Settle an argument

[purplepeg]

My husband and I bought into AKL in August. Our developer points have not shown up on our DVC account online and we have been trying to get our guide to call us back or email us to no avail. Has this happened to anyone else? Should I just call MS?

My other question is, our use year is Dec. can we book for next Aug even though we don't get our points until Dec? I've tried searching the forum and keep coming up empty. My husband thinks we can't book and I think we can.

How helpful is MS? Where else can I go on this site for help?

Thanks in advance. I tell you , you think you know all about Disney until you become DVC owners and now I feel I know nothing. There's so much to wade through on the DVC forums and not really sure where to even start.

Thamks for listening.

 

[Blahnde]

My husband and I bought into AKL in August. Our developer points have not shown up on our DVC account online and we have been trying to get our guide to call us back or email us to no avail. Has this happened to anyone else? Should I just call MS?

Developer points will never show up in your account; they do not belong to you. The developer (DVD) has given you limited use of their points for one year. Because of this not only will they not show up, but the reservation(s) you make with them will not show up either. Just call Member Services and they will help you use them.

My other question is, our use year is Dec. can we book for next Aug even though we don't get our points until Dec? I've tried searching the forum and keep coming up empty. My husband thinks we can't book and I think we can.

How helpful is MS? Where else can I go on this site for help?

You can now make a reservation for next August, but only at your home resort, AKV. When you make a reservation is based upon the travel dates; 11-months in advance for your home resort or 7-months in advance anywhere else. Your use year determines when the points need to be used, but not when you reserve.

And Member Services can be a little hit or miss, like most customer service. Personally I have generally had above average service, but some have gotten a "bum" cast member. If you do not like the way you are being treated either ask to speak with a supervisor or call back.

As for more information, keep reading. I've never been able to make the search feature work effectively on this site, so I just cruise the sections of the boards that interest me. You can learn a lot just reading other people's questions and answers.

Blahnde

 

[Chuck S]

Developers Points, as Blahnde said, will not show up in your online account. They are also limited as to where they can be used. I think they are SSR only (or Disneyland Hotels). They may also be limited to a 7 month reservation window, whereas your AKV points have the 11 month home resort window. You can book AKV now, using your own points, not Developer Points. If you get a well trained, experienced CM on the phone at MS, they are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. If you get a CM that is still "green" or in training...well, sometimes the member knows more than the CM

It just depends upon who answers your call.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We were ones that did have the Dev. Pts both show up in our account as well as the reservations that we made with them, but not everyone does. It's strange but it happens both ways. I wouldn't bother the guide but call MS directly and they should be able to help. I have found that they tend to refer to them as incentive points.

And as the PP mentioned you could make your Aug. reservation now with your regular points. It may help to think of it this way. You already have your AKV points for the next 49 years. Your next available points are for any reservations after Dec. 1st, 2008 thru Nov. 30th, 2009. Then you have to consider if you are within the 11 month booking window for the reservation you wish to make, which you are for an August 2009 ressie. Lastly banking and borrowing can come into play if needed. I hope this makes some sense.

And you should have gotten the Dev. Pts. immediately but as Chuck S mentioned there is a 7 month restriction on those so if those are what you are planning on using (and I assume it is since those expire a year after receiving them) then you will have to wait until Jan to book for August.

 

[Tozzie]

The developer points I received when I initially bought in didn't show in my account until I made a reservation with them but they shouldn't have shown up because what MS did was put them in my current use year and when I tried to make a reservation using the rest of them for March I couldn't because they were not bankable and I have a Feb use year the rep was great and fixed it but had to get a manager a few times and took a while to fix. I would be concerned if they show up.

The reservations that I have made with the original as well as my add on show up in my account.

 

[jblrn2b]

Dear OP - you can book your Developer points now though. I don't know if anyone answered that. If you have your paperwork, your member number is on the right hand corner. Just call MS with the number and they will help with the Developer Points - you should probably book them because you have to use them by August, 2009.

Welcome Home

 

[DebbieB]

My other question is, our use year is Dec. can we book for next Aug even though we don't get our points until Dec? I've tried searching the forum and keep coming up empty. My husband thinks we can't book and I think we can.

Those December 2008 points are already in your account. They don't wait to "deposit" when the use year starts. You should have points all the way up to 2010 or 2011 in your account if you look online.

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Also,
Keep in mind if you plan to stay next August on Developer Points- & you bought in August - that will be the last month you have to use them since it will be one year from the time you bought- If for some reason you can't go, you will lose the ability to use those Developer points-
Also, you can only book SSR, Disney Land California, or II w/ your Developer points and yes, if SSR you can't book until January. If you are planning on II or Disney Land you can book now-

 

[purplepeg]

Thank you so much for all your comments. I really appreciate the ways you explained things. Our guide did call me back the day after I posted the question and she had been on holidays. She cleared up all my questions because I hadn't been able to be on here yet and I got to call MS and book with an amazing CM. She kept trying to book the SS portion of our holiday and I kept having to remind her of the 7 month window. She would then laugh and say "oh right, I keep forgetting" and we both laughed. Thank you so much for helping. These boards are amazing because then I got to say to Dh those infamous little words.....I told you

 

[parlay]

glad things worked out for you!

 

[purplepeg]

Thank you again so much. I was like a kid with excitement the day I booked. My 4yr old wasn't quite sure what was going on with her Mom because I was screaming "we're going to Disney!" over and over

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you again so much. I was like a kid with excitement the day I booked. My 4yr old wasn't quite sure what was going on with her Mom because I was screaming "we're going to Disney!" over and over

How nice!