Puzzled: cheaper to rent?

[bethyg]

We're not DVC (yet) and wanted to vacation at HHI for a last-minute trip, and to check-out the whole "DVC feel". Going through CRO (didn't know some renting points could take Visa), we scheduled HHI for May 27-Jun 2. 6 nights in a 1BR. Since it is last minute, they could not honor ANY TYPE of usual discount such as AAA, Birnbaums 10-20% discount, Disney Visa, etc........ Here's the total bill:
6 nights @ $265= $1590 + 10% tax $159 = grand total $1749

Now looking at points calculator above, I would need to rent 200 points. Figuring at the usual rates I've seen ($10-12/pt), we're looking at somewhere around $2000 - $2400 for the same stay. That's a difference of anywhere from $251-651. I've also verified the points numbers off my DVC info from our DVC guide.

Even without any discounts, booking through CRO is cheaper than renting in this scenario. If I would've been fortunate to receive any discount, then the rates would've been even cheaper!

So here's the puzzler:
1. Did I just get a decent non-discounted rate (a fluke or incredibly lucky?)
2. For those renting points: is the price per point too high for the CRO rates?
3. Is renting really not cheaper?

Please note: Not looking to start any fights here, only wanting to save $$$ anyway I can so our family can have more Disney vacations.

Thanks for any input.

 

[wtg2000]

The thing is that you are staying over a weekend. Friday is 45 points and Saturday 67. If you were to get those nights from someone at $10 per point it would be $450 and $670 respectively. The weeknights at $10 x 22 would work out cheaper than Disney. The difference is that Disney doesn't seem to charge more for "hotel" rooms on weekends, but they do charge more for DVC points. I don't think it's financial feasible to rent points on weekends. If you just stay during the week it seems to work out.

 

[ccgegg]

I booked our Feb 05 trip at SSR using a general code and it was cheaper than renting pts. But the reason being... we had a Fri and Sat night stay in our trip.

This Dec, we're staying Sun-Thu nights and renting is cheaper.

So yeah, it's the weekend rates. DVC gets socked on those. I've heard of some people renting pts for Sun-Thu and then booking through CRO (sometimes even at a different resort) for the Fri/Sat nights. With DD4 and DS1 in tow, I'm not too keen on that.

 

[bethyg]

wtg2000: Now that makes sense! I'm glad I posted this thread. Should we not buy into DVC yet, I will probably rent points on weekdays and buy the room directly through CRO for weekends (or stay at a value/mod). Wish we could've gone in early May. Disney Visa was having a special for a 2BR for $159/night. Can't beat that! Those darn kids and their school!

Have a Disney Day!

 

[Dean]

wtg2000: Now that makes sense! I'm glad I posted this thread. Should we not buy into DVC yet, I will probably rent points on weekdays and buy the room directly through CRO for weekends (or stay at a value/mod). Wish we could've gone in early May. Disney Visa was having a special for a 2BR for $159/night. Can't beat that! Those darn kids and their school!

Have a Disney Day!

DVC is the best deal when staying Sunday to Friday on points. It will never make sense if highly weighted for weekends.

 

[poohj80]

Also Bethy, if you were a DVC member you might be able to get a DVC discounted cash rate on those rooms. We stayed in a 2BR at HH last year and paid a cash rate of $124/night on the weekends.

 

[Scoootch]

Plus....if you book a cash night via DVC MS for the wknd nights you'll not only get the discount but they can link your points ressie to the cash nights and it becomes like one reservation therefore, you would not have to check out and back in again or change rooms. If you were to book pts through DVC and then your cash nights via CRO they are 2 separate inventories with 2 separate systems and cannot be linked making it so you'd need to at the very least check out and back in again ...though if you have it noted on both ressies that you have a continuous reservation, they will TRY and keep you from having to move...But they cannot link the ressies and will not guarantee it.

All that said, it definetly is the weekends that make it cost more and many members do the Sun.-Thurs. stays and will either move to a regular WDW (non-DVC) resort and book with an AP rate or book the wknds at the DVC resort with either the member discount or through CRO depending on which turns out to be the lesser expensive.

 

[bethyg]

WOW! Thanks to all the great posts. What is the DVC discount for cash-reservations at either a DVC or other disney resort?

 

[poohj80]

I believe members only get cash discounts at DVC resorts.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Also, don't forget that, by going through CRO, you get daily housekeeping and total control over the reservation, including much more generous cancellation policies.

 

[Dean]

WOW! Thanks to all the great posts. What is the DVC discount for cash-reservations at either a DVC or other disney resort?

No discount at other Disney hotels. 25% discount on DVC rooms (no mousekeeping) WHEN AVAILABLE, but not guaranteed. So even if there is a room available through MS for cash, there may not be a discount.

 

[Scoootch]

So even if there is a room available through MS for cash, there may not be a discount.

Hence the fact that many members will book via CRO if they can get a good rate with an AP discount code