Removing rooms from DVC inventory - WHY?

[crisi]

We all know Disney has to sell some of the rooms for cash sometimes. It's still frustrating when you are the one trying to make the reservations and you have plenty of points, but have to use cash. I wish people could use the boards to vent those frustrations without getting condescending responses from DISers. And the reason issues "keep coming up" is because we don't all have time to read all of the thousands of threads on here to make sure our question/comment is original! And search doesn't always work.

I don't usually respond like this, but I don't like it when people get responses like OP has and I just happen to be feeling like I need to respond to it this time.

Maybe this one we need a sticky for. It does come up so often that its hard for "regulars" not to lose patience - not that that is an excuse, it isn't like its the same person asking the question over and over again. That way we can just refer people to the sticky when asked. Mods could even refer to the sticky and close the thread

 

[snyderla]

I like that idea!

 

[Dean]

We all know Disney has to sell some of the rooms for cash sometimes. It's still frustrating when you are the one trying to make the reservations and you have plenty of points, but have to use cash. I wish people could use the boards to vent those frustrations without getting condescending responses from DISers. And the reason issues "keep coming up" is because we don't all have time to read all of the thousands of threads on here to make sure our question/comment is original! And search doesn't always work.

I think it keeps coming up more because people don't take time to learn about what they've bought into.

 

[J and R's mom]

Maybe this one we need a sticky for. It does come up so often that its hard for "regulars" not to lose patience - not that that is an excuse, it isn't like its the same person asking the question over and over again. That way we can just refer people to the sticky when asked. Mods could even refer to the sticky and close the thread

The sticky is a VERY good idea! Maybe title it "Why can't I book a room on points but I can with cash?"

DenverVal,

Glad to hear that your DD recovered. That can be a very STRESSFUL thing.

Your question is both valid and understandable. MANY others have the same concern. Most that post the question have a few hundred posts (maybe) and many that respond (in a frustrated fashion) have several thousand posts leading me to believe they have more time to delve into the details than some of the others do. Although I greatly value their input, I don't like the condesending tone. I guess it is due to their superior knowledge and the fact that they forgot what it was like to be un-enlightened in this particular area. Please do not let it discourage you too much.

I only knew the answer to your question because I read these boards. I had the same frustration in the beginning. Especially when I was waitlisted for a certain location but could get the reservation with cash. I understand WHY it is that way and even WHY it NEEDS to be that way, BUT, it's still frustrating.

I hope you have a wonderful trip....goodness knows you all deserve one after your ordeal with your daughter.

 

[DenverVal]

Thank you - it has been a very scary, stressful two months for the entire family.

The sticky titled the way you have it would be very helpful, and would have saved me some embarassment. I don't have much luck searching using the DIS's choice for a search engine - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Doctor P]

The sticky is a VERY good idea! Maybe title it "Why can't I book a room on points but I could with cash?"

DenverVal,

Glad to hear that your DD recovered. That can be a very STRESSFUL thing.

Your question is both valid and understandable. MANY others have the same concern. Most that post the question have a few hundred posts (maybe) and many that respond (in a frustarted fashion) have several thousand posts leading me to believe they have more time to delve into the details than some of the others do. Although I greatly value their input, I don't like the condesending tone. I guess it is due to their superior knowledge and the fact that they forgot what it was like to be un-enlightened in this particular area. Please do not let it discourage you too much.

I only knew the answer to your question because I read these boards. I had to same frustration in the beginning. Especially when I was waitlisted for a certain location but could get the reservation with cash. I understand WHY it is that way and even WHY it NEEDS to be that way, BUT, it's still frustrating.

I hope you have a wonderful trip....goodness knows you all deserve one after your ordeal with your daughter.

I will repeat: this is knowledge that a NEW BUYER should have. It is disclosed in the documents you sign. It is also disclosed to one degree or another in the Product Understanding Checklist. The problem generally appears to be one of people not reading the documents rather than not understanding them or getting confused. That does not, however, be the case with the OP who apparently DID read the documents.

 

[J and R's mom]

I will repeat: this is knowledge that a NEW BUYER should have. It is disclosed in the documents you sign. It is also disclosed to one degree or another in the Product Understanding Checklist. The problem generally appears to be one of people not reading the documents rather than not understanding them or getting confused. That does not, however, be the case with the OP who apparently DID read the documents.

You can "should" all over the place, but we all know that what "should" be and what is are often two very different things (pick any politician as an example).

I will repeat (to use your words): It's the "tone" with which comments on this thread were made that rubbed me raw. One "should" simply ignore the thread if it irks one so to "see it again and again." Making a fellow DISer feel "embarassed" (her words) because they asked a question is not called for...no matter what "should" is in the equation.

 

[DenverVal]

I will repeat: this is knowledge that a NEW BUYER should have. It is disclosed in the documents you sign. It is also disclosed to one degree or another in the Product Understanding Checklist. The problem generally appears to be one of people not reading the documents rather than not understanding them or getting confused. That does not, however, be the case with the OP who apparently DID read the documents.

All right, quit beating a dead horse. My question has been answered, of course I *should* have remembered this detail, after all it was only years ago that I read it. With all the crap I've had to do to cancel the original vacation, deal with a hotel in another country, two different airlines, DVC, DCL and the travel insurer, not to mention trying to keep my daughter alive, and then trying to make reservations for any time I could get it, *forgive me* for getting frustrated and not consulting my documents before venting. For the record, I am NOT a new buyer, I am an experienced member having a NEW (and not particularly pleasant) EXPERIENCE. Step down off your soap box.

Ask the webmaster to post a sticky and consider this thread done.

 

[Sammie]

The main thing is your daughter is well. That is the important part, the rest is truly small stuff.

And now you have learned some new DVC small stuff. One that there are two inventories and two, Oct. Nov. and Dec. are peak times for DVC resorts.

I hope you have a magical vacation, we love SSR.

And now that you know what is what, you can come back and set some other newbie straight.

 

[crisi]

I will repeat: this is knowledge that a NEW BUYER should have. It is disclosed in the documents you sign. It is also disclosed to one degree or another in the Product Understanding Checklist. The problem generally appears to be one of people not reading the documents rather than not understanding them or getting confused. That does not, however, be the case with the OP who apparently DID read the documents.

If you buy resale, it probably won't be in anything you sign. Our resale didn't come with a product understanding checklist - we didn't see an offering statement until after we closed. And I'm sure I'm not alone on not even having good access to this information until post close. In fact, I don't know if I have this information now - most of what I have I've gotten on the boards.

If you purchase over the phone, they are going to send you a packet of stuff. Few people are going to read and understand every word - particularly around the esoteric stuff that doesn't seem to apply to you when you are just eager to sign.

This IS one of the things that its easy to not know or not understand. And, with the increase in the number of points it takes to book outside of DVC, each year the issue gets WORSE.

 

[lisareniff]

.... And search doesn't always work.

How about we return to the old search function ....THAT WORKED!

 

[d-r]

Personally, I think that there should be a way to pull back the rooms from cro and make them available to members on points, or just put them in a system where they can be booked by cash or points which ever comes first. If the rooms are open because a member uses points for something else, then there would have to be open rooms because those points went somewhere else. Give the members first dibs over the non-members.

I've noticed a lot of effort lately by cro to promote booking SSR and OKW for cash, I guess there is more unsold points at these larger resorts that allow for more cash reservations.

 

[dizzknee3]

You can "should" all over the place, but we all know that what "should" be and what is are often two very different things (pick any politician as an example).

I will repeat (to use your words): It's the "tone" with which comments on this thread were made that rubbed me raw. One "should" simply ignore the thread if it irks one so to "see it again and again." Making a fellow DISer feel "embarassed" (her words) because they asked a question is not called for...no matter what "should" is in the equation.

That is exactly why I don't ask questions on this board more often! Well said!

 

[Dean]

Personally, I think that there should be a way to pull back the rooms from cro and make them available to members on points, or just put them in a system where they can be booked by cash or points which ever comes first. If the rooms are open because a member uses points for something else, then there would have to be open rooms because those points went somewhere else. Give the members first dibs over the non-members.

I've noticed a lot of effort lately by cro to promote booking SSR and OKW for cash, I guess there is more unsold points at these larger resorts that allow for more cash reservations.

Those rooms are available to members, for cash. The issue is that they non longer belong to DVC but to DVD, technically a different company and system. DVC does make some of those available for cash in advance, even with a discount. DVC could not make those rooms available for points because cash has to be generated for those rooms. Otherwise, the entire cash equivilent exchange system is shot. DVC could simply do away with the points for cash option but the reality is that this would really not be any better as most of the rooms not booked would still be off season.

 

[Dean]

If you buy resale, it probably won't be in anything you sign. Our resale didn't come with a product understanding checklist - we didn't see an offering statement until after we closed. And I'm sure I'm not alone on not even having good access to this information until post close. In fact, I don't know if I have this information now - most of what I have I've gotten on the boards.

If you purchase over the phone, they are going to send you a packet of stuff. Few people are going to read and understand every word - particularly around the esoteric stuff that doesn't seem to apply to you when you are just eager to sign.

This IS one of the things that its easy to not know or not understand. And, with the increase in the number of points it takes to book outside of DVC, each year the issue gets WORSE.

I think it's even more important to understand and investigate when you buy resale than from the developer. But I also think the average resale buyer is far more educated than those that buy from the developer. But resale is somewhat different and there are some special issues to look for on resale. For example, one will need to be careful on future OKW purchases regarding the ending date of the contract being purchased.

 

[lisareniff]

That is exactly why I don't ask questions on this board more often! Well said!

I usually don't do this but here it goes...

I would never be afraid of asking any, and I mean ANY, question on these boards. So many experienced DISer answer the same question over and over with much patience and offering so much to the new, or not so new, owner. It is a wonderful resource.

However, the OP never asked a question, his post was one of pure frustration at a system that appeared unfair. I can understand the frustration at a complexity in the system that might not have been clear before, and now is at a critical time. Unfortunately, sometimes an angry post, even if not directed at the recipient, might receive equally strong posts in return.

DenverVal, I hope your daughter continues to have good health and you have a great trip to WDW.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I usually don't do this but here it goes...

I would never be afraid of asking any, and I mean ANY, question on these boards. So many experienced DISer answer the same question over and over with much patience and offering so much to the new, or not so new, owner. It is a wonderful resource.

However, the OP never asked a question, his post was one of pure frustration at a system that appeared unfair. I can understand the frustration at a complexity in the system that might not have been clear before, and now is at a critical time. Unfortunately, sometimes an angry post, even if not directed at the recipient, might receive equally strong posts in return.

This is a post that bears repeating, because we see it a lot. It's kind of like the old "fly paper or honey" thing. No one should ever feel they can't ask a question here. That's what this board is for....teaching.

 

[ILuvDVC2]

No one should ever feel they can't ask a question here. That's what this board is for....teaching.

Agreed, dianeschlicht. Lately I've seen a few curt and/or sarcastic responses to people who pose questions here, when the OPs are simply seeking an answer to a question or sharing information. Yes, it can be frustrating to answer similar questions over and over. At times I do get frustrated to see a thread/topic being discussed that has already been covered ad nauseum. In spite of my own feelings and frustrations about topic/question repetition, I still believe we should be treating each other with respect and doing our best to help each other out.

 

[roadtripper]

DenverVal--
Been there, done that, got the post to prove it! (Somewhere in late July 2006, when I tried to book a last minute August trip and had to do so with cash after booking a too-good-to-pass-up-Ding fare)
I am so glad that your DD is doing better!

I share your frustration, and unlike you, I probably did NOT read my documents as well as I should have , although I certainly got the impression that cash ressies were "leftovers" that members didn't want. I am not sure that DVC does much to dissuade people of that notion, either.
Anyway, I do know for sure that my post was not met with the irritated and rude replies that you have been bombarded with. People gave me measured responses that explained the sitation, which I found very helpful. Sorry for you, and disappointed in the Dis, especially the DVC DIS (which I always consider to be a cut above...). Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You have to figure that DVC can't sell any more space than they have. And the ideal situation would be 100% occupancy at all times. But we all know that it is much easier to get a room in mid Sept than Christmas because more people want to go at Christmas time. As long as DVC offers the opportunity for members to trade out to various other non-DVC trips, they are going to have to use the points the member traded to take care of the trade - whether that villa goes to a non-DVC member who traded their timeshare in Hawaii for WDW or to a non-member to pay cash to CRO so that member can get that trip on the DCL. Re-reserving those rooms for points a second time doesn't generate any income to pay the bill.

When you want to go to WDW and you want to use points, you have to beat out all the other members who also want to do the same thing at the same time in the same location as you. That's where your 11 month advantage helps you. You're only trying to beat out the other members at your home resort.