Member cash discount?

[bangzoom6877]

Our next trip home will be in mid-July 2012 (right now looking at July 15, 2012 as arrival date). We will be using our points at our home resort (BWV), and my parents, sister and nieces are going to be joining us. We don't have enough points to accommodate them, but they are thinking about staying at BWV together in a 2BR (there will be 5 of them), for cash. I called Member Services just now to see if there is a cash discount available for them if they book this through our membership. The CM on the phone was very helpful, and she said that yes, they are entitled to a discount for their cash reservation as long as it is booked under our membership.

I asked the CM if she could tell me what the discount would be for a cash reservation and she told me that info is not available yet for July 2012, and it depends on the dates of the trip. Does anyone know if there is a "typical" discount for a cash ressie made through a DVC membership for mid-July? If this helps...we are definitely NOT going to be there for July 4th, even if we adjust our dates a little. My parents, sister and nieces are planning to stay 7 nights, and DH, the boys and I are staying 10 nights.

So, what are your experiences with a DVC Member cash discount? Thanks in advance!

 

[erionm]

The member cash discount is always 25% off rack rates. The discount may not be available even if there are rooms available thru MS for cash.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There is never a guarantee that the discount will be available. Plus, the member must be staying in the villa with the cash discount. It's not transferrable to non-members.

If you/they have an AP, you might be able to get an AP Discount on a villa, but you won't know if it is available until spring. Or AAA.

 

[5forDiz]

Even with 25% discount if it is available for travel dates wanted, it's pricey and there's tax to be paid as well, my quick calculations for 2br BWV with 25% discount are approximately between $585 - 750 depending upon which dates in July it happens to be. Renting points reservation from member or through David would be better option at least for Sun -Thurs nights; I can't say for certain but renting points for Friday & Saturday night could be similar price to cash rate.

In addition to what Deb suggested it is possible that booking through Disney's CRO could possibly be a better discount but those discounts usually come out maybe 6 -9 months in advance ( I think I may have seen 30% on deluxe villas but not sure what time of year )

See this link to 2012 rack rates

http://www.mousesavers.com/boardwalkvillas2012.html

Good luck planning

 

[bangzoom6877]

There is never a guarantee that the discount will be available. Plus, the member must be staying in the villa with the cash discount. It's not transferrable to non-members.

If you/they have an AP, you might be able to get an AP Discount on a villa, but you won't know if it is available until spring. Or AAA.

The CM on the phone told me that a member doesn't have to be staying in the villa, and I don't even have to be with them when they check in. I specifically asked her about this, she put me on hold to check, and that is what she told me. Of course, she could have been wrong, I know that happens a lot.

Even with 25% discount if it is available for travel dates wanted, it's pricey and there's tax to be paid as well, my quick calculations for 2br BWV with 25% discount are approximately between $585 - 750 depending upon which dates in July it happens to be. Renting points reservation from member or through David would be better option at least for Sun -Thurs nights; I can't say for certain but renting points for Friday & Saturday night could be similar price to cash rate.

In addition to what Deb suggested it is possible that booking through Disney's CRO could possibly be a better discount but those discounts usually come out maybe 6 -9 months in advance ( I think I may have seen 30% on deluxe villas but not sure what time of year )

See this link to 2012 rack rates

http://www.mousesavers.com/boardwalkvillas2012.html

Good luck planning

How does it work renting through David? Is there a cancellation policy? That is mainly what I think about when considering having my family rent points...what if they had to cancel? I know that Disney has their own policy when you book through CRO anyway, but would it be similar booking through David?

I have also seen a discount for the general public for deluxe villa resorts. I believe in 2010 I saw that the discount was 40%...my sister and parents stayed in a value in 2010 (Pop), and they ended up getting 25% off, just a discount they had for the general public. This was mid-July of last year.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The CM on the phone told me that a member doesn't have to be staying in the villa, and I don't even have to be with them when they check in. I specifically asked her about this, she put me on hold to check, and that is what she told me. Of course, she could have been wrong, I know that happens a lot..

In the 14 years I've been a member, I have always been told the member must be staying in the villa to get the discount.

How does it work renting through David? Is there a cancellation policy? That is mainly what I think about when considering having my family rent points...what if they had to cancel? I know that Disney has their own policy when you book through CRO anyway, but would it be similar booking through David?

I have also seen a discount for the general public for deluxe villa resorts. I believe in 2010 I saw that the discount was 40%...my sister and parents stayed in a value in 2010 (Pop), and they ended up getting 25% off, just a discount they had for the general public. This was mid-July of last year.

I doubt if there is a cancellation policy. It should be similar to if you rented a reservation to a non-member. It's nothing like booking through Disney.

 

[bangzoom6877]

In the 14 years I've been a member, I have always been told the member must be staying in the villa to get the discount.

I doubt if there is a cancellation policy. It should be similar to if you rented a reservation to a non-member. It's nothing like booking through Disney.

OK, thanks for that info! Like I said, I know that CMs often communicate incorrect info. So...then the discount couldn't apply to them, because I will already be staying in the 1BR with DH and our 2 boys. If I list myself with the rest of the family instead, then things get way too complicated...I could use DH's key to get into our room, but things like charging things to the room get complicated. Have you ever tried doing anything like this...listing yourself in the room of a friend or family? Did it work out OK?

 

[CruznLexi]

We have Hilton head on cash for August for 4 nights in a 2 bedroom it was $399 a night when I called back to see if additional nights were available the rate jumped up to $460 and if I changed to that it would change to that for the entire time. So Days Inn it will be for 2 nights.

 

[bobbiwoz]

In the end, we had to cancel, but I had a HHI 1 bedroom booked with Member Discount for our DS's family. There was no problem in the fact that we were not going to be with them.

Also, in the past, my DCuz's family booked a BWV villa on the DVC discount. That was a Saturday night rental, and too pricey for our then total of points. We put them in a standard view villa for the rest of the stay, starting Sunday.

My experience has been that you don't have to have the member in the room to get the DVC discount.

Bobbi

 

[bangzoom6877]

In the end, we had to cancel, but I had a HHI 1 bedroom booked with Member Discount for our DS's family. There was no problem in the fact that we were not going to be with them.

Also, in the past, my DCuz's family booked a BWV villa on the DVC discount. That was a Saturday night rental, and too pricey for our then total of points. We put them in a standard view villa for the rest of the stay, starting Sunday.

My experience has been that you don't have to have the member in the room to get the DVC discount.

Bobbi

Thanks for this info! When I call this August to book at the 11-month mark, I will inquire about the discount for the rest of the family. I know also, that perks can change at any time, so this is all provided that they still offer the cash discount as well.

Worse comes to worse, they will stay at Pop again...it worked out fine last year doing that, but it would just be nice if we could all stay at the same resort! They are also looking into Swan/Dolphin, since they have reduced rates available for school personnel (my sister is a guidance counselor), and it is so close to BWV. But, they also charge a resort fee and parking, so it depends on where it compares to BWV in total.