Need advice - 1st time to rent points

[Tiggeroo]

I tried posting this on another board. Hopefully here is the place. I have been to WDW a number of times. I normally stay in POFQ. On the next trip I would like to try a deluxe. Also there is a possibility we will have grandkids with us and need more sleeping room. Plus we are mulling over purchasing dvc so we want to check it out.
I have a few questions.
1. Is the savings worth the risk to rent points from an individual rather then a company? Personal opinion if you have been on these boards for awhile and have rented points.
2. How early should I consider booking this trip? We like to book a little early so I have time to pay it off but might want to wait a few more weeks to solidify dates.
3. Is there any area that is best to stay. Likely it will just be dh and I, at least for most of the stay, in an adults only trip.
4. Will this give me a good sense of whether we want to buy dvc?
Any other pointers/advice?

Edited to remove rental specifics.

 

[mort1331]

1. You have risks with both. The site sponsor on here that rents has had very minor few cancelations, but always tries to get it for you. There isn't much price difference these days. I have rented my points out through Dave's but now I handle it myself on the rent/trade boards. No issues ever. I think most on the R/T boards you wont have issues with.
2. The earlier the better. Doesn't hurt to try.
2a. Needing time to pay off? Renting from here or a company most want full payment. There are some private renters on the board that might be flexible, but be prepared to pay all upfront, with little to no cancelations.

Edited to remove rental details

 

[Tiggeroo]

I know what I have to put down through the company. I just like to plan my vacation and pay for everything over the year. So if I pay for my room up front I'll take a few more months to pay off tickets, meal plan, set aside fun money...

 

[Tiggeroo]

If we are considering buying is it foolish to rent points for a trip first? Would that money be better spent applied toward buying points?

 

[Tiggeroo]

Also what would happen if I bought at a cheaper resort like Saratoga Springs but then wanted to stay at Boardwalk Villlas. So say I have 100 points at Saratoga how will they be affected by staying at another resort?

 

[RobDoc]

If we are considering buying is it foolish to rent points for a trip first? Would that money be better spent applied toward buying points?

Staying at a DVC resort before buying is certainly a good idea since you will be experiencing the villa as well as the resort amenities rather than just a quick visit - and renting can be an economical way to do that. Once you have stayed (or while you are staying) at any of the DVC resorts, you can/should visit other resorts to get an idea of the layout. Go to the desk and ask if they have a villa you could look at (if there is an unoccupied, clean villa they will usually accommodate). That way you can get an idea of the furnishings and theme. ... However, if you already know you want to purchase at one of the DVC resorts there is no reason to wait - especially if you can apply the rental funds to the purchase price.

Also what would happen if I bought at a cheaper resort like Saratoga Springs but then wanted to stay at Boardwalk Villlas. So say I have 100 points at Saratoga how will they be affected by staying at another resort?

You may use your Home Resort points (in your example, SSR would be your Home Resort) 11 months in advance at that resort and may use those points 7 months in advance at any of the other DVC resorts - all based on availability. You could NOT use SSR points to stay at BWV until 7 months before the arrival date.

Enjoy!

 

[magicaldisney]

We rented points twice before purchasing. I'm glad we did, but I don't think it was necessary since we really knew we wanted to own. I think your biggest concern is to research the ins/outs of DVC. You really need to be happy with your home resort because that could possibly be the only resort you ever stay in if you can't switch at the 7 month mark. That being said we have been able to switch at 7 months to different resorts, but not always. Do you travel during busy DVC times (which are not necessarily the same as busy park times)?

 

[crisi]

You may use your Home Resort points (in your example, SSR would be your Home Resort) 11 months in advance at that resort and may use those points 7 months in advance at any of the other DVC resorts - all based on availability. You could NOT use SSR points to stay at BWV until 7 months before the arrival date.

Enjoy!

Based on availability is the clincher. During certain times of the year (like mid September - mid January) it can be very difficult to get a room any room at BWV at seven months for several nights in a row. At other times of year, availability is more likely, but it is never a sure thing.

(Even eleven months out, it can be difficult to snag certain room types at certain resorts at certain times of year. For instance, we are going to BWV next August and need a Grand Villa. I called one week into the eleven month window and got the last one available for several of my nights. BLT standard view rooms can be difficult to get, even with the eleven month window).

 

[magicaldisney]

(Even eleven months out, it can be difficult to snag certain room types at certain resorts at certain times of year. For instance, we are going to BWV next August and need a Grand Villa. I called one week into the eleven month window and got the last one available for several of my nights. BLT standard view rooms can be difficult to get, even with the eleven month window).

AKV value rooms and concierge rooms are also in the "even hard to get at 11 months out". If you are someone who likes some of the hard to get rooms because of the low amount of points needed or whatever it is, you need to own that resort.

 

[abner1776]

We own at VWL but have never stayed there so the 11 month window is not a big issue for us. Now granted, we tend to go off season and are flexible with our room choices so we are not effected by the booking window, but that's just us.

If you are planning on going during school vacation weeks (including XMAS) then "buy where you want to stay" and make sure you book before the 7 month window opens up.

 

[Tiggeroo]

well we are definitely going to rent points and try to stay at boardwalk. Does the 11 month window apply to renting points from one of the big companies? I am nearly at or slightly past that window now.

 

[Deb & Bill]

well we are definitely going to rent points and try to stay at boardwalk. Does the 11 month window apply to renting points from one of the big companies? I am nearly at or slightly past that window now.

Booking BWV for F&W Festival can be tough. You might only get a preferred view instead of the cheaper point standard view. But if you wait until seven months out, you might not find anything available.

Even the big companies don't own their points (or at least most of the points they rent out). The big companies are merely a broker between a person who wants to book a DVC stay and an owner who has points they aren't going to use. If you are looking for BWV, they contact BWV owners on their list to see if any of them would be able to book the stay. The owner books the stay, tells the broker the reservation number and the broker tells you they have a reservation and you pay. The broker pays the owner approximately one half of their payment and holds the rest until after the trip starts (the broker also gets a cut for linking you up).

 

[Julylady]

I always recommend renting points and staying at a DVC property prior to purchasing into DVC. For some people, the lack of daily housekeeping, no "free dining," no 30% discount rates, etc, are more than they can handle. Others think that there are special "perks" that come with DVC that make it worth a purchase. Also, if either renting points or purchasing DVC, make certain you are able to make firm vacation plans 11 months in advance.

 

[crisi]

well we are definitely going to rent points and try to stay at boardwalk. Does the 11 month window apply to renting points from one of the big companies? I am nearly at or slightly past that window now.

More than if you own. A "big company" matches a renter with an owner and the owner books. If it takes a while to make the match, the resort starts to fill - especially BW Standard View for Food and Wine. The big company doesn't have room blocks - they use the same reservation system with the same rules as everyone else - even Disney is restricted to those rules.

Already there are nights where standard view villas are gone for early October next year.