Transferring a rental reservation?

ruadisneyfan2 · Jan 31, 2016

We rented points from an owner for a 2 nt stay. (Booked last summer.)
Due to issues with our son missing school, we may have to skip the 2 nt stay, but still keep the cruise.
I know there are ways to completely cancel a DVC reservation but it gets complicated for the owner so in past rental stays, we simply consider a DVC rental as non-cancellable/refundable and accept that as one of the down sides to renting points and suck it up if needed. We've rented several times in the past but never had to cancel or make any late changes.

We are cruising with friends who will be staying at the Dolphin for a week pre cruise and they have offered to take over our rental stay if we do have to cancel. Is it possible to make a last-minute name change on a reservation? (within a week of check in date)

Also we haven't bought any dining plan yet for this stay and now that we have some uncertainty, we probably won't unless that could also be transferred to our friends.

I think they already have magic bands from previous visits but they do stay at Swan/Dolphin often which doesn't provide them automatically so how would that work if they don't have old bands? Would they be provided gray bands at check in? We have enough old ones that we could decline MBs for this visit.

Can someone tell me if this would work? I know I could email the owner we're renting from but I'd rather not cause him worry unless I have definite changes to make. As an owner, would you rather know in advance of some possible upcoming changes? or not be bothered unless there is a definite need to make changes?

rlovew · Jan 31, 2016

It is definitely possible to make changes to the names - although I am not sure if they can change out the lead (if it is only 2 people it won't matter if 1 of you must stay on the reservation. If they have no magic bands gray ones can be given to them at check-in. I would plan on no dining plan as that is not transferable easily- it would have to be canceled on one card and then repurchased and if they stay at the swan/dolphin then they don't usually use the plan anyway.

Now while this is all possible it also depends on the owner and their willingness to do the work. I would like to be contacted as soon as someone knew this might be happening. I would personally look at my schedule and might tell them a date a final decision had to be made by based on my availability to call into MS. If I knew it was Easter week or such I would tell you I would not have time after the Friday prior to that to spend the 1/2 hour plus on the phone with member services since my own children are on spring break. Other times I might have more time closer to the date of check in. On the other hand if you wait until 3 days before check in and spring this on me I might not have the time to do anything for you and you would simply have to lose the money and points.

KAT4DISNEY · Jan 31, 2016

It's a name change and then everything will be up to your friends. And yes, all names can be changed - no one from the original needs to stay on it. They would receive the magic bands, be able to get the dining plan etc. You should not reserve the DP if you will not be using it.

But - this will all depend on the owners willingness to change. Since you already have a new renter that should make it more appealing but it's asking for a change from the original agreement and it will take some of their time to change. If you went thru a broker then you're probably out of luck but if rented directly with an owner then all you can do is ask.

Dean · Jan 31, 2016

ruadisneyfan2 said:
We rented points from an owner for a 2 nt stay. (Booked last summer.)
Due to issues with our son missing school, we may have to skip the 2 nt stay, but still keep the cruise.
I know there are ways to completely cancel a DVC reservation but it gets complicated for the owner so in past rental stays, we simply consider a DVC rental as non-cancellable/refundable and accept that as one of the down sides to renting points and suck it up if needed. We've rented several times in the past but never had to cancel or make any late changes.

We are cruising with friends who will be staying at the Dolphin for a week pre cruise and they have offered to take over our rental stay if we do have to cancel. Is it possible to make a last-minute name change on a reservation? (within a week of check in date)

Also we haven't bought any dining plan yet for this stay and now that we have some uncertainty, we probably won't unless that could also be transferred to our friends.

I think they already have magic bands from previous visits but they do stay at Swan/Dolphin often which doesn't provide them automatically so how would that work if they don't have old bands? Would they be provided gray bands at check in? We have enough old ones that we could decline MBs for this visit.

Can someone tell me if this would work? I know I could email the owner we're renting from but I'd rather not cause him worry unless I have definite changes to make. As an owner, would you rather know in advance of some possible upcoming changes? or not be bothered unless there is a definite need to make changes?

I know for some of the rental sites (like David's) they've refused to make such changes but if the owner is willing to do so. One of the things you could do would be to add them to the villa names along side yours if you have spaces and/or don't need to airport transportation.

DebbieB · Jan 31, 2016

Dean said:
I know for some of the rental sites (like David's) they've refused to make such changes but if the owner is willing to do so. One of the things you could do would be to add them to the villa names along side yours if you have spaces and/or don't need to airport transportation.

That is a good idea, if you will not exceed the room occupancy. I assume you have a contract for the rental, taking your names off would void the contract. If you just add their names, you would remain the contract owner.

ruadisneyfan2 · Feb 1, 2016

I'll be making a decision in the next few days. I won't dump it on the owner at the last minute.
It's not through a broker and it's a studio so IIRC they only sleep 4. We are 3 and our friends are 2 so we wouldn't be able to just add them.

disneynutz · Feb 1, 2016

I would not allow my renters to change the reservation to someone else without my permission. I didn't rent to their friend, I rented to them.

:earsboy:

Bill

ruadisneyfan2 · Feb 1, 2016

I'm not trying to change it without his permission.

Dean · Feb 1, 2016

ruadisneyfan2 said:
I'll be making a decision in the next few days. I won't dump it on the owner at the last minute.
It's not through a broker and it's a studio so IIRC they only sleep 4. We are 3 and our friends are 2 so we wouldn't be able to just add them.

Some sleep 5 and all 4 plus an infant under 3. If that's an option, I'd ask the member to list them with their permission and let them know what's going on. I think most individuals in this situation would be very happy to make such changes. I understand why the companies don't but don't necessarily agree with it.

Shelly F - Ohio · Feb 3, 2016

disneynutz said:
I would not allow my renters to change the reservation to someone else without my permission. I didn't rent to their friend, I rented to them.

Bill

It would not be without the owners permission. The DVC owner is the only one who can change a name on a rented reservation.

disneynutz · Feb 3, 2016

Shelly F - Ohio said:
It would not be without the owners permission. The DVC owner is the only one who can change a name on a rented reservation.

Not necessarily true but I won't discuss how it can happen here. Rental reservations can and have been modified without the owners consent.

:earsboy:

Bill

Minniesgal · Feb 5, 2016

disneynutz said:
I would not allow my renters to change the reservation to someone else without my permission. I didn't rent to their friend, I rented to them.

Bill

I'd also be nervous about this which is probably silly but as owners we are trusting that renters don't run up a huge bill and not pay it or trash the room. I know it usually doesn't happen but it could. So you enter an agreement with one set of people and it changes to another.

I realise it is totally silly to feel like this as you don't know one set of renters from another but the idea makes me nervous.

Minniesgal · Feb 5, 2016

Also don't assume that the owner is available to change it for you at the last minute. They could be away from home on a business trip or on holiday themselves so it is best to give as much notice as possible.

Dean · Feb 5, 2016

Minniesgal said:
I'd also be nervous about this which is probably silly but as owners we are trusting that renters don't run up a huge bill and not pay it or trash the room. I know it usually doesn't happen but it could. So you enter an agreement with one set of people and it changes to another.

I realise it is totally silly to feel like this as you don't know one set of renters from another but the idea makes me nervous.

I don't think it adds any real risk. Realistically a renter can't do anything of substance. MS might on a very rare occasion but the resort can in some situations. All of these should be fairly easily fixable if realized and both extremely unlikely and rare to happen. As for damages or charges left on the room, I'm only aware of a couple of episodes and at least one was handled easily, I just don't recall about the other. Given the current CC policies, I think the risk of having unpaid charges is limited to the phone at most. Damage risk is real but extremely small. IMO it wouldn't add any real validity to avoiding renting if it made sense otherwise.

delilah · Feb 7, 2016

Minniesgal said:
Also don't assume that the owner is available to change it for you at the last minute. They could be away from home on a business trip or on holiday themselves so it is best to give as much notice as possible.

Yes, this exactly. I donated a 4-night stay at AKV to my church which was given as a prize in a raffle. It was for a time when both the prize recipient and my family were staying at the same time. The person who won the reservation tried to contact me the day before I left to add the dining plan to the reservation. Because my work is crazy the day before I leave on vacation, and I still had to pack for my trip, I didn't even read the email about adding the dining plan until about 11 pm the night we arrived. She was probably peeved with me, but, the original email was sent 8 am on Friday, and the reservation started on Saturday, so she was too late anyway. She also wanted to extend her vacation by one night, starting on Friday instead of Saturday. Wasn't able to do that, and didn't get as far as changing the reservation because there was nothing available. I think next time I'm just going to donate money to the church, though. This woman was a piece of work.

Dean · Feb 7, 2016

delilah said:
Yes, this exactly. I donated a 4-night stay at AKV to my church which was given as a prize in a raffle. It was for a time when both the prize recipient and my family were staying at the same time. The person who won the reservation tried to contact me the day before I left to add the dining plan to the reservation. Because my work is crazy the day before I leave on vacation, and I still had to pack for my trip, I didn't even read the email about adding the dining plan until about 11 pm the night we arrived. She was probably peeved with me, but, the original email was sent 8 am on Friday, and the reservation started on Saturday, so she was too late anyway. She also wanted to extend her vacation by one night, starting on Friday instead of Saturday. Wasn't able to do that, and didn't get as far as changing the reservation because there was nothing available. I think next time I'm just going to donate money to the church, though. This woman was a piece of work.

Plus the cash donation would be deductible but the timeshare usage would not be. Those who don't inherently know timeshares often have unreasonable assumptions and perceptions about them. Regardless I have the same sense about reservations for auctions that I do about rentals, basically I'd threat them the same. Include that it can't be changed or altered other than names early on and I'd suggest getting up with the winner to make sure they have some understanding of what they are and are not getting. It won't head off all issues, and I suspect you did that on this donation, but it will avoid many of them.

Judique · Feb 7, 2016

I would change the reservation but only if there was time to create and execute a new rental agreement with the new renter as DVD requires.

I've only had to rent one year when things didn't work for me to do my usual travel out of almost 18 years.

Sandisw · Feb 7, 2016

As already mentioned, the owner may have no issues with simply making a name change since you already have guests to take your spot if you can't go those days. But, it will be up to the owner to decide if they want to arrange this change for you or not. Once you know what you are doing, contact the owner and ask if they are willing to make the change for you! Good luck!

momof3poohlovers · Feb 7, 2016

Judique said:
I would change the reservation but only if there was time to create and execute a new rental agreement with the new renter as DVD requires.

I've only had to rent one year when things didn't work for me to do my usual travel out of almost 18 years.

This! I would have no problem trying to help a renter if I could but I would not change the name on a reservation unless I signed a new rental agreement with the new renters. If there were ever any issues, unlikely I know but you never know, there would be no legal recourse as you now have nothing in writing with the new renters.

crisi · Feb 7, 2016

momof3poohlovers said:
This! I would have no problem trying to help a renter if I could but I would not change the name on a reservation unless I signed a new rental agreement with the new renters. If there were ever any issues, unlikely I know but you never know, there would be no legal recourse as you now have nothing in writing with the new renters.

If there is no need for a dining plan, the original contract holder could stay on the reservation, then they could drop everyone else and add the new guests. As an owner, I think that would be the switch I'd be most comfortable with.

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