Anything a first time renter should know/do?

[ryan840]

Hi. I will be renting points for the first time (if the ressies are available) and welcome any tips/ suggestions you have for me. Other than finding someone to rent the points from and establishing trust, I don't know anything. Basically, I do trust them, and am paying $10.50/pt which I hear is good for a trip that is a month away (couldn't find anyone with expiring points to rent). I won't have ressie confirmation until Monday, since the lines were closed when I found someone to rent from, but I hope to stay at BWV, OKW or SSR (in that order). Thanks in advance!

 

[Scoootch]

Okay, you didn't mention what size villa you'll be renting the points for but the biggest thing I can think of for you to know ahead of time is that when you rent points for a stay you will be subject to the DVC housekeeping schedule. DVC members do not get daily housekeeping. We get Trash-n-towel service on day 4 of a stay that is less than 8 nights. If your stay will be 8 nights or more, you'll get a full cleaning on day 4 and then T-n-T on day 8 and the cycle will repeat every 4 days that you are there for.

Trash-n-Towel means that they come and empty the trash cans,replenish towels with clean ones and replenish supplies like coffee,creamer, (laundry detergent ~ if in a 1bdrm or larger).

Full cleaning means you'll get the bed linens changed out and beds made,bathrooms and entire villa cleaned vacumed,towels all replenished with clean ones, the works basically.

Now the up side to not having daily housekeeping is that you won't have the maids banging on the door every morning to get in to clean and being in your villa while you're not there. Making the bed is really no big deal when you consider that you're saving usually a dramatic amount of $$ by renting points rather than booking directly through Disney. So it really is totally worth it. As for the clean towels issue....if you will be in a studio size villa you have access to the washers and dryers in the DVC resorts FREE OF CHARGE you'll just need to bring or buy some detergent (Tide tablets travel well or you can purchase single load boxes of Tide in the resort gift shop for $1 each). If you'll be in a 1bdrm or larger villa, you will have a washer and dryer right in your villa. It's very easy to just throw in a load of towels before leaving for the parks in the morning and just throw them in the dryer when you return. Same goes for if you'll be staying in a studio (at OKW...you can just throw them in while taking a swim at any of the pools as the w/d's are by each pool.)

Anyway...beyond the housekeeping issue there isn't anything too pressing I can think of at the moment that people tend to be caught off guard about if they don't know ahead of time but...the last thing I'll leave you with is that if you REALLY WANT the daily housekeeping, you can get it...but you have to pay extra for it. I think the current charge is $25 per day for a studio,$30 for a 1bdrm ....and it goes up from there depending on villa size. You can also pay extra just for a day here and there if you want to but to me it's not worth it since you can do it yourself for alot less$$.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[ryan840]

Thanks for letting me know about that- I will be staying in a studio for four days, so I won't expect anything. I'm really excited about the free washer/dryers though, that'll help a lot!

 

[JimMIA]

Basically, I do trust them, and am paying $10.50/pt which I hear is good for a trip that is a month away (couldn't find anyone with expiring points to rent).

You are very lucky to find someone who will rent points to you a month out...especially at a reasonable price. The person renting you the points is taking a big risk, and many, many renters won't rent at all that close to the arrival date. Have a great time!

 

[ryan840]

I just received confirmation, We'll be staying at OKW. The renter is pretty new to this as well, I guess they didn't know better It worked out great for both of us, I think! I can't wait to go!!!

 

[Cruelladeville]

If you are renting a studio at OKW, ask the person you are renting from to request a building near one of the pools, which is the location for the washers and dryers. You could request Bldg. 11-14, for example, which is directly across the street from the pool area and the washers. There are 3 other pool areas, too. You might want to give some thought as to how you will transport your laundry, too, such as purchasing a suitcase with wheels, if you don't already have one. Also, if DH is a golfer, you might want to request a building near a pool WITH a view of the golf course, too!

 

[ryan840]

I think it's too late to request a certain room, the resses are made, but I will definately pack a pop up hamper for the laundry, now that you mentioned it. No golfers here, so that won't be a problem, but those were great tips, I didn't think about them at all, thanks!!

 

[JimMIA]

I just received confirmation, We'll be staying at OKW. The renter is pretty new to this as well, I guess they didn't know better It worked out great for both of us, I think! I can't wait to go!!!

Just to let you know, if something happens and you have to cancel or change dates, that puts not only the renter's points for this reservation in the trick bag - it could mess up their whole account. A cancellation within the last 30 days is absolutely the WORST case scenario for a renter...which is why I said you were lucky to find anyone who would rent to you at this late date.

Don't breathe, don't think, don't change ANYTHING!

 

[ryan840]

I wasn't planning on changing anything, I have already paid and made all of my plans.

 

[jjnv]

We were at the OKW for 2 days after Disney Cruise. We loved the place so much that we came home and entered a contract to buy at OKW that night. Our flight coming home was around 7pm. So we thought we had enough time to enjoy. Wrong! We walked to the general store in the morning. The kids traded some pins with the CMs. Then the boat to DTD came. We hopped on and stopped at SSR for a visit. Kids loved the kids club there. We had ice cream after the tour. The tour guide sent us back on a DVC van. We rode the Surry bike around the resort for 30 minutes. Then we had to leave to have late lunch at RFC at Animal Kingdom before leaving for the airport. We did not even get into the pool or do the mini golf as planned. But everyone enjoyed the day. That is what sold us the DVC. DH cannot imagine going to the parks every year, but he does not mind goes to OKW every year