Question about cancellations/changes

[mrsannb]

We are renting some DVC points but my in-laws have some questions that I don't know the answer to.
Once a reservation has been made, can it be cancelled, and if so, what is the latest you can cancel? If it can't be cancelled, can it be changed to another time, and if so, what is the latest you can change the reservation?
Does Disney offer trip insurance for this?
What about the DDP, how late can it be added/cancelled?

 

[vicki_c]

All the policies are whatever are set between you and the owner of the points. Many owners do not allow cancellations, and changes may or may not be possible depending on availability or the number of points required for something different. Disney has nothing to do with it.

So no, Disney does not offer insurance for DVC points rental reservations, but you can buy private 3rd party insurance.

The DDP must be added by the member - you can't do it yourself - no later than 48 hours before your reservation starts and must be paid for in full when it is added to the reservation. You would have to work that out with the owner as well.

 

[mrsannb]

What does DVC allow for the owner as far as changes/cancellations?

 

[Disneychix]

I've rented from 2 different members in the past. One member allowed for me to change dates if needed/possible (up to 30days before the trip I think) the other did not.

I did purchase separate travel insurance. It wasn't too expensive and I felt better about making the reservation.

 

[Chuck S]

What does DVC allow for the owner as far as changes/cancellations?

That is not relevant to a rental. The rental is a private agreement between you and an owner. Disney/DVC will not become involved.

As far as owners, how flexible they can be depends upon what their use year is.

For instance, DVC allows owners to cancel reservations up to 31 days prior to arrival, and those points return to the use year in which the reservation made. But, the owner may not be able to bank the points into their next use if they are beyond their banking deadline.

If the cancel 30 days of less before arrival, points go into holding status, they can only be used for reservations 60 days or lass prior to arrival, they can not be banked. Meaning, for example, if the reservation is in May, and they have a June use year, those points are pretty much lost.

Again, any cancellation policy is strictly between you the person you are renting from, DVC/Disney points policies don't apply to these private transactions.

 

[vicki_c]

Hopefully, you have a written agreement / contract with the owner if you have already rented the points. These types of items should be spelled out there and that's the first place you should look.

 

[crisi]

DVC points expire and are "use em or lose em" - and DVC availability is not a wide open thing. So when a member allows a renter to cancel, there is significant risk to the member that they will not be able to use those points in another rental or for themselves. How much risk depends on where you are in their use year and how far out you cancel. If you cancel on short notice, its much worse. If you cancel late in their use year, its much worse.

As to moving to another time, that may be possible depending on use year and availability. If the points are not valid points for when you want to take your trip because they've expired, then no, your trip can't be moved. If you want to take your trip, but there is no availability, then it can't be moved. If you want to move your trip, but it will take more points and the owner does not have points available, it can't be moved.

Its BEST to consider all DVC rental transactions as non-refundable, even if the owner has said that they will work with you if you have to cancel or reschedule. Sometimes that doesn't work out well for the owner, and what looks like a simple thing to the renter is impossible. Personally, I'd be a little nervous of someone offering to refund or reschedule - it implies that they don't understand how complicated that is.