In a bind... may have to cancel

[GILL-WDW]

My DW and I have a trip planned for March 23-28 in a studio at BWV. We are both teachers in Ohio (different districts) and she has missed 2 days over there allotment of snow days so now they have to make them up during their Spring Break. Long story short there is no way around her talking any type of leave (or any other teacher) because they have been told they are not allowed.
We have non refundable flights (we could move them i guess) and we are also planning on a trip in June (again we have already purchased non refundable flights). I guess my question is should I try to rent my points in March to someone or should i try to make a LONG trip in June. I'm not sure how renting works.

Any thoughts would be great!! (Quitting our jobs in not an option!!)

 

[dallastxcpa]

Depending on your use year and borrowing. I would suggest you extend your June vacation and then use any extra points and the flight credits for a food and wine fest trip in the fall.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I vote for the long trip in June. Maybe split it up and try someplace new.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you cancel, your points will go into holding. You will only be able to use the 60 days out to make a reservation. But June or July might be easier than Spring Break. Good luck. OKW or SSR should have something available in June if BWV doesn't. And both of these are wonderful places to stay.

 

[simzac]

If the school system doesn't allow for personal days for the teachers, they have to allow for sick days. No reason you both couldn't be "sick" for those 2 days. That's what substitute teachers are for. JMO

 

[Buckeye Fan]

DH is a teacher (and so are my parents), so I understand your situation. If you can change your flights, cancel the reservation and either extend you vacation this summer. The other possible option (check with MS and see), is depositing your points into II for a different type of vacation. Granted, maybe not the best use of your points, but definitely another option if you don't want to go to WDW again so soon.

 

[kimberh]

You have a very desired week. If you go over to the Rent/Trade board it would probably not be hard to rent. I would require payment in full. If you decide not to rent, then what about the sick days? Renting is not hard to do. Look and see if someone has listed your dates for a Reservation Wanted. If not you can post it. You are within the time frame. I would not give it away. Disney doesn't even offer a discount during Springbreak.

If you rent it, you have to put the reservation in the renters name. You will need all the names and ages of Children. Address, phone number of renter. If they want Disney's Magical Express, you will need their flight info, you will have to call it in. If they want Disney Dining Plan, this has to be paid for at check in. That is it. Some want a contract, some don't. I guess it would depend how fast your renter wanted the reservation. They might want to see that you really have a reservation, it takes about 10 days to get another copy with their name on it. If you rent it late, they can check in without it. They will need the confirmation number.

I hope this helps.

 

[CarolMN]

Sorry about your vacation - I suppose your wife already told the school authorities about your nonrefundable vacation and got a "too bad, so sad" response. Darn those snow days!

As already mentioned, if you cancel now, your points go into the holding account. That means they expire at the end of your current use year. What is your use year? That will determine when those points expire and if they could even be used for a summer trip.

Holding points cannot be used to make a reservation more than 60 days prior to arrival. Since availability is often very limited once the 60 day mark arrives, there's a real possiblity that nothing will be available when you can go.

Renting at the last minute to a stranger isn't an easy thing either. It can be quite risky, especially if you haven't done it before. (Most problems reported here occur because either the owner or the renter or both don't really know what they're doing). Kimberh pretty much gave you the process. Note the suggestion to get payment in full before you change the names on the reservation. It's a good one.

At this point, you have until the day before you arrive to cancel. If you cancel on the day of arrival all of the points are forfeited.

Again, sorry you are in this situation. Hope something works out for you.

 

[dianeschlicht]

To add to what Carol said, if your use year is too close, you might have great success trying to rent out the ressie as it stands, since that is a very popular spring break vacation time.

 

[jacksmom]

My DW and I have a trip planned for March 23-28 in a studio at BWV. We are both teachers in Ohio (different districts) and she has missed 2 days over there allotment of snow days so now they have to make them up during their Spring Break. Long story short there is no way around her talking any type of leave (or any other teacher) because they have been told they are not allowed.
We have non refundable flights (we could move them i guess) and we are also planning on a trip in June (again we have already purchased non refundable flights). I guess my question is should I try to rent my points in March to someone or should i try to make a LONG trip in June. I'm not sure how renting works.

Any thoughts would be great!! (Quitting our jobs in not an option!!)

I am really sorry that you are having problems and I do hope you can work them out! But, if you do decide you have to cancel I would love to know when you do it. I do have a studio booked at SSR for that same time frame, but would love to be at BWV instead! We also had planned a trip for Jan. @ BCV (our home resort) and had to cancel (right before our 30 day) and the only thing avail was 4 nights at SSR (we had to waitlist for 1 night, but it did come through). Again, very sorry for your problems!

 

[DMKEDM]

Very similar situation just happened to us (one difference: our vacation that had to be canceled was scheduled for May--but I have a confirmed reservation and all plans made)...

We're not in our holding period, but I'd used both banked & borrowed points on this reservation, and so would have only until January 31, 2009 to use 73 of the points. Already have most of our Disney plans for the year made...there was a reasonable chance I could/would use those points in that time frame--but no "readily visible" time/way to use them.

So I decided to just look on the R/T board to see what was what...Within 3 days I had three people interested in the week-long reservation...I reached agreement with one person (who's totally thrilled--and man does that feel good to me!)...the transaction isn't yet done...I'm waiting for my renter's payment to arrive (she offered to overnight it, but that seemed to me to be an unnecessary expense, given our time frame, so it's coming by snail mail.)

For me it was totally stress-free...I knew I didn't "have to" rent...I could easily cancel and quite likely find a way to use those 73 "unflexible" points (and bank the others)...and I wasn't facing any time pressure, either...my renter seems pretty happy, too...of course, for me it's essentially "no risk"...I already have the reservation, and I'll make the name switch as soon as the payment clears...for my renter, she may not "know" how secure this transaction is--but I do. I know I won't do anything to cause her stress!

I've already given her the confirmation number, and of course will mail her the written confirmation when it arrives.

My terms were: $12/point, no cancellation (altho I'll make a call to MS if something goes wrong for my renters and they find an alternative person to use the reservation), payment by check, with me making the change in reservation names once the check clears. It's all in writing, including her agreement to be responsible for any damages to the villa for which DVC would charge me. We've spoken by phone and by email, and established a feeling of trust with each other.

So, it would now appear I've had two completely opposite experiences--I got scammed in October 2006 (I'm the OP in the "Sad Story" thread that's linked in Webmaster Doc's "please please please" sticky at the top of the R/T board.) And this one so far is smooth-as-silk and resulting in two very happy families. (Well, how happy can we be given that we have to cancel a planned trip to WDW? But you know what I mean.)

So...I recommend perusing the R/T board for a few days to see if anything pops up that matches what you have and see if it can work as smoothly for you...if not, you can cancel (and deal w/holding points--but you'd have to do that even if you canceled today...so no "new risk" there)...

Good luck!

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for sharing your story! Sorry you had to cancel, but happy that you were able to "make lemonade" for someone else.

Very similar situation just happened to us (one difference: our vacation that had to be canceled was scheduled for May--but I have a confirmed reservation and all plans made)...

We're not in our holding period, but I'd used both banked & borrowed points on this reservation, and so would have only until January 31, 2009 to use 73 of the points. Already have most of our Disney plans for the year made...there was a reasonable chance I could/would use those points in that time frame--but no "readily visible" time/way to use them.

So I decided to just look on the R/T board to see what was what...Within 3 days I had three people interested in the week-long reservation...I reached agreement with one person (who's totally thrilled--and man does that feel good to me!)...the transaction isn't yet done...I'm waiting for my renter's payment to arrive (she offered to overnight it, but that seemed to me to be an unnecessary expense, given our time frame, so it's coming by snail mail.)

For me it was totally stress-free...I knew I didn't "have to" rent...I could easily cancel and quite likely find a way to use those 73 "unflexible" points (and bank the others)...and I wasn't facing any time pressure, either...my renter seems pretty happy, too...of course, for me it's essentially "no risk"...I already have the reservation, and I'll make the name switch as soon as the payment clears...for my renter, she may not "know" how secure this transaction is--but I do. I know I won't do anything to cause her stress!

I've already given her the confirmation number, and of course will mail her the written confirmation when it arrives.

My terms were: $12/point, no cancellation (altho I'll make a call to MS if something goes wrong for my renters and they find an alternative person to use the reservation), payment by check, with me making the change in reservation names once the check clears. It's all in writing, including her agreement to be responsible for any damages to the villa for which DVC would charge me. We've spoken by phone and by email, and established a feeling of trust with each other.

So, it would now appear I've had two completely opposite experiences--I got scammed in October 2006 (I'm the OP in the "Sad Story" thread that's linked in Webmaster Doc's "please please please" sticky at the top of the R/T board.) And this one so far is smooth-as-silk and resulting in two very happy families. (Well, how happy can we be given that we have to cancel a planned trip to WDW? But you know what I mean.)

So...I recommend perusing the R/T board for a few days to see if anything pops up that matches what you have and see if it can work as smoothly for you...if not, you can cancel (and deal w/holding points--but you'd have to do that even if you canceled today...so no "new risk" there)...

Good luck!

 

[Starr W.]

My DW and I have a trip planned for March 23-28 in a studio at BWV. We are both teachers in Ohio (different districts) and she has missed 2 days over there allotment of snow days so now they have to make them up during their Spring Break. Long story short there is no way around her talking any type of leave (or any other teacher) because they have been told they are not allowed.
We have non refundable flights (we could move them i guess) and we are also planning on a trip in June (again we have already purchased non refundable flights). I guess my question is should I try to rent my points in March to someone or should i try to make a LONG trip in June. I'm not sure how renting works.

Any thoughts would be great!! (Quitting our jobs in not an option!!)

Just wonder how many kids your wife will have in her class? .

I'm in Perrysburg(suburb of Toledo) and we tack the days on in June(we start the last week in August). We just missed a parental riot this week. The Toledo Blade had a little article that the board okayed 08-09 school calendar, it mentioned spring break(4/6-4/10) but didn't clarify it was next year. They used our phone alert system to call and say that the dates were for 09 not 08and SB was not going to change this year.

 

[Judique]

Just wonder how many kids your wife will have in her class? .

I'm in Perrysburg(suburb of Toledo) and we tack the days on in June(we start the last week in August). We just missed a parental riot this week. The Toledo Blade had a little article that the board okayed 08-09 school calendar, it mentioned spring break(4/6-4/10) but didn't clarify it was next year. They used our phone alert system to call and say that the dates were for 09 not 08and SB was not going to change this year.

I was wondering the same thing as I work for a school system. The last time where we had a situation that suggested that a spring break would be shortened, when the parents heard about it, the idea of a shorter break fizzled quickly and the days were added to the end of the year. Now our calendar has the days already planned at the end of the year, stating if one snow day, this will be the last day, etc. Too many people book expensive holidays and plane tickets that are not refundable at the last minute.

 

[DIZBOUND]

I am a teacher in NJ. We alomst had to switch our spring break a few years ago. However, for those staff members who had previously scheduled trips that were non refundable the district allowed those staff members to take the time off. They did not get charged sick nor personal time and they got paid! While it was wonderful for those who had tickets, for those of who did not, well we were just a tad bit jealous and upset. Wishing you all the best with what happens with your vacation. Hoping you do not need to cancel