Newbie question

[Marc A.]

The situation is this
Our family of 4 (Me, DW, DD (4) DS (1.5)) are meeting a DVC rep on Sat.
for a 2nd presentation and we are about 99% sure of purchasing.
We look to purchase in the realm of 200-225 pts at AKV. With the incentives offered at the Chicago Doorway to Dreams we would get an additional 250+
points on a one time basis to use in a year. Being a shareholder we may also be getting another one allotment of points to use.
My question is this. We are already booked thru a travel agent for this Dec. at the CR, MKV for a week. If we cancel that and want to use our DVC points for the CR how likely are we to get a room? We will have a ton of points and could do a concierge perhaps if needed. We most likely will not be heading down in 2009 b/c of possible baby plans......but anyway we would want to use our new points this december b/c we already have purchased airline tick's w/ our mileage.
Please let me know what you all think and our options. We could do other monorail resorts as well.
Thanks

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I am also a newbie so check with someone else on this. Those "FREE POINTS" that they are giving you in the promo (I GOT THEM ALSO) are developer points. They have different rules than regular points. I believe you can only make a reservation 6 months out with them. That means you would have to wait until june to make a december reservation, by that time I believe they will be sold out. DVC does have a waiting list at sold out resorts. Like I said please check this with someone else. I am sure you know that the current promo ends Monday. I read a post from someone else that was at a booth at a mall and disney was also throwing in 2 anual passes ($500 value). Ask about this. You should also ask the sales rep if the USER YEAR they are offering you will work with your families ususl vacation patterns. There are certain user years that can cause you problems if you ever have to cancel a reservation. The rep will know what I am talking about. Good luck with your decission. JOE

 

[Marc A.]

I am also a newbie so check with someone else on this. Those "FREE POINTS" that they are giving you in the promo (I GOT THEM ALSO) are developer points. They have different rules than regular points. I believe you can only make a reservation 6 months out with them. That means you would have to wait until june to make a december reservation, by that time I believe they will be sold out. DVC does have a waiting list at sold out resorts. Like I said please check this with someone else. I am sure you know that the current promo ends Monday. I read a post from someone else that was at a booth at a mall and disney was also throwing in 2 anual passes ($500 value). Ask about this. You should also ask the sales rep if the USER YEAR they are offering you will work with your families ususl vacation patterns. There are certain user years that can cause you problems if you ever have to cancel a reservation. The rep will know what I am talking about. Good luck with your decission. JOE

Thanks, we were advised about the annual passes or the $500 gift card. I will make sure about the 6 month out rule as well. Thanks for you help.
Still looking for more!!!!

 

[Marc A.]

Also, could a vet please explain this a little more "Discounts on select dining, attractions, recreation and entertainment, including discounts on select Theme Park Annual Passes at Walt Disney World®"

 

[chalee94]

just remember that all perks are subject to change at any time...don't buy in expecting certain perks.

AP discount is currently about $100 off.

sometimes they offer discounts on golf or spa stuff.

dining discounts vary - usually less popular restaurants...sometimes only for lunch or only for dinner...examples:

Chefs de France (France pavilion)
Sample the fabulous French cuisine and receive a 20% discount on lunch only at this beautiful Parisian-style brasserie, featuring croque monsieur, salad Nicoise and other authentic gourmet specialties.

Restaurant Marrakesh (Morocco pavilion)
Hop on board the Marrakesh express for a 20% discount at lunch and dinner (not applicable on daily specials), and relish the remarkable roast lamb, chicken, veggie shish kebab, couscous and more!

San Angel Inn (Mexico pavilion)
Savor subtle flavors and surprising tastes at this authentic Old Mexico-style rancho and receive a 10% discount on lunch, with specialties like grilled tenderloin of beef, grilled shrimp, pasta and Mahi-Mahi.

examples of shopping discounts:
Arribas Brothers
Take advantage of a 10% Member discount when you discover the age-old art of glass blowing in this treasure trove of handcrafted gifts and collectibles. Take home a one-of-a-kind masterpiece by world-renowned artists — from exquisite Austrian crystal to beautiful glass sculptures. Offer valid at the Downtown Disney Marketplace location only and certain restrictions apply. Ask a Cast Member for details.

Basin®
Make a splash and save cash at the same time, with a 10% discount on everything from scented soaps and fizzy "Bath Bombs" to shampoo and massage bars.

Ghirardelli® Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop
Find that special decadent topping for your hot fudge sundaes at home. Members receive a 10% discount on soda fountain, premium chocolates or retail gift purchases.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Since you already have your dates & airline tickets, I would say don't change your ressies yet. You won't be able to make ressies with Developer points until the 7 month point (no matter what your "home" resort is, it's 7months for all DVC resorts with dev pts). Also keep in mind that it will "cost" more points to stay in a non-dvc resort & there will be a $95 fee to make the reservation.

I would suggest talking to your guide to see if there is anything they can do for you. If you won't be making any other trips this year (or in '09), it may not be the right time to buy in since the developer points are only good for 1 year.

 

[Marc A.]

Since you already have your dates & airline tickets, I would say don't change your ressies yet. You won't be able to make ressies with Developer points until the 7 month point (no matter what your "home" resort is, it's 7months for all DVC resorts with dev pts). Also keep in mind that it will "cost" more points to stay in a non-dvc resort & there will be a $95 fee to make the reservation.

I would suggest talking to your guide to see if there is anything they can do for you. If you won't be making any other trips this year (or in '09), it may not be the right time to buy in since the developer points are only good for 1 year.

We will be going in Dec. whether we cancel our current ressies or not. there's no way I would cancel our current ressies w/o fully knowing what our alternatives are. We will have enough points to cover a non DVC resort. What I am asking is what chances will we have to get a room 7 mths out at a monorail resort taking into account we are using dev. points in addition?????

 

[Marc A.]

Another question. Once you make a ressie with DVC operations can you cancel??? What are those procedures like????

 

[ChelleinNC]

It's probably gonna depend on the dates of your trip. I think the closer you get to Christmas, the less likely you'll be able to get a room.

This is my experience so far: We booked our Dec 07 trip in Aug (didn't close till the end of July). We were able to mostly get what we wanted. We wanted a BWV 2br --pref view not bw view-- we were only able to get a 1br (at first I was trying to use up points) The only 2br's available were at SSR & OKW. We got the BWV 1br and asked my Dad & his wife to come along and got a studio at SSR for them. That ate up about 1/2 of our dev pts. At the 7 month mark for Easter, I tried to make ressies for HHI, but they were completely booked and my only options were OKW & SSR. So we're going to OKW for Easter to kill off our dev pts.

 

[browniemtb]

One thing...or suggestion....if you are planning on buying 220 points or more make sure you split the contract in two....two 160 pointers. Its always easier to unload a small contract if you ever need to. Good luck and a premature welcome home to you and your family....

Brownie

 

[cincinmouse]

I am also a recent buyer of DVC.

I just re-read your post. Not sure why you would buy DVC and want to stay on a monorail Disney resort. Using points for Disney hotels rooms is not efficient use of points. There is no DVC resort on the Monorail (yet) but WLV is almost like being on the monrail but once again I sure that is taken in the month of December. I am not even sure if you can use developer points can be used for anything other than DVC resorts?

I would caution you waiting for developer points at 7 months window for December reservation becuase if you do not get want reservation made with developer points cannot be waitlisted.

You should be getting 07 points and 08 points depending on you use year. You can bank your 07 points and use combination of 08 and 07 points to make your reservation for this december. Your guide can check NOW to see if they have a room that fits your time frame and they can place that on hold while your paperwork gets done and you are in the system. This is what they did for us. However, If you are purchasing AKV might have a problem booking even now depending on when in Dec you are going becuase that is the only resort you can book at right now. Posting those travel dates might help with our advice.

You need to tell your guide that the deal is dependant on this occuring. Now as for the developer points they can only be used at the 7 month window and you might be able to rebook at that time but I have heard horror stories on this board for dates around christmas time that when you cancel and rebook you run the risk of loosing both reservations during the process.

At the seven month mark evaluate what to do with the developer points either for another trip or rent them out which some people have done to recoup part of purchase price.

Good Luck

 

[Marc A.]

We have had the Dec. reservation for at least three months now. We just got the incentives to buy into the DVC. We know there are no DVC monorail resorts but we will have enough points to do it. Then in the future we would stay with our home resort. We just figured with timing and all the points we would have we would do a monorail resort.
Thanks. Of course I would not cancel our original ressie w/o being sure we could get another.

 

[tomandrobin]

Hey they are free points to you! Why not splurge a little and stay at the Contemporary? Sometimes we get hung up on the "value" of how we use the DVC points. Its vacation, go enjoy yourself and make some memories!

Ps - What is the "extra" points for being a sharholder?

 

[ChelleinNC]

I didn't mean for my previous posts to sound like "don't waste your points" on non-dvc. Developer points are "freebies", "bonus" points and are perfect for "blowing" on something you wouldn't normally do. My biggest concern for you was not knowing what dates your December trip are planned, the closer to Christmas the harder it will be to get anything.

Since we got double dev pts (for a total of 500 dev pts) we wanted to take a cruise. Unfortunately when we bought, they were only supposed to be good for 7 months (not a 1 yr) and there wasn't a cruise w/sail dates that would work with our kids school schedules. So we booked our Christmas trip, and invited my Dad. It wasn't until after Dad bought his airline tickets that they extended the use of our dev pts to 1 yr too late for us to change our plans.

I would say talk to your guide, see if they can be of help to get a Dec reservation with your dev pts or since I see you have a cruise ticker in your signature, maybe they can change your cruise ressie and use pts for that Just a thought

 

[tomandrobin]

I agree with NC, talk to your guide. Its amazing what "magical" things can be done with a $23,000 contract on the line!

 

[Marc A.]

The cruise we are going on in June is a whole parents/grandkids, etc.... cruise that my parents are taking all of my siblings and grandkids on so wouuldn't use points there. We will try to splurge with the extra points at the CR and try to get the same dates we had b/c of the airline tickets. If we can't get CR we'll try POLY or GF and go from there.
In my shareholder packet (annual report) there is a brochure about 125 developer points I will have to ask our guide on Sat. on how we can use them.
Two other ????
1. Financing thru disney, are there prepayment penalties????
2. The incentive points (270), can they be used at any Disney resort or just DVC resorts????
Keep em coming people, lol
Thanks

 

[ChelleinNC]

1. no prepayment penalties with Disney financing

2. my understanding (from what my guide told me) is you can use the developer points however you want. He was the one that suggested using them for a cruise.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Another question. Once you make a ressie with DVC operations can you cancel??? What are those procedures like????

Somehow I missed this post

With regular points you can cancel up to 31 days without penalty. The points would just go back into your account. Less than 31 days out, they go into a "holding account" and then there are rules for how you can book a ressie. I believe it has to be only 60 days in advance of travel, but could be wrong about that.

Developer points can be canceled up to 31 days without penalty. Less than 31 days, you lose the points. No holding acct, no nothing, points are gone. At that point, you'd be best off not cancelling & using or renting the reservation or if you're super nice just give someone you know a vacation

 

[cincinmouse]

Another question. Once you make a ressie with DVC operations can you cancel??? What are those procedures like????

Thanks for your post it made me look at the member book again. You can book out 11 months at any Disney resort using your points. But not sure if you can use developer points for disney hotel resort this far out. Make sure to ask your guide. Also make sure you get him to fully explain what happens when you book a disney hotel resort. My understanding after reading the member guide is that you now have reservation points which if you need to cancel there are certain rules as to how that works. If you need to cancel at the last minute like I had to do recently due to DS(9m) getting sick and could not fly. The points stay as reservatioin points and cannot be switched back to DVC points or banked, and must be used at at Disney resort hotel before the end of the your use year.

I have no idea how DVC members can understand all the in and outs of the program without this and some other boards.

 

[chalee94]

Somehow I missed this post

With regular points you can cancel up to 31 days without penalty. The points would just go back into your account. Less than 31 days out, they go into a "holding account" and then there are rules for how you can book a ressie. I believe it has to be only 60 days in advance of travel, but could be wrong about that.

Developer points can be canceled up to 31 days without penalty. Less than 31 days, you lose the points. No holding acct, no nothing, points are gone. At that point, you'd be best off not cancelling & using or renting the reservation or if you're super nice just give someone you know a vacation

i think the rules are a little different if he uses the points to book CR, though.