Just spoke with DVC...

[RobDoc]

I just got off the phone with a friend at DVC.

He was willing to share some information about the 2002 Disney Collection point charts and other assorted tidbits.

There have indeed been some changes in the point chart for 2002. Some dates went up and some went down. (This has already been reported by several others here today.)

DVC plans to have the new Disney Collection point information posted on the Members website by the end of next week.

The new Vacation Magic is being sent out at this time. They hope to have the online version posted soon also. The DC points will NOT be included in the Vacation Magic issue as in the past.

DVC Members will be receiving a new Members Guidebook annually- which will include appropriate point charts and vacation planning information. The 2002 edition will be sent in the near future to all members. (Look for it in October)

Vacation Magic is undergoing a facelift and format change- look for these improvements over the next few issues. Reportedly, the current issue (in the mail) has some of the changes and more will follow in the Nov issue.

Look for some interesting announcements from DVC regarding sales and upcoming events.

All in all I had a great phone conversation and will be checking the DVC website next week for new information. (I know my VM won't arrive for some time!) Rest assured that any DVC information will also be posted promptly on this site. (This includes offcial, confirmable, printed information from DVC as well as our normal wild internet speculation! )

Stay Tuned!

 

[PamOKW]

Thanks, Doc!

 

[Doctor P]

Thanks very much for the information and update, Doc.

 

[kem330]

Thanks, Doc. Did they give any info why January points went up so much? Also because so many of us travel over New Years (from one year into the next) it would be really helpful to know the point structure for beginning of Jan. more than 2 -3 months ahead of time.

 

[RobDoc]

Sorry, kem, my friend was not in a position to comment on the why's of the changes- except to state that the Collection costs are individually negotiated with each resort.

My guess is that the resorts may have even looked at the past history of DVC usage at their resort and changed the costs to even out this utilization.

Actually, DVC did the same thing when the points were originally structured for the DVC resorts. The "less desirable" times were made lower than the more desirable. (All timeshares do the same thing also- whether it's for weekend usage or seasonal usage.)

Some of the DVC seasons do not coincide with the WDW seasons already. It seems that some of the resorts have taken this inequity to another level.

I don't really expect the new charts to provide any answers as to why the changes were made. I assume we'll have a good time speculating those reasons right here!

Just curious, kem...did MS automatically make your reservations or were they contacting you to see if you still wanted those dates once you knew the points? I'd like to think that you are able to regain control of those points as DVC points if the costs are more than you wish to utilize. Hopefully that is the case- I'd hate to think you are locked into those rates or risk losing the points to "reservation" status.

 

[kem330]

Actually we are still on a wait list for BW and I had not made the ressie for BC yet- playing that waiting game. But I bought airline tickets after a call to MS about the availability of ressies at BC- before I heard about the point increase. It was my back up as we did not want to pay cash since we layed out a lot for our purchase this year. Now I guess we're back to paying cash if WL doesn't come through- would never have invited the relatives if I knew this would happen! Learned a tough lesson on this one (unless i get lucky and WL clears!) Thanks for your help

 

[RobDoc]

Have you checked availability at OKW? There are often rooms there in Jan!

Good Luck! I'd still have some hope for the wait list. There is still plenty of time.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Kem, are you set on VWL, or will you take any DVC units available. I would really be surprised if OKW was full at that time. It would certainly be a better use of points and bigger accommodations than BC.

 

[Covman]

There was availiability at OKW for early January when I called yesterday. I second (or third?)the motion to find out what is happening there.

 

[kem330]

I'm on the wait list for BW. When I called yesterday to verify the point increase for BC for Jan 1 and 2, I asked if any WDW DVC resorts had availability and was told no. (probably grabbed up by everyone who heard about the increase!)

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Doc,

I am assuming this is the fall edition of Vacation Magic. I just saw they posted the summer Vacation Magic online. Is there usually a long delay between the mailing and internet version of VM? I'm looking forward to the "sales information" (hopfully BCV info) you mentioned in your post.

Thanks, Johnnie

 

[prplcrzy]

Kem,

I would call back and ask specifically about OKW. They may have jumped the gun by answering a blanket no to a question like that.

 

[PamOKW]

The VM usually appears on-line a few days before the first person reports receiving their mailed copy. However, the last issue didn't appear on-line until well after most members had received their hard copy.