Best strategy for getting 2-br villa in 2016?

[kboo]

Hi all,

We are planning a trip for March 2016 that we are 90% sure of dates, though my elderly parents are coming so that is always a bit of a wild card.

As I understand it, if I call Disney now I can book a 2-BR villa if it's available (we are currently thinking deluxe but a lot of that thinking will depend on $$$$!!), but will it be at 2015 rack rate, or will we have to wait til 2016 prices come out to find out how much it's going to cost?

Also, we will likely be AP holders at that point, so is there any way to apply discounts later, when they come out?

From what I have been reading, it's also possible to rent points through a service like dvcrentals.com but those are totally non-refundable, and if I want a deluxe villa I probably should have made my rental weeks ago? I have been hesitant to go this route because my parents are in their 70s - they're in good health but it still makes me nervous to put down so much $. Also, how much do you save by renting points v. going through Disney?

thanks in advance for any guidance or tips.

 

[mkla2015]

As far as calling Disney right now to book for 2016- I wasn't aware that you could do that- I would assume, you'd have to pay 2016 prices but of course I may be wrong.

I did just book a March 2016 trip for my family through dvcrentals.com and it has been a great experience. All employees I've talked to were amazing- we were able to get a peak season 1 bedroom villa at Baylake for 6 nights for around $1000 less than 2015 rack rate. I was hesitant to book 11 months in advance- I have 2 small children so who knows what could happen but decided to book anyway. You can buy trip insurance if you are afraid you may need to cancel.

 

[kboo]

I actually don't know how Disney would handle 2016 reservations if they haven't posted prices yet - anyone?

 

[disneyfantotheend]

They will not give you the guaranteed price until 2016 rates come out. They may give you the 2015 rate and tell you it is subject to change, and it WILL change once 2016 rates are released.

 

[kboo]

Got it, thanks.

 

[AuntTink]

Think about Looking at the Rent/Trade board to deal directly with a DVC Member. They may be willing to be a little more flexible with you as long as you don't cause them to lose points or try to continually change things. March 2016 is in the 11th Home resort window and there is currently good availability at all the resorts for most room categories. If you find a DVC Member who is willing to let you change your reservation 60 days prior to your original check-in subject to availability as long as you were willing to pay same price (even if less points required) or higher (if more points required) but not cancel within the same year: then you will probably be limited to Kidani, SSR, OKW, if you change, but that is better than loosing your vacation. I did this for one of my renters. They originally had BLT but it was not available for their needed change. Now they are at Kidani Savana view for July. They made the change 60 days prior to their original reservation. The points were slightly less at Kidani, but they were traveling at a more popular time of year or the difference would have been greater. They were very upfront with me prior to making the original reservation and I said I would work with them subject to availability and as long as I did not lose points. Their situation was a child that had divorced parents and they were unsure as to when the father would request him for the summer.

The member will have to reserve your dining plan and you will have to pay for it at time of reservation. The member will give you your confirmation for the room and you will enter it into My Disney Experience, as with your dining reservations and fast passes.

 

[kboo]

Thanks, Aunt Tink!

So, am I correct that the 2BR villas are basically the 1-BR villa with an adjoining studio? Are there any exceptions to this?

 

[AuntTink]

The 2BR villas come in 3 varieties now. The one you describe 1-BR villa with an adjoining studio are called 2 BR lock-offs. There is also the 2 BR villa which the second bedroom has 2 queen beds. Then there is the Polynesian Bungalows (but they require a lot of points).

 

[kboo]

The 2BR villas come in 3 varieties now. The one you describe 1-BR villa with an adjoining studio are called 2 BR lock-offs. There is also the 2 BR villa which the second bedroom has 2 queen beds. Then there is the Polynesian Bungalows (but they require a lot of points).

LOL, not likely to do Polynesian bungalows with my elderly parents (one with dementia) and 2 little kids. Ha.

Ok, so the version that has 2 Queens in the second bedroom may work for us (but 2 K bedrooms is not a deal breaker), is there a point when you can/should request, if you're going to make the request?

 

[AuntTink]

There are also tree house villas that are 3 rooms but there is a queen in 2 of the rooms and twin bunk beds in the third room.

 

[AuntTink]

Since your planning on going in March, I would do it as soon as possible after you can reach an agreement with an owner to allow you to be a little flexible. That way you have the best possibility of getting what you want if your plans don't have to change.

 

[AuntTink]

make sure to check occompt.com (orange county comptroller website) to make sure your owner actually owns dvc before you get into an agreement. Also get an agreement in writing spelling out both of your rights and responsibilities.

 

[kboo]

Thanks again, Aunt Tink!

 

[Best Aunt]

OP, here are some basics in case you didn't pick up on them:

- DVC members can book at their home resort 11 months out.

- DVC members can book at resorts other than their home resort at 7 months out.

- A 2-bedroom lockoff is a one-bedroom with an adjoining studio. Sometimes it is used as a 2-bedroom. Sometimes there is one family in the one-bedroom and a completely different family in the studio with the adjoining door locked.

- A 2-bedroom dedicated can only be booked as a 2-bedroom. It cannot be booked as a studio and a 1-bedroom.

- Beach Club Villas has some 2-bedroom dedicated with two queens in the second bedroom. But there are not a lot of them.

- I'm not sure which of the other DVC resorts have 2-bedrooms with two queens in the second bedroom.

- If you are thinking of using a rental company, you need to find out how much you need to pay up front, and what their cancellation policy is.

- DVC members never get free dining. If you want to be on the dining plan and are booking through a DVC member, you will have to pay for the dining plan.

- Sometimes villas are available for people booking on DVC points but not for people booking through Disney's Central Reservations Office, and vice versa.

- If you book through Disney's Central Reservations Office, the discounts might apply, but not necessarily to the type of villa you want at the resort you want.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Be careful about renting points. I know many people who have great luck doing it, but we did it for the first time this trip and it is not going smoothly. Our owner did book the reservation, but after that poof they were and are gone. When looking for me to book with them they were all helpful and said about adding DME and dining and changing dates 1 time if the need arised, but once they had our money, impossible to contact. It won't stop me from renting again, but it will make me more careful about who I rent from. Just happy that my reservation is still there, will likely worry until we get checked in.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

I would look into renting points for a villa from one of the reputable rental companies. I know that DVCRentals does offer a cancellation policy that allows you to cancel up to three days before check-in. It cost an additional fee per point but it may be worth it since you are booking so far in advance and with older parents plans can change. I think that the earlier you book the more likely you are to get what you want.