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

[Disney Dad ADL]

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.

Overall, I would say you shouldn't have a problem finding a room with those choices.
As I mentioned previously, I only actually looked at 11 months at BLT, but my guess based on what's available now for December 2016:

Easy:
Poly Studio Standard View
Poly Studio Lake View
BLT Studio Lake View
AKL Studio Savannah View
BWV Studio Garden Pool View

Medium:
AKL Studio Standard View
BCV Studio

Hard (should probably book right when window opens):
VWL Studio
VGF - all studios
BWV Studio Standard View
BWV Studio Boardwalk View
BLT Studio Standard View
BLT Studio Theme Park View

 

[freediverdude]

And, the Poly is a pretty short walk from the GF as well. Shorter than you would think. The luau area is pretty close to the wedding planning office across from VGF. You don't realize until you walk over that way and you're like, oh, it's right there. And there's a boat that goes from GF to Poly also.

 

[GPC0321]

Thanks guys. The Poly is definitely high on the list. When I saw a comparison of the sq. footage of the DVC studios last night, I was amazed at how much bigger the Poly studios are than all the others, even VGF.

I have another question. Regarding the hard-to-get places, some have mentioned they can get reserved years in advance and I'd need to have an owner "in my pocket" already to get, say, a VGF studio at Christmas. Yesterday I was 20 months out from check-in. I'm not sure about proper etiquette on the rent/trade boards, but should I keep an eye out for VGF owners and approach them via PM or email about next December at this point? I don't want to harass the poor folks, and I'm not sure they'd even be able to tell me definitely whether they could rent to me that far in advance?

Thanks for all the help! It's been more beneficial than you could know!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

When I saw a comparison of the sq. footage of the DVC studios last night, I was amazed at how much bigger the Poly studios are than all the others, even VGF.

A lot of that square footage is the second bathroom.

Regarding the hard-to-get places, some have mentioned they can get reserved years in advance and I'd need to have an owner "in my pocket" already to get, say, a VGF studio at Christmas.

The "years in advance" was a bit of an exaggeration. No ROOM can be reserved any sooner than 11 months out. However, some owners who rent work with renters more than 11 months out. (And AKV-CL is a special case involving working the system to get it reserved well before 11 months; you don't want the dirty details there.)

What you need is an owner, with VGF points, who wants to rent their points that include December 2017 in their Use Year, who is willing to be online at 7:55AM exactly 11 months out from the first day of your intended reservation. You will pay more than you would pay a broker for the points on this basis, in many cases.

 

[GPC0321]

A lot of that square footage is the second bathroom.


The "years in advance" was a bit of an exaggeration. No ROOM can be reserved any sooner than 11 months out. However, some owners who rent work with renters more than 11 months out. (And AKV-CL is a special case involving working the system to get it reserved well before 11 months; you don't want the dirty details there.)

What you need is an owner, with VGF points, who wants to rent their points that include December 2017 in their Use Year, who is willing to be online at 7:55AM exactly 11 months out from the first day of your intended reservation. You will pay more than you would pay a broker for the points on this basis, in many cases.

Okay, gotcha. Sounds like Poly might be a more realistic option than VGF, but I won't give up hope just yet.
Love that extra bathroom at Poly.
Thanks!

 

[crisi]

Overall, I would say you shouldn't have a problem finding a room with those choices.
As I mentioned previously, I only actually looked at 11 months at BLT, but my guess based on what's available now for December 2016:

Easy:
Poly Studio Standard View
Poly Studio Lake View
BLT Studio Lake View
AKL Studio Savannah View
BWV Studio Garden Pool View

Medium:
AKL Studio Standard View
BCV Studio

Hard (should probably book right when window opens):
VWL Studio
VGF - all studios
BWV Studio Standard View
BWV Studio Boardwalk View
BLT Studio Standard View
BLT Studio Theme Park View

I'd say all of the hards are going to be near impossible for a rental in December. That is the time of year when owners are walking those room types - and its the rare owner who will walk a rental.

 

[GPC0321]

I'd say all of the hards are going to be near impossible for a rental in December. That is the time of year when owners are walking those room types - and its the rare owner who will walk a rental.

What about November before Thanksgiving? Around the 16th-21st? And does choosing a 1-bedroom or a lake view studio make it more or less likely?
I'm really thinking any of the monorail resorts would be a dream come true, and I'm willing to look at November to try to nab four consecutive nights at one of them.

Thanks for replying!

 

[crisi]

I don't think you'll have luck with most of the hard room types from late September through early January. Its a tough time to book - and the people who really like those resorts have realized its a hard time to book and have bought their points at those resorts to book those times. Which means they'll do contortions to make sure they get a room - contortions people aren't likely to do for a renter.

A one bedroom will be easier and a lake view at BLT will be easier - as will a non-Boardwalk, non-Standard View (Preferred View) at BWV. In both cases you will need an owner - there will not be a lot available at seven months and the non-home-resort owners will start their contortions.

VWL you'll have chances at until the week of Thanksgiving. However, you won't get Christmas decorations until the day after Thanksgiving.

Also, make sure you understand what a DVC studio is. Its a Queen bed and a pullout couch (except at OKW which you aren't considering). A one bedroom is a King Bed and a pullout couch in the living room. There is no daily housekeeping with a DVC rental, and no daily fresh towels - you can pay extra for both housekeeping and towels.

 

[GPC0321]

I don't think you'll have luck with most of the hard room types from late September through early January. Its a tough time to book - and the people who really like those resorts have realized its a hard time to book and have bought their points at those resorts to book those times. Which means they'll do contortions to make sure they get a room - contortions people aren't likely to do for a renter.

A one bedroom will be easier and a lake view at BLT will be easier - as will a non-Boardwalk, non-Standard View (Preferred View) at BWV. In both cases you will need an owner - there will not be a lot available at seven months and the non-home-resort owners will start their contortions.

VWL you'll have chances at until the week of Thanksgiving. However, you won't get Christmas decorations until the day after Thanksgiving.

Also, make sure you understand what a DVC studio is. Its a Queen bed and a pullout couch (except at OKW which you aren't considering). A one bedroom is a King Bed and a pullout couch in the living room. There is no daily housekeeping with a DVC rental, and no daily fresh towels - you can pay extra for both housekeeping and towels.

Thank you for your insight. I'm aware of what the DVC studios and 1-bedrooms are. I've been devouring every bit of information I can find online, including watching videos on Youtube of all the various villas at the DVC resorts.
I'm surprised to hear the Christmas decorations won't go up until the day after Thanksgiving. I had read somewhere that the resorts often switch over around the middle of the month. Oh well.
I guess I'll just have my list of "hopefuls" and if we cannot get into a monorail resort or Epcot area resort, maybe AKV (which I'd personally love, to be honest). And as a horse person, I have to say Saratoga Springs right up my alley too.

 

[fdwang]

Past performance is never a guarantee of future performance, but you might find previous booking patterns helpful in setting your strategy. Check out these charts created by another DVC Member: http://www.disboards.com/threads/pr...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

 

[GPC0321]

Past performance is never a guarantee of future performance, but you might find previous booking patterns helpful in setting your strategy. Check out these charts created by another DVC Member: http://www.disboards.com/threads/pr...-some-1-bedrooms-vgc-update-10-21-15.3419112/

That is awesome and exactly the information I needed to see!

Looks like VGF is pretty much not going to happen, but I was happy to see a slim chance for a BLT Lake View or a VWL. I'm definitely going to be trying at the 11 month mark. I've even contacted a broker who says I can submit my reservation form a month prior to the 11 month mark so it will be on file and ready to go. I still haven't decided if I'll go with a broker or try to find someone via the board here, but I'll probably have a better idea of that as the time gets closer.

Thanks again!

 

[mort1331]

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).

I'd say all of the hards are going to be near impossible for a rental in December. That is the time of year when owners are walking those room types - and its the rare owner who will walk a rental.

Just to give a glimmer of hope. Money talks and there are owners that will walk for the right price, never hurts to ask.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Just to give a glimmer of hope. Money talks and there are owners that will walk for the right price, never hurts to ask.

That's why I also said

You will pay more than you would pay a broker for the points on this basis, in many cases.

When cost is a motivator for point rental, it's also important to know that if you want an owner to go above and beyond, you won't be paying $14/16 a point. What premium there will be will depend on the owner.

 

[GPC0321]

Just to give a glimmer of hope. Money talks and there are owners that will walk for the right price, never hurts to ask.

Makes sense. I'm not exactly sure how to go about "asking" though, as I don't want to offend anyone or seem pushy or rude about it. Do I just look for owners on the rent/trade board and PM them? How soon should I be doing that?
Thanks for your glimmer of hope.

 

[GPC0321]

When cost is a motivator for point rental, it's also important to know that if you want an owner to go above and beyond, you won't be paying $14/16 a point. What premium there will be will depend on the owner.

Oh, absolutely. I would expect to pay more for anyone willing to go above and beyond like that. And I would be more than willing to do that if it comes to that. Thanks for the tip!

 

[mort1331]

Makes sense. I'm not exactly sure how to go about "asking" though, as I don't want to offend anyone or seem pushy or rude about it. Do I just look for owners on the rent/trade board and PM them? How soon should I be doing that?
Thanks for your glimmer of hope.

Not pushy at all, your just asking. In the same ask you could either state how much you were willing to pay extra, or ask how much they would be willing to do it for.
Good Luck