Never rented DVC... ques about timing...

[DisneyJColeMom]

Im around 70 days out from our first big Disney Trip with our 7 year old. I have a Poly standard view villa booked through Disney’s official website. I really want a Lake View room, but since July of last year, a lake view room has not become available even once during my dates of stay. So someone on here mentioned my looking at DVC rental points (Ive never even heard of this). I did, and i seemed to find a Lake view through one of the websites. But I hesitate bc of the cancellation policy, and the unpredictability of the Covid times we’re living in, plus Poly keeps announcing random construction projects on top of whats already going on (Im referencing the Kiki splash area that i hope will be back up by April). As the trip is approaching, how last minute can i book that DVC room by renting it, if im lucky & its still available closer to the trip? I guess im also worried too that if we get to Poly & find we’re unhappy with construction, we wont have a remedy? As of what Ive read in this forum now, I feel willing to stay there still even with that going on, but know it could be different in person. Any feedback is appreciated!

 

[Meglen]

I have rented 2 times now from a website and from the boards here. I guess your best bet would to just reply to the renting forum and see if anyone has what you are looking for. When renting points there is always a chance you lose money. If the renter is unable to move the reservation you are sol. When booking with disney you do not have this worry. I do not think the lake view is worth the risk but if its something you really need just stalk the forums for points up for grabs.

Edit- I also always rented for dates 11-10 months out. I am not sure how hard it is for rooms right now for that time.

 

[jenmsmith]

I’ve rented now three times for last minute stays in the past three months. They were actually from three different agencies, just because I went with whatever worked best for us at that time. All three of them were a good experience including the ones that the DIS works with now. You are correct that it is the finality of renting these points that make it both a risk and why it can be less expensive to do so.

Each time, I had a reservation book directly with Disney. When I saw points get to $12 a point or $10 a point for a similar room or resort, I contacted the agency through their contact forms and set in motion the rental. The confirmed special page from www.dvcrentalstore.com is a good resource. Check for your dates, and if it gets to a point value you are comfortable with, contact them right away. These are not refundable, so in our present times it might be worth exploring travel insurance. Of course, when you do that make sure you understand the terms of the travel insurance. The travel insurance I have purchased covers quarantine orders as well as sickness, but it wouldn’t cover me if I just decided I didn’t feel it was safe to travel.
Good luck on your decision!

 

[ElizabethG]

Rooms available with DVC points and those available for cash come from different inventories. Renting DVC rooms has some additional risk. It is often a final transaction. DVC points expire and members have to use them by a certain time. There are a lot of points that have gone unused in 2020. As PP mentioned, that has made some great deals available for distressed points. However, you have to be willing to take on the risk.
Yes, you can wait until the last minute. That is usually when the best deals are found anyway. There may be nothing left at that point or maybe there will be plenty of inventory and low point rental costs.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

And yes, if you are unhappy with the Poly because of closures, there won't be a remedy. If there is, it is pixie dust.

 

[Sandisw]

As long as the room is there, you can get an owner to book and then rent it. But, as you mentioned, you will be stuck, will most likely have no ability to cancel or change if an emergency happens,

I would say it all depends on the savings.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

I’ve rented now three times for last minute stays in the past three months. They were actually from three different agencies, just because I went with whatever worked best for us at that time. All three of them were a good experience including the ones that the DIS works with now. You are correct that it is the finality of renting these points that make it both a risk and why it can be less expensive to do so.

Each time, I had a reservation book directly with Disney. When I saw points get to $12 a point or $10 a point for a similar room or resort, I contacted the agency through their contact forms and set in motion the rental. The confirmed special page from www.dvcrentalstore.com is a good resource. Check for your dates, and if it gets to a point value you are comfortable with, contact them right away. These are not refundable, so in our present times it might be worth exploring travel insurance. Of course, when you do that make sure you understand the terms of the travel insurance. The travel insurance I have purchased covers quarantine orders as well as sickness, but it wouldn’t cover me if I just decided I didn’t feel it was safe to travel.
Good luck on your decision!

What travel insurance do you use?

 

[Marionnette]

Im around 70 days out from our first big Disney Trip with our 7 year old. I have a Poly standard view villa booked through Disney’s official website. I really want a Lake View room, but since July of last year, a lake view room has not become available even once during my dates of stay. So someone on here mentioned my looking at DVC rental points (Ive never even heard of this). I did, and i seemed to find a Lake view through one of the websites. But I hesitate bc of the cancellation policy, and the unpredictability of the Covid times we’re living in, plus Poly keeps announcing random construction projects on top of whats already going on (Im referencing the Kiki splash area that i hope will be back up by April). As the trip is approaching, how last minute can i book that DVC room by renting it, if im lucky & its still available closer to the trip? I guess im also worried too that if we get to Poly & find we’re unhappy with construction, we wont have a remedy? As of what Ive read in this forum now, I feel willing to stay there still even with that going on, but know it could be different in person. Any feedback is appreciated!

I'll be frank. The Poly DVC lake view studios are really not that great. The views are either the backside of the bungalows with glimpses of water between them, or partial water views that are obscured by the bungalow roofs. It's not like a theme park view room on the hotel side where you can see the castle from your balcony.

I recommend that you abandon your quest if your only reason for going the rental route is to secure a lake view studio.

 

[jenmsmith]

What travel insurance do you use?

I used the aggregate site www.travelinsurance.com and had several plans to choose from.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

I'll be frank. The Poly DVC lake view studios are really not that great. The views are either the backside of the bungalows with glimpses of water between them, or partial water views that are obscured by the bungalow roofs. It's not like a theme park view room on the hotel side where you can see the castle from your balcony.

I recommend that you abandon your quest if your only reason for going the rental route is to secure a lake view studio.

Interesting to hear!! I had looked at some room views from Touring Plans, and even tho i did see what you mean about the bungalows & trees, i still did see some castle & theme park views, the higher floors seem ti be better. I just really didnt want a parking lot or side of a building view

 

[Marionnette]

Interesting to hear!! I had looked at some room views from Touring Plans, and even tho i did see what you mean about the bungalows & trees, i still did see some castle & theme park views, the higher floors seem ti be better. I just really didnt want a parking lot or side of a building view

Well if your heart is set on that lake view then wait a few days. At 60 days prior to check in, DVC turns unreserved rooms over to CRO for cash reservations. Any Poly LV studios that have not been reserved by DVC members can be released to cash inventory. You may still be able to grab that LV studio thru Disney directly and then you will only be subject to Disney's very generous cancellation policy as opposed to the more strict no-cancellation policy that you would be subject to be renting last-munute points.

 

[JFDIS]

I’ve made multiple small one night reservations by renting off DisBoards in the last few months. I do this bc I’m willing to risk a few hundred dollars. I also live an hour and a half away so, God forbid someone cancel my reservation on me, I wouldn’t be stranded. I did reserve a longer more expensive stay in a two bedroom at CCV using DVC rental store. I had a res through Disney at CBR and hung on to it until the confirmed Res I wanted at CCV was reduced to $12 pp (about two weeks out from our trip). I knew it wasn’t a guarantee but I was willing to wait it out if the price was right. I would check out confirmed reservations through DVC rental store and see if any of them match your stay. There are a lot popping up for Poly.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

Well if your heart is set on that lake view then wait a few days. At 60 days prior to check in, DVC turns unreserved rooms over to CRO for cash reservations. Any Poly LV studios that have not been reserved by DVC members can be released to cash inventory. You may still be able to grab that LV studio thru Disney directly and then you will only be subject to Disney's very generous cancellation policy as opposed to the more strict no-cancellation policy that you would be subject to be renting last-munute points.

Omg i was hoping to hear something like this but no one has mentioned it as a possibility!

 

[chasgeese]

As others have mentioned, there are often last minute rental deals available closer to when you know you are definitely going. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s a cost-free risk, as opposed to renting earlier and then having to cancel and getting nothing back. Any insurance policy or other protection plan that will mitigate that risk will still come at a non-refundable cost. Also, asothers have mentioned, availability opens up to book through Disney closer in as well.

I would only rent now if having an LV room is super important to you and will make or break the trip (which doesn’t seem to be the case). Otherwise, I would take the risk in waiting to upgrade through Disney or renting points when you know you will be comfortable not cancelling your trip or changing your hotel because of Poly construction issues.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would not count on finding travel insurance that covers a covid related cancel.

 

[jenmsmith]

I would not count on finding travel insurance that covers a covid related cancel.

Always read the terms and conditions, but I have found several. They explicitly say covid is treated as any other illness. Some also cover the possibility of quarantine "due to orders from a licensed physician or health department officer".

 

[gisele2]

How much per night do a studio at poly on a cash stay ?

 

[DVCSunDevil]

Well if your heart is set on that lake view then wait a few days. At 60 days prior to check in, DVC turns unreserved rooms over to CRO for cash reservations. Any Poly LV studios that have not been reserved by DVC members can be released to cash inventory. You may still be able to grab that LV studio thru Disney directly and then you will only be subject to Disney's very generous cancellation policy as opposed to the more strict no-cancellation policy that you would be subject to be renting last-munute points.

But then cost benefit vanishes in this scenario. Renting through a DVC owner saves a lot of money compared to those rooms being released to Disney and then getting the room directly through Disney. However, if that is the only way to rent the room you want then I guess it is what it is. But why couldn't the OP rent someone's points and have them make the reservation? I mean, if the room is available to reserve via DVC wouldn't it make more sense to do it that way instead of waiting for that unbooked room to be released to Disney?

I am new to renting so I am just trying to understand this part of it. Thanks!

 

[Meglen]

But then cost benefit vanishes in this scenario. Renting through a DVC owner saves a lot of money compared to those rooms being released to Disney and then getting the room directly through Disney. However, if that is the only way to rent the room you want then I guess it is what it is. But why couldn't the OP rent someone's points and have them make the reservation? I mean, if the room is available to reserve via DVC wouldn't it make more sense to do it that way instead of waiting for that unbooked room to be released to Disney?

I am new to renting so I am just trying to understand this part of it. Thanks!

Yes renting is cheaper but it's risky. If the renter can't go and the dvc owner can't rebook the money is lost. Depending on the cost of the cash stay it might be worth it to have the cancellation option. I have a trip this oct that was rented to me for a dec 2020 trip. I was extremely lucky my dvc renter was able to rebook it since the points didn't expire till Nov this year. If we still can't go this oct I'm out of that money.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes renting is cheaper but it's risky. If the renter can't go and the dvc owner can't rebook the money is lost. Depending on the cost of the cash stay it might be worth it to have the cancellation option. I have a trip this oct that was rented to me for a dec 2020 trip. I was extremely lucky my dvc renter was able to rebook it since the points didn't expire till Nov this year. If we still can't go this oct I'm out of that money.

To add, not all owners, and especially brokers, offer change if dates either. I personally did not and wouldn’t.

So, one has to save a decent amount and be willing to lose it all if they don’t have travel insurance.

In today’s climate, I think it’s even riskier.