DVC - What Can You Not Do

[tmgandolph]

Hi all,
I am trying to make my decision on purchasing DVC.
I would like to know what can you not do as a DVC member.

I have heard you cannot get the free dining plan (makes since because you are not paying the cash price for the room)

Are there any other things a DVC member cannot do that a a newbie should be aware of?

 

[DeeCee735]

You can only book other DVC resorts (other than your home resort) at 7 months out, not 11 as is the time frame for your home resort.
You can't use the discount on cash reservations on any of the hotels, only on cash reservations on the DVC resorts.
You don't get the dining discount, but the annual pass is $100 (at this time) less for DVC members, and once you have an AP you can get the Tables in Wonderland 20% discount dining card which is good for food and alcoholic bevs too

That's all I can think of at the moment. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

You cant't pay for your accommodations at check-out.

MG

 

[Sammie]

DVC members can do anything they want, sorry I just could not resist.

I am sure you mean what are the limitations to booking a stay using points versus not using points.

Booking with points, you can get the dining plan but not free dining since you are not booking a Disney package that includes free dining.

Getting certain resorts, at certain times of the year requires advance planning. If you book trips less than 7 months, you are going to be limited to what you can get and where you can get it. You can not book earlier than 11 months and that is only at your home resort.

You will not get daily housekeeping unless you pay extra for it.

Unless there is a major issue with a room being taken out of inventory you will not get upgrades.

If you check in and go to your room and decide later you do not like the room, even for issues involving things that do not work, you can and will probably will be charged a moving fee.

If you wish to use points to book nonDVC Disney World resorts, you can not use your points at resorts attached to DVC ones. Such as Wilderness Lodge, BW Inn, the Contemporary.

You can not cancel 5 days before your trip, as you do at Disney resorts, without any penalty. You can cancel 31 days prior to your trip, after that if you cancel your points go into holding and must be used before your Use Year. If you have an October use year, like we do. and book summer trips, this can be a problem if you have to cancel.

If you are a no show, instead of losing one nights deposit at a Disney resort you lose all the points for the stay.

There are advantages to DVC, it allows us to get a larger accommidation but there are sacrifices too. Only you can decide if it is right for you, it is not right for everyone.

I will say that if I could afford a 2 bedroom villa without DVC, I would have never bought in, for at times it is not a good fit for us.

 

[m3retired]

If you wish to use points to book nonDVC Disney World resorts, you can not use your points at resorts attached to DVC ones. Such as Wilderness Lodge, BW Inn, the Contemporary.

I don't quite get your meaning with this comment. I just left Wilderness Lodge, and we used points.

 

[arthur06]

I don't quite get your meaning with this comment. I just left Wilderness Lodge, and we used points.

The new BLT is considered part of the Contemporary. If there is not a DVC attached to a "home" hotel, you can use points there.

You can use your points at Poly or GF, but not at the Contemporary only BLT.

I think you used the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, not Wilderness Lodge itself.

 

[m3retired]

Okay, now I get it. And you're right--we were in the villas.

So I guess if I want to stay IN the Contemporary, I better do it before BLT is open, right? Or is it already too late?

 

[HannaBelle]

The new BLT is considered part of the Contemporary. If there is not a DVC attached to a "home" hotel, you can use points there.

You can use your points at Poly or GF, but not at the Contemporary only BLT.

I think you used the Villas at Wilderness Lodge, not Wilderness Lodge itself.

Where can you find point charts for using your points at the GF or the Poly? I did not know you could stay at non-DVC resorts.

Can those only be booked at 7 months out as well?

 

[arthur06]

They are on the member website. And they are considerably more expensive...

These points are in VALUE season only...

Any of the Moderates
Standard View
31 Fri/Sat 17 Sun-Thurs

Poly - Garden View
69 38

Grand Floridian - Garden View
76 42

Grand Floridian - Royal Palm Club
134 74

those are per night!

 

[HannaBelle]

Thanks for the quick response!!!

Interesting to know.

 

[dolphingirl47]

You don't get the dining discount, but the annual pass is $100 (at this time) less for DVC members, and once you have an AP you can get the Tables in Wonderland 20% discount dining card which is good for food and alcoholic bevs too

Have they stopped the dining discount perk? Last year we got 10% discount at some restaurants and I know at some of the DTD restaurants there was a 20% discount available for lunch. All we had to do is to show our membership card.

Corinna

 

[Nikisha421]

This are all so very interesting responses....threads like these help me to remember all of othe perks im not using because I keep overlooking...

 

[crisi]

Have they stopped the dining discount perk? Last year we got 10% discount at some restaurants and I know at some of the DTD restaurants there was a 20% discount available for lunch. All we had to do is to show our membership card.

Corinna

Still around, but they aren't necessarily consistant, are usually for lunch and don't tend to be for the popular spots. Not something to hinge buying on.

 

[crisi]

Sammie's list is good. I'd add - Points expire - you can only borrow from the year ahead and bank into the next year. You must adhere to the banking window or you will loose your points if they are not used or banked - and if you bank points you must use them in that year. You cannot save points outside these parameters. You cannot ignore your contract and assume Disney will fix it for you when you call and your points expire.

You cannot stay on points if your dues are in arrears.

You cannot get different room configurations at a single resort - a studio (except at OKW will have a Queen bed and a pullout couch - not two queen beds). No Kings in Studios, no bunkbeds.

Requests with DVC are just that - requests. That's what they are all over Disney, but my request luck with DVC has not been nearly as good as with CRO rooms. In going on ten years, we've had ONE request met.

Understand the differences between a timeshare and a CRO reservation. And not just the booking differences - understand how Disney views these two things. For Disney, someone who buys into a timeshare is a caught fish. Once you've bought in they make very little profit off your accomodations - and they try and manage the resort with reasonable dues (DVC dues are high for a timeshare). That creates very different behavior than what motivates CRO.

 

[pvalues]

What is 'CRO'?

 

[toniosmom]

You can use your points at Poly or GF, but not at the Contemporary only BLT.

When I bought in last year, I was told that in the not-too-distant future, the Poly and GF will no longer be available for DVC points.

 

[chalee94]

What is 'CRO'?

CRO - Central Reservation Office (Disney's) - where nonDVC members would call to make cash reservations.

here is the thread to check on unfamiliar abbreviations.

 

[chalee94]

Where can you find point charts for using your points at the GF or the Poly? I did not know you could stay at non-DVC resorts.

here is a link to the point charts, if you are curious.

don't forget that in addition to higher pt costs, you'd also owe a $95 reservation fee. (cancellations get a little more complicated also.)

 

[tmgandolph]

Thank you all for the wonderful information!

 

[Marshay]

When I bought in last year, I was told that in the not-too-distant future, the Poly and GF will no longer be available for DVC points.

Was there a reason given?