Pay cash for weekends?

[johnnyd727]

We just joined DVC in August and just made our first reservation for next August. Is it common for members (or even possible) to pay for the weekend nights of a week long stay at the DVC member discounted rate in order to save points? Is this typically worth the cost? If so, how do we make those reservations - just by calling DVC and telling them we want to use our points for sun - thurs and pay cash for fri-sat?

 

[DebbieB]

I have done it. You call member services and ask if there is availability. I did it for an OKW 1 bedroom, at the time it was around $325 and saved me 48 points. That came to under $7 a point.

 

[eliza61]

We just joined DVC in August and just made our first reservation for next August. Is it common for members (or even possible) to pay for the weekend nights of a week long stay at the DVC member discounted rate in order to save points? Is this typically worth the cost? If so, how do we make those reservations - just by calling DVC and telling them we want to use our points for sun - thurs and pay cash for fri-sat?

Yes it is possible to pay for your stay on the weekends. You have to decide on the worth though. I use my points for the entire trip (usually 10-11 nights) so I wouldn't have to pay cash. I also use my points to trade out to other vacations (which everyone says is not an economical use of points) so I'm not the person to ask about worth because the value of my points is the ability to not use cash.

 

[bunny]

I received a pin code from CRO for 40% deluxe resorts. Could I make a reservation from CRO and then at check-in ask to remain in the same room? I know you can do that with cash reservations made through Member Services. I really don't want to move if I don't have to.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't think it's possible to link a CRO or WDTC reservation with a DVC points reservation - they're two entirely different systems. You can link two reservations, cash and points, that were both booked through Member Services, but to take advantage of that discount you have to book through WDTC. No reason you can't ask to remain in the same room when you check out and check back in though, just that you probably can't link the reservations ahead of time.

If I am booking a cash reservation in addition to a DVC stay I do it at a value resort and then switch resorts - I am not interested in paying what it costs to stay in a DVC villa for cash.

 

[DebbieB]

I received a pin code from CRO for 40% deluxe resorts. Could I make a reservation from CRO and then at check-in ask to remain in the same room? I know you can do that with cash reservations made through Member Services. I really don't want to move if I don't have to.

I did it with an AP rate once and was able to keep the same room. They can't be officially linked and your CRO dates are considered non-member (so no free internet but you get housekeeping).

 

[Cinderella1122]

Can you pay cash and not use points? I am thinking about taking a small trip and not using my points. How much is the discount usually?

 

[LSchrow]

once, we had a dvc room, then weekend thru cro, then dvc, then weekend thru cro.
unfortunately they upgraded the cro portions of our ressies.
after a while of pleading at the fd, we had to move twice, but did get the same room for the end of our vacation.
now i try to book only thru dvc (i hate moving)

 

[LSchrow]

Can you pay cash and not use points? I am thinking about taking a small trip and not using my points. How much is the discount usually?

25%, subject to availability yada-yada
btw, i was told you cannot book a bw view villa on cash, only points

 

[PatMcDuck]

Sometimes we stay at Universal for Fri/Sat night.

 

[photobob]

We sometimes book an offsite cheaper accommodation for arrival day, I won't pay the cash rates for a villa. Some will stay a day or two at the WDW values resorts to save points, but my last visit we stayed at an offsite place that had a two bedroom spacious condo for much cheaper than Pop Century.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

We sometimes book an offsite cheaper accommodation for arrival day, I won't pay the cash rates for a villa. Some will stay a day or two at the WDW values resorts to save points, but my last visit we stayed at an offsite place that had a two bedroom spacious condo for much cheaper than Pop Century.

Wow. How did you find that?

 

[Crystal_27]

We wouldn't even consider paying cash when we could use points. Before DVC, I *hated* having to pay $300+ per night for a room (but we did it to be on the monorail) and, even discounted, Disney hotel rates are still incredibly high...much higher than "free" when booking with DVC points. We bought our points to use them, and the thought of moving rooms mid-vacation or staying offsite unnecessarily to save a few points just doesn't appeal to me. However, for some it works well - - just not with me.

 

[lark]

If you're creative, cash can be a really good strategy.

I think part of the analysis depends on when you're planning to go. The seasons for DVC and the seasons for rack rates at DVC resorts do not line up. So, for example, after the first couple of weeks of July, DVC resorts are still in the relatively high "magic" category through the summer, while rack rates are in "value" season. DVC rents to members at the rack rate, minus the 25 percent if available.

 

[DebbieB]

The 3 times I did it was because I really was not in a position to do an add-on. I figured out the cost of buying more points and the dues on those points and it broke out about even with the less than $7 per point for the room on member cash. I stayed in the same room each time.

 

[johnnyd727]

I called MS and asked about a DVC discounted cash reservation for the first weekend in Aug 2010. A BLT lake view studio was $615+ tax for 2 nights (fri-sat) and it would save me only 58 points. Not worth it. Same 2 nights at BCV is $510 + tax and saves 54 points. Both end up over $10 per point after taxes. I could rent points cheaper I believe. I think we're gonna stay off site on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

[bookwormde]

I have booked DVC weeking discounted rooms cash but have allways found last minute (month) points for cheap that were less and have canceled the reservation

bookworm

 

[lark]

I called MS and asked about a DVC discounted cash reservation for the first weekend in Aug 2010. A BLT lake view studio was $615+ tax for 2 nights (fri-sat) and it would save me only 58 points. Not worth it. Same 2 nights at BCV is $510 + tax and saves 54 points. Both end up over $10 per point after taxes. I could rent points cheaper I believe. I think we're gonna stay off site on Friday and Saturday nights.

Yeah, I don't think it really makes sense for studios. I think it makes the most sense for the high value point view categories, in value season for rack rates, for a one bedroom villa. The reason this is so is that the difference between rack rates for studios and 1BR villas is usually not a very large spread -- that's because a studio needs to stay comparable to the hotel at the associated resort, but then they only charge a relatively smaller premium to kick up to a 1BR. The jump in rack rate to a 2BR villa is steeper.

Just to give you a sense. Take your very same dates (first weekend in August). For a 1BR lake view at BLT, the cash total, including tax, for the two nights with the discount would be $810. (Rack rate is $480. With 25 percent discount it's $360. With tax, it's $405/night.) By comparison, this reservation would cost you 118 points. So, about $6.80 per point.

It's even more dramatic if you look at a 1BR MK view. The cash rate with discount, including tax, for two nights is $877.50. By comparison, this reservation would cost you 136 points. That's $6.45 per point.

For a 1BR at the BCV for your dates, the price for cash for the two nights, with discount and tax, would be $784.65. Points for those nights: 120. Cost per point: $6.54.

The cash rates for a 2BR are a considerably better bargain pointswise than a studio, but not quite as good (usually) as a 1 BR. For example, MK view for the same dates. Cash rate, with the discount and after tax: $1274. Points required: 176. $7.24 per point. (For a 2BR at BCV for these dates, it comes out about $7.31 per point.)

Grand Villa you ask? MK view GV for your dates: $2961.56. (I'm not even sure you can really book these for cash or, if you can, whether you can get a discount, so this is mostly for fun.) Number of points: 400. So, $7.40.

Note that these $6 to $7 deals can really only be had when:

1) There's a difference in "seasons" between rack rate and points, such that points are a higher season.
2) The 25 percent discount is available.
3) You book a 1 BR, tending to be in a higher view category.

 

[johnnyd727]

I see what you're saying, lark. That makes perfect sense. Thank you. By the way, where do you find the rack rate season and pricing information?

 

[lark]

I see what you're saying, lark. That makes perfect sense. Thank you. By the way, where do you find the rack rate season and pricing information?

Here you go: http://www.mousesavers.com/roomrates2010.html These don't include tax.

It's also available on the WDW site, but mousesavers' chart is easier to use. To get the cost of DVC room with the 25 percent discount, take the rack rate shown in these charts and multiply by .75, then multiply that result by 1.125 to add tax. (Or, if you want to do it all in one step, multiply the rack rate by .84375, which will give you the after tax total. So, for a $500 rack rate room, the DVC discounted rate with tax is $500 x .84375 = $421.88.)