Point allocation...

[lenshanem]

I know the total number of points are set at each resort and I know the seasons can change, but can the points change? For instance, VWL low season is 12 points for a studio during the week. Could that ever change and the low season become higher (given they take away the points required in another season?)

Thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

Yes - there is nothing that prevents DVC from reallocating points to make a low season week night cost more points. As you said, they just have to make something else lower so that the total number of points to reserve every room in the resort for one year remains the same.

I don't think a reallocation is very likely, though. JMHO. YMMV.

Best wishes -

 

[spiceycat]

Yes they can change the points are you said higher one season and lower another season. DVC did it in the past.

Will it...

WDW doesn't like complaints. and believe me with as many members as there are now - they would definitely get a ton of complaints. Even if not your home resort if you stay there because of the point cost (like OKW) then I would think it would get more complaints than owners.

the only time I think they may chance and there have been hints is the Oct/Nov season - the food and wine festavial and then the dates around THanksgiving.

since WDW nows puts these days in the regular season - that is an excuse for DVC to do the same.

do I think they will - they had their chance last year and didn't do it - so I think it very unlikely they will now.

 

[Tramp68]

Isn't there also some stipulation about a limit as to how much they can reallocate in 1 year? I want to say it cant be more than a 20% change or something....

 

[RobDoc]

There is no restriction on reallocating points (there is a 15% cap on annual fees without a vote of the owners though).

Point reallocation has happened only once- at OKW in 1996. A few nights went up a few points and a few went down and many saw no change at all. I'l have to dig out the original point charts sometime and post the exact changes made, but they were relatively minimal. ( I know that GV's came down a bit in points and other villas went up, but will look up the exact changes.)

At this point, I don't expect any reallocation in the near future, but it certainly could happen.

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks everyone. I'm trying to decide on how many points we should do for an add on.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm of two minds on the topic. On the one hand, there's validity to the argument that things have gone untouched for 9 yrs or so, so why change things now.

On the other hand, if the system is truly to be demand-based, it seems like the first two weeks of December would be a prime candidate for a change.

I know that the cash resorts altered their seasons a bit this year--perhaps DVC will eventually follow suit.

Incidentally, I wonder what impact a point change would have on booking levels in early December. Hmmm...maybe a poll is in order.

 

[lenshanem]

On the other hand, if the system is truly to be demand-based, it seems like the first two weeks of December would be a prime candidate for a change. I know that the cash resorts altered their seasons a bit this year--perhaps DVC will eventually follow suit.

tjkraz, then they could change around the dates some, not the actual point allotment for the various groupings, such as Adventure, etc.

I was gonna go with 50 points for an add on at another resort other than my home. But then I thought I should at least get 60 to cover 5 nights in a studio during low season. I'm not so much concerned with the dates, but that there will always be a low season that we could get a 5 night stay in.

Later, we could keep that for myself and hubby. Our BCV can be evenly split between our two daughters if they want to go later down the road with their own families. Just thinking ahead.

 

[Dean]

IMO, it's not a question of if but when for reallocation. It's hard to believe that the patterns will remain constant over the years. It's even possible that the seasons for some resorts could end up being different than others though I'd expect that to be relatively unlikely.

 

[spiceycat]

I really though they would last year (for 2006 season) - I mean the WDW resorts changed their seasons - and although DVC has always had different seasons than WDW - I had though they were based on the WDW.

especially the food/wine festavial - but DVC didn't.

So I think that is good for DVC members!!!

right now because of the change for the WDW resort - it is cheaper to rent points from a DVC member and stay in OKW than the Pop Century!!! (sun-thurs) for the food/wine festavial. that to my knowledge has never happened before.

 

[tjkraz]

tjkraz, then they could change around the dates some, not the actual point allotment for the various groupings, such as Adventure, etc.

Far as I know, they can do just about anything they want, as long as the end result is the same. Right now a 2B at VWL represents roughtly 16727 points for an entire 365-day year (with some "fudge factor" for when the weekends fall, leap year, etc.) Unless I'm mistaken, that is the only number that really matters.

Mathematically, the easiest change would be to just swap weeks on the current calendar. For example, if they decided to make Dec 1-14 Dream Season and change May 1-14 to Adventure. Something like that would probably have the least impact on members--those who normally travel the other 48 weeks out of the year would see no change.

But, if the goal is to keep the entire system roughly demand-based, then I agree with Dean...it seems inevitable. Perhaps every 10-12 years we'll see a shake-up of the system to bring it more in line with the changing demand patterns.

 

[lenshanem]

Mathematically, the easiest change would be to just swap weeks on the current calendar. For example, if they decided to make Dec 1-14 Dream Season and change May 1-14 to Adventure. Something like that would probably have the least impact on members--those who normally travel the other 48 weeks out of the year would see no change.

See, that I wouldn't mind. It is when they change the actual points it would mess me up!

I think it would mess up alot of other people, too. I can bet many have bought w/o even knowing the chart could change and bought a specific amount for their needs.

I know I asked this to DVC before and got a very "vague" response, like it would never happen. Course, we know it is in the paperwork.

Like was mentioned earlier, at this stage with so many members now I would think it would cause an uproar. Not saying they wouldn't, but I think they would get an ear full. Yes?

 

[Dean]

Far as I know, they can do just about anything they want, as long as the end result is the same. Right now a 2B at VWL represents roughtly 16727 points for an entire 365-day year (with some "fudge factor" for when the weekends fall, leap year, etc.) Unless I'm mistaken, that is the only number that really matters.

Mathematically, the easiest change would be to just swap weeks on the current calendar. For example, if they decided to make Dec 1-14 Dream Season and change May 1-14 to Adventure. Something like that would probably have the least impact on members--those who normally travel the other 48 weeks out of the year would see no change.

But, if the goal is to keep the entire system roughly demand-based, then I agree with Dean...it seems inevitable. Perhaps every 10-12 years we'll see a shake-up of the system to bring it more in line with the changing demand patterns.

I doubt we'll see a change as large as 1996 when he Adventure points went up a LOT. I'd think it'd be small adjustments. Even if they want to make a lot of big changes, I'd expect them to do it incrementally. BTW, I do expect them to institute a 3 day minimum at some point but we will see.

 

[RobDoc]

Here is the DVC point chart for OKW from 1991 - 1995. In 1996, the current point chart began and is still valid at least thru 2006. The greatest changes were for Adventure Season, where all room types increased. All other seasons saw little or no change on weekdays, but larger decreases on weekends for all room types.

Points listed are for Studio, 1BR, 2BR, GV (weekday/weekend) respectively:

Adventure Season: 7/17 , 14/35 , 19/47 , 31/77

Choice Season: 8/21 , 17/42 , 23/57 , 37/92

Dream Season: 10/25 , 20/50 , 27/67 , 45/112

Magic Season: 11/28 , 23/57 , 31/77 , 52/130

Premier Season: 15/38 , 31/77 , 42/105 , 68/170

Current point needs:

Adventure: 8/20 , 16/40 , 22/54 , 36/88

Choice: 8/21 , 18/41 , 24/56 , 38/91

Dream: 10/24 , 20/48 , 27/64 , 45/107

Magic: 11/27 , 22/54 , 30/73 , 51/123

Premier: 15/36 , 30/73 , 41/100 , 66/162

 

[disneyberry]

[SIZE=+0]Also, there's something defined by DVC called the "Maximum Reallocation" which is outlined in the back of the Multi-Site POS in a chart.

For example, the chart states that "each Club Member will always be eligible to reserve at least one (1) Use Day in the different Vacation Home types at his or her Home Resort, subject to availability, for the following number of Home Resort Vacation Points:"

(Below, I've summarized one line of the chart, relevant to Studios):

OKW Studio = 15 points
VBR Studio = 18 points
HHI Studio = 15 points
BWV Pref View Studio = 18 points
BWV Std View Studio = 15 points
VWL Studio = 18 points
BCV Studio = 18 points
SSR Studio = 16 points

Hm, this got me wondering... so I found one of the sections of the POS that talks about "Maximum Reallocation". Here are some excerpts, I tried to make it less wordy, there are ellipses where some words have been omitted:

In order to meet the Club Members' needs and expectations as evidenced by fluctuations in Use Day demand at the Club Member's Home Resort ..., DVCMC may in its sole ... discretion increase or decrease the Home Resort Vacation Points requirements for reservation of a given Use Day ... by any amount not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the ... Points required to reserve that Use Day during the previous calendar year; ... The twenty percent (20%) reallocation limitation shall not apply to ... reservation requirements relating to special periods of high demand based upon Club Member usage patterns ... (including, without limitation, use demand during special or holiday seasons)... Adjustments in excess of twenty percent (20%) in any calendar year will require approval of not less than sixty percent (60%) of all then-existing owners at the Club Member's Home Resort.

A maximum reallocation of Vacation Point reservation requirements could result in a "leveling" of all seasons, such that Vacation Point reservation requirements would have no variation based upon seasonality or different times of the year... Similarly, a "leveling" of differences in Vacation Point reservation requirements based upon particular Use Days in the week. However, with respect to each DVC Resort, each Club Member will always be eligible to reserve at least one (1) Use Day in the different Vacation Home types at a DVC Resort, subject to availability, for the number of Home Resort Vacation Points as set forth in the Maximum Reallocation Chart.

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