Making cash ressies at a DVC resort

[mrudman]

How does this work? Do they set aside a certain # of rooms that are available to reserve on a cash basis?

Any bonuses if you are a dvc member at that same resort? In terms of time frame when you can book, etc?

The reason I'm asking is because I'm going back & forth on whether we should just reserve 4 rooms at a moderate hotel, or two 2-br villas at BCV (which i would prefer), for my parent's anniversary trip (14 people total).

DH and I will be buying into BCV later on this year... but would be traveling June of 2010, so thinking if need be (to be able to make the early reservation), could always buy smaller contract than what we are planning earlier, then add on at end of year/next year.

Also, would there be any discounts on the rooms with a dvc membership?

 

[jekjones1558]

DVC members get a 25% discount on DVC rooms if there are cash rooms available. The time frame for when the cash rooms become available changes. You need to call Member Services to find out if the discount is available, and you need to already be a DVC member to call MS. There is no 11/7 month issue when booking cash rooms. Anyone can book 11 months out.

 

[mrudman]

Thanks for the quick reply,

Sorry to be a pain, but in the past, have rooms been available at 11 months out? 7 months out?

With me being the person that's planning this whole trip, I need to make sure that there's a good likelihood that I'd be able to book 2 rooms.. and not be stuck with no rooms at all.

Figuring the cash route, even though more expensive, would be the least hassle way, instead of trying to rent/transfer points.

Thanks,

 

[Anal Annie]

Somebody else will have to chime in and explain how the rooms get deposited into the inventory that's eligible for the DVC member cash discount (which is 25% off the normal rack rate IF IT'S AVAILABLE). I can tell you that once you're a member you can begin checking for cash availability at 11 months out and no, it does not have to be for your home resort. The inventory changes constantly & I think is determined at least in part by cancellations.

We have done cash stays twice. The first time we were able to book a studio at VWL for MLK weekend at about 5 months out. I just called MS with our dates that we wanted and asked to check if it was open and it was. If VWL was not available we'd have booked another resort but we really wanted VWL for that trip. I know OKW and SSR were also available at that time as alternate choices but we were glad to get to try VWL.

The 2nd time we booked a cash stay it took 3 phone calls over the course of a couple of weeks. I was trying to book a value studio at AKV for 3 nights last July and I started calling in Oct. (10 months out). I would've also taken a standard view studio but since it was on cash I was really trying to save and wanted the value.

There is no guarantee that what you want will be available for when you want so your best bet is to be flexible about where you stay if you can. It will improve your odds of getting something. But the 25% off discount is really great if you can catch it! You can sorta guestimate how much it would be from the CRO website. (Of course the 2010 rates won't be out until probably August so you'd have to base it on the current 2009 rates).