Booking through Disney vs. Outside source (David's)

[maranara]

I'm curious...are there advantages/disadvantages to booking a room directly through Disney vs. using an outside source like David's Vacation Club? We're looking at going the end of January and David's is showing a significant discount at AKL. But...are we better off going through Disney and packaging the room with tickets/dining plan? I'm new to this...the last time we went was 2003 and everything has changed SO much! THANKS!

 

[bumbershoot]

David's means you are renting a reservation from a dvc owner. That means no cancellations.

Also no daily housekeeping. Just like the dvc owner gets. (Day 4 they bring towels I believe)

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The advantage of going through Disney directly is you will have a much more lenient change and cancellation policy. DVC rentals are non-refundable.

Whether you go through Disney and create a package with tickets and/or dining is really dependent on how you want to travel. Disney typically (depending on the season) releases room-only discounts which you can then add tickets and/or dining to, OR look for cheaper tickets through a third-party like Undercover Tourist. They also occasionally release dining package promotions which require you to book a room at rack rate in addition to adding at least a certain amount of tickets. Honestly, if you are a little bit flexible on where you would like to stay and aren't absolutely set on doing a villa at AKV, I would wait to see what kinds of discounts are released before committing to a DVC rental 10 months out.

 

[loves to dive]

As bumbershoot said, you probably won't be able to cancel through David's and you also have to pay up front. With Disney you don't have to do that, although David's does take credit cards.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Once you pass 7 months, it can be challenging to rent a DVC reservation, be aware.

You can absolutely add Dining Plan to a DVC rental, and buy discount tickets via Undercover Tourist or AAA.

The main advantage to renting a reservation is cost. The disadvantage is the lack of reservation control, pay-up-front, no cancel policy. Note also that Villas are completely different than AKL standard lodge rooms.

The main advantage to going via Disney is the cancel policy and control. The disadvantage is cost.

 

[maranara]

Thanks - that's really helpful. I would assume that trip insurance wouldn't help with a DVC rental? If it's locked in, even with trip insurance, that doesn't make sense for us. With a 7 year old and an aging father, you just never know.

 

[georgina]

Thanks - that's really helpful. I would assume that trip insurance wouldn't help with a DVC rental? If it's locked in, even with trip insurance, that doesn't make sense for us. With a 7 year old and an aging father, you just never know.

Why wouldn't trip insurance help? If you pay up front for a vacation and have to cancel, that's what trip ins is for. We only get it for cruises, and I've never had to use it, but I can't see why it wouldn't work for a DVC rental.

 

[MHDTS]

David's provides a substantial discount over the Disney rack rates, if staying at a DVC property (with kitchen and other amenities) is desirable. And David's references trip insurance and provides a link to one, in case you don't have a favorite trip insurance vendor that you use.

 

[maranara]

Why wouldn't trip insurance help? If you pay up front for a vacation and have to cancel, that's what trip ins is for. We only get it for cruises, and I've never had to use it, but I can't see why it wouldn't work for a DVC rental.

That's why I'm asking - if trip insurance would cover the cost of the trip that was booked with DVC or not. I'm on the fence - it would be nice to save that much money, but the flexibility of booking with Disney is key. The housekeeping is also interesting...one of my favorite memories staying on property was the mouse ear towels!

 

[loves to dive]

Thanks - that's really helpful. I would assume that trip insurance wouldn't help with a DVC rental? If it's locked in, even with trip insurance, that doesn't make sense for us. With a 7 year old and an aging father, you just never know.

If you decide to do trip insurance be very careful and read the fine print. Some of it only covers a certain dollar amount and then it steps down the closer you get to the trip date. For me, the cost of the insurance and then the step down didn't make it worth renting, it was cheaper to either just pay my nickle and take my chance or rent through Disney.

 

[loves to dive]

That's why I'm asking - if trip insurance would cover the cost of the trip that was booked with DVC or not. I'm on the fence - it would be nice to save that much money, but the flexibility of booking with Disney is key. The housekeeping is also interesting...one of my favorite memories staying on property was the mouse ear towels!

They don't do the towel animals any more, doesn't matter who you rent from, mousekeeping just doesn't do them.

 

[maranara]

They don't do the towel animals any more, doesn't matter who you rent from, mousekeeping just doesn't do them.

Well, that's a bummer. But yeah...I think we'll take our chances and book directly through Disney and keep our fingers crossed for a good deal. I'm way too nervous about the need to cancel/change our reservations. We'll do trip insurance, but I had a friend whose kid got sick and Disney was great about moving their trip dates for them. I'm sure nothing will happen, but I like to be prepared just in case!

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I rented privately through a member on this website on the Rent/Trade board for much less than David's ($12/pt with 11 month booking) and my contract stated that if I cancelled I got to keep the points. My rental was in Nov and I had access to the points until the following September, so I felt like even if I had to cancel I could still use the points eventually because we visit pretty often. Just throwing that option out there. Different owners have different policies.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It's also important to note that inventory released to Disney Reservations (CRO) is entirely separate than the inventory available via DVC.

 

[Hopefully]

Well, that's a bummer. But yeah...I think we'll take our chances and book directly through Disney and keep our fingers crossed for a good deal. I'm way too nervous about the need to cancel/change our reservations. We'll do trip insurance, but I had a friend whose kid got sick and Disney was great about moving their trip dates for them. I'm sure nothing will happen, but I like to be prepared just in case!

I feel strongly that if the risk of not being able to cancel makes you nervous you should not rent from David's. You have way more flexibility directly through Disney

 

[buzznina]

Also note that when talking DVC vs a regular resort room, you are talking a studio that has 1 queen bed and a pull-out. Not a big deal for some but we really like having 2 beds. You can also find some great discounts via a TA, I know the one that we use occasionally, has their own discounted rooms for very good prices.

 

[maranara]

Also note that when talking DVC vs a regular resort room, you are talking a studio that has 1 queen bed and a pull-out. Not a big deal for some but we really like having 2 beds. You can also find some great discounts via a TA, I know the one that we use occasionally, has their own discounted rooms for very good prices.

THANK YOU! That is extremely helpful information as that configuration doesn't work for our family - we NEED two beds. Seriously, thank you SO much - that just saved us a huge problem!!

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

FYI, some DVC studios actually have 3 "beds" -- off the top of my head, beach club, poly and wilderness lodge have pull down murphy beds for a 3rd sleeping area.

Here's a look at the BCV layout to get a visual:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resort...5/news-99629/3228-studio-murphy-beds-up-close

 

[_auroraborealis_]

FYI, some DVC studios actually have 3 "beds" -- off the top of my head, beach club, poly and wilderness lodge have pull down murphy beds for a 3rd sleeping area.

Here's a look at the BCV layout to get a visual:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resort...5/news-99629/3228-studio-murphy-beds-up-close

Beach Club WILL HAVE murphy beds. The renovation that will include them just started, and they will not include them as bookable for 5 until the renovation is complete. The image you provide is Boardwalk Villas, which is close to complete.

 

[georgina]

If you decide to do trip insurance be very careful and read the fine print. Some of it only covers a certain dollar amount and then it steps down the closer you get to the trip date. For me, the cost of the insurance and then the step down didn't make it worth renting, it was cheaper to either just pay my nickle and take my chance or rent through Disney.

I've always bought my trip insurance through companies on insure my trip dot com. We enter the cost of the trip to insure, and have never seen that kind of decrease as the trip gets closer.