Please explain "member cash" ressie to me

[Simba's Mom]

Is this a discounted cash rate on a DVC resort for DVC members who don't want to use points? How hard are they to get? And moxt importantly, can you use member cash for one night and points for the others? Like, say, if I'm going to VWL on a Saturday and staying til Thursday, can I pay a member cash rate for Saturday night (when points are highest), then use the lower points on the other nights? Or can I pay member cash if I'm going just for a long weekend (say, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)? Please explain to me how it all works.

 

[DebbieB]

It's 25% off if available (can be hard to get, especially more than 60 days before when points rooms are released to non-members). You can combine it with a points reservation. It is treated as a DVC reservation with regards to housekeeping. Also check AP rates and special codes, it is sometimes more than 25% and you get full housekeeping.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Simba's Mom--I always do a cash discount for my weekends, and I have 450 pts! I have gotten more protective of those points each time I buy an add-on. I have never had difficulty getting a cash discount, except at Easter, of course, when they are usually unavailable. I always get them in the summer months, and in the winter during off-peak times. However, if you don't already have an annual passport, get one and make your ressies that way. In July this year passport holders can get nights at Animal Kingdom Lodge for $124 per night. I am staying at OKW in a one-bedroom for $260, when I couldn't get a cash ressie from member services. Last summer I stayed in a studio at BWV for $198--that was a cash discount, though. I stayed at Coronado Springs for $89 night, too. Both annual passport and DVC have good discounts, but you need to shop both places in order to get some discounts.

 

[dbkelly]

I just assumed that you could automatically get cash ressies. I was planning on cash ressies for Friday & Saturday night before Easter Sunday of next year. If I call at the 11 month window which is tomorrow, will I still have a problem with getting cash ressies? Is it a limited inventory or do they just not give out cash discounted ressies for Easter? Does it matter which resort, because I was planning on a studio at OKW?

D. B. Kelly

 

[DebbieB]

I believe cash reservations come out of non-point inventory (before the 60 day breakage period), so at the 11 month point that may be limited. See what you can get - you may want to make a backup reservation elsewhere if you can't get it. Cash rooms should open up as members trade-out, so keep trying if you don't get it.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by dbkelly
I just assumed that you could automatically get cash ressies. I was planning on cash ressies for Friday & Saturday night before Easter Sunday of next year. If I call at the 11 month window which is tomorrow, will I still have a problem with getting cash ressies? Is it a limited inventory or do they just not give out cash discounted ressies for Easter? Does it matter which resort, because I was planning on a studio at OKW?

D. B. Kelly

Members do not automatically get member-discounted cash ressies just for the asking. My understanding is that the inventory for the 25% member discounted ressies is limited and comes from developer inventory (unsold points) that is available to be rented for cash or from "breakage" inventory (rooms not rented for points by 60 days ahead of departure). There may be other sources as well. As the others have said, sometimes CRO has better discounts than 25%. It has been reported that MS will sometimes match the CRO discount.

I have never been able to get a 25% member discounted room at BWV and we have gone in January, February, August and December. (We've stayed in studios and 2 bedroom units). IMHO, the member discounts are harder to get after a resort is sold out. OKW may be a little easier because of its size.

That said, it never hurts to ask - good luck!

 

[dbkelly]

Oh this is depressing news. Now, I am not sure what to do. Do I cut a day off our trip? Do I book at the P.O.R as a back up? Or do I borrow points once again!

Thanks for all of the info.

D. B. Kelly

 

[DebbieB]

I would book a backup and keep trying. I wouldn't borrow points at this point if you really don't want to. I had to add a night to our December trip because I couldn't get frequent flyer tickets for Saturday arrival. They had them for Friday, so I booked Friday night at CBR at 20% DC discount. I didn't want to borrow points for a Friday night (41 for a standard 1 bedroom at BWV).

 

[CIPG]

You could also rent points from another member especially if you are just a few short.

 

[Grotto]

One other question:

If you get a room with the cash discount, do you have to pay the 11% tax on the room?

 

[DebbieB]

Yes you pay the 11% room tax.

It may not be cost effective to rent points for a weekend night unless you can find someone renting for less than $10/pt.