Newbie Questions

[Kevenswife2]

First, I am not a DVC member, but I'm thinking of renting points for an Animal Kingdom stay in January.

Is it really true my stay using DVC will only be slightly more money than if I booked a room at a value resort the regular route (Disney online reservations)?

What are the advantages (other than money saved) and disadvantages (such as no mousekeeping) of staying in a villa?

Is one section (Kidani/Jambo) better than the other, and will I get to choose or is the area assigned at check-in?

Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated! I'm new to the idea of renting points, but not to Disney vacations.

 

[Blondie Wolf]

Hello! Ok, So looking at the first week of January, comparing just rooms DVC vs a regular room at Animal Kingdom Lodge, a DVC room rents from 1/6/18 through 1/13/18 for a studio at $1104 value room, the same room through disney's website is $2775.38. Just room. Renting points and the cost of rooms varies based on the season of the year. Is it busy, is there an event going on (marathon weekends, food and wine etc). Also renting points allows you to have access to different types of rooms, studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and grand villas. It all just depends on what your preference is.
Anything above a studio has a laundry room and a kitchen in the suites. Those are amenities that regular rooms will not have. Yes a small disadvantage is that mousekeeping only comes every 4 days at DVC resorts. After the first 4 nights you get full cleaning if you are there another 4 nights you get trash and your toiletries and towels replenished.
Kidani/jambo... Jambo is the main building at AKL, some DVC members stay in Jambo house, but most stay in Kidani Village. Kidani Village is the DVC building at AKL. Kidani Village is a little further out from the main building and has its own restaurant/pool.
If you want to stay at one or the other, you will have the option to choose before you check in.
Renting points, there are locations on this website to find someone who you can rent points from. There are also websites out there to rent points from. If you want those, you need to find them on your own. But I hear google does wonders.

I hope this helps and get you some sort of answers to your questions.

 

[Kevenswife2]

Your response helped immensely! Thank you! Looks like I will be trying out the DVC and Animal Kingdom villas.... which I never could afford any other way.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

FWIW, you will not be able to get a Value Studio, only a Standard or Savannah, and only if you travel after marathon.

 

[Shellyred8]

For 1/6/18 - 1/13/18, it would cost somewhere around $800 for a Value resort, based on the prices on Disney's website today. The All Star resorts are listed at $112 per night, before taxes. With the DVC rental, you won't pay taxes at check-in. You pay your one flat rate and that's it.

The beds in the All Star resorts are Double beds. The main bed in an AKL studio is a queen. The rooms at AKL are also a little larger than those at the All Star resorts. At AKL, you will have your own balcony (if you are not on the first floor). No private balconies at the All Star resorts.

So, you will pay a bit more when renting DVC points, but you also get a lot more for your room, IMO.

Happy planning!!

 

[Marionnette]

First, I am not a DVC member, but I'm thinking of renting points for an Animal Kingdom stay in January.

Is it really true my stay using DVC will only be slightly more money than if I booked a room at a value resort the regular route (Disney online reservations)?

The price difference would depend on the type of villa you are considering but I don't think that you will spend less to rent even a studio reservation compared to a Value Resort room.

What are the advantages (other than money saved) and disadvantages (such as no mousekeeping) of staying in a villa?

Bigger accommodations. Kitchenette in the studios, full kitchen in 1-BR villas and larger. Free laundry for studios or in-room laundry in the larger villas. Deluxe Resort stay for less than deluxe prices. Number of "real" beds can be limited. A studio (with the exception of OKW) will only have one "real" bed and one sleeper sofa. Some will have space for a 5th person on a fold-down bed which is smaller than a traditional bunk bed. You'll have a balcony but in the Kidani studios, the sofa bed blocks access to it when it has been opened. However, the biggest sticking point for a lot of people is the no cancellation policy that both agencies and owners will impose in most cases.

Is one section (Kidani/Jambo) better than the other, and will I get to choose or is the area assigned at check-in?

Kidani and Jambo are separate booking categories, so you will know which one you will be in when your reservation is confirmed but you can specify the one that you want before reserving your stay. Each has their own advantages. I find Kidani to be more peaceful but Jambo has more amenities. If you have specific room request (near lobby, high floor, etc.) it's best to go thru the owner so that it can be noted on your reservation.

Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated! I'm new to the idea of renting points, but not to Disney vacations.

Read. Ask questions. Make sure that you know exactly what you're getting for your money before you commit.

 

[LisaS]

What are the advantages (other than money saved) and disadvantages (such as no mousekeeping) of staying in a villa?

The biggest disadvantage of renting a reservation from a DVC member (either directly or through a broker) is that in most cases, the reservation is non-refundable and cannot be modified, meaning you cannot change the dates, resort, room type, or lead name on the rental. Some members will work with you in the event you need to reschedule (provided there is availability, but that is often a problem) but others will not, and at least one of the brokers has a "no refund, no changes" policy. Don't rent a DVC reservation unless you are very sure you will take the trip, and that your travel dates are not subject to change.

 

[kboo]

The biggest disadvantage of renting a reservation from a DVC member (either directly or through a broker) is that in most cases, the reservation is non-refundable and cannot be modified, meaning you cannot change the dates, resort, room type, or lead name on the rental. Some members will work with you in the event you need to reschedule (provided there is availability, but that is often a problem) but others will not, and at least one of the brokers has a "no refund, no changes" policy. Don't rent a DVC reservation unless you are very sure you will take the trip, and that your travel dates are not subject to change.

And travel insurance is a good idea, if you can't swallow the loss if the trip gets canceled (we have elderly parents and in-laws).

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Also note, you can't upgrade at the desk, shouldn't expect one, shouldn't ask for one.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

... comparing just rooms DVC vs a regular room at Animal Kingdom Lodge, a DVC room rents from 1/6/18 through 1/13/18 for a studio at $1104 value room, the same room through disney's website is $2775.38.

Are DVC-owned rooms and Disney-owned rooms exactly the same room? I got the impression that the DVC rooms were better/special somehow.

Specifically, I was wondering about the BWV one-bedrooms.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Are DVC-owned rooms and Disney-owned rooms exactly the same room? I got the impression that the DVC rooms were better/special somehow.

Specifically, I was wondering about the BWV one-bedrooms.

All the villas are DVC. All the hotel rooms are Disney. DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare. If you book at DVC villa for cash using Disney Reservation Center, you are getting the exact same room you would get with points. It's just that a member traded out their points for the Disney Collection and DVC has to pay for that trip. Or DVC recouped points through ROFR or foreclosure. Or DVC owned the villa as part of the approx. 2% that they own to cover for maintenance issues.

 

[Coral Reef Diver]

All the villas are DVC. All the hotel rooms are Disney. DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare. If you book at DVC villa for cash using Disney Reservation Center, you are getting the exact same room you would get with points.

That clears it up for me. I somehow got the wrong impression by listening to members compare DVC to Disney rooms. They must have been speaking of Disney's hotel rooms when I was assumed it was Disney's villa rooms.

 

[crisi]

That clears it up for me. I somehow got the wrong impression by listening to members compare DVC to Disney rooms. They must have been speaking of Disney's hotel rooms when I was assumed it was Disney's villa rooms.

It can be hard if you don't understand the context. When you've been in it for a while, the context fills you in on what sort of room and perhaps even what inventory people are talking about. But it can take a bit.

 

[crisi]

The biggest disadvantage of renting a reservation from a DVC member (either directly or through a broker) is that in most cases, the reservation is non-refundable and cannot be modified, meaning you cannot change the dates, resort, room type, or lead name on the rental. Some members will work with you in the event you need to reschedule (provided there is availability, but that is often a problem) but others will not, and at least one of the brokers has a "no refund, no changes" policy. Don't rent a DVC reservation unless you are very sure you will take the trip, and that your travel dates are not subject to change.

This is especially important to understand if money is tight. Life happens, and if the loss of the cost of the vacation is more than you can afford, you WILL want insurance.

The other one to understand is availability. It was said upthread, but bears repeating - it is late for a Value room at VAKL for January. It may be late for ANY room at Disney if your trip is over marathon weekend. DVC books earlier than the CRO resorts - and for certain times of year - like marathon - it can book very early.

A final one that has not been mentioned is owner availability. It can be difficult to find an owner to rent points - because the bargain has become well known, there are more people looking to rent points than owners who want to rent out. When you book a room through CRO you are making one phone call - the room is available or it isn't. With DVC rentals there are two axis for availability - is there and owner - then is there a room available.

Minor ones - you may not get into your room until AFTER 4. Your room may not have been refreshed as recently as a CRO room (DVC is on a longer refresh cycle and maintenance can be an issue). Minimized housekeeping means that you'll want to bring your own toiletries/coffee and you'll be reusing towels (Not a big deal for me, but some people really don't like that - and they will sell you additional towels/housekeeping and shampoo). DVC studios (except at OKW) are a queen bed and a pullout couch - not two "real" beds. (Most resorts now also have a pullout murphy bed under the TV in a studio - although if you use all five sleeping surfaces, it can be difficult to move in the room).

 

[chalee94]

That clears it up for me. I somehow got the wrong impression by listening to members compare DVC to Disney rooms. They must have been speaking of Disney's hotel rooms when I was assumed it was Disney's villa rooms.

Yes. The hotel side of the Beach Club Resort is on a quicker refurb schedule than the BCV side - which makes sense since member dues pay for the BCV refurbs, while the hotel is trying to maintain things so that cash guests keep coming back.