Renting Points & DDP

[tamtroscla]

Hello. I am renting points at Saratoga Springs from a DVC Member with a good reputation. I have received my confirmation letter from DVC Member Services with reservation booked in my name. I now want to add DDP. I called member services and they indicated that only the DVC Member can do this. Is this standard? I thought that as a guest I was entitled to almost the same privileges as a member. I've also requested that the DVC Member call to add DDP for me. Here is the second issue: I cannot confirm (even though I have a confirmation number from Disney) my reservation with Disney. The only reason I would want to do this is to make sure my room reservations are not cancelled prior to arrival. I doubt this will happen, but it is possible. Is there anyone out there with experience renting points who has insight on these issues?

THANKS!!

 

[LBurg93]

When a DVC member changes a reservation, in your case add on DDP, they can request a new confirmation letter. As to verifying your ressie, I believe you can call the resort directly about 5 days prior to checkin to make sure you reservation is in the system. You can add on Magical Express, free transportation to/from airport, but that needs to be done by the member as well.

 

[Lynne M]

I thought that as a guest I was entitled to almost the same privileges as a member.

Not entirely true. As a guest of a DVC member, you are entitled to the same privileges as any WDW resort guest, such as the use of DME, charging back to your room, access to EMH, etc.

But, being a guest of a member doesn't mean that you automatically assume member status. It also doesn't mean that you own the reservation. Member Services won't speak to you about the reservation because the member that you rented from owns it until you check in at the resort.

As the PP said, the resort will get your reservation about 5 days before your arrival date. You can call the resort at that time, and they'll confirm for you.

 

[dianeschlicht]

To answer your DDP question....The owner you rented from must call MS at least 5 days ahead of the reservation to add the DDP. MS will then send out a new confirmation letter varifying the DDP, and you will pay for it at check in. MS stand for MEMBER SERVICES. You are not a member, so not qualified to speak with MS.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Actually, you don't have a reservation with Disney. You have a reservation with an individual who made it for you with DVC. Almost similar to a Travel Agent situation. If you use a TA to make a reservation, only the TA can modify, change, adjust or add to your reservation. You can't add the DDP. The member must do that for you. You cannot confirm the reservation with MS. You can call the resort directly a few days before the start of your reservation to confirm.

 

[JimMIA]

I called member services and they indicated that only the DVC Member can do this. Is this standard? I thought that as a guest I was entitled to almost the same privileges as a member. ... Here is the second issue: I cannot confirm (even though I have a confirmation number from Disney) my reservation with Disney. THANKS!!

Other posters have answered your basic questions and given you some good alternatives for accomplishing what you want.

This policy of NOT allowing renters to call MS is a relatively recent change. I think it actually went into effect in August 2006 and MS is no longer permitted to speak to non-members.

Everyone here certainly understands your consternation at not being able to even speak to MS, but there is another side of that coin.

From the discussions I've seen here, the change occurred because of two persistent complaints from DVC owners: a) long waits for members to get on the line with MS, and b) permitting non-members to use MS essentially amounted to all of the DVC members subsidizing the business operations of the small minority who rent DVC ressies. We, the members, pay for MS and many DVC members do not want their annual dues going to subsidize someone else's small business.

As other posters have explained, there are other alternatives available to accomplish what you want, and you will still get a great bargain. Have a great trip!

 

[auntsue]

If your reservations are for '08, I don't believe you can add the DDP yet because the '08 rates are not out yet. We have ressies for Jan. and I was not able to add it when I booked.

 

[tamtroscla]

Okay - thanks SO MUCH for the prompt responses. This trip will be our first to WDW and everything is very new to us. I do not like not having control of the reservation, but this is something I will have to deal with. I'm sure the member will take care of DDP and DME for us, but I hate to call him unnecessarily. Thanks again!

 

[mikeandkarla]

On your confirmation letter, it has the phone number for the resort you will be staying at. Call that number, request to speak with CM at the front desk, give them your confirmation number. They should be able to read the details of your reservation back to you. If the details are not correct, you must contact the renter and have him call DVC to make your changes. You cannot request changes when you call the resort to confirm.

 

[Lynne M]

On your confirmation letter, it has the phone number for the resort you will be staying at. Call that number, request to speak with CM at the front desk, give them your confirmation number. They should be able to read the details of your reservation back to you. If the details are not correct, you must contact the renter and have him call DVC to make your changes. You cannot request changes when you call the resort to confirm.

This won't work if you're more than 5 days out from your arrival date. The reservation won't be downloaded to the resort until then.

Just didn't want the OP to try this and get a scare when the resort says that they don't see a reservation.

 

[ChelleinNC]

We rented points for a Jun07 trip and I had the same concerns. The member we rented points from was great and sent copies of everything but I was worried that the reservation would be cancelled without my knowing. I called MS and was told they couldn't talk to me, and that I wasn't supposed to use that phone number (very rude cm). I then called CRO, explained my concerns and they transfered me to MS where a very nice CM was able to confirm that the reservation did exist.
In the end, everything turned out great, we got to try DVC, and left as owners

 

[mikeandkarla]

This won't work if you're more than 5 days out from your arrival date. The reservation won't be downloaded to the resort until then.

Just didn't want the OP to try this and get a scare when the resort says that they don't see a reservation.

That is what the cm that answers the phone might tell you, however I just checked on a ressie for a trip in January at OKW with the reservation number and the cm had all the correct info. I'm not really sure what protocol is, but if you really want some information, somehow, someway you can get it. Good luck.

 

[jamesdl]

The questions/responses in this thread were exactly what I wanted to know about my family's upcoming trip. Thanks for all the helpful info!