Why are the regular WDW Resorts more points than DVC resorts?

[eporter66]

I can understand a places like the Grand Floridian/Poly/Animal Kingdom being expensive on points.

I was going through the new Disney Vacation planner for 2005-2006, and it seems odd that resorts like Caribbean Beach and Coronado would be so much in points (not to mention AK). I assume these are just the regular hotel rooms?

Just wondering - I really dont even plan to ever use the points at those resorts - just interested.

Thanks
Eric

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by eporter66
I can understand a places like the Grand Floridian/Poly/Animal Kingdom being expensive on points.

I was going through the new Disney Vacation planner for 2005-2006, and it seems odd that resorts like Caribbean Beach and Coronado would be so much in points (not to mention AK). I assume these are just the regular hotel rooms?

Just wondering - I really dont even plan to ever use the points at those resorts - just interested.

Thanks
Eric

Someone had posted here earlier, but a quick rundown

1. Your points are good for stays at a DVC resort only.
2. When you use your points elsewhere (Such as Coronado etc) your reservation is basically made by having a cash transfer to that resort from DVC to cover the stay.
3. DVC gets that money back by using your points to cover a cash reservation at a DVC resort.
4. DVC can't always guarentee they'll get that cash reservation.
5. The extra point charge is DVC's insurance that they'll make back what it costs them to make your reservation at another resort.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Tigfanjeff
Someone had posted here earlier, but a quick rundown

1. Your points are good for stays at a DVC resort only.
2. When you use your points elsewhere (Such as Coronado etc) your reservation is basically made by having a cash transfer to that resort from DVC to cover the stay.
3. DVC gets that money back by using your points to cover a cash reservation at a DVC resort.
4. DVC can't always guarentee they'll get that cash reservation.
5. The extra point charge is DVC's insurance that they'll make back what it costs them to make your reservation at another resort.

Also, DVC has to pay CRO a "commission" to rent out the DVC nights ( to get the cash to transfer to the non-DVC resort).

Best wishes -

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I understand and accept that points for non DVC resorts are high. What I have a problem with is the ever escalating number of points that are necessary for a stay at a non DVC resort. The value of our rooms (that our points represent), increase at at least the same rate as non DVC rooms. Some increase yes. But the increases we have seen (For DCL too) in recent years is way too high.

HBC

 

[newholiday]

In 2002 we got "stuck" using more points for a moderate (PO/FQ) room than a DVC studio would have cost - almost the same at the moderate as a 1B!
When our cruise was cancelled PO/FQ was the only place available at 22hr notice starting day after Thanksgiving for 8 consecutive nights.

 

[queenof4hearts]

I had inquired about 2 adjoining Concierge rooms in the main bldg. at GF for next Christmas and I thought it was fairly comperable to the exchange rate for cash. Probably at close to rack rate. They assured me it would be in the main bldg. We are not doing it at this time, but I would consider it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat
I understand and accept that points for non DVC resorts is high. What I have a problem with is the ever escalating number of points that are necessary for a stay at a non DVC resort. The value of our rooms (that our points represent), increase at at least the same rate as non DVC rooms. Some increase yes. But the increases we have seen (For DCL too) in recent years is way too high.

HBC

HBC, part of this is due to the fact that DVC must negotiate with each of the other WDW resorts, and that is partially why the points change from year to year for the non-DVC properties.

 

[Y-ASK]

Can anyone tell me where I can find a DVC points chart that will tell me the points needed to stay at let's say Carribean Beach or one of the non DVC Disney resorts. I'm new to DVC so sorry if this is a dumb question.

Thanks,
Y-ASK

 

[dianeschlicht]

Staying at CB would not be a good exchange. That is a moderate, and the accommodations would be significantly less than DVC, and would end up costing you so much more in points. The best value for non-DVC point use on-site would be to stay at a deluxe. That being said, I don't feel a need to stay anywhere other than OKW or any DVC property. Points charts are available on the member website.

 

[Y-ASK]

Well the reason why I ask is because I don't think we are going to have much choice as Dec. approaches. We looked at DVC a couple of years ago and decided against it (the main reason being that we would have had to take out a loan for the purchase). This time around we've got the total cost covered plus some but we only started the process last Sunday. We got real excited about the possiblity of taking a vacation in Dec. but reality set in and it looks like we will not be able to close until like the 1st week in Dec. If we can get into the system shortly after that then we might be able to go between Xmas and New Years but chances are that everything might be filled up by then and our options limited. It's been like almost two years since we took a really decent vacation. I wouldn't count 3 days in Ocean City last July. Since the kids are off and we have no babysitter for that time it really makes sense to just get away for awhile.

Last question, Do I have to be a member in order to get access the members area website and if not do you have a link?

Sorry for the Newbie type questions,
Y-ASK

 

[eporter66]

No problem with the questions, we all ask a ton here - that's why the board exists.

I dont know about booking non-DVC resorts, but from reading on this board, and many of the books on traveling to Disney, the week of Christmas to New Years is the absolute busiest time of the year at WDW. You may have trouble getting any kind of room as we are only 2 months away, but you can try.

Here are the points for that week at other resorts:

Caribbean - 21 Sun-th / 38 fri & sat
Coronado - 24 Sun-th / 43 Fri & sat

Animal Kingdom depending on the views (lowest)
44 - sun -th / 79 fri & sat

Contemporary
40 / 72

Poly
54 / 97

Grand Floridian
60 / 108

These just seem way too high for the standard rooms to use points.

Eric

 

[Y-ASK]

Thank you so much for the information and I guess I should not get my hopes up. Maybe there'll be a cancellation. And since I've never stayed at or even seen a DVC resort I probably would not be disappointed with a standard room.

Thanks again,
Y-ASK

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
HBC, part of this is due to the fact that DVC must negotiate with each of the other WDW resorts, and that is partially why the points change from year to year for the non-DVC properties.

Diane, I agree with you that that must take place but wouldn't it also be true that if it were real negotiations, then some years we could expect the point price of the room to remain the same or even go down? Negotiations are a two way street!

I stick by what I've said many times. The room value our points represent is going up, therefore the points are worth more, not less as seems to be the case with the way DVC negotiates their value.

HBC

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
HBC, part of this is due to the fact that DVC must negotiate with each of the other WDW resorts, and that is partially why the points change from year to year for the non-DVC properties.

See, I just don't buy that.

The cash resorts have no interest in DVC points--they just want cash. DVC takes our points on their terms, and then pays the cash resort for the room.

Example: One night at CBR Water View in Value season is 17 points. If I want to book that, DVC would pay $148 (or some similar rate) to CBR.

They can then take those 17 points and turn them in to two weekday nights at OKW which are sold for cash at $254 each. That's over $500 in potential revenue generated (assuming no discounts), with the resort receiving less than 1/3.

While the rate at CBR will increase annually, so will the amount that DVC can charge for a cash ressie. Yes, DVC probably does have to "negotiate" the exact terms with the resort. But these transfers appear to be very profitable for someone, and it will only get worse as time goes on. Any point increases they choose to add is simply additional profit on the transaction.

Within a decade or two, a deluxe resort room is going to cost as many points as a Grand Villa.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by tjkraz
Yes, DVC probably does have to "negotiate" the exact terms with the resort. But these transfers appear to be very profitable for someone, and it will only get worse as time goes on. Any point increases they choose to add is simply additional profit on the transaction.

Well said TJK. I agree with you again.

HBC

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by tjkraz
...(snip).... But these transfers appear to be very profitable for someone, and it will only get worse as time goes on. Any point increases they choose to add is simply additional profit on the transaction......(snip)....

Maybe so - but the one profiting can be you if you do the work yourself - i.e., rent the points yourself.

Just think of using points for something in the "Collections" as paying for a very expensive travel agent. It is your choice to use points to get the convenience of reserving your "Collection Destination" with just one phone call to MS.

Best wishes -