sort of annoying

[mjc2003]

We are going down Nov 11th, but found a great deal if we fly out a day early. So I called MS, and not surprisingly found NOTHING available for 11/10 in a 1BR, 2BR or Studio. I know this is the end of Jersey week, the night before Veterans day and the last weekend of F&W.

I checked on the regular reservation site, and was surprised to see all sorts of villa availability. I know they have cash inventory, but it's a bit frustrating. OKW, SSR, AKV both Jambo and Kidani, VWL, BWV, all had studios, 1BR's and most had 2 BRs.

When I called MS I inquired about member discounts on cash rooms. There was basically nothing available. Via the regular Disney site, the cash prices are insane. Over $1000 for a 1BR at AKV, BWV, even SSR was like $800+.

Why are the rooms so absurdly expensive? Why is there so much cash inventory when there is no points inventory? Why are there no member cash discounts if there is so much cash inventory? I would just like to understand how this works, b/c it's sort of frustrating.

 

[DVCconvert]

Just mentioning that if you have an AP, there is a code out for your time window for 40% off DVC rooms. Check mousesavers.com for this and other discounts....and yes it is annoying.

 

[mjc2003]

Just mentioning that if you have an AP, there is a code out for your time window for 40% off DVC rooms. Check mousesavers.com for this and other discounts....and yes it is annoying.

Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately we don't have an AP. We might upgrade to one during our upcoming trip, end of August, but are still on the fence about whether it's worth it or not or if we're just going to go to a water park and stay around the pool.

 

[Chuck S]

Personally, if the airfare warrants it, I'd try to book a Value resort (Pop Century) on cash for that night, then transfer to DVC the following day.

Remember the sources of those cash DVC room inventory:

a) likely other members already, technically, rented those rooms on points to trade outside the DVC system. Thus, they can not be booked again with points.

b) those cash rooms may represent points owned/reacquired by DVD through defaults and ROFR...thus they are not in DVC inventory, as they are not owned by DVC members.

Without cash rooms, there would be no non-DVC options, other than RCI or II for trading, or our dues would increase substantially to pay for those non-DVC trades.

As frustrating as it is to see cash nights availabe for your dates, it is the way the DVC system was designed. Without them, our options would be quite limited.

 

[dizfan]

It also doesn't hurt to go on the waitlist.

When we booked our Sept/Oct trip on short notice, we originally had to piece together rooms and room types. Around the 60 day window, a few different resorts and room types opened up.

 

[mjc2003]

Personally, if the airfare warrants it, I'd try to book a Value resort (Pop Century) on cash for that night, then transfer to DVC the following day.

Remember the sources of those cash DVC room inventory:

a) likely other members already, technically, rented those rooms on points to trade outside the DVC system. Thus, they can not be booked again with points.

b) those cash rooms may represent points owned/reacquired by DVD through defaults and ROFR...thus they are not in DVC inventory, as they are not owned by DVC members.

Without cash rooms, there would be no non-DVC options, other than RCI or II for trading, or our dues would increase substantially to pay for those non-DVC trades.

As frustrating as it is to see cash nights availabe for your dates, it is the way the DVC system was designed. Without them, our options would be quite limited.

Thanks Chuck, that makes sense. Any idea why the cash rate would be so prohibitive? I'm just curious. We stayed that same week last year on cash at BCV and got a 2 BR for just over $700 per night. Now the 1 BR's are $1000?

It also doesn't hurt to go on the waitlist.

When we booked our Sept/Oct trip on short notice, we originally had to piece together rooms and room types. Around the 60 day window, a few different resorts and room types opened up.

I am probably going to do that. As a matter of fact, of the subsequent 9 nights of our trip (11-20th) 2 were WL's that came through. Problem is, I am already tied up with 2 WL's, but one is for our upcoming end of August trip, so I can cancel that one soon. The airfare does warrant going a night early regardless of where we stay. We are going to save about $400....and we get there a day early!

 

[get_us_to_WDW]

Yes it can be annoying! Good luck, I hope it works out. I would probably opt to stay at a value resort the first night, especially if you were planning to use Magical Express.

I found it very annoying last October when we were unable to book a last minute (not really last minute but well inside the 7 mos window) stay at our home, BCV, but my friend (who has a non-DVC timeshare somewhere in Florida - a bargain timeshare compared to DVC) was able to easily trade into BCV for a one bedroom for the week we both wanted...in fact she was offered a choice of a 1 bdrm at ANY of the resorts! I am a DVC member and couldn't book anything suitable! Yes, kind of annoying!

 

[mjc2003]

Yes it can be annoying! Good luck, I hope it works out. I would probably opt to stay at a value resort the first night, especially if you were planning to use Magical Express.

I found it very annoying last October when we were unable to book a last minute (not really last minute but well inside the 7 mos window) stay at our home, BCV, but my friend (who has a non-DVC timeshare somewhere in Florida - a bargain timeshare compared to DVC) was able to easily trade into BCV for a one bedroom for the week we both wanted...in fact she was offered a choice of a 1 bdrm at ANY of the resorts! I am a DVC member and couldn't book anything suitable! Yes, kind of annoying!

ugghh....that would really bother me. Of course, as Chuck said, this is the system and it works both ways I guess....but when it happens to you it's hard to sit back and accept it!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Off site?

What I do is book an offsite hotel, waitlist DVC and make my plans. In MOST cases I clear DVC (but then I waitlist SSR not "Boardwalk view BWV" )

I find it strange that folks are "annoyed" since they also like to "trumpet" the "flexiblity" and "abilty to use your points other places" That's the trade off, those trades have to be "paid" for.

 

[mjc2003]

O

I find it strange that folks are "annoyed" since they also like to "trumpet" the "flexiblity" and "abilty to use your points other places" That's the trade off, those trades have to be "paid" for.

I'm sorry you find it strange. I've never "trumpeted" anything. My commentary also was not a blanket, aimless annoyance; in fact, I was equally curious about a) the high cash price of the rooms, b) the amount of cash inventory c) the lack of member cash discounts.

I was also asking if anybody could explain how this works. I didn't suggest that I was entitled to anything, just curious about various aspects of the process.

 

[Dean]

We are going down Nov 11th, but found a great deal if we fly out a day early. So I called MS, and not surprisingly found NOTHING available for 11/10 in a 1BR, 2BR or Studio. I know this is the end of Jersey week, the night before Veterans day and the last weekend of F&W.

I checked on the regular reservation site, and was surprised to see all sorts of villa availability. I know they have cash inventory, but it's a bit frustrating. OKW, SSR, AKV both Jambo and Kidani, VWL, BWV, all had studios, 1BR's and most had 2 BRs.

When I called MS I inquired about member discounts on cash rooms. There was basically nothing available. Via the regular Disney site, the cash prices are insane. Over $1000 for a 1BR at AKV, BWV, even SSR was like $800+.

Why are the rooms so absurdly expensive? Why is there so much cash inventory when there is no points inventory? Why are there no member cash discounts if there is so much cash inventory? I would just like to understand how this works, b/c it's sort of frustrating.

I know it can be disappointing but see no reason for one to be annoyed that rooms aren't available to DVC members that are offered for rent through CRO for any one of a number of appropriate reasons. DVC can only offer rooms for rent that they have in house (reserved with points and NOT given to CRO) and they should only offer discounts if they don't think they'll rent most of them otherwise. This is the nature of the beast with the current exchange options and when DVD owns a portion of all resorts. The answer to the price issue is simply because they can for certain times.

 

[appleorchard]

We have an AP and are military. I'm looking at the rates for March and even with the discounts, it's just not feasible--I don't know how people do cash reservations! 1,000 a night for a 2 BR--for 7 nights we could buy enough points to fund 30 more years of vacations, almost! Even with the discount, 600 a night is a lot. We don't have enough points to fund this extra trip so it's Shades of Green for us. Can't beat the rate and the room size--plus the walk to the Poly for the monorail!

 

[debbieandroo]

We are going down Nov 11th, but found a great deal if we fly out a day early. So I called MS, and not surprisingly found NOTHING available for 11/10 in a 1BR, 2BR or Studio. I know this is the end of Jersey week, the night before Veterans day and the last weekend of F&W. I checked on the regular reservation site, and was surprised to see all sorts of villa availability. I know they have cash inventory, but it's a bit frustrating. OKW, SSR, AKV both Jambo and Kidani, VWL, BWV, all had studios, 1BR's and most had 2 BRs.

When I called MS I inquired about member discounts on cash rooms. There was basically nothing available. Via the regular Disney site, the cash prices are insane. Over $1000 for a 1BR at AKV, BWV, even SSR was like $800+.

Why are the rooms so absurdly expensive? Why is there so much cash inventory when there is no points inventory? Why are there no member cash discounts if there is so much cash inventory? I would just like to understand how this works, b/c it's sort of frustrating.

Say it ain't so! I've just closed on a resale and am waiting to get into the system. And I have a trip lined up for Nov 5-13!

Well, I'll just take what I can get and try to line up some places for cash - thankfully I have an AP.

I have read, many times on these boards, about people calling over and over again and getting a room so I guess there's hope, I hope there's hope???

Best to you and yay for your great deal on the airfare. Keep us [me] posted!

 

[Sandisw]

Say it ain't so! I've just closed on a resale and am waiting to get into the system. And I have a trip lined up for Nov 5-13!

Well, I'll just take what I can get and try to line up some places for cash - thankfully I have an AP.

I have read, many times on these boards, about people calling over and over again and getting a room so I guess there's hope, I hope there's hope???

Best to you and yay for your great deal on the airfare. Keep us [me] posted!

It will be difficult so here is the that you get something for your time frame! And, congratulations!!!

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately we don't have an AP. We might upgrade to one during our upcoming trip, end of August, but are still on the fence about whether it's worth it or not or if we're just going to go to a water park and stay around the pool.

I think that you can get a AP certificate and use it for the AP room discount. The certificate is traded for your AP when you get to Disney.

Bill

 

[mjc2003]

Say it ain't so! I've just closed on a resale and am waiting to get into the system. And I have a trip lined up for Nov 5-13!

Well, I'll just take what I can get and try to line up some places for cash - thankfully I have an AP.

I have read, many times on these boards, about people calling over and over again and getting a room so I guess there's hope, I hope there's hope???

Best to you and yay for your great deal on the airfare. Keep us [me] posted!

The 5th-13th is going to be tough. That's Jersey week, the last week of F&W, and Veterans Day weekend. However, you never know. Also, if you are flexible you might be surprised. DEFINITELY call often, things are always changing. I had to call several times to piece our 9 day trip together but it all worked out. It sounds like you are flexible so good luck, I am sure you'll be able to piece something together! And if you have a few days that you reserve on cash, make sure you waitlist---we had 2 WL's come through for our Nov trip.
Good luck!

 

[debbieandroo]

It will be difficult so here is the that you get something for your time frame! And, congratulations!!!

The 5th-13th is going to be tough. That's Jersey week, the last week of F&W, and Veterans Day weekend. However, you never know. Also, if you are flexible you might be surprised. DEFINITELY call often, things are always changing. I had to call several times to piece our 9 day trip together but it all worked out. It sounds like you are flexible so good luck, I am sure you'll be able to piece something together! And if you have a few days that you reserve on cash, make sure you waitlist---we had 2 WL's come through for our Nov trip.
Good luck!

Y'all are so sweet! Thank you!!!

This trip will be with four other Disney-philes. Last December we stayed at Kidani using one of the group's DVC points [we paid her MFs] - unfortunately, she didn't get to go. A couple of us bought APs so we definitely wanted to come back before they expired and I was so excited to use my points for them. This has been a tough couple of years for all of us and we have all been looking forward to getting away.

I guess all of this makes my disappointment a little more pronounced. In a frantic email to my DVC friend, I explained the predicament. She called MS to get a status of availabilites for that week - she's pretty optimistic about early in the week [SSR 2BR] but was pretty sure that Veteran's Day weekend is hopeless. There must be some long waiting lists.

Tonight, I'll make cash reservations for all of us for the entire week [thank you, AP!]. When I get into the system, I'll call MS to find out what's still available - hopefully this will be in the next couple of days. Then do a balancing act between the two.

We'll see what happens! I did see on mousesavers that there are some deals for offsite DTD suites...that might be another option.

mjc2003 - I am sooooooo glad you started this thread - just the jolt I needed to make some contingency plans!

 

[mjc2003]

I found a members discount on a cash room at AKV for the night of the 10th. We got a standard 2 BR in Kidani for $588. Not bad.

 

[mjc2003]

I found a members discount on a cash room at AKV for the night of the 10th. We got a standard 2 BR in Kidani for $588. Not bad.

 

[debbieandroo]

I found a members discount on a cash room at AKV for the night of the 10th. We got a standard 2 BR in Kidani for $588. Not bad.

Good news! I keep hearing about WLs coming through for October - here's hoping the same for the both of us in November.

I made two reservations - one for AS Family Suites [there will be 5 of us] from the 4th-8th, the next for the 9th-12th at Coronado Springs. I was able to use my AP discount for the second. I'm hoping that, when I get into the system, I can let go of the first reservation.

I just learned today that, in the closing process, the notary for two of my sellers forgot to have a signature witnessed? Or something crazy like that. Anyway, this has delayed things for another couple of weeks. My broker, upon hearing my angst about November reservations, got them to expedite matters - maybe it won't be as long as she originally said it would be.

Waiting for ROFR was nothing like this!

About your AK reservation, had you planned to get an AP this trip? If so, I wonder if you could call back to let the CM know about that, then you could perhaps get 40% off. That's not guaranteed...it seems as if the discount rooms are treated the same way as the DVC ones are - a few blocked off but not all.