Question: How to confirm a DVC reservation as a renter?

[ejchrist]

Hello,

I am new to these boards and new to the process of renting a DVC members points.

The DVC member I am working with has made a reservation for us and has provided me with a confirmation number, but I am trying to confirm with Disney/DVC that the reservation has been made.

In the "Using the DVC Rent/Trade board. READ ME FIRST!" sticky in the DVC-Rent/Trade forum it states:

"Renters should ask for and receive a printed confirmation from the member. The confirmation is always sent to the member, but it should be made in the renter's name and forwarded to the renter. It will contain the confirmation number for the reservation and will allow the renter to call the resort directly to verify their reservation."

The member has provided me with a confirmation number, but when I call DVC Member Services, they will not tell me anything about the reservation (or if it even exists) because I am not the member. If I call the resort directly, they tell me to call DVC Member Services. If I call Disney reservations, they tell me to call DVC Member Services.

So how am I supposed to "call the resort directly to verify their reservation"?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Eric

 

[Sandisw]

You can't verify the reservation yourself. The only thing you can do is ask the DVC member to provide you with the written confirmation letter once they get it.

These usually take about 2 weeks to get so if you just had the reservation booked, give it some time. If it is been longer than that, then I would just follow up with the DVC member and ask them if they can check with MS to see when the confirmation will be sent.

Good luck!

 

[VLee]

Another option is to have the DVC Member place a three-way call to MS in which the renter may "listen" in as the member confirms the name, date, etc. on the reservation. This may provide "peace of mind" to the renter; however, keep in mind the two-way trust factor--as the member will always maintain control over the reservation. The member must also exhibit trust as he or she has ultimate responsibility for the actions of the renter during the stay.

Checking out references is another possibility of gaining trust.

 

[ejchrist]

So I guess the sticky just isn't exactly accurate. I don't know who is tasked with keeping those accurate/updated, but they should probably revise the sentence that says:

"It will contain the confirmation number for the reservation and will allow the renter to call the resort directly to verify their reservation"

 

[erionm]

If the member sends you the entire printed confirmation, at the bottom will be the following link: MyDisneyReservation.com/DVC

This site will allow you to view limited information on the reservation. You can add any special occasions you are celebrating and when you are within 10 days of arrival, you can use it to check-in on-line.

 

[hellerjw]

The member has provided me with a confirmation number, but when I call DVC Member Services, they will not tell me anything about the reservation (or if it even exists) because I am not the member. If I call the resort directly, they tell me to call DVC Member Services. If I call Disney reservations, they tell me to call DVC Member Services.

So how am I supposed to "call the resort directly to verify their reservation"?

Any advice would be appreciated.

I don't believe the resorts even receive the reservation information until 2 or 3 days before check-in, so that is why they can't confirm anything because it doesn't exist in their system yet. DVC Member Services will not talk to you because you aren't the member. I believe the sticky you mentioned was referring to your ability to call the resort directly a few days before check-in to confirm things, not DVC Member Services directly.

Even if you did a 3-way call there is nothing stopping the member from canceling the reservation 5 minutes after you hang up. Rental transactions involve a lot of trust, particularly on the renter's part, because the member holds all the power. Most rental transactions go through without a hitch. For many its worth it because of the huge cost savings, but the uncertainty may be too much for some.

 

[ejchrist]

Thank you erionm, I was able to confirm the reservation at that link. The member has not received the written confirmation yet, but they were able to provide me with the confirmation # over the phone that they were given when they placed the reservation. With just the #, I was able to confirm the reservation at the link you provided. That link should be added to the sticky, it is very helpful.

Thanks,

Eric

 

[ejchrist]

hellerjw,

I realize that the member can cancel the reservation subsequent to me confirming it. What confirmation does for me is it tells me that the person I am dealing with is actually a member of DVC and they are who they say they are. To me, there is nothing to prevent someone from finding out a member's name from the Florida real property records, then sign up on these boards purporting to be the member. By confirming the reservation, I know that I am dealing with a legitimate DVC member and not an impostor. That gives me enough comfort to pay 50% now before receiving the written confirmation.

Eric

 

[Ellie42699]

Thanks for this info. I too was able to confirm my rented ressie and found a couple of errors in the names on it!! I just contacted the dvc owner to get it corrected.

 

[gr8pcrush]

Does anyone know why you wouldn't be able to pull up the reservation if the points you are "renting" are accumulated bonus points?

 

[Tara]

Does anyone know why you wouldn't be able to pull up the reservation if the points you are "renting" are accumulated bonus points?

If by bonus points you mean developer points that the member got as a purchase incentive, those do not show up online. Honestly, I don't know the whole reason they don't show up online, but they don't. They are points still owned by the developer, not declared into DVC inventory.

 

[RobDoc]

So I guess the sticky just isn't exactly accurate. I don't know who is tasked with keeping those accurate/updated, but they should probably revise the sentence that says:

"It will contain the confirmation number for the reservation and will allow the renter to call the resort directly to verify their reservation"

That comment is actually correct. Renters are able to confirm their reservation directly thru the resort by calling a few days before arrival once the DVC reservations have been downloaded from MS to the resort. The resorts do not have access to the member reservation though until that time - thus the problems you are finding right now.

At one time, MS would verify reservations for renters, but that was changed a few years ago to the current policy of speaking only with the member.

Until that time renters are dependent on getting verification from the member who is renting the accommodation.

 

[permavac]

Strange enough, there is another way to find out if there is a reservation in your name - but I wouldn't call it a "confirmation" per se. On two occasions I have had reservations through Disney for value rooms in addition to having a DVC-rented/booked on my own DVC points reservation for trips that occurred adjacent to each other. Both times when dealing with Disney travel, they were able to see my DVC reservations and the CM both times commented on them - "I see you'll be staying at BWV from x to x...". I was surprised they could see it at all! When I was renting, it was a relief to know When I asked the CM about it they said that's all they could do - see that I had the reservation. Anyway, it might not be a way to "confirm" but still - an interesting tidbit...

Terri

 

[Natalietom]

Thanks erionm so much for the link. I get nervous renting because essentially you are trusting a stranger and the link you provided gives me peace of mind. My reservation showed up on there, with our resort, all our names and the dates of our stay, so I now know the person who said they were reserving for me really did. Thank you.

 

[Sammie]

Members can get email confirmation within hours of booking, your member should be willing to send you a copy of that email. If not I would look elsewhere.

Now that email confirmations are available I don't get the mailings anymore, huge waste of paper.

 

[disneynutz]

Members can get email confirmation within hours of booking, your member should be willing to send you a copy of that email. If not I would look elsewhere.

Now that email confirmations are available I don't get the mailings anymore, huge waste of paper.

That's not 100% accurate. What a member receives is a email with a link to a website that displays the reservation. I never give the link to friends and family instead I give them the website address for My DisneyReservation.com/DVC. The info is in a better format and IMO is easier to understand.

Another note, just because you can see your reservation today, doesn't mean that it won't be canceled tomorrow. Take the time to really know who you are dealing with. Due to the economy, the number of owners who are renting their points has really increased and a percentage of those folks don't really know what they are doing.

Like anything in life, if something is popular, thieves and criminals will use it to make a dishonest buck so be on your guard.

Bill

 

[Sammie]

That's not 100% accurate. What a member receives is a email with a link to a website that displays the reservation. I never give the link to friends and family instead I give them the website address for My DisneyReservation.com/DVC. The info is in a better format and IMO is easier to understand.

Another note, just because you can see your reservation today, doesn't mean that it won't be canceled tomorrow. Take the time to really know who you are dealing with. Due to the economy, the number of owners who are renting their points has really increased and a percentage of those folks don't really know what they are doing.

Like anything in life, if something is popular, thieves and criminals will use it to make a dishonest buck so be on your guard.

Bill

The email is from Disney Vacation Club though, and yes the mydisneyreservation.com will do the same thing but the link included in the confirmation email from DVC is a copy of what you would get if they mail it to you. It also contains important info about trash and towel etc.

Either way works but forwarding the email received from DVC is an easy way.

And you are right none of it will totally prevent someone from being dishonest.

 

[jlhay]

I'm renting points and MS actually offered and did send the email confirmation to me and the dvc member directly. Since my email was attached to it the reservation now shows up in my Disney account with all my adrs and everything else. The dvc member said she'd never had MS offer to do that before. Not sure why it happened but I line seeing it every time I log on to disney's website!

 

[Sammie]

I'm renting points and MS actually offered and did send the email confirmation to me and the dvc member directly. Since my email was attached to it the reservation now shows up in my Disney account with all my adrs and everything else. The dvc member said she'd never had MS offer to do that before. Not sure why it happened but I line seeing it every time I log on to disney's website!

It is a new change they have made available.

 

[scrap_heaven]

I'm renting points and MS actually offered and did send the email confirmation to me and the dvc member directly. Since my email was attached to it the reservation now shows up in my Disney account with all my adrs and everything else. The dvc member said she'd never had MS offer to do that before. Not sure why it happened but I line seeing it every time I log on to disney's website!

It is a new change they have made available.

Thank you for posting this, I am in the process of finalizing my rental.