Spitting Mad at DVC

[NoleFan]

Buy where you want to stay. There is a reason why some resorts are more expensive than others (resale) & why people have multiple home resorts. If you don't own where you want to stay & don't book in your home resort booking window, then there is nothing to be crying about. The 7 month window gives people the opportunity to try a different resort SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.

 

[River Country]

Yeah i am trying for Aulani that week as well, and so i had to WL it. What else ya gonna do? I am hoping it does come through but its ok if it doesn't i just saw the airfare from Newark to Honolulu

 

[deedisneydream97]

Veering off topic now: jcjen...have you considered selling the points from your grandparents to buy where you really would like to stay? Or selling them and doing what you want with the $$? We have considered selling our SSR points many times....I admit we paid way too much (direct, when they first opened), but have always been able to rely on those points for stays at places like BWV during "quiet" DVC times (early May). And we've been able to use them twice now for Aluani stays during the off season. We have actually never stayed at SSR using our points! We did stay there once when we purchased BLT, as their incentive at the time was a stay at SSR. A very nice place, by the way.....just not where I want to stay at this point in my life. Although DH enjoyed the "less hectic" pace there. Funny how our wants and needs change over time.

 

[Reddog1134]

Buy where you want to stay. There is a reason why some resorts are more expensive than others (resale) & why people have multiple home resorts. If you don't own where you want to stay & don't book in your home resort booking window, then there is nothing to be crying about. The 7 month window gives people the opportunity to try a different resort SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.

But the argument really isn't about home resorts or booking windows. It's about undeclared inventory vs declared inventory.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney has done a good job programming guests to make them feel special, just look at one of their commercials. DVC when buying direct makes you feel special at the beautiful preview center, they even give you lemonade and a cookie and introduce you to your new guide friend.

When you buy you are in a club.

After the sale real life pops up it's ugly head. You aren't special, you are just some family that spent big bucks to stay in a room at Disney. The DVC rules, policies, and restrictions are mostly there to benefit Disney.

IMO the original post may have been more about Disney disappointment.

We love the Disney product, we like the room discount through DVC, we don't care for the way that DVD/DVC does business.

Bill

 

[jcjen519]

Buy where you want to stay. There is a reason why some resorts are more expensive than others (resale) & why people have multiple home resorts. If you don't own where you want to stay & don't book in your home resort booking window, then there is nothing to be crying about. The 7 month window gives people the opportunity to try a different resort SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.

Or pay cash for the stays you want?

I agree the contract allows for booking subject to availability. The reality of that availability often times makes 7 month booking a challenge. Is that a contract violation? Doubtful. Does it make membership less desirable? To me it does and I would guess to others as well. You can save money long term with dvc but you pay for those savings in several other ways.

I think posts like the ops are a good thing for potential buyers to read. It highlights potential difficulties and potentially avoids another buyer who does not understand the arrangement. I suspect the op does not understand based on the shock of cash room availability.

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[NoleFan]

For the convenience & guarantees (dates & room type) that cash bookings provide, then people should pay cash prices. DVC does offer a discount vs. cash room rates over time (depends on your break even point). Sure, you may travel more often, spend more money on tickets & dining when owning DVC to eat up some of the savings but that is subjective to each family. DVC is a timeshare & does not offer the same entitlements as a cash booking. Know what you are buying. If you like it, enjoy it. If you don't like the system, sell or don't buy DVC.

 

[jcjen519]

Veering off topic now: jcjen...have you considered selling the points from your grandparents to buy where you really would like to stay? Or selling them and doing what you want with the $$? We have considered selling our SSR points many times....I admit we paid way too much (direct, when they first opened), but have always been able to rely on those points for stays at places like BWV during "quiet" DVC times (early May). And we've been able to use them twice now for Aluani stays during the off season. We have actually never stayed at SSR using our points! We did stay there once when we purchased BLT, as their incentive at the time was a stay at SSR. A very nice place, by the way.....just not where I want to stay at this point in my life. Although DH enjoyed the "less hectic" pace there. Funny how our wants and needs change over time.

We have thought about it and maybe will at some point. We too usually book at quieter times. Something we do anyways so for us it's honestly not been much of a problem. I can though, see the downside of it, and just probably won't buy again.

Don't get me wrong we don't hate dvc or anything like that don't mind staying at okw sometimes either. I have lots of great memories there and it's a nice resort. We use our points to bring friends down or for pre cruise stays if we can get something. We book at vero a lot too. We know how far ahead to plan and how to work with what we have. It's worth the dues to us but not anymore invested from our perspective.

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[Lynne M]

It seems only fair to me that at 7 months out a dvc owner should in theory be able to book what they want. This is often not the case and that's not very appealing to me as a buyer or owner and potential buyer.

But that doesn't even always work out at a regular hotel. Especially at popular vacation destinations. I imagine it's impossible to book a hotel room in NYC that overlooks Times Square at 7 months out from New Years Eve.

For a DVC example, there's VWL at Christmastime. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, more members that want those villas that time of year than there are villas available. For everyone to get what they want, they'd have to build hundreds more villas at VWL, that would sit empty most of the year.

 

[NoleFan]

But that doesn't even always work out at a regular hotel. Especially at popular vacation destinations. I imagine it's impossible to book a hotel room in NYC that overlooks Times Square at 7 months out from New Years Eve.

For a DVC example, there's VWL at Christmastime. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, more members that want those villas that time of year than there are villas available. For everyone to get what they want, they'd have to build hundreds more villas at VWL, that would sit empty most of the year.

 

[jcjen519]

But that doesn't even always work out at a regular hotel. Especially at popular vacation destinations. I imagine it's impossible to book a hotel room in NYC that overlooks Times Square at 7 months out from New Years Eve.

For a DVC example, there's VWL at Christmastime. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, more members that want those villas that time of year than there are villas available. For everyone to get what they want, they'd have to build hundreds more villas at VWL, that would sit empty most of the year.

You are right. It doesn't always work anywhere and that's a given. I personally think its more difficult at any given time then the avg buyer understands until they try. Maybe it's just harder then I had realized until I tried? I wouldn't expect to get what I want all the time especially vwl over Christmas Day. My point is simply that for me the reality of availability at 7 months is a down side to membership. If its not for someone else, and I am sure that is the case, then great!

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[awilliams4]

Been promising my son and future DIL that we would give them a week at Aulani for their wedding present/ honeymoon. 7 month window opened yesterday - can't book because the 1st day (6/19) not available. Try this morning first thing, can't book - first day (6/20) not available. Trying to call MS and the system is down.

THEN just for grins I go to see if I could book a studio for cash via Disney reservations. GUESS WHAT! If I want to PAY for the rooms I can get all 7 days in just about any catagory I want.

What kind of BS is that? A DVC MEMBER can't get a room there because they are all "full" but if I want to pay cash I can?

I can't wait to get through to DVC and see how they try to explain away that one.

I love Disney and DVC, but I'm really getting tired of DVC MEMBERS being treated like second class citizens. It sure seems we got much better customer service from Disney before we invest $20K in DVC.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Wow. I suspect you now know what you may not have known before due to the responses you have received on this thread.

I am glad that this happened before you decided to follow through on your threat and attack some poor employee doing their job and answering the phone at Member Services.

If you now know that you didn't understand how this all worked, please assume that the next time you plan to attack someone about something you aren't familiar with, you may not know what you are talking about then as well.

 

[Minniesgal]

You are right. It doesn't always work anywhere and that's a given. I personally think its more difficult at any given time then the avg buyer understands until they try. Maybe it's just harder then I had realized until I tried? I wouldn't expect to get what I want all the time especially vwl over Christmas Day. My point is simply that for me the reality of availability at 7 months is a down side to membership. If its not for someone else, and I am sure that is the case, then great! Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

This is why most people advise buy where you want to stay. We have three home resorts so if we can't change out at 7 months it isn't a disaster as we have the important places covered.

 

[jcjen519]

This is why most people advise buy where you want to stay. We have three home resorts so if we can't change out at 7 months it isn't a disaster as we have the important places covered.

I would agree with only buying where you want to stay. I don't personally feel that resolves our issue with the availability at 7 month window. We own at several places. For us it is still a downside. We obviously still own and use our points. This issue may not bother some people and we have managed to minimize the effects personally, buying at additional resorts is one way to do that.

We have never been upset/angry or anything but have felt the effects before and been unable to book somewhere we would like to try. It's just a downside of membership. One reason we wouldn't buy again. Not the only reason and there are upsides as well.

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[bwvBound]

Personally I wish they'd make 2 changes. One, to allow one to request any unit type of a given size at a single resort and 2, make one commit the points separately from any other reservation for the WL reservation.

I second the suggestion bolded above!

 

[cseca]

Disney has done a good job programming guests to make them feel special, just look at one of their commercials. DVC when buying direct makes you feel special at the beautiful preview center, they even give you lemonade and a cookie and introduce you to your new guide friend.

...

We love the Disney product, we like the room discount through DVC, we don't care for the way that DVD/DVC does business.

Bill

Haha... this comment makes me laugh because we went on the special preview of GFV right before they opened. At the end of the tour I asked our showroom guide of the day if there is any incentive because I wasn't clear during the presentation. She surprisingly said yes (which was incorrect by the way) so we met another guide in one of the rooms.

I walked in the door and quickly said we are already members and was just wondering if there's an incentive to add on. If there is we might consider.
He said not for GFV and he didn't dilly dally pretty much just ushered us out the door as quickly as possible

I thought "Man, they must be on some sort of a deadline today". Because I have never been kicked out of a sales meeting before

 

[Dean]

You are right. It doesn't always work anywhere and that's a given. I personally think its more difficult at any given time then the avg buyer understands until they try. Maybe it's just harder then I had realized until I tried? I wouldn't expect to get what I want all the time especially vwl over Christmas Day. My point is simply that for me the reality of availability at 7 months is a down side to membership. If its not for someone else, and I am sure that is the case, then great!

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IMO DVC has been far easier than expected for the 7 month window historically though it's gotten more difficult with the evolution of SSR. To complain about lack of availability at 7 months is unreasonable.

 

[jcjen519]

IMO DVC has been far easier than expected for the 7 month window historically though it's gotten more difficult with the evolution of SSR. To complain about lack of availability at 7 months is unreasonable.

I don't think that it's unreasonable. Do you mean that YOU THINK to complain about lack of availability at 7 months is unreasonable? Either way....,as I have stated several times it is simply a down side to a membership......a reason we won't purchase more points. If you like the availability at 7 months then great! I don't. I don't mean anything more or less by my comment.

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[Sammie]

IMO DVC has been far easier than expected for the 7 month window historically though it's gotten more difficult with the evolution of SSR. To complain about lack of availability at 7 months is unreasonable.

Only more difficult if one must avoid SSR, for us being able to always find something at 7 months due to SSR is a plus.

 

[Dean]

I don't think that it's unreasonable. Do you mean that YOU THINK to complain about lack of availability at 7 months is unreasonable? Either way....,as I have stated several times it is simply a down side to a membership......a reason we won't purchase more points. If you like the availability at 7 months then great! I don't. I don't mean anything more or less by my comment.

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Yes, I feel it is unreasonable to complain about lack of availability at a resort one doesn't own at at 7 months out or less. It is simply a risk of membership and the way DVC is set up. Remember that any reservation at a resort you don't own at is really simply an internal exchange into another resort. Anything else represents a lack of understanding of the system or an unreasonable expectation.