DVC point purchase outcome?

[ptrbryant]

Okay, we've got our reservations at the CRB (not firm yet!), but I'm curious about the option to buying DVC points to stay at a home away from home property at WDW. I'm a bit leary about exchanging $$$ with an unknown individual, though. Has anyone ever done this? Were you happy with the choice? Any problems?
Thanks!
Karla B.

[Ken the Retired Cop]

We've met a very nice lady named "AndreaT" on these boards and have "rented" her points for an upcoming stay in September. She has been great! We paid her 1/2 the total and she sent us the confirmation that our room was reserved and also a contract so we feel completely safe!

If it helps too - according to the webmasters on these boards, there has never been any problems reported with bad transactions "yet" - so that's reassuring!

Make sure you scroll down to the DVC board on this main page and go under the Rent Trade board - that's where you'll find all the for rent info!

They say the "normal" going rate for renting points is $10 - but you can get them cheaper (i.e., around $8). I think anything between $7 - $8 is very fair and a very good deal. Sometimes someone will post with points as low as $4 or $5 but that's highly unusual and for points literally about to expire in a month.

Good luck to you! Another tip would be to try OKW - they have the largest rooms (way way bigger than WL and BW) and the resort is magnicent!!!

[ptrbryant]

OKW is the resort I was interested in! Do you know if even the studios are spacious and attractive?

[gduvall]

I just rented points from a DVC member in January and stayed at OKW studio. We had absolutely know problems renting points and OKW was beautiful. Studios were a little bigger than a standard hotel room. What was nice was the studios have kitchettes in them(micro, refrig, toaster, coffee maker). The renting process was so easy, I'm renting points from a different individual at BWV in September.

[AZKathy]

Also, the studios have a porch or balcony off the studio with a couple of chairs and a table that over looks the golf course and ponds/waterways. You also get paper plates, napkins, untensils with the kitchenette. Remember, if you rent points, you will not get daily housekeeping unless you pay for it.

OKW is a lovely resort; we love it there!

[robinb]

As a DVC member, I have rented out points at $10 pp. The studios are quite nice. For an average of $110 per night (Sun-Thursday) you get quite a nice set up. Of course, "prime times" of Christmas and Easter are more expensive. Here are some pictures I took 2 years ago at our last OKW stay. It was lovely!

Robin's OKW Studio Pictures (http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=A7D70032D39&cb=PA)

[nluvwithdisney]

You shouldn't have a problem. We even cancelled a reservation and the owner gave us back our deposit immediately. That certainly built my trust.

[Ken the Retired Cop]

Hopefully you wouldn't have to cancel - but one thing to remember is the member's "use" year. This means for example for us, our member we've rented from (Andrea) has a use year of February so that means if you cancel the reservation after six months from February (ie the beginning of August) you have to have those points go into a "holding" account as it's too late to bank them or something to that effect, and then you have like 4 mos in which to use them without having to have the member use their "once in a lifetime banking" situation. I know that might be a little more info than you need - but just be especially careful if a situation would arise that you need to cancel. And too I might not be 100% accurate on that as I'm indeed **not** a member.

As far as the "studio" is concerned, I'm sure you'll find it very lovely! My daughter has stayed in a 1br at OKW and on our upcoming stay we'll be in a 2br which is a one bedroom and a studio put together either with a lock off or just a door between.

If I were you - I'd go for the 1br if you can get the points say at a good price of $8 or $8.50 - because you'll just not believe how beuatiful the sitting kitchen area is and the beautiful bedroom with the whirlpool tub!! Totally worth it!!! Look into that!! :)

[Buckleybunch]

Originally posted by robinb
As a DVC member, I have rented out points at $10 pp. The studios are quite nice. For an average of $110 per night (Sun-Thursday) you get quite a nice set up. Of course, "prime times" of Christmas and Easter are more expensive. Here are some pictures I took 2 years ago at our last OKW stay. It was lovely!

Robin's OKW Studio Pictures (http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=A7D70032D39&cb=PA)

Robin, does the OKW have daybeds? Is this a studio? That is very nice room..
Thanks

[Buckleybunch]

Originally posted by robinb
As a DVC member, I have rented out points at $10 pp. The studios are quite nice. For an average of $110 per night (Sun-Thursday) you get quite a nice set up. Of course, "prime times" of Christmas and Easter are more expensive. Here are some pictures I took 2 years ago at our last OKW stay. It was lovely!

Robin's OKW Studio Pictures (http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=A7D70032D39&cb=PA)

[AZKathy]

The studios at OKW do not have day beds, just the two queen size beds.

Robin, those are great pics!

[ptrbryant]

Wow!!! Thanks for all the great information, great pictures and advice! I'll keep checking the DVC board below and see how it goes. I think I agree that, if we can, it would be more worthwhile to go for the 1 BR. If it doesn't work out this time, we can always try for our next vacation...
Thanks again!
Karla B.