And those who were around for the initial point shift made with the 2010
point chart may remember that it was either one the dumbest moves made by
DVC or one designed to be intentionally super anti-member. I am talking about the BLT issue that was created, not the change as to any other resort that existed at the time.
DVC began selling points to existing members for BLT in Sep 2008 and to all others beginning in October 2008. At the time, the only point chart that existed for BLT was the 2009 point chart, and BLT was not scheduled to be opened until Fall 2009 -- it actually opened in August 2009
Many purchased BLT points between Sep 2008 and mid-January 2009 in reliance on the 2009 point chart. That included many who purchased enough points to mainly reserve rooms Sun through Thurs. At the time, they were still unable to even make reservations with the points they bought because that was not even allowed until after Jan 2009.
Then, in Dec 2008, DVD announced that the minimum add-on purchase by members for BLT would be changed from 25 points (like all the other resorts) to 100 points effective Jan 15, 2009. Many rushed to do add-ons relying on the 2009 charts before Jan 15. Then in the third week of Jan, just after Jan 15, DVCM issued the 2010
point charts that included the change to BLT raising the points needed for the weekdays (Sun to Thurs).
In essence, DVD initially sold points to all those who purchased from Sep 2008 to mid Jan 2009 using the 2009 BLT point chart that purchasers relied on, and then, before those BLT owners could even make reservations, DVCM raised the points needed for Sun to Thurs. Moreover, DVD just before that change, decided to take away from all those BLT purchasers their ability to purchase a mere 25 points as an add-on to correct the problem by raising the minimum add-on to 100 points.
Needless to say, there were many complaints made by BLT purchasers to the two changes. There were also lawsuits threatened, including because the DVC Membership Agreement that was part of the POS expressly provided that DVCM could make point changes up or down only if there is first evidence involving the resort showing fluctuations in use day demand during a given calendar year. In other words, it cannot create a new point chart increasing or decreasing points needed per night at a DVC resort absent actually having at least a year's worth of reservations at the particular resort on which to base the decision, and, obviously, no such evidence existed for BLT when the change was made.
There were apparently no actual lawsuits filed. Instead, in mid-Feb 2009, DVD reversed its 100 point add-on minimum, returning it to 25 for BLT, and deals were made with members who were pursuing the issue to be able to purchase even less than a 25 point add-on, apparently as low as even 10.
But a lot of cash guests book weekends or long weekends. IMO, there was a lot more breakage back then, which does profit Disney. AFAIK, the 2.5% cap for breakage, has always been exceeded.
