Booking a villa or renting points

[reneempayne]

Would you book a villa through Disney directly or rent points??? If renting points how does it work? Is it safe? I am having such a hard time deciding on where to stay Aghh!!!

 

[wdwhereicome]

I think renting points for a villa gives you more for your buck. The villas are roomier and offer more extras - free laundry (even if you stay in a studio you can use the pool laundry).

Once you decide on dates and a location, you would post: Reservation Wanted: under the DVC section of the boards. Is it safe? I think most on disboards have been through the years. Once you pay the $$$ and the reservation is made, you will get a confirmation # for which you can call disney and just double check that the reservation is made for you.

Before I became a dvc member, I rented points and never had a problem. Unfortunately the guy I used no longer rents - he seems to use them all the time. Don't blame him!

 

[ChelleinNC]

It will be cheaper to rent points for a villa than booking it through Disney. However, there is a "loss of control" with renting. The DVC member is the only one who can call MS and make the ressie, make changes to the ressie, add dining plan or ME. A renter can not call MS to confirm the ressie --even with the confirmation #--MS will only speak with members. The level of trust required can be difficult (especially for those of us who are control freaks )

Read the links below to give you an idea about how it works, and then decide if it's for you. If it is, you can get a great deal.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1669863
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1255828

 

[Disneyfan1977]

I was new to the whole "renting" of someones points. However we got our reservatio n for 8.00 per point at the beach club villas. We saved 2000.00!!!

 

[pixie08]

We rented points last summer for a one bedroom at the Boardwalk. It was much more economical. We loved it so much we since have become DVC members.The woman we rented from was wonderful and so easy to deal with.

I think the key is to ask for references (other disboard members you can PM and contact), make sure the rente has a good amount of post (and ones that are not just on the renting forum) and read the contract carefully. There have been very, very few bad incidents with this but still the above will take away any worrying on your part! Good luck

 

[twinklebug]

I've rented from 4 different owners now and never had an issue. Most DVC owners are very nice responsible people & appreciate that you love their "home" (meaning Disney) as much as they do. I grew up belonging to a camping group and the DVC folk give me that same "family" feeling, although there are thousands of them & no way to get to know everyone LOL. I'm going to try though - planning on buying in before EOY.

It is typically less expensive to rent points from a DVCer, but if you can find a 40% off code through Disney and it coincides with the timing of your vacation (I'm not sure what's available right now, call reservations and ask if you have a code attached to your name) you could do as well or better (particularly if you stay fri/sat nights) & not have to worry about the loss of control over your reservation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The thing you need to remember is that most DVC members make their reservations 7-11 months out. So if you are looking for summer, you will already be too late for resorts like BCV, BWV. VWL is the smallest, so it can be difficult to get.

And you won't be able to change your reservation or cancel and get a refund like you would with Disney directly. The member sets the terms for the rental and you either accept them or find someone else to rent from.

 

[Reginak]

If you get a significantly better deal and the villa is available then rent; if you are only saving a little money or can't get what you want, then buy through Disney.
Ask the person you contact to check availability first and consider asking for references if you are nervous. I am a DVC member and have been following the DVC boards for several years and have seen only one complaint from a renter (I think that was a simple misunderstanding) and tons of happy renters that write in. I think that you will be safe. They often have a simple contract and can make the reservation in your name before you pay in full I believe.
Read about it on the DVC boards at the lower part of the DIS page.
Regina

 

[ElizabethB]

One problem with renting points is that weekends require an extraordinary amount of points. So, people really save money if they rent points for Sun. through Thursday and then move elsewhere for the weekend. If you rent enough points to stay two weekends, as we like to do, the price for renting points versus booking through CRO starts to even out. I've actually noticed that at a price of $10 per point, it's cheaper to book a weekend night at rack rate through CRO, than to rent points for that night. Also, if you add in the $50 or so per day for maid service when you rent points, the value in renting points declines further.

We find that we can usually book the Boardwalk villa we want with a discount of some kind -- public code, AP or, this year, a 40% off code we received. And, we had no problem booking BWV for our discounted stay during the Food and Wine Festival, so the availability through CRO is certainly there. Also, by booking through CRO, we get daily maid service, turn down service, the ability to cancel the reservation up to five days before arrival and, as nice as DVC owners no doubt are, we don't have to turn over something like $3,000 to a stranger.

 

[Harambe]

I thought about it for a few trips, but have always felt uncomfortable. That is just me - I know others have had wonderful experiences.

But last year, I had to cancel our Disney trip when my FIL passed. It was a week before, so no-harm-no-foul with Disney, but it would have been a problem had I went with the points.

So this year, I just booked (with a code) thru Disney, at OKW. I feel safe with that decision, and that makes it okay for me.

 

[stacy6552]

It will depend on a few things. DVC seasons are different that Disney's. DVC members do not receive things like free dining, if that's offered. So in August, you might actually get a better deal on a 2 bedroom with free dining, that you would renting points, because its value season for Disney but not for DVC points.

 

[Hopefully]

stacy6552 DVC'ers can now book the DDP. The owner would have to add it to the reservation, but it is available.
We have rented directly through Disney CRO 5 times now for different DVC resorts. It was more expensive (other than ElizabethB's explainations as to when it starts to even out). However I feel strongly that when renting from an owner you sign a contract and you are bound to that reservation. Making that kind of comittment 11 months in advance is not within my comfort zone. Many things can happen in 11 months, and with Disney you just cancel with little if any financial penalty. With a contract with an owner, you could loose your entire investment.
As a previous poster said, you also have NO control over the reservation. The owner owns it until the moment you check in. Disney will not even talk to you about it. The owner has to add ME for you and the DDP if you want it.
All things considered, renting through Disney directly was best for us.
Have a Great Trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

stacy6552 DVC'ers can now book the DDP. The owner would have to add it to the reservation, but it is available.....

I think Stacy was referring to the free dining period. If you stay on DVC points during a free dining period, you do not get free dining. You can purchase the plan (through the member and pay when you check in), but you will have to pay for it.

If you pay cash in late Aug, early Sept when they have offered free dining in the past and offer it again in the future, the cost of the free dining and paying Disney for the stay would probably offset the cost of paying for the dining plan but paying less for your lodging by reserving through a member.

 

[Reginak]

If you rented points and have to cancel your trip within 30 days of the reservation then the points go into a holding account for 60 days so that you can reschedule.

Regina

 

[nurse.darcy]

This may put your mind at ease. . .people who buy timeshares can generally afford them. They have good credit and they are not about to risk their good name by renting to someone who may "screw" them. So they choose to post on DVC at the Dis boards. If they make the ressie it is their good name that is on that ressie and if you screw up, it is the owner of DVC that suffers. It is highly unlikely that the owner is going to screw the renter. . .It is much more likely to go the other way. . .

Do you get my meaning?. . .

 

[TDC Nala]

If you're staying on points, you can add the dining plan without booking a package or buying tickets.

DVC members staying on points don't get daily housekeeping. You can get it in a DVC member villa, but it will cost extra. The same villa booked with cash through CRO gets daily housekeeping.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you rented points and have to cancel your trip within 30 days of the reservation then the points go into a holding account for 60 days so that you can reschedule.

Regina

Only if something is available at 60 days out and before the end of the Use Year. If you can't get something at 60 days from checkout or you are coming up on the end of the Use Year, rescheduling will be a big problem.

 

[LisaS]

If you rented points and have to cancel your trip within 30 days of the reservation then the points go into a holding account for 60 days so that you can reschedule.

Regina

That's not correct. If you cancel a trip 30 days or less from check in the points go into the holding account for the remainder of your Use Year, not just 60 days. Where the "60 days" comes in is that points in holding can only be used to book a stay 60 days or less from check in. If you are within a few months of the end of your Use Year you may not be able to use them before they expire due to lack of availability. It's definitely a situation you want to avoid.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Unless someone is deathly ill a trip like that doesn't usually get canceled. If you are really concerned that something could happen then contact your insurance agent. You can usually get a short term rider on your insurance policy. As far as renting I did it in 2005 and we are doing it again for our trip the end of April. We are staying in a 2 bedroom at OKW at a considerable savings over the rack rates. The safest way to pay for it is through a paypal account. The owner may opt to pay the fee or may addit onto what you are paying either way it is not that much. Also you don't have to worry about any added taxes, always a plus. We like OKW. It is so peacful after the hustle and bustle of the parks. You barely know that you are so close to all that chaos. If you are worried there is also a website for the state of FL where you can list there names to check to see if they really are dvc members. All real estate transactions have to be registered with the state, even timeshares. The person who rented to us the first time was great but he has since sold so he could go back to sxhool. We found someone else for this time and they couldn't be nicer. If we don't become dvc members ourselves then we won't hesitate to rent again. How expensive it is to rent depends on which resort you want and in some cases what kind of view, along with the size of the unit. If you want some help decifering the process pm me and I will be glad to help with what I do know.

 

[Cindie-rella]

One problem with renting points is that weekends require an extraordinary amount of points. So, people really save money if they rent points for Sun. through Thursday and then move elsewhere for the weekend. If you rent enough points to stay two weekends, as we like to do, the price for renting points versus booking through CRO starts to even out. I've actually noticed that at a price of $10 per point, it's cheaper to book a weekend night at rack rate through CRO, than to rent points for that night. Also, if you add in the $50 or so per day for maid service when you rent points, the value in renting points declines further.

We rented points for the first time for our upcoming April/May trip. Let me tell you, it was a substantial savings compared to rack rates!!! I paid $1240. total...for 3 nights at AKV and 5 nights at OKW. Weekend points or not, the savings are untouchable, even with a 40% off code. Moderates are more than that. I can't see where paying $10 per point would ever even out with CRO pricing?
By the way, as quoted above, where does the $50 a day maid service come in??!! I know you don't get daily maid service if you go through DVC, only after your 3rd or 4th day is it? But who has to pay the $50 a day? This one is new to me, I hope thats only if you insist you need to have it daily. For me, that part is really no big deal. I fact, many days I leave the "do not disturb" sign on our door as we do not want maid service.
I had great communication with the family I rented from and they have been so helpful & patient with me. We had to make a couple of changes with my reservation and it was done with no problems. I understand that it can be difficult if you have a last minute emergency and have to cancel, but there are ways to get rescheduled. may be a bit difficult, but it can be done.
And as mickeyandminniealways said, you can check the deeds with the state of FL. (which I did for my own piece of mind) to find out if your seller really owns DVC property. Just be cautious when you rent. There are many "safe" renters here on the DIS and you can ask for past references.
IMHO, I feel this is the way to go. If this all turns out to be a positive experience for us, we'll do it each time. You just cannot beat the savings. We are actually looking in to buying DVC. Maybe this trip will convince my DH to do it!
I say go for it! Enjoy deluxe for just a little more than value !