Maybe this is an option for my family and I

[tinksgilrs251520]

I am not a DVC member and I am in desperate need of an affordable way to go to Disney.. I have a family of 7 and I am looking for a economical way that we can be together .. I am not sure if this is the way to go could somebody please explain the renting points thing and how it works and if I can add the DDP plan to the points I rent if thats possible... .....

 

[Chuck S]

Currently, the DVC owner can add the DDP to the reservation for you, and you pay for it at check-in. When new software comes online later this year, somewhat integrating the DVC reservation system with the cash reservation system, you may need to pay for the DDP at the time that it is added to the reservation, likely meaning a 3 way call between you, the owners and DVC Member Services.

I tried to answer some of your other questions in the PM I sent to you when I moved the thread here from theR/T Board.

Oh, as your desired dates(which I removed from this post) are more than 12 months ahead, you may want to try contacting members about 12 months before your travel dates that own at your desired resort. DVC Members can begin booking reservations at the home resort (the resort they own) 11 months before arrival date, and all other DVC resorts 7 months before arrival date.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Make sure that you get a contract. I would also suggest getting recomondations concerning whoever you are renting from. If you are uneasy about renting from a stranger then ask around. Usually I find that there is always someone I know who is a dvc member. They may be willing to rent to you or give you the name of someone who will. This can take away some of the worries. We are not dvc members yet either, we almost did it this year but DS's car died and he commutes to school to save instead of living in dorms. We take care of the car he takes care of the tuition. Anyway we find it a more economical way to stay. It is much more convenient to be able to cook most of our meals instead of worrying about being in time for an ADR. I like to bring a crock pot and prepare my meals in the am. Once you get used to the extra leg room of a dvc resort you won't want to go back. Our favorite is OKW but that is just us. You may like something different.

 

[starbox]

With DVC a studio @ 10pp will most likely run you from 110-300 per night depending on resort and dates. A family of 7 will need two studios or a 2bedroom. Dining has to be added - for our family of 4 (11 and 13yo kids), quick service dining is about 125 per night. DVC rentals usually can't be changed or cancelled.

Honestly, I think you would do much better getting 2 value or moderate rooms with free dining. With 7 people eating free, you'll more than make up for the modest savings on a rented room and you'd be able to cancel or reschedule.

 

[littlestar]

Depending on how low you need to go to save money, you might want to consider renting at Wyndham Bonnet Creek (it sits next to Disney's Caribbean Beach resort). You can sometimes rent 2 bedrooms for $700 a week and the resort has frequent shuttles to the Disney parks and Downtown Disney. Here's an owner that Dis board people use frequently:

http://www.vacationupgrades.com/

If your heart is set on Disney owned resorts, I'd probably stick with free dining and book 2 rooms at a value or a moderate. I think that would be cheaper than renting DVC points for the 2 bedroom that you are going to need. Two DVC studios might be a little cheaper than a 2 bedroom.

 

[Mama Steph]

We are also a family of 7 and have changed plans for our August trip. Trying to be budget conscious makes my head spin at times! My sister is joining us for this trip so that is another change. Our original plan was 2 rooms at POP for free dining. We then switched to 3 rooms since we didn't want to make sis or 15yo ds share a bed. Then we switched to a family suite at ASMu and another regular room. This was a little more expensive but gave us a kitchenette and a seating area which are both important to us. This week, just shy of our 45 day mark, I was poking around the rent/trade board and found someone who was renting points for $8 per point. At this rate I was able to book a 2 bedrrom villa and add the dining plan and 10 day tix and it was only $150 more. This increas was actually on the tix themselves since we would have to buy 2 10 day tix rather than upgrading from a 2 day. It also means we will not have 5 2 day tix leftover. Definately a good tradeoff imo.
I hope our story helps you. If you are comfortable with 2 rooms at a value, that is probably still the cheapest way to go. However, if having a kitchen, sitting room and laundry facilities are important to you as they are to me, you may decide a villa is actually a better deal.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With DVC a studio @ 10pp will most likely run you from 110-300 per night depending on resort and dates. A family of 7 will need two studios or a 2bedroom. ....

And two studios will never connect to each other. And they may be on different ends of the building, different floors, different wings. So if you have five kids and mom and dad, mom and dad will have to split up for the entire trip to be with the kids.

 

[starbox]

We are also a family of 7 and have changed plans for our August trip. Trying to be budget conscious makes my head spin at times! My sister is joining us for this trip so that is another change. Our original plan was 2 rooms at POP for free dining. We then switched to 3 rooms since we didn't want to make sis or 15yo ds share a bed. Then we switched to a family suite at ASMu and another regular room. This was a little more expensive but gave us a kitchenette and a seating area which are both important to us. This week, just shy of our 45 day mark, I was poking around the rent/trade board and found someone who was renting points for $8 per point. At this rate I was able to book a 2 bedrrom villa and add the dining plan and 10 day tix and it was only $150 more. This increas was actually on the tix themselves since we would have to buy 2 10 day tix rather than upgrading from a 2 day. It also means we will not have 5 2 day tix leftover. Definately a good tradeoff imo.
I hope our story helps you. If you are comfortable with 2 rooms at a value, that is probably still the cheapest way to go. However, if having a kitchen, sitting room and laundry facilities are important to you as they are to me, you may decide a villa is actually a better deal.

Age of kids will be huge - if your kids are mostly under 10, the free dining savings won't be as significant. If you've got a party of 7 with 5 over age 10, you are looking at well over 200$ per day savings with free dining. .

 

[Mama Steph]

Age of kids will be huge - if your kids are mostly under 10, the free dining savings won't be as significant. If you've got a party of 7 with 5 over age 10, you are looking at well over 200$ per day savings with free dining. .

we have 3 disney adult kids so 5 adults and 2 kids. Total difference between a fs and another room with fd or a 2br villa with rented points was $180 for 10 days. Obviously that would be a much larger difference if you were looking at 2 standard location value rooms rather than the fs and room.