Issue booking Beach Club Villas?

[JusticeDisney]

I am looking into booking a Beach Club Villa for next summer, and from late June all the way through the end of August, it is showing as completely sold out. Is that even possible at this point or do you think there is something else going on here that I'm unaware of? The last couple of years I have booked these villas without any issues at all. I'm stumped. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I am looking into booking a Beach Club Villa for next summer, and from late June all the way through the end of August, it is showing as completely sold out. Is that even possible at this point or do you think there is something else going on here that I'm unaware of? The last couple of years I have booked these villas without any issues at all. I'm stumped. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Disney holds villa availability due to DVC booking windows. DVC members with BCV as their home resort can book it 11 months in advance and the rest of the DVC members get a chance to book it 7 months in advance.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Disney holds villa availability due to DVC booking windows. DVC members with BCV as their home resort can book it 11 months in advance and the rest of the DVC members get a chance to book it 7 months in advance.

Okay, thank you for that. So what does that mean for me, a non-DVC member?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Okay, thank you for that. So what does that mean for me, a non-DVC member?

Zero availability any more than 11 months in advance, limited availability up to 7 months in advance, "true" availability some time within seven months.

 

[JusticeDisney]

Zero availability any more than 11 months in advance, limited availability up to 7 months in advance, "true" availability some time within seven months.

Great, thank you so much for clearing that up for me.

 

[Weather_Lady]

OP, just a tip: you might want to consider renting DVC points instead of booking through Disney. We're staying at BCV (standard studio) in May 2018 and paying almost $300 less per night on rented DVC points than the Disney rack rate for the same villa. Rack rate for our dates (with taxes and fees) is $565/night; we paid $272/night for a confirmed reservation through David's Vacation rentals. Even if I lump in the additional $150 we paid for vacation insurance (DVC reservations are non-refundable if you cancel, so vacation insurance is recommended), it works out to a savings of about $250/night.

I made our request with David's just before the 11-month mark and they didn't have a member with the points we needed (at least, not a member with BC as their home resort who could make reservations at 11 months out) right away, so I asked them to keep my reservation request in their queue until at least after the 7-month mark (when any member with points could reserve there). Fortunately, it only took about a week before a Beach Club member listed the points we needed with David's. This is the second time we've rented from them and it's been a seamless process. (I've heard good things about the DVC Rental Store, which provides the same services, as well. You can also rent directly from a member for even less money, but I prefer the safety net of a BBB-approved "middleman" like David's.)

The main differences between renting directly through Disney and renting DVC points from a member are: (1) you don't get a refund if you cancel a reservation on DVC points (see above); (2) you don't get daily housekeeping if you're staying on DVC points - just trash-and-towel service every 4 days or so - unless you pay extra for it; and (3) if you stay on DVC points, you won't be eligible to apply any special offers Disney may release for your dates (e.g., room discounts), although in many cases (e.g., our upcoming stay, when we're saving over 40% off of rack rate already) Disney's room rate discounts will be significantly less than you'd save with a DVC rental. You can still purchase dining plans, etc. -- you'll just need the member from whom you're renting to make those arrangements for you (which they will, per their contract with David's or DVC Rental Store, etc.).

 

[JusticeDisney]

OP, just a tip: you might want to consider renting DVC points instead of booking through Disney. We're staying at BCV (standard studio) in May 2018 and paying almost $300 less per night on rented DVC points than the Disney rack rate for the same villa. Rack rate for our dates is $565/night; we paid $272/night for a confirmed reservation through David's Vacation rentals. Even if I lump in the additional $150 we paid for vacation insurance (DVC reservations are non-refundable if you cancel, so vacation insurance is recommended), it works out to a savings of about $250/night.

I made our request with David's just before the 11-month mark and they didn't have a member with the points we needed (at least, not a member with BC as their home resort who could make reservations at 11 months out) right away, so I asked them to keep my reservation request in their queue until at least after the 7-month mark (when any member with points could reserve there). Fortunately, it only took about a week before a Beach Club member listed the points we needed with David's. This is the second time we've rented from them and it's been a seamless process. (I've heard good things about the DVC Rental Store, which provides the same services, as well. You can also rent directly from a member for even less money, but I prefer the safety net of a BBB-approved "middleman" like David's.)

The main differences between renting directly through Disney and renting DVC points from a member are: (1) you don't get a refund if you cancel a reservation on DVC points (see above); (2) you don't get daily housekeeping if you're staying on DVC points - just trash-and-towel service every 4 days or so - unless you pay extra for it; and (3) if you stay on DVC points, you won't be eligible to apply any special offers Disney may release for your dates (e.g., room discounts), although in many cases (e.g., our upcoming stay, when we're saving over 40% off of rack rate already) Disney's room rate discounts will be significantly less than you'd save with a DVC rental. You can still purchase dining plans, etc. -- you'll just need the member from whom you're renting to make those arrangements for you (which they will, per their contract with David's or DVC Rental Store, etc.).

Wow, thank you so much for all this info! So helpful! I took your advice and just submitted my request through David's. One question for you, though. Once you get the reservation from David's, do you at that point receive a confirmation number that you can link to your MDE account for purposes of magical express, online check-in, FP+, etc.?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

OP, just a tip: you might want to consider renting DVC points instead of booking through Disney. We're staying at BCV (standard studio) in May 2018 and paying almost $300 less per night on rented DVC points than the Disney rack rate for the same villa. Rack rate for our dates is $565/night; we paid $272/night for a confirmed reservation through David's Vacation rentals. Even if I lump in the additional $150 we paid for vacation insurance (DVC reservations are non-refundable if you cancel, so vacation insurance is recommended), it works out to a savings of about $250/night.

What am I doing wrong? I always check DVC rentals but I never come anywhere close to that kind of savings. That's better than 50% off if you adjust the travel insurance back out. For my next trip, David's quotes me $553 per night versus Disney's rack rate of $696 (Animal Kingdom one bedroom in August) not counting vacation insurance and the extra cost of daily housekeeping. That's about 20% off, which is actually worse than I'd do with a summer room-only offer, again not counting the fact that points would cost me extra to get housekeeping.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Wow, thank you so much for all this info! So helpful! I took your advice and just submitted my request through David's. One question for you, though. Once you get the reservation from David's, do you at that point receive a confirmation number that you can link to your MDE account for purposes of magical express, online check-in, FP+, etc.?

Yes. You can link it to MDE to confirm the details just like you would any other room reservation, and then manage tickets, Fastpasses, dining reservations, etc. as usual.

I like to log into MDE at least once a week -- just to look at the reservation details and remind myself it's actually happening.

 

[Weather_Lady]

What am I doing wrong? I always check DVC rentals but I never come anywhere close to that kind of savings. That's better than 50% off if you adjust the travel insurance back out. For my next trip, David's quotes me $553 per night versus Disney's rack rate of $696 (Animal Kingdom one bedroom in August) not counting vacation insurance and the extra cost of daily housekeeping. That's about 20% off, which is actually worse than I'd do with a summer room-only offer, again not counting the fact that points would cost me extra to get housekeeping.

I don't know - perhaps it's just an anomaly based on our dates. (5/1-5/4, 2018 - if you check David's cost calculator for those days, the price it gives -- the same one we were quoted and paid for 3 nights at BCV in a standard studio -- is $816, or $272/night.) Also, the fact that we're in a studio does, I think, make a difference. I think I've read somewhere that you save a higher percentage when renting points for studios and 2-bedrooms than you do with 1-bedrooms. I know when we stayed in a 2-bedroom at VWL on rented points back in 2012, our savings rate (vs. non-discounted rack rate) was about 40%. Also, how much you save varies by resort. We're capping off our stay at BCV with 2 nights in a Poly studio at $408/night. 2018 rack rate for that room is $658/night, meaning we're "only" saving 38% off of rack rate at the Polynesian (slightly less with the cost of vacation insurance - meaning it's probably of similar value to a 30%-off room offer, if Disney were to make one for that resort and room category).

 

[JusticeDisney]

Yes. You can link it to MDE, and then manage tickets, Fastpasses, dining reservations, etc. as usual.

Thanks again for all of your help!

 

[PrincessNelly_NJ]

What am I doing wrong? I always check DVC rentals but I never come anywhere close to that kind of savings. That's better than 50% off if you adjust the travel insurance back out. For my next trip, David's quotes me $553 per night versus Disney's rack rate of $696 (Animal Kingdom one bedroom in August) not counting vacation insurance and the extra cost of daily housekeeping. That's about 20% off, which is actually worse than I'd do with a summer room-only offer, again not counting the fact that points would cost me extra to get housekeeping.

I think it also varies when you book. If you are booking prior to 7 months out, they charge more per point I believe. We booked a 1 bedroom at AKL through DVC Rental Store for $403 a night compared to $705 direct with disney. But we did so 6 months in advance.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I think it also varies when you book. If you are booking prior to 7 months out, they charge more per point I believe. We booked a 1 bedroom at AKL through DVC Rental Store for $403 a night compared to $705 direct with disney. But we did so 6 months in advance.

You're right: thanks for mentioning it -- I know with David's, we paid an extra amount per point ($2/pt, I think) to reserve before 7 months. They charge that premium for all of the DVC resorts except for Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, if I recall, and DVC Rental Store has a similar policy.

DH and I debated about waiting and saving some extra money, but we realized we had our hearts set on the two resorts we'd picked, so it was worth it not to have to agonize over whether there'd be any availability at 7 months.

 

[ParentsOf4]

What am I doing wrong? I always check DVC rentals but I never come anywhere close to that kind of savings. That's better than 50% off if you adjust the travel insurance back out. For my next trip, David's quotes me $553 per night versus Disney's rack rate of $696 (Animal Kingdom one bedroom in August) not counting vacation insurance and the extra cost of daily housekeeping. That's about 20% off, which is actually worse than I'd do with a summer room-only offer, again not counting the fact that points would cost me extra to get housekeeping.

One bedrooms provide the least savings for DVC rentals.

Paying by points, a one bedroom is twice the cost (i.e. 100% more) of a Studio at the same DVC resort. This is because a one bedroom almost always requires double the number of points of a Studio at the same resort.

Paying Disney directly, a one bedroom is roughly 50% more than a Studio. (For example, if Disney is charging $400/night for a Studio, then a one bedroom at the same resort will be roughly $600/night.)

The saving realized by renting points for a Studio is nearly always greater than the saving realized by renting points for a one bedroom.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

One bedrooms provide the least savings for DVC rentals.

Paying by points, a one bedroom is twice the cost (i.e. 100% more) of a Studio at the same DVC resort. This is because a one bedroom almost always requires double the number of points of a Studio at the same resort.

Paying Disney directly, a one bedroom is roughly 50% more than a Studio. (For example, if Disney is charging $400/night for a Studio, then a one bedroom at the same resort will be roughly $600/night.)

The saving realized by renting points for a Studio is nearly always greater than the saving realized by renting points for a one bedroom.

That makes sense. It's part of the reason my "does DVC make sense for me?" math never quite works out cleanly. The size contract I'd look to purchase would be about 200 points, roughly enough for a one bedroom villa one week a year. But the comparison to rack rate never yields the NPV that other DVC members often talk about when they base their math on studios and two bedroom villas. I don't think I'd ever stay in a studio villa, as the main perk (a kitchen) isn't available and the bed situation isn't ideal outside of Old Key West. So I'll stick to the most affordable way to get a kitchen as a cash guest... Fort Wilderness cabins and AKL one bedrooms when they go on sale.

 

[DarthVader]

Is that even possible at this poin

The Poly looks to be near sold out for standard rooms September though November of 2018. There may be a handful of weekday spots but from my searching they're all gone, so I'm not surprised other resorts are experiencing the same thing

 

[mj2v]

Disney maintains ownership of 2% of the resort, but that includes downtime for maintenance. If a DVC member books a cruise, Disney hotel room, ABD, or concierge collection, those rooms are then rented to non members to pay for that trip.