Is some DVC capacity being held back? And if so, speculation on opening it up?

[wilbret]

I'm curious if the lack of availability is due to actual capacity being hit, or do we know or believe that DVC is only releasing a % of rooms at this point?

I'm trying to snag a room for Thanksgiving weekend (Th-Su only), I know it's busy, but we've always had luck with SSR, for instance.

 

[erionm]

All rooms that are part of member inventory are available to be booked.

There are a number of buildings at SSR that are currently under refurbishment, so those are not currently bookable. Not sure how far out those buildings are blocked off in the booking system.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm curious if the lack of availability is due to actual capacity being hit, or do we know or believe that DVC is only releasing a % of rooms at this point?

I'm trying to snag a room for Thanksgiving weekend (Th-Su only), I know it's busy, but we've always had luck with SSR, for instance.

All DVC rooms, with the exception of those pulled for refurbs/maintenance and rooms taken by DVC when members trade out their points, are available at 11 months. They aren't holding back any rooms. Now it's possible that DVC exercised their right to anticipate breakage and they took rooms out for cash reservations ahead of their usual 60-day window. But what you see is what we've got to work with as members.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm trying to snag a room for Thanksgiving weekend (Th-Su only), I know it's busy, but we've always had luck with SSR, for instance.

Because there are so many extra points in the system right now (due to the extensions granted as a result of the resort closures during the pandemic), this year, next year and and probably 2023, are not going to be like it's been.

Member booking patterns have changed - many are booking earlier, and many are booking multiple trips . Many are also booking larger units than they would have normally done in the past. Shorter notice trips are going to be much more difficult to book until the extra points get absorbed. Members are also taking advantage of the rental market because they are unable to travel due to governmental restrictions. They are doing that earlier than we might have expected to make sure they can get some value from their points before they expire.

All you can do is waitlist and check frequently in hopes of catching a cancellation. Good luck!

 

[The Jackal]

All rooms that are part of member inventory are available to be booked.

There are a number of buildings at SSR that are currently under refurbishment, so those are not currently bookable. Not sure how far out those buildings are blocked off in the booking system.

There are only 2 buildings currently being refurbished at SSR and I would assume they know an approximate date of completion and have already booked rooms for those building for the fall. Supposed to be completed this summer. I would expect late June early July for last building.

 

[wilbret]

Thanks. We snagged our AKL October dates without issue, and almost immediately after that we noticed we were unable to find any dates for the rest of the year that worked for us. Was holding out hope there was magical mystery release that might occur now that things are opening up more and staff levels are increasing.

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

I'm curious if the lack of availability is due to actual capacity being hit, or do we know or believe that DVC is only releasing a % of rooms at this point?

I'm trying to snag a room for Thanksgiving weekend (Th-Su only), I know it's busy, but we've always had luck with SSR, for instance.

No one can say with absolute certainty due to the fact that 'breakage' is not transparent. Also, Disney has points they can use to book rooms. I believe they offer 'Welcome Home' visits this way but I'm not entirely sure how that works. I only mention Disney booking rooms in that they could cancel the booking if they don't have a cash guest to take the room.

 

[DL1WDW2]

How does this apply to the Riviera Resort? The entire building is open and available tomake a reservation BUT only a small portion has actually been declared into DVC for membership sales.
Does this keep rooms as a cash booking only ? Is there any hope they will declare more soon like for the holidays?
Appreciate the members that are always explaining the things we should know. Thank you

 

[Marionnette]

How does this apply to the Riviera Resort? The entire building is open and available tomake a reservation BUT only a small portion has actually been declared into DVC for membership sales.
Does this keep rooms as a cash booking only ? Is there any hope they will declare more soon like for the holidays?
Appreciate the members that are always explaining the things we should know. Thank you

Undeclared rooms (points) belong to DVD (the developer). DVC has used some of those points for member recovery such as when they allowed banked points that had expired to be extended up until Nov 30, 2020 due to the shutdown. DVD also sells rooms for cash reservations. With 51% of the rooms declared into DVC, that allows almost 49% of the remaining rooms to be booked as cash. A small percentage of rooms (points) have to be retained by DVC last-minute maintenance purposes.

 

[n2mm]

I also don’t think any rooms are being held back. I just returned this weekend. The resort, Bwv, was full. I didn’t get any request. I requested low floor close to tennis court. I got top floor next to elevator (complete opposite). I asked about moving (it was 10:00 am). Told nothing was available to switch to. They could move me after my 3rd night (of a 7 night stay) if I wanted to move mid-stay…..that was a no. The pools were full, the parking was full. This was my third trip this year (yep, had a ton of points to use). This was the fullest it’s been compared to my early March trip and my late April trip. I had predicted that this year, maybe next year too, that the 11 month window was going to be very important in securing your desired resort.

 

[wilbret]

I also don’t think any rooms are being held back. I just returned this weekend. The resort, Bwv, was full. I didn’t get any request. I requested low floor close to tennis court. I got top floor next to elevator (complete opposite). I asked about moving (it was 10:00 am). Told nothing was available to switch to. They could move me after my 3rd night (of a 7 night stay) if I wanted to move mid-stay…..that was a no. The pools were full, the parking was full. This was my third trip this year (yep, had a ton of points to use). This was the fullest it’s been compared to my early March trip and my late April trip. I had predicted that this year, maybe next year too, that the 11 month window was going to be very important in securing your desired resort.

It's one thing I'll miss about 2020. We have enjoyed a ton of trips this past 14 months... We even got NYE reservations last year, and spent NYE at SeaWorld with skating show, fireworks...it was terrific.

 

[js]

I have been stalking and have been very successful the ast three weeks from getting SSR to AKL Savanah to now BWVs. Last week I saw a lot of Thanksgiving weekend being put back. I know this since I would get excited and then realize it was Thanksgiving lol.

If you can, keep stalking and put in a WL.

Good luck!

 

[wilbret]

I have been stalking and have been very successful the ast three weeks from getting SSR to AKL Savanah to now BWVs. Last week I saw a lot of Thanksgiving weekend being put back. I know this since I would get excited and then realize it was Thanksgiving lol.

If you can, keep stalking and put in a WL.

Good luck!

Unfortunately we have 2 WL already, so we have noodling to do.

 

[js]

I'm curious if the lack of availability is due to actual capacity being hit, or do we know or believe that DVC is only releasing a % of rooms at this point?

I'm trying to snag a room for Thanksgiving weekend (Th-Su only), I know it's busy, but we've always had luck with SSR, for instance.

Right now SSR has Fri-Monday after Thanksgiving. If that was me, I would book that and then WL and stalk Thursday. One bedroom standard and preferred.

 

[js]

OKW right now has Fri-Monday One bedroom.
Food luck!

 

[zavandor]

The only availability that might open up at some point is for Riviera. When Disney declares new inventory, additional rooms become available to book. Those may match waitlists and/or become available to book online.

Also, if a planned refurbishment is canceled or finished ahead of schedule, rooms may open up.

And sometimes when DVC is caught with their hands in the cookie jar (like they booked rooms around 10/1 before 11 months),they may release them when members complaint and say it was an IT issue.

 

[wilbret]

Thanks folks, I'll take a look.

 

[js]

Thanks folks, I'll take a look.

Good luck! As you know the inventory changes almost immediately. Like they say, “you got to be in it to win it”!

 

[js]

The only availability that might open up at some point is for Riviera. When Disney declares new inventory, additional rooms become available to book. Those may match waitlists and/or become available to book online.

Also, if a planned refurbishment is canceled or finished ahead of schedule, rooms may open up.

And sometimes when DVC is caught with their hands in the cookie jar (like they booked rooms around 10/1 before 11 months),they may release them when members complaint and say it was an IT issue.

Hi. Is there any speculation as to when this may be?

Thank you.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi. Is there any speculation as to when this may be?

Thank you.

DVC declared 147 vacation homes into RIV inventory on Jan 17, 2021. This represented 465,100 points. Sales numbered 69,875 in February, 72,063 in March, 88,714 in April and 61,375 in May for a total of 292,027 points over 4 months. If future sales average around 73,000 per month, we should see another declaration in about 2-1/2 to 3 months. If the sales slump seen in May continues thru the summer, then it's anybody guess.

*Source for statistics: dvcnews.com