myself. Thanks for the opinions.

 

[tjkraz]

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.

That's another misconception.

"Developer's Points" do not simply appear out of thin air. It's just another avenue for DVC getting rid of its own holdings. All of the buildings at Saratoga Springs were open for about a year before they were sold to members. So for the period where DVC was holding unsold points, offering them as a sales incentive was just one avenue of using that asset.

Whether those unsold units are given to new members in the form of "Developer's Points" or turned over to CRO, the net result is the same.

There will also be a relative balance between the number of units available for member bookings and the number of owners (points) active in the system.

As DVC membership grows planning will become even more important;

That may or may not be true and will likely vary depending upon personal preference.

In the years I have been a member, it seems that booking the BoardWalk has become easier. That's not to say that Standard or BoardWalk view rooms are consistently available at 7 months, but there usually is quite a bit of Garden/Pool availability. If DVC continues to add more varied resorts with high appeal to certain groups, it could certainly get easier to book many locations. Specifically, if resorts like BCV and AKV are drawing more folks who would have otherwise shown a preference for BWV, then BWV will get easier to book. And with BLT, the Grand Californian and Hawaii resorts scheduled to come on-line, demand patterns will continue to shift.

Short notice reservations are probably not going to increase in any great numbers. But I don't believe we can conclude that bookings will continue to get exponentially more difficult as time goes on. In fact, with what Disney has on the table right now I think things will only improve over the next 4-5 years.

 

[tjkraz]

WOW
I am surprised to get such flames here when most of the members I know are unhappy as well with how it works. Again, not sure I am being understood. I do understand the way it works and realize what is behind the system. Just saying that I dont have to like it and I can wish it was different.

Then please offer some suggestions for making it better.

I don't see anyone as flaming you. Reading your posts I did not get the impression that you understood the way the system works. If you do...fine. But in the absence of any constructive suggestions for improving the status quo, it sounds like you're complaining about things which are completely out of our control--like the sky being blue or the grass green. There isn't much that can be done to alter the current situation without handcuffing members point usage abilities.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

OP - you are making an assumption that if there were no trades allowed and all rooms were available only for point reservations that there would still be the same availability that you see for cash reservations. More than likely that would not be true and members that would have traded out would now have been occupying those rooms and there still would have been the same availability.
If the points couldn't be used for any trades then the members would have to use them only at DVC. The system is set up to operate at almost full capacity so it's terribly unlikely that last minute planning would work any better.
I actually don't find it much different than what it used to be booking thru CRO. There wasn't always availability at our first choice so we'd have to pick something else....or a different time. Especially for last minute reservations.

I do understand the frustration you're expressing at seeing those rooms available when you want to use them. I just disagree a bit that it would be any better with a different system and wouldn't agree with the change you wished for.

 

[DebbieB]

WOW
I am surprised to get such flames here when most of the members I know are unhappy as well with how it works. Again, not sure I am being understood. I do understand the way it works and realize what is behind the system. Just saying that I dont have to like it and I can wish it was different.
And by the way, I do plan and have been lucky to almost always get a ressie somewhere.

Guess I will keep my opinions to myself. Thanks for the opinions.

You were not being flamed. Others were just explaining the situation and offering their opinions.

You wish it was different. Do you have a suggestion for how members can trade out and still not offer cash reservations at DVC resorts?

 

[Scott]

Question about this: how does CRO determine what room and resort to book? If I give up 200 VWL points for the cruise, does that limit CRO to only VWL rooms? What if those 200 points are still available within the 7 month booking window...could CRO then select any resort to use those 200 points? That is, can they cherry pick the best rooms, resorts, and dates?
Scott

 

[tjkraz]

Question about this: how does CRO determine what room and resort to book? If I give up 200 VWL points for the cruise, does that limit CRO to only VWL rooms? What if those 200 points are still available within the 7 month booking window...could CRO then select any resort to use those 200 points? That is, can they cherry pick the best rooms, resorts, and dates?
Scott

DVC apparently decides which rooms are released to CRO and CRO only has access to those rooms. I don't think anyone can speak authoritatively about the method used to determine which rooms are released, but I have never seen anything which would suggest they are cherrypicking the better rooms and dates. You'll often find DVC rooms available via CRO for even the slowest seasons.

And here are two related facts that we do know to be true:

1. DVC does not release any of the Standard View rooms at BWV for cash bookings. That definitely works in members' favor. If DVC was using its own points to release the cheaper standard view rooms, they would stand to make more on the cash bookings.

2. A similar process of releasing rooms happens when members trade out to II/RCI, and DVC has an established pattern of sticking to the lower-demand periods for the rooms it sends to the trading companies.

My subjective opinion is that DVC is pretty fair to members when it comes to choosing which rooms go to CRO.

 

[kimberh]

Question about this: how does CRO determine what room and resort to book? If I give up 200 VWL points for the cruise, does that limit CRO to only VWL rooms? What if those 200 points are still available within the 7 month booking window...could CRO then select any resort to use those 200 points? That is, can they cherry pick the best rooms, resorts, and dates?
Scott

I have wondered this also. I saw that when I almost paid cash for Boardwalk villas, once in desperation, it was standard view through CRO. I know that last year on II's Getaway Vacation section, every week was available for a studio and one bedroom at SSR from about Sept through Dec. The rate was about the same as CRO. Not much of a savings. Even the whole month of Oct. They were not snatched up, I watched them for a while. It will be interesting to see what RCI has up for rent when the system gets flowing. I know I will watch it.

 

[CarolA]

WOW
I am surprised to get such flames here when most of the members I know are unhappy as well with how it works. Again, not sure I am being understood. I do understand the way it works and realize what is behind the system. Just saying that I dont have to like it and I can wish it was different.
And by the way, I do plan and have been lucky to almost always get a ressie somewhere.

Guess I will keep my opinions to myself. Thanks for the opinions.

Well, apparently your "most of the members" doesn't represent the entire story.

And reading this, I see no one FLAMING you???? Facts are facts, not flames!

 

[DebbieB]

DVC also does not release BWV boardwalk view rooms to CRO. When booking through CRO, they classify the rooms as "standard" but in reality it's whatever DVC members don't book, usually preferred pool/garden. By using the term "standard" they are covered no matter what is available.

 

[kimberh]

DVC also does not release BWV boardwalk view rooms to CRO. When booking through CRO, they classify the rooms as "standard" but in reality it's whatever DVC members don't book, usually preferred pool/garden. By using the term "standard" they are covered no matter what is available.

Well, this is good to know. I cancelled because I was not going to pay all that money for Standard view. I just found a different date and traveled on points.

 

[kamgen]

While I do appreciate everyone's insight and opinions, I look at it in simple terms.
Why leave a room empty because it was in cash inventory if a member has points and wants to use them there......
And it does happen.

I guess i should have named this thread something different. I understand we cannot do away with cash inventory, but I do think rooms should not be left empty if members want them. I also dont agree with so many non-members staying at the DVC resorts. Villas are for members....in my humble opinion. I know that opens up a totally different argument, so we won't go there.

no flames please

 

[DebbieB]

In DVC's mind, having non-members stay at DVC resorts is a good marketing tool. I never considered buying DVC until a member friend invited me to stay in a 2 bedroom at OKW. I was hooked instantly. There have been recent cases where they had alot of empty cash rooms at OKW and SSR and they upgraded people staying at values & moderates. It was in September, I don't think they had members on waitlists for the rooms. They also offered members discounts for the rooms for either themselves or friends & family.

 

[Brian Noble]

Why leave a room empty because it was in cash inventory if a member has points and wants to use them there.

It's important to note that some rooms in cash (breakage inventory) can still be booked on points. The ones that cannot are those owned by Disney, or those used for one of the non-DVC options. For the latter, points have already been used to secure those rooms---and the members who relinquished those points obtained something in return for which DVC had to pay. In exchange, DVC needs to recover money by renting out the rooms representing the relinquished points.

What this boils down to is that the room that you want already went to some other Member---the one who relinquished points for their non-DVC vactation option. So, the villas are for Members, and this one has already been claimed.

I don't see why this is so hard to understand, but clearly you refuse to accept it.

 

[tjkraz]

...I do think rooms should not be left empty if members want them.

Here are a couple of problems off the top of my head:

1. When do you pull the plug on the CRO reservation? My assumption is that you are suggesting some threshold would have to be reached when the CRO room reverts back to DVC. At what point does that occur? I think it would have to be no later than 30 days before arrival in order to be of any value to members. So then you're asking Disney to sacrifice whatever bookings they may have obtained 30 days out. We can only speculate on what that volume may be, but this would certainly result in fewer successful CRO bookings--even if just by a small percent.

2. It gives DVC even more points to pull additional rooms in the future. If member inventory re-claims 200 points worth of villas, DVC can then spend those 200 points on additional rooms. So now you've got even more villas coming out of inventory at the 11 month window (even though some are returned later.)

3. It would essentially encourage DVC to cherry-pick the periods that they know they have greater success in renting. Why bother continually giving villas to CRO in August or September since cash demand is so low and the rooms would just flip back to DVC? Instead wouldn't they just start pulling more rooms during Food & Wine Fest, early December and around the popular marathon weekends?

I'll also make one more unrelated observation. IIRC this thread began because you were disappointed at not being able to book a room a month from now. Even if cash rooms were returned to DVC, I highly doubt that it would have any noteworthy impact on short notice bookings. The rooms would either have gone to someone on a waiting list or would have been otherwise snatched-up by now.

 

[kamgen]

Since it seems many of you don't understand, I will let this one go. Before I do, let me clarify a few things:

1. The last minute ressie was not for me, it was for someone else who vented their frustration to me...so thanks for killing the messenger.

2. Brian Noble- you don't see why i don't understand? I do understand all of the things other posters are saying....understand and agree are two different things. So please understand that I do understand

3. I hear from members all the time that they have a hard time booking even when there is cash inventory, so this is not just a short notice booking problem.

I guess we will all have to agree to disagree. If that is possible.

 

[Tozzie]

Since it seems many of you don't understand, I will let this one go. Before I do, let me clarify a few things:

1. The last minute ressie was not for me, it was for someone else who vented their frustration to me...so thanks for killing the messenger.

2. Brian Noble- you don't see why i don't understand? I do understand all of the things other posters are saying....understand and agree are two different things. So please understand that I do understand

3. I hear from members all the time that they have a hard time booking even when there is cash inventory, so this is not just a short notice booking problem.

I guess we will all have to agree to disagree. If that is possible.

No one is killing the messenger, I read your posts and you still don't come accross as if you really understand.
If you re read your original post, u made it seem like the last minute reservation was for you, when you didn't get the response you desired you threw in that it isn't just this reservation it is at 7 or 8 months out, well I find it hard to bellieve that you can't book at 7 or 8 months out and get a reservation at a DVC resort, it might not be the resort you want to stay at, but that is what the 11 month booking window is for.

I have three DVC trips planned this year one I booked at 5 months out one at 6 months out, and one at exactly 11 months but I wanted the AKV concierge so I made sure to book at 11 months, on the first two reservations I didn't get exactly what I wanted but I did get a villa on points and the fact that I didn't get the resorts I wanted is my own fault for waiting so long to book the trip.

Unless it is a super busy time such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, or maybe Food and Wine I have a hard time believing that members can't get a room at one of the DVC resorts at 7 or 8 months out. In fact there was a room available for this last minute reservation, just that it is at SSR and obviously not what you or your freinds wanted. I have truly tried to follow your logic and can't other posters don't agree with you and you call that flamming, I call it a difference of opinion.

 

[CarolA]

I am the QUEEN of last minute reservations and I have NO problem with the current policy.

I often have to call back daily etc, but probably am RARELY locked out..

Examples. After Thanksgiving booked three nights at OKW in a studio for the week of 12/15.

About 2 weeks ago booked four nights in a studio at SSR for the week of 1/28......

I have booked from the airport as I fly to Orlando.

Really I think I have been locked out once in more trys then I can count! It's not easy, it's not perfect, I may have to "waste" points and take a 1 BR instead of a studio, but I fail to see that CRO has impacted my stays. (As a matter of fact on "last minute" they often call CRO to get the room back. That generally is on my "day of or few days before bookings")

I am sorry that the OP thinks folks are flaming. I still don't see it. I think what most poeple are saying is that they are willing to live with the issue because the trade off is worth it.

One of the rules of message boards... don't expect 100% agreement on any issue! And don't take it personally.

 

[GEB@okw]

You bought a membership and did not read the contract. Why not sell the points and stop complaining? Complainers need to go away!