Are the three-bedroom villas available for cash or only through points?

[FSU Girl]

I don't own DVC, but like staying in the villas. I've never gone through renting since I like the flexibility booking for cash. I've noticed that the three-bedroom villas are never available to even see online. Are these only available to book by points? I know the cabins are available for cash, so was wondering. Is it something you'd have to call to book?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I used to see them but haven't in most recent years when I've been looking. There's nothing I know that prevents DVC from pulling them to rent out should they wish but they decide what and when.

 

[Keels]

If they haven't been booked by the 7-month mark, they become available to the "masses" - this means non-home DVC owners and cash reservations.

 

[zavandor]

They should be available. The 2020 reallocation increased the points of smaller units and decreased the cost of Grand Villas among others. This means GVs should be one of the least requested villa types, otherwise the reallocation doesn't make sense.

If they haven't been booked by the 7-month mark, they become available to the "masses" - this means non-home DVC owners and cash reservations.

Not exact for the second part. A villa that is not booked at the 60 days mark goes into breakage and is available for booking for cash. It is possible that DVC reserves breakage rooms even before that mark, based on historical patterns, but we don't really know if they do or not.
DVC can also reserve rooms to book for cash with the points they still own and are not needed for maintenance and with points used by members to book exchanges, like cruises, other Disney hotels and so on. With the GV costing less, it's now a better deal for Disney to use those points to reserve GVs, more could pop up for cash bookings in 2020.

 

[FSU Girl]

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out to see if any pop up. I'd love to stay in one.

 

[drusba]

I have also noticed that Disney's website does not show the Grand Villas as rooms that can be rented though Disney's central reservation system, while all other room sizes are shown as rentable for each resort that has Grand Villas. As noted, Disney is not prohibited from renting the GV's so I am not sure what went into its excluding them from the website room rental pages.

In any event, you can rent one through a DVC member or one of the broker's, like David's, that provides a rental service for DVC members, although that can often be difficult because of either lack of availability or the lack of owners, who are renting, having enough points to reserve a GV.

 

[FSU Girl]

I have also noticed that Disney's website does not show the Grand Villas as rooms that can be rented though Disney's central reservation system, while all other room sizes are shown as rentable for each resort that has Grand Villas. As noted, Disney is not prohibited from renting the GV's so I am not sure what went into its excluding them from the website room rental pages.

In any event, you can rent one through a DVC member or one of the broker's, like David's, that provides a rental service for DVC members, although that can often be difficult because of either lack of availability or the lack of owners, who are renting, having enough points to reserve a GV.

I know there are some rooms that aren't listed on the website and can only be booked by calling so I wonder if they fall into that category? I would like to rent points, but my trips are never certain and I typically change hotels around a few times before settling on the one we actually go with. When renting you're locked in and can't get a refund so it wouldn't really work unless we booked last minute and then there would probably be nothing available sadly.

 

[hakepb]

I’d wonder if Grand Villas are booked more through their VIP service?

 

[FSU Girl]

I’d wonder if Grand Villas are booked more through their VIP service?

What is that?

 

[hakepb]

What is that?

I’ve heard of PGA tour participants getting GV’s. And there seems to be a different level of room booking of suites for celebrities.

 

[4evryoung]

A visit to the WDW vacation site for the UK shows the following availability for the week beginning May 9 2019, as an example: Grand Floridian 3-bed villa (cost £16,779 or roughly $22,000); Animal Kingdom Savannah 3-bed villa (£11,399 - $15,000); Copper Creek 3-bed (£12,149 -- $15,800); and both Old Key West and Saratoga Springs 3-beds (£7,709 -- $10,000). They can't be booked on-line, you have to call, but the fact that they show up in a general accommodation search suggests they have some availability for cash bookings.
A similar search for June 9th shows availability for SSR/OKW ($1500 more for the week); GF ($2,600 more) and CC ($1,600 more). July 9 shows availability for a week at these four resorts at the same prices, plus AKL Kidani at ($1500 more).

I am not sure how it is possible for Disney to advertise these villas before the 60 day breakage point.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I am not sure how it is possible for Disney to advertise these villas before the 60 day breakage point.

Breakage is a small part of the inventory that Disney can rent out for cash. They own a lot of points plus they rent points that are exchanged by owners trades to pay for them.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I know there are some rooms that aren't listed on the website and can only be booked by calling so I wonder if they fall into that category? I would like to rent points, but my trips are never certain and I typically change hotels around a few times before settling on the one we actually go with. When renting you're locked in and can't get a refund so it wouldn't really work unless we booked last minute and then there would probably be nothing available sadly.

I have definitely seen the grand villas pop up on the regular site during my random searches. There are just very few available without using points. I think I read very recently that a single Grand Villa at CCV is set aside for general public, until after 7 months of course.

 

[crvetter]

I have definitely seen the grand villas pop up on the regular site during my random searches. There are just very few available without using points. I think I read very recently that a single Grand Villa at CCV is set aside for general public, until after 7 months of course.

That is likely the one that isn’t declared into the condo yet. Else Disney’s points have the exact same restrictions we have (unless being used for maintenance purposes).

 

[drusba]

That is likely the one that isn’t declared into the condo yet. Else Disney’s points have the exact same restrictions we have (unless being used for maintenance purposes).

As stated in the official documents, Disney, as an owner, is subject to the same reservation rules as members. However, understand what that means. It can reserve a GV at 11 months out as an owner and then rent it out later.

 

[crvetter]

As stated in the official documents, Disney, as an owner, is subject to the same reservation rules as members. However, understand what that means. It can reserve a GV at 11 months out as an owner and then rent it out later.

That is true. However, DVC only holds back 2-4% of a resort and they are obligated to use that 2-4% in the case of maintenance so it wouldn't be advantageous for them to book a GV with their 2-4% in the hopes that someone wants the exact dates they book. I was responding to his point that a GV was set aside for the general public, which there is one; however, it is simply the one not declared into the Condo yet.

 

[BillPA]

Not so sure about the 2-4%, now that they have created thousands of 'extra' points with the studio/1 BR rip off. Just at OKW they have 'created' about 118,000 points with the new point structure. I don't have the heart to check them all but I'm sure it's the same or worst.

 

[crvetter]

Not so sure about the 2-4%, now that they have created thousands of 'extra' points with the studio/1 BR rip off. Just at OKW they have 'created' about 118,000 points with the new point structure. I don't have the heart to check them all but I'm sure it's the same or worst.

Those "extra" points fall into breakage. Disney can't reserve rooms with those "points" (which don't actually exist its more that rooms will be empty) until the breakage period, which can be anywhere between 30-90 days (currently 60 days). Now when Disney takes breakage they can't supersede anyone who wishes to reserve, on a waitlist, or maintenance needs. So if you request on or before day 60 for a room they have to give it to you, if you request a waitlist you get priority if a room opens, and if maintenance requires a room to go offline that takes priority. This is how it is spelled out in my POS for CCV and the MPOS.

Also the lockoff premium always existed. There is also likely a max at each resort that this can go to. I've been requesting information on precisely that and so far each level I advance in DVCMC doesn't actually have an answer to it. I'll see if they do actually get back. But the maximum reallocation section of the POS leads me to believe one does exist.

 

[Pirate Granny]

They should be available. The 2020 reallocation increased the points of smaller units and decreased the cost of Grand Villas among others. This means GVs should be one of the least requested villa types, otherwise the reallocation doesn't make sense.



Not exact for the second part. A villa that is not booked at the 60 days mark goes into breakage and is available for booking for cash. It is possible that DVC reserves breakage rooms even before that mark, based on historical patterns, but we don't really know if they do or not.
DVC can also reserve rooms to book for cash with the points they still own and are not needed for maintenance and with points used by members to book exchanges, like cruises, other Disney hotels and so on. With the GV costing less, it's now a better deal for Disney to use those points to reserve GVs, more could pop up for cash bookings in 2020.

No way the points for my December 2020 in a GV at OKW went up by 22 points

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

No way the points for my December 2020 in a GV at OKW went up by 22 points

It's still puzzling how OKW was the one resort that did not get hit in the same way that other resorts were. Is there something different in that POS that was changed in later ones?

Not a question for you Pirate Granny - just quoted you because the GV point increase reminded me of OKW not quite fitting the mold of the other WDW changes.