Unusual problems in using reservation points?

[Tinkmom]

How difficult is it to get availability when using reservation points, i.e., when a reservation outside of the DVC resorts is cancelled, and those points can't revert back to regular DVC points and must be used outside of the DVC resorts. Are there any specific restrictions on making reservations with these (is there a limited number of rooms for use by these points, for instance when staying at the Polynesian or AKL) or should I be able to make a reservation if there is availability, period?

Not sure that question is clear except maybe to those who have been in this position

 

[CarolMN]

As far as I know, the only limitation to using DVC points for anything in the Disney Collection (which includes most WDW resorts, the DCL and the Disneyland & Disneyland Paris Resort Hotels), is availability.

Keep in mind that reservation points expire at the end of the use year - they cannot be borrowed or banked.

Best wishes -

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CarolMN
As far as I know, the only limitation to using DVC points for anything in the Disney Collection (which includes most WDW resorts, the DCL and the Disneyland & Disneyland Paris Resort Hotels), is availability.

Keep in mind that reservation points expire at the end of the use year - they cannot be borrowed or banked.

Best wishes -

But they can be transferred. And while they may not be able to be borrowed, they should be immediately available. they can also be used for the CC and adventurer collection. Also remember you may be able to use your one time exemption to recapture them and possibly bank them.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Dean
But they can be transferred. And while they may not be able to be borrowed, they should be immediately available. they can also be used for the CC and adventurer collection. Also remember you may be able to use your one time exemption to recapture them and possibly bank them.

Not sure I agree that they should be immediatley available.

Suppose you make a reservation for the GF 11 months in advance using your 2005 use year points (because the stay will occur during your 2005 use year) and then cancel it. Seems to me the resulting reservation points could only be used for non-DVC stays that would take place in the 2005 use year. Thus, I mentioned that reservation points cannot be borrowed.

Perhaps under those circumstances they can be borrowed? Why would DVC care when the reservation points were used since they have probably already moved the "equivalent number of room nights " out of the points inventory to pay for them.

 

[JimC]

We had this happen last January when we needed to cancel an AKL reservation and an OKW reservation two weeks before arrival. My wife had an unexpected two week hospital stay and restricted travel after that prompted the change.

The OKW points became holding account points with the 60 day before arrival restriction.

The AKL points remained reservation points. We rebooked in January for the trip we are taking this August. There were no special restrictions, other than we can not bank them and they expire at end of use year.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CarolMN
Not sure I agree that they should be immediatley available.

Suppose you make a reservation for the GF 11 months in advance using your 2005 use year points (because the stay will occur during your 2005 use year) and then cancel it. Seems to me the resulting reservation points could only be used for non-DVC stays that would take place in the 2005 use year. Thus, I mentioned that reservation points cannot be borrowed.

Carol, here are the official rules. The way I read it is it depends on the original option used.

For Disney Collection:

CANCELLATIONS. To cancel accommodations reserved through the Collection, the DVC Member or a Guest must telephone Member Services. If cancellation occurs more than (a) 72 hours prior to the commencement of the reserved time period for the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel or (b) 5 days prior to the commencement of the reserved time period for any WDW Resort Hotel or (c) 15 days prior to the commencement of the reserved time period for any DISNEYLAND Paris Resort Hotel, the DVC Member or Guest may only request, subject to availability, reservation of other accommodations at the same or another Resort Hotel through The Disney Collection or reservation of other accommodations through the Concierge Collection or Adventurer Collection, which requires the same or fewer Reservation Points as the Disney Collection Accommodations for which the reservation was canceled. Requests for and occupancy of accommodations at a Resort Hotel following cancellation of an initial reservation must occur within the Use Year during which the DVC Accommodations assigned to DVD may be occupied. If cancellation occurs less than (a) 72 hours prior to the commencement of the reserved time period for the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel or (b) 5 days prior to the commencement of the reserved time period for any WDW Resort Hotel or (c) 15 days prior to the commencement of the reserved time period for any DISNEYLAND Paris Resort Hotel or if the DVC Member or Guest fails to check in within 24 hours following the commencement of the reserved time period for any Resort Hotel, the DVC Member or Guest is not entitled to request or receive other accommodations at any Resort Hotel and is not entitled to occupy the DVC Accommodations assigned to DVD.

For adventurer, Concierge collection and DCL:

CANCELLATIONS. If confirmed reservations for Travel Packages are canceled for any reason by DVD or the Travel Package Provider, then the DVC Member may request reservations for other comparable Travel Packages then currently available through the Program, or reservations for resort rooms through The Disney Collection Program, subject to availability. Travel Packages reserved through the Program may be canceled by the DVC Member by contacting Member Services. If confirmed reservations for Travel Packages are canceled for any reason by the DVC Member, then the DVC Member may only request reservations (subject to the cancellation policy) for other comparable Travel Packages then currently available through the Program, or reservations through The Disney Collection Program, subject to availability, which requires the same or fewer Reservation Points as the Travel Packages canceled. Such reservations must be made, and occupancy must be completed, prior to the expiration of the Use Year during which the reserved DVC Accommodations assigned to DVD may be occupied. The number of Reservation Points that will be available to the DVC Member in reserving such other Travel Packages or Disney Collection Accommodations will be based on the number of Vacation Points originally used by the DVC Member to reserve the DVC Accommodations, less a number of Reservation Points to be determined in accordance with the following tables:

The way I read the above means that for DC, it must be within the use year and for DCL, CC and AC; by the end of that use year without regard to the start of the use year. Of course this could all change tomorrow and DVC could interpret pretty much any way they want. One thing is for certain, that reservation points can be transferred and thus rented.

 

[Tinkmom]

Thanks for the info. So, strictly from an availability/reservation standpoint, attempting to reserve a room using reservation points gives you access to all inventory available using DVC points or paying cash?

Also, can I use these points during the last sixty days of the use year or am I getting this confused with using holding points to exchange? (I guess I could dig up the member info on this, but sometimes it stays with you better to "talk" about it with people who have been there.)