Prices for Confirmed / Dedicated Reservations (COVID)

[travelhacker]

We have been considering various options for October 10th - 17th in Florida (or really any dates in between). I have looked at the Marriotts in Orlando, Marco Island, Hyatt Coconut Plantation, and just recently I have seen some last minute RCI exchanges into DVC pop up (not for the dates we would use, but I am thinking it may be a possibility).

I think if we could get the right resort via RCI, we would go ahead and go to Disney. I have always been interested in renting DVC reservations, but have never pulled the trigger because it's always been so expensive - rightfully so.

Since I was curious, I went ahead and looked at confirmed reservations from Davids, DVC Rental Store and others. The amount of inventory available right now is SHOCKING. It looks like you could get just about any resort or room category that you wanted. However, the prices are still the prices that they normally charge.

With the number of expiring points that people are likely running into, do you think the prices could potentially fall as the check in dates get closer? I know that Disney consistently high rates for rentals, but I've gotta think that there are A LOT of people that stand to lose points in the near future.

We are very nervous about COVID and feel a lot more comfortable staying beach side (It's a long story, but we are going to the Sarasota area with family for the week prior, and it will be impossible to reschedule with kids going off to college, etc).

I am starting to get tempted by the prospect of staying on Disney property since our kids are at really good ages (even if we go to the parks for just a couple of days).

What do you think happens to prices of rentals in the next few months?

 

[elaine]

form what I've read on disboards, there are tons of rentals because hundreds of people rented from a large broker and cannot get their $ back. The broker has offered those dates as rentals and will reimburse those who had rented if they get another rental. It does not appear that the brokers are reducing their pricing until very last minute. You'll find some owners renting reservations and points that expire 11/30/2020 for lower rates, but still usually at $14+. But, by Oct, with many points expiring 11/30/2020, some might get more desperate (I know I would). The brokers might not care if they are just rerenting already paid for rentals.
Personally, I'd just take a RCI trade into DVC if a 1BR works for you.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Not too much unless covid rears it's ugly head again. Those hundreds of rentals from David and the other brokers are all the cancelled reservations from renters not wanting to go for the next few months. If they don't get rerented, the renter loses their money since the resorts and parks are open for business. If they get rerented, the renter gets a portion of what they paid for the original reservation. David has already raised his prices for future rentals. Plus many of the individual owners haven't dropped their prices either.

If you go RCI, you will probably be limited to Saratoga Springs one bedroom or, possibly, OKW one bedroom.

 

[travelhacker]

Thanks all for the info.

I hope my dates pop up in RCI (from what I have read October can be a pretty tricky trade to get into DVC), so perhaps I will keep an eye on the rental market if some of the prices per point go down a little.

It is crazy to me to see the supply at near historically high levels, and the demand near historical lows without it having much of an affect on price.

 

[TheHolleys87]

I’ve read that DVC rentals via brokers for the next few weeks are going for as little as $9 pp. With the glut of confirmed bookings that are posted, I’d expect prices to diminish as your dates get closer. So you might want to keep an eye on both RCI exchanges and the brokers’ confirmed reservations lists.

 

[Sandy VDH]

For HGVC, Wyndham or other points systems, there does not have to be a drop in price, as we can easily move those points into next year.

Now that will mean that next year inventories will be tight, as there will be a lot of extra points available chasing the same amount of reservations.