How many months in advance should you start looking to rent DVC points

[KV33]

And do magic bands come to our house? Or is that something the owner handles as well. When we booked through Disney for our last vacation it was handled through my Disney experience

 

[Deb & Bill]

And do magic bands come to our house? Or is that something the owner handles as well. When we booked through Disney for our last vacation it was handled through my Disney experience

You order them via your My Disney Experience account, just like always. You have to enter your reservation number into your account to get it to show up. Make sure your name is on the reservation just like it is in your MDE account. Same with your family members.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Flexibility is key on your part. Most owners don't rent points unless they can't use them (it is not a money maker), so it is nothing but luck if you can get the resort you want, villa size and dates. I'd recommend having a range of dates and several resorts in mind so you have flexibility when you are trying to get a reservation. Being willing to do a split stay might give you an edge. You are competing with other renters AND most importantly owners trying to get their own reservations.

Best advice is to keep educating yourself and asking questions!

 

[suebeelin]

6 months at least, imo....

 

[Matty B13]

Owner should email you a link with the reservation number after the booking is done. That way you know they have done it.

 

[KV33]

If and when you can secure a resort reservation. Where is the best place to buy park hopper tickets? I see people selling promo codes for discounted tickets. What’s the best way to approach the ticket buying part of your vacation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If and when you can secure a resort reservation. Where is the best place to buy park hopper tickets? I see people selling promo codes for discounted tickets. What’s the best way to approach the ticket buying part of your vacation.

You can buy them direct from Disney or from a reseller like Undercover Tourist. Make sure it is an authorized reseller and not just some guy on Ebay. I don't think I would bother with any promo codes. No guarantee they will even work.

 

[suemom2kay]

If and when you can secure a resort reservation. Where is the best place to buy park hopper tickets? I see people selling promo codes for discounted tickets. What’s the best way to approach the ticket buying part of your vacation.

Owner books your room and dining plan (if you choose to purchase it). They will give you a reservation number for you to link in My Disney Experience. You will buy any theme park tickets and/or hard ticket events yourself. You can book through Disney or a ticket broker. Hope this helps.

 

[KV33]

Thanks for all the insight, this really helps. I asked this earlier, but it may have gotten lost in all my other questions. What are some of the best Hotels in Disney? Where have others stayed and were glad they decided on that resort. Also I know the Riviera opens soon. What are the thoughts on what you have heard about that resort and the new skyliner?

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks for all the insight, this really helps. I asked this earlier, but it may have gotten lost in all my other questions. What are some of the best Hotels in Disney? Where have others stayed and were glad they decided on that resort. Also I know the Riviera opens soon. What are the thoughts on what you have heard about that resort and the new skyliner?

It’s difficult to declare one resort to be the very best because tastes vary. My brother owns at SSR and loves the treehouse villas. I don’t care for SSR and I especially dislike the treehouses. I own at BWV and love the ability to walk to 2 parks. He prefers to get away from all of the theme parks when he gets back to his villa and finds BWV to be too “busy”.

We won’t really have a good handle on RIV until it has been open for a few months. Some people have declared that it will the GF of Epcot, while others consider it to be CBR-Plus. Only time will tell who, if anybody, is right.

The same goes for the Skyliner. The gondolas will not be air conditioned and there are a lot a doubters who believe that circulating hot humid air is not going to be comfortable. If you’ve ever been on one of the Friendship boats heading from HS to Epcot, you’ll understand their misgivings. There will be a transfer hub at CBR/RIV for changing gondola lines. People arriving from POP will change to either a HS line or one that leads to the IG at Epcot. People coming from Epcot and heading to HS will change lines there as well. What this means is that there will be a lot of foot traffic in that area and it will make it very easy for guests to visit both RIV and CBR if they wish.

 

[deedubb]

In general, make the request as soon as you are firm on your dates. The earlier you make the request, the more likely you are to get it. There is a queue in place and the earlier the request is made, the higher you are in the queue. If 10 people want to rent at a certain resort, but the broker only has enough owners with points to cover 8 of those people, the last two are SOL unless more owners offer up their points. This of course changes at 7 months, when the broker can use anyone's points, but by then, many of the in-demand resorts are already fully booked.

I get the sense that more owners of in-demand resorts are choosing to rent privately because they can get paid more per point than they can by using a broker, with the added benefit of not having to pay a broker. BCV comes to mind. However, there is always more risk involved in renting privately, unless it's from someone you know and trust.

 

[deedubb]

Thanks. For the people that have stayed at many different resorts, what are the best for the price. Are there any that you would say “you have to stay here once in your life”

What is the park you like most? You can walk to DHS and Epcot from Beach Club and Boardwalk. You can walk to MK from Bay Lake. Not having to rely in Disney transportation and being packed in like sardines at the end of the night is priceless, especially if you are going at certain times of the year like NYE. Boardwalk is one of the cheaper resorts by points. Personally, I love it there.

 

[CraigInPA]

My other question is, I’ve heard that the owner makes the reservation for you. So to add things like after hours party, early morning Magic, dining reservations, memory maker. Does the owner of the points do all that for me as well and I pay them directly. Or can i add that on myself?

The owner will make your room, Disney Magical Express and, if you want it, Disney Dining Plan reservations.

You are responsible for your own advanced dining reservations, party reservations, tours, park tickets, memory maker, fast passes, etc...

 

[suemom2kay]

AKV - gorgeous resort. Only bus to parks. Giraffes and other amazing animals.
BCV - best pool on property. Walk or boat to two parks.
BLT - walk to MK. Monorail to EP. small studios.
BWV - good pool unless you fear clowns. Walk or boat to two parks. Long hallways whose lengths have been greatly exaggerated on the Disboards.
BRV/CCV - beautiful architecture. I found the pool too small for number of guests. Boat to MK (not good when you always arrive at the dock when the little boat shows up that only picks up half the people waiting) but that happened to me... like every freaking time. I haven’t heard others’ report the same.
GFV - I hear service at the villas is very good. Boat/monorail to MK. Monorail to EP. I haven’t experienced the pool.
PVB - walk to TTC/GF boat/monorail to MK. Monorail to EP. I haven’t experienced the pool.
SSR - quiet, good pool. Expansive, spread out resort. Boat to DS.
OKW - large rooms, studios with 2 real beds, no couch, quiet, decent pool. Expansive, spread out resort. Boat to DS.
RIV - reports of the model are it’s beautiful. Skyliner. Won’t know more until people start staying there.

Poly also has the best counter service I hear.

So there is no one best resort. My favorite may be the next person’s least favorite.

 

[KV33]

Sue , thank you. That’s awesome info. That’s exactly what is was looking for. And wow that’s a lot of resorts to have went to, awesome.

 

[suemom2kay]

Sue , thank you. That’s awesome info. That’s exactly what is was looking for. And wow that’s a lot of resorts to have went to, awesome.

Sue , thank you. That’s awesome info. That’s exactly what is was looking for. And wow that’s a lot of resorts to have went to, awesome.

You're very welcome! I've been to all except CCV, GFV, and PVB. We're going to Poly in a studio for 2 nights in September. I'll have to let you know what our experience is.

 

[KV33]

You're very welcome! I've been to all except CCV, GFV, and PVB. We're going to Poly in a studio for 2 nights in September. I'll have to let you know what our experience is.

Please do. I’m looking forward to your overview. I know my family loves it. The smell of the lobby. My wife has been searching for that smell ever since we left as potpourri.

Do you book through Disney or are you DVC?

 

[suemom2kay]

Please do. I’m looking forward to your overview. I know my family loves it. The smell of the lobby. My wife has been searching for that smell ever since we left as potpourri.

Do you book through Disney or are you DVC?

I'm DVC. I was really lucky to get the Poly. They suddenly released a bunch of studios about 35 days out so I was able to move from CCV to Poly. We're excited to try it!

 

[KV33]

Im sure you know more than I do. Ohana is awesome. Dinner is better than the character breakfast. The rum and dole whip at the pineapple lanai is amazing. We went to Villains After Party In Aug and stopped there. They had a lime/lemon heart of te fiti as well. Can see MK fireworks from the beach, and there’s a light parade on the lagoon around 11pm.

 

[suemom2kay]

Im sure you know more than I do. Ohana is awesome. Dinner is better than the character breakfast. The rum and dole whip at the pineapple lanai is amazing. We went to Villains After Party In Aug and stopped there. They had a lime/lemon heart of te fiti as well. Can see MK fireworks from the beach, and there’s a light parade on the lagoon around 11pm.

I think we're gonna love it! Thanks for the info!