DVC-please do away with cash inventory!

[Dean]

Is there a point in time where CRO would trade points back to MS to satisfy a DVC member's request? Maybe, trade current points for future points; say points that CRO can't sell, and will expire? Does CRO ever eat the cash reservations? Do rooms go empty for lack of buyers? If so, why not return the rooms to MS for last moment reservations for DVC membrs? Or is it more complex than it seems to be?

There are several pools of rooms/points where cash reservations is possible. Some DVC has some access to and some they do not. For some they have access to it's possible they can pull back units at times. Cash rooms are comprised of groups that include unsold inventory, rooms reserved with points from bought back contracts, rooms reserved with points used for exchange, and breakage inventory. Breakage inventory is USUALLY under 60 days when units are unreserved but it does not have to be as DVC can anticipate breakage inventory and make it available as early as 11 months out. The first two are likely the origin of developer points. DVD and CRO will let the rooms sit empty rather than using them in this way. I know this sounds like a waste but it is a valid business model when you look at the big picture. One thing they could do, which many other points systems do, is allow you to rent extra points on a one time basis which is somewhat different than getting cash units through MS but can have a similar effect.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I vaguely recall that Jim Lewis said something at the Annual Meeting about complaints about this issue. He said they were trying to work on managing non-member inventory better, but nothing specific.

Based on these comments, I remember thinking that (1) fewer DVC rooms in the most popular times will be transferred to CRO in the first place (think early Dec) and (2) rooms given to CRO might be able to be moved back to DVC depending on expected demand from CRO; i.e., that if the room will not be rented by CRO, DVC could ask for it back to book on points. It seemed like this second issue would help only with very last minute inventory and WLs.

Anyone else recall anything from the meeting or after? -- Suzanne

 

[JimMIA]

There is one type of situation where I think there has been legitimate conflict between DVC owners and cash customers, although it's not the issue cited by OP. It's the issue of DVC points-stay guests being "walked" by hotel-connected resort management.

In those cases (and I haven't seen one in recent months, but we had a bunch of them a few months ago), DVC points guests arrived for their confirmed reservations and were told there was no room at the inn. They were moved (arbitrarily and without their consent) to alternate resorts/hotels by the resort management. In some cases, the guests received compensation they considered adequate; in other cases no compensation was offered or given. "Too bad, so sad -- forget your confirmation letter, we don't have a room for you."

This phenomenon has only reared its ugly head at hotel resorts (most frequently VWL), and considering the fact that the hotel management runs the front desk, one has to wonder whose interests they were looking out for. It seems like they were looking out for the hotel's bottom line, despite the confirmed DVC reservation, and walking the DVC guest.

I personally think the "CRO has availability, but DVC doesn't" situation is either a bogus issue, or a case where someone just doesn't understand the system.

But I think the pattern of "walking" DVC points guests to lesser accommodations (to make their confirmed villa available for someone else paying big bucks cash) really needs to be looked at. I think it's a clear case of conflict of interest where the hotels' cash flow is taking precedence over the owners' confirmed ressies.

 

[Dean]

There is one type of situation where I think there has been legitimate conflict between DVC owners and cash customers, although it's not the issue cited by OP. It's the issue of DVC points-stay guests being "walked" by hotel-connected resort management.

In those cases (and I haven't seen one in recent months, but we had a bunch of them a few months ago), DVC points guests arrived for their confirmed reservations and were told there was no room at the inn. They were moved (arbitrarily and without their consent) to alternate resorts/hotels by the resort management. In some cases, the guests received compensation they considered adequate; in other cases no compensation was offered or given. "Too bad, so sad -- forget your confirmation letter, we don't have a room for you."

This phenomenon has only reared its ugly head at hotel resorts (most frequently VWL), and considering the fact that the hotel management runs the front desk, one has to wonder whose interests they were looking out for. It seems like they were looking out for the hotel's bottom line, despite the confirmed DVC reservation, and walking the DVC guest.

I personally think the "CRO has availability, but DVC doesn't" situation is either a bogus issue, or a case where someone just doesn't understand the system.

But I think the pattern of "walking" DVC points guests to lesser accommodations (to make their confirmed villa available for someone else paying big bucks cash) really needs to be looked at. I think it's a clear case of conflict of interest where the hotels' cash flow is taking precedence over the owners' confirmed ressies.

While it's been reported here a few times, I don't believe I've seen any info that would suggest this is related to cash guests being behind this in any way. The info I recall concentrated on the the resort simply being "overbooked" which usually happens when units go out of service unexpectedly or if there is a VIP they don't feel they can say no to. I don't recall the VWL issues but two at BCV where one was given a 3 BR at OKW (their home resort) and another a BWI room with Concierge access if my memory serves me.

 

[Lexxiefern]

OP - I get where you are coming from. And to a point I agree with you. I was on a waitlist for a 1 bedroom for 3 nights this past september. I could only get SSR (and I did book that). I checked the disney website and I could get boardwalk for my dates. My waitlist never came through and that room was still available on my arrival day. It really burned my butt that I could not book that room on points. I too understand the reasonings behind it and accept them, but I don't have to like it.

Basically I did not get the room I wanted because it was a last minute trip. We went and had a great time at SSR. But I do wish there was some way that CRO could shift the room back to DVC instead of letting it sit empty.

 

[CarolA]

While it's been reported here a few times, I don't believe I've seen any info that would suggest this is related to cash guests being behind this in any way. The info I recall concentrated on the the resort simply being "overbooked" which usually happens when units go out of service unexpectedly or if there is a VIP they don't feel they can say no to. I don't recall the VWL issues but two at BCV where one was given a 3 BR at OKW (their home resort) and another a BWI room with Concierge access if my memory serves me.

Disney... free free to walk to a Concerige room anytime. Unlike some members I promise not to complain!

 

[Scott]

Disney... free free to walk to a Concerige room anytime. Unlike some members I promise not to complain!

Boy, I would not be laughing if they walked me and my 3 kids from a 2 bd villa to a regular size hotel room...concierge service or not.
Scott

 

[KirstenB]

OP, I get it, you're just venting. FWIW, we've never traded out, in 15 yrs of membership, so I can relate to your frustration.

 

[DebbieB]

Disney... free free to walk to a Concerige room anytime. Unlike some members I promise not to complain!

But they were moved from AKV concierge. They had to fight to get the BWV concierge, DVC just wanted to move them to SSR.

 

[mandjblum]

MS told me they only had openings at SSR.

So I am confused becasue there were rooms available? Just not where you wanted to stay? So as a DVC member you had the option to use your points. I am just trying to understand the argument.

 

[spiceycat]

. Just today I checked for a last minute ressie for this month. MS told me they only had openings at SSR.

that is your problem. the more members that DVC gets and they are getting more daily - the harder last minute trips will be.

don't give up - just call each and every day - cancellation might happen - but until then be happy you have SSR. Most of the time you won't find anything.

Jan is no longer an easy month to get.

May or Sept - still are.

to get a last minute trip to DVC - you must be very, very flexible and would take anything. It doesn't sound like you were willing to do either.

don't even look at the cash rooms on CRO (DTC) - they have nothing to do with DVC. (okay the last 60 days any unused villa will be transfer to CRO)

might call back and see if you find a MS with more experience - don't think all the new ones understand all the rules. If it was transfer to CRO in the last 60 days - DVC can get it back. but the MS you are dealing with must know how to find these and transfer them back to DVC.

this takes time - so be prepared to be on the phone for a long, long time - once it took more than 45 minutes to do this.

the most members the least available for last minute trips.

 

[Dean]

But they were moved from AKV concierge. They had to fight to get the BWV concierge, DVC just wanted to move them to SSR.

I think she was referring to my reference of a member displaced from a BCV studio to a BWI concierge. The other went from a 2 BR at BCV to a 3 BR at OKW and got points back if I recall correctly. The unfortunate thing was that the member that got OKW in replacement owned at OKW and they told them originally they were displacing them because they owned at another resort and weren't all to nice about it as it was portrayed. As I noted, this is my recollection but sometimes fantasy can be better than fact. I don't recall seeing any from VWL but then I've been off and on the BBS over the last year with travels, etc.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I think she was referring to my reference of a member displaced from a BCV studio to a BWI concierge. The other went from a 2 BR at BCV to a 3 BR at OKW and got points back if I recall correctly. The unfortunate thing was that the member that got OKW in replacement owned at OKW and they told them originally they were displacing them because they owned at another resort and weren't all to nice about it as it was portrayed. As I noted, this is my recollection but sometimes fantasy can be better than fact. I don't recall seeing any from VWL but then I've been off and on the BBS over the last year with travels, etc.

Dean,

I remember seeing the one about Vwl several months ago. IF memory serves me correctly, I think the DVC owner had given the reservation to a friend or possibly even raffled it off for charity, I'm not sure.

Anyway, the people got moved to a regular room at WL with NO compensation at all. The owners did not find out about the situation until after the fact. In the same thread, it seems like somebody else got bumped at WL that had a 1 or 2 bedroom and had brought food. I do not recall the outcome on this situation, or even if this was just brought up as a possibility during the thread. Either way, there was at least 1 episode at WL, and it wasn't pretty.