Economical to rent points????

[Lavitz]

Glad to see a balanced discussion on points, usually I see everyone saying nothing but it's great which isn't exactly right.

It's great if you're a Deluxe person, no argument. It's more expensive if you're a mod/value person. Throw in not being able to take advantage of the FD promo and a mod/value person has no business even considering it.

 

[jimandami]

Glad to see a balanced discussion on points, usually I see everyone saying nothing but it's great which isn't exactly right.

It's great if you're a Deluxe person, no argument. It's more expensive if you're a mod/value person. Throw in not being able to take advantage of the FD promo and a mod/value person has no business even considering it.

I disagree with your last statement. We have many times rented points for a studio and paid less than we would pay at a moderate, even with a discount. Not everyone is interested in free dining because not everyone wants to eat that way. Now, I will agree you will probably not be able to rent points cheaper than a value resort, unless they are very, very distressed.

 

[mph045]

remember also if free dining comes around you will not be eligable for it. This can be substantial if going with delux dine plan that we love.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We rented points for our most recent stay. For us, it came out cheaper because we were arriving on 12/31 and staying 5 nights. That period is the Holiday Season at the resorts and discounts are usually not available. I priced it and to stay at our favorite Mod, Coronado Springs, it would have been about $1200 for the 5 nights. But, since 4 of our nights were in January, which is a lower point-value month for DVC, the stay only required 66 points (for an OKW studio) and I was able to rent them from a DIS-er for $11/point. That made our entire stay $726 - much less than the rack rate at CSR. Since we don't mind sharing one room and would have done so at CSR anyway, it was fine to have the studio. So in our case, we saved about $500 over the traditional accommodations.

 

[Marionnette]

Glad to see a balanced discussion on points, usually I see everyone saying nothing but it's great which isn't exactly right.

It's great if you're a Deluxe person, no argument. It's more expensive if you're a mod/value person. Throw in not being able to take advantage of the FD promo and a mod/value person has no business even considering it.

I don't think that it's prudent to make a blanket statement like that. As PPs have pointed out, there are plenty of times that renting DVC points can actually be more affordable than booking a Moderate or Value Resort with Disney. Even with "Free" Dining, not every family does better with that package than they would staying DVC on points and either paying OOP for the dining plans or just paying OOP for each meal. I know that as empty-nesters, we do much better paying for our meals (and enjoy our choices more) when we pay OOP.

Everyone's situation is unique and it really is up to each family to crunch the numbers to determine what works best for them.

 

[supersnoop]

Glad to see a balanced discussion on points, usually I see everyone saying nothing but it's great which isn't exactly right. It's great if you're a Deluxe person, no argument. It's more expensive if you're a mod/value person. Throw in not being able to take advantage of the FD promo and a mod/value person has no business even considering it.

That's absolutely ridiculous. I spent six nights in a garden view studio at the Boardwalk followed by six nights in a savanna view studio at Animal Kingdom in June. The points required for those two premium view rooms, at $12/point, was a grand total of $80 more than my sister paid for a room at Coronado Springs. Renting DVC gets you a deluxe at the price of a moderate. Buying DVC gets you a deluxe for the price of a value.

 

[Lilysmom]

We're a family of 7 and it's always cheaper for us to rent points than to pay rack rate for either two deluxe rooms or a villa. This trip coming up I was tempted to do two rooms at a moderate. I had booked two rooms at POFQ on a room only discount but ended up renting points instead. I got a 2bdrm villa at SSR for only a couple of hundred bucks more. I'd rather the added space and the washer/dryer is a huge plus for me with kids so young. I don't have to take a couple of hours out of my vacation to hang out in a laundry room so I think it's worth it!

 

[wickedstepmom]

We are staying in rented points at BWV for Labor Day week. we stayed at Ak kidani 2 years ago. Both times we rented were off peak. I had to pay the full amount at the 7 month mark when we booked. We paid about the same amount for a studio (we have 2 studios for 6 people) at BWV as little mermaid at Aoa would have been....... then came the free dining announcement .If we had stayed at moderate we would've saved a couple hundred dollars, but for what we have it still would've been much much more, so I'm OK with it. As others have said there are risks involved.
FYI you can still do magic express and dining plan on rented points too.

 

[leebee]

Slightly OT but what hotel do you get in Times Square for only $200?!?

Hampton Inn Times Square North, on 8th Ave between 51st and 52nd. We stayed there for 10 nights in July of 2012 and 2013. I had to book in November for July stays, and am fortunate enough to have a few discount codes for which I am eligible (State Government Employee, AAA, or a contract code (MVP rate) through Hilton Honors). Price included breakfast, and to be honest, it was probably a little over $200 by the time tax was added; room is usually in the $187-$193 range. We also stayed for 9 nights in 2011 at The Buckingham over on 6th and W. 57th, but they were closed the next two years. That was really sweet, as it was a 2 room apt with bath and kitchenette. (We were in the area because my daughter was taking dance intensives with the Rockettes.) It gets harder and harder to find these rates, although in April of 2014 we stayed at the DoubleTree Suites in Times Square in a 1br suite for $279+ tax per night- but I was splitting it with my brother so it was really cheap, comparatively!

 

[ChgoMusicGirl]

We're renting points for our next vacation and I think the "economical" question is a difficult one (as PP have stated). Just out of curiosity, I plugged our 9 night split stay (standard view studios 5 nights at AKV and 4 at BLT) into Disney's website and found out it would cost $6K, whereas through David's, I paid around $2300, including the international transaction fee (which you have to pay since he's in Canada). I tried some smaller brokers, but they didn't have the points available for what I needed.

We stayed at POP last June and it was about $1K less than what I paid for the rented points. Of course, the rates have gone up this year and there may or may not be a room discount like I got last year, but POP would still be cheaper.

We really liked POP and would stay there again without hesitation. We really liked AKL when we visited and I think my DS6 would be over the moon to be able to walk to/see Magic Kingdom from his hotel and that fascination won't stay around forever, so I decided to go ahead and book.

As stated before cons to renting points are:
Trash and Towel service only on day 4 (unless you're staying 8 or more nights, then you will get full cleaning on 4 and trash and towel on 8) although you can pay for daily cleaning at $30/day for a studio

You have to book way ahead (depending on what you want, it seems the lower priced options sell out first)

It's non refundable (but you can get travel insurance)

Going through a broker is a little more expensive, usually $14 a point, but you get a contract and an intermediary between you and the owner

As others have said, it's a personal decision, but if you're going for sheer value, I would say POP is your best bet. Awesome bus service, good food court, highly themed grounds, nice rooms and basic pools.
Good Luck

 

[Baptist]

Wow, I'm shocked more people are not 100% for renting points. It's the primary way we stay at Disney. In my view, it's always a better deal to rent. Here is an example: You can get a studio at AK for 9 points. If you rented them at $12, that is $108 per night. That is a pre-tax value of about $90 (you are not taxed using points). Can you get a value room for $90? Even if you can, who would want to stay at a value when you could stay at Animal Kingdom?

 

[crisi]

You SHOULD be taxed renting points, but no one collects taxes (it wouldn't surprise me if brokers started soon, they will likely get an audit, individuals aren't likely to get an audit). I just say this because the law is that the owners should collect taxes, and one day someone will be in for a surprise.

The nine points is a value studio - they are almost impossible to get - there are very few of them and you need an owner who can call for you AT eleven months - even then, you might be locked out - you are much more likely to end up with an 11 point room. At $12 a point you are up to $132.

Its still competitive with a value room at a discount - but for $132 you don't get two real beds. You don't get mousekeeping unless you stay eight or more days in which case you get it once. Your deal is final - it usually can't be moved or cancelled (although sometimes the member can and is willing to work with you).

Renters should never count on the lowest priced rooms being available (frankly OWNERS shouldn't count on them being available at certain times of the year) unless they know the system very well and know their bargain room is likely to have availability (i.e. Boardwalk standard views are gone pretty much before non-owners can use the seven month window year round - but you have a good chance most of the year if you can plan eight or ten months in advance - if you want it for over Food and Wine - you'll need to have an owner willing to book the morning of the eleven month window - and you aren't likely to get those points for $12).

So realistically, you aren't getting a room at VAKL for $90 - realistically you'll get one for $138, or $154 if you want the added security and ease of a broker. And to get $154 at the Animal Kingdom, you trade housekeeping, two beds, and flexibility.

 

[Marionnette]

Wow, I'm shocked more people are not 100% for renting points. It's the primary way we stay at Disney. In my view, it's always a better deal to rent. Here is an example: You can get a studio at AK for 9 points. If you rented them at $12, that is $108 per night. That is a pre-tax value of about $90 (you are not taxed using points). Can you get a value room for $90? Even if you can, who would want to stay at a value when you could stay at Animal Kingdom?

Your "example" is more of an exception, rather than the rule.

There are 8 dedicated value studios and 10 2-bedroom lock-off value villas (which can be converted to a 1-bedroom and a studio for booking purposes). So on any given day, only a maximum of 18 value studio units are available. As a PP pointed out, these book up very quickly - usually within the first day or two of becoming available at the 11-month window. So if you wanted to book one, you would have to find an AKV owner about 12 months before your expected travel dates and then be prepared for the possibility that it still may not be a happening thing. Availability is a huge factor in renting DVC points.

The 9 pts/night is also a bit of an anomaly. It applies only to value studios for Sun.-Thurs. night stays during Choice Season or Adventure Season, both of which are less popular traveling times. Hence the lower number of points needed per night. A room at one of the AllStar resorts during those same travel periods would have run $96/weeknight before taxes and without any discount applied. During Premier Season a Fri. or Sat. night in the same studio would cost more than double the number of points (19/night).

The AKV Value studios are also very small (316 sq. ft. compared to 366 sq. ft. at Kidani). Now, compared to the 260 sq. ft. of an AllStar room, this may seem like it's roomy until you factor in the kitchenette area, which takes up a considerable amount of that extra space.

I'm not against renting points. I actually did it several times before I purchased my first DVC contract. I just think that people should compare apples to apples and that they should be aware of what is involved in the rental process before they create a budget with the assumption that they can get a Value Studio for $108/night. It's not always going to work out that way and most likely won't.

 

[crisi]

Just to play devil's advocate, points per night at OKW are cheaper than any other resort - a studio has two queen beds, and is large. OKW also usually has availability a lot longer than other resorts. So if you did want to do a comparative budget for a LIKELY best case, I'd use an OKW studio. SSR points are a little more expensive than OKW, but are still low, and SSR generally has availability longest.

If you are looking at DVC point charts and think a value room at VAKL, a BWV standard view room, or a BLT standard view room is going to save you a ton of money - those are much less likely to work out due to availability issues.

Honestly, its going to be hard to save money over a value with a discount - although its possible. Its even harder if you are willing to go offsite to save money - where deals are easy to get in the Orlando area on timeshare rentals.