Have any of you rented points from a DVC member?

[SandrainNC]

I am hoping this is the right place to post this since it is for people who have rented points. I am very interested in doing this (if possible) for our trip in Jan. 2006. I wanted to get some feedback as to the pluses, minuses, etc. from anyone who has rented points.

Thanks! Sandra

 

[minijeanie]

I have rented 3 times in the past four years and had no problems at all.
Most people are wonderful and you should have ho problems at all.
would suggest standard view because it is less points and since you are going in 2006 you should have no problem at all.

also, try to stay from sunday to thursday..points are so much less. well worth it. this year we are splitting our stay to avoid double the price on weekend.

people on these boards are very honest. I would feel very confident in going forward

 

[willidc]

We have been renting points for the past couple of years for the Food and Wine Festival dates and it is so much more economical than getting a hotel room in one of the EPCOT resorts.

We have stayed at the BCV previously and I cannot think of one single drawback to renting points vs. hotel room. LOL! We didn't even miss the daily maid service because I just thought of all the money we were saving by us simply making the bed and tidying up the bathroom. Towels are always fresh with the towel exchange privileges.

In 2005 we are trying to get a studio in BWV just for a change.

Renting points is less than one half the price of renting the same unit from CRO.

Good luck!

 

[SandrainNC]

Thank you both so much! I was doing the math and it is so much more affordable and instead of a room you can get a studio or suite. I just have to decide which resort and then hope someone has points to rent for that time. This would be our first time on Disney property and would be great if we are able to do this!

Sandra

 

[Carrieberry]

Everyone that rents should have points available for January 2006. They don't start booking until 11 months out (for their home resort) or 7 months out for other resorts. We have rented once before and we will be renting again for our trip next month. We stayed on rented points at BCV(studio) in 2002 and it was wonderful (we stayed for about $160 a night!!). As you probably know, rack rate for a room at BC is over $300 without any discounts. The location was wonderful! This trip will be at OKW because we wanted a one bedroom. We will be staying at POFQ the friday and Sat night before we check in because as the other poster said, it does not pay to rent points on those nights since they are double. We got a great rate for those nights with the winter rates of $89 a night. We rent points from an absolutely wonderful person here on the DIS and have had no issues whatsoever! If you really want a specific resort, contact someone who can rent you points for January by February on 2005-11 months out. Feel free to PM me if you want more info or have other questions!

 

[chrissyk]

I've done it once. My friend is a DVC member, and she managed to get us a standard-view studio during the week-after-Thanksgiving timeframe of all times! It was amazing We had such a good time that we bought our first DVC contract resale about a month later, and our second contract through Disney less than 1 year after that I can remember being on the first or second night of our rented points trip, and both of us trying to figure out how we could buy in...we figured out on our own that there must be a resale market. Sure enough there was, and the rest is history!

 

[DisFlan]

We rented 150 OKW points last spring and it went off without a hitch. Our logic was the same as yours - "It's SO much cheaper!"

But be warned! It can be hazardous. We enjoyed DVC so much that we came home and bought resale points at BWV. We'll be going again as members next October. It's great knowing that we have wonderful accommodations at WDW already covered for the next 38 years. You can't get much cheaper than that!

DisFlan

 

[MrShiny]

We rented twice - both for short weekday trips, where the DVC was a great affordable "treat." The second time, having already convinced ourself we couldn't afford DVC, we went to a presentation in return for a $50 gift certificate.

We bought. 200 points at SSR. Our first trip on points is in June.

So I guess the "down side" is you may end up spending a few thousand more than you thought!

I had no trouble with renting (used different people from the boards each time) and I hooked up a friend who is renting at VWL this month.

The transaction is mitigated that there is trust on both sides - if someone ever did rent under false pretenses here, I'm sure they'd only get away with it once.

Try to get everything in writing (hardcopy if you can) - that's just common sense. Other than that, it should be relatively pain free!

 

[JudyS]

I've rented a couple of times, and it's been fine. I suggest renting from someone who's been on the DISboards for a while.

One thing to watch out for -- cancelling a DVC ressie is NOT like cancelling a hotel. Many DVC owners will not give a refund if you cancel, and almost none will give a refund for cancellations less than 31 days out. This is because the DVC penalized members severely for last-minute cancellations (although the DVC is not nearly as bad as many other timeshares this way.

You may want to buy trip cancellation insurance in case you get sick or something.

 

[phawley]

We rented one time and it was not a good experience. Basically a "bait and switch" ploy where we never did get $125.00 that was owed to us. The majority of renters have no problems. Just be careful and get references if possible. (We now own at SSR)

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We rented one time and it was not a good experience. Basically a "bait and switch" ploy where we never did get $125.00 that was owed to us. The majority of renters have no problems. Just be careful and get references if possible. (We now own at SSR)

Can you tell us more about this? Whatever happened would be of interest to everyone.

HBC

 

[MAC3]

twice and would do so again if need be

 

[SandrainNC]

Thanks everyone for the information! Thank you JudyS for the warning. That is really the only thing that worries me. We have a toddler and you just never know when they might get sick. I would never ever cancel unless it was an emergency, but sometimes things happen.

Sandra

 

[carolina traveler]

Hi, I recently became a member of DVC at Saratoga Springs and sent you a PM.

 

[phawley]

My husband and I rented points last February for a 3 night stay. I purchased points from someone off of the rent boards for a studio for 2 nights and a 1 bedroom for the last night. We had origionally wanted a studio, but when the member called MS, the only thing available was a studio for one night and a 1 bedroom for the final night. I checked with MS and the reservation had been made. MS would tell me nothing else since I was not a member. (The reservation was made at about 3 months out) We sent the money for the points for the 3 nights. About a week later the member e-mailed me back and said that a studio had become available for all 3 nights and that she had changed the reservation and would send me a check immediately for the extra points we paid for and no longer needed. One year later and after I had sent many e-mails and attemped to phone the member (the phone number I had been given was no longer in service) I am still out $125.00

This person promised many times to send the money right away. She had just forgotten, misplaced my address, etc... At one point she offered to overnight the payment to me at the resort, but it never showed. All I got was a "sorry it didn't get done".

All of the correspondance and "promises of sending money" happened with the person before the trip took place. After we returned, I never could make contact. At one point I was sending e-mails every day and never got a response. It was like she dropped off the face of the earth.

So, I chalk this up to bad luck and a good learning experience. I know most people who rent points do a great job. We have our own points now! Just be careful when renting. Not everyone is honest and trustworthy.

 

[kathleena]

A friend of mine at work, on my recommendation, came here and rented three nights at BWV last March and then went to their annual timeshare at Orange Lake Country Club for the week. They loved it so much, they are renting three nights at SSR this March. They have had great experiences with the DVC members.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I am still out $125.00

Thanks for sharing the story phawley. Sorry that had to happen to you.

HBC

 

[JLS]

We rented twice off the boards before buying points at BCV. We stayed at Boardwalk in a 2 bedroom, and we also stayed at VWL the next year in a studio. That allowed us to become familiar with DVC before purchasing. Renting is a great deal for people - I highly recommend it, but only if you do not need to be flexible and keep an "out" for cancellation. If you are certain you can commit to the trip, go for it!

In general, I would recommend following this plan: You give the owner your dates and wait for confirmation of availability. Then you send a $100 deposit in exchange for the owner making the reservation. The owner should fax you the confirmation upon receipt so you are comfortable that the reservation has been made in your name. Then agree with the owner (up front) about when the balance of the money will be due. Plan on paying the balance 45-60 days out to protect the owner (because they would lose full use of the points if you cancelled less than 30 days out and had not paid). The Disboards polices itself very well and I do not expect you will have a problem.

If you want to email me or PM me privately, I have points I can rent for this year because I am having a baby in March so we won't be travelling for awhile.

-Jenn

 

[jacalynt]

Jenn

I am trying to rent for the first time because we bought a resale in September 2004 and we have 500 points we have to sell to help pay for the purchase. Unfortunately - it's people like the ones you delt with who ruin it for us newcomers. I am having a hard time renting because people want references and I don't have any yet. Sorry you had a bad experience.

JT