Questions from a Newbie

[6bowmans]

I'm happy to see that everyone on this board seems to be very helpful and excited about being DVC members! This is my first post, and I have a few questions.

To begin, my contract for WLV went to Disney last week for ROFR - 400pts/yr plus 140 banked for 03, Sep use year, for 540 pts available Sep 03. We are keeping our fingers crossed! If the contract goes through, I would like to use the points for our scheduled trip in November (currently have reservations at FW). However, on such short notice, I'm sure all the DVC resorts are booked. If we decide to go on a wait list (for 8-16 November), at which DVC resort will we have the best chances for a 2-bedroom villa (family of six)? If we do not get to use any of our points, I will have about 300 points I would like to try and rent. Should I just put them all up for rent in November, or are there better techniques? Are points usually rented with minimal pain, or are we likely to have to bank these points (or even loose them)? Of course, the best answer would be to take another trip to Disney , but we will be unable to go again for at least another year. Will I have difficulty renting points since I have not rented any before (no references)? Are there other places to rent DVC points? I would rather rent out points than use them for FW - we got a rate through SOG for $145/night (total of 271 pts vs $1300 w/tax).

I am also new to message boards in general. What is the meaning of "bump/bumping" and what does HD, HW, etc stand for (I figured out it has something to do with significant others/family)?

Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

 

[5infam]

Welcome 6bowmans,

I am also somewhat new (been here a couple of months) but I have learned a lot here and will try and answer some of your questions.

If we decide to go on a wait list (for 8-16 November), at which DVC resort will we have the best chances for a 2-bedroom villa (family of six)?

OKW has the largest number of rooms, so it would stand to reason that your best shot would be here. Keep in mind that ROFR may take 30 days and then you have to what for closing to be completed and to get your member number. All in all, you may be looking at 2 months (maybe by mid to late September). So I would say its a good thing you have a cash ressie. Also, if you can get some days at DVC, you will want to use your banked 02 points (140) first. That way you still can rent out or bank your 400 03 points.

Should I just put them all up for rent in November, or are there better techniques?

If you go on the Rent/Trade board, it looks to me that most rentals disappear within a week. I have seen very few complaints (however there was one recently). Just make sure you use a written agreement and are comfortable (and make your renter comfy as well) with the arraingments. You may not get a taker for all 300 pts at once so consider if you want to break it up, but I would list all 300 at once (just in case you get a buyer for all of them). I would wait until after your trip to rent any remaining points. If you don't, I believe you will have until the end of Feb. 04 to bank 100% of your 03 points (not the ones banked from 02).

I am also new to message boards in general. What is the meaning of "bump/bumping" and what does HD, HW, etc stand for (I figured out it has something to do with significant others/family)?

Bumping just means they are bumping their message to the top so more people may have the chance to see it (I was confused on that one too when I first started here).

At the top of the Discussion/Forum page there is link for abbreviations. This is a must read!!!! If not, you will spend half the time trying to figure out what the heck everyone is saying. IMHO