Possible Scenarios for Changing Ressie - Help!!!

[Antonia]

We have rented points for a 2 BR for December, but now DS and wife are unable to go. We are thinking of these options:

1) Downsize to a studio or 1 BR for just the two of us - if one is available. Pro - would save us money. Con - is a studio as nice as a WL regular room? Would we be disappointed in a studio? The pictures of the bed look a little iffy.

2) Keep the points rental, but just change to a week in June or September and a one BR or a studio?

3) Cancel and rent points again next year when they can go and get a 2 BR then?

DH and I are new empty-nesters who were looking forward to us all going in December and now we just cannot figure out what we want to do.

Would changing weeks and downsizing be unreasonable of us to ask and would the perosn we have rented the points from be very inconvenienced? We don't know a lot about the working of DVC.

 

[RobDoc]

Answers to your questions will mostly depend on the cancellation policy you agreed to with the member you are working with. You should check with them before making any alternative plans. The policy should be covered in the agreement the member provided for you with this rental. Hopefully that was all discussed prior to any money changing hands.

Any changes made to the dates and room type for your reservation will be dependent on availability thru DVC and will also depend on the points used by the member. If they are points only available after a certain date, your options may be limited unless they are willing to make other arrangements (like borrowing points from the next Use Year). If their points are not available until October (for example), they can't be used for a reservation in June or September without borrowing. It can be done, but does involve more activity from the member.

I'd contact them and see what options you may have. Please report back once you know what limitations, if any, you will have.

Good luck!

 

[Antonia]

We could also consider changing our points rental to VB or HH. I think DH is not real interested in doing the theme parks until the four of us can go together.

 

[PamOKW]

As Doc said, it's up to the individual you are dealing with.

Your situation brings up some of the hazards on both ends of these argeements. It's best not to enter into a rental until your plans are pretty much set in stone. While all your alternatives seem reasonable enough to you, there are all kinds of gyrations the member may have to go through to accomodate your changes. There are all kinds of Use Year, banking/borrowing issues that you may not be aware of and really have no need to be aware of. However, it is one individual navigating the system. It's not like dealing with a resort where changes and cancellations are fairly easy. First off, it'll be at least double the work since they'll need to make a new reservation. They may or may not be able to do that very easily. If you cut back on the number of points you want, they may not have enough leftover to do much with them.

Before you approach the person you rented from, I would have a firm idea of what you want to do as a replacement. At most, start with two options. My guess is that if the person goes along with this change, they will probably call it a "final sale".

 

[JimMIA]

As Doc said, it's up to the individual you are dealing with.

Your situation brings up some of the hazards on both ends of these argeements. It's best not to enter into a rental until your plans are pretty much set in stone. While all your alternatives seem reasonable enough to you, there are all kinds of gyrations the member may have to go through to accomodate your changes. There are all kinds of Use Year, banking/borrowing issues that you may not be aware of and really have no need to be aware of. However, it is one individual navigating the system. It's not like dealing with a resort where changes and cancellations are fairly easy. First off, it'll be at least double the work since they'll need to make a new reservation. They may or may not be able to do that very easily. If you cut back on the number of points you want, they may not have enough leftover to do much with them.

Before you approach the person you rented from, I would have a firm idea of what you want to do as a replacement. At most, start with two options. My guess is that if the person goes along with this change, they will probably call it a "final sale".

Well said. And it could be even worse than that.

Antonia...Your changes in plans may have placed the DVC owner in a situation where they cannot help you. It may not just be a matter of the owner's "policies," or the agreement you entered into, or even the owner's willingness to do double work. They simply may not be able to help you -- for any one of half-a-dozen reasons over which they have no control.

My suggestion would be to 1) review whatever agreement you made, 2) contact the owner and see if they are any position to help you at all, and if they are -- 3) come up with one viable plan that you will settle for if the owner can work it out. If the owner is able to work it out, take it. If not, kiss whatever you've paid goodbye.

If the owner is in a position to cancel everything and make a refund, I'm sure that would be the preferable solution for both parties. Hopefully, that will let you both escape this mess unscathed.

Good Luck.

 

[Antonia]

Well, after thinking it over further and not wanting to inconvenience the DVC owner we are renting from or lose part of our deposit - DH and I say - "we're going to Disney World!"

We may be only two people in a 2BR villa, but hey, all the more room for us. Seriously, we are bound to find at least two more people who want to stay in the VWL by the time of our December trip to take the place of DS and his wife.

I thought our plans were set in stone, but when dealing with a newly married couple and one of which (she) is taking a new job - well, things change. But DH and I are both lovers of the WL and WDW and so we will go and have a great time! After all, our ressie is half paid for and we have always wanted to stay in the villas. It is still a bargain and ahhhhh, the jacuzzi tub!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm glad it will work out. You will love VWL in December.

Bobbi

 

[byoung]

Take some friends with you. It could work out great with them.

 

[JimMIA]

Well, after thinking it over further and not wanting to inconvenience the DVC owner we are renting from or lose part of our deposit - DH and I say - "we're going to Disney World!"

We may be only two people in a 2BR villa, but hey, all the more room for us. Seriously, we are bound to find at least two more people who want to stay in the VWL by the time of our December trip to take the place of DS and his wife.

I thought our plans were set in stone, but when dealing with a newly married couple and one of which (she) is taking a new job - well, things change. But DH and I are both lovers of the WL and WDW and so we will go and have a great time! After all, our ressie is half paid for and we have always wanted to stay in the villas. It is still a bargain and ahhhhh, the jacuzzi tub!

Okay...NOW you have a plan!

Now -- now that you are okay with "suffering" with a two-bedroom if you have to -- now...contact the owner you rented from and see if they can switch the ressie to a one-bedroom without exposing themselves to any risk. Let them know you are fine if thay can't, but you'd appreciate it if they are able to do so. I think for most owners, it is not a question of convenience or inconvenience -- it's really a question of what they can or cannot do. There are just too many variables for any of us to be able to know what your owner may be able to do, so ask them.

If they can, they will have helped you out. And, the one-bedrooms also have the jacuzzi tub!

Have a great trip.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

My family is available if you get lonely!! (joking!)

 

[Antonia]

That is what I have asked them to do. Switch us to a one BR in September (still adventure season) and then use the leftover points to add two nights at either BCV, BWV, or OKW (whatever is available). This would use up all the points I have rented exactly - not leaving the owner hanging with any points. Plus DH and I would stay 7 nights instead of 5!!!!!

Hopefully, it will be easier for the owner to switch us to some nights in September when it is less busy and we remain with the same "season" so points seem easier to move around. Plus September is not the holidays so we will not miss having DS and new wife with us like we might in December with all those decorations and holiday songs playing. I am starting to think of it as a romantic trip now. I can just imagine lounging by the pool!

Plus if we are able to get two nights at either BCV, BWV or OKW, it would be a new adventure for us as we have never stayed at any of these!

 

[Antonia]

Hey, I may be getting the hang of this empty nest thing after all!!!!!!!!