newbie point rental questions

[Corinna]

Hi everyone,

I would appreciate any help you all can give me. I would like to rent points (preferably for a studio, preferably at OKW) during choice or adventure seasons. My hope is to get a reservation for 12/16-23/06. But I am finding that these seasons are busy for DVC resorts. How many months in advance should I expect to have to make my reservation for a week's stay during choice or adventure seasons? Have I already missed my window of opportunity for the week of 12/16-23/06? And do I first have to make contact with someone who has points available to rent, or should I check independently with the resort first to see about availability? Can I make a reservation with Disney, and then move it to a reservation through a DVC owner? I have not had much luck with finding someone to rent me points through the rent/trade board.

Thank you again for any help,
Corinna

 

[mikesmom]

Have I already missed my window of opportunity for the week of 12/16-23/06?

Yes, you have. December is one of the busiest times for DVC.

How many months in advance should I expect to have to make my reservation for a week's stay during choice or adventure seasons?

If you are trying to get DVC for December it is best to try right at 11 months or even a little earlier to get plans in place. Certainly you will be shut out if you wait until 7 months out.

And do I first have to make contact with someone who has points available to rent, or should I check independently with the resort first to see about availability?

You have to work with a member first. The resort will not be able to give information to a non member.

Can I make a reservation with Disney, and then move it to a reservation through a DVC owner?

No. Any rooms Disney has available are only available for cash, not points. They are available through Disney because a member has "traded" their points for a non-DVC vacation and Disney rents the room to pay for the traded accomodations. DVC rooms are only available through DVC owners.

If you want to rent DVC in December you need to start next January for the following December. Your only hope now will be to watch the Boards for someone who perhaps has a reservation they must cancel for some reason and they are trying to rent the reservation itself.

 

[Corinna]

thank you mikesmom, for all the info! too bad it's not exactly what i wanted to hear, but that's life!

 

[JimMIA]

That's definitely a longshot! I see a two bedroom for rent for the week after that, but it's really priced high ($2950).

You could try eBay and see if you have any luck.

If you really want to go during that period, I'd call Disney reservations or check their website and just see what you can get. The week before Christmas should be a little easier than the week between Christmas and New Years.

Another factor that a lot of newbies don't realize is the points cost for DVC is roughly double for Friday and Saturday night. If you have to stay both Friday and Saturday night, your cash cost may be less than trying to rent a DVC ressie during the toughest time of the year.

Your January dates in your Rental board post should be a lot easier to get. I'd add those to the title of your thread so people will see them and keep bumping.

Good luck!

 

[Corinna]

JimMIA, thank you for the info. So you are saying just make room-only reservations at a regular, non-dvc disney resort? I would have thought a reservation would be pretty easy to get, b/c isn't the week before xmas one of the slowest times, while the week from xmas-nye is the absolute busiest? Or do crowd levels at the parks really not have much to do with occupancy rates at disney resorts? I guess you can see I have been reading unofficial guide....

thanks again,
Corinna

 

[JimMIA]

JimMIA, thank you for the info.

You're welcome. That's what the DIS is all about; we were all newbies once, mayn of us not that long ago.

So you are saying just make room-only reservations at a regular, non-dvc disney resort? I would have thought a reservation would be pretty easy to get, b/c isn't the week before xmas one of the slowest times, while the week from xmas-nye is the absolute busiest? Or do crowd levels at the parks really not have much to do with occupancy rates at disney resorts?

I'm saying to check what's out there. Disney resorts may be WAY less busy than DVC. Disney occupancy closely follows park visitation, but DVC occupancy is very different. Early December is sort of a trifecta for DVC owners -- it's the lowest points of the year, crowds in the parks are not as heavy as you'd think, and there are a ton of extra holiday decorations and special events (MVMCP, CP, Osborne Lights, etc). So the DVC resorts sell out (for points ressies) very early. Even the big resorts (OKW and SSR) sell out months ahead of time.

 

[Corinna]

It certainly has been an unexpected treat to find all these experienced, helpful disney aficionados on the dis boards!