Why Are There Cash Rooms Available But No DVC Rooms?

[ilovebassets]

You didn't take any rooms from DVC members. What you booked was out of Disney's cash rooms. they don't belong to DVC. At all DVC resorts Disney retains a percentage of rooms for cash ressies. No need not to buy because your not taking a DVC room away. Maybe you don't understand the system yet. Have fun at HHI

Apparently not. But still, I'd be upset if there were cash only rooms available when I had paid for points that were basically useless if no point rooms were available. It's not as if it would be impossible for disney to convert the cash rooms to points rooms or to offer the same room for points or cash to the first person who wants it, regardless of how they're paying. They just don't want to because obviously it's more money for them (which is fine. They're a business.)

If that's the system, I don't want to buy into it (and is in fact, one of the main reasons why we ultimately pulled out of buying despite much research. It seemed crazy to see so many people on this site complaining about having to do split stays or not being able to get a desired resort when I'd go online and see availability for cash.)

 

[CarolMN]

........(snip).......If that's the system, I don't want to buy into it (and is in fact, one of the main reasons why we ultimately pulled out of buying despite much research. It seemed crazy to see so many people on this site complaining about having to do split stays or not being able to get a desired resort when I'd go online and see availability for cash.)

As already mentioned, the people that post those complaints do not understand DVC and usually assume something nefarious is going on.

Without the ability to move points inventory over to cash inventory, DVC Members could NOT use their points to book anything other than a DVC resort. Among other things, that means they cannot use points to cruise on the DCL or stay at at non-DVC resorts.

Cruising using their points is a VERY, VERY popular option for many DVC members - even though many who post here think it is not a good value. If the rooms that are moved to cash (to pay for the non-DVC option) are not booked by someone for cash, the points required to cruise will increase and eventually the cruising option itself could disappear! By booking for cash, you are actually doing those members a big favor!

Think of the room you booked for cash as a good thing - it allows members options they otherwise wouldn't have. Those cash rooms are being used by DVC members - they were previously traded for a cruise (or other non-DVC option).

FWIW, if the non-DVC options weren't a choice, the rooms you see for cash would be gone, anyway. Members would just be using their points to stay at a DVC resort or they would be renting them for others to stay at a DVC resort.

DVC is a first come, first served system. There are always times when a late-booking member CAN'T get what he/she wants, when she wants it. That's the nature of the system.

A better reason to pass on DVC membership - you can't or don't see yourself booking at least 7 months in advance for most trips.

 

[supersnoop]

Apparently not. But still, I'd be upset if there were cash only rooms available when I had paid for points that were basically useless if no point rooms were available. It's not as if it would be impossible for disney to convert the cash rooms to points rooms or to offer the same room for points or cash to the first person who wants it, regardless of how they're paying. They just don't want to because obviously it's more money for them (which is fine. They're a business.) If that's the system, I don't want to buy into it (and is in fact, one of the main reasons why we ultimately pulled out of buying despite much research. It seemed crazy to see so many people on this site complaining about having to do split stays or not being able to get a desired resort when I'd go online and see availability for cash.)

Have you seen those hotel buildings where the top few floors are condos? Can the hotel rent out a condo just because the owner is out of town? No, because they don't own it. DVC owners have access to what they own, nothing more. Just because Disney owns some hotel rooms in the same building as we own condos, does not mean that Disney should open up their rooms to us. Legally, they can only fill our rooms when we specifically rent them to Disney via trading out. DVC is a real estate interest that you as an individual own, not some prepaid hotel room that Disney still owns.

 

[Sandisw]

Apparently not. But still, I'd be upset if there were cash only rooms available when I had paid for points that were basically useless if no point rooms were available. It's not as if it would be impossible for disney to convert the cash rooms to points rooms or to offer the same room for points or cash to the first person who wants it, regardless of how they're paying. They just don't want to because obviously it's more money for them (which is fine. They're a business.)

If that's the system, I don't want to buy into it (and is in fact, one of the main reasons why we ultimately pulled out of buying despite much research. It seemed crazy to see so many people on this site complaining about having to do split stays or not being able to get a desired resort when I'd go online and see availability for cash.)

I think you have a misunderstanding of those cash rooms and Disney. Think of Disney as another DVC owner as they own points. Some of those cash rooms are a direct result of them, as owner of the points, booking the rooms and then allowing others, like yourself, to reserve them for cash.

It would be like me reserving a room and then deciding to allow friends to rent it from me vs. putting it back into inventory for other DVC members.

Of course, there are also rooms available because other DVC members trade out points from the system to do other types of trips like the cruise. They basically give the DVC room they would have booked to Disney to turn in to cash and then Disney turns around and uses the cash to pay for the cruise.

I do agree with you that there is a lot to understand and you have to be comfortable with all the pros/cons of the timeshare system. It's not for everyone and its good for any future only to investigate before buying.

 

[disneynutz]

You didn't take any rooms from DVC members. What you booked was out of Disney's cash rooms. they don't belong to DVC. At all DVC resorts Disney retains a percentage of rooms for cash ressies. No need not to buy because your not taking a DVC room away. Maybe you don't understand the system yet. Have fun at HHI

Not necessarily true. At 60 days before any given date, DVC can remove rooms from DVC inventory and give them to Disney for cash guests.

Bill

 

[DebbieB]

Not necessarily true. At 60 days before any given date, DVC can remove rooms from DVC inventory and give them to Disney for cash guests.

Bill

Typically members can still have access to those rooms, that's why it's a good idea to call member services if you are close to your arrival date. If they do sell it for cash, the profit goes back to the members as a dues credit (breakage income). For example, the dues credit for BWV for 2015 is almost $619,000 or .1266 a point.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm guessing that we will be staying at our home resort 9 out of 10 stays, so 11 months it is, I guess. We always travel the same weeks.

You should not have a general issue.

We own at Kidani. We bought late 2008 but could not book anywhere but SSR until our use year began the next year. We have always booked 1 or 2 BR with a one time studio when just my son and husband came and we own just the minimum points.

It is 2014.
We have had success booking at SSR, OKW, Beach club, BLT (this was 7 month window and we did use a wait list but did get our full week we desired), GF, THV, and of course both AKL and KV.

BLt was our only 7 month window booking. All others were less but only for 1-3 nights.

Being so close is where you are having an issue. Especially if your desire is for a full week.

If you now you always will travel the same week, it should be no trouble at your home resort at 11 months. The tip is to book that so you have something even if you wish to stay at a different resort. With our BLT, we did book Kidani at 11 months and then switched at 7 months. Wait listing was involved, but we did get it for a very popular time in October.

And we do short stays because we are a larger family who only fits in a 2BR at this point. Unless we bank and borrow, which is our plan for our next vacation.

Since my points can be used any time during their use year, it has never been my assumption that a room be held for me until the last minute I choose to travel. What the more well versed posters are explaining about the nuances adds further clarification to that.

 

[ccbloom]

Starting to get a hang of it. Thanks for all the feedback!

Unfortunately, because we are booking so close to our trip, we are having to pay cash for 3 nights. And we are switching rooms/hotels a bunch of times.

Paying cash for first two nights at BWV
Then 2 nights using DVC points at AKL (which we were kind of upset about, but now we're excited to try something new).
Back for another cash night at BWV
Then another 3 nights using DVC points at BWV

Definitely not ideal, but we have savannah views and all boardwalk views which is what we wanted. Luckily, our room type is the same for the last 4 nights, so we shouldn't have to switch rooms. It will be an adventure.

 

[Dean]

Not necessarily true. At 60 days before any given date, DVC can remove rooms from DVC inventory and give them to Disney for cash guests.

Bill

Bill, my understanding is that they actively remove them and offer them for rent through CRO and that while there have been reports that suggested some of those villas may have been reaccessed for member reservations, I don't think this has ever been confirmed. Plus as noted, there are many others ways for rooms to either never be available on points or be secured with points for a cash rental. There are also exchange options that may take the villas out of DVC member access and in some cases, may allow a third party (RCI) to rent them. Thus the statement that a given cash reservation didn't take inventory directly from a member is an accurate one as I see it.

 

[Dean]

Starting to get a hang of it. Thanks for all the feedback!

Unfortunately, because we are booking so close to our trip, we are having to pay cash for 3 nights. And we are switching rooms/hotels a bunch of times.

Paying cash for first two nights at BWV
Then 2 nights using DVC points at AKL (which we were kind of upset about, but now we're excited to try something new).
Back for another cash night at BWV
Then another 3 nights using DVC points at BWV

Definitely not ideal, but we have savannah views and all boardwalk views which is what we wanted. Luckily, our room type is the same for the last 4 nights, so we shouldn't have to switch rooms. It will be an adventure.

Personally I'd stay at SSR or OKW before I'd change and be orphaned during the day. I presume you have wait lists set up to try to make what you do have even better.

 

[StitchBuddy]

I'm trying to make a reservation for the end of January, and there are basically no rooms available. I call Member Services today, and they tell me that there is a cash room available for a discount at BWV (where we want to stay), but there are no DVC rooms available. How is that possible and how is that even fair?

Not sure if you bought direct or resale, but if you bought direct, you should call your DVC guide and see if he/she can help you with your first stay. Just an idea.

 

[ccbloom]

Personally I'd stay at SSR or OKW before I'd change and be orphaned during the day. I presume you have wait lists set up to try to make what you do have even better.

We spend very little time in our room during the day. We are in the parks until they close most nights, and then we like to enjoy the balcony in the evenings. We will just have to plan our pool days on a non-moving day. Honestly, we don't really ever plan to stay at SSR or OKW, unless completely necessary, and we are waitlisted. We are actually happy arriving at our home resort and then finishing our vacation there as well...just a bit of adventure in the middle.

 

[ccbloom]

Not sure if you bought direct or resale, but if you bought direct, you should call your DVC guide and see if he/she can help you with your first stay. Just an idea.

We bought resale. And it was delayed by a month because while trying to get the funds, we learned that my SSN was used to file someone else's taxes. That was a gigantic mess and cost us some valuable time.

 

[Dean]

We spend very little time in our room during the day. We are in the parks until they close most nights, and then we like to enjoy the balcony in the evenings. We will just have to plan our pool days on a non-moving day. Honestly, we don't really ever plan to stay at SSR or OKW, unless completely necessary, and we are waitlisted. We are actually happy arriving at our home resort and then finishing our vacation there as well...just a bit of adventure in the middle.

Your choice of course but you'll have to get your luggage from one place to another and run the risk of room issues each time. While I haven't had Disney transfer luggage, doesn't someone have to be in the room to accept it? Hopefully the WL works out and it's a moot point.

 

[disneynutz]

Your choice of course but you'll have to get your luggage from one place to another and run the risk of room issues each time. While I haven't had Disney transfer luggage, doesn't someone have to be in the room to accept it? Hopefully the WL works out and it's a moot point.

Yes the agreement between Disney and the union is that a tip paying adult needs to be in the room for Bell Services to deliver to your room.

DME deliveries are the exception because Bell Services receives a payment internally for each piece handled.

Bill

 

[ccbloom]

Yes the agreement between Disney and the union is that a tip paying adult needs to be in the room for Bell Services to deliver to your room.

DME deliveries are the exception because Bell Services receives a payment internally for each piece handled.

Bill

I thought I'd read/heard that luggage will be transferred and held at bell service until we pick up. Is that not correct?

So, let's say we leave BWV on Wednesday, check out by 11am and give Bell Services our bags. They transfer them to AKV. We get to AKV at 7:00pm. Can we not request our bags then? Or can we not just go to Bell Services and get them ourselves? Just trying to figure it all out. Thanks!

 

[kristenabelle]

Starting to get a hang of it. Thanks for all the feedback!

Unfortunately, because we are booking so close to our trip, we are having to pay cash for 3 nights. And we are switching rooms/hotels a bunch of times.

Paying cash for first two nights at BWV
Then 2 nights using DVC points at AKL (which we were kind of upset about, but now we're excited to try something new).
Back for another cash night at BWV
Then another 3 nights using DVC points at BWV

Definitely not ideal, but we have savannah views and all boardwalk views which is what we wanted. Luckily, our room type is the same for the last 4 nights, so we shouldn't have to switch rooms. It will be an adventure.

Sounds like a plan! AKL is gorgeous and a nice change of pace. We're BWV owners, but I absolutely love staying at AKL and enjoying their grounds, restaurants, and pool. Enjoy!

 

[com_op_2000]

I thought I'd read/heard that luggage will be transferred and held at bell service until we pick up. Is that not correct?

So, let's say we leave BWV on Wednesday, check out by 11am and give Bell Services our bags. They transfer them to AKV. We get to AKV at 7:00pm. Can we not request our bags then? Or can we not just go to Bell Services and get them ourselves? Just trying to figure it all out. Thanks!

On move day:
Call Bell Services and have them come pick-up your luggage and refrigerated items. Be sure to inform them that you have items to keep cold.
Tell them where you are transferring too.
Check-in to your new resort.
Go do whatever you want that day.
After getting your room text and you are back in it (items are not at your new resort until 2 - 4 PM), call Bell Services to have the items delivered to your room.
NOTE: You must be in the room for the pick-up and delivery.
If you want to go straight to the parks and not go to the resort first to check-in and not get the text, yes you can do that.

 

[disneynutz]

I thought I'd read/heard that luggage will be transferred and held at bell service until we pick up. Is that not correct?

So, let's say we leave BWV on Wednesday, check out by 11am and give Bell Services our bags. They transfer them to AKV. We get to AKV at 7:00pm. Can we not request our bags then? Or can we not just go to Bell Services and get them ourselves? Just trying to figure it all out. Thanks!

Yes at 7 you can get your bags, they will be at AKV Bell Services. If you try to pick them up yourself, odds are Bells Services will tell you that they will bring them to your room, (they work for tips).

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes at 7 you can get your bags, they will be at AKV Bell Services. If you try to pick them up yourself, odds are Bells Services will tell you that they will bring them to your room, (they work for tips). Bill

Yes, they'll tell you they will bring them up but they'll also let you take the bags if you prefer. A tip would still be appropriate though.