Why can't all days have the same number of points values?

[JustinsMama]

Okay, maybe not Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter, but why can't DVC make the weekday and weekend points value be the same? Would that make having a 7 day stay versus a 5 day (Sun-Thur) stay easier or harder to get or would people probaby blow through their points faster because of booking more days at a time then paying cash for weekends or whatever it is they do? I guess I'm missing as to why the weekday/weekend points values are set up this way.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[mom2rb]

If the weekend points were the same, here's what I would do. I would fly down on Friday night and stay through the next Sunday. It would be kind of hard if everyone did that. Not enough weekends to go with the week days.

 

[Dis13]

I've read on here that one of the reasons weekend nights are higher is to prevent Flordia residents from purchasing DVC just to use it for weekends, which would make it harder for others to book a full week (i.e., Saturday to Saturday), since the weekends would book up faster.

 

[Disneyaholic]

When you're booking a week, it's easier to just think of it as the week's total of points, rather than the individual nights. Most timeshares operate only on a weekly basis, rather than allowing shorter, night-by-night stays. If all nights were the same amount of points, the Sunday through Thursday nights would have to be higher.

I am glad that DVC has higher rates on weekend nights, or it would be very difficult to get those nights when you want them. You always have the option of moving somewhere else for the weekend, or paying cash (and you can often get the member discount rate).

 

[flyerron]

I agree with all the posts. This system does make sense. Furthermore it works!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I agree with all the posts. This system does make sense. Furthermore it works!

Think Vegas, packed on the weekends at triple the rate, and giving rooms away Sun -Thur. Even most hotels there have a no saturday night check in policy.

Im glad DVC thought of this and it does work

 

[DVC Grandpa]

I would like to see weekend points go up in return for a lower point requirement for a seven day or longer stay. (Make all days the same point for seven or more days stays). This way the cost of housekeeping would be reduced, offsetting loss in point revenue and may reduce our maintenance cost. In the long run Disney may benefit because guest may stay the extra day(s) to take advantage of the lower seven plus day point requirement and we all know that means more meals and all that goes with an added day or so.

 

[Mike©]

Okay, maybe not Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter, but why can't DVC make the weekday and weekend points value be the same? Would that make having a 7 day stay versus a 5 day (Sun-Thur) stay easier or harder to get or would people probaby blow through their points faster because of booking more days at a time then paying cash for weekends or whatever it is they do? I guess I'm missing as to why the weekday/weekend points values are set up this way.

Thanks for any insight!

It's SOP for most Hotels/Resorts to charge higher weekend rates. Can't think of any reason for Disney to be any different.

 

[DebbieB]

I would like to see weekend points go up in return for a lower point requirement for a seven day or longer stay. (Make all days the same point for seven or more days stays). This way the cost of housekeeping would be reduced, offsetting loss in point revenue and may reduce our maintenance cost. In the long run Disney may benefit because guest may stay the extra day(s) to take advantage of the lower seven plus day point requirement and we all know that means more meals and all that goes with an added day or so.

The problem with that is the DVC point systems is based on all rooms being occupied every night of the year, that is the total number of points they sell. If they start giving point discounts for longer stays, that could throw the system balance. Any change in points requirements has to balance to the same total.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I would like to see weekend points go up in return for a lower point requirement for a seven day or longer stay. (Make all days the same point for seven or more days stays). This way the cost of housekeeping would be reduced, offsetting loss in point revenue and may reduce our maintenance cost. In the long run Disney may benefit because guest may stay the extra day(s) to take advantage of the lower seven plus day point requirement and we all know that means more meals and all that goes with an added day or so.

Yes, but that would really impact availability. Everyone would book the lower 7 day period and then cancellations would wreak havoc on the system. Your change would basically make DVC a 7 day timeshare product across the board.

My friend owns Harborside Atlantis and when she called to book they were full. The lady then told her that because a whole week is the same amount of points as a 4 day stay, and week rentals are given a priority booking window over shorter stays, so everyone uses their window to book the week stay, even if they are only planning on staying 4 days and then they just leave early, leaving the unit unused for 3 days She recommended my friend do this if she wanted to spend her anniv. in the Bahamas next year, because thats how everyone books and if she didnt she would be disappointed again

The way the DVC system is set up, really prevents anyone from getting really greedy and taking more than they need. Those weekend points are real showstoppers to spec bookings for most.

 

[mikesmom]

I agree with the poster who said just look at the week total, not the per night. It's still a good deal over paying ever-increasing cash year after year.

 

[JustinsMama]

Okay makes sense...that's why I was asking, not that I disagreed per say, just was trying to see the reasoning behind it.

To the comment about the Florida residents, if we are ever lucky enough to live near WDW (whether it be a few hours or 20 minutes away) I see myself taking weekends to stay at the deluxe resorts (Polynesian, GF, etc...) then DVC units, but what do I know?

 

[MouseHouse71]

Supply And Demand

 

[Disneyaholic]

The problem with that is the DVC point systems is based on all rooms being occupied every night of the year, that is the total number of points they sell. If they start giving point discounts for longer stays, that could throw the system balance. Any change in points requirements has to balance to the same total.

You're absolutely right on this, but they COULD offer some other type of incentive for booking a whole week at a time. Like one of the Sunday -Thursday nights free or at a reduced cash rate. Or a free night added on to a future stay. (These would have to come out of the cash, not points inventory of rooms...)

It will be interesting to see if rental patterns change now that CRO is changing the way they charge for cash reservations....

 

[disneynutz]

You're absolutely right on this, but they COULD offer some other type of incentive for booking a whole week at a time. Like one of the Sunday -Thursday nights free or at a reduced cash rate. Or a free night added on to a future stay. (These would have to come out of the cash, not points inventory of rooms...)

It will be interesting to see if rental patterns change now that CRO is changing the way they charge for cash reservations....

I have read a lot of posts where the new CRO policy is pushing people off site. Others have posted that they are done with Disney.

 

[mikesmom]

I have read a lot of posts where the new CRO policy is pushing people off site. Others have posted that they are done with Disney.

That's frustration talking. Not going to happen. As many here can attest there are major parts of the year when you CANNOT get a WDW resort ressie without very early planning. And Disney has gotten very good at attracting people in during the "slow" times of the year (Free Dining in hurricane season, anyone?). There was quite a lull in travel everywhere after 9/11 and folks got spoiled. Anyone who travels frequently can tell you that hotel rates have gone up across the board at every level. A couple of months ago I spent $130/nite for a room at a Hampton Inn in Oklahoma!! And that's not unusual.

Nobody likes to see prices go up, but it's a fact of life.

 

[jcodespoti]

mikesmom makes a good point...the demand for travel is ever increasing and so therefor are the prices.

Joe in CT

 

[crisi]

You're absolutely right on this, but they COULD offer some other type of incentive for booking a whole week at a time. Like one of the Sunday -Thursday nights free or at a reduced cash rate. Or a free night added on to a future stay. (These would have to come out of the cash, not points inventory of rooms...)

It will be interesting to see if rental patterns change now that CRO is changing the way they charge for cash reservations....

No they can't. There are basically four kinds of inventory (maybe a few more). Regular DVC inventory is almost all the resort. They sell the resort to be booked full on points every night. They retain a small number of points as maintenance inventory - these are rooms that are in place so they can fix and refurbish rooms. Can't give those away. When we book exchange options, DVC sells rooms to CRO - can't use those since they are using those to pay for cruises and Disneyland. There are developer points - those belong to DVD, not DVC are only available if the resort isn't yet sold out, and are used as sales incentives (or sold to CRO - often having the dual purpose of a sales incentive). There aren't rooms to give away.

They could potentially make deals with other Disney business units to give DVC members better discounts at certain times of year. Or bring back the UPH as a "seven or more" day pass at a huge discount to DVC members. But that involves impacting the P&L of Disney's other business units and may be politically tricky.

They can put in a minimum stay requirement of not more than (four, three? something like that) nights.

 

[sharond150]

Disney doesn't NEED you to book a 7-day stay. If you don't stay the week-end, they can easily book the room...at any rate...to somebody else. Incentvies are given to fill up rooms that aren't booked.. and that isn't the case here.

 

[drusba]

The Florida resident issue and the concept of weekend popularity if allowed at the same cost were probably part of the original idea. What the point difference also developed was the Sun through Thurs pattern of many taking vacations on points and many buying enough points for those 5 nights but not the weekends. What that in turn also developed is a huge contingent of DVC members who would be extremely disappointed if DVC decided to shift weekend points to weekday to make the points closer. That became apparent in 1999-2000 when DVC said it was considering lowering weekend points and raising weekday and floated the idea to members through surveys. The outcry was so vehement that DVC never brought the subject up again.