Home resort rule change.

[jarrdisney]

I've seen a lot of talk regarding changing the home resort rules. Basically forcing you to only stay at the resort you own points at. How likely do you think this will be? We own at BLT and will be staying there for the first time in a couple weeks. We plan on adding on some BWV points for the 11 month advantage for Dec, but would hate if they change the rules. What are your thoughts?

 

[vicki_c]

I think you are seeing posts saying that, within the terms of the agreement, they COULD do that if they chose. Not that it's currently likely to happen. It's not something I would really worry about. And if you're happy with BLT, then it shouldn't matter anyway. But again, it's not something I would be overly concerned about myself.

 

[chalee94]

not likely.

but the changes over the last few years (reallocations especially) have made DVC owners a little suspicious about what else might be coming...

 

[Havana]

We just bought last week. This was a question we asked our guide when we first started the process. We asked because of the talk out there of this happening. Don't know if I can believe him, but he said that would not happen.

 

[drusba]

They reserve the right to modify the booking periods so that the home resort advantage could go down to as low as one month instead of the existing four and they could change how many months out you can reserve. That ability, of course, would not take away your ability to reserve at another resort. They won't do that type of modification as long as the exisitng one looks like it is working okay.

It is not correct that they could just take away your ability to reserve at another resort. The documents spell out the reasons they could do so: (a) you can have a temporary suspension for owners at one resort due to disaster -- fire, hurricane, other -- which renders resort or portion of it unusable; they can suspend ability of those members at that resort to reserve elsewhere during repairs; (b) if a resort is permanently destroyed and not rebuilt you would be entitled to some of the insurance proceeds but would lose all rights in DVC including reserving elsewhere (a and b present some risk particularly for owners at hurricane prone Vero and HH); (c) the members by a vote of 60% of the ownership interest per unit vote to oust Disney as the managing agent for the resort in which case the resort could be removed from the DVC system and any owner could reserve only at that resort (it is hard to believe that would ever occur); (d) the resort fails to meet Disney's reasonable care standards of upkeep and maintennace; something that really cannot occur as long as Disney is the managing agent; (e) a government entity takes over the property through eminent domain in which case you get compensation but lose all your DVC rights; also something unlikely to occur; (f) the Disney entities related to DVC go bankrupt in which case the whole DVC system could end and owners at a resort would be scrambling to find a way to keep a resort in operation (not likely to occur but not something you can ever rule out completely); (f) the land contract between the DVD and the Disney company that owns the land terminates, i.e., the end date comes (such as 2042 for some) and thus all your rights cease; however, there is also a risk that the land contract could end by Disney selling the land (e.g., to Marriot), not any of a risk at a park resort but probably somewhat at VB or HH.

In essence, you should not be overly concerned about Disney ending your ability to reserve at other resorts. What it could do for future resorts is set up more restrictions relating to those resorts when added to the sytem since doing so would not violate any existing rights of members.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I've seen a lot of talk regarding changing the home resort rules. Basically forcing you to only stay at the resort you own points at. How likely do you think this will be? We own at BLT and will be staying there for the first time in a couple weeks. We plan on adding on some BWV points for the 11 month advantage for Dec, but would hate if they change the rules. What are your thoughts?

In my opinion if Disney were to make a change regarding booking they would allow members to book at their home resort 11 months in advance and then at 10 months make all resorts available to everyone. In my opinion this would make it easier for Disney to then sell all resorts.

Jason

 

[tjkraz]

In my opinion if Disney were to make a change regarding booking they would allow members to book at their home resort 11 months in advance and then at 10 months make all resorts available to everyone. In my opinion this would make it easier for Disney to then sell all resorts.

Jason

I agree. One of the benefits of DVC (really any timeshare program) is the ability to sell multiple destinations rather than just a single resort. They aren't just selling you points at the Bay Lake Tower--to name one--they are selling a program with 11 native resorts and hundreds of trade destinations through RCI.

If anything they could reduce the Home resort priority period. But even that is a double-edged sword as it would encourage buyers to simply choose the lowest cost option available rather than buying into a specific resort for that 4-month booking advantage.

Giving owners a larger Home resort booking window--and thus reducing the time in which owners can book outside of their home--doesn't seem to serve much of a purpose.

 

[drusba]

As long as the 11/7 system works, they have no reason to change it. Moreover, a factor they would definitely consider in making a change is cost. For example if they suddenly went to a 11/10 system would that lead to more overload of MS because owners at a resort have only one month to exercise their advantage? If yes, you are not likely to see it.

 

[jarrdisney]

I agree. One of the benefits of DVC (really any timeshare program) is the ability to sell multiple destinations rather than just a single resort. They aren't just selling you points at the Bay Lake Tower--to name one--they are selling a program with 11 native resorts and hundreds of trade destinations through RCI.

That's excatly why we purchased. We've only been owners for a little over a year now, but have stayed at all the resorts besides SSR (have no interest) and BLT, which we'll stay at in a couple weeks. It gives me some reassurance that they wouldn't go and do something like that, but I'd seen it floating around on some threads, so I figured I would bring it up. The only time we would be dissapointed in not staying somewhere, would be Dec at BWV, which is why we plan on purchasing a small contract there in the future. KNock on wood though, we stayed last year and this upcoming year we're booked at BWV prefered, but waitlisted for boardwalk view. We bought BLT because we loved the themeing, low mf's, contract end date (we're in our 20's), and proximity to MK for when we have kids. Right now however, we are not overly concerned with staying there, but look forward to this summer.

 

[dbs1228]

I think I would be very bummed with a 11/10 booking window. I bought at BLT and had a hard time booking at 9 1/2 months for Dec ressie (which we were not planning on doing until we saw airfare for 159.00 R/T). If everyone else had the ability to book at 10 months there is no way I would have gotten my room. Just my opinion.

 

[nukker7]

I think I would be very bummed with a 11/10 booking window. I bought at BLT and had a hard time booking at 9 1/2 months for Dec ressie (which we were not planning on doing until we saw airfare for 159.00 R/T). If everyone else had the ability to book at 10 months there is no way I would have gotten my room. Just my opinion.

I agree, our four months is a valuable asset to have and why we put so much thought into our home resort. Otherwise, it would be a crap-shoot as to where you stay.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I think I would be very bummed with a 11/10 booking window. I bought at BLT and had a hard time booking at 9 1/2 months for Dec ressie (which we were not planning on doing until we saw airfare for 159.00 R/T). If everyone else had the ability to book at 10 months there is no way I would have gotten my room. Just my opinion.

I think a lot of owners would be bummed if DVC changed to 11/10 for booking rules but in my opinion this would make it much easier for them to sell any of the resorts. This would allow them basically to sell any resort to anybody. If you could only stay at one resort than sales would slow way down in my opinion. I personally would be in favor of 11/10 booking rules but I currently make my reservations less than 7 months in advance.

Jason

 

[wildernessDad]

On the contrary, I like staying at my home resorts and pay a premium in dues to do so. If others could book my resorts at 10 months, it would lower the value of my points.

 

[DebbieB]

I doubt they would do it. Right now there's a problem of excess rooms at the less popular resorts, changing it to 10 months would make it even worse.

 

[mytripsandraces]

I haven't bought in yet, but am considering it. I would be very upset if I couldn't get a room at my home resort because they were all booked to owners from other resorts.

 

[tjkraz]

I haven't bought in yet, but am considering it. I would be very upset if I couldn't get a room at my home resort because they were all booked to owners from other resorts.

As has been stated, the home resort priority is currently 4 months but our contracts guarantee only a one month priority.

When it comes to timeshares, first-come, first-served is very much the rule of the day. You could certainly experience problems booking your Home even 5-6 months out during many periods. In fact, there are certain high-demand times when resorts will be fully booked by owners long before non-owners even have the ability to make a reservation.

If you cannot live with those guidelines then you may want to re-think the purchase.

 

[mytripsandraces]

As has been stated, the home resort priority is currently 4 months but our contracts guarantee only a one month priority.

When it comes to timeshares, first-come, first-served is very much the rule of the day. You could certainly experience problems booking your Home even 5-6 months out during many periods. In fact, there are certain high-demand times when resorts will be fully booked by owners long before non-owners even have the ability to make a reservation.

If you cannot live with those guidelines then you may want to re-think the purchase.

I haven't even been in for the sales pitch yet. I wouldn't be upset if other owners of my home resort had booked all the spaces. That's part of the deal.

 

[tjkraz]

I wouldn't be upset if other owners of my home resort had booked all the spaces. That's part of the deal.

Booking by non-owners after the Home resort priority period has ended is also part of the deal.

 

[CADisneyMom]

I've tried 2x to book at my home resort but was unable to get in, I'm at Grand Californian, but I completely understand why I didn't get in (1) I wanted to get in within 2-4 weeks and (2) it was during Spring Break. I was just happy that I could get into Paradise Pier and the Disneyland Hotel on those trips using my points as reservation points. If you know you want to go during a very high traffic time you definitely want to have that 11 month window to get your home resort. Even if you're unsure that you want that time you can always book it and change it or cancel it later (as long as you're within the cancel zone).

 

[Dean]

I haven't bought in yet, but am considering it. I would be very upset if I couldn't get a room at my home resort because they were all booked to owners from other resorts.

As long as you plan ahead and call on time to reserve you have an excellent chance of success even if they change it to where you only have a 1 month priority. However, I think the bigger issue to many is that the option to reserve at other resorts has gotten tighter OVERALL in the last few years and will likely cont to do so for another couple of years.