This isn't right, is it?

[goofymax]

I called DVC for Hilton Head ressie for easter week. I inquired about a 2 bedroom unit. I was told there were none available. I then callled directly to HHI resort and didn't mention DVC. Lo and behold they said they did have a 2 bedroom unit available for $2,000. I then told the woman what I was told by DVC and she said some rooms are put aside for cash only due to money they had to make up. She said I could reserve the room and then try to use the DVC points when I got there. It would be risky. I don't think I should have to pay another 2k over the $16k I have paid for DVC membership at BCV. Does anyone know if this is standard practice?

 

[CarolMN]

The rooms available for cash are separate from the rooms available for points. It is not uncommon for there to be rooms available for cash and not for points and vice versa.

How do rooms become availabel for cash?

1. Disney retains ownership of a small percentage of each DVC resort. If the rooms represented by that percentage aren't needed for administrative reasons, they are rented for cash.

2. THe Developer owns the portion of the resort that hasn't yet been sold to members. Since HHI is sold out, this doesn't apply, but it does represent a significant number of rooms at SSR,

3. Members who use their points to stay at one of the non-DVC options (like a cruise, a non-DVC resort or someting in the COnceirge Collection). The points required for the non-DVC options are converted to room nights and rented for cash. The proceeds are used to pay forf the member's trades. In essence, a member has already used those rooms. This category is how MOST rooms get into the cash inventory.

4. Rooms not reserved for points at least 60 days in advance are often sent to to the cash inventory. DVC members still have access to them, but they are competing with the general public for them. The income from these rooms goes back to DVC and helps to reduce our dues. You will see it under "Breakage Income".

Sorry you couldn't get your room, but at least now you know why and that nothing "illegal" is going on.

Good luck with the waitlist.

Best wishes -

 

[Lisa P.]

Easter week is more than 60 days away. This is a popular school vacation and golf week - even on HHI. I'm surprised DVC would put aside this time for cash rentals at a sold out resort. Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[poohj80]

You might try the wait list, but I wouldn't book the room at the cash rate just in hopes I could use my points when I got there.

 

[CarolA]

DVC has cash rooms at ALL times of the year. And of course they will want to have some during the peak periods.... I actually thought I read once that at about the 90 to 60 day mark anything NOT rented by members was avaialble to DVC for Disney to rent on a cash basis. I know that in the past MS has had to do some juggling to get a room for me that had already been made avaialble on a cash basis. I find that they will sometimes do this on a LATE booking (I mean less then a week out!), but they seem to have to get the resort's ok to give up the cash!

 

[dis-happy]

Not sure, but are you new to DVC? You have to plan early for really popular times in general. Easter week, the week between Christmas and New Year's are all booked months in advance at all DVC properties. The difference between cash and points ressies you discovered is normal. Once in a while they will pull out inventory from cash (CRO) for a DVC member to use, but usually only very close to the time you would need it and only if it looks like it won't be rented for cash. Did you put your name on the waitlist? Just for the record (and not to sound mean or anything) I would have been very, very surprised if you had been able to book HH at this late date (relative in DVC terms that is). Other high occupancy times at HH include most of the summer, Memorial Day through Labor Day, alhtough sometimes people are fortunate when booking late in August and early June, along with some weekends in summer. Also, 2 B/R's are far more plentiful than 1 B/R or studios. HTH

 

[Daitcher]

The rooms available for cash are separate from the rooms available for points. It is not uncommon for there to be rooms available for cash and not for points and vice versa.

How do rooms become availabel for cash?

1. Disney retains ownership of a small percentage of each DVC resort. If the rooms represented by that percentage aren't needed for administrative reasons, they are rented for cash.

2. THe Developer owns the portion of the resort that hasn't yet been sold to members. Since HHI is sold out, this doesn't apply, but it does represent a significant number of rooms at SSR,

3. Members who use their points to stay at one of the non-DVC options (like a cruise, a non-DVC resort or someting in the COnceirge Collection). The points required for the non-DVC options are converted to room nights and rented for cash. The proceeds are used to pay forf the member's trades. In essence, a member has already used those rooms. This category is how MOST rooms get into the cash inventory.

4. Rooms not reserved for points at least 60 days in advance are often sent to to the cash inventory. DVC members still have access to them, but they are competing with the general public for them. The income from these rooms goes back to DVC and helps to reduce our dues. You will see it under "Breakage Income".

Sorry you couldn't get your room, but at least now you know why and that nothing "illegal" is going on.

Good luck with the waitlist.

Best wishes -

Carol,

Your explanation was perfect. This topic comes up with every timeshare in business. They should cut and paste your reply.


DAVE

 

[Sarahsal]

I called at 9 a.m., day-by-day, right at the 7 month period for this Easter, and I had to waitlist one day (it came through!) so it isn't at all surprising that you couldn't get a reservation on points at this late date.

 

[Doctor P]

I called at 9 a.m., day-by-day, right at the 7 month period for this Easter, and I had to waitlist one day (it came through!) so it isn't at all surprising that you couldn't get a reservation on points at this late date.

Wow. This is one of the reasons we decided to do an add on at HH, especially since we like to stay in studios to conserve points and because the studios at HH are quite nice.