Please clear this up for me!

[charvel67]

I know it's last minute but I was trying to book a studio for 5 nights in October but there is no availability for consecutive nights or even a split stay for those 5 nights using my points. But if I go on WDW.com I can book a studio for cash at a couple of the DVC resorts for those same dates. I asked CS and got some explanation that I just couldn't comprehend. Could someone clear this up for me?

 

[com_op_2000]

Think of it as two different inventorys for two different businesses housed in the same warehouse. Neither the two shall be mixed.
DVC and CRO are separate Disney business interests. DVC can transfer to CRO when a person uses there points for a cruise or other reservation. DVC can not use points to pay for rooms that are in CRO inventory.

 

[Chuck S]

Cash reservations and Point Reservations are different pools of room availability. The largest portion of cash rooms become available after a DVC owner trades out of the DVC system for Adventures by Disney, a cruise, the Disney Collection, or other "cash equivalent" trade. Basically anything other than RCI or an actual DVC Resort.

A room representing the points used for the trade is turned over to cash reservations, the cash received by renting out the reservation is used to offset the cost of the trade destination.

Also, any unsold points and points that Disney reacquires though default are not owned by DVC Members, and the rooms those points represent can be used by Disney for cash reservations, promotions (like when the family from Home makeover goes to Disney), or basically any way they wish.

Disney also retains about a 4% to 5% ownership in the DVC resorts to use for maintenance, if necessary. If those maintenance rooms are not down for repair, they can be rented for cash.

Any DVC rooms not reserved on points at 60 days are also turned over to cash. The cash received helps offset our dues in the "breakage" income column. These breakage rooms can be reclaimed by DVC if needed for point reservations, if they are not already reserved for cash. However, breakage is the smallest pool of cash rooms, so very few are available to be reclaimed.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

See that member cruise? All those members who paid with points? Well Disney Cruise Line doesn't want "points" they want $$$$. So rooms equal to thier points were given to CRO to book. CRO gives DVC the money and DVC uses it to pay the DCL. Same deal with any other use of your points.


One of my "rules" of late booking is to realize that "cash rooms" are not "point rooms" and going over there and looking just results in posts like this So I don't look.

 

[Chuck S]

One of my "rules" of late booking is to realize that "cash rooms" are not "point rooms" and going over there and looking just results in posts like this So I don't look.

And it can be frustrating.

 

[Deb & Bill]

And those villas for sale on Disney.com have already been reserved on points (but the member stayed on the DCL or some other non-DVC Disney stay) so they can't be recalled and used for points a second time. More than likely, some will get an upgrade to a DVC studio from another resort.

 

[Dean]

And it can be frustrating.

I know you're making light but I see no reason for frustration for anyone who understands how the system works. It's no different than trying to reserve a sporting event and the section/type you want is sold out.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I know you're making light but I see no reason for frustration for anyone who understands how the system works. It's no different than trying to reserve a sporting event and the section/type you want is sold out.

Right.... And that can be frustrating.

MG

 

[Dean]

Right.... And that can be frustrating.

MG

Which part?

 

[buck4568]

One of my "rules" of late booking is to realize that "cash rooms" are not "point rooms" and going over there and looking just results in posts like this So I don't look.

Also, what I have learned when looking for a last second reservation with member services is never take "nothing available" as the last word. Just thank them and call back in 20 min. and if that call does not produce what you want call them back again! I have done this several times and low and behold there is that studio or one bedroom at the resort that they had told you was full! I have also done this with DCL using points this year for the seven day Alaska cruise on June 7. They kept telling me the ship was booked up but I kept calling and ended up on that cruise that they said was full.

So keep calling!

 

[chepic]

Right.... And that can be frustrating.

MG

I agree.

che

 

[Sandisw]

Also, what I have learned when looking for a last second reservation with member services is never take "nothing available" as the last word. Just thank them and call back in 20 min. and if that call does not produce what you want call them back again! I have done this several times and low and behold there is that studio or one bedroom at the resort that they had told you was full! I have also done this with DCL using points this year for the seven day Alaska cruise on June 7. They kept telling me the ship was booked up but I kept calling and ended up on that cruise that they said was full.

So keep calling!

That is because DVC availability changes all the time due to member's having to cancel.

I have had that happen as well--called and nothing--called back that afternoon and something popped up.

 

[ssawka]

That is because DVC availability changes all the time due to member's having to cancel.

I have had that happen as well--called and nothing--called back that afternoon and something popped up.

But are waitlists suppose to be filled with cancellations?

 

[Dean]

But are waitlists suppose to be filled with cancellations?

Wait-lists are far from a perfect system. When there is new inventory or cancelations, the units are not held for wait-lists. If one happens to call after the cancelation but before a WL is run, you'll get it ahead of the WL. Also, for WL, there must be a perfect match to be successful while one can be more flexible and take a partial match on a phone call.

 

[Dean]

Right.... And that can be frustrating.

MG

Given you haven't responded, I'll assume you mean my stance itself is frustrating, that people should understand the system they buy into and happily live with the inherent and appropriate rules and consequences, which very much applies in this case. If not, please correct me. I'm reminded of the reallocation discussions where some said they knew it could happen but assumed it never would.

 

[ssawka]

Wait-lists are far from a perfect system. When there is new inventory or cancelations, the units are not held for wait-lists. If one happens to call after the cancelation but before a WL is run, you'll get it ahead of the WL. Also, for WL, there must be a perfect match to be successful while one can be more flexible and take a partial match on a phone call.

I know, I was being sarcastic.