How to succeed at renting points?

[_auroraborealis_]

I heard that people sometimes score last minute deals so that's why I decided to just give it a try.

Last minute deals are usually one of two things: Renting a confirmed reservation that someone else has become unable to use, matching those dates exactly, or Saratoga Springs in the off-season. October is not DVC off-season.

For October rental, 11 months is really the best bet, unless you're flexible or okay with Saratoga, OKW or Animal Kingdom, which are large and usually have some availability past 7 months.

 

[Marionnette]

Ah ok...I knew it was too good to be true. I heard that people sometimes score last minute deals so that's why I decided to just give it a try. My deposit gets refunded if they can't match my request. I haven't heard back yet, but I guess I can lower my expectations now.
So for future, I should try 11 months out? or 7 months out? I'm a FL resident so I tend to just make last minute decisions and just drive up.

It all depends on where you want to stay and when. If you want an Epcot studio (especially BWV Std.) during F&W, you will want to get your request in BEFORE the 11-month window so that broker can line up an owner at that resort who has the number of points you need.

If you want a studio at GF at any time of the year, you will also want to have a request in before 11 months. And even then, your chances aren't good because there are not a lot of studios at GF.

If you focus on staying at one of the larger resorts (AKV, SSR or OKW) then your chances of getting what you want will be greater at the 7 month window than at any of the other resorts.

Many of the brokers will list confirmed reservations that are often last-minute (as far as DVC is concerned) and you can sometimes get a deal on those if you can be flexible with your resort and dates.

 

[crisi]

See, this is all helpful information. When is a better time to go? What locations should I look at? We aren't wedded to one resort or one time of year, although we'd want to get closer to the action (Epcot/MK) if we were going to go this route. I do need to make my vacation requests at work 6-12 mo in advance, and holidays and summer are still not guaranteed. If you've been successful renting points for a single family, what did you do? Or if that never really happens, it's okay too, I'd just like to know so I don't waste time on it again. Thanks!

Since you are flexible, make a list of the resorts and room types you want in order of preference, and talk to the broker eleven months out. If you really want BCV, but will take BWV, BLT, VWL - let them know. That will mean that when an owner hits for ANY of those resorts, and you are at the top of the list, you will get called.

Newer DVC resorts tend to have less owners looking to rent. I mean, if you just spent $165 a point on the Poly, you'd want to use your own points too, right? People that have owned for fifteen or twenty years, they probably are past the "kids need to go every year" stage and may be taking more breaks from Disney. At the same time, there are LOTS of renters who also want to stay at the brand new resort. Your chances become much slimmer.

The last three months of the year - and into mid January - are the toughest times to book. The rest of the year is fairly variable.

But there are more people looking to rent DVC than their are owners who want to rent out their points. So success is a matter of right place, right time - otherwise known as luck.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Well, you guys were right, no luck...thanks for all the info and help.

 

[Lynne M]

Forgive me if someone's already mentioned this, but since you mentioned smaller/standard studios, going for the studios with the lowest point cost can often be a problem. For instance, standard view studios at BWV, or value studios at AKV. There aren't many of them, and owners (who love to conserve their points) will jump on those literally the minute the 11-month window opens.

You may have better luck if you try a slightly more expensive point category, where available. For instance, savannah view at AKV. There are far, far more of those at the resort than there are value studios, and they're usually pretty easy to get even at a later date.

Yes, you'll have to pay more, but that's the tradeoff for booking after the 11-month window. If you want to get those lowest-cost studios, you have to be working with an owner in advance of 11 months, so they can be on the phone or website the minute that booking starts.

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

I just tried a broker tonight for the first time. I am looking for mid october for 3 nights...I thought if the villas/room type was offered then it is available...as cost was listed I guess I don't stand a reasonable chance as I asked for 1. GF 2. BC 3. BWV and 4. AKL in that order. I requested standard studio.

I guess I'll know within 24 hours.

Edited to add: Do they get last minute (or in this case 2 months) owners wanting to rent?

Yes, this happens. I'm one who has discounted points available for rent between now through Nov, for instance. That said, you don't have to go through a broker; you can go direct through an owner.

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

I made arrangements with the DVC owner (telling him six months before we were going to book, etc) to make sure he has enough points, following up at three months, etc.

I got all that I wanted (studios at three different resorts) and the owner was kind enough to waitlist concierge for me at AKV (and the waitlist came through a month later).

This sounds like the right way to do it! ... and keep in mind, those six months before the owner books should actually be 18 months before the visit, if you're wanting super tough dates because the owner will have to be on the ball exactly 11 months before the travel date (actually, even sooner!) to ensure capturing the desired stay.

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

If you want to get those lowest-cost studios, you have to be working with an owner in advance of 11 months, so they can be on the phone or website the minute that booking starts.

Yes, this!

 

[Marionnette]

Yes, this happens. I'm one who has discounted points available for rent between now through Nov, for instance. That said, you don't have to go through a broker; you can go direct through an owner.

The PP's problem is more about the lack of available units than it is about the lack of available points to rent. It doesn't matter if there are distressed points available if there are no villas available to use them on. She would have more success at this juncture if she were to seek confirmed reservations to rent instead of points for October of this year.

 

[starry_solo]

The PP's problem is more about the lack of available units than it is about the lack of available points to rent. It doesn't matter if there are distressed points available if there are no villas available to use them on. She would have more success at this juncture if she were to seek confirmed reservations to rent instead of points for October of this year.

Agreed. You really have to be researching 13-18 months prior to your desired reservation date for owners that have 11-month priority at their home resort, in those difficult to get, low point studios, for certain reservation times (Food & Wine, Marathon, etc.)

 

[mustinjourney]

I just tried a broker tonight for the first time. I am looking for mid october for 3 nights...I thought if the villas/room type was offered then it is available...as cost was listed I guess I don't stand a reasonable chance as I asked for 1. GF 2. BC 3. BWV and 4. AKL in that order. I requested standard studio.

I guess I'll know within 24 hours.

Edited to add: Do they get last minute (or in this case 2 months) owners wanting to rent?

if you are looking for a non-split stay for October 2016 at any of those four choices, I can tell you right now it's highly unlikely. At best you might be able to pick up a day at one of them and then try to build a reservation from there -- but trying to rent points like that will be very difficult. Days that open up during food and wine tend to get snatched fairly quickly. I've had two that showed availability, and then were gone before I could finish the booking process. So the chances of having an owner get them for you, after you notified a broker, are going to be very slim.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Heck, GF for October was gone last November.

 

[codina818]

Im not sure why everyone is using a broker. The best resource for renting is right here, at Dis..the rent trade section.

DVC broker's have an interesting role with regard to DVC points.. they can't do anything more for you than any other person who has points.

 

[crisi]

Because brokers are easier and grant some assurance without much of a premium - you don't spend your time checking the board for an owner, only to find their points are gone already by the time you respond.

Really, the whole thing comes down to "there is a shortage of points available for rental at the resort renters are most interested in." It doesn't matter what path you use, you may get frozen out.