Disney Vacation Club Point Extension & Borrowing Limit
Disney Vacation Club has released new policy updates, including point extensions and borrowing limitations to address the DVC “Point Pool Problem” we recently discussed that has resulted from the closure of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and standalone DVC resorts. That article detailed how the problem could continue to play out in the months to come.
It also touched upon the DVCMember.com Travel Alert that includes “Temporary Updates to Our Cancellation Policy.” In said alert, Disney Vacation Club indicated that it would be evaluating the banking and expiration policy and the use of certain points impacted by the closures.
Disney Vacation Club stated that it would need to consider the impact any changes could have on future inventory availability for the membership overall. As such, a decision would be made once there’s a better understanding of how future operations will be impacted. Well, we just received an email from Disney Vacation Club with the updated policy, which follows…
Until the decision is made as to when the Resorts will reopen, all reservations scheduled for arrival during the closure time will be automatically cancelled by Disney Vacation Club on a week-by-week basis. Members do not need to cancel the reservation online or contact Member Services. Vacation Points returned due to a cancellation of a Resort reservation will not be placed in a holding account and will be returned to the current Use Year.
This applies to all reservations checking in within the next 30 days. When a reservation involving Borrowed Points is cancelled, the Borrowed Points will be returned to the Use Year they were borrowed from regardless of arrival date. Please allow up to 15 business days for this process to be completed. Reservation Points returned due to a cancellation of a Disney Collection or a Concierge Collection reservation will be returned as Reservation Points in the current use year.
Some Members had reservations for Disney Vacation Club Resort stays during the closure period using Points that are set to expire. 2019 Use Year Points for April and June that are set to expire in 2020 and that were used for these reservations will be extended for one year from the current expiration date.
2018 Use Year Points for April and June that were banked into 2019 and used for these reservations will be extended for six months from their current expiration date. Please note this temporary policy only includes expiring Points that were used to book a stay between March 12 and the end of the closure period and that involve a reservation cancelled after February 29. In addition, to better support Member availability, Disney Vacation Club will not extend the life of expiring developer Points.
In light of this and to help with Resort availability in the coming year, beginning today, Members who want to borrow Points to complete a reservation will temporarily only be able to borrow up to 50 percent of their future Use Year Points per contract, as permitted by your Home Resort Rules and Regulations.
Doing this will help manage inventory and accommodate more Members who want to schedule their vacations once the Resorts reopen. Points already borrowed for a stay outside the closure period will be honored, even if they are above the 50 percent threshold. Disney Vacation Club will continue to monitor point inventory and re-evaluate, with the goal of returning to the standard policy as soon as it is appropriate to do so.
Finally, some Members have had questions about how the closure is affecting their association’s annual dues. While lower operating costs are anticipated for each condominium association because of the closures, there are many unknowns ahead as the resorts return to operation.
Disney Vacation Club’s commitment to guest and Cast Member safety remains the top priority, and changes may be implemented to the way DVC operates, which may add some new costs. Given the unique circumstances of this situation, the proposal is to issue a credit to Members in mid-December as part of the distribution of Annual Dues Statements for 2021 if their association has an operating surplus (as opposed to rolling all surpluses into reserves).
These changes should provide helpful support to the entire membership as DVC’s team works toward making Disney magic for you and your loved ones just as soon as possible. Disney Vacation Club will continue to evaluate the situation, make changes to policies as they become necessary, and keep you updated.
In our view, this is a good start that addresses current concerns about what will happen with points right now while also put some smart limits on usage. However, it also probably kicks the can down the road to some degree when it comes to the point pool problem. We’re not going to rehash all of those issues or potential solutions thereto here, as we already did that in our previous lengthy post. (The article is worth a read if you haven’t already.)
In fairness to Disney Vacation Club, kicking the can down the road is a workable interim solution. There are still so many unknowns in terms of a reopening date and roadmap for operating the resorts, as well as what guest demand will look like. This at least answers one question, and leaves the door open to address ways to address inventory at a later date. Hopefully that actually ends up happening–we’ll keep you posted!
Thinking about joining DVC? First be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club. This covers the pros & cons, resale v. direct, how much money you’ll save, and other important things to know before taking the plunge. If you still can’t decide whether membership is right for you, “try before you buy” and rent points from DVC Rental Store. If you are convinced a membership is for you, check out the discounted options at DVC Resale Market. Planning a Walt Disney World trip? For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think to Disney Vacation Club’s extension Use Year Points for April and June? What about the limitation on borrowing points? Do you have any ideas as to other possible solutions to this Disney Vacation Club point pool problem? Think DVC will do something to remedy this issue? Had trouble finding DVC availability for later this year? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? If you’re an existing Member, what do you think? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
DVC Member Since 2006 – I do not appreciate this policy at all. It is very restrictive and fully hampers the allocation of scheduled off time I have during certain times of the year. I paid for my points in full 15 years ago and should be allowed to utilize them regardless. Now, 50 % rule handcuffs members into selection of lower point offerings such a reduction from villa’s down to studios, reducing the overnight stays on property, removing weekends, and/or purchasing an extra night or two for cash just so you can have your vacation. My opinion, this gives Disney a black eye and turns me into a disgruntled DVC member.
In my latest booking made this February 2021 for a June 2021 stay, with a borrowing year of August 2021 I was forced to choose a Sunday to Wednesday stay at Old Key West instead of Boardwalk because 50% of my 230 annual points would not cover anything else, even though I need to stay until Friday. So, without access to my other 138 points I am forced to purchase another night outright at the same location and for the same level of accommodations. More than likely I’ll be staying in the same villa too! Does that make sense to you?
I had a ten day trip planned for May which used some 2019 banked points which now I must use by January 31,2021. I also bought 17 one time use points which I can’t rebook til May 19 to be within 7 month window for a December trip. I hope 2 bedroom villa will be available to book. I am also an annual pass holder with year ending beginning of June and quite upset that Disney not issuing me 10 day hopper that I can use next May because its not fair to just give me approximately $125 which will only get me one day in one park . I’ve contacted Disney several times
Apologies if this is a sophmoric question, but to artificially “create” inventory, do anyone think its feasible for DVC to assign Studios-type point values (vs the actual current points for Disney Collection) to rooms at the non-DVC portions of the resorts. For ex, could they temporarily assign a Deluxe Studio category to Yacht Club and funnel members there? Just curious, because I’d personally be open to this option vs. having to limit or forgo points I’ve paid for.
ugh, grammar, sorry for the typo… *DOES anyone think…
Joey Cola, I totally agree with your plan. There will be unused rooms across the resort, fill them with DVC members.
DVC points have zero cash value to Disney hotel system. They are not going to give away hotel rooms that they can fill with paying guests. DVC would have to pay for those rooms and that means either we or DVC Marketing would wind up paying for the rooms. Just like when you trade your points for a Disney Collection reservation, DVC has to rent out a DVC resort villa for cash to pay for that trip you booked on points.
Nobody knows what the long term outlook will be yet, but kicking the can down the road is one of the best justifications I can see for not pulling DVC projects currently planned or underway to a halt immediately when some vague semblance of normalcy resumes. Whatever the rules are about utilization of unsold inventory, new development provides rooms in DVC resorts that are not already assigned to points in the overfull pool. I’m guessing something could be worked out to allow those unsold points to take up some of the slack.
Of course, that really depends on the long term predictions for the economy. Continued development might be a smart strategy if it looks like the recovery to some-sustainable-state will be relatively short (where relatively short is still measured in years). But if it looks like closer to a decade, I suspect there will be some mechanism that allows DVC members some options to use the otherwise empty hotel rooms that will be on hand. For those of us accustomed to getting 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom villas so that we can go with 6 people without stepping on each other and take advantage of the kitchens, there might need to be some creative swapping there. But my kids are old enough that I’d consider 2 rooms at CBR and a quick service plan to be a reasonable swap for my otherwise 2BR. Adding on that QS plan might be reaching a bit, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney throws in some form of pot sweetener for those willing to swap out into the hotels.
Shame on me for not buying the insurance when we booked our trip for November 2020 using a popular dvc point rental company. I reached out considering the circumstances and was flatly told I was out of luck: no refunds, no possibility to add the insurance, no way to rebook because “the points would have to be used within a week or so anyway so there’s not much you can do about that…”
This is our first experience with DVC points rental as a try-before-you-buy…it was a huge cost savings for our particular trip, and an opportunity I would have recommended to friends and family. However, I can’t really say the same at this point.
Again- I lived and learned about the travel insurance, so bad on me there…but I guess I expected some of the Disney magic to have rubbed off and for some understanding in light of covid. â€â™€ï¸
Still holding out a little hope that we’ll be able to take our trip as planned!
I’m right there with you ! We planned a trip for the first time through a DVC company for my kids first Disney trip in Nov 2020! We also did not purchase insurance through them as their insurance wasn’t that great compared to others. However, we didn’t expect this type of pandemic to happen and now we are out of luck unless things go back to normal by then.
I’m really sorry to hear that – I rented my points via Davids DVC, and though the rules are no refunds / changes, they have asked the members renting their points to either refund the renter or re-rent the points which is exactly what we have done. I would be curious to know what service you used – so I can avoid them on either side of the relationship!
I rented through Dvc-rental
I can’t say for certain they didn’t contact the DVC member… but I emailed and got their response within about 10 minutes, so the timing doesn’t suggest they did that.
Their website now has a dedicated section regarding COVID, and how they’re “doing what they can” to help considering all the modifications to the actual points policies. I’ll reach out again now that I’m armed with some better DVC info 🙂
I hate to recommend against them because otherwise they’ve been great to work with, but I’ll just say do your homework and ask lots of questions before you work with them??
There’s still a chance the trip will work out and I’ll have worried for nothing. But the lack of ability to do ANYTHING in this situation is what’s hard to swallow.
This unfortunately has a very negative impact for those of us with very low point purchases. We have 85 points per year. For the last year we have been planning a trip with my family and one other for the week after Thanksgiving. To do it we have to book at Old Key West with banked and borrowed points as it’s the only way to afford the 2-bedroom villa.
This comes to 233 points and now we only have 212 points (or 213 depending on how it gets rounded) to use.
As Old Key West is not our home resort we can’t even book there for a few more days.
So now I’m stuck trying to figure out what to do as parts of this vacation are already paid for so I can’t just modify the dates we’ll be staying…
Hmmm. If you needed to borrow points for a big family trip, and you needed more than 50% of your points, couldn’t you break your trip in half and make two reservations? Then each reservation would meet the new criteria.
You can only borrow up to 50% of points PER CONTRACT, not per reservation.
Any thoughts on third party DVC brokers and how the current situation will affect their future business? One blog I follow, which is EXTREMELY OWNER BIASED, is taking a DVC broker to task. Talk about blood in the water and the sharks are circling!
Going out of business is a real possibility for many companies. If brokers share of the marketplace diminishes, will individual renters increase their prices? Supply & demand?? As someone who has only had great experiences renting through third party brokers, I’d hate to see that happen.
The brokers are going to have to keep the owners strongly in their mind or they will find that they can’t find many points to rent out. Some brokers aren’t refunding any of the portion that they made in the deal. It appears to be untouchable to them. Owners need to send back their money or make a new reservation for a new renter, but they keep their part without any loss. If word gets out how badly renters and owners are being treated by a specific broker, then that broker is history. Owners are willing, in many cases, to refund the 53% they received from the broker but they want that money to go back to the renter instead of the brokers offering a voucher. The voucher systems appears to be a shoddy method of keeping people’s money.
Wow, that’s exciting thought. I sincerely hope the brokers go out of business. DVC renting was so much better before they arrived and marketed much higher prices.
I would honestly expect prices to fall. Most owners are happy with a reasonable profit and that becomes much easier without paying the (completely unnecessary) middleman.
Correct me if I am wrong, but is sounds like you are saying if the DVC brokers go out of business, individual owners who own points will LOWER their price per point rentals?? I don’t see that happening. If anything, I think individual owners will RAISE the prices because their competition is gone.
We bumped our May trip to September…my question for them is a bit different. If the parks aren’t fully open (with fireworks, parades, etc.) my kids might wish to delay the big trip until the following spring. Will my 2019 points still be good if I do the moving of the vacation due to simply not wanting a half vacation, not because the parks are still closed? I am pleased they are addressing the situation in a fair manner, though!
I’m in the same situation. In early February, we made a reservation at AK and PV for first week of October. We are using our banked 2019 points and part of our October 2020 points. I’m glad to hear DVC will still honor our vacation (if they are even open at that time). But since we only get out to FL about one time every decade, I don’t know if I want to use our big spurlge vacation if we are getting half the attractions/fun. But with the anticipated “pool” problem, I don’t want to give up a reservation I may not be able to get again for a few years. If we end up cancelling, it is likely we won’t get back out to Florida for another 10 years. We would prob sell our Poly points in a year or two and buy points in the new CA DVC resort whenever that opens.
I have a family reunion trip planned for November 2021 that would use all my points from 2021 and 2022. Any guess if the 50% restriction will be lifted by then? I bought the points I did exactly in order to use two years worth of points for these family trips.
I wouldn’t plan on it.
DVC always seemed like rocket science to me.
I had a vacation cancelled in early April using points borrowed by my 2020 use year. When the reservation was cancelled, all of the points were returned to my 2019 use year (including the 2020 borrowed points). It is now more than “15 days” and the borrowed points are still in my 2019 use year. I called DVC, and they said it could take up to 30 days to make the change, despite the fact that their policy says it will take up to “15 days.” I’m curious to know whether anyone else has had a similar issue with a reservation cancelled using borrowed points?
It shouldnt even take 5 days. They push the buttons and they go back. This isn’t rocket science but appear to be a bit of a joke.
I also borrowed points for my trip that was supposed to be in about a week. I’ve been trying to cancel that online so the points will go back into the next use year, but the site keeps crashing. I’m wondering if a) DVC will eventually automatically cancel for me and I’ll have the same issue as CC, and b) if the point borrowing restrictions will mean that I can’t use these until the actual use year (they were above 50% of my total).
I had a trip planned for the last week of May. I cancelled the reservation and banked the points (all but two were current year points and I was within my banking time frame). The two points I had borrowed were still in my current UY for about two or three weeks. I emailed MS and within about four days they were moved back to the 2020 UY. You might try calling, chat or emailing with the information about your reservation and requesting the points go back into the 2020 UY.
Yes it took almost a month for our points to be returned. The CM said the request would be forwarded to another desk…but it did eventually happen so have patience!
My reservation was automatically canceled and the points were in holding. I waited about a week for the points to show as not in holding and for borrowed points to be put into the next year. Then I contacted DVC via email and got back a form reply that didn’t address my questions and my points balance was still wrong. I replied to that email (instead of emailing through the DVC site) and got a real response within a couple hours and the points were fixed. My friend also got a good response to her issue by replying to her first email response. Good luck!