Waitlist/Inventory Question

[Scoobypop]

I'm sure this has been addressed repeatedly on this board, but I am fairly new to this DVC section of the boards.

I just tried to book a 3BDR GV at OKW for 4 nights in late July. They had 3 nights available, but one not, right in the middle of the stay, so I reserved the 3, and waitlisted the one. I booked a studio in place for that one night.

I called CRO, and they DID have a 3 bedroom GV available for cash. I called MS back, and she was able to see that, yes, CRO has availability, but it is not in DVC's inventory as available.

How does this work? Why shouldn't a DVC owner be able to get this room if it's obviously available to anyone willing to pay cash? I know there are certain percentages of inventory available to each system--does anyone know what that percentage is?

Also, anyone with experience know what the chances are of the waitlisted night coming through, and when? Thank you in advance.

 

[eva]

The percentage isn't very high. I believe it is only a percent or so. But if someone trades out for a cruise, another WDW resort, ABD, etc. then the points are reverted to cash inventory to pay for the trade. This is where you will find the majority of cash inventory comes from.

 

[blancosofhollywood]

I am not really sure how it works or how many actual rooms they reserve for us, HOWEVER...... We went to Saratoga Springs in October and were booked in a 1 bdrm. We kept calling before we arrived to see if a 2 bdrm opened and they keps saying no. When we arrived we asked, and it was. The only trouble we had was with our points being transferred correctly. Othere then that it worked out perfectly.

I wait for the waitlist and then when you check in, check with them so maybe they can keep you there,

Good luck

 

[Chuck S]

Eva is correct, when a member trades to any of the non-DVC resorts (unless the trade is through Interval International), a corresponding number of points are transferred to cash reservations through CRO to offset the cost of the trade. How exactly which room type or resort is made available to CRO is one of the great mysteries of life, but I would assume they try to transfer a general assortment of rooms. Once those rooms are turned over to CRO they can not be returned to member inventory for point reservations.

 

[Tinkerbelljean]

I have not posted much on this board but have "lurked" for quite awhile. So please forgive me if I post something out of line.
For the past several months I have become frustrated by my inability to get a reservation anywhere at WDW DVC. I bought into SSR before it was built. I'm trying for October and early December for two different trips and and not having much luck getting a reservation at any of the WDW properties, which frustrates me. I don't have a reservation for even one night, I am totally waitlisted. I want to go on vacation, not spend my time trying to go on vacation, the whole reservation issue for me is becoming very problematic, especially when I live in a rural area of Wisconsin and have difficulty with airtravel. But enough of that rant. I became very frustrated at not being able to get a DVC reservation, so I thought I would loook into a cash reservation. I could go to Expedia.com and get the very same reservation I wanted for cash. I called MS and was told that Florida law required that 2% of DVC inventory, or any timeshare inventory in FLA, had to be held for cash reservations. MS told me they would be happy to assist me with my reservation for cash. I have not been able to verify that information, nor did I write down the name of the CM.

If I have to sit on the phone 11 months in advance of my "vacation time" to get a vacation reservation when I don't know if I can get time off work, it just is not worth it to me.

Tnkerbell Jean

 

[vicki_c]

Jean -

sorry to hear you're frustrated. We've only booked 2 trips so far and haven't really had any issues. We booked for mid-June in March and got both VWL and SSR studios. Then, we also booked SSR for Christmas week at 11 months, but really had no problem changing it to BCV at 7 months (a 1 BR and we're only waitlisted for 1 day - our last day, which is a Sunday).

Are you trying for one of the more difficult categories - a Grand Villa or something?

I'm just surprised you're having so much trouble for the October reservation getting anything at all. December I'm not so surprised.

Hopefully your waitlists come through for you. And yes, MS can do your cash reservation for you (and you can even get a 25% DVC discount on a cash DVC room, if discounts are available).

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have not posted much on this board but have "lurked" for quite awhile. So please forgive me if I post something out of line.
For the past several months I have become frustrated by my inability to get a reservation anywhere at WDW DVC. I bought into SSR before it was built. I'm trying for October and early December for two different trips and and not having much luck getting a reservation at any of the WDW properties, which frustrates me. I don't have a reservation for even one night, I am totally waitlisted. I want to go on vacation, not spend my time trying to go on vacation, the whole reservation issue for me is becoming very problematic, especially when I live in a rural area of Wisconsin and have difficulty with airtravel. But enough of that rant. I became very frustrated at not being able to get a DVC reservation, so I thought I would loook into a cash reservation. I could go to Expedia.com and get the very same reservation I wanted for cash. I called MS and was told that Florida law required that 2% of DVC inventory, or any timeshare inventory in FLA, had to be held for cash reservations. MS told me they would be happy to assist me with my reservation for cash. I have not been able to verify that information, nor did I write down the name of the CM.

If I have to sit on the phone 11 months in advance of my "vacation time" to get a vacation reservation when I don't know if I can get time off work, it just is not worth it to me.

Tnkerbell Jean

You can't just call in July and expect to get Oct or Dec at DVC. Both are very popular times and often get booked up at 11 months, maybe as late as 7 months out. FL law doesn't require any 2%. However, DVC owns at least 4% so that they can do maintenance from time to time. Plus whenever a member trades out to a non-DVC but still Disney vacation, those points are already used and the rooms they represent must be sold by CRO for cash to get the cash to pay for that non-DVC trip. Just one of the conditions for trading out your DVC points.

So the next time you decide to use points at a deluxe resort or a DL resort or the Disney cruise, remember that the points represent a room or rooms at DVC that have to be sold for cash. And the $95 fee you pay to do the transfer also goes towards paying for that non-DVC vacation.