Questions from a future renter....

[kristenrice]

I am in the early planning stages of an early 2008 trip. Our family of 4 is certainly going and it is easy enough to set and meet my own deadlines. I have a friend who would also like to go with her husband and 2 kids and we thought it would be great to share a 2 BR villa.
I do not want to be a "difficult" renter but my friend is not appreciating the 11 month window. I told her that we need to CONFIRM our trip dates by the end of the year so that we can find an owner willing to make a ressie for us by the beginning of 2007. Is it possible to CONFIRM a studio (which would be for our family if my friend cannot go) and then change it to a 2 BR if she changes her mind and decides to go? I ask this with the assumption that a 2 BR would be available. I am not exactly sure what happens to a cancelled ressie's points. I guess my question is, could the studio ressie be cancelled and the points be applied to a 2 BR if one were available and if the owner still had the excess points available? Or does it stay as a studio ressie and must be rented out as such?
Any help/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Dean]

All you ask if possible but not guaranteed. You need to find a renter who has enough points to handle all possibilities and is willing to work with you. Regardless, you will be taking risks if you agree to a studio and end up needing something else. As a member, I'd make both reservations options. One that would work if they did and did not go then cancel later. You MAY be able to find someone willing to do it that way though they will likely want a premium price to do so, I know I would.

 

[CarolMN]

Yes - it is possible to do what you are asking. That said, you need to discuss all of this up front with the owner to make sure he/she has enough points to do what you want to do and that he/she is willing to "save" enough points should your friend decide to go. Not all owners will be willing to do this.

Keep in mind that most owners consider renting to be a non-refundable transaction. Based on many "sadder but wiser" posts here on the DVC boards (from people whose frineds and family have cancelled on them and left them hanging), my advice is to get the money from your friend before you make the 2 bedroom reservation. If not, you will be the one who is "stuck" with the whole amount if plans change.

Best wishes -

 

[JimMIA]

Ditto what Carol said. Here is a link to today's tale of woe. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1174821

We don't get family/friend horror stories every day, but we do get them about once a week.

My suggestion would be to have a great vacation and let your friend have hers. Let her plan, arrange, and pay for her own trip. You'll both have more freedom, options, privacy, and peace of mind. Eight people in a two-bedroom is a lot of people. So is throwing four adults into the decision mix, each trying to perfect each of the four kids' vacations. The chances of something major going wrong increase exponentially every time you add a person.

I'm not saying vacation without them. I'm saying to plan your vacations together, and enjoy the magic together when you both choose. And do it without trying to mesh the financial aspects of the trip to save a hundred bucks.

 

[JimMIA]

Incidentally, my advice above would be exactly the same if your friend was fired up and "getting it" 100%. She'll probably come around, but that won't change the calculus much -- just too many things that can go wrong.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We sling arms think the same way. I'd make a reservation for my family in a one bedroom and suggest the friend make her own reservation, whether DVC or not.

 

[kristenrice]

Thank you all for your input. I think CarolMN has the right idea when she advised to collect the $$$ from my friend upfront. Even though a 2 BR would be WAY too big for our family alone, I REALLY want the washer and dryer! Then, if she backs out, I'm "stuck:" with a 2BR. BTW, I am in the "One-arm-typing-club" right now too....no trauma, just a rambunctious 9-month old!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Just to add to what's already been said. If you were the DVC member yourself, changing the reservation from a studio to a 2 bedroom is doable, provided there is a 2 bedroom available for that period and you have enough points.

From a renting standpoint, I don't think you're going to find a member who is willing to rent you enough points for a studio, and then save enough points to potentially change it to a 2 bedroom later on. The member is going to want to rent all the points they're looking to get rid of in one transaction. They're not going to take the chance on not finding another renter or passing their banking window by saving them for you.

 

[crisi]

Thank you all for your input. I think CarolMN has the right idea when she advised to collect the $$$ from my friend upfront. Even though a 2 BR would be WAY too big for our family alone, I REALLY want the washer and dryer! Then, if she backs out, I'm "stuck:" with a 2BR. BTW, I am in the "One-arm-typing-club" right now too....no trauma, just a rambunctious 9-month old!

Rent the one bedroom you want. With kids, the washer and dryer would be worth it. We use the washer and dryer constantly.

Just so you know, DVC studios are usually one Queen and a full sized hideabed (OKW has two Queens). One bedrooms are ALWAYS a king bed in the master and a full sized sleeper sofa in the living room. Two bedrooms can have the studio attached to a one bedroom, or may be "dedicated" - usually dedicated means two queen beds in the second bedroom - but at BCV some of the dedicateds have a sleeper sofa.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Just an FYI...there are free washer dryers available to studio guests. Not too many of them but I've never had a problem when I've decided to wash. If you are thinking of washing or drying towels perhaps it would be cheaper to just pay for extra towels.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Why don't you rent a 1 bedroom and have your friend's family rent a studio? Ask that the owner request the two ressies be near each other. That way you will all have access to the kitchen facilities etc. It also makes things MUCH easier on you, should they decide not to go. They can also take their chances by reserving later if they choose to take that risk.

Oh, BTW, a 2 bedroom would NOT be too much room for a family of 4. We often get a 2 bedroom for 3 people. We usually book at OKW, so that means we have a queen sized bed and a queen sized sleep sofa that go unused, but we think the other amenities are much more worth it!

 

[kristenrice]

I talked to my friend yesterday and we have everything squared away. Since I am the one who is ALWAYS online I will do the soliciting for an owner willing to rent us the points. She will pay me and then I will pay the owner. That way, if she backs out, I still have the paid reservation for a 2 bedroom. She knew from the get-go that the money for the lodging is NON-REFUNDABLE and she was fine with that.
Thank you all so much for your input. I would LOVE to become a DVC owner myself, but the DH is not a traveller and he has no desire to visit WDW (or anywhere else) on a bi-annual basis. I look foward to chatting with more of you soon

 

[dianeschlicht]

Way to go! My guess is since she knows it's non-refundable, she'll go. Have a GREAT time!