2025 offers and discounts?

[CastAStone]

So right now for a 1BR Island Garden View, Dave's is coming back at $7,700 and Aulani site is coming back at $11,007. I feel like something at the Dave's option has to be off, right? I've never rented points but does that much of a gap seem normal? DVC Rental doesn't have anything available that entire week so I can't compare them.

Honestly a lot of times the savings are even more significant; 1 bedrooms offer the smallest savings as a %. But It’s a heckuva deal.

Just to reiterate the downside is you absolutely *can not* get your money back with David’s if something happens and you can’t go. At best, if the circumstances are within their very narrow cancellation policy, you’ll get a travel credit.

 

[VGCgroupie]

When you’re renting points you should basically assume as soon as you book it you’ll never see that money again. It’s a contract, not a booking.

This is why I never rented points in the past.

 

[CastAStone]

This is why I never rented points in the past.

I have; I figured the savings were big enough that even if I cancelled 1 in 3 I’d come out ahead.

But just watching the facebook groups I’m still flabbergasted by how many people are arrogant enough to assume that, despite a zillion warnings, David’s or DVC Rental Store will just work with THEM if there’s an issue.

No, they won’t.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I have; I figured the savings were big enough that even if I cancelled 1 in 3 I’d come out ahead.

But just watching the facebook groups I’m still flabbergasted by how many people are arrogant enough to assume that, despite a zillion warnings, David’s or DVC Rental Store will just work with THEM if there’s an issue.

No, they won’t.

Yeah, they will work with you but they won't give you any money back. I always figure I save quite a bit of $$$ with using Davids and if something ever happened and I couldn't go, I would call a family I know that wants to go but doesn't have the finances to go and ask if they want free hotel on me. Or, sell the ressie at a a discount to someone else I know. I do feel it would get used and David's would work with me to change the names on the ressie.

 

[WinterSolider]

Sounds about right! Friends of mine rented for 5N at the Poly (paid about $26 per point) and the entire cost was just under $2000. Same dates for same studio would have been $740 per night plus tax. It can be a decent savings if you can abide by the strict/no cancellation policy for a refund.

I would not recommend anyone pay more than $18 per point when renting.

And to @CastAStone point about the inflexibility of the rental sites, you can often find individual owners on Facebook who have more generous terms. They're still not *great* but you can usually negotiate something like a partial refund if cancelled before 7 months or the ability to find some other renter to take your place if you plans fall through.

 

[Pyxie]

So right now for a 1BR Island Garden View, Dave's is coming back at $7,700 and Aulani site is coming back at $11,007. I feel like something at the Dave's option has to be off, right? I've never rented points but does that much of a gap seem normal? DVC Rental doesn't have anything available that entire week so I can't compare them.

Pricing could definitely be accurate, and I've typically found DVC Rental Store to be cheaper than Dave's. But one thing I've noticed is that DVC Rental Store shows more accurate "live" availability whereas Dave's will show all categories and you don't really know if it's available or not until you submit a booking request. Basically, I say that to say that if DVC Rental Store is showing no availability for a certain category, I'd be more inclined to believe them. (Unless you are looking at a confirmed reservation which is totally different.)

 

[Tigger's ally]

Pricing could definitely be accurate, and I've typically found DVC Rental Store to be cheaper than Dave's. But one thing I've noticed is that DVC Rental Store shows more accurate "live" availability whereas Dave's will show all categories and you don't really know if it's available or not until you submit a booking request. Basically, I say that to say that if DVC Rental Store is showing no availability for a certain category, I'd be more inclined to believe them. (Unless you are looking at a confirmed reservation which is totally different.)

One of the best part of about David's is the live chat. All you have to do is type in your dates and they respond immediately with availability. No need to submit a booking request.

 

[Flip flops in winter]

I would not recommend anyone pay more than $18 per point when renting.

And to @CastAStone point about the inflexibility of the rental sites, you can often find individual owners on Facebook who have more generous terms. They're still not *great* but you can usually negotiate something like a partial refund if cancelled before 7 months or the ability to find some other renter to take your place if you plans fall through.

I ended up booking a holiday trip to Aulani at $23 per point, which feels like I won the lottery compared to the rack rate.

 

[WinterSolider]

I ended up booking a holiday trip to Aulani at $23 per point, which feels like I won the lottery compared to the rack rate.

I don't like the booking sites. They all feel very used-car-salesman-y, extracting middleman profit while providing very little actual value.

I'd rather just rent from an individual owner on Facebook, which admittedly comes with some extra risk.

 

[Mle8308]

I don't like the booking sites. They all feel very used-car-salesman-y, extracting middleman profit while providing very little actual value.

I'd rather just rent from an individual owner on Facebook, which admittedly comes with some extra risk.

I'm the opposite, overall I am okay with paying more per point and both not having to pay all up front (DVC Rental) and having some type of cancellation policy. Even if it's just using the credit at a later time. And definitely much less risk then a person on Facebook. I never felt used car salesman from DVC Rental, it was all online and very easy. No pressure about anything and they never tried to "sell" me anything else. I made my request and it was filled the next day, exactly what I wanted.

 

[nherbert]

The WDW AP discount for Aulani from January to April 2025 just became available, it’s on special offers page.