Looking at renting DVC points for the first time...

[GPC0321]

Hey all. After much consideration, my folks and I have reconsidered a "quickie" trip this December and have decided to try to do our "dream" trip next December (2017). It will be my mom's 75th birthday (Dec. 23), and my dad, who prefers chilling at the resort to hitting the parks, is smitten with the idea of staying at the Grand Floridian. He's a trumpet player, and his idea of a good day is hanging in the lobby listening to the band while having a drink. Mom and I are in total love with the Magic Kingdom, so the idea of being that close to it is almost too much to handle! LOL!

My question is, how difficult can I expect it be to snag a VGF studio for Dec. 17-21? And when it says I can book 11 months out, does that mean I need to be jumping on it at the stroke of midnight January 17th?

Our heart is set on seeing Disney at Christmas, and staying at the Grand Floridian is something we'd never get to do if it wasn't for DVC. So any tips that can help me make this dream come true would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks guys!

 

[disneynutz]

December 2017 right? I would contact the people who you decide to rent from at 12 months prior to your check in date. Some people are reserving points a couple of years in advance.

Bill

 

[GPC0321]

December 2017 right? I would contact the people who you decide to rent from at 12 months prior to your check in date. Some people are reserving points a couple of years in advance.

Bill

Yes, 2017. I was going to go through one of the rental sites, but would I have better luck trying to find someone on my own? I'll be keeping tabs on the board here for sure.
Thanks for your reply!

 

[disneynutz]

Check out the rent/trade forum, I'm sure that you can find someone.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

You need to have a VGF owner in your pocket before you can even book it. So they can call or go online right when booking opens to make your reservation. Most of the point brokers don't get many VGF owners wanting to rent out their points.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

And point brokers are not a good option for a hard-to-book room, like a VGF studio at Christmas.

 

[GPC0321]

Okay, this is what I was wondering. Luckily I've been researching other options and am kind of in love with the idea of AKV club level too. But honestly, even beyond those two, I'll be happy with Poly, BLT, VWL, BC, or BWV. And it's not like I'll cancel the trip if we wind up at OKW or SS. They're all lovely resorts, and we can still visit the GF at least.

Is AKV club level pretty tough to secure too? That seems almost too good to be true!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Okay, this is what I was wondering. Luckily I've been researching other options and am kind of in love with the idea of AKV club level too. But honestly, even beyond those two, I'll be happy with Poly, BLT, VWL, BC, or BWV. And it's not like I'll cancel the trip if we wind up at OKW or SS. They're all lovely resorts, and we can still visit the GF at least.

Is AKV club level pretty tough to secure too? That seems almost too good to be true!

AKV Club Level at Christmas is even harder than VGF studio, and infinitely less likely.

 

[GPC0321]

AKV Club Level at Christmas is even harder than VGF studio, and infinitely less likely.

See. I said it seemed too good to be true! LOL
Ah well. I'll be happy with whatever we can get. There are good things about all of them. Thanks for the "reality check".

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are only five two bedroom lockoffs on the sixth floor of Jambo House that are considered Concierge villas. They go even before 11 months out and many members walk their reservation to get them.

 

[GPC0321]

There are only five two bedroom lockoffs on the sixth floor of Jambo House that are considered Concierge villas. They go even before 11 months out and many members walk their reservation to get them.

I see. Not a problem. I'll have to readjust the fantasy, LOL.

I wonder which of these is most likely to have availability 11 months out from my dates?
Poly standard studio
Bay Lake standard or lake view studio
Wilderness Lodge standard studio
Beach Club standard studio
Boardwalk standard or preferred studio
Animal Kingdom standard or savannah studio

I'm assuming Wilderness Lodge will be highly popular during that time too.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

People will be walking AKV Club Level from October on for Christmas. Realistically, that will never come via rental, because no renter is willing to pay for the effort of 60 days of rez walking (and no owner is willing to go that far for a renter who isn't their mom).

 

[maburke]

I see. Not a problem. I'll have to readjust the fantasy, LOL.

I wonder which of these is most likely to have availability 11 months out from my dates?
Poly standard studio
Bay Lake standard or lake view studio
Wilderness Lodge standard studio
Beach Club standard studio
Boardwalk standard or preferred studio
Animal Kingdom standard or savannah studio

I'm assuming Wilderness Lodge will be highly popular during that time too.

You've listed them just about in order of difficulty, except VWL will probably be harder than BLT, because of Christmas, and BLT standard and BWV standard are both quite a bit harder than their lake/preferred counterparts. I don't know anything about the Poly.

I would do as pp mentioned, & start looking 12 months in advance. I don't own at VGF, but I love working with renters right at the 11-month mark. We can get all the details & contract done in advance, and I usually feel confident that I can get what they need at 11 months at 8am.

 

[GPC0321]

You've listed them just about in order of difficulty, except VWL will probably be harder than BLT, because of Christmas, and BLT standard and BWV standard are both quite a bit harder than their lake/preferred counterparts. I don't know anything about the Poly.

I would do as pp mentioned, & start looking 12 months in advance. I don't own at VGF, but I love working with renters right at the 11-month mark. We can get all the details & contract done in advance, and I usually feel confident that I can get what they need at 11 months at 8am.

That's great information and advice, thanks!
I guess I'll read up on here and elsewhere to get as knowledgeable as I can, and by December I'll have a better grasp on how to proceed. Glad I started early!
Thanks again!

 

[Deb & Bill]

BLT studio will be very small for three adults. Polynesian studio might work and your dad can just hop the monorail over the GF.

 

[GotLabradors]

We rented VGF for our last trip. None of the brokers I contacted had a VGF owner with enough points to rent at the 11 month mark. I was able to find an owner through the rent/trade board here on the DIS. It was completely worth it. I would start there and see if you can find an owner who would be willing to rent points to you. I don't know if a 1 bedroom would be in your budget, but that may be easier to get than a studio at VGF.

 

[GPC0321]

BLT studio will be very small for three adults. Polynesian studio might work and your dad can just hop the monorail over the GF.

Yes, I have watched the videos of all of the DVC studios on Youtube, and BLT did seem small. I was impressed with the Poly studio, and I hadn't even thought about how easy it would be to hop over to the GF.
Dad's favorite park is Epcot, and I'm going to try to book the Candlelight Processional dinner package for one night (he's going to LOVE that!). The only day he'll want to go to a park will be Epcot day, so I kind of think Beach Club could be good too (though I'm not sure how those compare size-wise) for ease of getting to the World Showcase. I hated seeing him standing on the packed buses at Easter heading back to the resort. He's got rheumatoid arthritis and though he's tough and stoic about it, it really did wear him out. He liked the boat ride when we went from WS over to HS one evening.

Thanks for your wisdom and help. I'm so glad I started the thread. I wasn't sure where to begin, but I am much wiser now.

 

[GPC0321]

We rented VGF for our last trip. None of the brokers I contacted had a VGF owner with enough points to rent at the 11 month mark. I was able to find an owner through the rent/trade board here on the DIS. It was completely worth it. I would start there and see if you can find an owner who would be willing to rent points to you. I don't know if a 1 bedroom would be in your budget, but that may be easier to get than a studio at VGF.

Thanks for this! A glimmer of hope!
I've considered the 1 bedroom, and I think it MIGHT be doable. With that kitchen, we could probably save enough money on food to make up the price difference! And the other thing my dad loves to do besides read and listen to music, is cook! Hmmmm....
Thanks again!

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

I was scoping out the December 2016 availability at the 11 month window at BLT just out of curiosity. Pretty much any standard view room was snapped up right away, but a lake view studio or lake view 1 bedroom is definitely doable. In fact they are still available now. I don't know about other resorts though.

 

[GPC0321]

I was scoping out the December 2016 availability at the 11 month window at BLT just out of curiosity. Pretty much any standard view room was snapped up right away, but a lake view studio or lake view 1 bedroom is definitely doable. In fact they are still available now. I don't know about other resorts though.

Ah, good to know!
I'd definitely be up for Lake view studios at VGF, Poly, or BLT, or a Theme Park View at BLT, or maybe even a 1 bedroom at some (though looking at VGF again, not sure I could swing that 1 BR. Maybe!)