December rental

[mimi0884]

Is early December a hard time to find availability? I didn't even give it a second thought, until someone mentioned it in another post. First time possible dvc renter so trying to figure the whole system out!

 

[hakepb]

Yes, low points, (usually) pleasant weather, low crowds,Christmas Decor, parade taping, and the annual DVC association meeting all combine to make early December the highest DVC demand time of the year.

 

[DVC Mike]

As mentioned in THIS POST, the first two weeks of December fall into the peak usage period for DVC.

 

[drusba]

Also be aware of the booking windows regardless of when you might want to try renting. Owners at any given DVC resort can start booking their home resort 11 months from date of arrival. If you are a DVC owner and want a resort different from the one you own you can start booking at 7 months out from arrival. The effect of those booking windows is that certain popular room categories at resorts that have limited number of rooms can fill shortly after the 11 month window opens and everything else at a near park resort has a high risk of being gone even during slow demand times of the year once you are beyond that 7 month booking window. When you are only three months out, like we are now from December, there may be nothing left at all anywhere. In essence, if you are planning to try a rental of a DVC resort, you should plan to set up the reservation no later than 7 months out and for some room categories and times of year (including early December), you should plan to do the rental at 11 months out.

 

[mimi0884]

As mentioned in THIS POST, the first two weeks of December fall into the peak usage period for DVC.

Thank you!

 

[mimi0884]

Also be aware of the booking windows regardless of when you might want to try renting. Owners at any given DVC resort can start booking their home resort 11 months from date of arrival. If you are a DVC owner and want a resort different from the one you own you can start booking at 7 months out from arrival. The effect of those booking windows is that certain popular room categories at resorts that have limited number of rooms can fill shortly after the 11 month window opens and everything else at a near park resort has a high risk of being gone even during slow demand times of the year once you are beyond that 7 month booking window. When you are only three months out, like we are now from December, there may be nothing left at all anywhere. In essence, if you are planning to try a rental of a DVC resort, you should plan to set up the reservation no later than 7 months out and for some room categories and times of year (including early December), you should plan to do the rental at 11 months out.

I'm actually looking at Dec 2016 so plenty of time

 

[mimi0884]

So I guess my best bet is going to be give it a shot right at 11 months but have a place as backup through Disney? Thank you for your input! I didn't even know this would be an issue.

 

[jekjones1558]

So I guess my best bet is going to be give it a shot right at 11 months but have a place as backup through Disney? Thank you for your input! I didn't even know this would be an issue.

You would be wise to seek a rental more than 11 months out so that a DVC member can be ready to make the reservation at exactly 11 months.

 

[mimi0884]

Would you rent from someone you don't know, not through a service? Someone contacted me (through FB) and offered. Big risk right?

 

[jekjones1558]

Would you rent from someone you don't know, not through a service? Someone contacted me (through FB) and offered. Big risk right?

If that person learned about your interest on this forum and somehow contacted you on Facebook, then no. That is against DIS rules and I would not consider that person trustworthy. I can count on one hand the number of fraudulent rentals i have read about via the DIS Rent/Trade forum. But there is a small inherent risk in any rental, even through a service. If you are not comfortable with that then you probably should not rent but rather go directly through Disney.

 

[mimi0884]

If that person learned about your interest on this forum and somehow contacted you on Facebook, then no. That is against DIS rules and I would not consider that person trustworthy. I can count on one hand the number of fraudulent rentals i have read about via the DIS Rent/Trade forum. But there is a small inherent risk in any rental, even through a service. If you are not comfortable with that then you probably should not rent but rather go directly through Disney.

No, it was not through here but a FB group I was in. Lots to learn about this process!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Just don't purchase an RCI trade. Both RCI and DVC consider selling one of those reservations to be illegal and your reservation could be cancelled. They are usually a full week reservation starting on Fri or Sat. Plus there is a $95 fee due at check in. Another person can gift you the reservation at no cost to you (but they need to purchase a guest certificate). If money changes hands, beware.

 

[porterbl1]

I booked my December 5-10 reservation at BLT on January 5 through David's.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So I guess my best bet is going to be give it a shot right at 11 months but have a place as backup through Disney? Thank you for your input! I didn't even know this would be an issue.

At 11 months you wouldn't need to have a cash backup. You'll still be able to reserve on cash later if you can't get a DVC rental. If you have someone to rent from all lined up and as long as you aren't looking for a room category that does not have many rooms you should be fine.