Suprise

[ASmith]

I called to today to make reservations for an upcoming trip to BWV in December. I figured since it was going to be an off season time, there should not be any problem getting a standard view, using less points. When we were there in December of 1999, there seem to be plenty of rooms and a very quite time to see the resorts all decked out in their Christmas finest.

So, here is my problem. I asked to arrive on Sunday, December 2 and depart on Friday, December 7. There are no rooms available for that time in any accommidation, studio, 1 BR or 2BR or no Grand Villa. However, there is room available for December 16.

I asked to be put on the wait list. I just wonder what in the WORLD is going on during that time of the year at WDW that I am not aware of. I will also add the perferred view, since only 20% of the rooms are standard view.

Wish me luck, for we have 2 other couples planning their vacation during that time too.

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

Asmith, December is one of the busiest times in WDW. Historicaly, the first two weeks are the slowest and the last two are the most crowded. A lot of DVC members go the first two weeks because children are still in school and the parks are all decorated and the crowds are lot less. The general public so to speak goes the last two weeks mainly because of school and the extra days off from the holidays. I would say keep trying. I called last week and got a standard view at BWV from 12/12/01 to 12/19/01.

Good luck

Scott and Peg

 

[Richyams]

There are no times at all the the eleven month window isn't important. Slow season means low points, high demand for DVC rooms, especially since Disney started selling those tiny 150 point packages.

High demand seasons are just that and also require the eleven month window be used.

It is these constant reports that make me doubt the people that bought at VB and claim that they have no problem getting what they want at the seven month window.

The eleven month window is very valuable, it needs to be used.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[Tommy]

I just checked e-bay and there are three different folks offering DVC vacations. One seems to have quiet an offering, just tell him when you want to go and how long to stay.

I know this is not funny. I'm not making light of your delima, but just shows that there are still those who try to make a profit and in the end, we who want to use our own membership loose out.

DVC Hilton Head Member since 1997
My DVC Hilton Head Resort Page

 

[ASmith]

It seems that Walt Disney's 100th birthday is December 5, 2001. That might be the reason for some of the tightness of rooms. I also wonder how many folks book using the 11 month window, hoping to change to Wilderness Lodge Villas when they get to the 7 month window ??

Just some thoughts.

 

[Peggy Sue]

lots of DVC members vacation during the first 2 weeks of december. reservations were difficult to come by last year too. I booked our 11/28 - 12/9 trip for 2001 in three different calls to MS because I didn't want to miss getting our reservations. MS has had a message that wait times are long due to members making their holiday reservations..and this was on their system for dates beginning right around thanksgiving forward.

Get on a wait list. You will have the choice of being called if all of your desired dates become available or on a day by day basis. Lots of folks do cancel vacations as it gets closer to their banking windows and the 31 day cancellation window. The wait list may work just fine for you.

Good luck!

Have a wonderful day!

 

[garrett79]

Well, the 11 month window certainly is important if you own at that resort. I just wish we all had the foresight to buy in back in '92 instead of being stuck with these "tiny 150 point packages" Can you ever say anything nice about anyone that didnt follow your blueprint to DVC wisdom exactly? Correct me if I am wrong but you are just as valued a customer with 150 pts as 550 pts, right?

 

[LooHoo]

Garrett,
Yes, You are just as much a part of things and valued as anyone else except for maybe the MOUSE himself. Some people feel they have the answeres to everything and should be running DVC. Opinions- compassionate conservitism- oxymoron? Whatever! I was happy to hear that you got your ressie and I am happy to report that I booked BWV Aug. 4-9 for my parents anniversary! Just another case of the 11 month window not needed for me. Just keep smiling as you use your DVC 150 points at Vero with pride! Your as WELCOME as can be!
KAY

 

[Richyams]

Garret, my comments certainly weren't directed at you, I didn't even know the number of points you bought, I probably read your posting of it, but certainly wasn't aware of it.

I, and I am not alone in ths opinion, believe that Disney has done us all a diservice by continually lowering the number of point required to buy in. This hurts us all in several ways. It makes the weekends have a lower occupancy rate, this could force them to even out the point differential, this would hurt the people with the small packages the most, but what it would do that is worse then that, is allow FLorida residents, like myself, to take weekends at WDW all the time. This would make it nearly impossible to book one week or longer stays, that is the reason for the differential in the first place.

It also does us all a diservice by making studios scarce, this in turn lowers the number of two bedroom units available. Now families of 5-8 will need to crowd into a one bedroom since the studios are all taken.

What is worse, is selling points at a resort that no one intends to visit, VB, this hurts us by making short term reservations very difficult at WDW properties at the seven month window. Disney offering all these wild deal to sell their poorly selling resort at the expense of existing owners is wrong and probably actionable.

These are all long term concerns of mine, my comments above were certainly not directed at you.

Notice all the MAJOR problems people are having 9 and 10 months out.....

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[garrett79]

Rich,Isnt it nice that Disney is offering these smaller packages so EVERYONE could be involved if so desired? Or was it set up for an elitist few who can buy large chunks of points. Loohoo, thanks for the support. If it werent for the kind words from you and the vast majority of people on this board I would have backed out due to the negative influence of one person. One last thing, before I would resort to spying on my fellow DVC member and counting how many people they have in a room, I wouldnt buy into such an elitist club.God knows I have a life and better things to do on vacation than count how many people go into a room.

 

[Tommy]

Ditto Garrett

DVC Hilton Head Member since 1997
My DVC Hilton Head Resort Page

 

[LooHoo]

Garrett
APLAUSE, APLAUSE, APLAUSE !!!!!!!!

 

[ReneeQ]

We bought into BWV in Feb. 2000 while at WDW. While there then we tried to book a trip at BWV (our home resort) for Dec. 2000, just a few days shy of the 11 month window. The place was booked solid for the first week of December 2000. There was NOTHING our guide could do, she tried for days and couldn't get us a reservation. We ended up moving our trip up to Oct. 2000 and had no trouble getting in. Our guide thought the first week of Dec. being booked solid had something to do with the annual BWV members meeting being that week. Maybe that's the problem again.

 

[Richyams]

No, as a matter of fact that is not WHY Disney is making the buy in smaller....that is kind of silly. Disney is making the packages smaller so they can sell more points, they don't care that the selling of points hurts existing members.

Just like using WDW DVC resorts to sell the poorly selling VB points, they don't care about hurting present members as long as they can sell more points.

I wonder if you could respond to the individuel claims I made or if you think being sarcastic is sufficient?

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[dmadman43]

Well, I, for one, appreciate Rich's straightforward and insightful comments. "Fair and balanced", is how I view them. Sure, they may appear to the most ardent DVC and Disney cheerleader to be harsh and critical, but I certainly don't think Disney is infallable. Disney doesn't do what they do out of the kindness of their hearts. They do what they do to make money for their shareholders. As far as DVC goes, their goal is to sell MORE memberships.They already have our money.

It seems, from reading the experiences of the board members in these almost 1000 posts (and I've looked a a large percentage of those in doing my DVC purchasing research), that Rich's insight is correct more often than not. Disney has made some mistakes in their running of DVC over time. That doesn't mean it is a bad investment, or we aren't fans because of it. They are not infallible. Let's hope they learn from their mistakes and make changes that will both benefit their members and their bottomline, thus their shareholders.

 

[PKK/MJK]

I tend to agree that Rich's comments, while sometimes a bit harsh, are usually correct in the long run. Part of the problem with the written word is that it can be mis-interpreted since we cannot see the face or hear the voice of the writer. Personally, I admire Rich's ability and willingness to put his opinions out there--although occasionally I have had the urge to "bop him upside the head." LOL!!

Maybe I'm off base here, but I always figured that Disney keeps lowering the minimum points people need to purchase because they keep raising the price per point. As I recall, when we purchased in 1993, the minimum purchase was 240 points. If that were still the minimum at the current $72/point price a buyer would need $17,280 to become a member. But with a 150 point purchase at $72/point, they'd only need $10,800. That's a big difference--almost $6500!!! It seems like it would be a lot easier to convince people to invest 10,800. Disney does everything to help the bottom line--which as a business, I guess is smart. Does this make any sense?

Phil and Mary Jo

WDW--82,83,85,87,89,93,95,96, 97,98,99,00,01
DVC/OKW

 

[garrett79]

Ok, let me see if I can get through this without being sarcastic. Of course Disney is trying to sell as many points they can, they are after all, a business. Our respective income levels allow us to purchase however many points we want. Why should only certain levels be allowed to purchase? Further, VB is sold at 65% well ahead of Hilton Head, does that mean HH is a failing property as well? Let's take VB out of the equation, if Disney only had VWL available they would be flooding the market with 150 point purchases there so it makes no difference where you buy unless you have to have a certain time, a certain resort. I will never have a need for a grand villa and we are incredbily flexible on when we go to the resorts. I could buy more points, but why? This fits our needs fine.Finally, I am a Disney stockholder so the more money they make the better. Our should they stop selling so you can get the week you want?

 

[dvc_john]

I wonder how many people who bought in at 150 points now own much more than that.

When I first looked, the minimum was 230 and I didn't buy in. I did when it came down to 150.
I now own 465.

 

[jcodespoti]

I to disagree about DVC being an "investment". As a pure investment I think its a bad choice (although I see Resale prices moving up). I choose DVC for vacations use, and if thats what you use it for and not to make money on, then yes its a wise "investment"
Why did Disney drop the point totals? Sales. The could "move" more points if the cost was lower. How do make the cost lower and still keep your profit margin up? Lower the point requirement and keep the same cost per point.
I disagree with rich about the harm this would cause by forcing DVC to lower the weekend point charges and therefore spreading them out over an entire week. I see this as a benefit (at least for me). I feel this would cause more people to stay on the weekends and therefore free up more time during the week (yes, its a theory).
As far as the "tiny" point alotment, I bought the min. (150 points). Then added 50. this enough for me. I am looking at either Vero or HH (I love the water!) Probably another 150 or 200.
My point is this BUY WHATS GOOD FOR YOU. If you love Disney buy 10,000 points (I think thtas enough to stay all year in a 1-bedroom), or buy 150 points it is up to you.


Joe In CT

 

[LooHoo]

I think Disney has adjusted the buy in price for a few different reasons. To keep the price at a level where a LOT of people can afford it. I also think that initially they believed people would utilize the larger units more than what has taken place. As you have stated Rich, the studios and 1 bedrooms seem to be the most popular accommodations. I think 150 points is a nice level to cover those costs . People already avoid weekends like the plague and decreasing the initial buy in will not effect that in my opinion. Anybody who has budgetary concerns will stretch their points be it 230 or 150. I think the reservation habits have been studied and points adjusted to reflect that. This is probubally why you dont see any more Villas being built. This system has many checks and balances built in so, it is bound to change to reflect its membership. You dont have to like the change and it may not represent your habits but after all we are but 2 of 48000.