Pre Booked Reservations

[chcknctlt]

With availability frustratingly tough to come by the next few months...I see a TON of pre-booked reservations available for rent. What is this? Are we really assuming these are all reservations DVC Members booked and trying to rent? Or is it more likely that companies are booking these in a way to unload rental points? Genuinely asking b/c the amount of pre-booked reservations seems quite high compared to the past.

 

[Dizzydizney]

A number of DVC owners that booked these reservations are having second thoughts due to Covid and crowds. Just check out the different chat boards (not only here) ... everyone’s circumstances are different, but being worried about getting sick or bringing home the germ to an older family member is not my idea of a good time or relaxing vacation. We don’t have any older folks any more so we’ve been visiting since they reopened.

There are some really good deals.....Christmas and New Years. DVC is not going to “give back” points any more.....what they did was great at the time, but now things need to get back to normal. This 50 % borrowing limit is starting to cramp our vacationing style.

 

[Marionnette]

With availability frustratingly tough to come by the next few months...I see a TON of pre-booked reservations available for rent. What is this? Are we really assuming these are all reservations DVC Members booked and trying to rent? Or is it more likely that companies are booking these in a way to unload rental points? Genuinely asking b/c the amount of pre-booked reservations seems quite high compared to the past.

International travelers are still banned from entering the U.S. in many cases. Some will not be able to fulfill the vaccine requirements when the borders do open. And a lot of people are still uncomfortable traveling to a crowded theme park.

Every pre-booked reservation on a rental website had to be made by a member at some point. The members either made them for their own use or for one of the rental agency's renters. In a few cases, members may have made spec reservations in the hopes of recouping something for points that will expire soon. I think you're seeing the result of those issues and not something underhanded on the part of the rental companies.

 

[wfjny]

A number of DVC owners that booked these reservations are having second thoughts due to Covid and crowds. Just check out the different chat boards (not only here) ... everyone’s circumstances are different, but being worried about getting sick or bringing home the germ to an older family member is not my idea of a good time or relaxing vacation. We don’t have any older folks any more so we’ve been visiting since they reopened.

There are some really good deals.....Christmas and New Years. DVC is not going to “give back” points any more.....what they did was great at the time, but now things need to get back to normal. This 50 % borrowing limit is starting to cramp our vacationing style.

I completely agree...

Not trying to start the political discussion, just saying that there are a lot of people that appear to be rethinking their travel plans. Some because of Disney (mask and/or no mask, closed venues, etc), some because of all the issues with the airlines (from masks, to fights, to cost and to service delays and cancellations). There have also been reported issues with dining on and off site (more about labor shortages for off-site restaurants), and of course the issues with rental cars for those that would need them.

That, in conjunction with some people have points that would expire, and basically cannot be rebooked, has helped with the increase of members trying to rent their points, IMHO.

 

[dez1978]

I don't believe they were all prebooked and then the owners changed their minds. There are reservations for July and Aug 22 already posted for rent. I doubt those are from people who fully intended to go and then changed their minds that far out.

 

[Marionnette]

I don't believe they were all prebooked and then the owners changed their minds. There are reservations for July and Aug 22 already posted for rent. I doubt those are from people who fully intended to go and then changed their minds that far out.

The question isn't whether some of those reservations are spec ressies. The majority of them are not. There are always some spec ressies placed for rental. And there are far more 5han the usual number of ressies being put up for rental due to travelers changing their minds or owners needing to rent out points before they expire

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Or travelers who booked 11 months out hoping for relaxed international travel. While UK and Canada are more able to travel now, there are still barriers that are causing many of those owners to try to rent.

 

[chcknctlt]

I don't believe they were all prebooked and then the owners changed their minds. There are reservations for July and Aug 22 already posted for rent. I doubt those are from people who fully intended to go and then changed their minds that far out.

That is kind of what I am thinking...likely better to just rent out for the flat rate and let someone pick their own dates at the 11 month window, so I dont get it.

 

[Sandisw]

I am sure they are not. But it doesn’t really matter because they had to be booked by an owner with points, who is entitled to book it.

Most of the rental companies deal with plenty of owners that they would not need to violate any rules.

DVC has said that each individual owner can rent but if they see more than 20 in a rolling 12
Month period it could mean commercial renting. More likely, you are seeing people who just decided they want to rent and hoping a specific rental will be more popular

 

[Minniesgal]

With availability frustratingly tough to come by the next few months...I see a TON of pre-booked reservations available for rent. What is this? Are we really assuming these are all reservations DVC Members booked and trying to rent? Or is it more likely that companies are booking these in a way to unload rental points? Genuinely asking b/c the amount of pre-booked reservations seems quite high compared to the past.

Loads of individuals unable to travel this year have excess points to offload so booking a room to rent. Nothing shady just a function of the pandemic and the lack of travel for a year. Availability is always limited at two months notice this time of year

 

[Dizzydizney]

Another thought is there are a number of folks that are kind of disgusted with all of the prices increases for admission, the restaurants, merchandise, etc. and are on the fence about whether or not to sell. Or can’t sell because they owe. Renting can help them stay afloat for a while until they decide if it’s worth it to continue as members.

And agree....some members have more points than they can use...so renting is a viable option. I know if I was someone looking to rent from a member I would prefer a reservation that is already in place.

Having leftover points has never been a problem for us. Very rarely do I have anything to bank.

 

[sndral]

That is kind of what I am thinking...likely better to just rent out for the flat rate and let someone pick their own dates at the 11 month window, so I dont get it.

Part of the issue could be the tight availability butting up against expiring points. If I have points available that expire at the end of my use year do I fiddle w/ trying to get a reservation for someone else’s dates & risk not finding anything at all or do I grab an attractive reservation & try to rent that out - kind of the bird in the hand is worth two in the bush rationale. If what you‘re seeing is mostly nearer term rentals then I’d suspect availability/expiring points concerns are part of the equation. It could also be that the rental brokers’ business model has changed & they are now allowing more of these types of set date rentals.
DVC’s prohibition is against ‘commercial’ renting I believe. Reportedly they currently define that as X number of rentals per year, but there’s nothing to stop them from defining it differently in the future. I can’t think of a scenario where they’d take steps to curtail the point rental/fixed reservation market - but DVC has done many things I never thought they would w/ their program, so anything is possible IMO.