Only cash ressies allowed last minute?

[Disney Enthusiast]

I have a question. I think I know the answer, but I want to confirm it. I can not make a ressie and use my points for the last 60 days of my use year? Because DVC has opened them up to the nonmembers? I was recently looking at going to WDW this December and was looking at the DVC resorts since some were still available. I was not a member at this point and thought it was great I could still get in. But now that I decided to become a member, this whole thing confuses me. I can understand DVC opening up the resorts to the public....but if there are still rooms available, why can't I book them via my points instead of just cash. I'm not saying that DVC shouldn't provide the available rooms to all, but if some are not taken, why not accept points as well as cash. Maybe if someone explained to me the reasoning, I might be able to work w/ this concept more easily. And this is why points may expire? If you can't bank all of them at this point and can't use them..... what are your options then? And why do people sell these points which will expire soon anyway? How can others use them if they can't? Maybe I am not understanding this at all. Please someone clarify for me. I'm worried I will not understand and lose my points. Thanks so much.

 

[CRobin]

Here is a quote from the Member Guidebook:

"Member inventory is available only to Members. However, any Member inventory unreserved by Members within 60 days of any arrival date may be made available for maintenance, wait lists, and rental."

I don't know the specifics of this, or how the rules are applied. It would appear from this wording that your points MAY be made available for cash, but not necessarily.

 

[Michelemouse]

You can definitely use your points at the last minute. I once called two days before check-in to get a room. Also, our DCL cruise was cancelled last year on a Wednesday and we were due to sail that Saturday. I was able to book the Animal Kingdom Lodge for 7 nights just three days before check-in.

I believe there are some restrictions about trading with Interval International during the last 60 days of your use year, but booking at the DVC resorts or any of the WDW properties should be no problem...provided there is availability.

Hope that helps.

 

[RobDoc]

DVC points may be used at DVC resorts at any time during the Use Year- based on availability.

During the last 60 days of your Use Year, you cannot use DVC points to reserve and travel to a non-DVC resort (at WDW or anyplace else) . If you make the reservation prior to 60 days before the end of your Use Year, there will be no problem. DVC needs to have enough time to use those points for cash reservations.

The exception to this would be to bank those points to use as an II exchange. You can bank the points and travel beyond your Use Year.

Enjoy!

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

Thank you to all for your information. For some reason I thought I read that I couldn't even use the points for a/or my DVC resort either. I must have been reading about the nonDVD resorts.

Your posts did help and I do feel a lot less stressed about this point thing. Thank you!!!

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Originally posted by Disney Enthusiast
I have a question. I think I know the answer, but I want to confirm it. I can not make a ressie and use my points for the last 60 days of my use year? Because DVC has opened them up to the nonmembers? I was recently looking at going to WDW this December and was looking at the DVC resorts since some were still available. I was not a member at this point and thought it was great I could still get in. But now that I decided to become a member, this whole thing confuses me. I can understand DVC opening up the resorts to the public....but if there are still rooms available, why can't I book them via my points instead of just cash. I'm not saying that DVC shouldn't provide the available rooms to all, but if some are not taken, why not accept points as well as cash. Maybe if someone explained to me the reasoning, I might be able to work w/ this concept more easily. And this is why points may expire? If you can't bank all of them at this point and can't use them..... what are your options then? And why do people sell these points which will expire soon anyway? How can others use them if they can't? Maybe I am not understanding this at all. Please someone clarify for me. I'm worried I will not understand and lose my points. Thanks so much.

You can certainly make a reservation at a DVC resort to use your points during the last 60 days of your use year, and you can also make a reservation at other (non-DVC) resorts that are available through exchanges, etc. to use your points during the last 60 days of your use year. For the DVC resorts, you can book at any time from the 11/7 month window up until the day of arrival with no restriction other than there being a room available. For the other programs where you stay at a non-DVC resort, you cannot make the booking during the last 60 days of your use year, because this would not provide DVC with enough time to use your points to generate the cash needed to pay for your stay elsewhere.

Ralph