Members Cruise for resale buyers

[mickeyandpluto]

We recently bought DVC through the resale market. We see that there is a member's cruise next August that we would like to go on. Does anyone know if we are eligible to go on the members cruise if we pay cash? I called the number and the woman said we are not eligible, but the fine print at the bottom of the notice says - Effective March 21, 2011, Members who do not purchase their Ownership Interests directly from Disney will not be able to use those vacation points to make reservations for the Member Cruise.

Any ideas anybody? Has anyone been on a member's cruise with resale points?

Thanks,

 

[MouseMomx2]

No, last I knew, only those that buy direct have access to the Member Cruise...whether paying with cash or with points.

 

[erionm]

No one with resale only contracts purchased after 3/21/2011 has been able to book the member cruise since the restrictions went into effect.

 

[jfahome]

Does anyone know where this is stated? That resale members can't go? I know that resale DVC can't use the points for the cruise but I thought it was possible to pay cash. I'd like to see this somewhere as well. Not that i don't' believe..just thought otherwise. Thx

 

[disneynutz]

It's Disney's way of trying to get you to buy direct.

To be honest, IMO the Member Cruise is may not be worth the money even if you could go. You would think that Disney would discount the cruise as a thank you to the members, but instead they charge us more. True they do offer some extras on a member cruise but those extras may not have value for everyone and in reality we are paying extra for them.

Bill

 

[jfahome]

I agree that it's more. We knew when we bought points that we couldn't use them on cruises, but we didn't plan to do that. BUT, I did think we could go on the member cruise. I'm ok that we can't, just found it surprising.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm a member who enjoyed the Member Cruises we've been on.

Here's an old thread...memberships made up exclusively of resale points bought after the deadline were not eligible to book MCs.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2860211&highlight=member+cruise+resale+points

 

[erionm]

Does anyone know where this is stated? That resale members can't go? I know that resale DVC can't use the points for the cruise but I thought it was possible to pay cash. I'd like to see this somewhere as well. Not that i don't' believe..just thought otherwise. Thx

Although they allow payment in full by cash (which is unique to the Member Cruise), the Member Cruise is still technically part of the Disney Collection which is not available to resale purchases made after 3/21/2011.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

And I for one think that this is a very poor decision by DVC. I'm fine with them deciding that points can't be used but I think it borders on petty to not allow every DVC member to book on cash should they wish.

edit - although didn't the wording previously state that if you did not purchase directly you could not go on the member cruise? I thought it was broader wording than not using points?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Ok - I looked back at posts and found last years iteration of the restriction which is different than this one that states can't cruise on points:

"Memberships not purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. on or after March 21, 2011 will not have access to 2012/2013 S.S. Member Cruises."

Here it states "will not have access" which differs IMO.

OP - I'd probably write to DVC just to to ask for clarification and pointedly ask if there is a rule change from the last couple of Member Cruises. It's probably the same and they need to adjust the wording but perhaps they've relented since I don't believe they've been selling out recently.

 

[DVC Dude]

We recently bought DVC through the resale market. We see that there is a member's cruise next August that we would like to go on. Does anyone know if we are eligible to go on the members cruise if we pay cash? I called the number and the woman said we are not eligible, but the fine print at the bottom of the notice says - Effective March 21, 2011, Members who do not purchase their Ownership Interests directly from Disney will not be able to use those vacation points to make reservations for the Member Cruise.

Any ideas anybody? Has anyone been on a member's cruise with resale points?

Thanks,

I wonder if you buy a 25 point add on from Disney would they then allow you to book the cruise via cash?

 

[keaster]

I just looked up the 2014 Member cruise and here's what it says under "What you need to know, in bold it says those who bought resale after March 21, 2011 cannot use points or cash to go on the member cruise:


•As of March 21, 2011, Members who purchase their Ownership Interest through Disney Vacation Development, Inc. are eligible to book reservations for all Member Getaways collections. Members who purchase on the resale market after this date will not be able to use those vacation points or cash to make reservations for the Member Cruise.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I just looked up the 2014 Member cruise and here's what it says under "What you need to know, in bold it says those who bought resale after March 21, 2011 cannot use points or cash to go on the member cruise:


•As of March 21, 2011, Members who purchase their Ownership Interest through Disney Vacation Development, Inc. are eligible to book reservations for all Member Getaways collections. Members who purchase on the resale market after this date will not be able to use those vacation points or cash to make reservations for the Member Cruise.

I finally found that - you have to dig a bit deep. At least 2 other locations it only mentions you may not use points and nothing about cash.

 

[Mom B]

I wonder if you buy a 25 point add on from Disney would they then allow you to book the cruise via cash?

It worked for us! We have several resale contracts (4 or 5, I think) but our second purchase, a mere 30 points at AKV, was purchased directly through Disney. We were allowed to book the January 2013 Members Cruise on cash; when I asked, the rep said that as long as one of our contracts was purchased direct, we were eligible to book the Members cruise. It would probably be best to call and check if you decided you wanted to invest in a small contract in order to go that route, as they may have changed the policy on this, but it did work for us, so it might work for others. As far as the expense goes, it was our first (and only, so far) cruise experience so I can't really compare it with anything else. However, we did really enjoy the "freebies" and souvenirs that were showered upon us. Some of them we gave to the kids as souvenirs, but the DVC Monopoly Game was a definite keeper! I personally enjoyed the stage shows and seminars that were targeted to members, but my hubby sat them out. Would we do it again? Not sure, but I wouldn't rule it out. Good luck!

 

[brkgnews]

Simply stated...

• If you're only paying cash, you need to have at least one contract purchased directly from Disney. If all of your contracts are resales, at least one of them has to have been bought before that 2011 cutoff date.
• If you're going to be using points for some or all of the cruise, any points you use for the cruise must have either been purchased directly from Disney, or have been purchased on the resale market prior to that cutoff date.

This isn't a new policy for the member cruise. It's the same one from the past few sailings.