Problems Booking Fort Wilderness for 2020 using DVC points

[Grandpa999]

Seems like you cannot book a stay at Fort Wilderness using DVC points for 2020. Does anyone know why they have not given access to booking sites by DVC members using points in 2020???

 

[Denise W]

Well, a DVC member can only book their home resort at 11months out. So as of today they can only book through June 2020. Fort Wilderness is not a DVC resort. What did you have in mind?
Denise

 

[Grandpa999]

A DVC member can book "other" Disney properties 11 months in advance as well. I planned to book a FW site starting 6/27/20, exactly 11 months from today. I was told the inventory had not been loaded from FW to DVC for it's use in 2020. This is unusual as I have done this in the past with no problems.

 

[Denise W]

A DVC member can book "other" Disney properties 11 months in advance as well. I planned to book a FW site starting 6/27/20, exactly 11 months from today. I was told the inventory had not been loaded from FW to DVC for it's use in 2020. This is unusual as I have done this in the past with no problems.

You might get better answers on the DVC forum, where most of the DVC owners hang out
Denise

 

[Thecouch]

im not a expert but been checking the dvc trade thread on this site they all seem to say they can book home resort only till 7 months out

from the dvc sub rules

• If the arrival date is within 7 months, simply reply to any DVC Member who has posted a thread offering to make a reservation or offering an existing reservation. Specify the resort, villa size (Studio, 1BR, 2BR, Grand Villa) and dates of stay for your desired reservation.

• If the arrival date is more than 7 months away you will need to rent from someone who is an owner at your desired resort. Reply to those members offering to make a reservation at the same resort where you would like to stay. DVC Members can make reservations at their Home Resort 11 months or less prior to arrival. At 7 months or less, any DVC Member may reserve at any resort, based on availability. Again, the dates and villa size will be required.

 

[shocker]

Two suggestions:

1) post DVC questions to the DVC boards

2) post FW questions to the FW boards

Just scroll down a bit farther on the home page to find those.

 

[Lynne M]

I’ll move this to the DVC Member Services board.

 

[Marionnette]

im not a expert but been checking the dvc trade thread on this site they all seem to say they can book home resort only till 7 months out

from the dvc sub rules

• If the arrival date is within 7 months, simply reply to any DVC Member who has posted a thread offering to make a reservation or offering an existing reservation. Specify the resort, villa size (Studio, 1BR, 2BR, Grand Villa) and dates of stay for your desired reservation.

• If the arrival date is more than 7 months away you will need to rent from someone who is an owner at your desired resort. Reply to those members offering to make a reservation at the same resort where you would like to stay. DVC Members can make reservations at their Home Resort 11 months or less prior to arrival. At 7 months or less, any DVC Member may reserve at any resort, based on availability. Again, the dates and villa size will be required.

This has nothing to to with renting, trading or the 7-month booking window. The OP is a DVC owner who wishes to use his points for the Disney Collection (a DVC term used to describe non-DVC Disney properties like Fort Wilderness campsites). Owners with qualifying points (I.e. points purchased directly from DVC or resale before March 21, 2011) can use their points to book Disney Collection reservations. This can be done 11 months before check in at the Disney Collection Resort, hence the problem.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This has nothing to to with renting, trading or the 7-month booking window. The OP is a DVC owner who wishes to use his points for the Disney Collection (a DVC term used to describe non-DVC Disney properties like Fort Wilderness campsites). Owners with qualifying points (I.e. points purchased directly from DVC or resale before March 21, 2011) can use their points to book Disney Collection reservations. This can be done 11 months before check in at the Disney Collection Resort, hence the problem.

Well, it can be done 11 months in advance so long as the points chart is available. Disney Collection points charts are not released with timeliness. For instance, I'm not sure the fall charts for DLP are out even now. It's all dependent on the partners, which are not DVC and thus call the shots for the trade alliance and can cut off trade at whim.

 

[drusba]

The Disney Collection Point charts for 2020 for all the WDW resorts are available; for any particular resort go here and click on applicable "View Points Chart" and you will be able to find the one for 2020 https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/destinations/list/disney-resort-hotels/

If my memory is serving me correctly the issue you may be having is simply one of historical avialability for Fort Wilderness, particularly if you are seeking a campsite. Disney's Fort Wilderness makes few campsites available for trading in via DVC points and, as a result it is often very hard to find one available.

 

[Grandpa999]

I have had a points chart for months. I think the last response stating that Disney tends to shortchange DVC members may be a more valid one. Note that in 2017 I had no problem booking a month from the week before the 4th on. Four years ago I also had no problem, so something is but I am not sure what. I have been a DVC member since 2002 and have never seen the problems with booking that I have noticed this year, not just me but in general based on the various comments on multiple sites.

 

[zavandor]

The The Disney Collection is a perk, not something that is guaranteed. It is possible a specific resort or exchange opportunity is not available at all or there are very few rooms available. As an example, within the same category, booking a cruise using points had been suspended in the past for a while. Disney wants potential members to believe they have many options to use their points, but they don't necessarily want member to use them.

 

[crvetter]

The biggest issue is that you can use your points 11 months in the future however the cash guests at FW can book their check in date 500 days in advance. FW campsites are so super popular in that there might simply no availability. For instance if you book 500 days from now at FW you might already find very limited availability.

 

[kmorlock]

A DVC member can book "other" Disney properties 11 months in advance as well. I planned to book a FW site starting 6/27/20, exactly 11 months from today. I was told the inventory had not been loaded from FW to DVC for it's use in 2020. This is unusual as I have done this in the past with no problems.

Back several years ago prior to owning DVC, I would book at the earliest time 400ish days ahead. Often if trying to modify through Disney Reservations, I would be told it was too early and the inventory of rooms had not “dropped”. My best guess why is a specific number of accommodations being held to later allocate (per each discount ie., Bouncebacks, Dining, Room Only, Annual Passholder, DVC etc.) had not been finalized. It’s only a guess but, invenonot dropping exactly when it should seems common on the Non-DVC side.

 

[kniquy]

Seems like you cannot book a stay at Fort Wilderness using DVC points for 2020. Does anyone know why they have not given access to booking sites by DVC members using points in 2020???

Not really an answer to your question but a thought you should consider. Look and compare the point cost for booking as a DVC owner AND look at the cost to book as a regular cash reservation -- reason is - most of the time it is more expensive to book using points vs booking cash. If you value the points needed to book this FW reservation at $17-18 per point that would be the cash value you are paying for the reservation. It often calculates out to be more expensive. So if that is the case, book cash then rent out your points or offer them for a transfer. Rentals can be done just by the owner on the rent/transfer forum or you can contact a reputable rental company such as Davids.

 

[Grandpa999]

Thanks for the replies. Yesterday I ended up putting my points for rent and booked the FW CG with cash. Will end up using a few less points than if I used to book a site directly.

 

[mustinjourney]

Thanks for the replies. Yesterday I ended up putting my points for rent and booked the FW CG with cash. Will end up using a few less points than if I used to book a site directly.

glad it worked out for you -- I was going to suggest this option as well. You should come out about $3-$5 per point ahead doing this.