Major Policy Change in DVC/DCL Trade Policy UPDATE ON POST #193

[Cmbar]

Well this policy will not be user friendly for booking onboard and changing to points within three days of sailing. This really stinks. I already have a cash ressie for the cruise I want in April and since there is limited availabilty then I don't guess we will be able to use our points at all for a Dream cruise.


I know, I know, I can rent my points but in my case the difference between renting points at $10 a point and using them directly is about $100. Not worth the hassle of trying to rent exactly those amount of points. For certain itineraries or if you are taking a slew of people it is not worth it, but we were just the two of us in a low category in a low demand time and it was a great deal.

How will this impact people booking onboard? My understand was that I have to book onboard to get a discount and then call DVC to get this ressie changed to points since they CAN'T do it onboard. So do I tell the Sales person onboard to check for DVC availabilty before they book? Seems like DVC points discount won't be an option if you want to book a cruise in the next year.


This may explain why DVC never responded to my Email inquiry about making a cash reservation and then transfering it to a DVC point reservation. Now I wish I had never sent it. And I am mad the MS cm told me to just wait until I get onboard in October and book then so I can get a point discount. UGH!

SORRY just venting!

 

[danandnan]

DVC room and cash rooms are two entirely different pools of rooms - it has always been that way. There can be tons of availability for rooms at a resort on cash and none for DVC, or vice-versa. "Actual" availability for DVC means DVC rooms, always has.

I guess we never realized that - learn something new all the time. I'm sure no one ever told us that before. Thanks!!

N

 

[danandnan]

Well this policy will not be user friendly for booking onboard and changing to points within three days of sailing. This really stinks. I already have a cash ressie for the cruise I want in April and since there is limited availabilty then I don't guess we will be able to use our points at all for a Dream cruise.


I know, I know, I can rent my points but in my case the difference between renting points at $10 a point and using them directly is about $100. Not worth the hassle of trying to rent exactly those amount of points. For certain itineraries or if you are taking a slew of people it is not worth it, but we were just the two of us in a low category in a low demand time and it was a great deal.

How will this impact people booking onboard? My understand was that I have to book onboard to get a discount and then call DVC to get this ressie changed to points since they CAN'T do it onboard. So do I tell the Sales person onboard to check for DVC availabilty before they book? Seems like DVC points discount won't be an option if you want to book a cruise in the next year.


This may explain why DVC never responded to my Email inquiry about making a cash reservation and then transfering it to a DVC point reservation. Now I wish I had never sent it. And I am mad the MS cm told me to just wait until I get onboard in October and book then so I can get a point discount. UGH!

SORRY just venting!

I'm with you!..............

N

 

[cruiseletters]

This is not just a coincidence that on yesterday every allotment on every weeks sailing suddenly was filled. When i called ms today they told me that. I stopped the ms employee and said I could understand that explanation if all the Alaska weeks filled up last month and the Dream cruises were filling up week by week and they were blacking out certain weeks along the way but they really want me to buy that all points inventory just suddenly filled up for every cruise on every ship yesterday? How stupid do they think we all are. I asked a supervisor if all the promotional cruises that the dvc has been offering for buying a certain amount of points was part of the annual allotment that the dvc negotiated with DCL. they then could honestly say that they have so many members that want to cruise that they ran out of inventory, while basically hosing the rest of there members by running a promotional that took it all. The supervisor said that was a possibility. She thought the same thing about running out of inventory all at the same time when they got the notification. As far as i'm concerned Jim Lewis has done a lousy job and this is one more example of it. I don't like being lied to and will have to rethink my membership in this organization.

 

[Mineu]

Thinking back on my first DVC call about the Alaska cruise, I was ready to book that day using my points, then the agent suggested that I try to use my existing reservations for the Dream (I had 4 cabins on a back to back) so that I could use my onboard booking and need less points (good suggestion at the time). Well, I call back after this is done-only to learn that 1) the travel agency needs to fax over a letter to release the reservation back to me and 2) they were unable to get the 11B loaded in the system for me to book on points-suggestion-call back in a few days-result-no more DVC bookings accepted for Alaska cruises. Impact on my family-we are now in two more expensive cabins on our back to back (had to upgrade to fit 5 in one cabin and release two cabins for the Alaska trip) we will have to pay for both of our Alaska cabins in cash now instead of one on cash & one on points. I don't want to cancel Alaska (now that my shirt is in ), 4 days on the Dream is better than 3-so we'll have to cancel the 3 day.

 

[DBBN]

They have started contacting people on the "Call List"!!!!!

...as we were called earlier today by Member Services and given the opportunity to rebook our June cruise. So we have now cancelled two category 5C cabins on the June 21 cruise. If she is not on the call list, she should ask to be put on, too.

We were so happy to receive the call from DVC!! We have been rebooked to our August sail date and all is well for us!!

I'm really happy to hear this worked out the way you needed it to. Have a great cruise.

 

[FLWIDisneyFan]

This is not just a coincidence that on yesterday every allotment on every weeks sailing suddenly was filled. When i called ms today they told me that. I stopped the ms employee and said I could understand that explanation if all the Alaska weeks filled up last month and the Dream cruises were filling up week by week and they were blacking out certain weeks along the way but they really want me to buy that all points inventory just suddenly filled up for every cruise on every ship yesterday? How stupid do they think we all are. I asked a supervisor if all the promotional cruises that the dvc has been offering for buying a certain amount of points was part of the annual allotment that the dvc negotiated with DCL. they then could honestly say that they have so many members that want to cruise that they ran out of inventory, while basically hosing the rest of there members by running a promotional that took it all. The supervisor said that was a possibility. She thought the same thing about running out of inventory all at the same time when they got the notification. As far as i'm concerned Jim Lewis has done a lousy job and this is one more example of it. I don't like being lied to and will have to rethink my membership in this organization.

I agree completely. This is something completely different than availability on specific cruises. I believe that more people are booking cruises and my bet is that they are getting too much inventory that they can not resell.

 

[lilpooh108]

Switching cash reservations over to points reservations was always subject to the DVC availability of a particular category and date. Since they have now drastically lowered the number of DVC bookings allowed, it will be extremely difficult to accomplish this.

Congratulations on booking November 2011. That is, of course, after the September 2011 date which will currently not allow DVC bookings..



They have started contacting people on the "Call List"!!!!!

Carol,

I am so happy for you that you were able to rebook. I actually booked the Mexican Riviera cruise since we wanted to be able to at least get one cruise in on points (we had been saving points to cruise this year). I am going to call again tomorrow to see if they will put me on the call-list despite the fact that they refused to do it today. I hope everyone that gets a call posts details about what happened.

I also wrote to Member Satisfaction---do they actually read those emails? Have people ever received a response?

 

[DisWitt]

I just did my part and wrote to Member Services. Thanks for posting the e-mail address.

Specifically, I asked for 1) an explanation of WHY, 2) verification of if and when booking will be allowed again, and 3) when they will officially notify DVC Members of this. MS needs to be held accountable to give us some answers.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I am glad I booked my Dream Cruise when I did. This is a potential nightmare. I just can't wait to sail now..

 

[gkrykewy]

I guess we never realized that - learn something new all the time. I'm sure no one ever told us that before. Thanks!!

N

If it makes you feel any better, for the DVC resorts, 90 or 95% of the total availability is DVC points availability.

 

[tjkraz]

The upsetting point to me again, is we now have a certain type of sales agent that will say anything to get a sale.

Ontariomonkey was told by DVC that using DVC points for a cruise was as good as paying cash. If there was availbility with cash, there would be availbility to book with points. That is not true.

I seriously doubt you will find a agent now that will tell you that perks can be removed at any time without notice, that you will experience difficulty at times booking out of your home resort at 7 months and even possibly experience difficulty at 11 months for certain situations.

They are so desperate to make sales they will promise you the moon and not worry about the reality. They are using these perks to sell DVC knowing that at anytime they can be gone.

It is sleezy and I don't care how anyone tries to sugar coat it.

Oh Sammie, Sammie, Sammie.

Yeah, DVC sure has come a long way from the days when they sold Vero points to people promising they would have "no problem" getting those BoardWalk Standard View rooms or OKW Grand Villas at 7 months.

This kinda stuff has been going on long before Jim Lewis arrived and it will continue long after he's gone. And not having been in the room at the time, none of us is in a position to judge how much of this confusion is the result of miscommunication (not asking the right questions), how much is misinterpretation (not properly understanding the responses) and how much is true misinformation--either intentionally or unintentionally.

In the end, we're talking about commissioned salespeople here. It's common sense to seek out independent verification on critical topics and these days there are many avenues available to get that verification.

DVC IS a profit center of The Walt Disney Company and the expectation is that it will be managed as such. If that wasn't the case 10+ years ago, then I think we know why the former head of DVC was replaced.

 

[LindaBabe]

I also wrote to Member Satisfaction---do they actually read those emails? Have people ever received a response?

Yes, they do! I write to them rather often, after every trip, in fact, to let them know my observations on DVC and I ALWAYS get some kind of response, usually a telephone call.

 

[Sammie]

Oh Sammie, Sammie, Sammie.

Yeah, DVC sure has come a long way from the days when they sold Vero points to people promising they would have "no problem" getting those BoardWalk Standard View rooms or OKW Grand Villas at 7 months.

This kinda stuff has been going on long before Jim Lewis arrived and it will continue long after he's gone. And not having been in the room at the time, none of us is in a position to judge how much of this confusion is the result of miscommunication (not asking the right questions), how much is misinterpretation (not properly understanding the responses) and how much is true misinformation--either intentionally or unintentionally.

In the end, we're talking about commissioned salespeople here. It's common sense to seek out independent verification on critical topics and these days there are many avenues available to get that verification.

DVC IS a profit center of The Walt Disney Company and the expectation is that it will be managed as such. If that wasn't the case 10+ years ago, then I think we know why the former head of DVC was replaced.

Oh TJ, TJ, TJ, do you ever find fault with them or notice that others have the same opinion as I do.

I am glad for them to be profitable, don't think they have to throw the current membership under the bus though to be so.

We will again agree to disagree but I do enjoy your never wavering support of them if nothing else you are consistent.

 

[danandnan]

If it makes you feel any better, for the DVC resorts, 90 or 95% of the total availability is DVC points availability.

That does make me feel a little better - not quite so uninformed! This is only the second time we've used points for a cruise so maybe that's how it got by us. There are still many things about DVC that bother me but I'm not going to get into it...............!!!

N

 

[CarolAnnC]

Again for those just tuning in - if you are not happy with DCL/DVC's new policy on reduced booking for Disney cruises, then feel free to contact the DVC Member Satisfaction Team at dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com - they provide this email address for DVC members to voice their concerns.

Good luck to those who are still awaiting booking or rebooking their DCL cruises!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think this whole situation needs to be a forewarning to all those members who don't plan to buy at Aulani, but plan to book at 7 months out. I don't think the availability is going to be there.

 

[Tara]

I seriously doubt you will find a agent now that will tell you that perks can be removed at any time without notice, that you will experience difficulty at times booking out of your home resort at 7 months and even possibly experience difficulty at 11 months for certain situations.

They are so desperate to make sales they will promise you the moon and not worry about the reality. They are using these perks to sell DVC knowing that at anytime they can be gone.

Since you are doubtful, I can help reassure you that such guides DO exist. I can't believe that my guide is the ONLY one who doesn't tell people things that are misleading. My guide was very up-front about the fact that perks are just perks and not stipulated by the contract. He was very careful to warn us that taking advantage of lower point seasons is a great way to stretch points, but that availability at non-home resorts can be iffy.

I'm sure there are guides who mislead, so I'm certainly not apologizing for guides as a whole or saying they're all perfect. But there are those who act like everything DVC does is wrong and some who act as if can do no wrong. Isn't it more likely that the truth lies in the middle and that not every little thing that goes wrong or displeases people is about greed or poor management?

 

[tjkraz]

Oh TJ, TJ, TJ, do you ever find fault with them or notice that others have the same opinion as I do.

I am glad for them to be profitable, don't think they have to throw the current membership under the bus though to be so.

We will again agree to disagree but I do enjoy your never wavering support of them if nothing else you are consistent.

I have no problem being critical when there is adequate evidence to support such criticism. I also make it a point to offer balanced criticism--giving credit for positive changes as well as deriding the negative.

That said, it's sad to see your opinions increasingly tainted by emotion rather than fact. This forum has 10+ years worth of history documenting mis-steps by DVC sales agents and yet your comments begin with "we now have a certain type of sales agent..."

One poster comes forward with obvious misunderstadings about how DCL bookings occur. Neither of us were present. We have no idea what questions were asked nor what answers were provided. And yet that's reason enough to brand every DVC sales rep as "sleezy" and infer that they are all desperate and dishonest??

Disappointing.

 

[Crissup]

such guides DO exist. I can't believe that my guide is the ONLY one who doesn't tell people things that are misleading.

Correct. There absolutely are guides who are honest and up front about the benefits and caveats about buying into DVC. We're very lucky to have one those guides in Ron Brumbaugh. Ron has always been honest when we've asked questions and has never tried to mislead us.

Unfortunately though, there are a *lot* of younger guides who will tell you anything to get you to sell. I actually got into a disagreement with a guide in the middle of a sales presentation on a Disney cruise several years ago. He was telling the whole room about how it makes zero difference where you buy as you'll never have any trouble getting into the resort you want. As I stood up and called him on it, he proceeded to insist that it made zero difference. I then pointed out that CarolAnnC actually had to purchase a BWV resale even after she already owned 500 points elsewhere just so she could get into the BWV after trying unsuccessfully for two years.

I know he wasn't happy with me, but it just really ticked me off that he held his stance and was trying to mislead potential new buyers.