Renting dvc points, when to book?

[thelegacy27]

Hi everyone! I'm planning my first Disney trip next year for my family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids age 3, 7, 8 at time of travel). Needless to say I'm completely overwhelmed lol.
I was looking into renting dvc points from David's or dvc rental for our stay the first week of May at Boardwalk. My question is, should l start trying at the 11 month mark or wait until 7 months? I'm going between a studio for us, or if my mom, brother, and step dad come, the 2br.

Thanks

 

[Timothy02359]

We rent all the time from private owners. We have used Dave`s and DVC rental in the past. You`ll want to contact them just before 11 month mark so they can start to secure points and be able to booked at the 11 month mark.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi everyone! I'm planning my first Disney trip next year for my family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids age 3, 7, 8 at time of travel). Needless to say I'm completely overwhelmed lol.
I was looking into renting dvc points from David's or dvc rental for our stay the first week of May at Boardwalk. My question is, should l start trying at the 11 month mark or wait until 7 months? I'm going between a studio for us, or if my mom, brother, and step dad come, the 2br.

Thanks

May is not a busy time for DVC but a lot will depend on the resort that you're trying to book. There are only a few that will accommodate 5 in a studio - BCV, BWV, BRV, PVB and VGF. VGF will be the hardest to book because it is a small resort with a limited number of studios. BWV is very popular for the low number of points required. BCV is desirable for SAB. Rumor has it that Star Wars Galaxy's Edge will open at HS in May 2019 (May the 4th is Star Wars Day). This will increase the demand for both BCV and BWV because of their proximity to HS. Poly has the largest studios and many have connecting doors to a neighboring studio, which might be an option if your extended family decides to go as well.

Make sure that you fully understand the rules when it comes to renting. You will not be able to change your reservation once it has been made and your payment is non-refundable. In most cases, full payment is required at the time that the reservation is made.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Getting stuff at 7 months is getting harder and harder for owners. If you want a popular resort, 11 months. If you are okay staying at Saratoga or doing a split stay, wait.

Even at 11 months, budget for Preferred at Boardwalk. Standard may be an issue.

 

[Hoodie]

As early as possible. I have tried and failed to rent DVC points 3 times now from 2 different rental places as far as 10 months out. Studios/one bedrooms in particular go quickly. This last one we put in the request about 9 1/2 months out for November (before Jersey week, after Marathon) and all inventory was down to ALK, Copper Creek, and Saratoga Springs.

 

[Marionnette]

As early as possible. I have tried and failed to rent DVC points 3 times now from 2 different rental places as far as 10 months out. Studios/one bedrooms in particular go quickly. This last one we put in the request about 9 1/2 months out for November (before Jersey week, after Marathon) and all inventory was down to ALK, Copper Creek, and Saratoga Springs.

You were trying to book during "Fall Frenzy", which is a popular time for DVC owners. The OP is considering a trip during a slow time as far as DVC is concerned. Timing is everything and at 9.5 months out, you were way behind the curve for booking the more popular resorts. Many owners are online at 8 AM on the day that their 11-month window opens in order to book their home resort for the dates ranging from mid-Sept. thru January Marathon weekend.

 

[Shelleyfs]

We use David's. They are great and we have had great success with them. I usually send in my request usually around 11 months, 2 weeks. That way I know they have it and it's ready to go at the 11 month mark. The other day we booked a 8 month out trip. We were hoping for club level Jambo House and we ended up savanna Kidani. This is still really amazing, but because we waited and I wasn't on the ball this time, we didn't get exactly what we wanted.

 

[Marionnette]

We use David's. They are great and we have had great success with them. In saying that tho, I usually send in my request usually around 11 months, 2 weeks. That way I know they have it and it's ready to go at the 11 month mark. The other day we booked a 8 month out trip. We were hoping for club level Jambo House and we ended up savanna Kidani. This is still really great, but because we waited and I wasn't on the ball this time, we didn't get exactly what we wanted.

If it's any consolation, you probably would not have gotten the CL villa even if your request was in at 11 months. There are not too many of them and they tend to be gone quickly - even before the date a renter would like to start their visit. Even owners who are online right at 8 AM on the 11-month mark get shut out.

 

[Hoodie]

You were trying to book during "Fall Frenzy", which is a popular time for DVC owners. The OP is considering a trip during a slow time as far as DVC is concerned. Timing is everything and at 9.5 months out, you were way behind the curve for booking the more popular resorts. Many owners are online at 8 AM on the day that their 11-month window opens in order to book their home resort for the dates ranging from mid-Sept. thru January Marathon weekend.

I've tried multiple times of the year (January, February, November, August, September) with no success unless you get the request in 11 months+ out or OK with Sarasota (which is always available). My point to OP is if they know when they want to go, get it in, especially if they are targeting a specific resort. I actually manged a Poly room for less than DVC rental anyway so it worked out well for us, but if they want something specific, especially at the lower end of points/cost, do it as soon as possible because those go quickly.

 

[Shelleyfs]

Thanks for letting me know, Marionnette! i thought that might be the case, but I wasn't sure how the club level all worked.

 

[Marionnette]

I've tried multiple times of the year (January, February, November, August, September) with no success unless you get the request in 11 months+ out or OK with Sarasota (which is always available). My point to OP is if they know when they want to go, get it in, especially if they are targeting a specific resort. I actually manged a Poly room for less than DVC rental anyway so it worked out well for us, but if they want something specific, especially at the lower end of points/cost, do it as soon as possible because those go quickly.

I think your bad luck has more to do with the rental agency not having an owner with home resort advantage at your requested resort(s) and enough points to accommodate your stay than it has to do with availability at the resorts themselves. SSR is a large resort with a lot of individual owners. That's why it is often available at 11 months. Some of the other resorts are rather small and have a limited number of studios and owners who bought there because they want to stay there, not rent their points out.

 

[thelegacy27]

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely try to get my request in at 11 months.

Follow up question, are the only negatives to renting points the mousekeeping and the fact that it's non refundable? Am I missing anything else?

 

[Shelleyfs]

Most require you to pay the whole cost when you sign the contract and there is limited availability which ya already know. There may be a few other little things, but I am blanking on them right now.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you get any private messages or emails offering you DVC points, ignore them. Only accept messages that you initiate. Otherwise, you could be scammed since you have information about the reservation you want in your original message.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I contacted a private owner on the DIS rent board at 12 months out. She was nice enough to walk the reservation for me starting mid October since I needed the room during Jersey Week BUT THIS IS NOT THE NORM. This way I got a standard view at BWV. I also contacted DVC store but they got back to me the day after my 11 month mark and could only offer me a preferred view. It all worked out in the end. Either way I would've been happy. But I suggest trying at least 11 months and two weeks out to line something up.

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely try to get my request in at 11 months.

Follow up question, are the only negatives to renting points the mousekeeping and the fact that it's non refundable? Am I missing anything else?

You have no control of the reservation. The owner will always have control of it. If you want DME, you should go thru the owner to book it. If you want a dining plan, it has to be added by the owner and it must be paid for it in advance. If you have a room request, it has to go thru the owner. The dates cannot be changed once they are booked unless you are dealing directly with the owner and they agree to make the change. For complicated reasons as to how DVC works, an owner may not be able to alter the dates because of the way the points are allocated or lack of availability for the new dates.

DVC villas get the same daily visit from housekeeping to have the trash removed. They do not make beds, nor do they replenish coffee or toiletries during those visits. You don't get fresh towels until day #4.

You will not get any of the perks that DVC members enjoy. No dining or merchandise discounts, no pool hopping. We still are not sure whether renters will get free overnight parking at the resort like owners get. Most owners believe that since we actually pay to help maintain those lots then any reservation made using DVC points should be exempt from the nightly fee.

 

[dansdad]

You have no control of the reservation. The owner will always have control of it. If you want DME, you should go thru the owner to book it.

I have always been able to book DME myself when renting points. Has that changed?

 

[Marionnette]

I have always been able to book DME myself when renting points. Has that changed?

You should book thru the owner. That's because DVC dues pay for the DME used by guests staying on points. Yes, it's possible to book on your own but it should be booked thru the owner.

 

[SarahC97]

I have always been able to book DME myself when renting points. Has that changed?

I rented point in February directly from an owner and I could book DME myself as well as make room requests. So, unless it's changed in the past two months, I believe you can.

 

[Marionnette]

I rented point in February directly from an owner and I could book DME myself as well as make room requests. So, unless it's changed in the past two months, I believe you can.

Again...there's a difference between can and should. I specifically wrote should for a reason and I explained the reason in a subsequent post.