Is DVCM's current stance on COVID-19 related canceled points fair?

[Shamus]

In regards to COVID-19 cancellations, DVCM is CURRENTLY allowing borrowed points to return to their original use year, while maintaining all banking rules.
Many different opinions on this topic have risen throughout many threads on these boards.

What are your thoughts on this topic?
What should DVCM be doing AT THIS TIME?

Should DVCM continue allowing borrowed points to be returned?
Should Current Use Year points be allowed to be banked if past their normal banking deadline?
Should Previously Banked points be allowed to be banked again (aka "Double Banking")?

Please vote and share your thoughts?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I think it's been discussed quite a bit all around. My thoughts are pretty simple - it's too soon for DVC to know how deep a mess this is going to be. I think whatever decisions they make, they should make them ONCE and stick to them - so once we know when things will start opening up and how many points are impacted, they should then make one attempt to help people at that time. Not something this week, and something different next week, and something else next month. Let's wait and see. I'm hopeful DVC will be willing to help us once things clear up a bit.

 

[minthorne]

I think what they are doing now makes sense and once the full extent is known they can assess what to do about those banked points that are lost.

 

[Sandisw]

I voted other because there is no one decision that can be made in a vacuum,

As an owner I want them to make the hard decisions necessary to sustain the system for the long term.

I think what they are doing now makes sense for the goal which is how to deal with a loss of at least 20% of the rooms for 2020.

IMO, the word fair doesn’t play a role in this situation because thst implies the decisions need to be based on making owners happy and not making the decisions needed to maintain balance as best as they can.

 

[ParrotBill]

I also voted other because I feel something needs to be done, but carefully, to manage impact vs proper alignment of points to inventory. I have said this: either lost points could be compensated in another way by Disney, with some serious discounts (free or discounted dining or tickets based on amount of loss), or, the loss should be redistributed across all members. That is not a popular point of view. It seems many who are not impacted are saying "so sorry, you scheduled at the wrong time, and you lose." At a minimum, I will lose 1.3 use years of points and should be refunded 1.3 years of fees. That should be offset by reduced operated cost for the shut down, and increased fees for the next year or two to make it up. The points use loss is worth $6,000 to me in lost vacation accommodations if I were to try to take a different equivalent vacation. If Disney does nothing it will make me pretty sour. I was just going to buy more points too. Not now, until I see how they handle it.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I also voted other because I feel something needs to be done, but carefully, to manage impact vs proper alignment of points to inventory. I have said this: either lost points could be compensated in another way by Disney, with some serious discounts (free or discounted dining or tickets based on amount of loss), or, the loss should be redistributed across all members. That is not a popular point of view. It seems many who are not impacted are saying "so sorry, you scheduled at the wrong time, and you lose." At a minimum, I will lose 1.3 use years of points and should be refunded 1.3 years of fees. That should be offset by reduced operated cost for the shut down, and increased fees for the next year or two to make it up. The points use loss is worth $6,000 to me in lost vacation accommodations if I were to try to take a different equivalent vacation. If Disney does nothing it will make me pretty sour. I was just going to buy more points too. Not now, until I see how they handle it.

Serious discounts at Disney? DVCM is a totally different company than the Disney Parks. One is real estate, the other is entertainment.
This would be like driving up to a Burger King and demanding that they give you a free burger because the Wendy's down the street messed up your order.

 

[starry_solo]

I think they will consider it and then come back with a response that won't make everyone happy.

 

[gdrj]

Borrowed points should be allowed to be returned.

Current use year point expiring is more challenging, since it potentially cause inventory issues. If I had points expiring I would be upset.

Do you only allow banking of expiring points if they already had reservations?
Do you allow them to be banked but require the points be spread out over a couple years to reduce impact on availability or restrict their use to certain seasons or treat them like holding points?
Do you allow banking only of a percentage of points?
Does DVC work an agreement with hotels to allow points to be used at hotels but at a reduce point cost? Do they allocate a higher % of rooms to be used at Rivera than currently allowed?

Every decision has an impact. If they allow them to be bank, do I have recourse when there is no availability due to the extra banked rooms?

 

[Deb & Bill]

It would be nice if DVC could reimburse the member fees paid by the owner on the current year points that could not be used or banked. Take that out of the operating funds for the period the resorts were closed. On the banked points that could not be used, they would be lost, no reimbursement since the owner already had 20 months to use those points. The resorts were not closed when those points were current year points.

 

[Darklord77]

I have said this: either lost points could be compensated in another way by Disney, with some serious discounts (free or discounted dining or tickets based on amount of loss),

It would be nice if DVC could reimburse the member fees paid by the owner on the current year points that could not be used or banked.

Both of these are reasonable ways to credit lost points. I know the incorrect answer is "well sorry, I guess you just lose out."

 

[gdrj]

It would be nice if DVC could reimburse the member fees paid by the owner on the current year points that could not be used or banked. Take that out of the operating funds for the period the resorts were closed. On the banked points that could not be used, they would be lost, no reimbursement since the owner already had 20 months to use those points. The resorts were not closed when those points were current year points.

Not sure if I like that either. There will be costs related to reopening as well as ongoing costs based on the new normal. The $$ taken out of the operating funds (have no idea if they could even do that), would impact future maintenance fees, basically owners would be funding.

 

[Sandisw]

Not sure if I like that either. There will be costs related to reopening as well as ongoing costs based on the new normal. The $$ taken out of the operating funds (have no idea if they could even do that), would impact future maintenance fees, basically owners would be funding.

True, but whatever is done to help impacts all owners in some way...so, if they find that the best way to handle involves a reimbursement that is spread to all owners, that is what they will have to do, No easy or quick answers

 

[gdrj]

True, but whatever is done to help impacts all owners in some way...so, if they find that the best way to handle involves a reimbursement that is spread to all owners, that is what they will have to do, No easy or quick answers

The question also is will DVC, separate from the members, absorb some of the cost in what they do?

 

[Sandisw]

The question also is will DVC, separate from the members, absorb some of the cost in what they do?

Do you mean not take the fee they are allowed? I doubt it because they are nothing more than a company, we, as owners, hire to manage our timeshare system,

 

[Travel60]

One additional alternative would be encouragement (via points reduction, fee reduction, new opportunities, etc.) to use points outside the DVC system. I will probably not feel comfortable traveling off North America until an effective vaccine is available. But, once the "worst" is over, I would love trips around the U.S. or Canada- major cities, national parks, historic areas. Something like an extended Disney Collection or super RCI incentive.

 

[Tigger2ntinkerbell]

Here's Disney Vacation Club's response after I emailed questioning Disney about members losing their points. Look like DVC/DVD are Still thinking about what to do .

Welcome Home XXXXX, Thank you for contacting Disney Vacation Club®. We appreciate your interest in your Vacation Points and will be happy to assist you. We apologize for any inconvenience. In light of the unprecedented situation and its impact on our operations, we have not made any changes to our Vacation Points banking or expiration policies due to the impact this could have on future inventory availability. We understand this is of particular concern for Members like you with reservations affected by closures and/or the COVID-19 situation who may be toward the end of their Use Year. However, we are currently evaluating various options to assist Members in this situation, but will need to delay any decisions until we better understand how long COVID-19 will impact our operations. We will be sure to share your feedback with our Senior Leadership team so they can review. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Disney Vacation Club values our Members' feedback and would appreciate you taking a moment to fill out a survey on the service I provided you today. Please click on the following link to complete our survey. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Please let us know if we may be of further assistance. Thank you, XXXXX Member Services | Online Communications Disney Vacation Club Visit www.MyDisneyExperience.com before your next visit to the Walt Disney World® Resort to start exploring new MyMagic+ options such as MagicBands, Disney’s FastPass+ service, and Memory Maker.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

This situation is not easy for anyone. I understand the initial decision to let borrowed points return to the original use year. In effect, they are just passing the points to where they were originally.

I also agree that they do need to wait and see what the full impact will be...how long they will be closed...and what the recovery to normal time will be. It's complicated and there are a lot of variations to consider. Better clarity as to what the full picture will be will help them make a better balanced decision.

And...we keep saying they are waiting....I dont think anyone there is just sitting still and watching the news. I am sure they are working through all the possibilities and legalities. The more information they have, the better their decision will be.

The eventual solution won't be perfect but let's hope that it gives something that most can utilize to mitigate the impact and be able to put this whole horrible situation behind us and enjoy WDW again!

 

[DougEMG]

For all reservations cancelled because of the closure:

1. borrowed points should be returned to their original UY
2. current and banked points should be able to be banked

 

[DougEMG]

I voted other because there is no one decision that can be made in a vacuum,

As an owner I want them to make the hard decisions necessary to sustain the system for the long term.

I think what they are doing now makes sense for the goal which is how to deal with a loss of at least 20% of the rooms for 2020.

IMO, the word fair doesn’t play a role in this situation because thst implies the decisions need to be based on making owners happy and not making the decisions needed to maintain balance as best as they can.

I'd rather try and be fair to those people that are losing points and am willing to accept that there will be consequences to the entire membership later on.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I do not think it's been appropriate to ignore the rule for one set of points (borrowed) and hold to them for others especially given the fact that 2 UY's did not have enough warning to make a decision. At the very least they should have been allowed to bank past their banking deadlines.

For what to do - they've already made exceptions (returning borrowed points) so I think the fairest is to work out something that allows other affected point to be used somehow and not where RCI is the solution unless that's the choice of the owner.