**New World Passport Point Chart & Member Update Mtg Highlights**

[Beth]

Hello Friends,

I apologize if this was posted earlier … We’ve been OKW since Saturday, and I’ve not been on the boards…

We check out this morning, but I went ahead and attended the member meeting.

They introduced about 2 weeks ago a new “fixed chart” for the World Passport Collection. The following are not estimates, but “set” figures for the II exchanges.

One Bedroom
Low Season: 124
Mid Season: 144
High Season: 160

Two Bedroom
Low Season: 207
Mid Season: 252
High Season: 270

The only catch would be, of course, “defining” the season for the particular resort – but I thought this was incredibly cool, and thought I’d pass it on.

By the way – we fell victim to the “new trial period” on room assignments. I spoke to a supervisor concerning the issue and, while he said many have expressed how pleased they were with the new system, I explained that I would “prefer” to wait until 5:00 to get the area of the resort I requested. I, for one, don’t understand why they continue to accept requests if your room is now at “the luck of the draw.” Anyway – more on that later. Talk to you all soon….

 

[Beth]

I just got home, and I'm surprised no one had any comments on this one...

Was this old news?!?

 

[Dean]

Interesting points levels if it ends up being accurate. The highest 1 BR level is equal to OKW adventure season but the highest 2 BR is higher than Dream but less than Magic. If it's accurate, it would be a decrease in the points required. It also makes me wonder if DVC is changing how they deposit. It makes me wonder if they ar giving II direct control of the points to book what they want like other resorts at DVC or high demand weeks, which is the way Club Intrawest and Cordial group apparently interact with DVC. It should be interesting to find out more.

Maybe less points but II might also be getting some high demand weeks that members would want.

 

[Werner Weiss]

I wonder if low, medium, and high translate to II's green, yellow, and red seasons? If so, then DVC could easily publish the the seasons for each II resort on the World Passport list. That would address Beth's concern about the"catch" of "'defining' the season for the particular resort."

Hmmm... Only 1BR and 2BR units are listed. Why no studios? There are typically a lot of studios in the II exchange pool -- including very desirable studios such as the locked off studios at Marriott's resorts in Palm Desert, California. Meanwhile, I would think that a lot of II members would be thrilled to exchange into studios at on-site WDW DVC resorts. If studios are really excluded, then II and DVC are missing out on a lot of potential exchanges (and the fees they get from those exchanges).

I imagine that such as schedule would encourage a lot DVC members who have never done so before to try World Passport exchanges. Many DVC members would understand for the first time that such exchanges can be a good way to use DVC points. Today, the reference that DVC members have for non-DVC resort stays are the point charts for Concierge Collection and Disney Collection. But now, DVC members will see that they can get a full week in a 1BR condo at a top timeshare resort for roughly the same number of points as a few nights in a Concierge Collection deluxe hotel room.

I just want to add that the thoughts above are all based on the assumption that Beth's post is complete and accurate. I have no reason to doubt Beth, but I'm aware that I'm commenting on information that I have not yet seen officially published.

 

[Dean]

Werner, unless DVC is actually giving up a specific week, this would require a major change in how things are done and with these points levels, there cannot be specific weeks given up. The studio issue was always an under the table option and previously to about 1998, they didn't even allow studio exchanges. I'd like to see the complete info to make any definite judgements.

 

[Beth]

Thanks for your comments.

Sorry - I didn't think to ask about studios. But I "did" ask him to confirm that these are "fixed" numbers, and not just estimates - and he did...

If you're interested, here's the "small print" at the bottom of the page:

"All exchanges are subject to availability, and program terms and conditions are subject to change. One week is equal to seven nights. The full terms and conditions of the World Passport Collection are located in the Disney Vacation Club Member Getaways Disclosure Guide About (sic) the Interval the Interval International Exchange Program, and have been specially agreed upon by the DVCMC and Interval International for obtaining resort accomodations for Disney Vacation Club Members. Please review these terms and conditions carefully as they are an integral part of the program. Please consult Member Services for additional information, including cancellation policies, additional fees, surcharges and taxes, etc. This Vacation Points chart is effective from January 1 through December 31, 2003."

He "did" mention the $75 fee, so apparently it won't be changing.

The Member Update was packed - SRO. He gave out several hats for those who could answer trivia questions. I was able to get one for answering "Which DVC resort sold out the most quickly." I was surprised more people didn't know that one...

He also mentioned that they had just been informed that BCV was 65% sold out, and that we now have approx 68,000 members.

Saratoga Springs & Spa was mentioned - it was actually a trivia question - to name the new resort, and he pushed the person who answered to include the "& Spa." There was no mention of Eagle Pines.

He said that many had understood VWL to be sold out but, with the closing of the model, there were additional points to be sold - but that they were going quickly, and expected to be sold out by January or February.

He knew there were still points available at Vero & HH for June use-years, but wasn't sure of the other years.

As I had seen in other meetings, he went through several slides of CC and WP locations. He often compared the "point cost" to "cash costs" at the CC resorts - saying that many were discounted, at times, up to 50%. I finally realized - he was using our annual dues rates to value points - no more. I thought that was interesting...

That's all I can think of for now. Oh, and FWIW - I have double-checked my original post - and the numbers I indicated correctly match the chart distributed at the meeting.

 

[PamOKW]

Thanks for bringing back some real news. I think the lack of set points held back many DVC'ers from using the trades. This may help that situation.

 

[Pig Pen]

Re: lack of studio info....

When we bought DVC we were told (I know.. I know...) that most exchanges would be for 1 bedroom units or bigger because DVC properties were in greater demand than II.

In other words, our points were worth more on the exchange market.

Does this sound right?

 

[EROS]

Thanks, BETH

 

[lehrsj]

I just found this information out on the member site under Plan Your Getaway - World Passport Collection - Interval International Vacation Points - 2003.

 

[EmptyNester]

The whole "scoop" is now on the member website . The only thing not clear is the "season", which I would imagine depends on the resort.

I know exchanges are not considered best use of points, but I see many places I'd love to go!!

- Sharon

(ya, beat me lehrsj )

 

[Pig Pen]

Going to the member site now! I always wondered how much it would "cost" to go to some of these places.

 

[Dean]

This brings up a lot of questions. Are studios back out, I doubt it. If you deposit first is a full week's points or the points listed? How does II get the actual rooms? My guess is II will be reserving holidays and summer from now on, hopefully at the 7 month window. II and DVC are obviously trying to get more people to exchange though I doubt this will make that much difference.

 

[madcoco]

Thanks Beth.Hope you guys enjoyed your stay

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by Dean
This brings up a lot of questions. Are studios back out, I doubt it. If you deposit first is a full week's points or the points listed? How does II get the actual rooms? My guess is II will be reserving holidays and summer from now on, hopefully at the 7 month window. II and DVC are obviously trying to get more people to exchange though I doubt this will make that much difference.

Dean, you are the timeshare expert, but I would think that once II has the points they can use them pretty much as anyone would, that is with the usual 11 month/7 month window applicable according to which resort points were deposited. That is how I would have arranged it, if I were them,

Paul

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by PKS44
Dean, you are the timeshare expert, but I would think that once II has the points they can use them pretty much as anyone would, that is with the usual 11 month/7 month window applicable according to which resort points were deposited. That is how I would have arranged it, if I were them,

Paul

I'm not Dean, but please allow me to reply.

At this time we have no idea whether DVC is going to give the points directly to II or whether DVC will use the points to book actual 1BR and 2BR weeks and then bulk-deposit those weeks with II (with the cost of those weeks averaging out to match the point values in the new table).

My guess is that they're doing the latter. That would mean that II would get actual 7-night weeks (as has been the case for many years), not DVC points. Under the scenario that I'm visualizing, the big difference from the current system is that instead of having MS reserve and deposit weeks on an exchange-by-exchange basis (with inconsistent, "mystery" point values), DVC can offer consistent point values ahead of time.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by PKS44
Dean, you are the timeshare expert, but I would think that once II has the points they can use them pretty much as anyone would, that is with the usual 11 month/7 month window applicable according to which resort points were deposited. That is how I would have arranged it, if I were them,

Paul

I don't know but there are many possibilities. It really depends on who ends up controlling the points and what the restrictions are on what II can have and when. We'll see.

 

[Chameleon]

Which resort was it?

 

[Beth]

The Villas at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Chameleon]

Thanks