Best time/way to rent points

[jennab]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask my questions, so if not please let me know!

We are planning a trip (in latter part) 2014 (yes I'm a major pre-planner!). I've been comparing costs and it seems like renting points is probably a better deal than booking with Disney (even with discounts). However, I'm not quite sure on the full process.

It would be me, DH, and DS (2yrs) probably looking at either a studio or 1 bedroom at either *** or *** (would be awesome to do a 1 bedroom but dependent on the price) with a standard view. From what I have read standard views seem to book pretty quick. What would be my best options? From my understanding only an owner at the resort can book 11 months out otherwise it's 7 months for everyone else (right?). I know there are websites (such at David's) who find the DVC member for you. Would that be my best bet to get what I want and should I book at exactly 11 months out? I guess I'm not really sure how to find someone with a home base who can book what I want and if I should go through a company or an individual? I assume an individual would be cheaper (but I know there are also downsides to that). How does one find an individual? I've seen the rent/trade board so do people just jump on the posts when they are made?

Hope this isn't a ton of questions, like I said I am a major pre-planner and like to get the best deal possible and what I want

Thanks - love all the helpful and knowledgeable people on this board!

EDIT: Some travel specif info has been removed. Edits appear in Dark Red. - Chuck S

 

[Chuck S]

I would either contact David's or try to find an owner offering points at your choice of resorts on our Rent/Trade Board about 12 months prior to your desired travel dates, that way they can book right at the 11 month window for you.

 

[rlovew]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask my questions, so if not please let me know!

We are planning a trip (in latter part) 2014 (yes I'm a major pre-planner!). I've been comparing costs and it seems like renting points is probably a better deal than booking with Disney (even with discounts). However, I'm not quite sure on the full process.

It would be me, DH, and DS (2yrs) probably looking at either a studio or 1 bedroom at either *** or *** (would be awesome to do a 1 bedroom but dependent on the price) with a standard view. From what I have read standard views seem to book pretty quick. What would be my best options? From my understanding only an owner at the resort can book 11 months out otherwise it's 7 months for everyone else (right?). I know there are websites (such at David's) who find the DVC member for you. Would that be my best bet to get what I want and should I book at exactly 11 months out? I guess I'm not really sure how to find someone with a home base who can book what I want and if I should go through a company or an individual? I assume an individual would be cheaper (but I know there are also downsides to that). How does one find an individual? I've seen the rent/trade board so do people just jump on the posts when they are made?

Hope this isn't a ton of questions, like I said I am a major pre-planner and like to get the best deal possible and what I want

Thanks - love all the helpful and knowledgeable people on this board!

EDIT: Some travel specif info has been removed. Edits appear in Dark Red. - Chuck S

If you want standard view at either of those resorts you need to find an owner of those resorts and have them book at 11 months out. You will probably pay a premium for the booking in point cost but it will still be significantly better than booking through Disney. You can either find someone on the rent/trade board- you will probably want to start looking for someone late in the summer that has the right resort. You could use a service but if you do so then contact them and make sure they would have those points available at 11 months out or you will lose out on standard view and have to pay for the upgraded view. Also realize that with a points view their is no upgrading at the resort so if you want standard view you must be willing to live with standard view.

Personally I am using my points so I don't rent but if I was renting out my BLT points at 11 plus months I would not take less than $13 a point because at that time of year I can get it- so expect you rental to be that much- the rentals that go for less are distressed points or not premium resorts for 11 months out.

 

[jennab]

Thanks for the responses! Also, sorry if I wrote some things I shouldn't have (saw some of my specifics were removed) I am a bit new and trying to get the hang of the boards - or should I say stalking them for the next year

I will most likely end up going through David's (or another broker) but just wonder about my other options AND my worry was that he wouldn't have enough points available at the 11 month mark. Like you said though, I could start making contact this summer to ensure this.

I don't mind a standard room and would rather save the money on room view and put it towards something else

For some reason I thought fall wasn't that popular? I know around Christmas is.

 

[Chuck S]

There really doesn't seem to be much of an "off season" for Disney anymore. Plus, the few slow seasons for Disney, are often popular time for DVC. Also in the Fall, you're looking at the popular Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT.

 

[jennab]

Makes sense since that would be one of the reasons we would pick fall too Well I will have to wait and see if everything works out for us!

 

[FlipHipster]

If you want standard view at either of those resorts you need to find an owner of those resorts and have them book at 11 months out.

Heed these words. You need to be on your game 11 months out and find someone who owns at the resort you want to book unless you want OKW or SSR. We are trying to rent points for the fall and finding it difficult to find someone who owns points so we can book 11 months. At 7 months, you will be picking over the scraps of what's left room-wise if you are going at a busy DVC time. The issue is exacerbated by the fact that as a renter you can't go online and see what is available.

We have tried going through brokers as well and paying the premium, but the problem is the same. They need to have points from owners to book your room at 11 months or you are waiting and hoping something is left when points become available. Not trying to discourage you, its worth knowing these things before you get started.

Hope you find something!!

 

[a742246]

I would call David's. Ask them any question you can think of.....
11 months out is a long ways, if you cancel or change what would happen?
Find out all his requirements. Will they have the points? How does he safeguard in case an owner defaults on his MF's? These are just some questions.

I never used them, but they get great reviews!

Good luck!

 

[jennab]

I do worry that David's won't have the points I need at 11 months . It's probably to early to tell now though&

I know that there is no cancellation/change so we would just have to stick to our dates and make it work!

 

[FlipHipster]

I agree, and would recommend them as well. Actually I would contact as many as you can and be on the lookout yourself for owners offering points. If the room is available it comes down to who can book it or waiting for the points to be available and hoping you still can get a room. Become familiar with the points charts/calculators and give yourself as many plan a's, b's and c's as you can.

It's worth the effort though, there's a reason why it's hard to get a room that time of year

 

[FlipHipster]

I do worry that David's won't have the points I need at 11 months . It's probably to early to tell now though&

I know that there is no cancellation/change so we would just have to stick to our dates and make it work!

Yeah no cancellations, if you book it you are in it. We waited too late last year, ended up booking a room at YC for December and wrote it off as inexperience with DVC. This year I was on it, actually started researching the day we got back. I have pretty much given up on finding the accommodations we want for the dates we want in Dec. and convinced dw to move the dates so we can get the resort/room we want.

Basically if your dates are set in stone, be flexible on resort and accommodations. If you are set on staying at a particular resort or particular room type, be flexible with your dates and you will have a better chance.

 

[jennab]

Same way here! We just went to Disney at the beginning of Feb and started planning our next trip as soon as we got back! That is when I found all this useful info about renting points and why I am considering it for our next trip. Would be especially nice if we got to do a 1 bedroom since we will have a 2.5yr old (makes naps a lot easier). DH really wants to go during F&W which I know is hard to get at one of the Epcot resorts so I'm a bit worried that we may not even get anything at 11 months out.... well at least I have about 8 more months until we need to make a final decision! DH thinks I'm crazy by obsessing about this already, BUT I want the next trip to be awesome

 

[FlipHipster]

DH thinks I'm crazy by obsessing about this already, BUT I want the next trip to be awesome

Nah, you're doing the right thing by doing the early research. I drive my wife crazy with it sometimes (most of the time) too, but she has booked our Disney trips in the past and knows that it pays to plan ahead. It doesn't help that I have OCD when it comes to planning things like this either.
We are usually on the 6month plan because of the ADRs. We wait for all the specials, book the room then make our ADRs. Its just a different process renting DVC. Booking during peak DVC season is very tough. We are finding that even 10-11 months out is tough. That's not a negative for DVC, its just not as easy as logging onto Disney.com and booking a room 6months out. Although it could be that easy if all the stars line up. It really just comes down to finding the right points and having a room available.

Hope your next trip IS awesome!!

 

[FlipHipster]

as far as F&W, you will probably be able to find something. It might not be at BWV or BCV or BLT but we have been able to find SSR and OKW. Maybe even AKL I'm not 100% sure on that but we could book right now if we wanted to compromise on resort and keep our dates.

 

[jennab]

We just really really want one of those resorts for walking or monorail access (easier with a 2.5yr old!). We can be flexible with the dates fortunately so hopefully that helps! Now just keep my fingers crossed that David's or someone will have enough points at the 11 month mark!

 

[mjc2003]

Same way here! We just went to Disney at the beginning of Feb and started planning our next trip as soon as we got back! That is when I found all this useful info about renting points and why I am considering it for our next trip. Would be especially nice if we got to do a 1 bedroom since we will have a 2.5yr old (makes naps a lot easier). DH really wants to go during F&W which I know is hard to get at one of the Epcot resorts so I'm a bit worried that we may not even get anything at 11 months out.... well at least I have about 8 more months until we need to make a final decision! DH thinks I'm crazy by obsessing about this already, BUT I want the next trip to be awesome

You will be able to get an Epcot resort inside of 11 months for F&W. while some views and rooms go quickly, the 1 bedrooms are generally the last to go. As an example, we have 3 rooms in October at BCV that I booked at 10 months. We just added a night on Tuesday of this week, and out of curiosity I looked up the 1br for all 9 nights we are there and it was available all 9 nights. The 2brs were booked for 5 of the 9 nights. This is basically the 8 month mark. While I'm not saying you will have no problem in 2014 for a particular week at 8 months for a 1br, I am saying that you don't need to worry about getting in exactly at 11 months provided you are a little flexible.