Bummed about deluxe resort rates

[tinkerbellmagic]

When I joined DVC points were around $63 each. Within a few months they went up to $65/pt. I think a year later they were over $70/pt. They just keep going up and up! I just wish I hadn't sold...

Sorry, I know nothing about DVC, so you are saying you can sell and no longer be part of it?

I noticed someone rented points for WLV which came out to about $130 pn. That made me interested in looking into renting points to be able to stay at a Deluxe. Renting points seems so confusing when I try to find out more on the DCV board. There are so many posts!

tink

 

[Stinky_Pete]

DVC is a timeshare. Yes, you can sell. There is a very active resale market. It is the only way to purchase at the older properties (OKW, BWV, BCV, VWL, etc.) I ended up making a profit!

There is a lot of information on the DVC boards here about how the program works, renting points, etc. I would encourage you to check some of those boards out and ask questions - those boards are frequented by owners who are best equipped to answer your questions on DVC.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

An non-rich Deluxe visitor checking in here. We are only staying in deluxe for this trip because it's 1) our 5th Anniversary and 2) because we got the 40% off code. Couldn't have justified it without that.

 

[RPB]

Knowing when to go is the key to an inexpensive as possible trip without having to cut some fun. What's the point of doing that if you're on vacation to relax and enjoy. Reserve 12 months in advance and make payments and you won't have to worry about digging into your credit cards any further than you'd have to.

If you want to keep it as inexpensive as possible, avoid the peak months (i.e. holidays and summer) and plan your stay around february or august thru 2nd week of december (exclude holidays within that time-frame).

Good advice, but for some people going off peak just isn't possible. I'm a school teacher in the North East, so Christmas, Feb. vaca and April vaca (very crowded at those times) are the only non-summer times I can go. 4th of July week was the only week my wife could get off in the summer.

I'm not complaining about the price at all. It is what it is. If it were too much people wouldn't pay it. I will say that given the price of hotels in places like NYC or Paris, it is kind of amazing what Disney is able to get for the deluxe hotels.

 

[swilphil]

I recommend renting DVC points as well, especially if you can be flexible with your dates and stay Sunday through Thursday. For an even better price, book a timeshare through an owner at the Bonnet Creek resort, which is right NEXT TO Disney's Carribean Beach Resort but it's owned by Wyndham/Fairfield. We had the pleasure of staying there at Christmas and the accomodations were truly deluxe, much nicer than Disney's deluxes. The location isn't quite as good as a monorail or epcot area resort, but even during Christmas we were able to easily drive to the parks and they have decent shuttle service to the parks.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Sorry, I know nothing about DVC, so you are saying you can sell and no longer be part of it?

I noticed someone rented points for WLV which came out to about $130 pn. That made me interested in looking into renting points to be able to stay at a Deluxe. Renting points seems so confusing when I try to find out more on the DCV board. There are so many posts!

tink

There should be a "sticky" post on the basics of renting. The best thing is to hang out on the boards and try to get to know some of the renters from their posts. A couple of people have been burned, but I think the vast majority of renters have been very pleased. (I own DVC points and have never rented or rented them out.)

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

There should be a "sticky" post on the basics of renting. The best thing is to hang out on the boards and try to get to know some of the renters from their posts. A couple of people have been burned, but I think the vast majority of renters have been very pleased. (I own DVC points and have never rented or rented them out.)

I agree. I went over to the DVC board trying to see what renting one of those units from a private party was all about, did a little research, found threads concerning some people that were burned big time by the same person who was renting out points for a DVC unit, and then realized that many of the honest DVC owners that posted in those two infamous threads were probably good bets for finding trustworthy DVC owners to rent from. I learned a lot from those threads. I would never jump into renting a DVC unless I did my research on the whole process.

tink

 

[crazywig]

There is a very active resale market. It is the only way to purchase at the older properties (OKW, BWV, BCV, VWL, etc.)

this is not true. the DVC salespeople will push you towards buying SSR and AKV but you can actually buy the older resorts direct from disney. you will pay more than going through a resale shop, and more than likely be on a waitlist for a while.

 

[kimberh]

this is not true. the DVC salespeople will push you towards buying SSR and AKV but you can actually buy the older resorts direct from disney. you will pay more than going through a resale shop, and more than likely be on a waitlist for a while.

This is true, depending on what Use year and amount of points you are wanting to buy. I bought BWV's immediately from Disney. Gave my credit card over the phone for the deposit. I have bought resale too. You get one guide, then just stay in touch with him/her.

 

[tinkamom]

For two of us and our 2 year old d.d., we are paying $867 for AKL (standard view) and $412 for MYW tickets. The total trip cost is $1279.00 for 7 days (including a 3+ year old it'd be $169 more). For a family of 4 adults 10+ it'd be $1691.00 via MYW package or $1851.00 with park hoppers.

Knowing when to go is the key to an inexpensive as possible trip without having to cut some fun. What's the point of doing that if you're on vacation to relax and enjoy. Reserve 12 months in advance and make payments and you won't have to worry about digging into your credit cards any further than you'd have to.

If you want to keep it as inexpensive as possible, avoid the peak months (i.e. holidays and summer) and plan your stay around february or august thru 2nd week of december (exclude holidays within that time-frame).

Thats a great price, did you have a discount code or something?

 

[Stinky_Pete]

this is not true. the DVC salespeople will push you towards buying SSR and AKV but you can actually buy the older resorts direct from disney. you will pay more than going through a resale shop, and more than likely be on a waitlist for a while.

Thanks for letting me know. I thought the older resorts were sold out.

 

[AnninIowa]

I do a deluxe by choosing Animal Kingdom Lodge, which, along with Wilderness, is the "cheapest" deluxe. We go during value season, and we book through AAA. For me, the resort is 50% the fun of a vacation, so I will scrimp on other things to be able to stay at a deluxe.

 

[CarolA]

Thanks for letting me know. I thought the older resorts were sold out.

They are. At any given time however, Disney may have points as a result of Disney's Right of First Refusal (Disney will buy back points if you try to sell them too cheap on the resale market) As a general rule, you may have to waitlist for VWL and BCV. The others are more readily available. (There's a whole thread on folks waitlisting for BCV over on the DVC boards)

 

[cybrkitn]

Good advice, but for some people going off peak just isn't possible. I'm a school teacher in the North East, so Christmas, Feb. vaca and April vaca (very crowded at those times) are the only non-summer times I can go. 4th of July week was the only week my wife could get off in the summer.

I'm not complaining about the price at all. It is what it is. If it were too much people wouldn't pay it. I will say that given the price of hotels in places like NYC or Paris, it is kind of amazing what Disney is able to get for the deluxe hotels.

First off, Welcome to the Boards!

I totally agree with you. For some, going off peak isn't possible. DH goes down every other October for a conference. Last year was the first time we were able to make a vacation out of it and surprise our then DS4. Usually DH goes down for the length of the conference and DS and I stay home.

Both the value and moderate resorts have double beds. But for me that is a bit uncomfortable when DH is pooh-sized. The deluxe resorts have the queen size bed which is the size we have at home. I would love to stay at either the FWL or better yet, the YC just so that we could get the queen size bed without one of us feeling like we are falling out of it, lol. But it is out of our price range and budget. Someday, we will stay at either one of those resorts. In the meantime, I can dream about it.

 

[jamstew]

The way I do it (well this is the first time), is by splitting the stay, and staying 3 nights at a deluxe. We are staying during value season which helps, and for 3 nights it is expensive but doable. We are staying 5 nights at a moderate.

I'm doing the same thing, 4 nights moderate, 3 nights deluxe, in value season. I can afford a deluxe, but I'd rather spend the money on something else.

 

[jamstew]

We also purchased DVC 10 years ago. At that time we were a family of 6 ( kids now grown) and wanted the more spacious accomodations vs. getting two rooms. At the time we paid $9600 for 150 points that would last us til 2042. We get 150 points to use each year and can bank or borrow them. I have friends with many, many more points but this was all we could afford at the time and it met our needs. Of course there are dues but my total costs per year to stay in a DVC villa has been much less than if we stayed all those years in two value resort rooms, even with a discount, plus I have many years left to enjoy using those points and sharing with future grandchildren. I have also rented some un-needed points to others @ 10.00 a point which is a common amount ( see the DVC rent/trade board). In value season a studio at OKW is 8 points, hence someone else got to stay there for $80.00 a night including tax. Points at BCV, BWV, and WLV are only a maximum, for studio during value season of $12.00 a point, so someone could have stayed there for $120 a night. I agree with everyone who has said there's something for everyone- we have truly enjoyed our membership and it's been well worth it for us. It's allowed us to stay on property in gorgeous accomodations without breaking a budget. ---Kathy

I'm really interested in the idea of renting points because it seems to be the most economical route for my group of 7 (we'd need a 2-BR villa). However, on the DVC board, there doesn't appear to be anywhere that you can just ask a question. Maybe you can tell me -- it looks like a week at BCV is more than 300 points. I've looked at the rent/trade board and have never seen anyone offer anywhere near that many points. How would you go about getting enough points for a week?

 

[jamstew]

We plan our trips a year in advance sometimes more we already have our 2010 plans laid out and our trips leading up to it. So booking earlier is always better but not a necessity.

Can you rent points more than 11 months out? I'd like to get a 2009 or 2010 trip planned...

 

[smidgy]

we only stayed at moderate when our kids were young. now that we are empty nesters, we have stayed a deluxe for just a couple nights, then switched over to a moderate or a value. It's a nice "taste" of the deluxe, but you really don't need it the whole trip. disney transfers your luggage.
to be honest with you, we prefer the mods, or value. we like to go outside in the AM, see the sunrise, feel the air, as opposed to a stuffy hallway. but it's fun to experience the , say WL or AK for 2 nights. then switch over to a mod or value (or reverse).
disney is very good about switching your "stuff" to another resort while you're at a park.

 

[Pattymouse]

Quote from Smidgy:

"We prefer the mods, or value. we like to go outside in the AM, see the sunrise, feel the air, as opposed to a stuffy hallway."

We feel the same way...almost! We love the Poly because we can just step out of our room, and be on the outside of the longhouse within a few seconds. We stayed at the Yacht Club, Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club Villas and Animal Kingdom Lodge. We did NOT like the long hike down the long hallways to get to the outside.

Next trip will be The Polynesian for 6 nights - 9/22/07 through 9/28/07

Pat

 

[raven69david]

Thats a great price, did you have a discount code or something?

That's with the 40% off code in March that i simply "asked" for and received. I never got an email/PIN offer or postcard for this discount.

The good thing about reserving a room almost a year in advance is that you get to pay the whole trip off before you even arrive. WOOHOO. And if any further discounts come along, you can modify your ressie and get the cash back and either pocket the savings or do some upgrading on your ressie and/or tickets. Extra cash for a trip is always a VERY welcomed surprise.