Help! Not going to close in time, should I rent?

[nerdyjules]

I'm taking my family and one other family for 8-9 days to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, probably 31 October to 8 or 9 November (but could also go 26 October to 2 November, or 7-15 Nov, or basically 8-9 mid-week - mid-week days in that window). I really want a 2 bedroom standard at AKV (Jambo or Kidani is fine). Value would be okay too, but I gather those are like hens teeth.

I was hoping our very first resale contract would close and points would load just on either side of the 7 month window so that I could book in time. But as we're still yet to close, we're at least 2 weeks away from points loading, based on everything I've read here about timelines. And because I'm not yet a member, I can't keep an eye on availability.

I'm worried if I wait 2 or 3 weeks to book, it will be too late and I won't get a 2 bedroom. I could rent the points right now to secure it (if from 31 Oct is even still available), and then rent out my points when they come through. Based on David's quotes, I'll only be out of pocket about $300 to do this. However, I also loose the ability to cancel if things change (unlikely, but not impossible). Obviously if I use my points instead, if I need to cancel I can still rent them out or rebook (with a handy Sept use year). If I can't get a double, I could get 1 single and 1 studio (separately), but in dollar terms that's closer to a $750 difference (and my preference is for a double anyway); other options include upgrading, etc.

So I am hoping those who can login and check availability, and those who know the pattern of these things generally, can help me with advice! Am I in enough risk of not getting a 2 bedroom in any of the above dates, if I have to book 2 or 3 weeks from now, to justify spending $300 and making a non-cancellable booking to secure it now (if I even still can)? (I'm actually more worried about the non-cancellability than the cash - which is obviously not insignificant, but less significant when you've got 2 different families coming from 2 different parts of the world for a holiday at Disney).

 

[TeeKo]

I'm taking my family and one other family for 8-9 days to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, probably 31 October to 8 or 9 November (but could also go 26 October to 2 November, or 7-15 Nov, or basically 8-9 mid-week - mid-week days in that window). I really want a 2 bedroom standard at AKV (Jambo or Kidani is fine). Value would be okay too, but I gather those are like hens teeth.

I was hoping our very first resale contract would close and points would load just on either side of the 7 month window so that I could book in time. But as we're still yet to close, we're at least 2 weeks away from points loading, based on everything I've read here about timelines. And because I'm not yet a member, I can't keep an eye on availability.

I'm worried if I wait 2 or 3 weeks to book, it will be too late and I won't get a 2 bedroom. I could rent the points right now to secure it (if from 31 Oct is even still available), and then rent out my points when they come through. Based on David's quotes, I'll only be out of pocket about $300 to do this. However, I also loose the ability to cancel if things change (unlikely, but not impossible). Obviously if I use my points instead, if I need to cancel I can still rent them out or rebook (with a handy Sept use year). If I can't get a double, I could get 1 single and 1 studio (separately), but in dollar terms that's closer to a $750 difference (and my preference is for a double anyway); other options include upgrading, etc.

So I am hoping those who can login and check availability, and those who know the pattern of these things generally, can help me with advice! Am I in enough risk of not getting a 2 bedroom in any of the above dates, if I have to book 2 or 3 weeks from now, to justify spending $300 and making a non-cancellable booking to secure it now (if I even still can)? (I'm actually more worried about the non-cancellability than the cash - which is obviously not insignificant, but less significant when you've got 2 different families coming from 2 different parts of the world for a holiday at Disney).

I just checked availability. Moving to 10/26 does NOT improve the availability unfortunately.

Currently:
Kidani
2 bedroom Savanna
Not available 10/30, 11/2-5, 11/9
2 bedroom Standard
Not available 11/2-11-5, 11/9
Jambo
2 bedroom Savanna
Not available
11/1-11/6, 11/9
2 bedroom Standard
Not available
10/31-11/6

I don't have time to check on singles, studios right now but can check for you later tonight if no one else replies. Good luck with your planning! I'm stressing a closing/scheduling situation myself!

 

[CMNJ]

I think you have a couple of issues with your dates that could be contributing to lack of availability.

1. You are looking to go during Oct/Nov which is notoriously popular with DVC members due to lower point costs, good weather, and special events

2. Your various dates overlap several extremely popular events-the last few MNSSHP, first few MVMCP, the F&W half marathon (1st weekend in Nov), Veterans Day weekend/last weekend of F&W (2nd weekend in nov), and Jersey Week (week between those two weekends where all NJ schools get thurs/fri off).
I suspect you will have to waitlist for anything at AKV for a 8-9 night stay booked into the seven month window. I would strongly consider SSR as that may be your only option to book readily and then waitlist what you truly want as soon as you have access to your points.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Realistically, you're already too late.

 

[nerdyjules]

Oh my. Okay thank you so much. (I got some bad advice early on it seems!) Presumably if I was going to hold SSR, I'd just wait for my own points (if you rent points you're locked in aren't you?). I can see a way I could split between kidani and Jambo with a gap in the middle that I could try to fill with my own points when they came in, and if I get completely stuck either rack rates 2 studios or move to SSR for one night...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Oh my. Okay thank you so much. (I got some bad advice early on it seems!) Presumably if I was going to hold SSR, I'd just wait for my own points (if you rent points you're locked in aren't you?). I can see a way I could split between kidani and Jambo with a gap in the middle that I could try to fill with my own points when they came in, and if I get completely stuck either rack rates 2 studios or move to SSR for one night...

TBH, once 7 months hits, you might not be able to get SSR either. You're looking at a high demand time. The people who hold HHI, Vero and Aulani points haven't even been able to try to book on property for those dates yet. Your dates include a lot of big events, and that makes it harder. Your later dates include the Wine & Dine Half, if I'm not mistaken.

If you really want any those dates, renting to SSR and renting your points for later dates is going to be the safest bet. The longer you wait, the more split stay/waitlisting you'll be doing.

 

[FireflyTrance]

My suggestion would be a split stay where you go to AKV for 1-3 nights and spend most of that time at the resort, and then stay at SSR for the remainder of the trip. I love AKV, but I mostly like it to stay there and enjoy the resort. We stayed for one night last year and just spent all the time there eating at the restaurants, viewing the animals, and walking around the resort. For days you are mostly going to EP, MK or HS, SSR would be an easier place to stay.

 

[nerdyjules]

Thank you all so much - I am on to rental now and looking at splitting between OKW and then AKV for the latter half of my available travel window (paying home resort premium on the rentals, but now I feel like it's well worth it!!) Good lesson for trying to travel outside HRA at that time of year.