DVC must stop rentals.....

[Memorymakerfor4]

The only "practice" I sorta take issue with, and I'm guessing it's still not much more than a blip, is the whole idea of members, knowing they can't use their points due to travel restrictions, or scheduling, or whatever, grabbing reservations at peak times simply to maximize their profit. I don't want anyone to lose money due to circumstances beyond their control, but if you can rent out your points and break even or turn a small profit, rather than secure a prime reservation at Christmas or Easter or marathon weekend that you're never going to use, just to make more money in the process, then that's not cool. Allowed under the rules, but still not cool (kinda like buying 50 rolls of TP back in 2020, giving you a years' supply and leaving someone else stealing napkins at McDonalds).

Exactly my feelings as well. Inconsiderate but not breaking the rules.

The only way I can think of to discourage this would to be to require an owner to be on the reservation (and stay on it) to book at 11 months, otherwise you have to wait for 10 months out, or something along those lines.

I'm not sure there are enough people who rent that it really makes a difference... but seeing those unicorn reservations up for rent is annoying.

 

[Sandisw]

If they really wanted it there, they would have found a way. Even if it was one of those fold-out chairs like they used at AKL.

This is way off topic though, all I said was that it's not necessarily fair to say that anyone who can stay in a studio can do a one bedroom because they don't provide you the bedding if you go up to a one-bedroom. It's completely reasonable to expect that if you book a room for five you get spots for five people to sleep, not the opportunity to bring your own bedding to cram in a fifth person. It's even more awkward to have a more expensive room where you now have to figure out where the fifth person has to sleep. It's silliness all around that they suggest you can cram another in if you bring bedding. If they want to start pointing that out, there are people sneaking extra people in all across property.

The chair didn’t fit either. The only reason they even let DVC stay 5 is because of complaints from members. So, that is why it’s clear that they will let you book that many but it’s not meant for 5 and why cash guests are held to booking the real occupancy which is 4.

Again, families of 5 do have options beyond studios at some resorts and if one is going to wait to book, there is going to be a chance studios won’t always be there and 1 bedrooms may need to be chosen.

Obviously it sounds like this year is worse than in the past, but just don’t think renting is what has caused this in any meaningful way.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If they really wanted it there, they would have found a way. Even if it was one of those fold-out chairs like they used at AKL.

This is way off topic though, all I said was that it's not necessarily fair to say that anyone who can stay in a studio can do a one bedroom because they don't provide you the bedding if you go up to a one-bedroom. It's completely reasonable to expect that if you book a room for five you get spots for five people to sleep, not the opportunity to bring your own bedding to cram in a fifth person. It's even more awkward to have a more expensive room where you now have to figure out where the fifth person has to sleep. It's silliness all around that they suggest you can cram another in if you bring bedding. If they want to start pointing that out, there are people sneaking extra people in all across property.

Getting back to the original complaint, though, it wasn't just "a studio that sleeps 5 at 6 months," it was "any studio."

OKW, SSR, CCV, BLT and AKV all have studios that sleep 4.

 

[mistysue]

The chair didn’t fit either. The only reason they even let DVC stay 5 is because of complaints from members. So, that is why it’s clear that they will let you book that many but it’s not meant for 5 and why cash guests are held to booking the real occupancy which is 4.

Again, families of 5 do have options beyond studios at some resorts and if one is going to wait to book, there is going to be a chance studios won’t always be there and 1 bedrooms may need to be chosen.

Obviously it sounds like this year is worse than in the past, but just don’t think renting is what has caused this in any meaningful way.

Getting back to the original complaint, though, it wasn't just "a studio that sleeps 5 at 6 months," it was "any studio."

OKW, SSR, CCV, BLT and AKV all have studios that sleep 4.

I was only responding to the comment that anyone that can stay in a studio can fit in a one bedroom, just to say that this logic doesn't work nicely all resorts... because just as Sandisw is saying, some of those 1bdrms really aren't meant for a group of five. I'm totally in agreement that booking this year requires planning a little more in advance and that booking one bedrooms can be easier especially as you get closer, I was never contesting that at all. I'm not sure we really need to get into the exact capacities at every single studio and 1bedrm.

I'm sort of sorry I even said anything.

 

[ParkHoppers]

I know we are mainly talking about studio availability but I have seen a lot more competition for 1 bedrooms since I joined DVC over 10 years ago. At the 7 month window for the second week of December there were zero one bedrooms at BLT available for a full week. Even half a week. I know it is a popular time for DVC but I remember a lot more one bedrooms available at the 7 month window not that long ago. Something has changed for sure.

 

[AaronEuth]

Way off topic, but if the op is still struggling, the new VGF rooms just opened to non vgf owners online. Every night was available as of ten minutes ago.

 

[Ruttangel]

If anyone is awake like me in UK then VGF resort studios are released now rather than 8am and All 3 room types looking clear

 

[MICKIMINI]

Not sure there are a lot of "old time" OKW owners with 80 point contracts, though, as the minimum buy in for OKW in the early 1990s was 230 points. But I do remember when those 230 points would get about 3 1/2 weeks in a studio in the lowest season.

I'm one of those old timers LOL...no 80 pointers in the 1990's that I know of!

 

[MICKIMINI]

Condescension and anger are remarkable similar emotions when typed on ye olde typing box

I'm a 1996 OKW vet. I'm truly sorry you are having difficulty reserving your preferred time and villa. Things have certainly changed since the old days when it was easier to get villas.

I don't believe anyone here is trying to be snarky, they are just matter of fact. DVC has grown and I know I've been forced to get a reservation at 11 months on speculation so I am guilty of hogging a reservation I may not keep, but I might. I've learned to adjust.

IMO my points need to be protected just like money in the bank and I sometimes cancel completely if we change the date and or I modify dates and/or resorts. Add in a son and DIL who have intense jobs and I put in a speculative reservation for them too and that often changes. Part of the reason we own DVC contracts is the flexibility and while not perfect, it always seems to work out in the end. I rent when I have extra, expiring points and appreciate not losing the value of my points. That was a big deal when we originally bought in 1996.

A tip: stalk early in the morning...I find more continuous days before 6 am. Good luck!

 

[xdan0920]

If anyone is awake like me in UK then VGF resort studios are released now rather than 8am and All 3 room types looking clear

Yep. I wake up at 4:30 everyday, so this worked out for me. I think I have found the solution. Dump a hundred or so new studios into the system at midnight once a week or so. Boom. Thank me later y'all.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I know we are mainly talking about studio availability but I have seen a lot more competition for 1 bedrooms since I joined DVC over 10 years ago. At the 7 month window for the second week of December there were zero one bedrooms at BLT available for a full week. Even half a week. I know it is a popular time for DVC but I remember a lot more one bedrooms available at the 7 month window not that long ago. Something has changed for sure.

Cabins and bungalows.

Heck, a lot of CCV buyers ("Christmas at the Lodge!!") cannot get studios at 11 months and book shorter in 1BRs. This has been very common at VGF but hard to predict what the new resort studios do with that. I do know that if I wanted VGF in a studio the first two weeks of December I would buy a guaranteed week in one of the new units and not mess around.

 

[Judique]

Way off topic, but if the op is still struggling, the new VGF rooms just opened to non vgf owners online. Every night was available as of ten minutes ago.

Thanks for posting that! I booked a few nights just to try it out. Have stayed in a deluxe studio at VGF and enjoyed it, but never in the regular rooms.

Actually saw your post as you posted but waffled over night about whether to book as I was trying to save points to bank. Clearer mind this morning so went ahead and jumped in for a Lagoon View. Would have done theme park but my thriftiness kicked in!

 

[Genie+]

I know we are mainly talking about studio availability but I have seen a lot more competition for 1 bedrooms since I joined DVC over 10 years ago. At the 7 month window for the second week of December there were zero one bedrooms at BLT available for a full week. Even half a week. I know it is a popular time for DVC but I remember a lot more one bedrooms available at the 7 month window not that long ago. Something has changed for sure.

I think BLT is special in that regard because the 1BR is a little bigger than 2 studios Due to the curved layout. While the studios feel smaller compared to other DVC rooms, the 1BR competes more favorably.

 

[ParkHoppers]

I think BLT is special in that regard because the 1BR is a little bigger than 2 studios Due to the curved layout. While the studios feel smaller compared to other DVC rooms, the 1BR competes more favorably.

I never had an issue getting a one bedroom lake view at BLT at the 7 month window until recently. And there are a lot of lake view 1 bedrooms at BLT. Seems like a change in booking habits or something else has changed to me.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I never had an issue getting a one bedroom lake view at BLT at the 7 month window until recently. And there are a lot of lake view 1 bedrooms at BLT. Seems like a change in booking habits or something else has changed to me.

Covid revenge travel/pent up demand.

Let’s say that some group of people only have enough points for every other year vacations. Group A comes on even years and B comes on odd years. So A skipped 2020 so they traveled in 2021. All of a sudden both groups are competing for the same block of rooms. Some portion wouldn’t be able to book their studios. So maybe they had the points and upgraded to a 1BD. Or they booked and then banked points. Now in 2022 it’s A’s “turn” again, plus some portion of B that got crowded out of 2021. Same pattern of upgrades and banking will happen this year so 2023 will still be hard, though maybe not quite as bad as 2022. But some people are only really just starting to travel again this year so they have a huge backlog to work through.

I think it’s going to take a long time for all those extra points to work their way through the system.

 

[Louis morrell]

I may be wrong but I can't see the surplus of points ever going away unless lots of people just let their points expire. In my mind excess current year points will be banked then the following year the banked points will be used to book and again current points will be banked. Rinse and repeat.
If my thought process is wrong please enlighten me.

 

[Marionnette]

I may be wrong but I can't see the surplus of points ever going away unless lots of people just let their points expire. In my mind excess current year points will be banked then the following year the banked points will be used to book and again current points will be banked. Rinse and repeat.
If my thought process is wrong please enlighten me.

For the most part, your theory could be correct. But not everyone travels to Disney every year. Banking current points to use the following year is not an option for those people. And with the lack of studio availability, a lot of people with a surplus of points, due to the inability to travel for 2 years, are booking larger accommodations as a way to celebrate the return to travel.

Rather than bank this year's points, we are splurging on 5 nights in a Cascade Cabin. We have no plans to visit Disney next year, so banking points makes no sense for us.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I may be wrong but I can't see the surplus of points ever going away unless lots of people just let their points expire. In my mind excess current year points will be banked then the following year the banked points will be used to book and again current points will be banked. Rinse and repeat.
If my thought process is wrong please enlighten me.

I think you are underestimating the amount of breakage that occurs from year to year. I believe it is much higher than people realize.

 

[stlrod]

I frequently rent out the first couple of years of a new contract as a way of reducing my initial investment. More than 50% of the points I use for rentals are within 7 months and I've been able to acquire some of the high value rentals (AKL Value and BWV studios) when I own at neither resort. Yet, I still get called out by people who assume I own at one of those resorts (I don't) and booked the reservations at the 11 month mark. It requires a lot of searching and being patient to put a week together and my belief is within 7 months, everyone has the same ability as me to do what I do if they work at it with the exception of Riviera resale which I also own. I do rent Riviera more than 7 months out and have been criticized by people like the OP. My response is typically I'm booking at the only resort at which I am allowed and using my membership within the guidelines of DVC.

 

[RichVIII]

There are so many forces at play at this point, only DVC and their number crunchers could really give us a clear picture of how things have changed over time.

If you go back to the boards, everyone was hoping “Disney would make it right” by extending their points, now we are feeling the ramifications of it. I feel like they were incredibly generous. We can’t have it both ways.

Given the bungalows were regularly open and I see that actually booked, they are now certainly absorbing vacation revenge over banked points. It still doesn’t solve it long term with all those points not being used in bungalows. Larger accommodations are being tried out with a glut of points.

Some folks are still not traveling and renting out points, but if you were to track all the potential confirmed reservations across the boards compared to points in the system, it is a drop in the bucket.

I would love to see the data on satisfaction of DVC with total points. I see more and more people (because of cost) have less and less points. Less points will always be competing for studios. Even with banking and borrowing. I see why Disney put minimum buy in back to 150. Much less and you are very limited. Look, we have a decent amount of points at one resort and just purchased 50 points at a new resort. It is a struggle to be any bit flexible with banking and borrowing. You do really have to be far more strategic and know what you want and if you can’t get what you want it is more frustrating. With our original home resort, I can spec a few reservations, upgrade to a 1 BR if need be. I can be far more flexible. New buyers with many less points, I would guess are far more frustrated.