POLY: DVC rental or cast member discount?

[DisneyKarenG]

I am trying to wrap my head around how DVC rental through David's or DVC reservations work, and it seems so complicated. My family is going down to visit a castmember friend, but we want to stay for 4 days at the Poly. If she can get us a cast member discount, would that make it not really worth it to try a DVC rental? Or are their prices so good that they beat castmember prices?

If it makes a difference, we are thinking July 2018, not sure if there are blackout dates for cast member discounts like there are for main gate passes?

thank you!!

 

[Marionnette]

I am trying to wrap my head around how DVC rental through David's or DVC reservations work, and it seems so complicated. My family is going down to visit a castmember friend, but we want to stay for 4 days at the Poly. If she can get us a cast member discount, would that make it not really worth it to try a DVC rental? Or are their prices so good that they beat castmember prices?

If it makes a difference, we are thinking July 2018, not sure if there are blackout dates for cast member discounts like there are for main gate passes?

thank you!!

I'm not sure whether there will be a CM blackout for next July or how steep their discounts are. IIRC, a friend's CM sister was able to get them about 60% off of the rack rate for AKL rooms several years ago.

The DVC price will not change, except to possibly go up if the agencies decide to pay the owners more for their points. The number of points needed for 2018 are already baked into the cake. Use a points calculator like the one on David's website to see how much it would cost to book at PVB.

In the end, you're pretty much comparing a definite cost (DVC rental) vs. a possible price (CM discount). With such a large variable (CM discount that may or may not be possible), it's not possible to make an informed choice. You basically have to roll the dice and choose to take one path or the other. On a positive note, you have until August to even start looking for a DVC reservation for July 2018.

 

[goofy4tink]

I just ran a few figures, based on July 21, 2018 to July 25, 2018. A standard room at the Polynesian runs $499 a night...that's from the Disney site. If you were to rent points from David's, it would be $1632, or $408 a night. For a CM, you can figure on at least 40% off, maybe more. My dd was always able to get 40% off if there were rooms open. So, a 40% discount would bring it down to closer to $300ish.
But, realize you aren't comparing the same type rooms. A CM discount would, most likely, be on a regular room (two queen beds). A DVC rental would be a studio...a queen bed, fold out sofa bed, kitchenette. No daily housekeeping in DVC.

 

[Willowlux]

You can get a DVC room with the cast member discount, if available. Standard CM rate is 40% off, 50% if the cast member is staying in the room. The caveat though is that not all hotels and room types are available for cast member discounts at all times. I run into this issue all the time when booking. (My Dad is the cast member)

 

[Marionnette]

I just ran a few figures, based on July 21, 2018 to July 25, 2018. A standard room at the Polynesian runs $499 a night...that's from the Disney site. If you were to rent points from David's, it would be $1632, or $408 a night. For a CM, you can figure on at least 40% off, maybe more. My dd was always able to get 40% off if there were rooms open. So, a 40% discount would bring it down to closer to $300ish.
But, realize you aren't comparing the same type rooms. A CM discount would, most likely, be on a regular room (two queen beds). A DVC rental would be a studio...a queen bed, fold out sofa bed, kitchenette. No daily housekeeping in DVC.

Yes, but the rate you found does not include the 12.5% sales tax for a cash reservation. You do not pay tax on a DVC points reservation. For a $300 room that tax would add on another $37.50 per night. Still a better deal than the PVB studio if the OP can get it but it brings the numbers closer together.

 

[KamMax]

@DisneyKarenG what did you end up using? The CM discount or DVC points?