Temporary Updates to Cancellation Policy - ending April 30

[CarolMN]

From Members' Website

"Temporary Updates to Our Cancellation Policy
Some of the temporary adjustments made last year to certain Disney Vacation Club policies will end April 30. Previous policies will be reinstated on May 1. Please visit the Member website for details about policies related to reservation cancelations, the borrowing and holding of Points, exchange fees and more.

As a reminder, Members who want to borrow Points to complete a reservation will temporarily only be able to borrow up to 50 percent of their future Use Year Points per contract. Doing this will help manage inventory and accommodate more Members who want to schedule their vacations. Learn more about these policy changes."


Nothing was said re ending the borrowing restrictions.

 

[holyrita]

Member Policy Updates
We would also like to share that some of the temporary adjustments made last year to certain Disney Vacation Club policies will be ending soon. We ask that you please visit the Member website for details about policies related to reservation cancelations, the borrowing and holding of points, exchange fees and more. We have appreciated your patience and flexibility as we’ve worked to adapt policies in support of our entire membership while continuing to deliver the vacation experiences you expect from Disney.

Saw this in the email about the Grand Californian reopening. Seems to maybe allude to the borrow restriction ending as well, though do not see anything on the member website for that yet.

 

[pkrieger2287]

I'm viewing this more as stating that holding policies for cancellation will be reinstated. I don't feel they mean borrowing.

 

[CarolMN]

I'm viewing this more as stating that holding policies for cancellation will be reinstated. I don't feel they mean borrowing.

Agree. The 50% borrowing restriction is still listed in red on the website and also as an info note on the booking page. I think it is the end of waiving holding and the auto return of borrowed points when a reservation is cancelled.

 

[TikiRob]

The email sounded like they would be updating both. Maybe someone else understands better, but if there is inventory and everything is open—let people borrow! Is the concern that too many would borrow and there wouldn’t be availability for current use year for folks?

 

[Sandisw]

I think this means that after May 1st, any points already borrowed will not be returned as they have been doing along with the holding rule being back in place.

Sounds like the 50% borrowing restriction will still be there.

 

[pkrieger2287]

I think this means that after May 1st, any points already borrowed will not be returned as they have been doing along with the holding rule being back in place.

Sounds like the 50% borrowing restriction will still be there.

This also makes sense from the standpoint that all resorts will now be open. Perhaps they felt there was a legal reason associated with VGC still being closed that prohibited them from the holding rules.

 

[princesscinderella]

The email only alluded to the changes ending “soon”. I’m glad you have found a concrete date. This date makes sense because all DVC will be open on May 2nd.

 

[holyrita]

I think this means that after May 1st, any points already borrowed will not be returned as they have been doing along with the holding rule being back in place.

Sounds like the 50% borrowing restriction will still be there.

Ah yes, that sounds right!

 

[bubblefactory]

The date is well hidden - you have to click on the operational update link in the VGC update in notifications and scroll all the way to the bottom.

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: Know Before You Go

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will once again welcome Disney Vacation Club Members beginning May 2, 2021. Before you visit, please review operational updates and important information.

 

[Roughians_satchel]

Terry Shultz can't see the forest through the trees. This is ridiculous. They're taking away the only real benefit right now of flexibility if you have to cancel within 30 days. WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC! Most of the population isn't vaccinated. It's highly possible someone in your family contracts the disease within 30 days and you can't go.

AND, Terry is only making matters worse with the 50% rule. I think they're looking at this big pile of available points out there and think they need to restrict it to give people with all those points a chance to book. Excuse me - but we're all adults here and don't need a points police. What she is too blind to see is people are sitting on points because they CAN'T come, either for health reasons or restrictions for travel. It doesn't make sense to hold availability for people who aren't coming. Meanwhile - those who can come, who want to use their points are restricted from taking the extra night or two - and are forced to bank. Which means it's just making the pile of available points even bigger.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Terry Shultz can't see the forest through the trees. This is ridiculous. They're taking away the only real benefit right now of flexibility if you have to cancel within 30 days. WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC! Most of the population isn't vaccinated. It's highly possible someone in your family contracts the disease within 30 days and you can't go.

AND, Terry is only making matters worse with the 50% rule. I think they're looking at this big pile of available points out there and think they need to restrict it to give people with all those points a chance to book. Excuse me - but we're all adults here and don't need a points police. What she is too blind to see is people are sitting on points because they CAN'T come, either for health reasons or restrictions for travel. It doesn't make sense to hold availability for people who aren't coming. Meanwhile - those who can come, who want to use their points are restricted from taking the extra night or two - and are forced to bank. Which means it's just making the pile of available points even bigger.

Which means the likelihood that people are going to just travel sick far greater. Let's face it, people were coming to WDW with colds, strep or flu all the time. Now they will come with Covid, too.

I've read plenty of stories of families that had kid#1 puking the day before they left but well enough to travel on day of flight, then they get to WDW and (shocker) the rest of the family is sick and spreading it to everyone there, leaving the virus in the room when they leave, etc. People never cared. They took their chances. The ease of restrictions helped people comply with pandemic guidelines. That's gone now.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Terry Shultz can't see the forest through the trees. This is ridiculous. They're taking away the only real benefit right now of flexibility if you have to cancel within 30 days. WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC! Most of the population isn't vaccinated. It's highly possible someone in your family contracts the disease within 30 days and you can't go.

AND, Terry is only making matters worse with the 50% rule. I think they're looking at this big pile of available points out there and think they need to restrict it to give people with all those points a chance to book. Excuse me - but we're all adults here and don't need a points police. What she is too blind to see is people are sitting on points because they CAN'T come, either for health reasons or restrictions for travel. It doesn't make sense to hold availability for people who aren't coming. Meanwhile - those who can come, who want to use their points are restricted from taking the extra night or two - and are forced to bank. Which means it's just making the pile of available points even bigger.

DH and I were just discussing last night how they should allow people to cancel under 30 days for a covid positive case in the family. As for the borrowing rules, I get the restriction for people booking 11/7 months out when we hope to be back to more regular travel, but booking last minute stays should not have this restriction. My guess is, the IT to handle that sort of exception is far too complex for Disney IT.

 

[dropd]

Which means the likelihood that people are going to just travel sick far greater. Let's face it, people were coming to WDW with colds, strep or flu all the time. Now they will come with Covid, too.

Yeah - I know they may be in a bit of a bind in terms of planning out and spreading out point consumption and availability, but this sets up REALLY bad incentives for people. May 1 still seems too soon for this. From a personal perspective, I don't want to be sharing hallways or adjacent rooms with families with a sick member who decided to come down anyway because they didn't want their points to go into holding.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Yeah - I know they may be in a bit of a bind in terms of planning out and spreading out point consumption and availability, but this sets up REALLY bad incentives for people. May 1 still seems too soon for this. From a personal perspective, I don't want to be sharing hallways or adjacent rooms with families with a sick member who decided to come down anyway because they didn't want their points to go into holding.

I certainly hope you’re wrong... but you’re probably right.

 

[havoc315]

The email sounded like they would be updating both. Maybe someone else understands better, but if there is inventory and everything is open—let people borrow! Is the concern that too many would borrow and there wouldn’t be availability for current use year for folks?

Yes... you have far more banked points than ordinary that people will want to use. Expect inflated demand over the next year or so, as people have points they need to use or lose.

 

[TikiRob]

Yes... you have far more banked points than ordinary that people will want to use. Expect inflated demand over the next year or so, as people have points they need to use or lose.

I get that impact maybe now and the next year. But July-January as the pandemic was raging and availability was widespread, some people might have used more points, helping balance the system later on.

Personally, I was able to book anything I wanted, including Copper Creek and Boardwalk standard view on an impromptu Christmas holiday. I borrowed 50% and bought OTU points to book that trip. If I could have borrowed more, I would have stayed longer or upgraded to a 1br. My point deficit would have had helped balance 2021.

 

[pkrieger2287]

This whole decision needs to be based on a trigger mechanism in the booking system. If I were DVC management I would reinstate 100% borrowing immediately. Availability in the next 7 months is still huge, so encourage those that want to travel to splurge and use more points. Have a threshold built into the system that once you see capacity levels over a certain percentage you revert back to the 50% borrowing rule. We are still not going to see the stress on the booking system for another 4-6 months or so I feel.

 

[TikiRob]

This whole decision needs to be based on a trigger mechanism in the booking system. If I were DVC management I would reinstate 100% borrowing immediately. Availability in the next 7 months is still huge, so encourage those that want to travel to splurge and use more points. Have a threshold built into the system that once you see capacity levels over a certain percentage you revert back to the 50% borrowing rule. We are still not going to see the stress on the booking system for another 4-6 months or so I feel.

Exactly! I think it is more problematic to have 100% borrow 6 months from now... They should have left it open until bookings were picking up.

 

[Sandisw]

This whole decision needs to be based on a trigger mechanism in the booking system. If I were DVC management I would reinstate 100% borrowing immediately. Availability in the next 7 months is still huge, so encourage those that want to travel to splurge and use more points. Have a threshold built into the system that once you see capacity levels over a certain percentage you revert back to the 50% borrowing rule. We are still not going to see the stress on the booking system for another 4-6 months or so I feel.

Or set it up so the trigger is booking within a short timeframe vs. whenever it gets filled up as that would, IMO, be too inconsistent for members and I can see some being upset.

However, if they could find a way to allow members booking within say, 3 months from check in, to borrow more, without then canceling and moving them to a later date...ie: a workaround...it would seem to be the best of both worlds.