Originally posted by rebecca donohue
I am trying to rent points for January or February 2005 and have some questions.
1. What is the best way to ensure that the rental transaction is legit? Can i call someone to ensure the reservation was made and continues to be in place?
There is a lot of trust involved on both ends. Ask for references. Make sure you have a written agreement. Speak to the person on the phone--don't just rely on email. It would help to find someone who has a lot of posts on the DISboards.
DVC Member Services will usually confirm that a reservation exists, but the member retains full control right up until check-in.
2. Who do i call to make a request for a villa that is non smoking and close to the lodge and transportaion? What is my chance that these requests will be honored in january or feb? Is there a better day of the week or time of day to check in?
Any requests should be cited when the reservation is made. DVC resorts do not accept fax requests.
Impossible to tell what the odds are of having requests met. There was a thread earlier today regarding the "best day" to check-in. The concensus was either Friday or Saturday night.
3. How do i find out when check in and out is?
Check in is 4pm. Check out is 11am. DVC resorts do not allow late check out.
4. Can i cancel and return the points or re rent them if there is an emergency that forces us not to go.
That's between you and the person who owns the points. Generally speaking, no you cannot. DVC members who cancel reservations on 30 days notice or less all but lose the points. So don't expect a renter to bite the bullet and refund your money when it would end up being a total loss.
Cancellations before 30 days are permitted, but it's up to the member as to whether he/she wants to accommodate or not.
Each member has a specific Use Year which dictates the period by which the points must be used. Some members points expire on January 31st of each year. Let's say you rent points for a stay on January 15th. However, on December 10th something happens and you cannot make the trip. Yes, the reservation can be cancelled and the points are returned to the member. But now the member has those points sitting in his account, and they will expire in about 45 days if not used. Not a very desirable situation for the member.
Again, make sure your agreement addresses the issue in an agreeable manner to both parties.
5. Disney tells me the studio at the wildernes lodge villa is about 350 square feet. Has anyone stayed in one of these? Is it really big enough for 2 adults 2 kids and a baby in a crib?
That's about the same size as any other Deluxe WDW resort room, give or take a few sq ft. Would I do it? No way. I've never stayed in anything smaller than a One Bedroom. But the party you describe does meet the occupancy limits for the room, and many people would be comfortable with the accommodations.
Renting DVC points can be a great way for non-members to save a few bucks when compared to Disney's standard cash rates for similar accommodations. But the offset to that savings is a less-favorable cancellation policy and some trust that must exist between the parties involved.
Oh, and if you're serious about renting, I'd suggest getting the ball rolling very quickly. There are only about 130 rooms at VWL, only a fraction of which are studios. DVC members are known for their long-term planning, and can reserve rooms up to 11 months prior to their check-out date. Right now you're less than 90 days away from an early January trip. My guess is that availability is very limited right now, and will only get worse as the weeks pass.
