I did a stupid thing--please advise!

[roadtripper]

Calling all DVC experts! I need advice on what to do. Here's the story:
I had a points reservation and cheap flights for a BCV studio for Columbus Day weekend. Long story short, had to cancel due to Delta flight changes. Last Saturday, Southwest offered a CHEAP fare to MCO for next week. I grabbed it, and called CRO to make a reservation in case DVC resorts were booked. Got an great AP rate at OKW. I figured I would pay the AP cash rate for the weekend, cancel my BCV ressie, and use points for the weekdays at OKW. I figured that if cheap cash ressies were available, there must still be DVC availability at OKW. On Monday morning I called MS. Foolishly, I cancelled two nights of the BCV ressie, and THEN asked for a points ressie for OKW. No go-- points ressies are sold out. Since some of the points for the October ressie were borrowed, they cannot be transferred or banked. Because the trip is next week, I cannot be put on a waiting list for OKW points ressies. I will try MS one last time-- Monday-- to see if any points ressies have opened up, but I am not optimistic.
My question is-- what would you do now? I posted the Sat/Sun ressie on the rent/trade board, but even if that rents, I still have 20 borrowed BCV points. Should I post those separately?
Also, I am a little miffed that I can't use my points, when there are cash ressies available. I would understand if the resort was sold out, but I already have a reservation. I think DVC members should be able to use cash or points for already existing reservations. With this system, it seems like they're giving preference to cash paying non-members over DVC members. Has anyone been in a similar situation, or do you have advice on how to proceed? Thanks!

 

[RobDoc]

You are talking about separate "inventory" of rooms at DVC resorts. The member inventory is what is used to make point reservations. Except for the small (2-4) percentage of rooms owned by DVD - and those are usually held for maintenance loss - all of the remaining villas are available for point reservations.

When a member uses DVC points for any of the non-DVC options (DCL, other WDW resorts, DL resorts, Concierge Collection, etc.) villas are then "reserved" using those points for cash reservations. In this case, they have already been used by members with points and have been "sold" to CRO to pay for the non-DVC option used. They are no longer available to members for point reservations because they have already been "used" by a member.

In addition, any DVC rooms unreserved 60 days in advance are also made available to CRO for cash reservations. Monies gained by rooms reserved from this pool do go into the DVC budget as a credit and will appear as "Breakage Income" on the annual accounting. Members may still make point reservations at DVC resorts during the last 60 days but are competing with CRO for those available rooms.

I'd offer to make reservations on the Rent/Trade Board in and at least try to get something for your points rather than just let them expire. I'd also call daily (even if it's multiple times) from Monday until you leave for WDW to see if there are any last minute cancellations.

Good luck!

 

[roadtripper]

Thanks Doc--
I feel better knowing that DVC points (even if they're someone else's!) are being used, which is what frees up cash reservation availability at DVC resorts. It's also comforting to know that cash reservations bring income to the DVC operating budget. Having never made a reservation within the 60 day time frame, I didn't factor in the risk of not getting a points ressie. Lesson learned.
We leave Tuesday, so Monday is my last shot for a points ressie. My points don't expire for several months, so I'm hoping that I can rent them.
Regardless, I will be at Disney next week, so that's something!

 

[pickles]

can you use your points rather than paying cash? least all would not be lost

 

[roadtripper]

can you use your points rather than paying cash? least all would not be lost

Apparently not. That's what I was trying to do-- change an existing cash reservation to a points reservation. However, there is no availability for a points reservation for the days that I am going. They will take my cash, but not my points, for the same room. That was my gripe.

 

[jdvm]

good, helpful synopsis, Doc...thanks!

 

[simzac]

You checked for availability at OKW, did you check SSR?

 

[auntsue]

You say you have 20 borrowed points, I was under the impression that borrowing was a final transaction. Two years back we borrowed points to go at Easter time, bought a new house, wanted to cancel so we rented the points out on the Rent/Trade board. Once I got the check, I called to make a new reservation with those points and was told I could not do it. The exact words were "borrowing is a final transaction." Check and see if I'm mistaken before you go through the hassle of trying to rent them out.

 

[Sammie]

You say you have 20 borrowed points, I was under the impression that borrowing was a final transaction. Two years back we borrowed points to go at Easter time, bought a new house, wanted to cancel so we rented the points out on the Rent/Trade board. Once I got the check, I called to make a new reservation with those points and was told I could not do it. The exact words were "borrowing is a final transaction." Check and see if I'm mistaken before you go through the hassle of trying to rent them out.

Borrowing is final in that the points can not be returned to their use year. But you can use them as long as you use them before the use year you borrowed into.

They also cannot be banked or transferred.