Odds of finding fire sale points....

[KyCoKe16]

I had booked a package through Disney for this coming Spring Break. We were supposed to stay at POR, and were getting the DDP, etc. However, I just discovered that my own school schedule (I am a full time student, my husband is a teacher and we have 3 boys, 11, 5, 1) is going to be quite different than I anticipated next semester. Therefore, it is looking like if we want to go to Disney at all it will have to be at the end of February when I have a brief break. I actually have a PIN for free dining during this time, but my problem is that I will not be able to pay in full for the reservation until we get our tax return which will likely be after the 45-day window. I am wondering if anyone knows what the odds may be of finding fire points a month or less out if I plan on going from February 23-28, if I am not picky about where we stay, and will take a studio or a 1 bdr. I'm guessing the odds are poor, I'm just wondering if there is even a slight chance. If it doesn't work out I am able to rent points, I'll likely just book whatever is still available through Disney at the time, I guess at full price.

 

[KyCoKe16]

I also apologize if this is redundant, I did a search for fire sale points and couldn't find much info.

 

[DVC Dude]

It depends on what your definition of fire sale is.

The time you want to go is VERY popular as it is spring break

Thus, the prices will be high and availability low.

You may get lucky and find a distressed DVC member wanting to rent points for cheap, but you may find out that there are no rooms available to book

 

[CarolMN]

Keep an eye on the Rent/Trade Board starting in mid-January. There are sometimes people who offer existing reservations for a relatively good price that are 30 days or less out. The usually have them due to a cancellation of their own trips at the "last" minute.

Since your stay is for the week after the week that contains President's day, you may have some decent luck finding availability, especially if you are flexible with resort, villa size and willing to do a split stay.

If you haven't already, you may want to sign up for David's last minute deals/specials.

You never know!

Good luck!

 

[KyCoKe16]

Thank you for your suggestions and response! I didn't think that week as supposed to be that busy. I have to go before March17th and thought that would be my best option.

 

[conandrob240]

I think you see fewer and fewer super-cheap pts deals lately. Even last minute, it seems the days of finding less than $10 a pt are all but gone.

 

[lawrenceFletcher]

90 days before easter week 2012 I scored an existing reservation for $7 A POINT. I was in shock. Our family was so happy with DVC we found a resale and are now owners! ( I bought AKV membership for real cheap compared to todays numbers too). Like they say, the market probably wont repeat that for a while.

 

[bumbershoot]

Therefore, it is looking like if we want to go to Disney at all it will have to be at the end of February when I have a brief break. I actually have a PIN for free dining during this time, but my problem is that I will not be able to pay in full for the reservation until we get our tax return which will likely be after the 45-day window.

How far after the 45 days? Disney has been known to be gentle about that payment date, if you have a plan and let them know. You could always make that reservation and cancel it at 46 days if you really won't be able to do it. And then go looking for other options.

I'm not sure that late February is Spring Break for most places across the country. My rule of thumb (learned when in college and with old HS friends in colleges all across the country and finding ONE time to meet up, other than summer, to be impossible) is that "Spring Break" goes from mid March all the way to Memorial Day. With the bulk being in April-ish. There are some schools that have "winter break" in February, but that's not the majority from what I've learned from years on message boards, not by any means. (my area has a Feb winter break, though)

When you say fire sale, do you really mean cheap? Or do you mean the person with the points is desperate to get rid of them? That there ARE points, or there are reservations, out there for that time? I took it to mean "will there be reservations with DVC points out there", not that you're looking for cheaper, necessarily.

 

[KyCoKe16]

Yes, I meant just people looking to get rid of points, not necessarily cheap.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Yes, I meant just people looking to get rid of points, not necessarily cheap.

Probably your best bet is to sign up with David and each month he puts out inventory that he can find and sell for about $8-9 a point (if I remember correctly). But "fire sale points" are only as good as the inventory to use them.