Question about using points at the Wilderness Lodge.

[LisaZ1113]

So, forgive, but we are fairly new DVC members, and still trying to get the hang of utilizing our points to the best of our abilities.

We would like to spend a few nights at the WL, next december, before going on our HM cruise. (YAY).

IF we want to get a conceirge/club level room, (afterall, it IS our Hm ),
I noticed that in the points booklet, it doesn't show any points value for this type of room. Just want to make sure you can still use your points for this? Thank you in advance from a newbie.

 

[Chuck S]

At any Disney resorts that have a DVC Component, you can no longer reserve standard cash-type resort rooms, including concierge level, with DVC points. I would expect that the Contemporary and Grand Californian will no longer be accepting point reservations in 2010.

If you want any room within the original Wilderness Lodge, you need to pay cash.

The reason you see concierge level rooms at AKV is because those rooms were converted to DVC Villas and sold as part of the AKV. There are also original concierge level rooms that are part of Animal Kingdom Lodge that can not be reserved on points.

The Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts do not have DVC Components, so you can reserve concierge room through an exchange into the Disney Collection, which would require a $95 additional fee and a LOT of points.

 

[LisaZ1113]

Ok, now I'm more confused.

 

[Chuck S]

Basically, at any Disney resort where there are DVC villas you will not be allowed to you use DVC Points at the "Disney Resort" - only for the villas. The cash resort and DVC Villas are legally separate operating entities that share some common amenities.

Since there are no DVC villas at the Polynesian or Grand Floridian, you can exchange your DVC Points for "Reservation Points" to stay there, but if you need to cancel, you can not then use those points at a DVC Resort. Whenever you trade out of the DVC System, your points change status to Reservation Points, good only at non-DVC resorts.

 

[Lynne M]

You can't use points for stays at the non-DVC portion of resorts that also have DVC villas.

There are a number of these 'hybrid' resorts at WDW: WL/VWL, BC/BCV, AKL/AKV, BWI/BWV, and soon, CR/BLT.

VWL, BCV, AKV, BWV and BLT are DVC resorts. WL, BC, AKL, and BWI are not part of the DVC system. The two halves of the resort share facilities (pools, restaurants, transportation, etc), but they are separate operating entities.

The Disney Collection resorts (YC, Poly, GF, CR, FW, and the moderates) are the only non-DVC resorts on property where you can use DVC points). Expect CR to drop out of the Disney Collection in 2010, since BLT will be opening this fall.

 

[LisaZ1113]

Thank you for clarifying....so basically, if we want to use our points, we can only book at the Original WL, NOT the Villas? And if we want to upgrade for the HM, we have to pay cash?

 

[TDC Nala]

Thank you for clarifying....so basically, if we want to use our points, we can only book at the Original WL, NOT the Villas? And if we want to upgrade for the HM, we have to pay cash?

What they are saying is that you cannot book the original WL (the hotel part) on points at all because there is also a DVC there. If you want to stay at WL Concierge/Club level the only way for you to do that will be to pay cash for the entire reservation. The WL villas don't have a concierge/club level - only the hotel does. The only DVC resort with a concierge/club level is Animal Kingdom Villas.

If you decided to trade your points out to the Disney Collection to stay at, say, the Polynesian in concierge (which you can do), if you cancel that reservation after trading out, you cannot use the points to then book anything at a DVC resort. You'd be able to use them only for other Disney Collection reservations - which would not include the WL hotel - it is not part of the Disney Collection.

I'm trying to figure out what HM stands for but I can't.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm trying to figure out what HM stands for but I can't.

I'm thinking HM=Honeymoon

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm thinking HM=Honeymoon

oh, Ok - never would have guessed that

 

[Lynne M]

Thank you for clarifying....so basically, if we want to use our points, we can only book at the Original WL, NOT the Villas? And if we want to upgrade for the HM, we have to pay cash?

Actually, it's the reverse. If you want to use DVC points to stay at WL/VWL, you can ONLY stay at the Villas, because the Villas are a DVC resort. The Wilderness Lodge (the main building, where the club level rooms are located), is not DVC, so you cannot use your points there. If you wish to stay in a club level room in WL, you'll have to make a cash reservation.

 

[Anal Annie]

Thank you for clarifying....so basically, if we want to use our points, we can only book at the Original WL, NOT the Villas? And if we want to upgrade for the HM, we have to pay cash?

No. You can use your points to stay at the villas, just not concierge as that is not part of the VWL DVC. Concierge is in the regular lodge and would have to be a cash reservation so yes, if you want to upgrade you would pay cash for the entire reservation.

 

[chalee94]

IF we want to get a conceirge/club level room, (afterall, it IS our Hm ),
I noticed that in the points booklet, it doesn't show any points value for this type of room.

the short answer is: you cannot book concierge/club level rooms at WL/VWL with DVC points. it's not possible at all. you would not be able to book it directly or by upgrading by paying cash.

to book concierge you would have to book club level at AKV (probably exactly at 11 months as an AKV owner) or else go outside the DVC resorts to book club level at GF or poly as chuck suggested (which requires mucho points plus an additional fee.) there are very limited options to get concierge level rooms on DVC points reservations.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

We would like to spend a few nights at the WL, next december, before going on our HM cruise

Just as an FYI - DVC in December is tough to get (11 month booking usually required) and of all the DVC resorts, WL specifically is the hardest to get in to in December. So if this is your home resort, I would plan on calling in Jan 2010 for the Dec 2010 stay.

 

[LisaZ1113]

Thank you for all of the information.

 

[LisaZ1113]

Can anyone tell me: Are the Villas still "magical"? visited WL last December, and we fell in love with it. Have never seen the Villa's though.

 

[Chuck S]

Can anyone tell me: Are the Villas still "magical"? visited WL last December, and we fell in love with it. Have never seen the Villa's though.

Magical in what sense? All the DVC Villas are pretty standard. Surely you viewed models or at least photos before buying DVC?

While the furnishings, themes and decor vary resort to resort, a studio is still basically a studio, a one bedroom a one bedroom etc., no matter which resort you visit. All studios, except OKW, have a queen bed, a full sleeper sofa sitting area and a kitchette. One bedrooms have a king bed, a queen sofa sleeper in the living room area, a full kitchen, whirlpool tub and a washer/dryer.

All Villas, on points, have limited housekeeping services...additional housekeeping is available for an extra fee.

The Villas at Wilderness Lodge are themed slightly differently from the lodge building itself. There is a good description of the theme differences on Mouse Planet.

 

[LisaZ1113]

Magical in what sense? All the DVC Villas are pretty standard. Surely you viewed models or at least photos before buying DVC?

While the furnishings, themes and decor vary resort to resort, a studio is still basically a studio, a one bedroom a one bedroom etc., no matter which resort you visit. All studios, except OKW, have a queen bed, a full sleeper sofa sitting area and a kitchette. One bedrooms have a king bed, a queen sofa sleeper in the living room area, a full kitchen, whirlpool tub and a washer/dryer.

All Villas, on points, have limited housekeeping services...additional housekeeping is available for an extra fee.

The Villas at Wilderness Lodge are themed slightly differently from the lodge building itself. There is a good description of the theme differences on Mouse Planet.

Yes, we viewed models of AKL and BLT. BLT is our home resort.

 

[Lynne M]

Can anyone tell me: Are the Villas still "magical"? visited WL last December, and we fell in love with it. Have never seen the Villa's though.

Not sure what you mean by magical? The villas are in a separate building, connected by a covered walkway to the main building, just a few steps away. You're using the same check-in desk, same transportation, same restaurants, same pools, same beach, as someone staying in the main building.

The villas are configured differently (and are much larger and nicer) than the rooms in the main building, but the decor is pretty much the same sort of theme.

 

[LisaZ1113]

Not sure what you mean by magical? The villas are in a separate building, connected by a covered walkway to the main building, just a few steps away. You're using the same check-in desk, same transportation, same restaurants, same pools, same beach, as someone staying in the main building.

The villas are configured differently (and are much larger and nicer) than the rooms in the main building, but the decor is pretty much the same sort of theme.

Sorry, by magical I meant that we loved the WL, but have never seen the Villas. Disney magic, I guess. I don't know.

 

[Lynne M]

Sorry, by magical I meant that we loved the WL, but have never seen the Villas. Disney magic, I guess. I don't know.

Well, in a lot of ways, when you're staying in the villas, you ARE staying at WL. The villas are just some more rooms they added on to the resort. The finances behind the scenes are different, but the guest experience really isn't any different.