Increasing restrictions on Transfers and Rentals??!!

[BalooCA]

Does anyone have all the current policies? They seem to be changing every time I call. Earlier this year I was transferring some points to another member and I was told I can now only make one transfer per use year.

Recently, I was making reservations for a friends family who have never been to Disney World and Member Services refused to take the reservation until I had all the name in the party (I didn't have all the information with me, but these are really friends and not renters). I asked if I could just put the reservation in my name for now and switch it as soon as I got home and Member Services refused.

My point is that these new policies are not being communicated to owners except when you got to make some reservations. It also appears to me that they are making it almost impossible to Rent/Trade points. You have to either transfer everything you are not going to use in one block or be able to find a reservation at the time needed (which means no more short notice rentals in reality).

While I understand how this cuts down on Member Services Work, it also leaves us with much less flexibility. I also am left with the feeling that they are making up these rules as we go along....

 

[Lady V]

Does anyone have all the current policies? They seem to be changing every time I call. Earlier this year I was transferring some points to another member and I was told I can now only make one transfer per use year.

Recently, I was making reservations for a friends family who have never been to Disney World and Member Services refused to take the reservation until I had all the name in the party (I didn't have all the information with me, but these are really friends and not renters). I asked if I could just put the reservation in my name for now and switch it as soon as I got home and Member Services refused.

My point is that these new policies are not being communicated to owners except when you got to make some reservations. It also appears to me that they are making it almost impossible to Rent/Trade points. You have to either transfer everything you are not going to use in one block or be able to find a reservation at the time needed (which means no more short notice rentals in reality).
While I understand how this cuts down on Member Services Work, it also leaves us with much less flexibility. I also am left with the feeling that they are making up these rules as we go along....

well, hope I don't tick off too many people here but I for one am glad if they cut down on rentals. too many prime weeks booked and then sold and we can't get them. JMHO

 

[I'mNoPrince]

They are just enforcing rules that have always been in place from all the other threads that have appeared here on the DIS.

I just made a second ressie for DM and DsF and they needed all the info. I asked about if something happened if I could swtch the names into mine and cancel ours as I could bank tose points as theirs were borrowed. I was told it would not be a problem but that they are watching switching names as well.

It's all moot now because I switched it to a 2bdrm.

 

[CarolA]

Well the transfer rule was sent to me in a member email. As someone who never rents (either way) I didn't see it as a biggie.

And as for my friends who I give the points to, I generally know thier names! (If you don't know thier names do they count as friends?)

 

[AnnaS]

I have never rented out my points. I have actually had points transferred to me twice though.

Now this has got me thinking. I was planning on inviting/treating again next summer. Not sure if I want to invite one or two of my sons' friends, or I might invite family or a friend/family. Regardless, I want to book/reserve these rooms (studio and a 1 or 2 BDR) when my 11 month window opens up. I don't want to decide so early on who to invite since most people cannot plan so far in advance - my brother cancelled on me about two months before once - so I would like to wait as long as possible (enough time to plan/buy airline tickets, etc.)

So, I might not be able to do this. Gotta go think again.

 

[castleri]

I have never rented out my points. I have actually had points transferred to me twice though.

Now this has got me thinking. I was planning on inviting/treating again next summer. Not sure if I want to invite one or two of my sons' friends, or I might invite family or a friend/family. Regardless, I want to book/reserve these rooms (studio and a 1 or 2 BDR) when my 11 month window opens up. I don't want to decide so early on who to invite since most people cannot plan so far in advance - my brother cancelled on me about two months before once - so I would like to wait as long as possible (enough time to plan/buy airline tickets, etc.)

So, I might not be able to do this. Gotta go think again.

I think you could make the reservation and put in the names of those you may invite(the most likely ones) If you change your mind or they can't come you either cancel the reservation or change the names. I had reservations for my DS,DDILand DGS at Christmas as well as for myself and DD, DSIL,DGD. We had a 2BR and a studio reserved. When my son lost his job the week before Thanksgiving and was fortunately able to start a new one two weeks later (with no way to make the trip) and we were within the 31 day mark I was able to rent the studio and change the names. I was then able to give the money to DS to help them out since they missed the trip. I would rather they were able to make the trip but was glad to be able to help him out and not put my points into holding. I was also glad there was no problem changing the names- I asked the person I rented to for all names and ages when we made the agreement so had them when I called. I recently checked out the resort board and the WDW reservation site and the same info has to be provided for a reservation at the regular resorts so don't think it is just DVC that has to provide this.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I guess this becomes a problem if your renting more than one room. It has always been a rule that you had to have your name on a reservation, you couldn't rent more than one room. I know its done all the time, especially with rentals, so I don't know why I was basically chastised when I made reservations about 3 years ago!! I brought my family down and had to put my name on one room and my husbands on the other.

If your renting just one room, don't put any names, wait till you know and call with the names. Heck, you can rent a GV and only have yourself down. They don't need the info, just say its just you so far, and when you know who, add them!

 

[rigsby25]

They've always asked me the names of the people staying. I rented a grand villa in August 2005, and came up with 10 names I was sure of. I changed some of the names and added others about 2 weeks prior to leaving.

 

[Doctor P]

The name thing is also done to cut down speculative renting and to give priority to people who can make firm plans. With more and more members, this seems reasonable to me.

 

[DebbieB]

I thought someone called on the name thing and they said you could change it. The cm you talked to may have been mistaken. I would call back.

 

[kdzgon]

Well the transfer rule was sent to me in a member email. As someone who never rents (either way) I didn't see it as a biggie.

And as for my friends who I give the points to, I generally know thier names! (If you don't know thier names do they count as friends?)

You need the names, address(es) home phone number(s) and age(s) of any child(ren) on the reservation. Thanks to current technology where you can store phone numbers, etc I cannot even tell you the phone number of any of my adult children - I simply speak a name in to my phone and it dials the number. Granted, my children have each moved a number of times in a relatively short time span (3 DDs active duty military) but I suspect I am not alone in no longer knowing phone numbers (or addresses) off the top of my head.

 

[garnet1240]

When I made ressie for our Oct trip, they asked for all names... But since my 2 DD will be bringing a friend each and I wasn't sure who it would be, MS told me to just add my name and call back to add everyone when I had the info. Seemed simple enough.

 

[CarolA]

I booked with the just the names and address. I didn't have the phone number handy and they said that was no problem.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just giving the names and addresses you know is fine and adding the others later. I just made our May ressies not long ago, and had no problems even when I told them we might be adding another person later.

 

[chainkid]

I would just give them the names and phone numbers of friends and family even if they are not going. I wouldn't lose the room if MS person was being that strong. You can change to whoever you want when you leave for your trip or rent . You have to adapt to the system to get the most from your membership. I have found that alot of member services people especially the new ones are less knowledgeable that the average DIS member and it gets frustrating dealing with them. If time is a factor like day to day reservations at critical times and after waiting 20 min to get someone...be smart and give them a name even if its your dog. If a member services person sounds confused at all making your reservation, please call back or go online and check the status of your reservations. They make big mistakes all the time.

You pay alot for your membership so it pays to know all the rules that exist. They are constantly changing requirements , so some member services people will interpret them one way and another will be different until a common understanding is achieved. If you know your MS member has it wrong just hang up and get a new one who has it right. For example, I have several villas reserved (GV,2-2BV,1-1BR-2STuDIOS) for an upcoming trip. When I called to reserve they required me to give names and addresses for the main person for each room and only the names of the others. Now if you call you have to have the names and addresses for everyone in the room. Tall order if you have 25 people coming. So if I had gotten the Second MS person I wouldn't have had all the info and could have lost out on Grand Villa.
Would I have hung up NO Way. I would have made up names and addresses and changed them later. It is your membership so spend the time learning the in's and outs.

 

[chainkid]

cut down on rentals. too many prime weeks booked and then sold and we can't get them. JMHO
__________________well, hope I don't tick off too many people here but I for one am glad if they


The above comment does make me mad and I generally rent more points at times from other members. When you pay for the points and pay maintenance on the points then you have the expectation that you can use them, or if unable to use them them then you can rent them to others. If you don't get the times you want so be it. I have to compete for the weeks like everyone else and I have been unsuccessful at times even at the 11 month window.
This wouldn't be a problem at all if DVC had a competent Software program that tracks the points correctly. With the money Disney makes it would seem like a quick fix. Until this is fixed then a legitimate loss of fair competition is happening at the smaller timeshares of which I'm a member. Once this is fixed then I frankly don't feel I have a right to tell someone else how or when to use their points and I for one love being able to rent or transfer points when I need to . I can even live with the one transfer per year clause though I feel it is the wrong solution to the point morphing problem.

 

[jbhaupt]

Another question...DH and I are thinking of doing a vow renewal at Disney in the future. I am trying to formulate a plan so I can bank points then use them to book rooms for friends and family that would be attending. Does anyone think we'll have problems booking these rooms for this reason? We will probably make 6-8 seperate reservations total.

Thanks for the advise
Bonnie

 

[chainkid]

No you shouldn't have any problems as it is done all the time. According to new guidelines you should have the names and addresses as well as phone numbers for the rooms. You can just use a few names for now if you don't know final number. Even if you rent a grand villa you just give them the number of people you know and add the rest later. If you want to change them later you can without a problem. Joan

 

[Doctor P]

No you shouldn't have any problems as it is done all the time. According to new guidelines you should have the names and addresses as well as phone numbers for the rooms. You can just use a few names for now if you don't know final number. Even if you rent a grand villa you just give them the number of people you know and add the rest later. If you want to change them later you can without a problem. Joan

There have been differing reports about this. It appears, clearly, that they are going to allow name changes on the member's own reservations (i.e., where the member is named on the reservation and will be there). I suspect, and hope, that they are NOT going to allow name changes on rooms that do not have the member's name on the reservation both before and after the change. Those rooms should go back to the waiting list, IMHO, before being released back to the member's control. This will greatly reduce speculative reservations, IMHO, while still allowing members to make changes for their own trips.

 

[dumbo71]

cut down on rentals. too many prime weeks booked and then sold and we can't get them. JMHO
__________________well, hope I don't tick off too many people here but I for one am glad if they


The above comment does make me mad and I generally rent more points at times from other members. When you pay for the points and pay maintenance on the points then you have the expectation that you can use them, or if unable to use them them then you can rent them to others. If you don't get the times you want so be it. I have to compete for the weeks like everyone else and I have been unsuccessful at times even at the 11 month window.
This wouldn't be a problem at all if DVC had a competent Software program that tracks the points correctly. With the money Disney makes it would seem like a quick fix. Until this is fixed then a legitimate loss of fair competition is happening at the smaller timeshares of which I'm a member. Once this is fixed then I frankly don't feel I have a right to tell someone else how or when to use their points and I for one love being able to rent or transfer points when I need to . I can even live with the one transfer per year clause though I feel it is the wrong solution to the point morphing problem.