Booking through Dave for resorts...

[Meghan4]

Who has done this and how is it so much cheaper? The only negative seems to be you have to pay it all upfront.

 

[Kobebeef]

We used Dave's maybe 4 yrs ago for a xmas trip with 8 of us. Booked AK villas. Worked great and would use them again if needed.

 

[Sandisw]

Honestly, it may not be. Before renting a DVC reservation from a broker or private owner, be sure to do your homework.

There are a lot of differences vs going with a cash room from Disney. Cancellation and refundable options are much more strict.

You have no control over the reservation. You can not adjust it or change names without the owner doing it.

Given some of Disney’s discounts, the savings may not be there to give up the ability to cancel and get your money back.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I put up points for rent via David's twice now. The first time was during the pandemic (the points were listed and rented out before it got bad). As an owner, I found David's very easy and helpful to work with. I only know of my end, owners end, but I've had only positive experiences with them.

 

[Meghan4]

Thank you for the feedback. We are a family of 6, so it's a little more difficult to find rooms to accommodate us.

 

[starry_solo]

There was a 100+ page thread about dealing with Dave's that got started right at the beginning of the pandemic.

Ultimately, it's going to depend on how much risk you want to take about the non-refundable nature. For COVID, the private owner I booked with was able to cancel the reservations and bank the points. He was willing to give me all my money back, but I told him to keep one night's points cost as a penalty. He actually booked the first part of my trip this year for me, the other is going through the convention booking since the latter part of the trip is occurring during the time that one of my traveling companions ended up having a convention for.

I book with private owners I found here on the DIS or on the other board. One, I actually found on eBay.

 

[jbock]

Honestly, it may not be. Before renting a DVC reservation from a broker or private owner, be sure to do your homework.

There are a lot of differences vs going with a cash room from Disney. Cancellation and refundable options are much more strict.

You have no control over the reservation. You can not adjust it or change names without the owner doing it.

Given some of Disney’s discounts, the savings may not be there to give up the ability to cancel and get your money back.

I have similar thoughts:

**IF** I can book the same unit for cash direct from Disney it has been, in just about every case, cheaper to do so through Disney, assuming there's a discount on the cash room from Disney. The price seems to sit right in the middle of rack rate vs a 25% or 30% promotion that can often be found when booking through Disney, at least of late. Also, as mentioned, if you book through TS sites like Dave's, you have to be certain you're going or ok with losing the $$, and you can't tinker with dates or shop around as the date gets. closer.

That said, if you are looking for larger units like 2BRs and can swing it, Dave's, etc are a great source for inventory that doesn't exist on Disney reservations inventory pool.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Who has done this and how is it so much cheaper? The only negative seems to be you have to pay it all upfront.

Be careful. For Example, Disney Vero Beach would have been about $100 per night more for me to rent points vs. a cash reservation. And Cash means I can cancel up to 5 days before check in for a full refund. Vero might be a rare exception, but it just points out the need to double check prices.

 

[Meghan4]

Thanks to everyone! I decided to book straight through Disney and then it gives me the ability to cancel if needed.