Has anyone used David’s Vacation Rentals?

[DisneyDad1736]

We were looking into David’s vacation rentals for a dvc unit. Has anyone used his service before? What was the experience like?

 

[MarcIsMe]

I have used them twice. First rental was very smooth, though I had to use PayPal since my bank had an issue with a foreign charge through my debit card. The second rental was a little rocky due to COVID closures. They did issue a credit for the full reservation amount which I was able to use at Old Key West in December with no difficulties.

 

[curlyqs]

I used them to stay at the Poly. It was a great experience. They helped me with the magical express, we got our room request and they helped with the dining plan. It was a win. My only concern with using them now is that the reservations are not refundable, so we are booking through disney for my upcoming vacation. I would use them again.

 

[DisneyDad1736]

I used them to stay at the Poly. It was a great experience. They helped me with the magical express, we got our room request and they helped with the dining plan. It was a win. My only concern with using them now is that the reservations are not refundable, so we are booking through disney for my upcoming vacation. I would use them again.

thanks! So if you book through them, do you get all the benefits as if we were to book with Disney?

 

[Marionnette]

We were looking into David’s vacation rentals for a dvc unit. Has anyone used his service before? What was the experience like?

As an owner, I won't rent thru them. Their actions during the pandemic left a sour taste in my mouth and their new rental terms are very unfriendly to owners. DVC Rental store sponsors the disboards and would get my business if I wanted to use a broker to rent out my points.

 

[MarcIsMe]

Yes, plus free parking at the resort.

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Used them twice before the pandemic for stays at Boulder Ridge and Bay Lake Tower. I had a very nice experience both times. Paid with my Disney Visa card both times I think. I never made any special requests either because I was an AP holder at the time. And as I remember it, it was all non-refundable, but that's a risk I was okay with.

 

[DisneyDad1736]

Used them twice before the pandemic for stays at Boulder Ridge and Bay Lake Tower. I had a very nice experience both times. Paid with my Disney Visa card both times I think. I never made any special requests either because I was an AP holder at the time. And as I remember it, it was all non-refundable, but that's a risk I was okay with.

Yeah, we were looking at bay like tower. Is it best to book during the off season with them? We were thinking December-February barring the holidays

 

[peacefrogdog]

As an owner, I won't rent thru them. Their actions during the pandemic left a sour taste in my mouth and their new rental terms are very unfriendly to owners. DVC Rental store sponsors the disboards and would get my business if I wanted to use a broker to rent out my points.

I had positive experiences renting my points through them pre-pandemic.
What were the new changes to the rental terms that were unfavorable? (I realize I could look myself but hoping to hear the take-home message from someone who has already done that work )

 

[Schneewittchen37]

Yeah, we were looking at bay like tower. Is it best to book during the off season with them? We were thinking December-February barring the holidays

Both of my trips were holiday weekends - Veteran's Day and President's Day. "Off-season" is going to have lower rates, you can use the calculator on their site to figure out which weeks have the best rates.

I always did my booking at the 11 months in advance mark, so we could get the most in demand room type - studios with standard views go quickly.

By the way, we got very lucky with our standard view. Ground floor room with a patio.

 

[CarolynFH]

Yeah, we were looking at bay like tower. Is it best to book during the off season with them? We were thinking December-February barring the holidays

Be aware that off season for WDW is not the same as off season for DVC! For dates in the fall, mid-September through Marathon Weekend in January (the weekend before MLK holiday weekend), you need to have an owner lined up to book at 11 months before desired checkin. That’s the most popular time for DVC owners to go. January after Marathon Weekend through the first two weeks of February are easier to book.

 

[DisneyDad1736]

Be aware that off season for WDW is not the same as off season for DVC! For dates in the fall, mid-September through Marathon Weekend in January (the weekend before MLK holiday weekend), you need to have an owner lined up to book at 11 months before desired checkin. That’s the most popular time for DVC owners to go. January after Marathon Weekend through the first two weeks of February are easier to book.

awesome thank you! We were thinking of the first week of February too of 2023.

 

[Marionnette]

I had positive experiences renting my points through them pre-pandemic.
What were the new changes to the rental terms that were unfavorable? (I realize I could look myself but hoping to hear the take-home message from someone who has already done that work )

David's now has a force majeure clause that requires an owner to refund all monies received in the event of another closure. That is regardless of the status of the owner's points at the time of the closure. David's does not refund the renter under those circumstances. They offer a voucher for future use. IOW, David's keeps the money and screws over the owners while keeping renters on the hook.

I fully understand that this may never happen again in our lifetimes. However, the very willingness of a company to even write that policy into the rental agreement shows how the regard owners. I won't do business with someone like that.

 

[Marionnette]

awesome thank you! We were thinking of the first week of February too of 2022.

You're already behind the curve for DVC rentals for that time frame. Members are already booking their non-home resorts for the first and second weeks in February. The most popular resorts and room types are already booked up.

 

[DisneyDad1736]

You're already behind the curve for DVC rentals for that time frame. Members are already booking their non-home resorts for the first and second weeks in February. The most popular resorts and room types are already booked up.

Oh, I meant 2023 lol.

 

[sndral]

Yeah, we were looking at bay like tower. Is it best to book during the off season with them? We were thinking December-February barring the holidays

If you are thinking Dec. this year you are too late, December is always popular w/ DVC owners, and this year everything has been especially crazy hard to get. BLT studios are pretty booked for Jan./Feb. ‘22 as well. 1 br. lake view in Feb. ‘22 looks to be more available. Even for December 2022 best to have an owner at BLT lined up before the 11 month window opens.

awesome thank you! We were thinking of the first week of February too of 2022.

From 7-11 months prior to your vacation only people who own at a DVC resort - in your case BLT - can book at that resort. At 7 months owners can book at any DVC resort, so people will switch from less in demand resorts like Saratoga to the more popular resorts like BLT at 7 months on the dot.
BTW, those BLT studios are notoriously small compared to many studios in other DVC resorts.

 

[DisneyDad1736]

If you are thinking Dec. this year you are too late, December is always popular w/ DVC owners, and this year everything has been especially crazy hard to get. BLT studios are pretty booked for Jan./Feb. ‘22 as well. 1 br. lake view in Feb. ‘22 looks to be more available. Even for December 2022 best to have an owner at BLT lined up before the 11 month window opens.

From 7-11 months prior to your vacation only people who own at a DVC resort - in your case BLT - can book at that resort. At 7 months owners can book at any DVC resort, so people will switch from less in demand resorts like Saratoga to the more popular resorts like BLT at 7 months on the dot.
BTW, those BLT studios are notoriously small compared to many studios in other DVC resorts.

I meant November 2022-feb of 2023 lol, my mistake. But good to know that dvc is popular in the off season, I didn’t know that. We were also looking at animal kingdom lodge, is that a popular one? AKL studio would probably be our #1.

 

[sndral]

I meant November 2022-feb of 2023 lol, my mistake. But good to know that dvc is popular in the off season, I didn’t know that. We were also looking at animal kingdom lodge, is that a popular one? AKL studio would probably be our #1.

I own at AKL/AKV & happen to really like the resort (my avatar is of Gordon, who used to live on Uzima, then Arusha savanna at AKL.) It is much easier to get partly because there are more villas there, and partly because some people think it’s too isolated w/ bus only transportation. There are 2 buildings at AKV, Jambo has DVC villas on the 5th floor (and a few club villas on the 6th floor) and hotel rooms on the lower floors and is harder to get than Kidani which is an all DVC villas building.

 

[Bearval]

I had positive experiences renting my points through them pre-pandemic.
What were the new changes to the rental terms that were unfavorable? (I realize I could look myself but hoping to hear the take-home message from someone who has already done that work )

In addition to # 7, I particularly like the fact that the intermediary does not state anywhere that it is their responsibility to make the owner whole if the guest causes and damages.

Here is a sample of our agreement:Show with Existing Reservation
Hello _______________
Thank you for choosing us to assist you with your point rentals.
YOU MUST REVIEW AND RETURN TO ME BY E-MAIL the agreement below. By returning the agreement, you are accepting all terms and conditions of this Intermediary Agreement. We will then place your "points available for rental", as noted below, in our queue for rental.
Agreement to offer Disney Vacation Club points for rental through David's Vacation Club Rentals.
===================== BEGIN AGREEMENT =====================
This electronic agreement is made _______________ by and between _______________ ('DVC Owner') and David's Vacation Club Rentals ('Intermediary').

1. The DVC Owner requests assistance from the Intermediary for the purpose of finding and managing guests in exchange for an agreed price per rented point payable to the DVC Owner and an agreed commission per rented point payable to the Intermediary.
2. The DVC Owner and the Intermediary acknowledge that they are completely familiar with the terminology used by the Disney Vacation Club and are fully familiar with the operations and the rules and regulations of the Disney Vacation Club and neither will rely on the other for guidance regarding policies or procedures of the Disney Vacation Club.
3. The number of points made available for rental by the DVC Owner under this agreement is set out below. The Intermediary has no responsibility for any points not rented to guests during the specified rental year or for any points which expire for any reason whatsoever prior to being rented. This agreement shall cease to be applicable with respect to Intermediary's responsibility to supply DVC Owner with guests seeking rental opportunities after the full number of points available for rental in the specified rental year have been rented or after the end of such specified rental year (with respect to any unrented points). A new Intermediary Agreement may be entered into by the parties after all points available for rental have been rented or the specified rental year has ended.
4. The Intermediary agrees to be responsible for:
   1. Supplying the DVC Owner with guests who are seeking rental opportunities, as available to Intermediary
   2. Contacting Disney Vacation Club's Owner Services to check availability for guests
   3. Contacting the DVC Owner with eligible guests' rental inquiries
   4. Collecting funds from the guest for a reservation made by the DVC Owner for such guest
   5. Creating and receiving an agreed rental agreement, in form approved by Intermediary, from a reserving guest
   6. Paying the DVC Owner for rented points used to secure reservations, at the price agreed with Intermediary, payable 70% after the reservation is made and 100% of the funds for the reservation have been collected by Intermediary from the guest, and the balance at the time of check-in
   7. Ensuring that a guest's reservation is confirmed to the guest
   8. Providing the DVC Owner with a credit card or other financial information from the guest if the guest elects to add a dining plan, ticket package or other Disney Vacation Plan optional add-on to enable processing of such add-on request by the DVC Owner
5. The DVC Owner agrees to be responsible for:
   1. Providing the Intermediary with full details on how many points are available for rental in the specified rental year, as noted below
   2. Advising the Intermediary which Home Resort the points belong to, as noted below
   3. Advising the Intermediary which year that the points belong to, as noted below
   4. Advising the Intermediary whether and how many points may be banked or borrowed in order to secure reservations in the specified rental year
   5. Keeping maintenance fees and mortgages payable by the DVC Owner current at all times
   6. Keeping DVC Owner's membership in the Disney Vacation Club current and active so as not to adversely affect any active reservations or potential reservations during the specified rental year
   7. Honoring all reservations made for which funds (partial or full) have been remitted to DVC Owner
   8. Maintaining an active PayPal account with which to receive payment for funds collected by Intermediary with respect to guest reservations
   9. Obtaining a confirmation from Disney Vacation Club with respect to each guest reservation using the information provided by Intermediary to DVC Owner with respect to that guest and then sending that reservation confirmation electronically to Intermediary
   10. Processing all reserved guests' requests for optional add-ons and for specific room requests with Disney Vacation Club and/or Walt Disney Company ("Disney"). A copy of all email confirmations from the Disney Vacation Club and/or Disney with respect to such add-ons must be forwarded to Intermediary for further forwarding to the guest in question.
   11. Processing payment for guests' optional add-on requests using a credit card/financial information obtained by Intermediary from the guest and provided to DVC Owner. DVC Owner will use such credit card/financial information only for the express purpose of processing the add-on requests with Disney Vacation Club and/or Walt Disney Company ("Disney") and not for any other purpose and will otherwise keep such information strictly confidential.
6. The DVC Owner further agrees and promises:
   1. Not to list for sale, and not to list for rental with another rental agent, the points covered by active reservations or available for rental hereunder during the specified rental year
   2. To keep all Disney Vacation Club maintenance fees, dues and assessments current
   3. To keep all mortgages with respect to the DVC Owner's Disney Vacation Club property current
   4. To keep the DVC Owner's membership in the Disney Vacation Club in good standing
7. The DVC Owner further agrees with the Intermediary to make full restitution to the Intermediary and a guest with an active reservation for any and all costs related to a cancellation of that reservation caused by or relating to the failure of the DVC Owner to honour the reservation or otherwise not comply with any obligation or responsibility of the DVC Owner under this agreement including, without limitation, any legal fees, costs and expenses associated with the collection of said costs.
8. The DVC Owner hereby agrees to indemnify Intermediary from and in respect of all losses, costs, damages and claims suffered or incurred by Intermediary as a result of the DVC Owner failing to fulfill any responsibility or comply with any obligation of DVC Owner hereunder.
9. This agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. All parties hereto agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario with respect to any disputes relating to, or legal actions brought in respect of, any matters under this agreement.
10. In the event of a Force Majeure (as defined in this paragraph), each party shall be excused from any future performance of obligations under this agreement; provided, however that if Intermediary has paid 70% of the funds collected for the reservation from Guest to DVC Owner pursuant to 4(f) of this Agreement, DVC Owner will return to Intermediary the full amount it has already received from Intermediary, as soon as is reasonably possible after the conditions(s) constituting the Force Majeure event is/are notified by Intermediary to DVC Owner. A Force Majeure is an event beyond the Intermediary’s reasonable control which renders performance of a rental reservation with respect to DVC Owner’s rented points impossible or substantially impaired, including without limitation, acts of God, acts of government, embargoes, war, riot, epidemic, pandemic, natural disaster, governmental order restrictions and Disney Vacation Club closures or cancellation of reservations.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I meant November 2022-feb of 2023 lol, my mistake. But good to know that dvc is popular in the off season, I didn’t know that. We were also looking at animal kingdom lodge, is that a popular one? AKL studio would probably be our #1.

There are 4 studio categories at AKV: value (Jambo only), standard, savannah and concierge (Jambo only). You will not be able to book either value or concierge... these are the most coveted by owners and will likely be locked in before you can request them.

As long as you plan either standard or savannah, you have a reasonably good chance to book a studio. Be aware, however, as others have pointed out already, this is absolute peak season for DVC... booking with an AKV owner who has the 11 month advantage will be to your benefit.