Paying cash for a friday night with member discount?

[TLH1977]

I read a post where people were talking about paying cash for friday nights when points double with the member discount. How does this work. We are new to the DVC family and have reservations for october but need to find one more room for the night we arrive. Are discounts better then AP discounts?

 

[DebbieB]

You call member services and ask if it is available. Sometimes AP is better, sometimes not. The member discount is a flat 25%. I booked a 1 BR at OKW in May, it was about the same as the AP discount. They do not take a deposit, just a credit card # as a guarantee. If you cancel 5 days or less, they charge 1 night. So I would call and see if it's available, confirm it if it is. Then see if better AP rates come out.

 

[TLH1977]

Thanks for your help Debbie! Is the only for DVC properties or does if work for say, moderate hotels?

 

[lllovell]

The DVC discount is only possible at DVC resorts.

 

[jennypenny]

If you book a discounted rate with DVC, they will link the reservations so you won't have to change rooms. If you book your cash room with an AP discount through CRO, you might have to change rooms. Just FYI.

Jenny

 

[RayJay]

If you book a discounted rate with DVC, they will link the reservations so you won't have to change rooms. If you book your cash room with an AP discount through CRO, you might have to change rooms. Just FYI.

Jenny

Yes, very true, I just did this for our trip next week, I would go with DVC discount, it was still the same as AP (around $100 savings). We got the same room using DVC discount.


RayJay

 

[Deb & Bill]

We had two AP discount nights at SSR followed by five nights on points. When we checked in, we asked the CM to see if we were in the same room. When he found out we weren't, he changed our room to put us in the same room for all seven nights. If you arrive late, they might not be able to do it, but if you get there in the afternoon, it might work.

We still had to check out and check back in, but we didn't have to move.

 

[jennypenny]

We had two AP discount nights at SSR followed by five nights on points. When we checked in, we asked the CM to see if we were in the same room. When he found out we weren't, he changed our room to put us in the same room for all seven nights. If you arrive late, they might not be able to do it, but if you get there in the afternoon, it might work.

We still had to check out and check back in, but we didn't have to move.

I think this worked because you were at SSR, which usually isn't filled to capacity. We were also able to do this once at OKW. But when we tried this at VWL and BCV, we had to move. I think because those resorts are smaller (and usually close to capacity) it's harder to link the reservations. If you try it (with an AP discount or something) fax the resort a couple of days before hand with all of your reservation info--that might help them link the reservations.

Jenny

 

[Alexander]

How far in advance are the member cash-discounts available? I'm looking to add Friday night on to next April. Another question, maybe a dumb one, but here goes....Do you have to link the reservations? We won't be arriving until late at night on that Friday and if we get a room we don't like, we may want to move Saturday morning.

This happened once at OKW, and since we had to check-out and check back in, we were able to move rooms, but the reservations were not linked as I rented points and booked cash through CRO.

 

[DebbieB]

How far in advance are the member cash-discounts available? I'm looking to add Friday night on to next April. Another question, maybe a dumb one, but here goes....Do you have to link the reservations? We won't be arriving until late at night on that Friday and if we get a room we don't like, we may want to move Saturday morning.

This happened once at OKW, and since we had to check-out and check back in, we were able to move rooms, but the reservations were not linked as I rented points and booked cash through CRO.

There isn't a set date, I would call now to see. It's probably too early but you can check. If you book through Member Services, they will automatically link them. If you go through CRO, they can't officially be linked, you can give CRO your DVC res# and give Member Services your CRO res # so they can note it.

 

[jeankeri]

If I know I am going to arrive on a Saturday, probably early July, should I call MS at the 11 month window and book a room with DVC discount (if available) or can they not do it that far out? We will be going on DCL and arriving back on Saturday . Trying to plan ahead (we'll be cruising in 2007)!

 

[DebbieB]

If I know I am going to arrive on a Saturday, probably early July, should I call MS at the 11 month window and book a room with DVC discount (if available) or can they not do it that far out? We will be going on DCL and arriving back on Saturday . Trying to plan ahead (we'll be cruising in 2007)!

You can call and ask but I think it's unlikely at 11 months. They only offer the cash discount rooms if they anticipate that all the rooms will not be taken up by points reservations. At 11 months, it would be hard to estimate that.

 

[buzz5985]

<<They only offer the cash discount rooms if they anticipate that all the rooms will not be taken up by points reservations>>

I don't know how true this is. I have a reservation for cash 12/3, and points 12/4-12/8 at BWV. I was waitlisted for 12/7. It came though 2 weeks ago, when I called to confirm I still wanted the reservation I asked MS to check availability of a cash discount for the night of 12/3. There was one, so I was able to get the discount. I had planned on calling for the discount in a couple of months, I never imagined I would receive it this far out. Made my day.