Not sure what to do with my DRDs?

[Karenj2]

We use our Disney Visa for EVERYTHING (and pay it off every month), and the rewards dollars have been accruing for a while now, since we haven't been to WDW since DD (now 4) was about to turn 2... (Caveat: We did go to DL for a day last year, prior to the twins birth)

Anyway, we're FINALLY planning another WDW trip for sometime (hopefully September or October), and I have a little over $1k saved up (and will have more by the time of our trip). We're trying to keep our costs low (we've had some unexpected expenses that while not breaking the bank puts DH in a miserly mood...)

Normally I'd use that towards our package, but I was hoping to rent DVC points so we'd probably also buy our tickets via Undercover Tourist. (We do usually get the Dining Plan, so I *think* we could use the $$ towards that?) We also might be traveling with friends, so we might be able to pay for their part of the trip, and get paid back in cash for our trip. Or, we could suck it up and stay onsite and just pay rack rate for a package. (Or, I could use it to buy some rediculously expensive souvenier for myself... )

What would you recommend?

 

[Pooh2]

If you are renting DVC points, save your DRDs for meals and souvenirs.
We went in Nov and plowed through $1200 in DRDs pretty quickly for meals for two adults and a few splurge souvenirs. The meals are priced so high that it would have made me cringe to pay cash. Felt like we were getting some freebies! Made the food much more enjoyable!
You can also pay for your tickets at if you decide to make meals in your room. Tickets are such a huge part of the trip.
Have a wonderful time!

 

[Best Aunt]

If you plan to go to Disney again in the future and you are worried about your points expiring, I THINK you can have the points put on to a rewards card, and then you can use the rewards card to buy a Disney gift card when you get to Disney World. Disney gift cards do not expire. (The rewards dollars expire and the rewards cards do expire.) Then you can use them on a later trip.

But I've never tried this myself so do more research before trying it.

 

[cvjw]

If you plan to go to Disney again in the future and you are worried about your points expiring, I THINK you can have the points put on to a rewards card, and then you can use the rewards card to buy a Disney gift card when you get to Disney World. Disney gift cards do not expire. (The rewards dollars expire and the rewards cards do expire.) Then you can use them on a later trip.

But I've never tried this myself so do more research before trying it.

I did this last year, but I think it depends on the manager of your Disney store if it is allowed or not.

If you are thinking about renting points for a late Sept or October stay, your resort choices will be very slim, it anything is available at all. You need to look into renting points ASAP if that is something you are seriously considering. During Food and Wine is a VERY popular time for DVC members to visit Disney.

 

[Karenj2]

If you are thinking about renting points for a late Sept or October stay, your resort choices will be very slim, it anything is available at all. You need to look into renting points ASAP if that is something you are seriously considering. During Food and Wine is a VERY popular time for DVC members to visit Disney.

*sigh* I know... We've been talking about going to WDW since before the babies were born (they're almost a year old now). I'm guessing that I won't be able to rent the DVC points by the time DH is ready to pull the trigger - which will make my question moot, since we'll then use the DRDs towards our room/tix/etc...

I feel like a whiny kid - I want to stay at a DVC in the worst way! (First world problems...)

 

[Marionnette]

If you plan to go to Disney again in the future and you are worried about your points expiring, I THINK you can have the points put on to a rewards card, and then you can use the rewards card to buy a Disney gift card when you get to Disney World. Disney gift cards do not expire. (The rewards dollars expire and the rewards cards do expire.) Then you can use them on a later trip.

But I've never tried this myself so do more research before trying it.

I haven't tried this at a Disney Store but I have been able to do it at the online Disney Store without a problem. You still have to add a CC for the order but it is only used if the amount on the Rewards Card doesn't cover the entire amount of the GC. The online store has a bigger selection of GCs as well, so you can grab some pretty cute ones.