What do I do?

[dizzneebabe]

Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about WDW--I buy into DVC!!! So, please--I need expert advice!!!

We just purchased 180pts at AKV a couple of weeks ago .
A really good friend of ours called me yesterday that I haven't spoken to in some time to ask some Disney questions. He wanted my opinions on hotels, as they were planning an October trip. Since we are not using our points this year--I offered for him to rent some/whatever he needed. He was thrilled--so here is what happened:

He needs 2 studios (him, his DW, DD in one...and DMIL, DFIL and DD2 in the other). He would like to try AKV (value), but is hesitant since I can't make ressies there until May 16th. So we decided I would try to get two BWV studios (standard). Naturally, nothing was available, so MS suggested I go on a waitlist. The problem there is, I can only "wait" for 1 at a time. What if I get one and I can't get the other? I would be splitting up their family!

Or what if I can reserve one, but May 16th rolls around and I choose to try to reserve 2 at AKV and am successful? Can I cancel the BWV ressie without penalties? I remember reading something about holding, but don't know what that is and the CM was NOT at all helpful--she tried to rush me off the phone saying, "oh, yeah you could end up with points in holding--call us back-you have a nice day."

They already have plane tickets and I really don't want to mess this up for them. Really, folks--it IS a good friend of ours, not just a renter!

What would you do? They will be there Oct. 21-24th (sun-thurs). Should I stick with trying to get BWV, if one becomes available and keep waitlisted for the 2nd? Or do I just start calling like crazy for AKV on May 16th?

Thanks for any input you can offer!!!

 

[chalee94]

during food&wine at epcot, BWV at this point probably isn't going to happen.

if they are not willing to stay at OKW or SSR, i guess you'll have to be the first one on the phone when AKV opens for booking...

 

[pilferk]

Personally, I'd book 2 studios at SSR now.

Then, on May 16th, I'd take a shot at 2 studios at AKV. If you get them, cancel the SSR studios. If not....you'll have something for them already.

Either of the Epcot area resorts, during food and wine, are going to be a tough (if not impossible at this point) ticket. You'd be better off trying SSR, OKW, or maybe even VWL.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'd try for a 2 bedroom lock off at OKW so they would have the full kitchen and laundry room facilities, but would still have more seperate spaces too. It sleeps 8 comfortably in 3 real and one pull out bed. Two studios at any of the other resorts will result in just one real bed and one pull out per studio, so a total of 2 beds and 2 pull outs. The other thing is that the pull outs in teh studios will be double beds, but at OKW the pull out will be a queen.

 

[HockeyKat]

I agree with Diane... do an OKW 2-bed lockoff. 24 pts per night, so 120 for the week.

2 std view BWV studios would be cheaper (90 pts), but the chances of getting that, very, very slim. You could also do 2 OKW studios, at 80 pts, but I think the 2-bed would be nicer.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think that SSR studios will still be available after booking for AKV begins, so I would try for AKV. That way you do not have to cancel anything. Do they only want "value." At this point I am not sure that it's been announced or known just what sort of rooms and how many will be available for AKV owners to book, come May.


"Holding" penalties only come into play if you cancel a reservation 30 days or sooner before the start of a reservation. You are not in any danger of that even if you do decide to book something for them now.

Bobbi

 

[LisaS]

He needs 2 studios (him, his DW, DD in one...and DMIL, DFIL and DD2 in the other). He would like to try AKV (value), but is hesitant since I can't make ressies there until May 16th. So we decided I would try to get two BWV studios (standard).

I agree with Diane and HockeyKat -- go for a 2BR at OKW, if you can get one at this point. Since these folks already have their air reservations, I would go for a sure thing so they are guaranteed a place to stay.

Just an FYI: the only thing more difficult to book than a BWV standard studio for that time period will be a value villa at AKV because it doesn't look like there will be any value villas in the first phase of AKV. It looks like there will be some pool view villas which I assume will be classified as "standard view". At any rate, availability at AKV will be extremely limited when it first opens.

 

[dizzneebabe]

Thanks so much for the info. I thought price was a driving factor in their decision, but he just called me and asked what the chances would be of getting a 2bd at BWV? Do you think that's any better or is BWV usually sold out during that time?

I tried to call MS, but they are closed already for the day.

As far as holding is concerned, MS said something earlier about if I had a ressie at one resort and cancelled it to book another and the point requirement was less, those excess points would go into holding, regardless of the 30 day mark. Did I understand her correctly???? That doesn't seem very fair!

 

[dis-happy]

Truthfully, I would back out of renting your points to them and instead bank them for your family's use (unless you really need the money from renting), while your friends make reservations via CRO. Since you are new to DVC, the ins and outs of making reservations, as well as new to the hazards of renting to friends and family, I see a lot of potential problems. Not trying to throw sand on your party, just a friendly word of caution and a hope that you don't get totally burned in the process.

 

[Chuck S]

As far as holding is concerned, MS said something earlier about if I had a ressie at one resort and cancelled it to book another and the point requirement was less, those excess points would go into holding, regardless of the 30 day mark. Did I understand her correctly???? That doesn't seem very fair!

That is incorrect, they only go into holding at 30 days or less.

 

[diznyfanatic]

Thanks so much for the info. I thought price was a driving factor in their decision, but he just called me and asked what the chances would be of getting a 2bd at BWV? Do you think that's any better or is BWV usually sold out during that time?

I tried to call MS, but they are closed already for the day.

We have a Boardwalk view Studio reserved for the last week of October and tried to switch it to a 2 bedroom just today as we were going to invite some family to join us for F&W, and every 2 Bedroom for any view was booked. We had to go on a waitlist.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Truthfully, I would back out of renting your points to them and instead bank them for your family's use (unless you really need the money from renting), while your friends make reservations via CRO. Since you are new to DVC, the ins and outs of making reservations, as well as new to the hazards of renting to friends and family, I see a lot of potential problems. Not trying to throw sand on your party, just a friendly word of caution and a hope that you don't get totally burned in the process.

Actually, I think this makes sense. Let your friends know they can make ressies through CRO (a totally separate inventory of DVC rooms). This way they can be in control, and sure of, what they have. I don't think in your situation you would likely get burned, but you easily could get burned-out from it.

Too many nightmare stories out there about friends and/or family rentals/gifts to be making your first experience someone else's.

Trust me... you'll find a way to use those points next year, even if you have to bank next year's points.

Good Luck

 

[LisaS]

Thanks so much for the info. I thought price was a driving factor in their decision, but he just called me and asked what the chances would be of getting a 2bd at BWV? Do you think that's any better or is BWV usually sold out during that time?

Both BWV and BCV are very popular during F&W. You have the added problem that the 7-month window has been open for your dates for a couple of weeks already. Give MS a call tomorrow and see how things look. I suspect BWV will be booked solid but you can find out what else might still be available and then let your friends know their options.

I would also second dis-happy's advice to be very cautious. Be sure your friends understand that booking a DVC reservation on points is not like booking a room through CRO -- any last minute changes or cancellation could cause you to lose the points if they go into holding and you aren't able to use them due to availability issues. It has happened to several people here who made a reservation for family or friends who then backed out at the last minute.

Good luck!

 

[BroganMc]

I'm not so negative on renting to friends as long as you're comfortable with it.

But you need to get up to speed on some of the quirks of DVC. October is the height of F&W Festival and Halloween season. Standard View rooms are 20% of the entire resort. Most BWV owners name that their preferred season to travel and many own just so they can book the cheaper point rooms. So your chances of scoring two cheap studios, or even a standard view 2-bedroom at this juncture is slim to none. Dismiss it from everyone's calculations and you and your friend will be happy.

Now we're talking BWV preferred view and studios vs. 2-bedrooms. Keep in mind, unlike hotels the studios are connected to 1-bedroom units NOT other studios. So if their group is close together (a hard thing to arrange in a busy resort), they'll be at least a couple doors away. A 2-bedroom will give them the space to spread out and yet keep them in the same vicinity. A lockoff will give them separate entrance/exits.

What you're likely to book now is OKW or SSR, the two largest resorts. OKW will cost the same number of points as those BWV standard rooms. (A 2-bedroom is 120 points.) SSR is a bit more at 145 points, but may have more availability due to its larger size. AKV is a question mark and crap shoot right now. It doesn't look like Value rooms will be ready for occupancy this Fall, nor does it looklike concierge will be ready. So you're stuck with Standard (Pool view) at 125 pts or Savanna at 165 points.

The best strategy right now is to book OKW (1st choice) and waitlist for the same room type at BWV (2nd choice). Then call May 16th and see if you can change the ressie to AKV for that standard view (3rd choice). That way you are only going up with points if you make a change and can do that with borrowing (leaving your remainder of points banked this year).

Give your friend the max amount of points required as his price and if you spend fewer points you can give him a discount.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Personally, I'd book 2 studios at SSR now.

Then, on May 16th, I'd take a shot at 2 studios at AKV. If you get them, cancel the SSR studios. If not....you'll have something for them already.

Either of the Epcot area resorts, during food and wine, are going to be a tough (if not impossible at this point) ticket. You'd be better off trying SSR, OKW, or maybe even VWL.

DITTO!

And why 2 studios? Is this their choice?

 

[dizzneebabe]

DITTO!

And why 2 studios? Is this their choice?

Yes this was their first choice, when looking at BWV studios standard view. But then he called back after I said the studios wouldn't be likely and he wanted to know what the odds were of a 2 bedroom.

As it stands right now, their first choice is:

1) BWV--2 bedroom ,
2)OKW--2 bedroom
3)2 studios AKV (value or standard)
4)not an option--it was 2 studios at BCV

I think my best bet right now is to go for a 2 bed at OKW. PERIOD.

I could try for AKV, just to know availability, if nothing else.

That sounds more in line with what you all are saying. I suggested WLV and they flat out said, "NO." I don't get it.

 

[kimberh]

VWL is the smallest of all the DVC's, so I can just about tell you that it is sold out for Oct. The dates that I have tried to get in a two bedroom have been all booked. It is good that they don't want it. The studios are the first to go. I would go with OKW or SSR. AKV's is going to be a toss up. I am banking my points for next year. May 16th is going to be a Zoo! I know this has been said, but you can cancel a reservation and the points returned to your account as long as you are in your UY and not within the 31 day period. I did not think that Member Service was making Reservations with AKV points yet... how are you able to book them anything right now?

 

[Caskbill]

As you know, you have no chance of getting two standard view studios at BWV.

If you even tried for two preferred view studios at BWV, it would be 120 points for the two of them.

Two studios at BCV or VWL for those dates would also be 120 points.

For the same 120 points, you can get a 2-B/R at OKW. The OKW 2-B/R villa will easily be twice the living area of two BWV studios combined. (I.E., it's easily 4 times as large as a single BWV studio.

The only thing cheaper point wise would be two Studios at SSR, for a total cost of 110 points.

For the extra 10 points, the OKW 2-B/R is by far your best 'value'.

 

[dizzneebabe]

I did not think that Member Service was making Reservations with AKV points yet... how are you able to book them anything right now?

I can book by anything but AKV right now as long as the reservation is for Sept. 1 or later.

For the same 120 points, you can get a 2-B/R at OKW. The OKW 2-B/R villa will easily be twice the living area of two BWV studios combined. (I.E., it's easily 4 times as large as a single BWV studio.

For the extra 10 points, the OKW 2-B/R is by far your best 'value'.

I agree with you so that is what I am going to concentrate on.

Thanks!

 

[Teyedoubleguhrrrr]

AKV's is going to be a toss up. May 16th is going to be a Zoo!

Don't let Disney hear you say that about AK!