Pending member questions

[DizWacko]

Hello everyone, I am currently awaiting decision on ROFR at BCV, but am excited and have a few questions assuming I get passed DIsney

1) Apparently if you are short on points (want to stay an extra day or 2) for any given vacation for whatever reason, I have read that DVC members can get a special DVC discount on cash reservations at the same resort . How big is this discount? Is it a flat percentage taken off of rack rate? Do you pay tax on this as well? Is this process usually easy to do or is availability an issue during busy DVC seasons?

2) Is the amount you pay from question 1 above the same rate whether it is for a weekend of weekday (obviously the points requirements are far different unlike normal cash resorts)?

3) For those of you who use 1BRs most of time, is staying at a studio really a drag?

 

[drusba]

1. DVC Members can get cash ressies for 25% of regular rack rate. That rate is often higher than some discount rates that may be offerred (e.g., with an Annual Pass). You do pay tax on it and it is often not that easy to get a night that way.

2. The discount applies to rack rate and thus it does not matter whether it is weeknight or weekend.

3. Yes (but opinions differ).

 

[Scoootch]

To add a little more here....the member cash discount rooms are only made available if MS thinks they will not be able to book those rooms on points. You many times will be able to add weekend nights paying cash as lots of members choose to only book Sun.-Thurs. since the points are significantly more on weekend nights. It all depends on how busy the resort you're trying to book is at any given time. Even weekend nights are difficult if you're talking about the busiest times of the year As mentioned, you can sometimes get the cash nights through CRO for less $$ with AP rates but...if you book through CRO, they will not guarantee you to not have to move or check out and then back in if they don't make you move. The good part about getting the Member discount through MS is that they will link your ressie and it becomes like one big reservation where you won't have to move,check out and back in ...it's just a matter of paying via a combo of cash and points.

As for is going back to a studio from staying in a 1bdrm a drag....you definetly miss the space and the king bed and jacuzzi but it kind of depends on the kind of trip you take...if it's a weekend trip (long or short) after the 1bdrm and you don't spend as much time in the resort it's not so bad...if you go for an entire week...we long for the 1bdrm lol. But spending half the points makes you feel a little better.

 

[tjkraz]

3) For those of you who use 1BRs most of time, is staying at a studio really a drag?

After our second DVC stay we took to calling ourselves "vacation snobs" (in a self-depricating manner.)

We have two kiddies and just love the extra space. It's great to be able to lie them down for a nap in the bedroom and still watch TV, prepare a meal or sit on the deck without having to tiptoe around.

A lot of it comes down to quality vs. quantity. You can often double the value of your points if you don't mind a studio.

Two adults would be very comfortable in a studio. A family with one or two older children might not mind it (assuming they aren't in the room much at all.)