What's up with renting outside you home resort?

[grumpy.uncle]

I called ms today to check on availability of 2 studios for Dec.31 at Villas at Wilderness Lodge. My home resort is BWV and we will be staying there Jan 1-8, but I wanted to try WL for the 31st. I know I could not book until June 1, but was checking to see what was still available. I was told there was nothing left-no studios, no 2 bedrooms. However, I was told I could book 2 studios for cash. Does Disney reserve a certain # of rooms for cash sale only? Why else would they have no rooms to book w/points, but rooms available for cash? Would I be better off just booking regular hotel rooms at Wilderness Lodge and paying cash for those? I really wanted to stay there the first nite, but I could use your advice.THANKS

 

[Dean]

I called ms today to check on availability of 2 studios for Dec.31 at Villas at Wilderness Lodge. My home resort is BWV and we will be staying there Jan 1-8, but I wanted to try WL for the 31st. I know I could not book until June 1, but was checking to see what was still available. I was told there was nothing left-no studios, no 2 bedrooms. However, I was told I could book 2 studios for cash. Does Disney reserve a certain # of rooms for cash sale only? Why else would they have no rooms to book w/points, but rooms available for cash? Would I be better off just booking regular hotel rooms at Wilderness Lodge and paying cash for those? I really wanted to stay there the first nite, but I could use your advice.THANKS

DVC has multiple inventories. These include points rooms, units not yet sold and declared into inventory which they rent for cash, units reserved with points given up by members for exchange options and breakage inventory (in the last 60 days). I'm not sure if DVC uses their small percentage of points they own at sold out resort to secure rentals, I doubt they do normally. The only units that could cross over between cash and points and back again are those in the breakage inventory. All other cash options are not and should not be available for points ever.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Of secondary note is that you are trying to book New Year's Eve - a busy night indeed!

 

[Chuck S]

Absolutely I would book New Year's Eve with cash. It is the single busiest night for accomodations at WDW, and it is better have a cash room than risk waiting for a point ressie to open up. As Dean explained, it is not uncommon for rooms to b available for cash through Disney and not have any point availability for any number of reasons, but most likely it is because members have chosen to use points outside of the DVC resorts through one of the many Disney options that require DVC to obtain cash for reimbursement.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

To the OP: I think that the common wisdom is that MS does not rent a room for cash if they anticipate that the room will rent for points. I have had an experience similar to yours, I am waitlisted for points but could rent the same unit for cash with the member discount!
As a result, I think the common wisdom is right only if the existence of a waitlist for points for the night does not mean that, as the time gets closer, the night will actually be sold out for points. Disney does have lots of experience at projecting future occupancy, but this still surprises me, especially when we are talking so many months away. Of course, it does bode well for my waitlist eventually coming thru.

As to whether the WL would be better than VWL on cash, you didn't state if you were offered the member discount on the cash ressie. If so, that may be the only cash discount you will find at WDW for NYE.

If the price for both are the same, I would choose based on the bedding that works the best for your family: 2 Qs or a Q and bunkbed are available at the WL, while a studio at VWL has a Q and sofabed. If the bedding doesn't matter, you might get a better view at WL. Also, the studios at VWL will not connect, while you can request connecting rooms at WL (but it is not guaranteed unless you have only one adult in the party).

Good luck in whatever you decide. -- Suzanne

 

[Dean]

Absolutely I would book New Year's Eve with cash. It is the single busiest night for accomodations at WDW, and it is better have a cash room than risk waiting for a point ressie to open up. As Dean explained, it is not uncommon for rooms to b available for cash through Disney and not have any point availability for any number of reasons, but most likely it is because members have chosen to use points outside of the DVC resorts through one of the many Disney options that require DVC to obtain cash for reimbursement.

In the past DVC has purposefully not reserved those high demand times for rental from members inventory though they still rented undeclared inventory that time. I don't know if that has changed but doubt it has. Thus for NYE, it's likely a shorter list of reasons than I posted above.

 

[grumpy.uncle]

I called member services on June 1st expecting the worst. I was told that there were no studios available, no 2-br's available, but the good news was that I was able to book a 1-bedroom using my points. So it cost me a couple more points, but I was ecstatic to get into Villas at WL for New Years. Now I'm asking for suggestions on where to make reservations for dinner on that nite. Are the restaurants at WL good or would O'hana or one of the Grand Floridian restaurants be a better choice for a special New Year's dinner? You all have been so helpful. I love the disboards!!!

 

[Cinderpals]

I called member services on June 1st expecting the worst. I was told that there were no studios available, no 2-br's available, but the good news was that I was able to book a 1-bedroom using my points. So it cost me a couple more points, but I was ecstatic to get into Villas at WL for New Years. Now I'm asking for suggestions on where to make reservations for dinner on that nite. Are the restaurants at WL good or would O'hana or one of the Grand Floridian restaurants be a better choice for a special New Year's dinner? You all have been so helpful. I love the disboards!!!

Congratulations!! I love the Wilderness Lodge during the Holidays!! I was there last year for Christmas, but stayed the week through New Year's at the BWVs....What a party at Epcot!!

Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge is nice. I think that Ohana's would be very festive for New Years. That gets my vote! Close second, California Grille at the Contemporary...

I chose to stay in a regular courtyard view room for 3 nights before moving to the BWVs thru New Years. I just love being close to the lobby with the tall Christmas Tree. Towards the third week in August, I was able to book nights at the VWL studio thru 1 bdrm during Christmas Week. It was before Katrina had hit, so I know that it wasn't due to that disaster. I had booked three nights at the VWL originally, but decided that I loved being in the main building during the Holidays. Plus, I had a ressie for a 1 bdrm stnd at the BWV and 1 bdrm at the BCVs for my Sis. I ended up giving up the 1bdrm stnd for the Boardwalk View...I did that sometime in October?, the CM said, "You just made someone very, very happy!"

I would try and get a Boardwalk View at the BWVs for the night of the 31st. The fireworks were incredible! We could see Epcot's, Magic Kingdom's, MGMs and Universal's. It was spectacular! I'll never forget it.