Members Discount on rooms/ inventory Question

[flechette]

Hello All~


Okay I'm clear that there's 2 DVC room inventories - DVC's and CRO's

A question was brought up on another board - when you pay cash for a DVC room and get the 25% discount, which inventory does the room come out of?

the person asking the question said there was a rule that a room had to be available on points to be eligible of the cash discount (her reservation had gotten cancelled for no discernable reason and she's run up against the rooms available via CRO but not DVC dilemma trying to get it rebooked- among other things)

Not being a member yet my info is limited to what I've gathered from y'alls great intellect I don't think the answer will help much either way but now I'm curious.


Oh (off topic) we should be buying in in about 7 weeks - for anyone who wonders or cares that means my hubby will be home soon!

 

[DebbieB]

That's what I've always heard - it comes from the points inventory, that's why no housekeeping.

 

[flechette]

Ahhh - I've now have a clearer understanding of the matter-

okay - why would you be able to book a cash discount room but not a points based room if they both come from the same inventory?




TIA!

 

[CarolMN]

Ahhh - I've now have a clearer understanding of the matter-

okay - why would you be able to book a cash discount room but not a points based room if they both come from the same inventory?




TIA!

You can also get a cash discount on rooms from the Developer's inventory - those rooms are not part of the member (points) inventory.

 

[flechette]

You can also get a cash discount on rooms from the Developer's inventory - those rooms are not part of the member (points) inventory.

Would that be the case at SSR since it's completely built?

hmm - or would developer's inventory not run out until the resort is sold out?



Michelle

 

[CarolMN]

Would that be the case at SSR since it's completely built?

hmm - or would developer's inventory not run out until the resort is sold out?



Michelle

I don't think all of SSR is "declared into the condominium" yet, even though all of the units are finished. The Developer puts enough units into the points inventory to keep ahead of sales, but if more units are available than are needed to support current sales, they will rent out their portion for cash.

It may not technically be "Developer" inventory, but DVC/Disney does rent out the points it buys back via ROFR, so you could also be getting a cash discount from a "sold out" resort thanks to ROFR points that are waiting to be resold. That's no different than members renting out points - Disney just doesn't discount their rentals quite as much as some members do.

 

[RobDoc]

Ahhh - I've now have a clearer understanding of the matter-

okay - why would you be able to book a cash discount room but not a points based room if they both come from the same inventory?




TIA!

Usually, the discount is NOT available unless MS is reasonably certain that a villa will not be needed for reservation using points - this evidence is based on a combination of past history for the date and current reservation interest. Usually, the discount is available for weekend nights - and in some cases will offer the discount right at 11 months. Often the discount won't be available until about 6 months (if at all).

I suspect that there are times when the discounted room may come from the CRO inventory especially if there are other discounts for the date wanted.

The first priority and responsibility for member inventory reservations is to only reserve using points. If the discount is available yet no rooms are available using points, the discounted room may well still be from the CRO inventory where a points reservation would not be.

 

[flechette]

Usually, the discount is NOT available unless MS is reasonably certain that a villa will not be needed for reservation using points - this evidence is based on a combination of past history for the date and current reservation interest. Usually, the discount is available for weekend nights - and in some cases will offer the discount right at 11 months. Often the discount won't be available until about 6 months (if at all).

I suspect that there are times when the discounted room may come from the CRO inventory especially if there are other discounts for the date wanted.

The first priority and responsibility for member inventory reservations is to only reserve using points. If the discount is available yet no rooms are available using points, the discounted room may well still be from the CRO inventory where a points reservation would not be.

Bolding is mine

hmm well the reservation in question was/is for New Years Eve 12/31- surely MS would expect to use those rooms for points during Peak season. I like Doc's explanation tho - it appears to be both inventories may be feeding the cash discount price availability which makes sense to me

Thanks all! I'll relay the info~

Michelle

 

[mattnkatsmum]

Thanks to Flechette for posting this. I am the 'member who posted the question on another Board'. Just so you know the story, here's what I posted:

"Yesterday, I was fantasizing about my forthcoming Disney trip when I ought to have been working, and I decided to call Member Services to add the Dining Plan on to my Christmas ressie.

Just to recap, this is what I thought I had booked:

December 26 - 30; Saratoga Springs studio - points stay
December 31; - Saratoga Springs studio - cash stay with DVC Member discount ($299)
January 1-4; Saratoga Springs studio - points stay.

Originally, I was waitlisted for December 30 and 31st, but it occurred to me that I wasn't certain whether I was waitlisted for both days to come through together or as individual days, which is what I wanted. So a couple of weeks ago I phoned MS and they confirmed that I was waitlisted for both days, but they were tied together (ie both days would need to become available) so I asked for that to be changed. Are you with me so far?

Anyway, long story cut short, the waitlist came through almost immediately for the 30th, but not the 31st. Upon speaking to MS yesterday I discovered that upon our booking a points stay for the 30th, they also cancelled our cash stay for the 31st. NEW YEARS EVE!

I was not one happy bunny, I can tell you, especially when MS lady told me I phoned to cancel the cash stay on the 6th June (as if!). Eventually, after a fair bit of remonstrating on my part, she established that the studio is still available, but at a Member discount price of $399. Fortunately I had received written confirmation of the original $299 price. More remonstrating.

Finally after a call which lasted well over an hour at international rates, DVC agreed to honour the rate that they were contractually obliged to.

This is the first, and hopefully the last, negative experience I've had with MS. I suppose the reason I'm posting this is to remind everyone that it's always worth phoning to check your booking, especially when combining a cash stay as this won't appear on the web site.

As an afterthought, whilst I don't pretend to understand how DVC inventory is allocated, can anybody explain how I'm able to book a room with cash and a DVC member discount, but not a points stay? I understand that some rooms are separately allocated through the main Disney reservation system, but would have thought that the DVC discount would only be available if there were units available from its own inventory.

Thanks for indulging me. I needed to get that off my chest."

Whilst I'm not complaining for one minute, I'm just surprised that Member Services is able to offer me a discounted room, for New Years Eve no less, when there are no points rooms available.

 

[Chuck S]

Finally after a call which lasted well over an hour at international rates, DVC agreed to honour the rate that they were contractually obliged to.

Isn't there a toll-free number from the UK? Or is it for the greater London area only?

 

[mattnkatsmum]

Isn't there a toll-free number from the UK? Or is it for the greater London area only?

Yes....but not from my telephone provider

 

[javaj]

I actually just had a very informative discussion about this today with Member Services. I was making a reservation for 3 1-BR units, and on the last 1-BR, one of the nights just became unavailable (that's a different story altogether!) but anyway, the night was available at the member discount so I took that and waitlisted for that night.

How it was explained to me was that there is a different allotment of rooms for points and rooms for cash member discounts because the money that pays for cash rooms are budgeted to pay for members' external reservations (i.e. Adventures w/Disney, II, etc). Don't know if that's correct but it seems to make sense and that's how she explained it.