Worried about DVC reservation (rent)

[summerskye]

I hope this is the right place to post this question. I have rented points a few time in the past from the same source. All previous trips have been wonderful. My current adventure seems to be questionable. For weeks I have not been able to contact my source. (email and cell phone) The dates for my upcomming trip are off by one day at the end. Being that I am not yet a DVC member, I can't contact Disney directly about the reservation, I found the mistake while making dining reservations. Questions - Is there any way for someone renting points to protect themselves? What is there to prevent the renter from just changing a trip I have already paid for? As a renter do I have any recourse? Like I stated, I have used this source in the past with no problems. Any help, comments, or directions to find answers would be much appreciated.

 

[Chuck S]

Nope, no protection...even if you are a member and rent a reservaton from another member, you can not contact Member Services about that reservation...it wasn't made with your points.

There is nothing that prevents an owner from cancelling an existing reservation, they are still, after all, legally their points. Rental transactios require trust on the part of the owner and renter. The renter has to trust that their reservation is ade and will not be cancelled. The owner has to trust that the renter will not trash a room or leave an outstanding unpaid room charge.

 

[Lynne M]

I'm afraid I don't have any good answers for you. A rental is a transaction between private individuals, so you don't have any recourse with Disney. They won't get involved at all. They won't even discuss the reservation with you. (BTW, even if you were a member, staying on another member's points, they still wouldn't discuss it with you. You don't own the reservation)

The member retains complete control of the reservation up until you're standing at the check-in desk. They can modify it or cancel it.

Are you sure the dates were changed, or were they wrong in the first place? I assume the member sent you a copy of the confirmation, are the dates right on that?

 

[LIFERBABE]

Disney Dining does not recognize linked resrvations. Maybe your owner is away. Are you 3 months out and how long have you tried to contact them without response?
If they were going to cancel you why just cancel 1 day?

 

[Dean]

I hope this is the right place to post this question. I have rented points a few time in the past from the same source. All previous trips have been wonderful. My current adventure seems to be questionable. For weeks I have not been able to contact my source. (email and cell phone) The dates for my upcomming trip are off by one day at the end. Being that I am not yet a DVC member, I can't contact Disney directly about the reservation, I found the mistake while making dining reservations. Questions - Is there any way for someone renting points to protect themselves? What is there to prevent the renter from just changing a trip I have already paid for? As a renter do I have any recourse? Like I stated, I have used this source in the past with no problems. Any help, comments, or directions to find answers would be much appreciated.

Do a search on Orange County website for any clues such as judgements. Find their home phone and call that route. Still call DVC, they may release a few details to you. They may also agree to contact the member. I hope it works out.

 

[summerskye]

Thanks to all for the fast replys.

I paid for the trip back in Jan. The dates were Nov. 24th-30th. Six nights at the Boardwalk. My source sent an email confirmation. Back in April, I got a Disney confirmation with dates of the Nov. 21st-29th. I sent an email to my source. His reply "don't worry" I will get the mix-up corrected, but it will take some time as the owner is in Korea on business. I sent another email a few weeks before my 90 day period. The response seemed to forget about the date mix-up. When the 90 day arrived, I made resevations for BBB and 2 dining reservations. The dining resevation system showed the dates associated with my reservation to be Nov. 24th-29th. For 3 weeks I have been sending emails(12) and phone calls-voice mail(3). I have had no response whatsoever. I tried to see if I could pay for a room at the boardwalk, no rooms available. I can get a room at 2 of the Moderate or at the Swan / Dolphin , if I reserve now. But I am getting concerned that I may have nothing when we arrive at 11:30pm on the 24th. Try an imagine that, 11:30 at night after a 3-1/2 flight only to find we have no room... I don't know what to do.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Thanks to all for the fast replys.

I paid for the trip back in Jan. The dates were Nov. 24th-30th. Six nights at the Boardwalk. My source sent an email confirmation. Back in April, I got a Disney confirmation with dates of the Nov. 21st-29th. I sent an email to my source. His reply "don't worry" I will get the mix-up corrected, but it will take some time as the owner is in Korea on business. I sent another email a few weeks before my 90 day period. The response seemed to forget about the date mix-up. When the 90 day arrived, I made resevations for BBB and 2 dining reservations. The dining resevation system showed the dates associated with my reservation to be Nov. 24th-29th. For 3 weeks I have been sending emails(12) and phone calls-voice mail(3). I have had no response whatsoever. I tried to see if I could pay for a room at the boardwalk, no rooms available. I can get a room at 2 of the Moderate or at the Swan / Dolphin , if I reserve now. But I am getting concerned that I may have nothing when we arrive at 11:30pm on the 24th. Try an imagine that, 11:30 at night after a 3-1/2 flight only to find we have no room... I don't know what to do.

There were a few red flags along the way here. Do you have a contract with the owner? Did you pay in full at time of booking? I see you made the reservation with him back in January but did not see a confirmation until April - that would have concerned me right there.

Then you waited until almost 90 days prior to arrival? That would be sometime in August - but at least you did receive a response at that time...though not the one you wanted with an answer..

Your reservation is for Thanksgiving week. I would go ahead and book something for that last night of the trip and hope for the best. Was he to be out of the country long term? If so, then he may not be receiving your emails and voicemails.

You may be able to obtain some limited information using This Link.

Otherwise, the resort itself may be able to confirm for you a few days before your arrival.

Best wishes to you - if you do a search on our boards you will see there have been many with issues such as yours. Some are resolved and the renters go on to have a wonderful vacation. No guarantees, but that is part of the gamble in renting..no sure thing and one must be very cautious. Let us know how it turns out...

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Definitely used the link Carol Ann provided...maybe it's been changed and that's why the person you've been trying to contact isn't responding. Good Luck!

 

[summerskye]

The person I rented from is a broker of types. He pools together people who have points to rent and people who want to rent. He was not the one traveling to Korea, the owner who's points used to rent was the one traveling. Best case, I hear from my source and all is resolved. Next case, the reservation if fine for the 5 nights and I have to make arrangments for the last night. (We have reservations at Akershus sunday morning and I purchased tickets for MVMCP for that night - Now I get to check-out and move then check-in to another hotel) Worst case, we arrive to find we have nothing and are out the $1300+. What to do. I might be able to set up at another Disney hotel at full cost, if I do it now. Being Thanksgiving week, rooms are becoming harder and harder to find. But what if I really don't need it. If I wait for much long for the source to respond, the availability at another hotel maybe gone. What a nightmare. This is should be an exciting time. Trip to Disney less than 3 months away. Kids getting excited, mom and dad setting up plans, etc. I need some Disney magic.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Did you try to bring up the reservation online yet? What kind of accomodations is it for...studio, etc, and is it std view, or pref? I'm asking because you can go on the DVC availability board and find out whether or not your room category has been reported as not available -- could be whoever actually owns the points you are renting from has the 29th wait-listed (which may or may not work in your favor).

 

[summerskye]

I am a little confused. The link takes me to making "new" resevations. I don't see how to access existing reservations.

Sorry

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Try this: www.mydisneyreservation.com (click on the link for DVC reservations)

Oops -- I checked it a minute ago and it was working...maybe the systems are down right now. You might want to try again in a few minutes.

 

[summerskye]

Just checked the reservation. It shows us thru the 29th. (5nights / 6days)
At least that is still there. We still don't have the last night that we paid for. I did use the link first provided and they do have a room (standard view) available at the boardwalk villas for that sunday night. If I get this room, do you know if I can cancel it later and get a refund if my source resolves the issue. Or am I stuck with the cost of the new room?

 

[DebbieB]

I just tried the link for my December BWV reservation and it worked!

 

[summerskye]

There are no details as far as the type of room. It was suppose to be studio with boardwalk view. ( request - top floor / near elevators )

 

[LisaS]

This takes you right to the DVC reservation page:

www.mydisneyreservation.com/dvc

If I understand correctly, you made arrangements through a broker who then had a DVC owner make a reservation for you. To whom did you pay the money, the DVC owner or the broker? Is your contract with the broker or with the DVC owner? If it's with the broker, I would expect him/her to resolve this by paying for a back up reservation for you at a Disney hotel for that last night you need, just in case you never get this sorted out with the owner.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Just checked the reservation. It shows us thru the 29th. (5nights / 6days)
At least that is still there. We still don't have the last night that we paid for. I did use the link first provided and they do have a room (standard view) available at the boardwalk villas for that sunday night. If I get this room, do you know if I can cancel it later and get a refund if my source resolves the issue. Or am I stuck with the cost of the new room?

I'd call and book a one night room-only reservation over the phone (vs. online) because doing it that way should give you up to 5 days before check-in to cancel the reservation for a full refund. Hopefully the broker you're using will get back to you before then with an explanation as to what's going on with the reservation...good luck!

 

[summerskye]

I paid the broker for the room. I have no idea who the owner is. The broker is the only contact I have. I have email and cell phone. He has put together 2 or 3 previous trips, all which were wonderful. But for some reason, he will not respond to any of my emails or voicemails.

 

[summerskye]

Thanks all for the help. I will make the resevations and keep my fingers crossed. Thanks again.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I have no idea how accurate this is -- but it indicates there may be availability for a studio-Pool/Garden View on the 29th, maybe you should ask the broker to check for that category. (The dates listed are the ones that have no availability.) It would be inconvient to change rooms for one night..but better than not having a reservation at all. Plus you should definitely get some of your money back.

BOARDWALK VILLAS (BWV)
Standard View:
A..Studio: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,26,28,29,30
B...1-B/R: 8,9,10,12
C...2-B/R: 4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30
Preferred View - Pool/Garden View:
D..Studio: 8,10,11,12,13,15,26
E...1-B/R: No Reports
F...2-B/R: 6,8,9,10,11,12,22,23,24,25,26
Preferred View - Boardwalk View:
G..Studio: 8,10,11,12,13,15,16,20,26,29,30
H...1-B/R: 8,9,10,11,12,29,30
I...2-B/R: 8,9,10,11,12,22,23,24,25,26
J...3-B/R: No Reports