Is there availability or not?

[rick_ivnik]

A couple months ago I tried to rent points for AKV but there was no availability. While on Disney's site they still show a number of rooms available at all different views and bed rooms for Kindani Village. Does anyone know why this would be the case?

 

[5forDiz]

2 different sets of inventory : there is points inventory and CRO cash inventory. So you may see DVC villas available through Disney for cash when you cannot book villas on points.

 

[rick_ivnik]

Thanks, as someone who is looking into buying that's frustrating. I know how difficult it is to book last minute vacations then to add they hold rooms doesn't help.

 

[RobDoc]

The cash inventory comes from multiple sources. DVC retains 2-4% of the villas at each resort to be used for maintenance purposes, but they can also be rented. When owners use points for non-DVC options (like the cruise or Concierge Collection) those points are also used to reserve DVC villas for cash reservations. At resorts not yet sold out (like AKV and BLT), the units not yet declared into member inventory are also available for cash reservations only and not available using points. In addition, any DVC villas not reserved using points within 60 days are also available for cash reservations thru DRC.

None of the villas in the member inventory are "held" for cash reservations, but once member points have been turned back to DVC for non-DVC options they are then considered already "used" by DVC members and are no longer available for use by points.

 

[tjkraz]

This question is raised quite frequently (probably 1x per week minimum) so I'll give a quick explanation. Search the forum and you may find more detail.

There are a number of ways in which it's well within Disney's rights to sell rooms to cash guests.

1. Units have not yet been sold to DVC members. Disney builds the hotel and until the points are sold to "members", we have no right to use them. Right now at the Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Villas an Saratoga Springs, there are a lot of unsold rooms. When all of those units are eventually sold, members will have access to all of them.

2. When a member "trades-out" of DVC accommodations. One of the big selling points of DVC is the ability to use points for things like Disney cruises or non-DVC hotel stays. When that happens, Disney takes the member's points and sets-aside DVC guest rooms to rent to cash guests. It's the only way for them to make up the cost of the cruise or other non-DVC destination the members has used.

In effect there actually IS a member "using" the room. At least, it was a member's points used to take the room out of DVC inventory. Without this feature, DVC would have to remove all of our trade-out destinations. We would be limited to the 10 DVC resorts ONLY plus RCI trades.

There's nothing sleazy or inappropriate about how these rooms are available to cash guests. It's just the nature of the beast.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks, as someone who is looking into buying that's frustrating. I know how difficult it is to book last minute vacations then to add they hold rooms doesn't help.

It is not that they "hold back" DVC rooms for cash...many of those rooms are not owned by DVC members. The developer retains ownership of 2 - 4% (I believe) of the rooms at a resort and those are part of the rooms you are seeing available.

 

[crisi]

It is not that they "hold back" DVC rooms for cash...many of those rooms are not owned by DVC members. The developer retains ownership of 2 - 4% (I believe) of the rooms at a resort and those are part of the rooms you are seeing available.

And that's just the amount they won't sell - for a resort currently in the active sales cycle, its a lot higher - at BLT right now, it might be 70% of the rooms are still owned by Disney (or maybe its less now).

Also, I suspect right now Disney holds a lot of inventory in foreclosed contracts or contracts where the dues are unpaid - we don't own those "units" either.

 

[Sammie]

Also at 60 days out, any rooms not used for points bookings is turned over to Disney to rent for cash. If those rooms are still available they should be able to reclaim them, but they have to call the resort for approval.

Last minute trips and DVC does not always work.

At this point based on our personal experiences if you can not book your vacation 11 to 7 months out, I would not recommend DVC.

 

[backyardponder]

Also at 60 days out, any rooms not used for points bookings is turned over to Disney to rent for cash. If those rooms are still available they should be able to reclaim them, but they have to call the resort for approval.

Last minute trips and DVC does not always work.

At this point based on our personal experiences if you can not book your vacation 11 to 7 months out, I would not recommend DVC.

If you are only going to visit during the big peak periods (Spring Break, Christmas, New Years, etc), I fully agree with this recommendation. If, on the other hand, you plan to visit during other times you should be able to use points. You may not be able to get into the resort you want, but there should be availability at larger resorts like SSR.

 

[Sammie]

If you are only going to visit during the big peak periods (Spring Break, Christmas, New Years, etc), I fully agree with this recommendation. If, on the other hand, you plan to visit during other times you should be able to use points. You may not be able to get into the resort you want, but there should be availability at larger resorts like SSR.

SSR is our first choice and we have been turned away several times lately trying to book after 7 months, and they were not times you mentioned.