New and looking for some info on renting!

[Bren's Mom]

Hi all,

We're a blended family of 4 and we're looking to go to WDW flying down on April 9, 2009 (Holy Thursday) in the evening and staying until the following Saturday or Sunday. We have 13 and 3 year old boys and would preferably like to stay in a 1 bedroom with a sofa bed or 2 bedroom type room. We're considering splitting our trip with part at Windsor Hills maybe and part 'onsite'. Several on the resort board recommended renting DVC points and staying at one of the villas. This sounds great, but I'm trying to figure out what the cost would be (even approximately) and is staying for half of what will be this very busy week even possible? Any input would be great. Thanks!!

 

[cseca]

Check out the points chart page: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/DVCpoints.shtml

Without knowing which resort you're interested in, I can give you some ranges:

Check in thursday
Check out sunday
based on Old Key West (low estimate) and Beach Club Villas (high estimate) points
1 bedroom range: 130-176 points
2 bedroom range: 150-190 points

Cost per point: ranges from $9-$13 ($9 is usually distressed points - owner trying to get rid of points which almost expire, so for your april date assume more around $10-$12/pt)

Good luck!


Whoops!! Sorry!
I misread the points chart! Thanks for the correction Deb&Bill

 

[ChelleinNC]

In the upper right corner, you'll find "DVC Point Charts" that will help you figure out how many points you'll need for different size villas & at different resorts. For info on renting points (actually renting a reservation) you should read:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1669863

and

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1255828

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are only planning on 3-4 days, you will not see too much of WDW. That is THE MOST crowded time to be there. In normal crowd times, it would be impossible to see much of WDW in those few days, and being a crowded time, it will be almost impossible. I would think about going a less crowded time like March or even summer school vacation time. Since there are 4 parks, even doing 1 park a day will be tough, and Magic Kingdom and Epcot will each take at least 2 days. Our favorites are Animal Kingdom and Epcot, but yours might be Magic Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios. We find the Studios can be easily done in a day, but each of the other 3 parks will take longer than that. Even then, you aren't considering the minor parks like water parks etc.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I plugged in the dates for Easter weekend in 2008 and got higher point requirements than cseca, 176 for OKW for a one bedroom. 190 for BCV for a one bedroom. For a two bedroom 214-230 (or thereabouts).

Easter is pretty popular. If you want to rent from an owner, you need to do it very soon.

 

[Bren's Mom]

OK, I see the point charts. If I'm reading correctly, for a Fri-Mon during Easter next year it could be 230 points. So at an average of $11 per point it would cost over $2500 just for half of our trip...wow. Now, I haven't compared other options (like 2 value rooms) so I don't know if this is high or low.

Just a little background; my preference is to stay off-site but dh is pushing for 'more magic' staying on-site. I personally think there will be plenty of magic to go around if we stay off-site...especially if it means our 3 year old is sleeping and napping better! Anyway, a possible compromise was to split our trip, 4 days on-site and 4 off. So that's why we're looking at the possible DVC rental.

I'm still in the very early stages of planning. And it may be that we decide to wait until 2010 but I'd really prefer not to. I do understand that it will be very busy during the time we've chose and we do NOT plan to do 4 parks in 4 days. My outlook is that Disney will be around for a while and we will be going back for other trips with the kids. We'd just like to do one trip soon before our teen is too old to want to travel with us! LOL The other part of our trip would include at least 1 day at Universal plus some 'down' days to relax and vacation.

And I have no desire whatsoever to vacation in Florida in the summer. We were in Myrtle Beach in late June and it was nasty. TOO hot for me! So it's Feb or April vacation for us.

 

[crisi]

In addition to it being crowded, Disney will be more expensive over the holidays. This is a really high point time for DVC, but you'll be spending a lot for hotel rooms at this time of year - even offsite. Restaurants will have holiday pricing in place. Note that at this time of year, the parks get so crowded that they close, and that they will close to offsite guests before they close to onsite guests.

(I'd go in Nasty June and get there early, leave at eleven, swim, return at six before I'd go within 100 miles of Disney Universal over holidays - but I hate crowds.).

 

[Deb & Bill]

Friday and Saturday nights are normally almost twice what the other days of the week are. Plus you have added the holiday weekend, so points will automatically go up for the holiday. During the first week of June (until June 10), villas have a much lower point requirement.

However, if you insist on Easter weekend, go with two value rooms or even one of the Value Family Suites at the All Stars (one queen bed, one double sleeper sofa, one sleeper chair and one sleeper ottoman). Plus a small kitchenette.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

If you are worried about your 3 yr old sleeping, I hate to side with the hubby, but..............

Staying on property will allow you to take off and nap middle of the day and not worry about driving anywhere. I will tell you that I am going in January with my 6,4,and 2 yr olds, and I wouldn't do it any other way than on property. Plus, Old Key West is great location and very laid back. Definitely home away from home......and I don't even own.................YET!

 

[dianeschlicht]

snip
And I have no desire whatsoever to vacation in Florida in the summer. We were in Myrtle Beach in late June and it was nasty. TOO hot for me! So it's Feb or April vacation for us.

Frankly, given those parameters, I'd be doing February for sure! I don't think you have any idea just how crowded WDW can be during those busy times. We're talking wall to wall people and crowds that move as one body. There is no way to really do anything you WANT to do....You do what is available, and unless you have a good game plan, you could go home seeing next to nothing. I'd go in February when DVC rates are lower, crowds are MUCH lower, and the weather is almost perfect with very little rain. You could stay in a 2 bedroom villa at OKW for the entire trip for under $3000! There is no way you will do that at any other on site deluxe or even moderate for 8 days. I figured the 8 days included only 7 nights and one weekend. Heck, you can hardly do a value for that.

 

[dgaston]

Also stick to your guns about offsite. If you stay in the Formosa Garden area and have a rental car, you can easily take breaks. Just for argument, DH teaches HS and after only 1 Easter trip, I refuse to visit then. I'll go Christmas with the planning of tourguidemike.com, but I won't do Easter.
HTH

 

[Bren's Mom]

Thanks everyone for your input!

Had a long talk with dh last night and passed on the info that you all have given. We're rethinking the Easter week thing. Due to my available vacation time we can't go in Feb 09 and we've both ruled out June-Aug. So we're going to wait and see what my dss's school break schedule is for 2010, and plan for a February trip then. And we're going to choose a different destination for our April 2009 vacation as we'd still like to take the kids away.

And I am definitely sticking to my guns about off-site. It's not just about getting to and from, which I think is probably about a wash overall when you consider waiting for buses and the bus drive times v. getting in the car and getting to a nearby condo. The big advantage is a separate, quiet bedroom for ds to nap (and go to bed) in with a nice, big condo for the rest of us to relax, spread out and enjoy. Much more of a vacation for me. The money helps too, it's so much less expensive for the lodging costs plus money savings in having breakfast/coffee at 'home' and being able to make a few easy meals. So dh has capitulated! LOL

Thanks again everyone!