DVC rental. Am I just screwed?

[idohair2]

I planned our vacation that I saved for for 3 years May 2020 and it was canceled, of course. David’s gave us 2 years to rebook and we are scheduled for **********. I checked my daughter’s academic calendar before booking and things changed since then. She has finals that week!
I’m sick, beyond upset, and can’t sleep at night because I know how hard I worked to save every Penny for this.
David’s won’t budge. They won’t let me change the dates. They won’t let me try to sell it to someone else.
I’m hoping upon hope that I am not thinking outside the box. Please. If you have any suggestions on how I can switch my date or sell my week, or any other kind suggestions, I’d really appreciate it!!
Thanks in advance

*****Dates Removed - Chuck S

 

[js]

I planned our vacation that I saved for for 3 years May 2020 and it was canceled, of course. David’s gave us 2 years to rebook and we are scheduled for *********. I checked my daughter’s academic calendar before booking and things changed since then. She has finals that week!
I’m sick, beyond upset, and can’t sleep at night because I know how hard I worked to save every Penny for this.
David’s won’t budge. They won’t let me change the dates. They won’t let me try to sell it to someone else.
I’m hoping upon hope that I am not thinking outside the box. Please. If you have any suggestions on how I can switch my date or sell my week, or any other kind suggestions, I’d really appreciate it!!
Thanks in advance

Oh no! I'm not familiar with Davids but many on these boards are and there was a thread during the pandemic about Davids and those that were not pleased with how he handled the canceled bookings.

My kids are older but my first course of action would be to call and/or visit your daughter's school and explain to them what you just typed above, and that you planned with the information you were originally given. Perhaps your school can give
your daughter her finals the week prior? Perhaps she can take a couple of finals a day? How old is she.

I would really, first, call the school and start from there.

 

[idohair2]

She’s a bio chem major And told me she is having the toughest semester yet! She will be receiving material up until the 10th. We leave on the 11th

 

[LSchrow]

I planned our vacation that I saved for for 3 years May 2020 and it was canceled, of course. David’s gave us 2 years to rebook and we are scheduled for ********. I checked my daughter’s academic calendar before booking and things changed since then. She has finals that week!
I’m sick, beyond upset, and can’t sleep at night because I know how hard I worked to save every Penny for this.
David’s won’t budge. They won’t let me change the dates. They won’t let me try to sell it to someone else.
I’m hoping upon hope that I am not thinking outside the box. Please. If you have any suggestions on how I can switch my date or sell my week, or any other kind suggestions, I’d really appreciate it!!
Thanks in advance

Aside from what was suggested, the only other options are
1) have her stay with a friend or family member at home so she can take the finals. Is there any way possible she could come for just part of the trip? Of course, a lot depends upon her age & ability to fly alone.
2) see if David's will at least let you change all except the lead guest, and offer the reservation to a friend or relative (changing the lead guest requires contact with Member Services, while changing the other guest names is a simple online modification by Owner)

Good luck!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

College won't flex.

And this is one of the challenges with a DVC rental. Per the contract, it is a firm booking. It is up to the owner of the points (not David's) on if they will allow a sublet.

You cannot sublet without the owner's consent. There is no think outside the box on that.

Do you have trip insurance that might apply?

 

[quandrea]

If your daughter is in college, she is going to have to stay home for finals, while you travel without her. There will be no wiggle room on a dvc rental.

I may face something similar next year. We are planning for Oct 2022 during a week my university aged daughter should be off. If there is a schedule change at school, she will have to stay home.

 

[Lilias]

It may be less than ideal, but can she take her finals remotely from WDW?

And, this doesn't help you now, but I believe that DVCrental store actually allows cancellations, unlike David's. For next time

 

[ldo]

See if you can interest any friends/family you trust either for free or some reimbursement. and then tell David’s you’re not renting but sending family instead and you’ll still be lead guest. As anyone can check in. Hopefully he’ll allow that.
And think long term. Your dd’s schooling and well being are what’s important. Covid thru everyone a whammy. At this point, if you can’t make lemonade then just throw out those lemons.

 

[cvjw]

Go and enjoy your vacation and fly your daughter down when finals are over. Make lemonade out of lemons. Nothing says everyone has to be there the whole time.

Changing anything on the reservation requires the dvc owner‘s approval. If I am the owner and have a contract with you, I would not allow you to sublease or give away the reservation. I would have no contract with anyone else - if the villa is damaged, I would be on the hook without a contract.

Also, keep in mind that the points used mat expire soon and can’t be moved to a different time.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Yeah it stinks but this is the one risk when renting. And David's doesn't budge on anything, as you have found out.

 

[LYSE]

Leave your daughter behind?

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I'd first call the school and see if they can make any changes/accommodations for her. I would point out to them then you did check the school calendar and planned accordingly but, as you said, their schedule changed. They may see that as a sincere effort to keep her in school. Depending on what the school says and what you/your daughter want to do, call David's. Aske them to reach out to the DVC Member and see if the are willing to move the dates or pick another time.

 

[charmed59]

In general, finals for college courses need to be individually discussed with each professor. Also, professors prefer to deal with their adult students, and not their student’s parents.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

In general, finals for college courses need to be individually discussed with each professor. Also, professors prefer to deal with their adult students, and not their student’s parents.

I'm hoping the suggestions for the parents to speak to an instructor were based on a belief this was High School. The major emphasis tells us that's probably not the case though.

 

[crisi]

You are probably going to need to go without her. Its the life of having young adults. We can't plan around our youngest's college schedule - with Covid everything has been up in the air, academic dates aren't released until its late to book, and the uncertainty of internships and jobs creates more hassle. We've missed vacations with our young adults due to jobs and school since late high school.

She COULD try talking to her instructors, but I know a lot of college professors and most of them will not allow early or late testing over vacation.

Davids will not call the owner to sublet. Its in their contract with the owner that the primary name stays the same.

 

[kilik64]

Its the Age of Big Rona and Remote Work/School, can she take them at the villa? Not ideal, but hey studying in the Most Magical Place on Earth is better than at school or home right?

 

[Sandisw]

First I am sorry but There is no way for you to change the reservation as it belongs to the owner and they have a contract with David’s

The terms of the rentals with them have always been not changeable and I know the vouchers were always a one and done situation.

Unfortunately I think you will be stuck. You really need to see what the contract says about the changes of guests. IIRC, only changes are for spelling errors and such, not a change of guests.

 

[Chuck S]

I removed the dates of your trip, so it could not be considered an offer to rent the reservation.

The DVC Owner may not be able to change the dates, depending up their use year. Also they have a firm contract with David's. The owner needs to be paid, regardless of your ability to keep the reservation. You can save money by renting DVC, just like renting a vacation home from an owner. But those savings come with risks. Did you take out any trip insurance? Would you be willing to go without your Daughter?

I know it is a rough situation for you, but it is what it is. The resorts are open, the parks are open, and the owner made the reservation you requested. You can not re-rent the reservation, as you have no control over it, nor does David's, actually.. You can not make changes to the guests or the primary renter, only the DVC Owner can do that, and again, they may not be able to do so especially if they'd need to reschedule, it may throw their points into a situation where they can not bank them to next year. Guests who need to cancel and rebook, or just cancel for a refund, really need to pay the additional price to book through Disney directly.

 

[jpakstis]

When we had to reschedule our April 2020 trip one option they mentioned was to rent the dedicated rental. If someone rented it (it’d be rented “as is” ie for the dates and location your original rental is for) you’d recoup some of the costs, 50% I believe? If you really don’t want to go then, that’s an imperfect potential solution.

 

[js]

I suggested go or speak to the school but wasnt aware what age your child is and grade and never would have suggested you call if in college however MANY parents do and it is awful lol. I work in a private college and our academic calendars are confirmed a few years in advance. Are you saying your daughter is in college and they changed the academic calendar?

If your daughter is in college and wants, perhaps she can speak to each professor. If not, she just may not be able to go. I have a daughter that is an attorney and a son getting his MBA and once they go the college, the vacations we once took, are now changed and I guess this is what you are now dealing with and changing of the academic calendar unless you werent looking at the 2021-2022 when booking. Maybe her finals arent the full week and she can go the end of your trip.

Let us know what you end up doing. Good luck.