Honest Opinions on Renting DVC Points

[EmilyGahr]

Title says it all - looking for honest opinions on renting DVC points to stay in the deluxe villas.

A little background:
My fiancé and I always stay at a deluxe resort when we go to Disney (usually club level). We are planning our honeymoon in Disney next year and are considering renting DVC points to stay in a studio or one bedroom at one of the deluxe villas. We've been looking into the pros and cons and are looking for some feedback from people who have rented points before!

Is the hassle worth the money we would save? (i.e. non refundable, working through a third party, etc.)
Is the lack of mousekeeping a deal breaker?
Does it still feel like you're staying in a deluxe resort?
Do you feel disconnected from the rest of the resort?

Any and all feedback would be great - thanks!

 

[Meglen]

I have rented points 3 times now. Twice from folks on here and once through David's. The lack of housekeeping didn't bother us at all we used to decline it when it was an option anyway.

Some resorts dvc is decently far from the main building but not enough to say your disconnected.

David's works great we got BLT and loved it there. Process was easy. Going with people works just as well. My only advice is don't book an amount your not ok with losing. Worst case being unable to go and now your down 2-3k.(travel insurance might cover this tho).

If you book with people you can always ask when there use year is and if you can't go see if they have time on the points to re rent. But that is a hassle and usually not in the contract they write up.

 

[ladyderks]

Title says it all - looking for honest opinions on renting DVC points to stay in the deluxe villas.

A little background:
My fiancé and I always stay at a deluxe resort when we go to Disney (usually club level). We are planning our honeymoon in Disney next year and are considering renting DVC points to stay in a studio or one bedroom at one of the deluxe villas. We've been looking into the pros and cons and are looking for some feedback from people who have rented points before!

Is the hassle worth the money we would save? (i.e. non refundable, working through a third party, etc.)
Is the lack of mousekeeping a deal breaker?
Does it still feel like you're staying in a deluxe resort?
Do you feel disconnected from the rest of the resort?

Any and all feedback would be great - thanks!

I’ve rented points at OKW, Boulder Ridge, The Poly, and the Boardwalk Villas (multiple times at BWV). We’ve used the DVC rental store once, and the rest of our points have been rented through people on here; I’ve had nothing but outstanding experiences with both ‘options’. I have never regretted it, and I never felt disconnected. Feel free to PM me with any questions

 

[Marionnette]

Title says it all - looking for honest opinions on renting DVC points to stay in the deluxe villas.

A little background:
My fiancé and I always stay at a deluxe resort when we go to Disney (usually club level). We are planning our honeymoon in Disney next year and are considering renting DVC points to stay in a studio or one bedroom at one of the deluxe villas. We've been looking into the pros and cons and are looking for some feedback from people who have rented points before!

Is the hassle worth the money we would save? (i.e. non refundable, working through a third party, etc.)
Is the lack of mousekeeping a deal breaker?
Does it still feel like you're staying in a deluxe resort?
Do you feel disconnected from the rest of the resort?

Any and all feedback would be great - thanks!

I'll respond as an owner who sometimes rents out their points.

1. Hassle vs savings. This is very subjective. Booking a DVC rental can be very easy. I would say that it can be easier than dealing with Disney's cash reservation system. But you will have to deal with refund/change policies. Some individual owners are quite lenient with their terms. Others are very rigid. If you go through an intermediary broker, you will be held to their terms, which also vary from one site to the next. Make sure that you read and understand the terms before you commit to renting.

2. Housekeeping. Again, this is subjective. If you're the kind of person who wants their bed made, their counters wiped down and fresh towels every day, then renting a timeshare anywhere is not for you. If making your own bed, wiping your own countertops down and reusing towels (or phoning mousekeeping for more towels) is not a big deal to you, then you won't mind that all they do is come in to empty your trash daily and make a security check.

3. "Disconnected" from the rest of the resort. Some DVC resorts are only DVC (Riviera, SSR, OKW, BLT and AKV-Kidani). Others are a part of cash resorts and guests at those resorts are welcome to use all of the resort amenities. In many cases, the DVC villas are in an area well away from the cash rooms. BWV has its own wing but shares a lobby with BWI. BCV is in a building tucked behind the BC building. PVB buildings are in the far end of the resort and are closest to the TTC. VGF buildings are closest to the Poly. BRV is a separate building from WL but shares amenities. CCV is within the WL building. AKV-Jambo is also within the AKL building.

I will add one more suggestion. If you decide to rent, get your request in at least 11 months in advance. This is especially important for any of the resorts that are near the MK or Epcot/HS.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I'm sure that whatever direction that you choose to go, it will be a wonderful trip.

 

[rwdavis2]

We did it in 2016 through an agency I can't name here. No problems at all. Got what we wanted BWV for $245 a night. Since the reservation is non-refundable we buy trip insurance.

 

[Marthasor]

We love the deluxe villas and, yes, you feel like you are staying at deluxe resort - it never feels disconnected to me. That being said, I would never rent points. We've had too many trips, particularly in the past few years, that needed to be cancelled or re-scheduled and I prefer the more lenient terms and conditions of booking the villas through Disney. Yes, it costs more, but being able to cancel or reschedule with little to no penalty is more important to me. I just had to cancel a trip, day-of, due to illness and a flight cancellation a few weeks ago. I got on the phone as soon as I knew we wouldn't be able to go and Disney canceled part of my trip and let me re-schedule the other (we had a split stay) with zero penalty.

 

[patty57]

I've rented at least ten times. I have never used a broker, but use this site and others to rent directly through the owners. I just came back from a rental in early April, and have another booked for December 2022. I love renting because it allows me to stay at my favorite resorts without paying Disney prices. It isn't without pitfalls and an element of danger. You may be completely locked into a non-refundable trip...depends upon the owner. It also seems as though there are more and more scams happening. Educate yourself on how it works, and what to look for in an owner. If anything seems at all off...walk away.

 

[iwannabdduck]

Since you asked for honest opinions ... we've rented 4 times and here is my view based on those experiences. On the plus side the bigger rooms, like a 1 bedroom, are wonderful, if you want something like that. Lack of housekeeping was never a problem, even for a 4 night stay once. Yes, we've always felt as if we were staying at a "deluxe resort". Lastly, prices can be good. We did save a bunch once. On the negative side, prices can be higher too. A wise person verifies and double checks everything. I've often found the same or less cost for the same type of resort room at the same resort for the same days buying directly thru Disney. If you buy trip insurance, buy the right kind (i.e.: cancel for any reason). I know of what I speak, if they say "no refunds" they mean it. I'll spare you my sad $$ story ... as I also had the wrong type of trip insurance. Like the previous poster, I have also cancelled regular Disney reservations without all that drama. With respect to regular ole "studio" rooms, we prefer resort stand view rooms over DVC studio rooms. More elbow room IMHO, but that's just a personal thing for us. Others may disagree as a DVC villa room has other amenities that the same type of resort room does not. Watching online video room tours is helpful. Lastly, it always seems that finding a DVC room for the specific dates and resort you want is a challenge. Flexibility helps. Good luck.

 

[Ursula J]

Since you asked for honest opinions ... we've rented 4 times and here is my view based on those experiences. On the plus side the bigger rooms, like a 1 bedroom, are wonderful, if you want something like that. Lack of housekeeping was never a problem, even for a 4 night stay once. Yes, we've always felt as if we were staying at a "deluxe resort". Lastly, prices can be good. We did save a bunch once. On the negative side, prices can be higher too. A wise person verifies and double checks everything. I've often found the same or less cost for the same type of resort room at the same resort for the same days buying directly thru Disney. If you buy trip insurance, buy the right kind (i.e.: cancel for any reason). I know of what I speak, if they say "no refunds" they mean it. I'll spare you my sad $$ story ... as I also had the wrong type of trip insurance. Like the previous poster, I have also cancelled regular Disney reservations without all that drama. With respect to regular ole "studio" rooms, we prefer resort stand view rooms over DVC studio rooms. More elbow room IMHO, but that's just a personal thing for us. Others may disagree as a DVC villa room has other amenities that the same type of resort room does not. Watching online video room tours is helpful. Lastly, it always seems that finding a DVC room for the specific dates and resort you want is a challenge. Flexibility helps. Good luck.

Is there a type of trip insurance that does cover cancelation? Something you can buy independently after planning?

 

[iwannabdduck]

I'm no insurance expert (and could be wrong), but the only type of trip insurance I am aware of that covers cancellations are policies the insurance companies actually call Cancel for Any Reason. If it isn't that type of policy, the insurance will only pay for "covered" provisions in the policy ... such as a flight cancellation or lost luggage, etc. once you've provided documentation to verify the loss. Changing your mind, or getting sick, usually isn't a covered event. Gotta shop around. Figuring out what is the right kind of trip insurance to buy can be more difficult than getting a Genie+ or LL reservation. Not to mention the high cost of this kind of insurance. You really need to factor that into a DVC rental when comparing total cost of staying at WDW. Lastly, there has always been a time limit to purchase this type of coverage when I've looked into it. Like 14 days after 1st booking your trip as I recall. Could be different these days.

 

[Best Aunt]

Just to clarify something about the "no refunds, no changes" issue:

Points have an expiration date. I'm not sure guests renting points always realize that. So if a reservation is made for you using points, and something bad happens so you want to make a change -- it's possible that the owner can't help you, even if they want to, because the points are expiring.

 

[cruisehopeful]

It's a great option for saving money. The main snag is not being able to cancel or change your dates. It's rarely possible that you will find anyone you can offer you those things.

 

[Sandisw]

It is really how willing you are to take the risk that something happens and you need to cancel/change. It can be worth it, but you have to understand that its not going to allow for flexibility that Disney does.

One thing to also consider is that once you enter into a rental, if WDW comes out with a really could discount...you mention you like club level...you won't be able to cancel what you have and take that deal. Be sure that you would be okay with that.

Promotions like free dining, for example...not that there is a dining plan right now...would never apply to a DVC points rental as you are really entering into a private transaction with an owner who is renting you a reservation made on their membership.

I would also compare the price of the rental and insurance to the cost of a cash stay. It may not be the savings you hope for and may not be worth it for the lack of flexibility.

We never rented before becoming DVC because we just were not comfortable with the no changes/refunds aspect of it all. But, it is a great way to save and many people have no issues!!!

 

[lpereira]

Can you afford for something to go wrong and you arrive for your honeymoon with no room? The economy is or isn't doing well depending on who you ask. If a point owner can't pay their bills and Disney freezes that owners account you won't have a room or your money. If you use a broker you are very likely to get your money back. However, 2020 taught us that is no longer 100% true
New things I've learned if a point owner dies and go into probate Disney will cancel everything and freeze the account. That was last fall.
A trip is worth the gamble. Because I can figure out something and roll with it. But a honeymoon? Forget it. You book something rock solid. And that's directly with a (non) hotel or a Disney resort. No third party bookings either.

 

[Brian Noble]

Is the hassle worth the money we would save? (i.e. non refundable, working through a third party, etc.)
Is the lack of mousekeeping a deal breaker?
Does it still feel like you're staying in a deluxe resort?
Do you feel disconnected from the rest of the resort?

1: Only you can decide what discount you would need to justify a non-refundable reservation. Personally, I can usually make the case for a studio, assuming I would ever want to stay in one (and that is rare). I often cannot make the case for a 1BR (which is my preferred type). See this for one example.

2/3: This depends on what you mean when you say "feels deluxe." If you mean lots of pampering and attention, a DVC stay has less of that. In particular, if the Club-level experience is important to you, DVC is not going to provide it. (Yes, there are a handful of Club level rooms at AKV. You are not going to get one.) If you mean a larger room, with a balcony, at a resort with a full-service restaurant, lounge, etc. then most DVC resorts qualify. I don't particularly care if someone else makes my bed every day, but you might.

4: It depends. For some resorts, the DVC component is off to the side or in a different building. Some are more off to the side than others. Again, this depends a little bit on what you mean by "feels connected," and how sensitive you are to small differences.

Edited to add: I agree with prior posters. I would not try something brand new for my honeymoon unless it was more of a splurge than I take for my day-to-day trips. There are other times to decide if DVC works for you.

 

[legler2250]

I have had nothing but fantastic experiences both buying and selling DVC points. Part of the reason for being a part of the Disney / DVC community is learning the hacks that can help reduce some of the cost of an expensive Disney trip. Just because someone 'can' afford to pay regular rack rates at the GF doesn't mean they have to! I prefer to spend a majority of my vacation budget on dining so anywhere else I can cut corners to keep that budget inflated I will!

 

[gatormom2tots]

Usually saves money, but not always.
Usually cheaper to rent through private owners rather than brokers, but not always.

Renting through private owner will require you to do a little vetting on your own- but its not difficult, just an extra step. Honestly, I have found the facebook groups dedicated to this easier than disboards these days. We have rented points from individuals both ways and the fb groups jsut seem easier to me in terms of getting references (can find others who have bought points from the owners easily) and in terms of response and PMing.

Renting through a broker is not difficult either (easier if you trust the broker has done proper vetting), but just like renting through an owner be clear on what the cancellation policy is.

I honestly find the stuios villas do not actually seem as "nice" as the hotel side on the Boardwalk and Beach club sides...but these are the only 2 I feel like I can accurately report as its been so long since I stayed at CR that I can't compare to BLT. We have only stayed DVC at POly so no idea what hotel side looks like. I can say that I like the rooms at Coronado better than the villas at Poly.

Housekeeping makes no difference to us....

I do like have free laundry in studios and w/d in 1-2 bedrooms and free parking. Those are things to consider and might influence some's decisions.

 

[sndral]

Usually saves money, but not always.
…
Renting through private owner will require you to do a little vetting on your own- but its not difficult, just an extra step. Honestly, I have found the facebook groups dedicated to this easier than disboards these days. We have rented points from individuals both ways and the fb groups jsut seem easier to me in terms of getting references (can find others who have bought points from the owners easily) and in terms of response and PMing.
…

Interesting to see someone recommending the fb rental groups in view of this very recent thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/help-was-scammed.3876388/ which details how easily a scammer set up so called references & also how that fb group admin.s let the scammer continue to offer rentals despite being alerted to issues.
I’ve never rented points - before I bought my own points I did a Disney cash reservation for a 1 br. which thanks to the discount Disney was offering at the time, cost about the same as renting DVC points privately.
For a honeymoon for a couple who prefer club stays a DVC rental does not seem like a good fit. There are no club DVC villas except a couple @ AKV Jambo which OP would have about a .00001% chance of getting for the dates they want.

 

[Miffy]

OP, please read @Marthasor's post carefully. I agree with everything said there. I've had to cancel before, and it is so easy with a reservation booked directly through WDW. I got sick at WDW once and had to leave early and they refunded me the entire amount of the stay that I wasn't there, even though I don't think that's their policy.

So, besides having to cancel there's also the possibility of having to cut your trip short. If you book a DVC rental, you will pay for the entire thing even if, for some reason, you have to leave midstay.

Regarding trip insurance: I have yet to see anyone on the DIS post about a successful insurance claim against a canceled DVC stay, and I've seen a lot of posts about this exact topic because 2 years ago when WDW was closed for 4 months, there were scads of people here on the DIS reporting their experiences trying to reschedule or get their money back for DVC rentals. The only people who were successful were people who lodged complaints with their credit card companies and the cc companies gave them their money back. Never from trip insurance companies.

Of course, this was a different situation, with covid and the entire place being closed down, however, I have yet to see any proof that cancel-for-any-reason trip insurance policies actually cover DVC rentals. This is a different situation than booking a hotel room, and insurance companies love loopholes.

This is not to say anything negative about the many wonderful DVC owners here on the DIS who rent out their points. During covid, many of them had difficulties with rented points as well.

However, do yourself a favor. This is your honeymoon. Book your stay through WDW directly. If you need to change, move, rearrange, etc., they will accommodate you if it's humanly possible.

As a good friend of mine always says, "Cheap is expensive." What she means is that a bargain can sometimes turn into a bigger expensive than what the non-bargain price would've been.

ETA: As someone who's stayed at WDW in the last year, I'd have to say that lack of housekeeping is actually a big deal if you like to come back to a room with a made-up bed and clean bathroom. I really missed this on our last few trips, although most resorts now have full housekeeping.

 

[Eeyore daily]

We've rented a couple of times and I love it. Saving on sales tax and parking makes it cost the same as about a moderate resort sometimes.


Is the hassle worth the money we would save? (i.e. non refundable, working through a third party, etc.)
No more of a hassle than regular bookings.
Is the lack of mousekeeping a deal breaker?
To us, no but we don't like people in our room. They seemed to empty the trash every day anyway.
Does it still feel like you're staying in a deluxe resort?
Very much so.
Do you feel disconnected from the rest of the resort?
No, but that's me. I think the only time I slightly felt like that was when we stayed at BLT.