Question re: renting points vs traditional reservations

[whatsarahsaid]

This may be a stupid question but I was wondering what the benefit is to renting points from a DVC owner over making standard reservations at a WDW Deluxe resort? I'm assuming the finish level and experience at a DVC villa is higher than that of a deluxe room? Do you get added benefits when staying in a DVC villa? Is it less expensive to rent point from an owner than to reserve a regular deluxe room?

Thanks in advance for any insight anyone can offer!

 

[crisi]

No, the finish level is not as nice. The experience - depends on your perspective. You don't get daily mousekeeping, for example. No concierge (not quite true but the exception is so small as to be not worth mentioning.) Cancellation policies are much tougher.

The advantage, its a significant savings. In a lot of instances, its the same convenient location as say - Wilderness Lodge (or nearly so), but its cheaper.

 

[WRWDisney]

Price, price, price. To give you an example I was working up for a friend last weekend November 24-30 (6 nights, starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving). A one bedroom (not a studio/regular hotel room; a one bedroom has a full kitchen, washer and dryer, a master with a king size bed and massive bathroom, as well a family room with a sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair, as well as a second bathroom --in this example) savanna view at AKL-Kidani is 210 points; the room through Disney is $4,088plus tax (which would add another $500 or so). So, if you rent the points at $13/point, it would be $2,730--no tax. That is almost a $2,000 savings. BTW, a savanna view studio that same week would be $3,016 plus tax ($400 or so).

I would not say the finishes are nicer. Frankly, hotel rooms get refreshed on a quicker schedule than the villas. That said, I have never been in any that look run down or dated (not saying they might not exist, I just have never experienced one).

You give up daily house keeping, but can still book the dining plan (have to do that through the person you rent through) and Magical Express. You have less flexibility renting points, but that is the prices you pay for saving 40%.

Hope that is helpful.

 

[whatsarahsaid]

No, the finish level is not as nice. The experience - depends on your perspective. You don't get daily mousekeeping, for example. No concierge (not quite true but the exception is so small as to be not worth mentioning.) Cancellation policies are much tougher.

Sorry - just to clarify on the attributes you list above. Are you referring to DVC? As in - the finish level of DVC is not as nice as standard Deluxe rooms, you don't get daily mousekeeping at DVC, no concierge at DVC, etc.

 

[whatsarahsaid]

Hope that is helpful.

Ahh...very helpful! As a matter of fact I believe you just helped me with my request for clarification that I just posted to crisi.

Thanks everyone!

 

[OneMoreTry]

Price aside, the real benefit of DVC is with the 1 BR or 2 BR -- if you plan on spending much time in the room. You have room to stretch out and you feel more at home than you do in a regular hotel room. Plus there is a full kitchen if that matters to you.

Otherwise, if you have the money and are not going to spend a lot of time in the room and want to eat all your meals out, I'd go with a regular hotel room. DVC villas are not 5 star or even close by any means. They're condos. Don't get me wrong, they're nice, but those expecting 5 stars are disappointed and always complaining on this forum.

 

[Deb & Bill]

DVC is Disney's version of a timeshare. Owners who can't use their points (instead of weeks) make a reservation for someone else who pays them for the reservation. Timeshares don't get daily services like hotel rooms unless you pay extra for them. Same with additional towels, you pay for any extra towels. But you get a kitchen, laundry facilities, possibly a separate bedroom or more.

Studios are glorified hotel rooms. But most only have one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa, not two beds.

And they are usually 95% occupied, so renovations occur a lot less frequently than hotels (and members pay for the renovations).