DVC Point Charts for 2011 - Post chart release discussion begins on Pg 14

[Cmbar]

I bought my points in September and am only now starting to pay monthly for them and the dues. I will book my first trip in February, BLT>WLV>BCV>BWV, 1 Bedroom. So I am fairly new to this, but...

I wonder if some of the frustration is that people bought and planned based on "the deals" the times that were cheaper and were, in a sense, taking advantage of the way the system was set up. Well, DVC figured out what people were doing, and now we'll have to find new ways of taking advantage.

That's the game folks!

Deals??? What deals?? Since you are new maybe you don't realize that the charts had not been changed for some 10 years or MORE. We were TOLD to buy points based on our traveling patterns. So if you normally travel in the summer then yes, you needed to buy more points, or if you were weekend travelers, the same. However, the point is that they now changed so what once was a 160 point trip is now 180. There was reasons they had minimum point buy ins. It used to work that for around 160 you could do a week in a studio or Sun-Thu in a one bedroom, things like that. It just is very frustrating to have the points keep changing after years and years of the same point charts and a very large number of us were told these points would not change (and indeed they did not for many, many years). So I don't think your statement saying that members were working the deals is all that accurate because we weren't working the system, we were doings what DVC said worked. Its like a regular time share where you think you bought a 2 bedroom for a week and now they come back and say, now you only get five days for that 2 bedroom. You feel kinda abused a bit. Like a bait and switch. AND I agree that if DVC was above board about this they would have not done this so sneakily by dropping the charts on us this way so late and with no explanation of the changes.

OK stepping of my box now! PHEW I feel better. Still love my DVC, just not quite as enchanted!

 

[RobDoc]

Why would this not be entertained? This would put it in line with the rest of thr TS industry, then no further needs for reallocation.

The rest of the TS industry does not do it that way. DVC has listed a "maximum reallocation" for each resort where all points needed for a Studio would be equal for weeknights/weekends/every night of the year and the same for 1BRs/2BRs and GVs. While it's possible (it would need to phased in over time due to the 20% per year restriction), I don't see any need for DVC to do that.

IMO, the 2011 reallocation is pretty close to what was needed to maximize the point utilization at DVC resorts. I suspect that there will be minor tweaking at most in the coming years - unless weekends now become unavilable due to the lower point costs.

Stay tuned!

 

[TSMIII]

So I went back and looked at the revised AKV chart and sure enough as I mentioned earlier they got the weekday points crossed up for the std view studios and it's now fixed.

But then I noticed they've spelled February incorrectly for the Dream season - it's "Febrary". And it's obviously a generic chart template they start with for the WDW resorts because all of them have it spelled that way!!!

These errors lead one to believe that quality control is no more than a slogan with them!

 

[LisaS]

So I went back and looked at the revised AKV chart and sure enough as I mentioned earlier they got the weekday points crossed up for the std view studios and it's now fixed.

But then I noticed they've spelled February incorrectly for the Dream season - it's "Febrary". And it's obviously a generic chart template they start with for the WDW resorts because all of them have it spelled that way!!!

These errors lead one to believe that quality control is no more than a slogan with them!

It's part of the cost cutting. By removing one letter from February they save money on ink for printed charts and on storage for the electronic versions.

 

[TSMIII]

It's part of the cost cutting. By removing one letter from February they save money on ink for printed charts and on storage for the electronic versions.

I get it now - it costs you the additional points in Magic season to get the extra letter in February!

Thanks Lisa!

 

[LIFERBABE]

It's part of the cost cutting. By removing one letter from February they save money on ink for printed charts and on storage for the electronic versions.

They charge by the letter. Plus they save on proofreading, because they know we will point out every little detail

 

[LIFERBABE]

OK stepping of my box now! PHEW I feel better. Still love my DVC, just not quite as enchanted!

Yes, everyone has to work thru the disenchantment phase in their own time

I remember how disenchanted I was when they took the mugs away. Now I just roll with it and figure out ways to still have great vacations and come out on top So far its working and DVC is still a great value for my family.

 

[dvc_john]

A few things I noticed:

HH: Friday and Saturday are now the same number of points
HH, VB, and VGC: Have a greater differential between weekday and weekend than the WDW resorts (but I guess that's understandable.)

At least further weekday/weekend reallocation (at least for the WDW resorts) will be 1 or 2 points at most, since almost any further reallocation will make weekdays/weekends the same point value. I guess the next target will probably have to be seasonal adjustments.

 

[Sammie]

I was told point reallocation is based on the ........drumroll......DVC answer to everything, .....member feedback.

If true and at this point lets say it is, then possibly many have complained about the higher points for weekends. We tend to forget that we DISers are just a little fish in the huge ocean of members.

I also however think they are realigned to try and force members to change their habits of staying S-Th and try to encourage some members to stay on a Friday or Saturday, to stop the resorts from sitting empty or near empty on those days.

I called on a Saturday to get a room anywhere that night during early Dec. this year and I literally had pick and choice of any DVC property and size of unit, I was even able to get standard BW. Yet S-TH were sold out and had been for months.

 

[photobob]

My last stay at WDW was in a 2 BDR standard view the first week in June 2008. The Sun-Thurs stay was 150 points, in 2011 the same stay will be 190 points

I was shocked at how much the points were changed for 2010, I'm really surprised that they upped the weekdays even more 2011. Having bought 180 points with eyes towards getting as many Sun-Thurs stays as I could eek out of it, I am extremely disappointed.

I understand those who go for a full week including weekends aren't negatively affected and the weekenders are jumping for joy, but this is two years in a row for the rest of us to take a shot to the gut. I'm not nearly the happy DVC owner I once was.

 

[bookwormde]

Has anyone done a total point calculation for comparison for AKV. I have done a rough one and from the charts I have I get a major "creation" of points. anyone have the room count for each type an size of room so I can recheck it before I call QA to formally request an point accounting.

bookwormde

 

[marynvince]

The rest of the TS industry does not do it that way. DVC has listed a "maximum reallocation" for each resort where all points needed for a Studio would be equal for weeknights/weekends/every night of the year and the same for 1BRs/2BRs and GVs. While it's possible (it would need to phased in over time due to the 20% per year restriction), I don't see any need for DVC to do that.

IMO, the 2011 reallocation is pretty close to what was needed to maximize the point utilization at DVC resorts. I suspect that there will be minor tweaking at most in the coming years - unless weekends now become unavilable due to the lower point costs.

Stay tuned!

Arent we all just cattle being herded in the direction DVC wants us to go? Didn't the original point charts create travel patterns/demand that encouraged weekday travel. Once that pattern was established, boom 2 years in a row of hitting those travelers and patterns and now they are lessening the "pain" of weekend travel. Seems like the pendulum is swinging pretty drastically and perhaps a better way, in hindsight, would have been to have every day equal the same amount of points to begin with. Then you see how people "want" to travel/vacation and adjust from there to maximize occupancy.

The expectation of many and the implied sales pitch was the incredible flexibilty of the point system and the ability to "stretch" your points based on size of accomodations and days of the week you stayed. The reallocations in the past two years are certainly not increasing the flexibility or utility of DVC points.

The continued lateness in the publishing of the points charts shows a lack of planning on the part of management and it has to make even the staunchest supporter of everything Disney take pause.

The way they've handled the reallocations in the past two years is truly disappointing. While I continue to enjoy my points and my family vacations utilizing DVC, I can say that i will no longer be waving the DVC banner and encouraging anyone who will listen that DVC is different then those other timeshares. That no longer appears to be the case.

 

[Cmbar]

My last stay at WDW was in a 2 BDR standard view the first week in June 2008. The Sun-Thurs stay was 150 points, in 2011 the same stay will be 190 points

I was shocked at how much the points were changed for 2010, I'm really surprised that they upped the weekdays even more 2011. Having bought 180 points with eyes towards getting as many Sun-Thurs stays as I could eek out of it, I am extremely disappointed.

I understand those who go for a full week including weekends aren't negatively affected and the weekenders are jumping for joy, but this is two years in a row for the rest of us to take a shot to the gut. I'm not nearly the happy DVC owner I once was.

I am with you.

 

[hakepb]

It's part of the cost cutting. By removing one letter from February they save money on ink for printed charts and on storage for the electronic versions.

To steal from a classic Dilbert (is it safe to mention a non-Disney cartoon)

They could save a lot of money on electronic storage if they just used a smaller font

 

[hakepb]

Has anyone done a total point calculation for comparison for AKV. I have done a rough one and from the charts I have I get a major "creation" of points. anyone have the room count for each type an size of room so I can recheck it before I call QA to formally request an point accounting.

bookwormde

How do the standard view Grand Villa(s) factor into the change? It would seem that there would have to be a general point increase to bump one or more GV's down.
Of course, if DVC is being more concientious about quality Savannah Views, there seems to be a lot of complaints about a few of the Kidani rooms that are more pool view than SV, it is possible there are fewer Savannah view rooms in general (even studio-2br) Of course the only way to know now would be your formal request vs waiting for trip reports in 2011...

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

Lets all not forget that Disney is in this to make $$$$$. The more $$$$$ the happier the DIS shareholders. When you look at it from a business perspective it all makes perfect sense. Charge more points for the peak reservation times, and less for the slow times. Raising point requirements requires owners (us) to go out and buy addons to continue our vacation habits. Those who cannot affors addon will cut days off thier vacations and this opens more rooms up to disney to offer to the cash paying public. During the slow times, less required points means more reservations, which fills otherwise empty hotel rooms. The reallocation of points is designed to put money in Disney's pockets. If it had no purpose of financial gain, why else would the point charts be altered. I wish Disney would follow the principle, "If its not broken, don't fix it".

 

[Chuck S]

During the slow times, less required points means more reservations, which fills otherwise empty hotel rooms. The reallocation of points is designed to put money in Disney's pockets. If it had no purpose of financial gain, why else would the point charts be altered. I wish Disney would follow the principle, "If its not broken, don't fix it".

Let's not forget that DVC rooms are "pre-paid" hotel rooms. Disney's ongoing profit from DVC is in management fees, which they receive whether the resort if full or not.

The last thing Disney cash reservatons needs in this economy is more rooms to try to rent, especially high-end costly rooms. If cash rooms were routinely in short supply, they'd be finishing POP Century and adding cash rooms.

The point charts are altered because they need to balance demand as set forth in the Public Offering Statements, in fact, they could be legally obligated to review and alter them as necessary. You have to wonnder if some members were complaining about lack of available reservations. I really don't buy into the conspiracy theory.

 

[Sammie]

Let's not forget that DVC rooms are "pre-paid" hotel rooms. Disney's ongoing profit from DVC is in management fees, which they receive whether the resort if full or not.

The last thing Disney cash reservatons needs in this economy is more rooms to try to rent, especially high-end costly rooms. If cash rooms were routinely in short supply, they'd be finishing POP Century and adding cash rooms.

The point charts are altered because they need to balance demand as set forth in the Public Offering Statements, in fact, they could be legally obligated to review and alter them as necessary. You have to wonnder if some members were complaining about lack of available reservations. I really don't buy into the conspiracy theory.

I was told yes they were complaining.

 

[Cmbar]

Arent we all just cattle being herded in the direction DVC wants us to go? Didn't the original point charts create travel patterns/demand that encouraged weekday travel. Once that pattern was established, boom 2 years in a row of hitting those travelers and patterns and now they are lessening the "pain" of weekend travel. Seems like the pendulum is swinging pretty drastically and perhaps a better way, in hindsight, would have been to have every day equal the same amount of points to begin with. Then you see how people "want" to travel/vacation and adjust from there to maximize occupancy.

The expectation of many and the implied sales pitch was the incredible flexibilty of the point system and the ability to "stretch" your points based on size of accomodations and days of the week you stayed. The reallocations in the past two years are certainly not increasing the flexibility or utility of DVC points.

The continued lateness in the publishing of the points charts shows a lack of planning on the part of management and it has to make even the staunchest supporter of everything Disney take pause.

The way they've handled the reallocations in the past two years is truly disappointing. While I continue to enjoy my points and my family vacations utilizing DVC, I can say that i will no longer be waving the DVC banner and encouraging anyone who will listen that DVC is different then those other timeshares. That no longer appears to be the case.

The funny thing is I jus got off the phone with my guide this morning finding out the newest promotions. My sister and BIL are going down with me next week and I was thinking of doing a tour. If she brings it up I won't discourage them to go, but I will not be pushing them towards DVC any longer. I was excited this morning thinking they might want to buy in (they have been talking about it for a while but have never stayed DVC) but now I feel kinda embarassed like my DH and I have been taken for a ride.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Has anyone done a total point calculation for comparison for AKV. I have done a rough one and from the charts I have I get a major "creation" of points. anyone have the room count for each type an size of room so I can recheck it before I call QA to formally request an point accounting.

bookwormde

I did a rough comparison, and like you said, I also see a creation of points. (I didn't include the standard view GV in my numbers.) Something doesn't seem right.