What I thought, What I think I learned and What I don't know

[RobDoc]

Lynn, my concern is not that Disney is raiding our rooms and turning around and making a profit. But what I am trying to figure out is how some rooms end up at DRC for rent for cash but can not rent for cash through DVC. Does DVD own both ? Or is DVC and DRC two completely separate entities ? I understand how rooms get turned into cash reservations. I have no problem with that. But when I am on with DVC and they say they have no rooms for cash reservations then I turn around in less then a minute and book cash through DRC, its a little frustrating. If for some reason I have to change my vacation plans at the last minute, that is my problem and I don't expect room to be available. But if through DRC a cash reservation is available at a DVC resort shouldn't I as a DVC member be able to rent those through DVC. Renting them through DRC causes more then just a rate issue. You are also not able to request DVC to try a book a continuos stay in the same room or any other request you have because it is in a different system. So If I wait list and get a couple of nights that come through then I have to call and try to change my reservation and it may completely cancel my reservation if I modify it from a week to a few nights here and there.

Points used by members for non-DVC options (cruise, other WDW resorts, etc.) belong to DRC for cash reservations. These are not available to members for point stays since they have already been used by another member. MS can also access that cash inventory, but I'm certain there are situations where the system does not show it as available to MS - which may be the case with your experience. It's also possible that with the new reservation system, MS cannot directly access those reservations.

Within 60 days of arrival, any villas unreserved using points are also made available to DRC for cash reservations. Those villas are still available to MS for point reservations or cash reservations but may need the involvement of a MS supervisor to retrieve that inventory.

 

[Lynne M]

Or is DVC and DRC two completely separate entities ?

DVC and DRC are two completely separate entities. They have a corporate relationship. as they are both part of the Walt Disney Company.

But if through DRC a cash reservation is available at a DVC resort shouldn't I as a DVC member be able to rent those through DVC.

No, you should not. They don't belong to us. There are two groups of DVC villas - the group of villas that is part of the member inventory. We, as a group, have paid for that percentage of the room inventory at the DVC resorts. We have the right, through our membership, to reserve them. That is the group of villas that is available for booking through DVC Member Services for points.

The villas that are available for rent through DRC have been paid for by Disney, in one form or another. Disney owns them. Disney has the right to rent them out. Why should Disney give them to the members for free?

 

[Tdisney]

WebMaster Doc, are you sure of your assertion that MS is able to access the DRC cash inventory for cash reservations to DVC members. That is what I originally thought as well. But have been told that they have two separate inventories. And that is what I have a problem with. I think DisneyNut is probably right in his statement as well. Lynn I am not advocating Disney giving me their points to rent after they paid for them but to allow me to rent them for cash through DVC.

 

[Lynne M]

never mind, wrong line of argument.

 

[RobDoc]

WebMaster Doc, are you sure of your assertion that MS is able to access the DRC cash inventory for cash reservations to DVC members. That is what I originally thought as well. But have been told that they have two separate inventories. And that is what I have a problem with. ...

My understanding is that MS is supposed to be able to access the DRC inventory thru the newly updated Disney reservation system. However, that access may not be a smooth dependable process and may mean they'd need to leave the DVC system to do so - regardless, since that inventory belongs to DRC MS may not be able to link those dates directly with a DVC reservation. I don't know all of the variables within the current reservation system.

At some point we just need to accept any apparent shortcomings and move on.

If MS tells me they are unable to do something I think they should be able to accomplish, I will thank that rep and call back. If I get the same response from the next rep, I will accept it. In this case, the DRC inventory is definitely separate from the DVC inventory. The only question is can MS have access to that inventory for member reservations.

Over the years, it's been clear that there are some reservations that MS cannot access - there have been and are often times when there is a discount available at a DVC resort using an AP - yet MS has never, to my knowledge, been able to offer that rate to a DVC member. In most cases the AP discount was about 40% and the DVC Member discount was the usual 25%. I'm sure that has not changed with the new system.

If MS does in fact have direct access to DRC cash inventory to link to member reservations, then you should be able to do what you were denied - if MS is not able to include DRC cash reservations and link them to a DVC reservation, then you what you were told is 100% correct.

 

[Dean]

Lynn, my concern is not that Disney is raiding our rooms and turning around and making a profit. But what I am trying to figure out is how some rooms end up at DRC for rent for cash but can not rent for cash through DVC. Does DVD own both ? Or is DVC and DRC two completely separate entities ? I understand how rooms get turned into cash reservations. I have no problem with that. But when I am on with DVC and they say they have no rooms for cash reservations then I turn around in less then a minute and book cash through DRC, its a little frustrating. If for some reason I have to change my vacation plans at the last minute, that is my problem and I don't expect room to be available. But if through DRC a cash reservation is available at a DVC resort shouldn't I as a DVC member be able to rent those through DVC. Renting them through DRC causes more then just a rate issue. You are also not able to request DVC to try a book a continuos stay in the same room or any other request you have because it is in a different system. So If I wait list and get a couple of nights that come through then I have to call and try to change my reservation and it may completely cancel my reservation if I modify it from a week to a few nights here and there.

I think I have a lot more knowledge and experience than most here (DVC and other timeshares) and I am not concerned about this happening. They don't even target high rent times which they could legitimately do. Ultimately any timeshare comes down to trust. If you don't trust them or it's not enough savings to take the chance, don't participate. IMO, that's an absolute. There is another aspect of cash reservations that I don't think has been specifically addressed and it applies to your concern. That is the ONLY rooms that MS will have to rent for cash is points type rooms like DCL type exchanges and breakage inventory. DVC or DVD (depending on who gets the money for those points used) will actually come out ahead for these cash options because they may not have to pay the 50% commission that CRO charges when rented that way. Once you understand this and the fact that once CRO has it under their wing, they have control, it becomes perfectly understandable why CRO will have a cash reservation but DVC MS will not. CRO MAY give DVC MS access but I'm not sure they do. From a dollar standpoint and for cash exchange options it's in the members best interest for as high a % of units to be resented for the max price possible. From a usage standpoint, units take for cash rental would have otherwise been available for points so the best there is no cash rooms or at least none that would have been reserved otherwise. Same for RCI exchange rooms. It's a balance and it's not perfect but it appears to work OK and I am comfortable that DVCMC/DVD handles the balance reasonably. Again, it ultimately comes down to trust.