What goes into it
Three things, each scored out of 100, then combined:
Price against similar stays (70%)
We compare the listing's price a point with the typical price a point for the same resort, kind of room and check-in month, from every listing we've seen in the last year, including ones that have sold. Price a point is the fairest comparison, because Disney's points charts already account for the season, the view and the size of the room. When a broker doesn't publish points, we compare the price a night with the same kind of room's instead.
At the typical price it scores 50. Each percent under typical adds 2.5, up to 100 at 20% under; each percent over takes 2.5 away, down to 0 at 20% over. A typical price needs at least 5 listings behind it. With fewer, we widen the comparison: the same kind of room in any month, then the whole resort.
Savings against Disney's price (20%)
Where the broker tells us what Disney charges for the same stay, savings of 30% or less score 0 and savings of 55% or more score 100. Most brokers don't say, so most listings are scored without this.
Time on the market (10%)
Good deals tend to go fast. A listing that has been up longer than similar stays usually last loses points, down to 0 at three times as long. "Usually last" is the median time similar listings stay up before they're gone, allowing for the ones still listed.
Putting it together
The score is the average of the three, weighted as above. When one can't be worked out, the others share its weight. Without a typical price to compare against, a listing gets no score at all rather than a guess.
Listings that look wrong, like a price far outside what DVC rentals cost or nights that don't match the dates, get no score until they're checked. Scores update after every check of the brokers, about every 30 minutes, and each listing's page shows the reasons behind its score.
What it isn't
- It's about price. It doesn't judge the resort, the room or the dates; only you know what suits your trip.
- It isn't a forecast. A great deal today can be gone tomorrow, and prices can drop.
- It's worked out the same way for every broker. You book with the broker, and Find Magic never takes payment (how Find Magic works).