dvc reservation cancellation policy

[Hessie628]

hi everyone. i'm trying to go to wdw in june. check in on the 9th. when i called the other day there was still some availabilty. i gave my dbf until sun to decide if he can go and figure out if he can get time off work (he'll be at work on sun so he can find out.) however, now i am in a total panic that there wont be availability. what is the dvc cancellation policy. i am using my parents points to go. if i can get them to book today, but find out late sun he can't take off- will we lose points or have to try to rent that ressie out? could i switch the ressie to aug if i need to?
thanks, jessica

 

[Dis]

31 or more days before check in you can cancel with no penalty.

30-1 day before check in your points go into a holding account, with a more limited use available

If you cancel on the check in date, all points will be forfeited

 

[DebbieB]

One thing to consider is if you borrow points and then cancel, the borrowed points stay in the year borrowed into. Same with banked points.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

Just did a search on DVC's cancellation policy.

Just curious, what stops people from making reservations at peak times to try to resell and then cancelling them at the 31 day mark?

Does this not tie up rooms that people looking to book?

Does anyone find that closer to the 30 day mark, rooms seem to become available?

Just trying to understand this system.

 

[CarolMN]

Just did a search on DVC's cancellation policy.

Just curious, what stops people from making reservations at peak times to try to resell and then cancelling them at the 31 day mark?

Nothing. If you have points in your account you can make a reservation. If you cancel the reservation, the points are returned to your account. Keep in mind that unused points expire and there are banking deadlines.

Does this not tie up rooms that people looking to book?

The reservation/booking windows are the same for everyone. If there is no availbility when a member calls, he/she can elect to use the waitlist, or adjust vacation dates, or stay at another resort or in a different size unit. It's a first come, first to get the reservation system. That's why potential members are repeatedly advised to buy where they want to stay the most - at certain times, it makes a difference.

Does anyone find that closer to the 30 day mark, rooms seem to become available?

Yes, that can be a lucky time for those on the waitlist. Members who aren't sure of their vacations will cancel at that time to prevent their points from going into the holding account.

Just trying to understand this system.

Questions are good! It's a big decison - so ask away.

Best wishes -

 

[PamOKW]

Fanatic, you describe exactly the problem that's created by people who rent as a semi-business. There isn't anything in place to stop the practice.

The 30 day mark does often see cancellations open up villas and is a good time to try and get difficult reservations. The cancellations come from lots of folks who realize that for various reasons (work, illness, wedding invitation, etc.) they have to make a "do or die" decision on their reservation.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

I guess last minute reservations are not really out of the picture for the most part.

I would think that quite a few rooms open up at the 31 day mark or so you would think.

We like to sometimes book at the last minute if we find an airfare deal and would not want to buy DVC not being able to do this.

Thanks everyone

 

[tjkraz]

I would think that quite a few rooms open up at the 31 day mark or so you would think.

DVC doesn't release any such data, so it's near impossible to debate either way.

My guess is that cancellations do see a little bump in the days preceeding the 31-day mark. However:

* They will be of varied room sizes and resorts.
* They won't all be cancelled at once.
* Someone on the waitlist would be immediately booked into the room. (The waitlist is reset at 30 days out, but most of the cancellations you describe would still be passed-on to waitlisted members.)
* A caller could snag a room minutes after it's been cancelled by another member.
* Under 60 days prior to check-in, all vacant DVC rooms are released to CRO for cash guests, meaning they could get snatched by cash guests if they happen to call first.

There are many examples of people booking rooms on short notice, and I think that will continue. But you won't ever have much of a choice of resort, and you may have to settle for a room size that's larger/smaller than what you normally desire.

Most times of the year you will have SOME options on short notice, but don't come away from this with the impression that calling 29 days ahead of time will provide you with a myriad of options from the "dozens" of cancellations that just occurred.