COME ON DVC....GET YOUR Stuff together....

[lovin'fl]

Bottom line: there is no guarantee things will change by the end of May. I would consider whatever you were told to be unofficial, and if nothing comes of it you’ll have no recourse. “We’ll look at it” does not mean any policies will change for the better.

DVC is being forced to make some tough decisions in the interest of protecting the integrity of the reservation system. When the dust settles, not all owners will get the answers they are hoping to hear.

You can either act proactively to protect your points within the established rules or roll the dice. I was scheduled to check-in at WDW on May 23. I didn’t wait for DVC to grant me exceptions...I rebooked my trip. It was painful because we had great rooms booked, dining reservations, vacation time, period tends to be moderate weather and crowds, etc. But I had low confidence that the parks would even be open, and even less confidence that DVC would make exceptions if I were forced to re-book on short notice.

My May trip had AKV club level and Poly studios. And we had Cali Grill brunch resies.

 

[Mickey of the Villages]

Has anyone called DVC member services to try to get answers about up coming trips/ what if/ if we have to Cancel our trip are they going to be flexible with this year/ banked and next year points.....NO ANSWER/ they told me by the end of May the will re look at this.... AAAAAGGGGRRRRRRR!!!
We are suppose to head to Aulani, but it is not looking good.....COME ON DVC/ GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER!!!
sorry for the "**" but a little upset

Robin & Angel "D"

One thing that I believe you should seriously consider (and Disney has no control over) is whether Hawaii will allow travelers from the U.S. Even once they are able to control the virus in their state they will be hesitant to allow air travelers to bring new potential infections with them. I mention this because the critical part in your plan to travel may not be Disney but the State of Hawaii.

 

[dragonflymom]

Disney, like many large companies that have travel as a significant component of their business model, is losing millions of dollars each day.

Specifically $30M each day, per New York Times article published yesterday. This pandemic has hit pretty much all Disney businesses, from parks to hotels to cruises to ESPN (no live sports) to movies (theaters shut down). Disney Plus is the only bright spot but it is not profitable yet. We've all come to expect Disney's high level of customer service to carry through to these unprecedented times and I can understand the level of frustration if we don't hear the answer we like or in this case, a vague non-answer. I get it... I have banked and 2019 UY expiring points tied up in a reservation myself. As many have pointed out, DVC needs other Disney divisions to help out if impacted current UY point owners were to be compensated, but keep in mind pretty much all Disney businesses are in trouble. In fact, NYT article stated that Disney had to take out a big loan at the end of March to help with cash flow given all the bleeding that is going on. I don't think Disney is incompetent, they just need a little more time to assess the situation with new data coming from all fronts on a daily basis. I suspect once they decide whether parks will re-open June 1, they will have some decisions how to resolve the DVC situation.

 

[Robin"D"]

The the DVC family/ I have no excuse of my language/ I am sorry for those I offended/ please excuse me, I was just upset

 

[Chuck S]

The only thing that surprises me a bit is that the Florida state timeshare board, or whatever it is called, haven't offered any guidance at all for how timeshares should deal with the current situation. It may be that they are also looking at the regulations and trying to figure it out. To be sure, DVC and other timeshares legally can't create a situation where there isn't enough availability, including GVs, to use an entire sample years worth of points for a resort. Allowing late banking and double banking would likely create that. There is wording in the POS that if a resort is closed for a disaster, like a hurricane, while it is being repaired the owners can not use their points at other DVC resorts, basically the points are lost while the major repair work is in progress. That may be the guideline they are using. The resorts are closed through no fault of Disney or DVC, they are under government orders responding to what legally is referred to as "an act of God."

 

[DVCSunDevil]

To the OP, here is a really good article that explains the situation DVC is in. I think everyone needs to relax and give them a chance to work through the situation, which may take some time because they don't know the exact severity of the situation (as the article describes in great detail). I know it's hard to be patient, but this situation truly is an example of "it is what it is". I really do believe they will do what they can to make it right for all their members once the dust settles and they have a better idea of the total "damage".

https://dvcnews.com/other-resources/feature-articles/4734-disney-vacation-club-s-covid-19-dilemma

 

[DVCSunDevil]

The only thing that surprises me a bit is that the Florida state timeshare board, or whatever it is called, haven't offered any guidance at all for how timeshares should deal with the current situation. It may be that they are also looking at the regulations and trying to figure it out. To be sure, DVC and other timeshares legally can't create a situation where there isn't enough availability, including GVs, to use an entire sample years worth of points for a resort. Allowing late banking and double banking would likely create that. There is wording in the POS that if a resort is closed for a disaster, like a hurricane, while it is being repaired the owners can not use their points at other DVC resorts, basically the points are lost while the major repair work is in progress. That may be the guideline they are using. The resorts are closed through no fault of Disney or DVC, they are under government orders responding to what legally is referred to as "an act of God."

No one has offered guidance because they don't know the full scope of the situation yet. It would be like trying to assess the damage done from a hurricane in the middle of the hurricane. You have to let it pass to see what the total damage is. An assessment will finally be able to be made once they know when the resorts will open. The storm is still raging, yet a lot of people want decisions to be made NOW. It doesn't work that way.

https://dvcnews.com/other-resources/feature-articles/4734-disney-vacation-club-s-covid-19-dilemma

 

[DVC_HK]

I think it's gonna be out of their hands for some of it due to FL timeshare laws in effect. Unless those are changed only valid 2020 points to bank are allowed. We had to cancel two nights in May for our cruise and they said we could only bank them since our banking window ends in September

 

[crisi]

Specifically $30M each day, per New York Times article published yesterday. This pandemic has hit pretty much all Disney businesses, from parks to hotels to cruises to ESPN (no live sports) to movies (theaters shut down). Disney Plus is the only bright spot but it is not profitable yet. We've all come to expect Disney's high level of customer service to carry through to these unprecedented times and I can understand the level of frustration if we don't hear the answer we like or in this case, a vague non-answer. I get it... I have banked and 2019 UY expiring points tied up in a reservation myself. As many have pointed out, DVC needs other Disney divisions to help out if impacted current UY point owners were to be compensated, but keep in mind pretty much all Disney businesses are in trouble. In fact, NYT article stated that Disney had to take out a big loan at the end of March to help with cash flow given all the bleeding that is going on. I don't think Disney is incompetent, they just need a little more time to assess the situation with new data coming from all fronts on a daily basis. I suspect once they decide whether parks will re-open June 1, they will have some decisions how to resolve the DVC situation.

And honestly, the answer is likely to be "this is part of the risk of owning a timeshare" Because by the time this is over, Disney will have lost a billion dollars and have debt payments on millions more and may be fighting for its very existence - if it isn't a COVID related death itself. And if losing all the points all of us DVC members have currently or banked or borrowed, and losing next years points too, ends up with us continuing to have DVC and Disney Parks around to use over the long term - we might just need to suck it up - and yes, it does cost Disney something to let us use our DVC points in cash resorts to solve the longer term availability problems - even if the resorts are nearly empty because people can't afford to or are scared to travel. And they might not be able to afford that (though I suspect its the most likely solution if one is offered).

 

[The Prophet]

Perhaps you should direct your question to Gov Ige of Hawaii
It is his executive order that is imposing a mandatory 14 day quarantine for all individuals arriving or returning to Hawaii

https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroo...rriving-or-returning-to-the-state-of-hawaiʻi/

 

[DLgal]

OP, you're not going to Hawaii in May. Make peace with that and cancel your trip now. It's not gonna happen. There are barely even any airlines still flying there, and that won't change dramatically in a month.

 

[cvjw]

We also had a trip booked for Memorial Day. We cancelled it last month, because we don’t feel comfortable being in such a huge crowd even IF Disney were to reopen. Nobody knows what is going to happen, or when businesses can safely reopen.

We took the initiative and cancelled all our vacations for this summer and early fall. We can try and rebook if things with the virus are better. You need to do what is right for your family, regardless of whether or not DVC can give you a definite answer.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

and yes, it does cost Disney something to let us use our DVC points in cash resorts to solve the longer term availability problems - even if the resorts are nearly empty because people can't afford to or are scared to travel. And they might not be able to afford that (though I suspect its the most likely solution if one is offered).

almost all costs associated with "giving" those rooms to DVC members are covered in our dues.
Housekeeping is the biggest - paid for in dues.
Admin, front desk - paid for in dues.
Transportation - paid for in dues.

If this is the route they take - and I am not saying they will or they should, but it is an option, and DVC paid the resort the dues money alone, the room would be covered as far as cost goes.
Add on the money that the guests spend while on property - it would be a profitable situation for Disney. Plus there is the immeasurable customer satisfaction aspect to it all.

Casinos have been comping rooms for a long time and have gotten to be pretty big hotels!

 

[Brian Noble]

The person I talked to was himimg & hauling with no straight answer

No answer, or no answer you liked?

If it were me, and I was still within my banking deadline, I would cancel and bank before the deadline was upon me. If I were past my banking deadline, but within the deadline to deposit to RCI, I would cancel and deposit there before that deadline passed. If neither of those were true, I would just leave the reservation in place to see what happens, knowing that I was likely to lose those points at the end of the day.

I understand wanting more options, but those are the options you have right now, and they are not likely to change anytime soon.

 

[Sandisw]

almost all costs associated with "giving" those rooms to DVC members are covered in our dues.
Housekeeping is the biggest - paid for in dues.
Admin, front desk - paid for in dues.
Transportation - paid for in dues.

If this is the route they take - and I am not saying they will or they should, but it is an option, and DVC paid the resort the dues money alone, the room would be covered as far as cost goes.
Add on the money that the guests spend while on property - it would be a profitable situation for Disney. Plus there is the immeasurable customer satisfaction aspect to it all.

Casinos have been comping rooms for a long time and have gotten to be pretty big hotels!

If the rooms are cash rooms, and not DVC villas, our dues don’t cover that...well, we certainly don’t pay all of it, even at shared resorts,

Sure, they can decide if the rooms are being booked to allow DVC to have them for points booking for free, but they can just as easy come out with an incentive for a cash guest to fill the rooms.

If Disney were to start offering those deluxe rooms at a 50% discount to the general public, you don’t believe they will get people to book?

I just don’t see a big financial incentive for Disney to just give DVC members free things.

While we are loyal customers, so are Annual Passholders and Florida residents. who spend just as much In the parks as a DVC owner does,

 

[dragonflymom]

And honestly, the answer is likely to be "this is part of the risk of owning a timeshare" Because by the time this is over, Disney will have lost a billion dollars and have debt payments on millions more and may be fighting for its very existence

Funny, this is what I told DD this morning (that Disney is fighting for its very existence) when she got a call that her summer internship with Lucasfilm has been cancelled. From her conversations with her Disney network of friends and contacts, (she worked for Disney Studios last summer) Pixar internships are being cancelled and Lucasfilm engineers are being laid off. I feel for college students graduating this May/June.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

If the rooms are cash rooms, and not DVC villas, our dues don’t cover that...well, we certainly don’t pay all of it, even at shared resorts,

Sure, they can decide if the rooms are being booked to allow DVC to have them for points booking for free, but they can just as easy come out with an incentive for a cash guest to fill the rooms.

If Disney were to start offering those deluxe rooms at a 50% discount to the general public, you don’t believe they will get people to book?

I just don’t see a big financial incentive for Disney to just give DVC members free things.

While we are loyal customers, so are Annual Passholders and Florida residents. who spend just as much In the parks as a DVC owner does,

DVC takes my dues that are not going to a villa because of surplus and pay cash rooms - cost covered. Not the retail cost, but the operating cost.

Revenue generated from having guests on property is kinda important - empty rooms do not generate that.

If Disney doesn't get me in a room one year because of a surplus, I wont cry about it, but I will take my vacation dollars and spend them somewhere else - lost revenue that went to someone they are competing against for vacation dollars.

If people will fill the rooms when discounted why did they have to shutter POR-FQ after 9-11? and that was people not travelling, forget about unemployment numbers through the roof - which is what the situation will be, make no mistake about that.

People who are scared and/or dont have jobs are not going to jump at discounted rooms just because they are half off.

If the rooms are full, its moot, but if they are sitting empty....

 

[Chuck S]

DVC takes my dues that are not going to a villa because of surplus and pay cash rooms - cost covered. Not the retail cost, but the operating cost.

Revenue generated from having guests on property is kinda important - empty rooms do not generate that.

If Disney doesn't get me in a room one year because of a surplus, I wont cry about it, but I will take my vacation dollars and spend them somewhere else - lost revenue that went to someone they are competing against for vacation dollars.

If people will fill the rooms when discounted why did they have to shutter POR-FQ after 9-11? and that was people not travelling, forget about unemployment numbers through the roof - which is what the situation will be, make no mistake about that.

People who are scared and/or dont have jobs are not going to jump at discounted rooms just because they are half off.

If the rooms are full, its moot, but if they are sitting empty....

That's not at all how it works legally. Timeshares can't just take dues and give them to Disney for the use of their cash resorts. And per capita, I would suggest that the average DVC member spends less $ in the parks and restaurants than the average cash guest. Again, look at your paperwork, there are clauses that deal with being unable to use the resorts due to disasters.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

That's not at all how it works legally. Timeshares can't just take dues and give them to Disney for the use of their cash resorts. And per capita, I would suggest that the average DVC member spends less $ in the parks and restaurants than the average cash guest. Again, look at your paperwork, there are clauses that deal with being unable to use the resorts due to disasters.

Again, I said if hotel occupancy is down.
But with 20 percent unemployment and people scared to travel... there is a chance it might be down a lot.

the 3 biggest hotels in the US are all ones that comp a lot of rooms, perhaps doing so makes money?

 

[Sandisw]

DVC takes my dues that are not going to a villa because of surplus and pay cash rooms - cost covered. Not the retail cost, but the operating cost.

Revenue generated from having guests on property is kinda important - empty rooms do not generate that.

If Disney doesn't get me in a room one year because of a surplus, I wont cry about it, but I will take my vacation dollars and spend them somewhere else - lost revenue that went to someone they are competing against for vacation dollars.

If people will fill the rooms when discounted why did they have to shutter POR-FQ after 9-11? and that was people not travelling, forget about unemployment numbers through the roof - which is what the situation will be, make no mistake about that.

People who are scared and/or dont have jobs are not going to jump at discounted rooms just because they are half off.

If the rooms are full, its moot, but if they are sitting empty....

You are right, occupancy could be down as It was in the past, but your plan still requires Disney to give DVC owners free rooms for what reason? Because somehow we are a more deserving than others? Good will would go a long way to offer them for free to Florida residents too,

As mentioned, we cant take dues and simply use them for what ever way we want them to be used,,,,at most, savings are either out into capital reserves or to offset increases next year.

Goes back to it would be nice if there is something that can be worked out to help those losing points feel less pain, but the reality is that the Problem will best be solved, if possible, within what is in the boundaries of the product we own,