DVC Points vs. Cash Inventory

[cchron]

This is my first experience with trying to switch resorts at the 7 month window and am really disappointed. We wanted to do a split stay in October but can't seem to get in anywhere. What really bums me out is if I go to the WDW web site and try to book a studio at the DVC resorts I am trying to get they all show availability. I know that's how the system works but it doesn't seem fair. How much inventory is set aside at each DVC location for point versus cash reservations? If the cash reservations are not filled by a certain date do they release them for DVC wait lists?

Don't mean to whine and I know we will have a great stay at BLT but one of the attractions of buying DVC was the flexability to try different resorts. We were hoping to go to HH in the spring, hope I don't have this problem then.

 

[Sandisw]

As you already mentioned, the inventory that you see is different than the ones available for points.

It comes from a few different places. One place is that those rooms were "points" rooms but were traded out for things like Disney cruise, etc. That is how those options get paid for.

In addition, I believe they retain about 2 - 4% of a resort for maintainance, etc. and those rooms are also available for cash.

When you are within 60 days prior to travel, they do send rooms over to Disney to be rented and my understanding is that those can sometimes be brought back.

I certainly understand your frustration but there are certain times a year when trading out, even right at the 7 month mark, is difficult. October, due to F & W, is a popular DVC time so that is probably why you have had difficulty. But, hopefully, you put in a wait list and it will come through soon.

 

[vicki_c]

I'm thinking that it's not that you can't get in anywhere in October, but only certain places? I can't believe SSR or OKW are all filled up for October already. Epcot resorts are very popular during Food & Wine and can be pretty booked up at 11 months.

On the other, when a member trades out of DVC, then that DVC room is no longer available to be booked on points and DVC gives it to Disney to rent for cash, to recoup the costs of whatever the member is doing (cruise, other exchange, Adventures by Disney, etc.). So in effect those rooms have already been booked on points and can't be booked on points again.

I know I didn't answer all your questions - some of the other members are better at explaining when rooms go to Disney for cash bookings and whether they can get pulled back or whatever.

I do think HHI is pretty popular at Easter though from what I've read - I'm not sure if you can get that at 7 months if you don't own there.

The best advice is still to buy where you want to stay, and be happy when you can change into other places but don't count on it.

 

[LIFERBABE]

SSR and OKW and AKV had availability when I checked the other day for Oct. BCV and BWV and BLT were extremely limited and could not put together more than 2 nights.

I definitely would not hang my hat on HHI in Spring. That is going to be very tough to get. Not impossible but tough.

You will find you will need the 11 month window more and more as the membership increases. Point Rentals are also very popular at these resorts so owners will rent using their 11 month window more and more.

I would waitlist

 

[Greysword]

...If the cash reservations are not filled by a certain date do they release them for DVC wait lists?

This statement is actually reversed (as Sandi mentioned). DVC owned rooms not reserved by the 60th day are transferred to Disney's reservation system for use by the general public. (Ex: Today is March 29th. Any room without a reserved check-in date between today and May 20th can be transferred to Disney Resorts to fill their orders).

In answer to your other question, yes it is fair; because, it was what we agreed to on our purchase...frustrating sometimes, but fair.

 

[DebbieB]

This is my first experience with trying to switch resorts at the 7 month window and am really disappointed. We wanted to do a split stay in October but can't seem to get in anywhere. What really bums me out is if I go to the WDW web site and try to book a studio at the DVC resorts I am trying to get they all show availability. I know that's how the system works but it doesn't seem fair. How much inventory is set aside at each DVC location for point versus cash reservations? If the cash reservations are not filled by a certain date do they release them for DVC wait lists?

Don't mean to whine and I know we will have a great stay at BLT but one of the attractions of buying DVC was the flexability to try different resorts. We were hoping to go to HH in the spring, hope I don't have this problem then.

Inventory is not arbitrarily "set aside". It is all based on the percentage of the resort that DVC owns vs declared into member inventory. If the resort is soldout for points, then DVC owned inventory is usually less than 5%. Then as members trade out, more points rooms are moved into cash inventory. Then at 60 days anything left can be moved to cash inventory (breakage inventory) but those rooms can usually be put back to points. You can waitlist.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

And what's really crazy is there is probably someone, somewhere holding a reservation for the same dates at a different DVC resort, wishing for BLT!

 

[disneynutz]

This statement is actually reversed (as Sandi mentioned). DVC owned rooms not reserved by the 60th day are transferred to Disney's reservation system for use by the general public. (Ex: Today is March 29th. Any room without a reserved check-in date between today and May 20th can be transferred to Disney Resorts to fill their orders).

In answer to your other question, yes it is fair; because, it was what we agreed to on our purchase...frustrating sometimes, but fair.

What really doesn't seem fair is if you have points in holding, members can't use them to make a reservation until 60 days from check in, the same time when the inventory is transfered to Disney.

Bill

 

[cchron]

Yes, that has occured to me. Wouldn't that be nice if they matched up alternate wait list requests.

 

[crisi]

And what's really crazy is there is probably someone, somewhere holding a reservation for the same dates at a different DVC resort, wishing for BLT!

Yes, but most of them are at SSR