VGC owners cheated of booking advantage

[drewmisha]

I sent this yesterday to DVC:

Dear DVC,

I have heard that as new owners of the Grand Californian Villas, we are not afforded the same two week booking advantage given to the owners of the Bay Lake Towers and the SSR Treehouse villas. I am dismayed and disappointed to hear of this action.

As owners of these new villas, we take pride of this new DVC offering. Since the villas are opening on 11/30/09 and within the 7 month booking period (6/07/09), we will be competing against other non-VGC owners for the coveted December month.

I hope you will reconsider and allow us to have the two week booking advantage.

Thanks for your attention

Here is the email address to express your grievances to DVC member services, send it to every DVC member you know!

dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com


Maybe we can turn this thing around! Get typing!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Here is the email address to express your grievances to DVC member services, send it to every DVC member you know!

dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com


Maybe we can turn this thing around! Get typing!

I will send an email. Thanks for this info. My dh called the DVC main # yesterday and was told that VGC owners would have a minimum 10 day booking advantage but I know that misinformation is common so I am not sure what to believe.

We will not send in our docs until we get a definitive answer on this. I am sure they could care less about loosing our measly 160 point contract but I have been less than impressed with my limited experience so far with DVC operations and I always trust my instincts on stuff like this. It sucks too because my dh is way excited about this purchase but knows that when my spidey senses start tingly, all bets are off.

 

[disney4metoo]

I will send an email. Thanks for this info. My dh called the DVC main # yesterday and was told that VGC owners would have a minimum 10 day booking advantage but I know that misinformation is common so I am not sure what to believe.

We will not send in our docs until we get a definitive answer on this. I am sure they could care less about loosing our measly 160 point contract but I have been less than impressed with my limited experience so far with DVC operations and I always trust my instincts on stuff like this. It sucks too because my dh is way excited about this purchase but knows that when my spidey senses start tingly, all bets are off.

My guide verified that no VGC owners would not get advance booking advantage.
I am also holding on to our contract, until I hear otherwise. I also stated my intent to hold onto my contract in my email; maybe, just maybe if enough of us voice of grievances they will listen.

 

[SoCalKDG]

Just remember that this is only 2 months out of a total of 600 months of ownership that is keeping people from buying what they originally planned to buy. I see being upset, but this affects less than 1% of our total ownership, which equates to approx. $150 out of $15,000. To me the incentives more than make up for this. Buy before is sells out and you regret in the future.

As mentioned the DLH and PPH are options in December with the DLH having better views currently (DCA is very much torn up right now).

Remember that this purchase is a long term vacation plan.

 

[bethy]

Just remember that this is only 2 months out of a total of 600 months of ownership that is keeping people from buying what they originally planned to buy. I see being upset, but this affects less than 1% of our total ownership, which equates to approx. $150 out of $15,000. To me the incentives more than make up for this. Buy before is sells out and you regret in the future.

As mentioned the DLH and PPH are options in December with the DLH having better views currently (DCA is very much torn up right now).

Remember that this purchase is a long term vacation plan.

Yes but how hard would it be for MS to simply check to see if someone's a VGC owner when they call to book? 2 weeks of glancing at a listing of the member's specific contracts is hardly in inconvenience - they have to do that anyway. And I don't think the rest of the DVC membership would blink an eye about it.

I'm glad it doesn't bother you. But it does bother me and that's my reality.

 

[disney4metoo]

Just remember that this is only 2 months out of a total of 600 months of ownership that is keeping people from buying what they originally planned to buy. I see being upset, but this affects less than 1% of our total ownership, which equates to approx. $150 out of $15,000. To me the incentives more than make up for this. Buy before is sells out and you regret in the future.

As mentioned the DLH and PPH are options in December with the DLH having better views currently (DCA is very much torn up right now).

Remember that this purchase is a long term vacation plan.

Except that we had planned to be there the first week of December. Our AP expire on the second week and we will not be renewing our AP's until 2010, because next year we are going to WDW.

My parents are old and and were going with us in December. My dad has prostate cancer and it has already metastasize to the bone. A December trip would still be doable for them, plus they love the Christmas decorations.

Having a kitchen because of dietary needs, was a real benefit. So for me timing is a issue, and one of the reasons I purchased. It's the principle too, it's unfair that a precedence has been set them removed without informing us prior to buying.

 

[toocherie]

Yes but how hard would it be for MS to simply check to see if someone's a VGC owner when they call to book? 2 weeks of glancing at a listing of the member's specific contracts is hardly in inconvenience - they have to do that anyway. And I don't think the rest of the DVC membership would blink an eye about it.

I'm glad it doesn't bother you. But it does bother me and that's my reality.

It bothers me too--makes me feel like a second-class citizen in some ways. Even though I spent a lot of $$$$$$. And yes, I wouldn't personally cut off my nose to spite my face but that doesn't mean I can't still be ticked off.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I wonder if there is just so much availability right now, other than Christmas or Thanksgiving week, many will get a reservation, owners or not? Owners should have booking priority for the popular holiday periods, at the least! I wonder if sales are just so slow, they are trying to book the rooms as quickly as possible?

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Just remember that this is only 2 months out of a total of 600 months of ownership that is keeping people from buying what they originally planned to buy. I see being upset, but this affects less than 1% of our total ownership, which equates to approx. $150 out of $15,000. To me the incentives more than make up for this. Buy before is sells out and you regret in the future.

As mentioned the DLH and PPH are options in December with the DLH having better views currently (DCA is very much torn up right now).

Remember that this purchase is a long term vacation plan.

I understand your point. The thing is I am not willing to accept what I consider to be poor treatment when I have choice in the matter. It is not worth it to me and the fact that there will already be a precedent for a different standard of treatment for California DVC owners vs. Florida DVC owners who bought at those 2 new properties is a sore spot for me. I can pay cash to stay at DLH or PPH in December and already have two rooms tennatively reserved with a discount pin code. Will I regret it when things sell out and all this has blown over? Maybe. But I also see a trend in DVC not being so concerned about member satisfaction based on board posts here and elsewhere. People say "oh they'll never invoke that minimum stay clause in the contract because too many people would be upset". Given actions like these, I wouldn't be so sure.

 

[toocherie]

So, I had my assistant looking through my docs today for the language regarding home resort owners having a one-month priority. she couldn't find it--so being the enterprising person she is she called Quality Assurance. And they called back and left me a message as to where the language is and confirming that THE HOME RESORT OWNER WILL NEVER HAVE LESS THAN ONE MONTH PRIORITY BOOKING OVER OTHER OWNERS!!!! LOL--of course I kept the message--and will call the guy back tomorrow and ask him if he's talked to the right hand lately . . . . .

 

[disney4metoo]

So, I had my assistant looking through my docs today for the language regarding home resort owners having a one-month priority. she couldn't find it--so being the enterprising person she is she called Quality Assurance. And they called back and left me a message as to where the language is and confirming that THE HOME RESORT OWNER WILL NEVER HAVE LESS THAN ONE MONTH PRIORITY BOOKING OVER OTHER OWNERS!!!! LOL--of course I kept the message--and will call the guy back tomorrow and ask him if he's talked to the right hand lately . . . . .

Please let me know where this section is in our contracts, it would be most helpful!

 

[nunzia]

I understand your point. The thing is I am not willing to accept what I consider to be poor treatment when I have choice in the matter. It is not worth it to me and the fact that there will already be a precedent for a different standard of treatment for California DVC owners vs. Florida DVC owners who bought at those 2 new properties is a sore spot for me. I can pay cash to stay at DLH or PPH in December and already have two rooms tennatively reserved with a discount pin code. Will I regret it when things sell out and all this has blown over? Maybe. But I also see a trend in DVC not being so concerned about member satisfaction based on board posts here and elsewhere. People say "oh they'll never invoke that minimum stay clause in the contract because too many people would be upset". Given actions like these, I wouldn't be so sure.

I really understand how you feel. I was sooo upset that they changed the maximum purchases allowed by Founders because, not only was I worried it would sell out during the Founder's period, but also that they so casually changed what had been in a contract! To me, this set off red flags..I thought contracts were contracts so things were set in stone. Then, I was a little upset that current that DVC owners got no buying window before the general population, but as we all know, that's worked out fine. I really think the economy has hit DVC, and I'm shocked VGC haven't sold out.
Yes..this could be a hint of how we VGC owners will be treated or it could just be that DVC is scrambling to fill rooms that they feel will remain empty. I understand your wanting to go in December (I never get to do that until DH retires...spay and neuter month, you know!), and you very well may still get to. I just hope people being angry at one thing don't give up their 50 years of VCG. I still think that in a year or so this property will be sold out and that owners will be glad they own.
I do hope they change this and give owners a booking window.

 

[RobDoc]

So, I had my assistant looking through my docs today for the language regarding home resort owners having a one-month priority. she couldn't find it--so being the enterprising person she is she called Quality Assurance. And they called back and left me a message as to where the language is and confirming that THE HOME RESORT OWNER WILL NEVER HAVE LESS THAN ONE MONTH PRIORITY BOOKING OVER OTHER OWNERS!!!! LOL--of course I kept the message--and will call the guy back tomorrow and ask him if he's talked to the right hand lately . . . . .

That quote is in the POS for every DVC resort. It refers to the Home Resort Reservation Priority, which is currently a 4 month advantage at your Home Resort, but it could be changed to as little as the 1 month advantage mentioned in the quoted section.

However, as each recent new resort has opened and reservations didn't start until within 7 months, the priority has been reduced for initial reservations - to 2 weeks most recently for AKV and BLT owners. The precedent of a smaller initial reservation advantage has certainly been established for reservations at each new resort since OKW. It doesn't make sense to me why they would deviate from that pattern with GCV.

Keep in mind that non-GCV owners will still be limited to making reservations only within 7 months while GCV owners will still be able to make reservations 11 months in advance.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Maybe the real reason for a single booking date is that DVC is now projecting an opening date of mid-Jan 2010. So non-home resort owners can call on June 7, but every date will be outside the 7 month window. -- Suzanne

 

[Disney_Villain]

I sent my note off to the DVC Member Satisfaction Team last night:

TO: dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

Dear DVC Member Satisfaction Team,

We were told that bookings for Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa (VGC) would begin on June 7th, 2009 - for VGC owners only - and that on June 22nd, 2009 all members would be able to book VGC. This information came from ****, the DVC guide at Doorway to Dreams who sold us our VGC contract.

Despite this information, rumors are beginning to surface that on June 7th, 2009 any DVC members will be able to book the VGC – and that there will be no separate advance booking date for VGC owners (as there was for Bay Lake Tower and Tree House Villas). If this is true, then this is certainly not fair to those of us who bought into VGC.

Could you please confirm ****'s statement that there will be a separate advance booking date for VGC owners – and if her dates (above) are correct?

Thank you,

Ken

 

[SoCalKDG]

Maybe the real reason for a single booking date is that DVC is now projecting an opening date of mid-Jan 2010. So non-home resort owners can call on June 7, but every date will be outside the 7 month window. -- Suzanne

This makes lots of sense if the opening is delayed.

Its possible also that California law is different than Florida law. Remember that by giving a 2 week advantage during the openings of new resorts in Florida I believe that DVC was actually breaking the contract that states inside 7 months everyone can book any resort. In Florida they might have been able to get around this, in California, maybe not?

 

[Quilter007]

Not opening until Mid-January????

 

[karrit2000]

When did the projected opening date get changed from Nov. 30? This is the first I've heard this.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

When did the projected opening date get changed from Nov. 30? This is the first I've heard this.

It didn't - that was speculation that the VGC owners didn't need a priority booking timeframe b/c the opening would be outside of a 7 month window.

 

[kerickson]

It didn't - that was speculation that the VGC owners didn't need a priority booking timeframe b/c the opening would be outside of a 7 month window.

Don't think that will be the case, last I heard they were on target if not ahead of schedule (doesn't mean that they'd open earlier) for the Nov 30 opening.