Official Thread - New commercial use policy published 03/31

[Girlstar30]

Wow. I haven't read through the details, and don't much care. I'm ecstatic they are cracking down on this, while leaving plenty of leeway for "normal", non-commercial renting.

I like the clearer guidelines for sure. I think its doing a good job of making the little people more comfortable with renting and the bigger people not so much which is great

 

[tx911]

Whew! I havent fully read it all, just got home. I am glad since the previous 20 reservations clause really sucked for me personally since I have 25 in my dashboard currently.

I don't know how you do it. Lots of short trips? I only have 7 reservations currently!

 

[Cfabar1]

I’m sure this may have been discussed, but are we assuming the values will be dropping?

I'm not assuming that actually... or not because of that more accurately....

 

[Cfabar1]

I don't know how you do it. Lots of short trips? I only have 7 reservations currently!

I think the overlapping reservations crackdown probably is a hint....

 

[AstroBlasters]

I’m sure this may have been discussed, but are we assuming the values will be dropping?

Nope. Maybe at Boardwalk… maybe….

 

[Mouseforward]

Ahh , this news is enough to bring me back from my self-imposed Disney and DIS break ( I do the "every other year AP" and this is now my off year)

My 2 Cents -
1. This is very consistent with what some of us were told last year
2. This is a pleasant surprise as I did get the feeling this would be done based on the response to my question at the members meeting. But I did not think it would be that quick.
3. I like the clarification, but I agree there is potential for 718 conflicts because Florida is very anti-HOA right now, so put aside the whole ( Disney vs Florida) and think Florida vs HOA to see where the laws are going. However, I do think it is well-crafted to avoid this, as others have stated.

In short, I am in the middle of a major life change: after 4 trips to WDW last year, I decided it's time to move to Orlando. I close on my house 25 min from WDW in 2 weeks. Now I am in the situation of having > 500 points and being a short drive from Disney .....

For me, this means I will not sell my contracts as I feel that I can safely rent 25% a year to offset costs and use the rest as an extended guest room for my Family and for multiple single-night jaunts for me. Just rented a 2BR at Old Key West for the move weekend as a treat for my move help.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

The FL stat protect owners in the sense that the condominium can limit their right to rent.

Previously we have been allowed to make 20 reservations per 12 months. Anything above was considered commercial use. The same 20 reservations we could rent without it being considered commercial use.

My understanding is that even with a redefined commercial use policy we are allowed to rent 20 reservations per 12 months as always. WHY, because the FL stat protect owners so the condominium can’t limit their rental rights.

Technically you own a specific unit in a specific resort. So not sure you have the right under Florida law to rent out a BLT reservation with points for your SSR unit. Perhaps why they say one of the actions is to prohibit you from using your points at other than your home resort??

 

[VGCgroupie]

Full disclosure so we're all clear:

I'm back down to just over 1,100 points. I have rented a few times (once or twice a year maybe), but it has always been to unload points that we couldn't use (typically borrowed points on cancelled stays that were made in my name, for my use). I've always tried to use up as many points as possible in one rental, focusing on just getting rid of the points rather than seeking out the most money across multiple rentals. I think the most points I've ever rented in one year was maybe +/- 350, which is probably the average for a week-long stay in a 2 BDR, our preferred vacation stay. I've also gifted stays to family (I've apparently irritated people in other threads by saying I'd never charge family or close friends for using my points because I feel over a lifetime, things tend to balance out as long as it's not repeated or expected).

With that said, I absolutely despise anyone who's buying up points for the sole (or even primary, since I don't care what they think of me) purpose of renting them out for profit. I particularly can't stand those who clog up high value dates or room types simply because those dates maximize profits. If DVC were to catch one of those @#$&'s with 25 or 30 discrete rolling reservations advertising them on Facebook, I'd probably soil myself laughing. And I've yet to even find one of those people renting out dates that I want.

Since we're on full disclosure mode, I also happen to vehemently disagree with anyone who says "Points are points, it doesn't matter if the owner stays on them or rents them out". Members using points for their own stays, in the room types they prefer, at the resorts they prefer, during the travel times they prefer (or are restricted to by life), create an organic distribution of reservations. Yes, there will always be more popular dates and room types (I own at SSR, but I'm not jumping on standard view studios in August or September). but there will still be a predominantly organic distribution of stays. "People" (don't want to get put in timeout for using the more appropriate and accurate term) who solely buy points to target specific dates and specific rooms with absolutely no intention of using any of those reservations for their own use, do not, in any way, mimic that natural distribution.

There's my lean.

Love this lean.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

Ahh , this news is enough to bring me back from my self-imposed Disney and DIS break ( I do the "every other year AP" and this is now my off year)

My 2 Cents -
1. This is very consistent with what some of us were told last year
2. This is a pleasant surprise as I did get the feeling this would be done based on the response to my question at the members meeting. But I did not think it would be that quick.
3. I like the clarification, but I agree there is potential for 718 conflicts because Florida is very anti-HOA right now, so put aside the whole ( Disney vs Florida) and think Florida vs HOA to see where the laws are going. However, I do think it is well-crafted to avoid this, as others have stated.

In short, I am in the middle of a major life change: after 4 trips to WDW last year, I decided it's time to move to Orlando. I close on my house 25 min from WDW in 2 weeks. Now I am in the situation of having > 500 points and being a short drive from Disney .....

For me, this means I will not sell my contracts as I feel that I can safely rent 25% a year to offset costs and use the rest as an extended guest room for my Family and for multiple single-night jaunts for me. Just rented a 2BR at Old Key West for the move weekend as a treat for my move help.

But DVD is not a HOA. It is a condo association.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I called in a couple weeks ago to merge reservations, before speaking to a cast member, you have to go through all the prompts. One of them was agreeing that this reservation was for personal use. I haven’t called in for a long time, I was surprised.

Those who are booking multiple rooms for a family trip, I would add the “traveling with” comment to each one.

Do most Commercial Renters work on their own instead of going through a broker? I wonder if the broker would track it to keep their nose clean.

Many social media commercial renters do not use a broker. They wouldnt use a broker because it cuts heavily into their profit.

 

[Mouseforward]

But DVD is not a HOA. It is a condo association.

Thats worse not better for Disney

 

[VGCgroupie]

if you're renting out more than 11 reservations per year, you are likely a commercial renter! that's almost one reservation a month...

This is about Disney capturing that revenue.. they don't like that it is going to these rental people...

That said... I am glad they are going after them... This product is designed for personal use, not to create a cottage industry...

I’m sure this may have been discussed, but are we assuming the values will be dropping?

No not immediately. Maybe it will have an impact but I dont think it will be huge. We already saw a huge influx of presumable commercial renters selling off Aulani contracts, this was way before your time here. It did lower Aulani's value to some degree, but as an Aulani owner I was not mad about it.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

I just counted and we also have 25 reservations. 7 are individual day reservations at VDH to get the free lighting lane on each day lol.

I was going to bring this up if nobody else did. Yes, with ETPE eliminated at Disneyland, and its replacement being a single LL per guest for the entire duration of the reservation, the logical work-around is to book separate reservations for each day at VGC or VDH. Doing so can quickly increase the number of reservations you have; maybe you'll hit 20+ reservations in a year.

 

[SL6827]

I haven't read but the first few pages but has Disney's horrific rate of artificially inflating thier room rates resulted in a much higher interest in people renting points now? Is it finally hitting Disney's wallet and they need to fight back? Or could they really be doing this for the sake of the members?

 

[VGCgroupie]

I don't know how you do it. Lots of short trips? I only have 7 reservations currently!

Right now I have 7 trips confirmed booked we are taking. Some of those have split stays. Some are placeholders for a time I think I want to go but I havent solidified that yet. Some are double studio reservations for VDH when I bring my daughter and her husband.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Technically you own a specific unit in a specific resort. So not sure you have the right under Florida law to rent out a BLT reservation with points for your SSR unit. Perhaps why they say one of the actions is to prohibit you from using your points at other than your home resort??

This is a very interesting take.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

Thats worse not better for Disney

Disagree. Condo associations have a lot more rights under law than HOA’s. Condo associations are in fact the owners collectively of the property and can impose restrictions that an HOA can not.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I haven't read but the first few pages but has Disney's horrific rate of artificially inflating thier room rates resulted in a much higher interest in people renting points now? Is it finally hitting Disney's wallet and they need to fight back? Or could they really be doing this for the sake of the members?

I dont think any of us really think they are doing this to help the membership. While we all love Disney and DVC, we know that they are in it for their own interests.

 

[Girlstar30]

I don't know how you do it. Lots of short trips? I only have 7 reservations currently!

Im at 21 so she is more commercial than I loll

 

[Mouseforward]

Disagree. Condo associations have a lot more rights under law than HOA’s. Condo associations are in fact the owners collectively of the property and can impose restrictions that an HOA can not.

No, for STR it is the reverse, HOA's do not have the restrictions that COA do on not limiting STR ( covered extensively in prior threads)