No availability to DVC members at my home resort

[Nickymouse]

I have tried unsuccessfully for a month to get a room at BWV (my home resort) for this November. Member Services tells me that they are completely booked. I've been put on a waiting list. Then, 2 friends of mine, neither of whom are DVC members,both inform me that they are staying at BWV that same week and had no trouble getting a ressie. Out of curiosity, I called reservations and sure enough, I could get any room I wanted. I find it hard to believe that everyone is able to stay at BWV except for an actual BWV owner! The most humiliating part is that we've been telling these 2 families how wonderful DVC is and now they're laughing at us because we can't even get a room in our own resort.

 

[Richyams]

How far did you miss the 11 month window by?

There are points used for cruises, concierge collection stays, world of Disney hotels, all of these points are used by MS to recoup the costs of the stay used by the member....what I don't know about, is if the people that can stay, are they actually buying rooms secured with BWV points? VB points? HH points? OKW points?

Depending on the answer to that last question, there could be something to not be happy about.

The low point seasons, as do most seasons, really require the use of the 11 month window.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[Peter_noPan]

I already haev my ressies for November. I was on the phone 11 months in advance every day to get my whole trip.

This is a very popular time to go, so you need tp make your plans early.

My suggestion is to book a room at a hotel and keep trying. Even within 30 days room may open up. Don't give up.

We did this for this past November and got the rooms we were looking for at OKW. Call ever day from 45 days out.

 

[Nickymouse]

I missed the 11 month window by 2 months. I started calling about 9 months out. The people that did get in are not using points at all. They are paying customers who simply called central reservations and got exactly what they wanted. I realize now that it was a mistake not to call at 11 months out, but it's killing me that anybody can call up and get that week except a DVC BWV owner.

 

[BobBrazeal]

The reservations that these other people were able to get at BW, were these actually reservations for rooms in the Villas section of BW or were they rooms in the hotel section?

 

[nuthut]

Disney's cash reservations are totaly separate inventory than that belonging to the DVC members.

 

[Nickymouse]

The people that obtained a reservation are staying in the Villas, not the hotel. One in a 1 BR and the other in a 2 BR. While I realize that a certain %age of rooms are available to paying customers, I always assumed it was a very small %age and that DVC hotels were intended to be primarily occupied by DVC members.

 

[Richyams]

The percentage is small, but when you add the points used for Cruise lines trips, Concierge collection stays, World Of Disney hotel stays...you get a lot more rooms available through MS.

I do have a serious question about this. Do they use all the points that are deposited at BWV so that they get more money for them?? Right now, those are the most expensive DVC rooms, it seems that it would benefit Disney to use a VB owners points that took a cruise to rent a room at BWV...if that kind of thing is happening, I think it is cause for great concern.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[Peggy Sue]

Isn't there also a percentage of each DVC resort that does not belong to DVC and is available for rent through CRO? I would imagine 1 and 2 bedrooms would still be available through CRO only because their cash price is quite a bit more than the standard BW rooms.

Have a wonderful day!

 

[PamOKW]

Rich I'm not positive but I think the points do have to stay with their home resort.

Nickymouse I feel your pain. Quite a few years ago I couldn't get either a point or member discount at Vero but got an offer in the mail for a special rate (I had paid cash for friends earlier that year) with no problem getting a reservation. It's very frustrating and your problem is compounded by having to "save face" in front of your friends.

 

[BobBrazeal]

I'm quite new to DVC. Actually, I haven't even closed yet.

How often does something like this happen? Hearing something like this while in the process of a DVC purchase is obviously very disconcerting.

 

[RobDoc]

I think that the points recouped from cruises, etc are still subject to home reservation priority. It would appear that these reservations are from BWV members reserving the cruise (or other non-DVC reservation) and then the points transferred to CRO were used to reserve the Nov dates- all within the normal reservation priority. In a sense the rooms are still being "used" by home resort owners. It is disconcerting that members are unable to get the same rooms, but the program does allow for that. Keep trying- those dates may still open up as some members release the rooms they won't actually use or find they can't rent them on ebay!

Doc
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[Richyams]

bbrazeal, It never ever happens if you make use of the 11 month window. That is why it is so important to buy where you plan to vacation most.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[spiceycat]

sorry but for thankgiving week at BWV it does happen fast - if you want this week call after Christmas - I am expecting it (if this keeps up) to go on the special list (hopefully with the same points it has now) - but this is a very popular week. I guess because alot of schools have 3 days off now for it.

 

[Nickymouse]

I'm not trying to book Thanksgiving Week. We are trying to get the week of the 4th. Still no luck. But BWV continues to be wide open for paying guests.

 

[BobH]

I have read that OKW reserves about 4% of rooms for cash paying customers. Does anyone know what the percentage is for Boardwalk. I certainly hope DVC is not playing all sides against the middle by
denying members a room!

 

[Richyams]

It is the same 4%, but you have to add all the points spent on cruises, COncierge collection stays, and World of Disney stays....it would be interesting to know what percentage that totals to.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[Nickymouse]

MS told me that they reserve 3% for non members. I find it very fishy that anyone else in the world can get a room in this mere 3% but a BWV owner can't get a room in the other 97%.

 

[pax_65]

My home resort is OKW and I've never had a problem like this. Granted we usually take advantage of the 11 month window but even when we don't we've always gotten the reservations we wanted (although I wouldn't try to get a Grand Villa on short notice).

Is this problem worse at Boardwalk (and if so why) or is it a problem across DVC?

Jon

 

[Richyams]

You need to remember, all the points used for everything else are available through CRO.

I would be interested to know what that percentage is and just what points are used and where they are used.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?