DVC rental store taking full payment with partial date availability?

[DisneyRNMama]

I recently submitted a quote request to DVC Rental for a stay at Boardwalk in September. They responded quickly and let me know that the room category I initially requested was unavailable, but they offered an alternative room--also at Boardwalk. Since the trip is coming up soon, I was required to pay in full to secure the reservation request. I went ahead and submitted the payment because I was excited, and then shared the news with my sister who is going on the trip with me.

She was surprised, as she had tried to book the same room through David’s DVC Rental and was told it was unavailable for our dates. Out of curiosity, I checked the DVC availability calendar myself (the version that is updated 2x daily) and noticed that only two out of the four nights I requested are currently showing as available.

I understand that DVC availability can change quickly, especially as the date gets closer, but I was under the impression that most rental services wouldn’t collect full payment unless the dates were actually open--at least at the time that customer service checks on them. I am not sure how to proceed as I assume the likelihood that the rental will be secured is low. Does DVC rental have the option to see availability that I cannot as I am not a DVC member myself? Thoughts?

 

[eticketplease]

They can certainly see inventory in real time but so could David’s or any DVC member.

I’m not familiar with their terms but I believe so many days before check-in the balance should be at $0

I’m not sure why they would take your $$ if it wasn’t all available.

I know David’s takes a small amount and then checks inventory and if available will secure it and use that amount towards what you owe. If it’s not available they will refund it to you.

 

[airjay75]

In my recent experience, DVC Rental Store does not require full payment until they have confirmation that the reservation has been secured by another member. I remember checking DVC availability on my own DVC account and seeing that a preferred view studio (at RIV) was available for the nights I wanted so I submitted the request. Then, before I got an e-mail that they had secured the reservation, I saw that the room was no longer available - I was worried that they may not have acted fast enough. But, I got an e-mail the next day with the confirmed reservation and was required to pay in full (because it was less than 75 days out). I sort of assumed that my rental is what caused the room to become unavailable. Could be the same in your case. If it is, you'll probably get the confirmed reservation details within the next day (and if you already have the signed contract, you can probably find the reservation number in there and link it to your MDE account already).

 

[airjay75]

One other thought - they might have had a confirmed reservation that was already available, in which case, they probably have to reach out to the member to change the names on the reservation. They may well require full payment before reaching out to the member in that situation.

 

[DisneyRNMama]

In my recent experience, DVC Rental Store does not require full payment until they have confirmation that the reservation has been secured by another member. I remember checking DVC availability on my own DVC account and seeing that a preferred view studio (at RIV) was available for the nights I wanted so I submitted the request. Then, before I got an e-mail that they had secured the reservation, I saw that the room was no longer available - I was worried that they may not have acted fast enough. But, I got an e-mail the next day with the confirmed reservation and was required to pay in full (because it was less than 75 days out). I sort of assumed that my rental is what caused the room to become unavailable. Could be the same in your case. If it is, you'll probably get the confirmed reservation details within the next day (and if you already have the signed contract, you can probably find the reservation number in there and link it to your MDE account already).

One other thought - they might have had a confirmed reservation that was already available, in which case, they probably have to reach out to the member to change the names on the reservation. They may well require full payment before reaching out to the member in that situation.

Fingers crossed that they had the availability. They haven't asked me to sign a contract. They requested the full amount to be paid as the "deposit" since it's less than 75 days before the check-in date.

 

[airjay75]

Fingers crossed that they had the availability. They haven't asked me to sign a contract. They requested the full amount to be paid as the "deposit" since it's less than 75 days before the check-in date.

My guess is that they had a confirmed reservation that had not been booked by anyone yet. Both of my recent rentals were less than 75 days out, and I just had to pay the $100 until they were able to have a member book the requested reservation (which took less than a day) and it was only at that point that they required me to pay in full.

 

[DisneyRNMama]

My guess is that they had a confirmed reservation that had not been booked by anyone yet. Both of my recent rentals were less than 75 days out, and I just had to pay the $100 until they were able to have a member book the requested reservation (which took less than a day) and it was only at that point that they required me to pay in full.

I have rented from them in the past and thought it was odd that they wanted the full amount up front. The quote email they sent me looks like my previous emails. I wonder if they made a typo on the deposit amount.