renting points...how do we know if space is available??

[Miss Park Avenue]

We want to rent points for a trip in Dec-Jan but we've never done it before.

1. How do we know if there is space available? We can only go during my DD Christmas break and we don't want to spend the money to rent the points only to find there is nothing available.

 

[Richyams]

Hopefully you mean Christmas '04.

THe person you rent them from will first check availability, make the reservation and send you a reservation confirmation letter. Your name will be in the system and you will make the final payment.

Christmas '03 is going to be more difficult unless you want to pay a premium. We do have one person on this board that likes to make prime Christmas reservations and them scalp them for all he can get. If you are willing to pay a premium, look for Nuthut.

Renting points is a great deal, a real good way to see the resorts and can also be dangerous. Many have become DVC members after renting points, be careful.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Bear in mind that most DVC members make their reservations 7-11 months before travel, so availability during high occupancy times will be difficult. Most holiday ressies would have been made last January, so there might be little if any available units at this late date. You can always try waitlisting, but if I were to rent points, I would not want to risk the wait list.

Rich makes a good point. Some folks like to prebook prime times and then rent them out for more than the customary $10/point.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

Thanks so much...we were just looking to get a quick Disney fix...and the Christmas break was the only time we can get away to go...(stinking school gets in the way of everything!..just kidding )

Looks like renting points is not the way to go. Oh and BTW, it's too late...my father is a DVC member. We've just never rented before.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you have a family member who is a member, I would go with the waitlist try, or at least have him call and see if there is availablilty. If he calls and MS says what is available, then you know it is safe to rent.

 

[fkj2]

If someone has an existing reservation that they can't use, ask for the confirmation number before any monies are exchanged.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Good advice fkj2!

 

[CarolMN]

Just to clarify -

You don't actually rent points, you rent a reservation. You will know if there is availability and that you actually have a reservation before you have to send the DVC member any money. The DVC member will tell you if there is no availability. If you decide to rent, be sure you understand the cancellation policy. It varies from member to member and is nearly always different than Disney's policy.

IMHO, it's worth a try. Post the dates you want to go over on the Rent/Trade Forum and see what happens. (Nothing ventured, nothing gained). You may have to pay more than the "average" of $10/point to go during that time, but it will probably still be a better deal for you than paying rack rate. Availability changes daily, so you never know for sure whether you can get a reservation until you call.

Good luck!

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

Thanks so much for all your help. So if someone PM's me and says they have a reservation already done and the dates work for us is this what I do??

a. Ask for a confirmation number and call (MS??...sorry, not the DVC owner here) to confirm the ressie.

b. Pay the renter for the ressie...will they then change the reservation in my name???

c. Start packing for my vacation...am I missing something?

Not to sound paranoid...but how can I be sure that after they've got my money they won't cancel the ressie?

Everyone has been such a big help...Thanks again!

 

[fkj2]

I think some renters/rentees have done 3-way calling (which is beyond my technical skills) with MS on the line to confirm the ressie.

You can ask for a copy of the existing ressie with the number and also for references if the person has rented before.

There's no doubt you're taking a risk but any rentee is. As Doc has pointed out many times, it is the rare occasion when someone gets "taken" and I understand you don't want it to be you. At this late date and since it is Christmas week, you won't have much time to make a decision. Had you thought about having your dad try to make an exchange of points (trade) with the other member who already has the ressie?