Is DVC really that booked?

[krueg66]

We've done this several times. Call Bell Services when you're ready to check out and tell them the bags need to be transferred to OKW. The bags will be ready for your call @ OKW late(r) in the afternoon.

In terms of waitlist, we've never had any luck getting off the waitlist. It sure does look like it's going to be busy during our early December visit.

Thanks for the info...follow up question:

WOuld we have to physically go to OKW to check in or could we do that over the phone or something? It would be great to just leave our bags with bell services and then do our thing for the day and show up at OKW later in the afternoon...

 

[disneydiva72]

Okay, so we were suppose to be staying at the Wilderness Lodge Dec. 7-10th (DVC members).....booked in June and were told we are on the waiting list. Since we have added every DVC resort to our waiting list and the girl told my dad today that it just didn't look good. What the crap? Is every DVC resort that booked? OKW, SSR, AKL, you name it..........booked. We have plane tickets and tickets to Mickey's Merry Christmas party but no room. I can't believe this. We are now talking about just banking the points and staying at the All Star resorts! I just thought is sounded weird that they are all that booked.

I don't understand this, honestly....I booked AKL 1 bedroom villa for December 23rd-27th, 2008...I am NOT a DVC member, I DID NOT rent points from a DVC member, I just called and asked for the villa, and they gave it to me, no problems at all, I booked the villa about a month ago.

This is one of the reasons why I will not join DVC, my friend is a DVC member and she is ALWAYS on a waiting list.

Its like they have your 20,000 bucks so oh well for you....but someone like myself who is going to book the villa, they accommodate because now they just made ANOTHER 1,900 bucks over your 20,000.

 

[hansel1]

I don't understand this, honestly....I booked AKL 1 bedroom villa for December 23rd-27th, 2008...I am NOT a DVC member, I DID NOT rent points from a DVC member, I just called and asked for the villa, and they gave it to me, no problems at all, I booked the villa about a month ago.

This is one of the reasons why I will not join DVC, my friend is a DVC member and she is ALWAYS on a waiting list.

Its like they have your 20,000 bucks so oh well for you....but someone like myself who is going to book the villa, they accommodate because now they just made ANOTHER 1,900 bucks over your 20,000.

The villa you booked is not part of DVC inventory. A percentage of rooms at each resort is reserved for cash reservations only.

If your friend is always on a waiting list, I'm sure there are other factors than just the cash only rooms. She may be waitlisting for a resort that is not her home resort. She may have waited too long to try and book her DVC, etc.

 

[knights87]

Does anyone know if the Boardwalk or Beach Club is booked during September? Me and my friday are planning a trip, and we will be using his DVC point?

 

[wannabeBelle]

The villa you booked is not part of DVC inventory. A percentage of rooms at each resort is reserved for cash reservations only.

If your friend is always on a waiting list, I'm sure there are other factors than just the cash only rooms. She may be waitlisting for a resort that is not her home resort. She may have waited too long to try and book her DVC, etc.

Really??? I think that is kinda messed up. Certainly the people with the home resort at any given resort should be given first priority, hence the 11 month booking window. At 7 months it opens up to everyone else, either DVC members looking to go to another resort or people paying cash. I dont think there should be a set percentage of rooms for cash guests specifically. If anything, they should cater to the members of DVC first, then rent the room out if it isnt taken by a DVC member. Of course if said member waits until 2 weeks before the vacation, they may be out of luck, as the rooms probably will be booked but I dont think they should be out of luck because they have unsold rooms as those are designated for cash guests!!! Belle

 

[wannabeBelle]

Does anyone know if the Boardwalk or Beach Club is booked during September? Me and my friday are planning a trip, and we will be using his DVC point?

Tell your friend to e mail Member Services immediately to check on availability. Belle

 

[slappy magoo]

I don't know how busy December pre-Xmas is for WDW in general (I always hear it's not very busy in the parks, as most people with kids have trouble getting them out of school so close to the holiday break). But it stands to reason that it would be busy for DVC members. It's Value Season, and WDW's is decked out with all its holiday garb, and you have to be kind of a Disney nut to be a DVC member in the first place (myself included).

For the record, I could only get SSR, my home resort, as well for a 12/10-17 trip.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Really??? I think that is kinda messed up. Certainly the people with the home resort at any given resort should be given first priority, hence the 11 month booking window. At 7 months it opens up to everyone else, either DVC members looking to go to another resort or people paying cash. I dont think there should be a set percentage of rooms for cash guests specifically. If anything, they should cater to the members of DVC first, then rent the room out if it isnt taken by a DVC member. Of course if said member waits until 2 weeks before the vacation, they may be out of luck, as the rooms probably will be booked but I dont think they should be out of luck because they have unsold rooms as those are designated for cash guests!!! Belle

I think how it works is that a percentage of the DVC rooms not booked 60 days out are turned over to Central Reservations. The money received then goes back toward the dues for that resort.

DVC is designed to run at 98% capacity, with that remaining 2% as backup if a room needs to be taken out of service for some reason. I'm not positive on the numbers but you get the idea.

BTW, We just made reservations at BCV for 8 nights in a studio for the first week in March with no problems, but its right at the 7 month window.

 

[mom22monkeys]

my MIL had DVC and she tried to get us into the hilton head SC disney resort and we were on a wait list for 3 years before we just gave up!!!!

 

[wannabeBelle]

I think how it works is that a percentage of the DVC rooms not booked 60 days out are turned over to Central Reservations. The money received then goes back toward the dues for that resort.

DVC is designed to run at 98% capacity, with that remaining 2% as backup if a room needs to be taken out of service for some reason. I'm not positive on the numbers but you get the idea.

Hi there, I dont think that was what was meant. I certainly agree after a point in time, unsold rooms should be opened up to other DVC members or cash customers with no issue. However I think that the post meant that they put aside rooms within the DVC resorts specifically for cash customers and DONT rent them to DVC members. That is the part that is wrong.
I agree with your two percent for backup or as I would term it operational needs, however those rooms wouldnt be available to anyone. I have no issue there. Belle

 

[disneydiva72]

When I called to book the room they told me they had 4 Villas available for me to book, I didn't book the value one, this one sleeps 5 people. Im not sure how many 1 bedroom villas there are at the AKL.

Im just saying that it seems that non DVC people get the villas and rooms easier that DVC members, that has been my experience in all of this.

 

[Lynne M]

Hoo, boy, there are a lot of misconceptions floating around on this thread.

There are a few ways that DVC villas end up available for booking through CRO:

1. DVC maintains ownership of a VERY SMALL (single digit percentage)number of villas so they have some flexibility to take villas out of service for maintenance.

2. Members have the ability to trade out of DVC to other timeshares, resorts and hotels. When I trade out of DVC to, say, a hotel in NYC, that hotel obviously expects payment, and they aren't going to take my DVC points as payment. So, in order to get the money to pay the hotel, DVC takes a villa and period of time that roughly equates to what I would have been using if I spent those points on a DVC resort, and sells it to CRO, who makes it available for booking by the general public. Very important to note that this is how trades are funded - without it, DVC members can't trade out.

3. I forget what the exact timeframe is, but DVC villas that aren't booked by members by 30 or 60 days out go to CRO. But, if a DVC member wants to book one of these villas, I believe they can be pulled back into DVC inventory. And the money from the 'sale' of these villas to CRO comes back to the resort to help cover operating expenses, which offsets our maintenance fees.

So....DVC members are not being cheated out of their villas. DVC is not holding back villas from members so they can make money. DVC and other timeshares are very tightly regulated under FL law, and simply can't take villas out of member inventory and sell them for a profit.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hi Lynn, Thanks for the input. As I said before I dont own so maybe I am incorrectly informed so I appreciate the information!! To address your points:
1) Absolutely!!! I would imagine this is true of any resort, timeshare, DVC etc. No issue here, it makes perfect sense to me
2) THAT is the missing piece I think.
3) Again makes perfect sense to me. Certainly sell the Villas if no one through DVC is renting them. Why let them sit empty if someone else is willing to pay for it. No problem here.
Thanks again for the clarification. Belle

 

[DisneyPhD]

Hi there, I dont think that was what was meant. I certainly agree after a point in time, unsold rooms should be opened up to other DVC members or cash customers with no issue. However I think that the post meant that they put aside rooms within the DVC resorts specifically for cash customers and DONT rent them to DVC members. That is the part that is wrong.
I agree with your two percent for backup or as I would term it operational needs, however those rooms wouldnt be available to anyone. I have no issue there. Belle

ETA: As usual, I take way to long to type up what I want to say and 3 new posts go in while I'm writing.

I think I see what you are saying. I had to get my member guidebook for the correct terminology. At each resort there is a certain amount of developer inventory (as well as undeclared inventory at the incomplete resorts like AKV or the unsold inventory at SSR). It does not specify how many rooms are in this category. These rooms are not a part of the DVC system (they were never sold to anyone) and so cannot be reserved using DVC points. I'm not saying I agree with the system, just trying to help explain it.:hammer:
Unfortunately, it sounds like the DVC inventory management system cannot interact with the Central Reservation system. It does seem a bit odd since DVC members can trade out for other WDW resorts but cannot reserve undeclared inventory at a DVC resort even if its the only thing available. I think where this becomes a bigger issue is when you are trying to make a reservation during a popular time (early December is a very popular time for DVC) and just a few months out.

 

[Lynne M]

Hi Lynn, Thanks for the input. As I said before I dont own so maybe I am incorrectly informed so I appreciate the information!! To address your points:
1) Absolutely!!! I would imagine this is true of any resort, timeshare, DVC etc. No issue here, it makes perfect sense to me
2) THAT is the missing piece I think.
3) Again makes perfect sense to me. Certainly sell the Villas if no one through DVC is renting them. Why let them sit empty if someone else is willing to pay for it. No problem here.
Thanks again for the clarification. Belle

Glad to oblige. Many DVC members are unaware of item 2, and get upset when they find villas available for cash when they're not available for point reservations. I think a lot of folks aren't realizing that those villas ARE being used by members, just being used to pay for an exchange.

A couple of other thoughts:

• DVC is a timeshare, and like other timeshares, it works best when you're able to book well in advance of your trip. If you're used to being able to call up Disney reservations and book a trip a couple of months out.....timeshares just don't work that way. Many DVC members book their home resort at 11 months out, or other resorts right at the 7 month mark, and once you get inside the 7 month window, availability becomes quite limited.
  
• Certain times of year are especially busy for DVC. The entire month of December is extremely popular, and most people book it right at 11 months. It's pretty much an impossibility to get one of the small resorts like VWL at 6 months out. The Food & Wine Festival at Epcot is also a big draw for DVCers, and BWV and BCV are fully booked by 7 months out. Same goes for summer at Hilton Head. If you don't own there, and can't book at 11 months, your chances are pretty slim.

DVC works very well as long as you know how it works, and book early. People who don't book early are almost certainly going to end up on waitlists for certain resorts and certain times of year.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Thanks to both of you, Disney PHD and Lynne for your great explanations. I Am SURE that most people dont realize the whole trade thing. I know I sure as heck didnt!!!! Is the Developer inventory not rented to anyone, regardless of points or cash payment? Is that the inventory that is sold off?? Belle

 

[MinnieLee]

We always book every year at the 11 month mark for a studio (9:00 a.m. I am on the phone) for our Halloween trip for BCV so we don't have any problems. I have been wait listed at BWV since the 7 month mark and it has not come through yet. I booked last year beginning of January for an additional trip in May and could only get SSR. Wait listed for BWV, BCV and WL and nothing came through. I think that the bigger DVC gets, the harder it is becoming to get into other resorts besides SSR.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I have been wait listed at BWV since the 7 month mark and it has not come through yet. I booked last year beginning of January for an additional trip in May and could only get SSR. Wait listed for BWV, BCV and WL and nothing came through. I think that the bigger DVC gets, the harder it is becoming to get into other resorts besides SSR.

I agree that as DVC gets more members, getting into the smaller resorts like BCV and VWL will be more difficult. But when a resort is booked prior to the 7 month window, that is due to the owners at that resort and so the number of other members wouldn't have an effect on that.

 

[MaxsDad]

Just a couple of comments, eventhough I am a bit late to the party.

Regarding cash customer getting bookings at DVC resorts that member services say are full, and the ensuing misunderstanding:
In short, you can't give away what you never had. It is my understanding that before the resorts were built, some of the units belong to Disney CRO. These cash reservation rooms were never part of the DVC to begin with. Think of Disney as being a DVC owner with a lot of points that rents out his place to others for cash. If you were part owner of a condo, and the week you wanted to go was taken, would you expect your neighbor in the unit next door to just give you his place for the week? When I was buying into it last spring, I looked on line and saw that BCV was available. I asked if this was an indication that BCV was easy to book 2 months out. Seller explained to me that this was not the case, and the CRO inventory and the DVC inventory were completely different.

Secondly, I have a theory in addition to the time of year. SSR is nearly sold out. AKV is selling, but all its rooms are not yet completely built. I would guess that a lot of the people at SSR book at exactly 7 months out to another different resort. Take these two things and cross them with low points, and great weather, and Christmas cheer, and its going to be booked fast, especially at 4 months out.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hi Max's Dad and welcome to our little soiree!!!!! Thanks for the input. I have a question, for whoever would like to take a shot at it. My understanding is that one of the selling points of DVC is that you can stay at the other DVC resorts on Disney and other resorts elsewhere too. How easy has it been for anyone to get into one of the really popular ones such as Beach Club Villas etc if that was NOT your home resort?? As I said one of my friends does own and I have never seen her be able to successfully switch out to BCV or BWV for that matter. I am just curious as to what others experiences have been. Belle