DVC Response About Ebay Commercial Sellers

[Sammie]

Yes, I have rented on occasson, but I am not a commercial renter at all. I do not own enough to be considered one (even if I rented all of my points - which I do not). I am not threatened at all. I just think that you are all think that renting is much more serious than it is.

Believe me if it had not reached serious levels DVC would have never gotten involved. They would have continued as they have in the past, looking the other way. Something has changed recently to warrant their involvement.

 

[Dean]

Dean: Yours are always the views I look for in any interesting/hot thread. The above statement really surprised me though and I don't agree; like it or not, it's what DVC is all about and the way it was sold to everyone - the ability to book elsewhere at 7 months.

Just because there is a new big resort which has changed the booking dynamic (allegedly - but I, like you, believe it to be so) cannot make anyone who plays by the rules less 'deserving' than those who bend/break the rules by 'morphing' points surely?

I was partly pulling Chuck's chain. But I stand by the statement you quoted that says that even morphed points are as or more deserving than a NON owner at that resort. I am a big proponent of buy where you want to stay and don't count on getting in at the 7 month window and that there is no promise you will be able to do so. However, it's OK to disagree and certainly a position I can understand.

 

[Dean]

Believe me if it had not reached serious levels DVC would have never gotten involved. They would have continued as they have in the past, looking the other way. Something has changed recently to warrant their involvement.

Maybe slower retail sales?

 

[Sammie]

Maybe slower retail sales?

No evidence of that. But I would guess that booking of DVC resorts with Central Reservations has slowed. Why pay rack rate with Disney, when you get the same unit dirt cheap by renting.

 

[mushpurple]

Disney is breaking sales records at their parks. They feel comfortable enough to raise ticket prices twice in one year. They are doing very well. Maybe someone new came in and said...I do not like all of this renting and they decided to change some things. With or without the commercial renters, renting will continue at a strong pace.

 

[waltfan1957]

They informed me they have been having this problem ever since SSR opened up...

wow now we are coaster thieves on top of everthing else


p.s. i know you are only joking

 

[starbox]

No evidence of that. But I would guess that booking of DVC resorts with Central Reservations has slowed. Why pay rack rate with Disney, when you get the same unit dirt cheap by renting.

Actually, the Orlando Sentinel reported this week that last year the resort occupancy was at 92% - extremely high - and that DME and MYW packages are credited with keeping guests staying on property and taking longer vacations. Disney is making a huge effort, across the board, to get guests staying in resorts on MYW packages - and they are fine-tuning their resort business to maximize profit. Professional renters are taking business away from Disney and taking back that business seems to be part of the overall plan to maximize Disney's occupancy and profit. (Especially since most of the rent-for-profit involves BCV,BWV and WLV - three resorts that also have Deluxe hotel rooms Disney would like to be selling.

I have a feeling that, within a few months, DVC will announce that member perks (like being able to get the DDP) will be offered with close to the same restrictions as the AP discount - you'll be able to get them only if you are or are traveling with a blue card carrying DVC member.

As for whether or not Disney is starting to pursue shutting down the professional rental business, I find it a very interesting coincidence that my WL for a prime holiday rental unit/date just came through.

 

[waltfan1957]

Remember the statement is compared to non owners at the 7 months window. So you're talking an owner at that resort even if the points in question aren't. IMO, giving them a leg up is certainly reasonable compared to someone who doesn't even own there. Still, it'd be better do keep the points linked to the original home resort. On a related note, the FL laws actually do no protect from having the points cross over, they actually specifically allow it in some cases. Any argument related to over selling is only applicable to the time that is actually SOLD at the resort, not how the points are used, at least legally. As I noted previously recently, there is actually one resort that works on points that does not have a home resort priority. So any points bought anywhere compete at day 1 of any reservation window. That system has a resort in FL and is on the DVC exchange list. Interesting you responded only to a minor point in the post but not the two main ones.

A lot of people see this as the main point and not a minor one

 

[waltfan1957]

Fine, I'll address the other issues as well.
SSR is not the only factor that has changed. Interest rates on loans, travel costs and the general economy has changed during the last two years, as well. People don't have as much discretionary spending $$ as they did. It costs more to just drive to and from work, to buy groceries, etc. Almost every cost of living has increased because of increased energy costs, but in most cases wages have not increased by te same percentages. It is just as plausible that those factors have increased the desire of some folks to reserve and rent the ressies during the 11 month window.

If a person calls and reserves 50 units on day one of the 11 month window, it does take that many units out of the pool available, just the same as if 50 individuals called to book the same thing. But using your own suggestion that "owners" should be more entitiled than non-owners, then you should also be opposed to that type of commercial renting, as the people who rent those pre-made ressies are NON members, not owners at that resort. In otherwords, an owner is giving non-owners unfair advantage over other owners at that resort.

Very well put

 

[waltfan1957]

I have a feeling that, within a few months, DVC will announce that member perks (like being able to get the DDP) will be offered with close to the same restrictions as the AP discount - you'll be able to get them only if you are or are traveling with a blue card carrying DVC member.

I personally think thats just how it should be, but thats only my opinion

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wonder if Jim Lewis being promoted from General Manager of DVC to Vice President of DVC has anything to do with it. Was there a VP of DVC before?

 

[keys2kingdom]

See instead of discusssing the topic...

We say lets find a way to attack someone! I have not rented any points in a along time. And yes....I needed cash and had to raise some so I transferred the points....but that has nothing to do with the subject at hand.

I do not need to justify myself. I am not a commercial renter and will never be, but I defend my right to give my opinion.

Michelle,
For the record I wasn't attacking you, just saying that it looks like you have a hidden agenda in your "live and let live" comment. Of course you have a right to give your opinion (as do we all), but when you express that opinion you should expect that people will check out your backstory to see where that opinion is coming from. I now view you as a biased party, that's all I was saying.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Did you buy DVC because you rented from smw and then liked it? Then DVC gained a customer and this was a great way for you to try it out. THis is a benefit that is gained by renting time out.

Well, I can't say that renting from her made me buy DVC. We stayed 5 of us (littlest one was only 1, so we were "legal") in a studio at OKW. And although I like OKW (NOT resort bashing here, please realize)...it was not a great experience for us in terms of accommodations. We were packed, we were as far from the HH as possible, and at the time we were there, the main pool was closed for refurb. And studios, as you know, are not *that* much different than standard rooms, other than being a bit bigger and have the kitchenette alcove. And with no feature pool, it didn't have the feel of a deluxe resort. So at that time, I was not interested in DVC.

We still had a great trip, though...so great that I wanted to do *something* Disney every day...and thus, I found the DIS and began visiting and reading on a regular basis.

Eventually, I found my way here to the DVC forums and began reading all the threads as well as posting tons of questions (all of which were so kindly and patiently answered, thanks all....). Then we did another trip and rented from someone HERE...this time a 1 BR at SSR. Made all the difference in the world. Great acommodations, great feature pool, (I know, not everyone agrees...) and all the rest.

So, while I had a fine rental experience with smw, I do not credit her with bringing another DVC member in....I credit all of you DIS DVC'ers!

All that being said, I have no problem with those who rent their points. Having been on the other end of the transaction, it was a huge service to me. I am sure that over the next few decades of my contract there will be times when I will need to rent my own points (oh no! NOT go?!!?...lol). However, when a person is renting THAT much...yeah, now that I am a member, I don't like it. Maybe that makes me a hypocrite...but I look at it like this:

Right now I am waitlisted for a particular time and resort...if a commercial renter has booked out a bunch of rooms so that they can make money on them...and in turn I and other dues-paying members-- am being squeezed out, then that is a problem. Might some of these renters fall in love with DVC and buy in? Absolutely. But make no mistake--the commerical renter is not doing this in order to gain more members for DVC--they are only interested in making money off of something that is not intended for investment purposes.

Just my 2 cents....actually, considering how much I wrote...more like my quarter...

 

[JimMIA]

I have a feeling that, within a few months, DVC will announce that member perks (like being able to get the DDP) will be offered with close to the same restrictions as the AP discount - you'll be able to get them only if you are or are traveling with a blue card carrying DVC member.

I think you are right, especially when they realize that now the members who rent are going to have to make numerous extra calls for DME, DDP, changing both DME and DDP, cancelling, etc. The change in their call policy doesn't really reduce renter calls that much, it just changes the voice on the other end of the line.

I was actually very surprised they let DVC renters get the DDP in the first place. Doing so just makes it possible for guests to avoid paying rack rate to Disney and buying park tickets they don't need.

Making such a policy change would be very easy to do with one email. Can you imagine the screams?

 

[keys2kingdom]

I wonder if Jim Lewis being promoted from General Manager of DVC to Vice President of DVC has anything to do with it. Was there a VP of DVC before?

Jim Lewis was General Manager/Vice President before, now with the recent promotion he is President.

 

[JimMIA]

I have a feeling that, within a few months, DVC will announce that member perks (like being able to get the DDP) will be offered with close to the same restrictions as the AP discount - you'll be able to get them only if you are or are traveling with a blue card carrying DVC member.

Now that I think about it, why would Disney let renters use DME either? No revenue to them to offset the costs associated with DME...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Jim Lewis was General Manager/Vice President before, now with the recent promotion he is President.

I stand corrected. Thanks, I wasn't sure if he was now VP or P.

I was actually very surprised they let DVC renters get the DDP in the first place. Doing so just makes it possible for guests to avoid paying rack rate to Disney and buying park tickets they don't need.

Making such a policy change would be very easy to do with one email. Can you imagine the screams?...Now that I think about it, why would Disney let renters use DME either? No revenue to them to offset the costs associated with DME...

DVC (meaning us) must be paying for DME for DVC resorts. I agree about the DDP. I thought it was meant to be a member perk, not a DVC on points perk. Yep, the moan, groans and screams will be endless.

Hey, Jay, you want to suggest these to DVC? Or should I?

 

[CarolMN]

Now that I think about it, why would Disney let renters use DME either? No revenue to them to offset the costs associated with DME...

DVC (meaning us) must be paying for DME for DVC resorts. I agree about the DDP. I thought it was meant to be a member perk, not a DVC on points perk. Yep, the moan, groans and screams will be endless.

I don't think DVC members are paying anything for DME and I doubt ME for the DVC resorts was ever intended to be a DVC member perk - but rather a perk for staying on site at a WDW resort.

No matter how the room is paid for, it is in Disney's best economic interest to keep guests on site. Thus, Disney gets more $$ spent on food, park tickets and souvenirs than if guests have a car and the means to easily go off site.

Best wishes -

 

[keys2kingdom]

Maybe this SMW person owns a lot of points? I do not think that that is necessarily a business. It is very easy for us to judge, but I read their ad and they specifically reference not being a business. It is also a fantastic, descriptive and honest well written Ebay post.

I noticed that there are any others who are on their selling a lot. I think a much bigger problem the many people who are just doing it on the disboards and other boards like it. There are many big players on here that I have noticed (even though someone referenced that there were none on here). They are not as a high profile as an Ebay ad, but that does not mean that they are not there.

I think availabilty would be a problem with or without the big players. Disney is getting busier and busier.

OK, you need to come clean and quit jerking everyones chain! You know full well that smw is a business because you have touted renting from them under their other name "funsavervacationhomes.com" AKA Arlene Wechsler AKA alwechsler on the DIS boards. Quit acting like you don't have any connection to smw, it's just silly! I'm starting to get a good laugh out of this.

 

[keys2kingdom]

And this is even better! You seem to be the same person

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=915256

Wow who'd have thunk it??