Planning a trip, thinking about a DVC rental

[HollyK1527!]

Hello everyone, I posted yesterday regarding taking my first trip with my son to DW next June. We are in the planning stage and I was looking into the DVC when someone mentioned it in a post yesterday.
My sister are her family is staying at the Poly from June 11-18 2022. That’s a little out of my budget range so I was looking into alternative places, but wanted to be near my family,
it’s just my son and I. I am not partial to have any particular kind of room or view, just really convenience. Any input, ideas? Looks like the DVC is a bit cheaper, any downfalls?

thanks every for taking the time

 

[Marionnette]

Hello everyone, I posted yesterday regarding taking my first trip with my son to DW next June. We are in the planning stage and I was looking into the DVC when someone mentioned it in a post yesterday.
My sister are her family is staying at the X. That’s a little out of my budget range so I was looking into alternative places, but wanted to be near my family,
it’s just my son and I. I am not partial to have any particular kind of room or view, just really convenience. Any input, ideas? Looks like the DVC is a bit cheaper, any downfalls?

thanks every for taking the time

Downfalls: A DVC rental is most likely going to be nonrefundable. You will most likely be unable to change your dates once you sign your rental agreement. You will most likely have to pay in full at the time that the reservation is secured.

In normal times, DVC reservations do not get daily housekeeping. There is a "trash and towel" service on Day #4 of a 7-night or less stay, with your check in day considered to be Day #1. Longer stays will receive a full cleaning on Day #4 and trash & towel service on Day #8, and then the cycle repeats. Current Disney COVID policy is to limit the number of people who enter a guest's room, so while trash will be removed during a daily security check there will be no towel service unless you request fresh ones and a full cleaning will not occur until you check out.

 

[NoTime42]

The Poly DVC villa studio will be different than your sister’s (newly Moana renovated) room. And the DVC villas are in the long houses closer to the TTC.
There will be 1 Queen bed, a pullout couch and a small Murphy bed under the TV in the villa.
But you will be guaranteed a balcony or patio. And the villa will have the 2nd shower room and kitchenette.

 

[HollyK1527!]

The Poly DVC villa studio will be different than your sister’s (newly Moana renovated) room. And the DVC villas are in the long houses closer to the TTC.
There will be 1 Queen bed, a pullout couch and a small Murphy bed under the TV in the villa.
But you will be guaranteed a balcony or patio. And the villa will have the 2nd shower room and kitchenette.

That all sounds great to me, it’s just me and my son so we don’t mind sharing a bed if necessary. Super great info here thanks again

 

[DVC Doctor]

Downfalls: A DVC rental is most likely going to be nonrefundable. You will most likely be unable to change your dates once you sign your rental agreement. You will most likely have to pay in full at the time that the reservation is secured.

Almost every DVC point rental is non-refundable for cash refunds, but some owners (but not everyone) will allow a rebooking if the rebooking is possible (i.e. there is availability and the points are not expired).

So it is very important for you to understand who you are renting points from and ask when the points expire and will they make a date change modification if you need to cancel the reservation.

Also, Poly standard view is a wonderful room and less expensive than lake view. The cheapest DVC rentals are usually OKW (two beds in studio) or AKV value/standard rooms, but I think the small premium for Poly is well worth it in your case as your family will be there already. Poly point rentals should be MUCH cheaper than booking from Disney direct

 

[Best Aunt]

Make sure you are clear about this: A DVC rental will come with a contract which says that your payment is nonrefundable.

You might end up with what you think is a very good reason for cancelling. Too bad. The owner does not have to feel sorry for you and give you a refund, or try to rebook under someone's name. It's nonrefundable. No moaning and groaning and saying that's not fair. If you are not comfortable with this, do not rent points.

I don't think anybody mentioned that DVC owners whose home resort is Poly can book starting at 11 months out. DVC owners who have other home resorts can start booking the Poly at 7 months out. Right now you are more than 11 months out so you cannot have a DVC owner book a room for you.

 

[Sandisw]

Make sure you are clear about this: A DVC rental will come with a contract which says that your payment is nonrefundable.

You might end up with what you think is a very good reason for cancelling. Too bad. The owner does not have to feel sorry for you and give you a refund, or try to rebook under someone's name. It's nonrefundable. No moaning and groaning and saying that's not fair. If you are not comfortable with this, do not rent points.

I don't think anybody mentioned that DVC owners whose home resort is Poly can book starting at 11 months out. DVC owners who have other home resorts can start booking the Poly at 7 months out. Right now you are more than 11 months out so you cannot have a DVC owner book a room for you.

Which is why doing homework is sooo important. Brokers are definitely no changes and no refunds. One offers some level of insurance but you have to cancel far out to get money back.

Some owners will offer changes but many will not so as you said, don’t sign a contract that states the terms and then expect exceptions for an emergency. Plenty of owners renting points to find one who has the terms and price you are comfortable with!!

Personally it’s hard for me to advocate renting since Covid without the warning you need to be comfortable with the risk. Given the discounts Disney has been offering so far, I’m not sure the risk at $15/$16 or more a point is saving a lot for it.

 

[crisi]

Also note that even if the owner of the points is willing to work with you on a change, they may not be able to - points expire, rooms book up so there aren't any available for you to move to - and it may simply be out of the most generous owners hands to make the change you need.

 

[AllisonLB1994]

Hi! I've rented points before and everything they are saying is 100% true. Cost savings can be great however it comes with that nonrefundable part. That's just part of the risk when you go this route. So it depends on your level of comfortability.

While people have talked about the pull-out couch etc, I find the kitchenette to be very useful. Great if you want to pack a few items - like your coffee or some snacks. It has a microwave and toaster - something not found in the standard hotel rooms.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The only way for you and your son to swim at the Polynesian with your family is to book the Polynesian.

 

[sndral]

The only way for you and your son to swim at the Polynesian with your family is to book the Polynesian.

I agree, the Poly pool gets a lot more scrutiny than say a quiet pool at CBR would get because the Poly pool is really only big enough for Poly guests.
OP you have a lot of time to plan your trip which is great. As a native Californian and frequent DL/CA visitor I was amazed at how big & spread out WDW was the first time I visited WDW.
The only resort within walking distance to the Poly is another deluxe resort - the Grand Floridian.
You can get from resort to resort via Disney transportation, but it takes time & is complicated. If you opted to stay at CBR or Pop, your easiest way ‘home’ after dinner w/ your sister’s family would be to monorail or boat to the MK & catch a bus to your resort from there, just keep track of MK hours to make sure the buses are still running. You could also catch a DHS bus at the Poly & then ride the Skyliner ‘home’ from the front of DHS.
I’m going to throw out another suggestion, the popular ‘split stay.’ You could stay at budget friendly Pop the first 4 nights - this year’s June rates w/ the discount is around $170-$180 a night ($797 for an arriving Sat. staying through Wed. 4 night stay.) Then move over to the Poly for your last 4 nights (Disney bell services will move your luggage for you) to enjoy a deluxe experience & pool time w/ your sister’s family.
If you rent points for those last 4 nights your cost @ $20/pt. for the 90 points that you’d need for a standard view studio at the Poly would be $1800. Added together your average cost per night for the whole 8 nights would be $324. If you can find points at $16/pt. your Poly stay would cost $1440, bringing your average per night for the whole 8 nights down to $279.
To stay all 8 nights in a Poly standard view studio will cost 177 points. So at $20/pt. that’s $3540 or $442/night. At $16 per point that’s $2832 for $354/night.
Assuming Poly’s rack rates are around $700/night in 2022 & that they offer a 30% discount, you’d be looking at just under $500/night for a room at the Poly. Doing the 4 nights at Pop/ 4 nights at Poly split through Disney you’d be at around a more palatable $344/night.

If you seriously consider renting points aim to do so 11 months before your vacation (so July ‘21) & aim to find an owner w/ Poly points who has home booking priority there to increase your chance of getting a standard view studio there. There are point brokers and individual owners who rent points - be careful & research a bit if you go that route - here’s a sticky in the rent/trade board on the DIS w/ advice that’s helpful https://www.disboards.com/threads/dvc-point-rental-primer.1255828/

 

[Mazz519]

Just make sure you get a contract, We rent out our points all the time and always provide a contract, we allow cancellations as long as they are 45 days in advance with a full refund. Staying at a DVC resort is great... Good luck

 

[irazabul]

I rented points before I became a member - a couple of other things to be mindful of when renting DVC: 1) housekeeping is only done on the fourth day of your stay (so you do have to plan out towel usage, trash, etc), 2) there are some benefits of DVC that you will have - check the welcome packet in your DVC room, but it includes things like free DVD rentals and some activities for kids.