New DVC Member Question - When DVC option is booked can book outside

[PedroD]

I am a relatively new DVC member, with home contracts at both Riviera and GFV. We were so excited to book our first family DVC trip over the back half of Thanksgiving week. Unfortunately it took a while for our resale contract points to come into our account, and we missed the window to get the reservations booked timely and are waitlisted for one day on a split stay between Riviera and Copper Creek (because we could not get into GFV and are waitlisted there). So we are waitlisted at both GVF and also Riviera for one night, and had to BUY one night at Riviera through the normal reservation process.

I understand it is a really busy week, and the pent-up demand on post-COVID travel combined with our late ability to book is making this a tough week...but how is it that we are waitlisted at our home resort (Riviera) when they are selling rooms through their open reservation system. Great welcome gift...I get to spend another $900 to secure the room we need to complete our vacation. Not a great start to being DVC members!

I assume that our waitlist options could open up...but am not crossing our fingers since it is for the night of Nov 26th. Still, I think it is kind of crappy that at a DVC specific resort which is our home resort we cannot book through DVC and have to pay extra.

Am I missing any loopholes on this process? Ugh.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

I think, and I sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but you can purchase a limited number of one time use points to fill in, or complete the vacation. I believe the total is 24. https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/faq/one-time-use-points/how-to/
Check out the link, I think it may help.

 

[zavandor]

This is a common question. I understand your frustration, but the rooms come from different inventories.
DVC has declared only part of the resort (around 35%, sorry I don't remember the exact number). Members can book with points only 35% of rooms at any given time.
DVC retain ownership of 2/3 of the resort and can sell those rooms for cash.
In addition, when members use points for cruises and other exchanges, DVC sells the points to recoup the money used for those reservations.
Also, all empty rooms 60 days before stay can be rented as breakage inventory for cash and proceeding go to offset our dues (up to a 2.5% of the total resort budget).
The cash and point inventories cannot be mixed.

 

[DGaw4]

I am a relatively new DVC member, with home contracts at both Riviera and GFV. We were so excited to book our first family DVC trip over the back half of Thanksgiving week. Unfortunately it took a while for our resale contract points to come into our account, and we missed the window to get the reservations booked timely and are waitlisted for one day on a split stay between Riviera and Copper Creek (because we could not get into GFV and are waitlisted there). So we are waitlisted at both GVF and also Riviera for one night, and had to BUY one night at Riviera through the normal reservation process.

I understand it is a really busy week, and the pent-up demand on post-COVID travel combined with our late ability to book is making this a tough week...but how is it that we are waitlisted at our home resort (Riviera) when they are selling rooms through their open reservation system. Great welcome gift...I get to spend another $900 to secure the room we need to complete our vacation. Not a great start to being DVC members!

I assume that our waitlist options could open up...but am not crossing our fingers since it is for the night of Nov 26th. Still, I think it is kind of crappy that at a DVC specific resort which is our home resort we cannot book through DVC and have to pay extra.

Am I missing any loopholes on this process? Ugh.

Did you happen to tell member services this would be your welcome home visit to see if they could pull from their cash inventory? I don’t know that it would help around a holiday, but it may not hurt to ask.

 

[Grumpy Mouse]

Did you happen to tell member services this would be your welcome home visit to see if they could pull from their cash inventory? I don’t know that it would help around a holiday, but it may not hurt to ask.

I second this recommendation. Note the thread "I'm all in!" where the new DVC'er got member services/sales to book them a full week right before Christmas (one of the most desirable weeks of the year) although there was no availability through the booking system - and with just a 5 month lead time, no less.

Every new blue card member should be asking for this.

 

[PedroD]

Great idea! That will be a call I definitely make...hanks for the tip!

 

[scoobdoo]

Did you happen to tell member services this would be your welcome home visit to see if they could pull from their cash inventory? I don’t know that it would help around a holiday, but it may not hurt to ask.

is this even an option for white card people? OP said he bought resale.

 

[DGaw4]

is this even an option for white card people? OP said he bought resale.

Great question. I may have assumed that the Riviera contract was purchased direct and he had blue card benefits. Best of luck to OP either way!

 

[Bearval]

is this even an option for white card people? OP said he bought resale.

I don't believe it is since it is usually your DCV sales rep who contacts you for your 1st welcome home trip.

 

[Sandisw]

Great idea! That will be a call I definitely make...hanks for the tip!

Just be aware that since you already secured some of your trip, they may not help you.

It is usually reserved for brand new direct buyers getting their first trip booked. Since you don’t mention when you bought the direct RIV contract, it may be too late.

 

[PedroD]

Got it...thanks all. Riv is direct and GFV is resale. We are on the waiting list for both multiple days at the GFV and Riviera for one more night on top of the first couple of nights. But, we got into the Copper Creek Cabin, which we wanted to see anyway. So if it is what it is, I'll just be a little miffed. But its a first-world problem I guess.

 

[CarolynFH]

Got it...thanks all. Riv is direct and GFV is resale. We are on the waiting list for both multiple days at the GFV and Riviera for one more night on top of the first couple of nights. But, we got into the Copper Creek Cabin, which we wanted to see anyway. So if it is what it is, I'll just be a little miffed. But its a first-world problem I guess.

Hang on to that Riviera waitlist. If DVD sells enough points between now and then, they’ll declare more villas into DVC inventory, and it’s likely your waitlist will fill due to increased availability. All is not lost!

 

[Nabas]

Hang on to that Riviera waitlist. If DVD sells enough points between now and then, they’ll declare more villas into DVC inventory, and it’s likely your waitlist will fill due to increased availability. All is not lost!

Wow, I did not know it works that way. Thanks!