I will get no sympathy for this, but...

[PrestonatorSR]

Ok, so here's the deal. I had a last-minute opportunity to go to Orlando over the Thanksgiving holiday, so, even realizing that it was the long-shot of long-shots, I thought I would try to book a DVC resort.

I was not at all shocked to discover that the resort availability tool on the DVC member site showed NO AVAILABILITY, anywhere. I get it. Thanksgiving is three weeks away, what should I expect?! But just for fun, I checked the main Disney Resorts page to check out avails and found a Deluxe Studio available at Old Key West on my dates. BUT--of course--it is only available for CASH!!

I am sure that I am incredibly naive to typical business practices, revenue stream models, etc., etc., but I find this to be rather offensive--especially given my historic, annual investment in WDW as a long-time DVC-member. I naively assumed I might be placed higher in the batting order.

Ok, I shared my frustration and now I'm putting on my suit of armor for your responses. Go ahead and set me straight.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I am sure that I am incredibly naive to typical business practices, revenue stream models, etc., etc., but I find this to be rather offensive--especially given my historic, annual investment in WDW as a long-time DVC-member. I naively assumed I might be placed higher in the batting order.

So. At a sold-out resort, Disney owns 3-5% of the total points. These points are used to "book" rooms, which are then used to accommodate guests during refurbs or rooms going out of service after the Mad Pooper checks out and it needs extra-special housekeeping. They are also used to "rent" for cash via Disney reservations. The cash booking offsets dues for those 3-5% of points.

As well, when members trade points for RCI, cruises or the Disney Collection, those points are taken into the system by DVC, who then use them to book units, which are then rented for cash -- again, to offset dues and maintenance.

You may be less angry and more understanding if you realize all those units were booked on points. The points, however, are owned by Disney themselves via outright deeded ownership, or via trade from members.

You are within 60 days, so I would recommend calling Member Services. Breakage units don't always show in RAT.

 

[erionm]

As well, when members trade points for RCI, cruises or the Disney Collection, those points are taken into the system by DVC, who then use them to book units, which are then rented for cash -- again, to offset dues and maintenance.

RCI Exchanges DON'T create a cash room.

 

[planningalways]

Yeah, no sympathy. There are certain rules and regulations that DVC needs to follow...including only declaring a certain percentage of rooms for DVC. I'm sure others that are much more qualified for an answer will follow. Did you buy direct or resale and did you read all of the information provided to you? When did you become a DVC member?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

RCI Exchanges DON'T create a cash room.

My bad. They create an RCI unit, don't they?

 

[disneynutz]

Also 60 days prior to any check in, the revenue people can move rooms from DVC inventory to Disney cash inventory. Their goal is to fill all rooms and make as much money as possible, can't blame them, it's a business.

Bill

 

[planningalways]

Also, way back when....there was no such thing as "renting out your points through a third party for profit company". You would just bank your points to the next year and then use those, bank again, so on and so forth. Now there are thousands and thousands of points not being banked (which would free up DVC rooms) but instead being rented out, hence less availability for "last minute trips", which used to be an easy thing to do...again, way back when. But don't give up, sign up for a wait list while at the same time book a cheap off-site place or a moderate on-site.

 

[Dean]

Ok, so here's the deal. I had a last-minute opportunity to go to Orlando over the Thanksgiving holiday, so, even realizing that it was the long-shot of long-shots, I thought I would try to book a DVC resort.

I was not at all shocked to discover that the resort availability tool on the DVC member site showed NO AVAILABILITY, anywhere. I get it. Thanksgiving is three weeks away, what should I expect?! But just for fun, I checked the main Disney Resorts page to check out avails and found a Deluxe Studio available at Old Key West on my dates. BUT--of course--it is only available for CASH!!

I am sure that I am incredibly naive to typical business practices, revenue stream models, etc., etc., but I find this to be rather offensive--especially given my historic, annual investment in WDW as a long-time DVC-member. I naively assumed I might be placed higher in the batting order.

Ok, I shared my frustration and now I'm putting on my suit of armor for your responses. Go ahead and set me straight.

Once you understand the product and what should be available for cash and not with points, it shouldn't be frustrating. Your investment is irrelevant in this sense, all we bought was the ability to TRY to make a reservation within the rules of the club.

 

[chalee94]

Also 60 days prior to any check in, the revenue people can move rooms from DVC inventory to Disney cash inventory. Their goal is to fill all rooms and make as much money as possible, can't blame them, it's a business.

Bill

I doubt that this is much of an issue during Fall Frenzy, though.

But yes, this is a common question. What the OP needs to understand is that all DVC reservations are ultimately made with points. And when Disney makes reservations with their pts (or pts they are managing on behalf of members trading out for cruises and such) in order to rent those villas for cash, they are not obligated to take the bottom spot in the batting order just so that last minute rooms remain available for the OP.

 

[PrestonatorSR]

Yes, as I predicted, I would understandably get no sympathy. And yes, I get it--Disney is a for-profit business. But I retain my right to be frustrated/disappointed by how the system works. I'll just leave it there for now. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think the point is mostly that this is the system you bought into, and it's not a system you have the ability to change in any way. You also bought into a non-voting system.

 

[PrestonatorSR]

Again, right on all points! I fully recognize my oversimplified naivety about how this all works. Not expecting or trying to change any system, just wish it was different. End of discussion. Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

Understanding what you have purchased is key to DVC Ownership or any other timeshare. Look at this this way. Disney owns a number of points. They book them, and use them...just as any other member would. And for those that have traded to cruises and such, in theory those owners ALSO booked rooms, then traded those rooms for a cruise or Adv. By Disney, or a cash resort stay. It isn't like Disney just arbitrarily decided to not let you use your points. The resort is fully reserved on points, whether those points are owned by Disney using their points, or other owners trading out, other owners simply booked before you did.

 

[Marionnette]

Again, right on all points! I fully recognize my oversimplified naivety about how this all works. Not expecting or trying to change any system, just wish it was different. End of discussion. Thanks!

I understand your frustration. You're not the first member to notice that a villa is available on the Disney website for cash when nothing is available to be booked by DVC members. I think that PPs gave a good explanation as to why this happens. IMO, it's a good thing that villas do not go unoccupied and that DVC recovers some money for those units to offset dues for all of us members.

Occasionally, Member Services can pull back a villa from CRO so that a DVC member can get it for points. It might be worth making that call.

 

[PrestonatorSR]

I understand your frustration. You're not the first member to notice that a villa is available on the Disney website for cash when nothing is available to be booked by DVC members. I think that PPs gave a good explanation as to why this happens. IMO, it's a good thing that villas do not go unoccupied and that DVC recovers some money for those units to offset dues for all of us members.

Occasionally, Member Services can pull back a villa from CRO so that a DVC member can get it for points. It might be worth making that call.

Thank you for your grace with this advice and explanation. I'm clearly not a savvy timeshare person; in fact, I'm clueless as I've demonstrated with this thread. But maybe I better understand now. Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

I don’t think you’re “not getting sympathy”. But it is what it is. There’s no point in having any emotions about this, because this is how it works. Getting through that quickly is for the best, and having a full understanding of the “why” is how to get through it.

 

[mustinjourney]

Thank you for your grace with this advice and explanation. I'm clearly not a savvy timeshare person; in fact, I'm clueless as I've demonstrated with this thread. But maybe I better understand now. Thanks!

I read a report of someone booking a DVC through CRO, and then when they checked in, they asked the front desk if they could use their points instead of the cash payment. He said it worked for him -- but I have no personal experience with it, so I can't personally vouch for its ability to work.

 

[Dean]

Again, right on all points! I fully recognize my oversimplified naivety about how this all works. Not expecting or trying to change any system, just wish it was different. End of discussion. Thanks!

If it were different, some of the current options would have to be removed and dues would be higher. The point is there shouldn't be availability in this situation.

 

[crisi]

I read a report of someone booking a DVC through CRO, and then when they checked in, they asked the front desk if they could use their points instead of the cash payment. He said it worked for him -- but I have no personal experience with it, so I can't personally vouch for its ability to work.

That should not work and probably made an accountant very angry - and likely cost the CM his job - that's sort of a huge no-no in terms of accounting standards. DVC and Disney Resorts are two separate subsidiary companies, and asset transfers between the two are an accounting transaction that must be balanced on both ends. For DVC to take a cash room from Resorts, they need to give something back to Resorts of equal value. A front desk CM isn't going to have the authority to authorize an intersubsidary transaction.

 

[CarolMN]

Ok, so here's the deal. I had a last-minute opportunity to go to Orlando over the Thanksgiving holiday, so, even realizing that it was the long-shot of long-shots, I thought I would try to book a DVC resort.

I was not at all shocked to discover that the resort availability tool on the DVC member site showed NO AVAILABILITY, anywhere. I get it. Thanksgiving is three weeks away, what should I expect?! But just for fun, I checked the main Disney Resorts page to check out avails and found a Deluxe Studio available at Old Key West on my dates. BUT--of course--it is only available for CASH!!

I am sure that I am incredibly naive to typical business practices, revenue stream models, etc., etc., but I find this to be rather offensive--especially given my historic, annual investment in WDW as a long-time DVC-member. I naively assumed I might be placed higher in the batting order.

Ok, I shared my frustration and now I'm putting on my suit of armor for your responses. Go ahead and set me straight.

You have my sympathy - I know that it is very disappointing to be shut out, especially when you see what you want available some other way than points.

I will not repeat the reasons why the resorts are available for cash and not for points - others have done that. Understanding why doesn't make the disappointment less, but maybe it at least helps you to not be angry at Disney & DVC. The system is working as designed so that Members may enjoy non-DVC options such as cruises

Hope you find a way to make the trip. Good luck!