When Do Rooms Free Up for Cash Reservations?

[DonMacGregor]

I understand the 60-day rule for breakage rooms, but when do rooms actually free up to be used for cash reservations?

I ask because last year, as a non-member, I reserved a 2BR villa at Old Key West at 4 months out using the main booking site. We actually were able to look at rooms a month prior to that and saw booking availability, but were waiting for the 120 day CM booking window for a Friends and Family discount.

Just curious.

 

[Marionnette]

I understand the 60-day rule for breakage rooms, but when do rooms actually free up to be used for cash reservations?

I ask because last year, as a non-member, I reserved a 2BR villa at Old Key West at 4 months out using the main booking site. We actually were able to look at rooms a month prior to that and saw booking availability, but were waiting for the 120 day CM booking window for a Friends and Family discount.

Just curious.

Breakage at 60 days is one way that rooms can enter cash inventory. They can also go into cash inventory when a DVC member trades their points for stays in the concierge collection. ABD or DCL. Those rooms can appear for cash reservations at any time after the member makes the trade but never more than 11 months out.

Disney also owns a small percentage of the points at each resort and can "rent" those points just like any owner. The difference being that Disney "rents" their reservations out through the Disney website. Those resorts can appear as early as 11 months in advance of check in.

DVC can also take rooms as anticipated breakage before the 60-day mark. That happened quite a bit during the early days of the re-opening but appears to happen less often now.