Have 72 hours to purchase - few ?'s

[DawnL]

Hi - just back from a wonderful vacation and attended the DVC presentation/tour at SSR. Really had no intentions of doing it, but our DD's decided to stop and pin trade with a DVC Rep in Tomorrow Land and the rest is history!! Well we are definitely thinking of purchasing, but only have 72 hours to commit in order to get the $10 per point discount. Still have a few questions and hoping we could get some advise. We are thinking of 225 points, 2 adults/2 DD's.

We normally vacation the end of August - wondering if we were to book 10 nights at SSR 11 months out - is there any problem with then calling back 7 months out and splitting the stay between SSR and another DVC property?

I know crowds are usually lighter at DW the end of August, but wondering if anyone knows how hard it is to get a booking at HH or VB 7 months out for the end of August?

In order to get the most out of the points - would it ever be a problem booking 5 days at SSR - then switching and paying for 2 nights say at a moderate - then going back for another 5 days at SSR. Thinking this may be an option for a year that we may want to stretch our points and fit 2 trips in instead of one.

I know there is a holding/banking penalty for cancelling within 1 - 30 days out - wondering if there is any type of penalty for cancelling a reservation prior to 30 days out.

Any other advise/suggestions you could give would be most appreciated. Thanks so much - this is all happening so quickly, but don't want to lose the $10 discount!

 

[mel&me]

1) If you book and then change. Your first reservation will be canceled So you start all over. Unless you book two different stays at the 11 month window and change only 1 of them, The other stays the same.
example book 5 nights on one res and the other 6 nights on a second. If you switch to another resort you only cancel half of stay.

2) Can't answer sure but from what I read it should not be a problem.

3) Book 5 days on one reservation then the other on a second reservation. Add your 2 day weekend room stay in there. You can link reservation together, But book separate just incase you need to make a partial change. If booked all in one reservation and you need to change part of it, whole reservation gets canceled.

 

[mel&me]

1-30 days out, points go into a holding account and must be used by end of use year.

prior to the 30 day mark point go back to your account.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by DawnL
Hi - just back from a wonderful vacation and attended the DVC presentation/tour at SSR. Really had no intentions of doing it, but our DD's decided to stop and pin trade with a DVC Rep in Tomorrow Land and the rest is history!! Well we are definitely thinking of purchasing, but only have 72 hours to commit in order to get the $10 per point discount. Still have a few questions and hoping we could get some advise. We are thinking of 225 points, 2 adults/2 DD's.

We normally vacation the end of August - wondering if we were to book 10 nights at SSR 11 months out - is there any problem with then calling back 7 months out and splitting the stay between SSR and another DVC property?

No, as long as there is availability at the non-home resort at 7 months. Shouldn't be a problem for the end of August. Many of us do this. At 7 months, just tell the CM that you want to drop the last 5 nights at SSR (or the first 5 nights) and then book them at XXX resort . Be sure there is availability at the XXX resort before you drop the SSR days, though! I have dropped days many times - you do not need to cancel or rebook the days at your home resort. You will keep the same confirmation number.

I know crowds are usually lighter at DW the end of August, but wondering if anyone knows how hard it is to get a booking at HH or VB 7 months out for the end of August?

The summer months at HHI are quite difficult without the 11 month window. You won't know until you call what the availability will be at 7 months. Plan on using the waitlist for at least some of your days, especially if you want a studio or 1 bedroom. HHI has many more 2 bedroom unts than studios or one bedrooms.

Don't know what to say about VB - if I had to guess, I'd say you could get something. There are usually Inn rooms available at that time. Most Florida schools start in mid to late August.

]In order to get the most out of the points - would it ever be a problem booking 5 days at SSR - then switching and paying for 2 nights say at a moderate - then going back for another 5 days at SSR. Thinking this may be an option for a year that we may want to stretch our points and fit 2 trips in instead of one.

No problem unles you don't like to move, LOL! Lots of members pay cash for weekends.

I know there is a holding/banking penalty for cancelling within 1 - 30 days out - wondering if there is any type of penalty for cancelling a reservation prior to 30 days out.

No. If you cancel 31 or more days ahead of arrival, the points go right back into your account. If you used banked or borrowed points for the reservation, you need to use them before the end of the use year to avoid losing them. If you are within banking deadlines you can bank current use year points subject to the banking rules.

Any other advise/suggestions you could give would be most appreciated. Thanks so much - this is all happening so quickly, but don't want to lose the $10 discount!

Feel free to ask any other questions. Good luck with your decision.

Best wishes -

 

[mel&me]

Originally posted by CarolMN
No, as long as there is availability at the non-home resort at 7 months. Shouldn't be a problem for the end of August. Many of us do this. At 7 months, just tell the CM that you want to drop the last 5 nights at SSR (or the first 5 nights) and then book them at XXX resort . Be sure there is availability at the XXX resort before you drop the SSR days, though! I have dropped days many times - you do not need to cancel or rebook the days at your home resort. You will keep the same confirmation number.

CarolMN you say you have dropped days without canceling res. I was going to change my reservation by dropping the last 2 days and stay at GF or poly. CM I spoke with on phone said I needed to make a new res because it was changeing days. They said I could make room requests or add days but dropping I need a new res. So I left it as is because I was only 45 days out and did not want to lose room. I will call right away and see if I can still change if a room is avalible at GF or poly. I am just outsie the 30 day mark.

 

[tjkraz]

Just want to quickly add that in order to hold the discount pricing you were offered all you need to do is give DVC a credit card number to charge a refundable $500 deposit. Once the deposit is left, DVC will send you the formal agreements via Fed Ex. If you read the paperwork (or anything on this web site) that makes you change your mind, you can cancel and get your $500 back.

Even after you sign and notarize the agreements, DVC provides a 14-day waiting period during which you can basically call and change your mind. By law, they have to give you 3 days to change your mind on a timeshare purchase, but DVC voluntarily extends that to two full weeks.

Some people have reported their Guide suggesting the above and having it come across as a sleazy sales tactic. It really isn't. Until you've signed that formal paperwork and made it through the 14-day waiting period, you really can back-out and get all of your money back.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by mel&me
CarolMN you say you have dropped days without canceling res. I was going to change my reservation by dropping the last 2 days and stay at GF or poly. CM I spoke with on phone said I needed to make a new res because it was changeing days. They said I could make room requests or add days but dropping I need a new res. So I left it as is because I was only 45 days out and did not want to lose room. I will call right away and see if I can still change if a room is avalible at GF or poly. I am just outsie the 30 day mark.

I think you should call MS back. Ask for a Supervisor if necessary. There is no reason why you should have to lose the first several days of your reservation just because you want to drop the last 2 days. Of course, you need to make sure you can get the reservation you want at the Poly or the GF before you drop/cancel the last two days of your DVC reservation.

Good luck!

P.S. We are talking about dropping days on a points reservation at a DVC resort, right? MS does not book cash reservations for non-DVC resorts and if your initial reservation is a points reservation for a non-DVC resort, there are other considerations.

 

[pakdayton]

question?

why are they pressuring you to make a decision in the next 72 hours?

why wouldnt the $10 off price be available after that?

have the SSR incentives changed?

 

[DawnL]

Thank you tjkraz for that info. The Rep said we needed to call him within 72 hours with our credit card #, but I thought we needed to put down 10% at that time. $500 is much better. I must say - we had absolutely no pressure put on us - we were given the tour/presentation - left by ourselves for 10 minutes to talk it over and then when we said we wanted to think about it a little longer - we were just given the information packet to review at home. We were told that we only had to call within 72 hours if we wanted the $10 discount, but other than that, there was no hard sale, etc.

 

[dis-happy]

FYI--Florida schools go back in EARLY August, and Georgia and South Carolina by mid-August at the very latest. HHI is very, very quiet the last two weeks of the month, which doesn't guarantee DVC availability, but it should help.

Good luck on your purchase! It sounds exciting....

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by pakdayton
why are they pressuring you to make a decision in the next 72 hours?

DVC has been known to do this in the past. It typically happens when someone's FIRST and only exposure to DVC comes when they have one-on-one access to a Guide--either during a tour of the model units at WDW or while on a cruise.

The only logic I can make of it is that perhaps they feel that direct exposure to the salesperson and facilities should prompt a quicker decision. Those who purchase from home only get a video and printed materials to make a decision.

Maybe someone else has a different take on it...

why wouldnt the $10 off price be available after that?

have the SSR incentives changed?

If DVC said that the incentive expires after 72 hours, then I would bet on that being the case. Some folks have come forward to say that they were told about the 72 hour limit and later (successfully) pressed to get it reinstated, but others were not so successful.

IMO, this is one DVC sales tactic that somewhat branches into the "sleazy" realm. As I said in my prior post, all you need to do is leave a refundable deposit in order to secure the discount.

Anyone else worried that the discount pricing may be completely disappearing in 3 days has little reason to worry. If you've discussed the discount with a Guide and no time limit was provided, then the discount pricing will remain accessible until the promotion has formally ended.

 

[mydogdrew]

If you buy - try to get December UY (insist on it even). These were the first to sell out but I believe they had to open this UY up again due to the expansion of SSR. I have purchased through Disney (add-on) and resale and here is the advantage. If you get December, you will get 2003 points (with no dues) and prorated dues for 2004 (or even longer if your unit isn't yet completed). There may well be restrictions on using the 2003 points if your unit is not complete - others can help you there - and there certainly are limits on your ability to bank Dec 03 points at this time. However, it is a big advantage to get points without MF. Same thing with resale, go with the banked points - we bought contract with banked 2002 and 2003 points and did not pay mf until 2004. The rental income took $20 per point off our contract.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by mydogdrew
If you buy - try to get December UY (insist on it even). These were the first to sell out but I believe they had to open this UY up again due to the expansion of SSR. I have purchased through Disney (add-on) and resale and here is the advantage. If you get December, you will get 2003 points (with no dues) and prorated dues for 2004 (or even longer if your unit isn't yet completed). There may well be restrictions on using the 2003 points if your unit is not complete - others can help you there - and there certainly are limits on your ability to bank Dec 03 points at this time. However, it is a big advantage to get points without MF. Same thing with resale, go with the banked points - we bought contract with banked 2002 and 2003 points and did not pay mf until 2004. The rental income took $20 per point off our contract.

Although it's worth confirming with a Guide, I don't believe that NEW members can do this. Contracts being sold to brand new DVC members are all in Phase 2 right now, with no points coming until at least March 2005.

DVC does still have an inventory of Phase 1 points that they kept for add-ons, and the December UY's get the 2003 points as you described. But that option is only available for add-ons.

 

[DawnL]

The Rep told us that the purchase would be for phase 2 and the UY would be March, 2005 with no payments due until May, 2005. It didn't sound like there was any other choice. We did receive a paper that reads the $10 discount would expire within 72 hours of the last date of your vacation or on 9/1 for us. Yes he did ask us when we were heading home during our tour. I'm ok with that and the $10 discount is definitely worth it for us to make a decision within that timeframe.

 

[mydogdrew]

Originally posted by tjkraz
Although it's worth confirming with a Guide, I don't believe that NEW members can do this. Contracts being sold to brand new DVC members are all in Phase 2 right now, with no points coming until at least March 2005.

DVC does still have an inventory of Phase 1 points that they kept for add-ons, and the December UY's get the 2003 points as you described. But that option is only available for add-ons.

If so (and I would still push the issue), I would fall back to a UY that falls later in 2005. For example, if you select January UY you will get 05 points next year and pay dues prorated from say March 05. If you get December UY you will get 04 points with no dues until 05 will full banking (can't use the points until March 05 but that's no big deal). Perhaps you are saying that there is a difference between a 150 point add-on and a new member 150 point contract? If so, that's the first I have heard of it. The early SSR owners had a real advantage with the Dec UY (xtra points+$79 per point) and I assumed that this advantage was available again with the expansion. Perhaps someone can help clarify this issue.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by mydogdrew
If so (and I would still push the issue), I would fall back to a UY that falls later in 2005. For example, if you select January UY you will get 05 points next year and pay dues prorated from say March 05. If you get December UY you will get 04 points with no dues until 05 will full banking (can't use the points until March 05 but that's no big deal).

I don't believe that to be true.

DVC is currently offering a choice of two incentives: Either $10 off per point with no points coming until at least March 2005 OR pay full price and get a set of Developer's Points as your "2004" points, with first SSR points available in '05.

I'm with you on the promotions that were offered for December Use Years in Phase 1, but they seem to be taking a different approach with these Phase 2 buildings.

Perhaps you are saying that there is a difference between a 150 point add-on and a new member 150 point contract? If so, that's the first I have heard of it.

The "difference" is the building that one owns. DVC still has points they are holding for Phase 1 (buildings open now). Those points are being sold exclusively as add-ons to existing members.

New members are all being placed in Phase 2 with no points available until the buildings begin to open in March '05.

Again, I understand the "disconnect" with DVC having offered 12/03 points to some folks and Use Years prior to the May opening of Phase 1. But the "Developer's Points" incentive option for Phase 2 buyers indicates that they are either unable or unwilling to make a similar offer to new owners of Buildings 5+.

 

[mydogdrew]

So there are different total points over the life of SSR for 1-4 than for 5+? That seems odd. I am almost certain that I saw a post for an add-on that got the deal I outlined recently with December UY. Granted, this was an existing member but still. I hear what you are saying but I would fight hard on this one. Who has added on at SSR recently with a Dec UY - anyone?

 

[SoCalKDG]

I'd choose June UY if you like to vacation in August.

The real question is, do you want SSR over all the other resorts. If not, then go resale.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by mydogdrew
So there are different total points over the life of SSR for 1-4 than for 5+? That seems odd. I am almost certain that I saw a post for an add-on that got the deal I outlined recently with December UY. Granted, this was an existing member but still. I hear what you are saying but I would fight hard on this one. Who has added on at SSR recently with a Dec UY - anyone?

Yes, it is a bit odd. To me, the part that really doesn't make sense is how they were able to issue Dec '03 points (and also points in early '04) before the resort was even open.

For whatever reason, they are taking a different approach with Phase 2.

I also saw the post reporting 2003 points received for a December UY add on. The key is "add-on". Again, they kept an inventory of ready-to-use Phase 1 points for add-ons only. New sales are all Phase 2 with points coming no earlier than March '05.

 

[BigDisneyKids]

FWIW - We too were given the "72 hour tactic” when we toured DVC in early Dec 03.

After the tour, we didn't even give it much thought until after the holidays. And only after reading this board for an additional 2 months, did we finally agree on a contract in February 04. To which we got the $10 per point incentive, 73+ hours after our tour. Final cost $79 per point.

Good luck in your DVC endeavors! The DVC experts on this board definitely helped us make our decision.