Can I ask questions about renting here?

[MommyBryn]

I apologize if I'm asking redundant questions (I haven't had many opportunities to search) or if I'm asking in the wrong place!!! Redirect me if I need to be elsewhere!

We are the family that should have bought into DVC many years ago and never did. LOL Even now that myself and my siblings are married, we still travel as an entire unit...my parents, me and my family (we have 4 kids, 5th on the way), and my sister and brother and their spouses- so that's 12 of us currently. We've even done several trips with my grandparents and aunts, uncles, and cousins! Anyway, it would have been hugely beneficial for us to have bought in years ago. We come from Idaho/Oregon, so we're only able to make the trip every 2-3 years, and being a farming family, we only go in Jan/Feb.

So, all that said...last vacation was our first time staying Deluxe, and it has forever ruined any future vacations that we might have to stay moderate for. LOL We were at Beach Club and honestly can't imagine staying elsewhere anymore. Walking to Epcot really "made" the vacation for us. However, that's obviously expensive, so while we've briefly considered renting DVC points in the past, it hasn't made as much sense until now.

We're hoping to go again in January of 2018!! There will be 13 of us that time, only because we'll have the new baby but s/he will only be 1 so it shouldn't change much, if anything.

I do have questions about this, though...

When looking at a date like Jan 2018, at one point does one start booking things through DVC rental? How (if at all) do the time frames differ for rental as opposed to regular room booking?

Is there even any possibility for us to rent, say 3 Beach Club studio villas? (anything bigger tends to get us into the same price range as we would be just getting 3 regular rooms) And if so, probably not all from one member, right? Or is it common to have that many points available? And if there was, having never stayed in DVC rooms, is it possible to get them near each other like we could with regular rooms?

Do we add on the dining plan ourselves? And tickets? How much of the planning is actually done by US? I'm used to doing it all myself for our big groups, and we always book online through Disney. I enjoy the process, too.

Another question on that note- when renting from a member, are we under the same rules as regular rooms as far as dining plan goes? I mean, each person in the room is on the same plan for the number of nights staying? We've already figured out how we will arrange who stays where since we are doing one room without the QSDP this next time, so if it's by room it's not a big deal, but I was just curious!

How do we get the payment to the DVC member? What exactly is the process for that? Is it wiser to go through a company that does this for us? I know that costs a little extra...any idea on average just how MUCH extra? The website I've looked at is DVCRequest (I think?) so that's the only thing I have to compare to. I've browsed the DV area here but honestly still can't quite figure out what I'm looking at or how the points system works and all that, so I'm not sure how much good it's done me!

How common is it to have someone flake on the other end? I've also read about certain situations where you don't find out there's a problem until you check-in. Any info about that?

Anything else I need to know as we consider this for our next vacation? Thank you guys so much!

 

[DisneyRegulars]

If I were you I would contact David's and talk to them directly. They should be able to help you sort everything out. They are really helpful and easy to work with. Plus there is some sense of security with reservations through them because the owner doesn't get fully paid until you check into your resort.

One option you might want to consider, instead of 3 studios which would run you (1712 *3) = $5136 if rented through David's. Consider a studio and a 2 bedroom. You will have the same number of people sleeping on sofa beds, but you will gain a full kitchen, living room, dining table, and laundry facilities. This costs more, at $6048 via David's, but with 12 people, you could easily make up the difference by being able to prepare easy meals in your room. Plus it's super nice to be able to relax in the living room while the kids sleep in the bedrooms.

If going through David's you will want to get your reservation request in before the 11 month mark, as reservations can be made at 11 months out, and they are processed in a first come first serve order. So for you, February 2017. Beach Club is a pretty popular resort, even during slower times like January and February, so you will definitely want to make your reservation as early as possible, especially since you are requesting multiple rooms.

You will contact the owner of the points to add on the dining plan for you. You can purchase your own tickets and connect them via my disney experience. Once your reservation is made you will be given a reservation number which you can enter into myDisneyExperience as well. The owner will also need to do Magical Express for you if you need that.

A third option, use the $6048 dollars as a down payment on a Beach Club resale contract. That's the option we went with and haven't looked back since.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

When looking at a date like Jan 2018, at one point does one start booking things through DVC rental? How (if at all) do the time frames differ for rental as opposed to regular room booking?

DVC units can only be booked starting 11 months from the date of travel by someone at a home resort, or 7 months if someone's points do not "belong" to your target resort.

Is there even any possibility for us to rent, say 3 Beach Club studio villas?

You might be renting through 3 separate owners in doing so, either via an agency or private rental. And there's no guarantee all 3 could be procured.

aving never stayed in DVC rooms, is it possible to get them near each other like we could with regular rooms?

Possible, but like regular rooms, there are no guarantees.

Do we add on the dining plan ourselves?

No, the DVC member responsible for the rental must do that. They also have to do the Magical Express arrangement, add or subtract people from rooms, etc.

And tickets? How much of the planning is actually done by US?

Tickets are your responsibility, as are all ADRs and FP+.

Another question on that note- when renting from a member, are we under the same rules as regular rooms as far as dining plan goes? I mean, each person in the room is on the same plan for the number of nights staying?

Yes, same rules.

How do we get the payment to the DVC member?

Depends on how you rent. Rental agencies typically accept credit cards and PayPal. Private rentals vary on what they will accept. If they accept PayPal, you will be responsible for the fees in most cases. Most will require payment at the time of reservation. No payment over time.

Anything else I need to know as we consider this for our next vacation?

A few things.

• You will not be able to cancel or change your reservation once made. Dates are firm. No refunds.
• While DVC units are at Deluxe resorts, they are different than the rooms at Deluxe resorts. DVC units are condo style, and have different sleeping surface arrangements, kitchens and kitchenettes, and a different use of space.
• No daily Mousekeeping in a DVC unit.

 

[magicaldisney]

It looks like all your questions have been answered so I'm going to go way off topic here. If you are at all considering purchasing DVC, please do your homework. If you travel to WDW once every three years, then DVC might not be the best option for you. Along with the purchase price, which is high, you also have to pay annual dues. That money alone could be put into a savings instead of towards dues and you would have your deluxe accomadations paid for.

 

[MommyBryn]

It looks like all your questions have been answered so I'm going to go way off topic here. If you are at all considering purchasing DVC, please do your homework. If you travel to WDW once every three years, then DVC might not be the best option for you. Along with the purchase price, which is high, you also have to pay annual dues. That money alone could be put into a savings instead of towards dues and you would have your deluxe accomadations paid for.

We're not really considering it at all anymore. It was one of those things that, in hindsight, we all though "Man, with the money we've spent on all these vacations, we could have easily bought into DVC back then..." and so on.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you have six in your family and another on the way, you will need a two bedroom villa for your direct family. Unless you are going to give some of your children to other adults in your party.

 

[MommyBryn]

If you have six in your family and another on the way, you will need a two bedroom villa for your direct family. Unless you are going to give some of your children to other adults in your party.

Yes, we know, that's why we always put two of my children with my parents. That puts us at 4, 4, and 5 (but one is an infant).

 

[Sammie]

Getting 3 studios near each other could be really tricky. Unlike the regular resort rooms the layout is much different. At the DVC building you will have studios attached to a one bedroom unit, then a possible two bedroom before you get to another studio.

You can see from this map how spread out they are. http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-bcv/BCV-Floor-2.gif

Something else to consider if you can't get all 3 from the same member you are going to be dealing with different members for each reservation, for requests booking magical express if you need it.

Also cancellation is not allowed or very restrictive. With that many people going are you sure you won't need to cancel? Studios will have one queen bed and one full size sofa bed, so you are giving up 3 beds in exchange for the sofas.

 

[MommyBryn]

Getting 3 studios near each other could be really tricky. Unlike the regular resort rooms the layout is much different. At the DVC building you will have studios attached to a one bedroom unit, then a possible two bedroom before you get to another studio.

You can see from this map how spread out they are. http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-bcv/BCV-Floor-2.gif

Something else to consider if you can't get all 3 from the same member you are going to be dealing with different members for each reservation, for requests booking magical express if you need it.

Also cancellation is not allowed or very restrictive. With that many people going are you sure you won't need to cancel? Studios will have one queen bed and one full size sofa bed, so you are giving up 3 beds in exchange for the sofas.

Okay, getting them near each other was one of the things I wasn't sure of being a great possibility. That answers my question a little more. And yes, the multiple members was something I had figured might be a bit of a hassle.

We've never cancelled before, usually when we book a Disney trip, we GO. Unless there was something HUGE like a death in the family, honestly. Because we don't go often so essentially we're scheduling our lives around Disney (ah...wouldn't that be the life to do that regularly!! lol) We've occasionally had to have someone come later or leave early, but never once even considered cancelling. So that's not something that's really even on our radar (anymore than it would be anywhere else, even though it is more restrictive this way).

I did see the pics of the room layouts and I don't think anyone minds using a sofa bed. We're not really picky as long as we get to Disney. Plus, two of the rooms would just have children on the sofa bed anyway.

Thanks for all the info everyone! I am still unsure if this is the route we'll be able to go. It would definitely save us money, but with a group as large as ours I just don't know if it is worth the hassle and might actually take away from a bit of the enjoyable experience. We'll see...

 

[Sammie]

If I was going to try and do rentals I would want a two bedroom and a studio. You greatly increase your chance of being close. A good many 2 bedroom villas have a studio next to them.

I would also want to deal with only one DVC member.

 

[MommyBryn]

If I was going to try and do rentals I would want a two bedroom and a studio. You greatly increase your chance of being close. A good many 2 bedroom villas have a studio next to them.

I would also want to deal with only one DVC member.

What are the chances of finding one member who could rent us a 2-bedroom plus a villa? I know that there are all sorts of possibilities, but I don't know how common it is to have that many points (is that correct) available?

And with renting, how long can we rent for? I am still kind of confused about how the point stuff works. If you rent more space (like we'd do), are you limited to fewer nights?

Does that question make sense? I'm not sure how to get at what I'm trying to ask...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

What are the chances of finding one member who could rent us a 2-bedroom plus a villa? I know that there are all sorts of possibilities, but I don't know how common it is to have that many points (is that correct) available?

And with renting, how long can we rent for? I am still kind of confused about how the point stuff works. If you rent more space (like we'd do), are you limited to fewer nights?

Does that question make sense? I'm not sure how to get at what I'm trying to ask...

A DVC member can book 7 nights at 11 months at their home resort, and add on afterwards. In general, week stays or less are easiest when renting.

And there are certainly members with points enough for a 2BR+Studio. You might be best working through an agency, rather than trying to get that on the private market. You're likely to end up with two owners involved, but because you would only deal with the agency it would be transparent to you.