Rent private vs agency

[KatScratch]

I'm planning for a wedding we're attending at WDW in December and have two questions about renting points.
1. I know that when renting through an agency (David's, DVC Rental Store, etc), it is non-refundable. Is this also the case when renting through a private transaction on DIS?
2. For agency rentals, I can purchase 'cancel for any reason' insurance. If private transactions are also non-refundable, will any insurance companies sell the same 'cancel for any reason' insurance?
Thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

I'm planning for a wedding we're attending at WDW in December and have two questions about renting points.
1. I know that when renting through an agency (David's, DVC Rental Store, etc), it is non-refundable. Is this also the case when renting through a private transaction on DIS?
2. For agency rentals, I can purchase 'cancel for any reason' insurance. If private transactions are also non-refundable, will any insurance companies sell the same 'cancel for any reason' insurance?
Thanks!

1. Every private transaction will have different terms depending on the owner you are dealing with and the status of their points. Some owners will allow cancellations within reason. Some will not refund your money but will reschedule your trip using the points used for the initial trip. Some will offer to refund if they can successfully re-rent the reservation or points.
2. The rental agencies that offer “cancel for any reason” insurance do so thru self-insurance and not thru an agency. Their refunds are on a sliding scale, depending on when you decide to cancel. Getting travel insurance through an insurance company might get you an umbrella policy that covers cancelling for any reason, but you will pay a premium price for it that could negate any savings you realize from renting. And no one is going to insure for a pandemic.

Quite honestly, if you have reservations about renting because you think you might need to cancel, then renting is probably not for you. The reason that the savings are so great is because renting comes with a certain amount of risk. Not everyone is comfortable with the level of risk, especially during this pandemic.

 

[Sandisw]

When you rent a DVC reservation made on points, it’s basically making a private deal with an owner, The brokers really out things together,

So, everyone is going to have their own terms, Savings can be there, but that savings comes with the lack of flexibility to get your money back, change the trip, etc,

It is not for everyone, I will say, after this year, I think you will see owners and brokers who have specific clauses as to what happens if resorts closed again, and may be more agreeable to changes, etc, because of the discounts Disney has been offering,

But, it is still going to have risks. For owners who post here,, you’d have to find out before agreeing what the terms are of their rental contract.

 

[keishashadow]

I'm planning for a wedding we're attending at WDW in December and have two questions about renting points.

Dec is popular time with DVC members

if you want a specific resort, now is the time to book. Make sure you understand whatever cancellation policy and get it in writing

jmho things are still so up in the air re the pandemic, I’d book a resort thru WDW as a placeholder & hope for a discount

 

[KatScratch]

Quite honestly, if you have reservations about renting because you think you might need to cancel, then renting is probably not for you. The reason that the savings are so great is because renting comes with a certain amount of risk. Not everyone is comfortable with the level of risk, especially during this pandemic.

We've been renting points for over a decade now (because of the significant savings) and have gotten the 'cancel for any reason insurance'. This past February (before the pandemic) we had to use it because my elderly father became ill. It's not the pandemic I'm concerned about, it's traveling with my father. I've worked out the numbers and paying ~10% of the cost to get insurance is less than staying in standard rooms (assuming Deluxe, which is what we prefer).

 

[KatScratch]

Dec is popular time with DVC members
if you want a specific resort, now is the time to book.

Yes, I very much wish I could book now (as I'm aware 11 months out is advisable for popular rooms/resorts), but for some reason WDW seems to be unable to give the couple an exact date and they won't know until February.

 

[Marionnette]

We've been renting points for over a decade now (because of the significant savings) and have gotten the 'cancel for any reason insurance'. This past February (before the pandemic) we had to use it because my elderly father became ill. It's not the pandemic I'm concerned about, it's traveling with my father. I've worked out the numbers and paying ~10% of the cost to get insurance is less than staying in standard rooms (assuming Deluxe, which is what we prefer).

Okay. You obviously know a lot already. Good luck getting that December rental. Lots of points out there due to COVID cancellations. Many owners renting their points out. Some are even dealing with the agencies.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you won't know until February, be sure to temper your expectations. There are resorts where early December the studios are already gone the first week and we're now seeing the second week disappear.

 

[KatScratch]

If you won't know until February, be sure to temper your expectations. There are resorts where early December the studios are already gone the first week and we're now seeing the second week disappear.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of! I always plan 11 months out & I'm super annoyed that they don't know the exact date yet. It's a wedding for goodness sake! Why is Disney being so wishy-washy...?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of! I always plan 11 months out & I'm super annoyed that they don't know the exact date yet. It's a wedding for goodness sake! Why is Disney being so wishy-washy...?

For those two weeks, I am already seeing significant availability issues at exactly the resorts I expected to see said issues at.

By February, expect your options in studios to be OKW and Saratoga, with a mild chance of Kidani depending on dates. A day here or there may be available as a split stay elsewhere.

 

[Sandisw]

Okay. You obviously know a lot already. Good luck getting that December rental. Lots of points out there due to COVID cancellations. Many owners renting their points out. Some are even dealing with the agencies.

And I want to add that I am holding a few rooms for different dates since we are not sure when we are going,

Having the extra points is allowing me to do this even more than before. So, I think we may see it being even more difficult than in years past.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I guess in a private transaction I might consider offering a refund option for a 10% fee too. Of course many of us have had a very light touch in that area recently and refunded even without charging a fee. Essentially since it's a private transaction it can vary person to person and it's just something to ask when locating someone to book with.
I will agree that having to wait until February is going to make it difficult to get early Dec point rental however.