Silly Question???

[sherriczyz]

I'm a brand new member...wonderful site by the way...and wondering why December is booked for DVC members but non-members can book a reservation (using cash not points) at a DVC villa? Don't members get preference when it comes to the DVC villas? I'm trying to rent points for the week of December 4th-9th and several members have been kind enough to tell me this week is unavailable to DVC members. I went on the Disney site and it's showing that they have rooms available that week at BWV that I can reserve (again with cash not points). It was just my understanding that members had preference at the DVC designated villas/time shares. My husband and I are considering becoming members but this makes us question joining. Any input/suggestions on renting that week or on what the situation actually is would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance !!!

 

[childsplay]

The simple answer is (and I'm sure others will add greater detail) that DVC maintains controll of a certain percentage of the villas for cash customers. As a really simple example, lets say that BWV would require 1,000,000 points to book every room for every night of the year...well DVC didn't sell 1,000,000 BWV points they only sold 950,000...keeping the other 5% for them to sell to cash cutomers...hope that makes sense

 

[ocd4disney]

I guess that makes sense.....but what a bummer to have to pay cash instead of using your points. If you have the points and they have a room they should let you in.

 

[DebbieB]

I guess that makes sense.....but what a bummer to have to pay cash instead of using your points. If you have the points and they have a room they should let you in.

Those cash rooms pay for people who trade out for other locations, such as the cruise. If they let all the rooms go for points, they wouldn't be able to allow members to trade out.

 

[ILuvDVC2]

I'm a brand new member...wonderful site by the way...and wondering why December is booked for DVC members but non-members can book a reservation (using cash not points) at a DVC villa? Don't members get preference when it comes to the DVC villas?

DVC members can make points-based reservations for accommodations that have been declared into the DVC condo association at each resort. If the accommodation points haven't been sold at the DVC resort, then the accommodations can't be reserved with points. However, members and others can make cash reservations for these "unsold" accommodations.

December has become one of the most popular times for members to go to WDW. Two key factors influence this: 1.) Points for accommodations are "cheap" in early December, and 2.) Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is very popular with members. It's become necessary for most members to make their home resort reservations 11-months in advance for early December just to be sure they get in.

Last year, I had some luck for the same time you're looking to go. We got on a wait list in August, and by September we were contacted by DVC that we got the resort and accommodations we wanted.

Hope this info helps!

 

[Caskbill]

One of the main reasons for the two separate inventories is for room maintenance and upkeep. DVC only sells about 97% of the inventory, keeping the remaining 3%. Here's a simple example:

Say a resort has 100 villas, and they sell all the time for 97 of them, retaining the other 3 units. This leaves 97 villas available for points, and 3 for cash.

Now they need to do maintenance on some villas, so let's say this week they have to pull 2 units out of service. This still leaves 97 villas available for points, and 1 unit available for cash.

The object is that there are always 97 units available at all times for points members. When the other 3 units aren't needed, they are made available for cash.

That's the difference between declared inventory and undeclared inventory.

Now the 2nd part of the equation is when members use their points for something else, outside of a DVC resort. Say you use your points to go on the Disney Cruise Line. DVC needs to pay DCL cash for your cruise. They do this by taking your points and applying them toward a villa. They then rent the villa out for cash, and take the cash they received to pay for the cruise.

So while it looks like there are cash reservations available, it really means that the unit was reserved using points (so it's member's inventory), but is being rented by DVC for cash as part of the 'exchange' between DVC and DCL.

So in our example, let's say that of the 97 DVC villas in member inventory, 5 members used points for DCL, the Disney Collection, etc. Say those 5 member's points were enough for 5-villas for a week. So when you call to make a reservation, instead of 97 units in inventory, there are only 92 units, with 8 units available for cash.

For December it's probably just the undeclared inventory that's available for cash. DVC does not normally use units in prime times (DVC-wise) to rent out for cash to pay for those members who used points outside the DVC-resorts themselves.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That was an excellent explanation, Bill!

 

[Pa@okw95]

I'm a brand new member...wonderful site by the way...and wondering why December is booked for DVC members but non-members can book a reservation (using cash not points) at a DVC villa? Don't members get preference when it comes to the DVC villas? I'm trying to rent points for the week of December 4th-9th and several members have been kind enough to tell me this week is unavailable to DVC members. I went on the Disney site and it's showing that they have rooms available that week at BWV that I can reserve (again with cash not points). It was just my understanding that members had preference at the DVC designated villas/time shares. My husband and I are considering becoming members but this makes us question joining. Any input/suggestions on renting that week or on what the situation actually is would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance !!!

Another reason why you might want to think twice about joining is if you are thinking of going to WDW during the popular times for members you should be in a position where you make your reservations 11 months out or as near as you can to that time period. Early December is a very popular time for DVC members to go to WDW. Members were able to make reservations for DEcember back last January.

 

[sherriczyz]

Wow! You guys are really great...thanks so much for explaining the system to me in such detail. I really appreciate all of your help!

 

[CarolMN]

sherriczyz - the bottom line is that if you want to go to WDW this year in early December, you need to make a cash reservation.

IMHO, the chances of renting points for a stay at a DVC resort for this December are practically zero. There are already waitlists for many of the early December days. Owners who have points to rent are not going to want to tie up their points hoping a waitlist will come through - there are too many other opportunites out there to rent points and frankly, not everyone on the waitlist right now is going to get thier desired reservation.

If DVC is right for you, don't let this deter you from becoming a member yourself. Most of us who love early December make our reservations 11 months ahead of time. We have no trouble getting what we want then. Many report that they are able to make reservations 7 months prior to arrival as well (that's the time when you can make a reservation at a non-home resort).

As others have mentioned, early December is very popular with DVC members. Other times of the year are not quite so tough to reserve. That said, DVC works best for those who can plan at least 7 months ahead. If you can't, then DVC may not be for you.

Best wishes -

 

[Granny]

That was an excellent explanation, Bill!

I'll second that!

That was the best "layman's terms" explanation of undeclared inventory I've seen. Thank you.

 

[wtpclc]

Perhaps the explanation could be added to the FAQs or something so we don't lose it. Very good explanation!

 

[Blue&Gold]

If it weren't for Bill and Doc we might all have to read our handbooks!

 

[wtpclc]

If it weren't for Bill and Doc we might all have to read our handbooks!

Heaven forbid!

 

[deba]

If it weren't for Bill and Doc we might all have to read our handbooks!

Now I understand! Thanks, Bill!