DVC points - how is this cheaper?

[DashforCash]

Maybe I am totally looking in the wrong place, but when I looked into DVC points for resorts, the prices were the same as booking the room through Disney. For example the number of points needed for Saratoga Springs is 258 points. The going point rate is $12 a point, making the resort approximately $3500 a week with DVC points. When you book through Disney the price is approximately $4400 (rack rate). When I apply a 30% discount the price falls to $3100. I thought I had understood that renting DVC points was hugely cheaper than going through Disney. If I get a free dining plan, the savings are similar.
Have I totally screwed up how I am looking at this? Thanks everyone!

 

[akadada]

DfC,

I'm in the same boat. I found going through Disney directly was cheaper right now with the discounts being offered.

I appreciate the post and will subscribe, hoping someone sheds some light.

In the meantime, I'm likely staying off-site given the price savings is signficant.

Cheers!

 

[DashforCash]

DfC,

I'm in the same boat. I found going through Disney directly was cheaper right now with the discounts being offered.

I appreciate the post and will subscribe, hoping someone sheds some light.

In the meantime, I'm likely staying off-site given the price savings is signficant.

Cheers!

This Disney planning makes my head hurt

 

[AJA]

I think the catch is actually getting a discounted offer. If you rent DVC you don't have to spend the months before your vacation checking your email daily to get a pin or general public offer. You can make your plans months in advance and be done with it.

Like right now we are waiting on some kind of discount for May. We have exactly 6 months before our Florida vacation and still no discount from Disney (that means no stopping at Disney on this trip for us ). Now we could rent points get a discounted room and be done with it.

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

I think the benefit is more the types of resorts you can stay at as well as other discounts. DVC tickets are discounted, shopping, etc. You can also borrow against your points.

 

[jimandami]

Maybe I am totally looking in the wrong place, but when I looked into DVC points for resorts, the prices were the same as booking the room through Disney. For example the number of points needed for Saratoga Springs is 258 points. The going point rate is $12 a point, making the resort approximately $3500 a week with DVC points. When you book through Disney the price is approximately $4400 (rack rate). When I apply a 30% discount the price falls to $3100. I thought I had understood that renting DVC points was hugely cheaper than going through Disney. If I get a free dining plan, the savings are similar.
Have I totally screwed up how I am looking at this? Thanks everyone!

I probably wouldn't pay $12/point to rent at SSR, but I would pay $10/point, which is the standard rate when renting through a private DVC owner, which would be about $500 cheaper than going through Disney. Having said that, I think the biggest discount in renting points in when you want to stay at one of the DVC resorts that WDW does not discount. Typically, the only 2 bedroom discounts to be had are at SSR or OKW, which are not where my family wants to stay. Therefore, we could either go through Disney and pay twice as much at rack rate, or we could rent points and go much more cheaply. It also depends on the time of year you want to travel and the type of room you want. For example, our upcoming January trip, we rented 107 pts for a preferred view studio at BWV for 7 nights at $10/point. When the 40% off AP discount came out, I checked and we still saved at least $600 renting points and we didn't have to wait for the discount to be released. If you want a popular DVC resort, you have to plan ahead of time and I just don't want to wait for Disney to release discounts 3-4 months in advance and then be disappointed when they don't offer the discount I want.

 

[Sammie]

Getting a discount is definitely the reason.

If you can get a discount, then always go with booking with Disney over renting.

That way you can cancel if you need to, and you get daily housekeeping.

Renting points is not always the cheapest way to go and definitely has it drawbacks, cancellations being the worst.

 

[wdwlver]

We usually travel in summer, and a week in a studio is 134 points at BCV. At 12 dollars a point, that comes to 1608. The studios rent for around 370 per night or 4440. That's a pretty significant savings.

 

[Sammie]

I think the benefit is more the types of resorts you can stay at as well as other discounts. DVC tickets are discounted, shopping, etc. You can also borrow against your points.

This would not apply to rentals, only ownership. I believe the OP is asking about a Rental.

 

[quinnc19]

Tax is also included when you rent points.

 

[ElizabethG]

I'm not saying that renting is always cheaper, but I was trying to match up your numbers. I don't know exactly what your search criteria was. The closest I found was this:

I used 2-bdrm SS for 1-week Dec 2 - Dec 9.
Rack Rate: $4,961
30% off Rate: $3,471
Points Required: 246 * $12 = $2,952

 

[DashforCash]

I'm not saying that renting is always cheaper, but I was trying to match up your numbers. I don't know exactly what your search criteria was. The closest I found was this:

I used 2-bdrm SS for 1-week Dec 2 - Dec 9.
Rack Rate: $4,961
30% off Rate: $3,471
Points Required: 246 * $12 = $2,952

We are staying in March, so I think it is cheaper. 630 a night at rack rate is $4410

 

[DashforCash]

This would not apply to rentals, only ownership. I believe the OP is asking about a Rental.

Yes, thank you.

 

[DashforCash]

Getting a discount is definitely the reason.

If you can get a discount, then always go with booking with Disney over renting.

That way you can cancel if you need to, and you get daily housekeeping.

Renting points is not always the cheapest way to go and definitely has it drawbacks, cancellations being the worst.

Thanks!

 

[SydandPaige'sMom]

I know for us renting DVC points was WAY cheaper then through Disney, even with a 40% off code. For us a studio April 28th to May 7th at BVC through Disney would have been $4050. By renting points I got that same room for just over $1700.

 

[DashforCash]

I know for us renting DVC points was WAY cheaper then through Disney, even with a 40% off code. For us a studio April 28th to May 7th at BVC through Disney would have been $4050. By renting points I got that same room for just over $1700.

Where did you get the points at?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We are renting points for the first time for our trip in June. We are hoping to take one of DD's friends, which makes us a family of five. We rented a 2 BR at Boardwalk Villias for about $3100 for the week. The rack rate for the room is $910 plus tax, so even a 50% discount from Disney is still more expensive. We are locked into our dates and don't get daily housekeeping, but the savings are significant.

Renting from a broker at $13 would cut into our savings some, but it would still be cheaper than a discounted room from Disney. We rented from a DVC owner for less than the broker cost.

 

[DebbieB]

DVC reallocated the points chart, it used to be Sunday to Thursday were far less points than Friday & Saturday. So if you rented Sunday to Thursday, it was a big discount. Now DVC has narrowed the difference by increasing weekday and decreasing weekend points, you don't save as much on a weekday only reservation.

 

[twinboysmom]

OP, what are your dates? Curious as the poster that calculated the early December point price used points from the value season of dvc. March is not a value season in dvc, unless it is cheaper for cash in March? Just trying to help if you don't mind sharing?

 

[kkgordon02]

I have never paid more than $10 per point, so I would shop around for a good price and have some flexibility for a better deal.