Help needed from experienced DVC renters!

[TorontoJoe]

Hi All,

We're heading to Beach Club in October 2014: 8 adults, 4 teens, 6 children.

We'll need 4 villas (2 x 1 bedroom, 2 x 2 bedroom) but of course can't book them through Disney until much closer to travel dates as they are held for the DVC members.

I could rent the 4 villas through DVC member points (I'm thinking of using David's Vacation Rentals) for a total of 737 points or, I could wait and try to book through Disney once the villas are released for public rental.

I'm a little nervous about renting points for that large a party, given that circumstances change and it sounds like once you've rented the points, you're paying for them and if you need to cancel the trip its difficult to find another renter to take them.

I'm worried that the rooms won't be available if I wait, so I'm between a rock and a hard place!

Does anyone have an idea of what my chances would be on waiting until next Spring and how much inventory is usually available for October travel dates?

Any guidance is appreciated!

 

[magicaldisney]

You will be going during Food and Wine so you might have some difficulty. With BC being at Epcot's backdoor, they will fill up more quickly. If you have your heart set on BC, then I personally would not wait unless you are ok with going to a different resort.

 

[JimMIA]

I'm a little nervous about renting points for that large a party, given that circumstances change and it sounds like once you've rented the points, you're paying for them and if you need to cancel the trip its difficult to find another renter to take them.

I'd be very nervous about that too! The best way to look at a DVC rental is that it is non-cancelable and non-refundable. If you assume anything else, you are just asking for trouble.

And that's my first suggestion -- if an absolute no-change policy doesn't work for you, don't rent. You will pay MUCH more booking direct through Disney, but at least you'll be able to cancel if you need to.

My second suggestion -- no matter how you do the accommodations -- is to let each family make their own reservations and pay for them. Unless you are treating everyone, you are putting yourself in a very exposed position by making all the arrangements yourself. Circumstances do indeed change, and you don't want to get stuck with the tab.

The primary circumstance that is likely to change in that scenario is motivation to go through with the trip. Unless the people going are experienced Disney travelers, they are likely to get sticker shock as they start to add up the costs -- not just lodging, but also airfare, other transportation, meals, park tickets, trinkets, etc, etc, etc. WDW is a very expensive vacation and when that realization sinks in, people tend to come up with all sorts of reasons why they can't do it right now. If you're on the hook for part of the tab, that's a bad scenario for you.

I also agree with the previous poster that your time frame is going to be very difficult to get at BCV. You need 2 one-bedrooms, there are only 20 and you're going at what is probably the busiest time of the year for BCV. You'd probably have much better luck at BWV, but even that may be hard trying to get 4 rooms.

Good luck.

 

[DVC Dude]

My second suggestion -- no matter how you do the accommodations -- is to let each family make their own reservations and pay for them. Unless you are treating everyone, you are putting yourself in a very exposed position by making all the arrangements yourself. Circumstances do indeed change, and you don't want to get stuck with the tab.

I 100% agree with this suggestion

 

[crisi]

To add to Jim's excellent post, even if you are treating everyone, make sure you won't have hard feelings if they cancel leaving you holding rooms. Jim is right that the primary reason people cancel is they determine they can't swing it, but we've seen people holding the bag because one of the kids has a soccer game.

You'll need to make those reservations next month to get those rooms, but I really think this is not a good idea

 

[Deb & Bill]

At seven months or less, you'll have little or no chance to get even one of them.

 

[dansamy]

At seven months or less, you'll have little or no chance to get even one of them.

This. It's just not likely. It's a hugely popular time of the year for DVC owners. The weather, the crowd level, the point cost and then toss in F&W just for fun. And you want FOUR villas at THE most popular spot on DVC property for F&W.

 

[Dean]

Hi All,

We're heading to Beach Club in October 2014: 8 adults, 4 teens, 6 children.

We'll need 4 villas (2 x 1 bedroom, 2 x 2 bedroom) but of course can't book them through Disney until much closer to travel dates as they are held for the DVC members.

I could rent the 4 villas through DVC member points (I'm thinking of using David's Vacation Rentals) for a total of 737 points or, I could wait and try to book through Disney once the villas are released for public rental.

I'm a little nervous about renting points for that large a party, given that circumstances change and it sounds like once you've rented the points, you're paying for them and if you need to cancel the trip its difficult to find another renter to take them.

I'm worried that the rooms won't be available if I wait, so I'm between a rock and a hard place!

Does anyone have an idea of what my chances would be on waiting until next Spring and how much inventory is usually available for October travel dates?

Any guidance is appreciated!

You'll have to decide between savings and the ability to cancel. IMO they best option would be to book now for part of the units and wait on part depending on how confident you are that the trip will happen exactly as planned. Another is to consider BWV standard view for a cheaper price. I'd suggest you go privately rather than through a service due to the cost difference. I think you can protect yourself just as well with research than using a service. I agree that if you wait you'll likely not get anything at BCV or BWV.

 

[crisi]

The Boardwalk Standard View will be as hard or harder to get at that time of year in that quantity as the Beach Club.