Question - how does this work?

[jlk806]

Ok, I currently have a ressie at BCV Aug 27-Sept 5 in a studio but its through Disney Reservations and with a credit card deposit. We are trying to purchase a resale (if all goes through, hopefully will be closed in 3-4 weeks). We didnt want to be without a room so we booked with the 40% discount so if it doesnt go through we can still stay at BCV.

My question is this - Im not sure how this works, and hopefully someone can explain:

Are rooms at the DVC resorts available to DVC owners for a specific amount of time, then when released to Disney Reservations, are they available equally between DVC and Disney Reservations, given to whoever books first (A DVC member booking with points, or someone paying cash through Disney)? Or are a specific number of rooms allotted for only DVC members with points, and a specific number allotted for people paying cash through Disney? Hoping someone can help me understand how it works.

The main reason I am asking is because I know once our membership is complete, there may be limited resort availability through DVC, and Im hoping that since we have a ressie for a studio already perhaps we could cancel that and rebook using our points?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated I have been doing as much research as possible but still need some guidance from those with experience. Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

Ok, I currently have a ressie at BCV Aug 27-Sept 5 in a studio but its through Disney Reservations and with a credit card deposit. We are trying to purchase a resale (if all goes through, hopefully will be closed in 3-4 weeks). We didnt want to be without a room so we booked with the 40% discount so if it doesnt go through we can still stay at BCV.

My question is this - Im not sure how this works, and hopefully someone can explain:

Are rooms at the DVC resorts available to DVC owners for a specific amount of time, then when released to Disney Reservations, are they available equally between DVC and Disney Reservations, given to whoever books first (A DVC member booking with points, or someone paying cash through Disney)? Or are a specific number of rooms allotted for only DVC members with points, and a specific number allotted for people paying cash through Disney? Hoping someone can help me understand how it works.

The main reason I am asking is because I know once our membership is complete, there may be limited resort availability through DVC, and Im hoping that since we have a ressie for a studio already perhaps we could cancel that and rebook using our points?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated I have been doing as much research as possible but still need some guidance from those with experience. Thanks!

There are 2 separate inventories of rooms: Rooms the members own and rooms the members don't own. Since BCV is soldout, at 11 months most of the rooms are owned by the members and can only be booked with points. DVC itself retains a small amount of points that they rent as rooms through CRO. As members start trading out to outside of DVC (cruise, conceirge collection, etc.) rooms are moved to non-member inventory to be sold through CRO. The income goes to pay for their outside stay. At 60 days before the check-in date, any unreserved points rooms can be sent to CRO to be rented to non-members with the income going back to the members in the form of a dues credit. If you have a room booked through CRO and cancel it, it will most likely not be available for points. There would have to be a room in member inventory for you to book for points.

 

[DVCconvert]

3-4 weeks is too hopeful IMHO.
The CRO and DVC rooms are different inventories.
I'd plan on if visiting within the 6 months just to keep your cash plans. You'll have at least 30 years with which to enjoy your resale.

 

[5forDiz]

Check cancellation policy for your cash reservation ( iirc it should be cancelable up to 5 days before check in date ). When your points are in the DVC system call MS for what you want to book and if that isn't available you are able to make 2 waitlists; hopefully waitlist will come through for you before the cut-off to cancel the cash reservation.

Sending lots of your way that the contract passes ROFR & you are a member very soon and that BCV will be available for your dates. Post back how it goes

 

[hellerjw]

I agree, I would keep the cash reservation since its separate inventory anyway. If everything goes through quickly with the resale you are still looking at only a 4-5 month window to book the DVC stay which may be hard to do at certain resorts. Since the cash reservation can be canceled without penalty right up until 5 days before you check-in, you could just hold onto it until the week before you leave and keep trying to book the same dates on points. If you get it then you can cancel the cash ressie and get your deposit back, if not you still have a reservation somewhere.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

As others have pointed out room availability doesn't work the way you were hoping. However the time that you are going is a slower time for DVC so you may get lucky and be able to get a BCV studio. If that isn't available I'm almost certain you'll be able to get a room at one of the DVC properties so you can start checking them out.