Questions about DVC vs Resort...

[MrInfinity]

Considering doing a DVC rental for the first time...

* Do DVC rental stays qualify for EMH?
* How do you get Magic Bands? Are they sent to you automatically like w a Disney resort package? If you have to buy them, can we just reuse bands from a previous resort stay?
* Do you qualify for ADRs at 180+10? Specifically the +10 part...
* Do you qualify for FP+ at 60 days?

Is there any drawback - in terms of perks - to staying in DVC?

(the less housekeeping part is fine)
Thank you!!

 

[jco_direwolf]

Considering doing a DVC rental for the first time...

* Do DVC rental stays qualify for EMH?
* How do you get Magic Bands? Are they sent to you automatically like w a Disney resort package? If you have to buy them, can we just reuse bands from a previous resort stay?
* Do you qualify for ADRs at 180+10? Specifically the +10 part...
* Do you qualify for FP+ at 60 days?

Is there any drawback - in terms of perks - to staying in DVC?

(the less housekeeping part is fine)
Thank you!!

DVC members get all those benefits. Although I don't know if the Magic Bands get sent to you or the owner (I'm an owner, so I know they get sent to me, I've never rented out my points so I don't know if they will send them elsewhere.)

DVC also get Magical Express.

 

[ziravan]

The answer to all four questions is yes. They mail magic bands just like a pkg. You can link your reservation to MDE.

The biggest drawback is that owners are tying up their points for your use. As a result, most contracts will not allow for changes. If you have to cancel, you don't get your money back. Either get travel insurance or be able to walk away from the dollars spent on the reservation if you can't go.

There is a reason why renting reservations is much cheaper. You are assuming much more risk.

Here is a thread on point:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3302041

 

[ArwenMarie]

The reason I never rent points is because of the no cancellation/rescheduling policy. Which I totally understand, but which doesn't work for us.

 

[Stbissell]

The rooms are a little more tired. If you rent a studio it has a queen and pullout as opposed to two queens. Not bad for half the price. We don't mind the housekeeping either.

We are doing it for the 2nd time. Obviously we appreciated the value of it the first time around. We stayed at BWI, boardwalk view. The view was awesome and the location was great. We are staying at BCV this time around.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The rooms are a little more tired. If you rent a studio it has a queen and pullout as opposed to two queens. Not bad for half the price. We don't mind the housekeeping either.

We are doing it for the 2nd time. Obviously we appreciated the value of it the first time around. We stayed at BWI, boardwalk view. The view was awesome and the location was great. We are staying at BCV this time around.

That's a good point.

And some of the 2 brs don't have two real beds in the second bedroom, just a queen and a pullout. Which makes for a lot of pullouts when you include the living room!

 

[MrInfinity]

That's a good point.

And some of the 2 brs don't have two real beds in the second bedroom, just a queen and a pullout. Which makes for a lot of pullouts when you include the living room!

Thank you all so much for the tips thus far! Interesting on the tiredness of the rooms. Going thru the BLT thread now (huge) and looking at the pics, yeah it does seem dated compared to the modern Contemporary rooms where we stayed last.

Also good to know on the cancellation. That is a downside I think we can deal with since not much would really cause us to not go. Short of something majorly life altering of course.

I'm looking over the room types, and Standard vs Lake vs Theme Park. Standard doesn't really bother me. Seems to be views of the pool, and low down. I kind of like low down since it's less time on elevators.

 

[Anthony1971]

That's a good point.

And some of the 2 brs don't have two real beds in the second bedroom, just a queen and a pullout. Which makes for a lot of pullouts when you include the living room!

There are 2 cat. of 2 Bedrooms. Lockoff which is a 1 bedroom with a connecting door to a studio - one bed and one pullout and a dedicated 2 BR which will have 2 queen size beds. If you want two beds OKW has them in all studios and 2 BR...
We like having the sofa as you have someplace to sit when watching TV but the pullout is not ideal for 2 adults but not uncomfortable either.

 

[Missyrose]

Thank you all so much for the tips thus far! Interesting on the tiredness of the rooms. Going thru the BLT thread now (huge) and looking at the pics, yeah it does seem dated compared to the modern Contemporary rooms where we stayed last.

Also good to know on the cancellation. That is a downside I think we can deal with since not much would really cause us to not go. Short of something majorly life altering of course.

I'm looking over the room types, and Standard vs Lake vs Theme Park. Standard doesn't really bother me. Seems to be views of the pool, and low down. I kind of like low down since it's less time on elevators.

If you want BLT standard view, then you had better have an owner to rent from in place before the 11-month window opens. Those villas go fast!

Also, I noticed the DVC note in your signature. It's Dis policy that DVC owners cannot make initial contact with potential owners via PM, it's to protect Disers from scams. If you'd like to find an owner to rent from, you can find them on the DVC Rent/Trade board.

 

[rpcvpanama]

Another point to consider is the timing. DVC has different "busy" times than normal Disney resort reservations. For example, it can be very difficult to get a DVC reservation anytime between October-November and the last 2 weeks of December/early January. Those are very busy DVC rental periods and reservations are often made by members at the 11month mark. If you plan to rent it is best to have a date in mind about a year in advance and begin contacting rental agencies or members to see who has points available. Also, at BLT, the standard rooms book up very quickly because of the low point value. It would probably be best to plan on a Lake View room and calculate the number of points you will need based on that category. The Lake View rooms are always the last to fill up.

You might want to check out the DVC section of these boards to get more information on renting.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Another point to consider is the timing. DVC has different "busy" times than normal Disney resort reservations. For example, it can be very difficult to get a DVC reservation anytime between October-November and the last 2 weeks of December/early January. Those are very busy DVC rental periods and reservations are often made by members at the 11month mark. If you plan to rent it is best to have a date in mind about a year in advance and begin contacting rental agencies or members to see who has points available. Also, at BLT, the standard rooms book up very quickly because of the low point value. It would probably be best to plan on a Lake View room and calculate the number of points you will need based on that category. The Lake View rooms are always the last to fill up.

You might want to check out the DVC section of these boards to get more information on renting.

Yep there are boardwalk owners that own there JUST FOR access to Food and Wine. I know it sounds totally insane.. TOTALLY unlike owning at BLT for easy access to MK, SO SO SO totally a different thing.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Thank you all so much for the tips thus far! Interesting on the tiredness of the rooms. Going thru the BLT thread now (huge) and looking at the pics, yeah it does seem dated compared to the modern Contemporary rooms where we stayed last.

Also good to know on the cancellation. That is a downside I think we can deal with since not much would really cause us to not go. Short of something majorly life altering of course.

I'm looking over the room types, and Standard vs Lake vs Theme Park. Standard doesn't really bother me. Seems to be views of the pool, and low down. I kind of like low down since it's less time on elevators.

I like Lakeview the best at BLT, even over TPV. Unless you are high up enough for TPV, you can't see much, and during the day you are looking at parking lots. So plusses and minuses there.

There are 2 cat. of 2 Bedrooms. Lockoff which is a 1 bedroom with a connecting door to a studio - one bed and one pullout and a dedicated 2 BR which will have 2 queen size beds. If you want two beds OKW has them in all studios and 2 BR...
We like having the sofa as you have someplace to sit when watching TV but the pullout is not ideal for 2 adults but not uncomfortable either.

BCV 2 bedrooms only have a queen and a pullout in the second bedroom, even in the ones that aren't lockoffs. SSR is a mix I think? As is AKL Kidani and VWL (it's either a mix or all pullouts in the second bedroom).

Anyway, from what I have gathered, the only DVCs where you are guaranteed two queen beds in the second bedroom are OKW and BLT.

I could see how a pullout would be nice in a studio with two adults.

 

[ibela]

I'm sure some owners allow for rescheduling because I know I do (not a solicitation, I don't have extra points to rent out this year). If you want to cancel within 60 days, I give the person the option to reschedule for as long as those points are good for and within 60 days (the rules for those points) so it may not be your ideal choice but also not totally lost money. Hasn't happened yet but it's in my contract.

The other negative I can think of is that if there's a free dining promo going on, you're not eligible for it through a DVC rental.

 

[eliza61]

I like Lakeview the best at BLT, even over TPV. Unless you are high up enough for TPV, you can't see much, and during the day you are looking at parking lots. So plusses and minuses there.

BCV 2 bedrooms only have a queen and a pullout in the second bedroom, even in the ones that aren't lockoffs. SSR is a mix I think? As is AKL Kidani and VWL (it's either a mix or all pullouts in the second bedroom).

Anyway, from what I have gathered, the only DVCs where you are guaranteed two queen beds in the second bedroom are OKW and BLT.

I could see how a pullout would be nice in a studio with two adults.

When did this start, I was in a 2 bedroom bcv (my home resort) in 2010 and the first bedroom had a king, second bedroom had 2 queens and the pullout was in the living room

Lol or was it the board walk?

 

[Jfsag123]

If you want BLT standard view, then you had better have an owner to rent from in place before the 11-month window opens. Those villas go fast!

This! We have rented points from a BLT owner for our upcoming trip and were unable to get standard view. We hooked up with our owner at about 10 months and they were already gone. Note that we are going in a less crowded DVC time (more crowded everywhere else time...). We ended up with lake view, which I'm excited about. Also have been getting stuff related to the trip sent directly to my email and home from Disney, without having to use the owner as a go-between. Already have my "Incredible Vacation" magnet up on the refrigerator.

 

[ArwenMarie]

When did this start, I was in a 2 bedroom bcv (my home resort) in 2010 and the first bedroom had a king, second bedroom had 2 queens and the pullout was in the living room

Lol or was it the board walk?

We stayed there last year. And I called many CMs trying to figure this out lol! I came to the conclusion that OKW and BLT are the only ones where you are guaranteed two queens in the second bedroom but maybe I am missing some. I know that some DVC resorts are a mix for the 2 br (you might get 2 queens or you might get a queen and a pullout and you won't know til you get there).

But this is going through Disney paying cash...maybe there are different room configurations for the DVC-booked rooms?

 

[newyorkmike]

We stayed there last year. And I called many CMs trying to figure this out lol! I came to the conclusion that OKW and BLT are the only ones where you are guaranteed two queens in the second bedroom but maybe I am missing some. I know that some DVC resorts are a mix for the 2 br (you might get 2 queens or you might get a queen and a pullout and you won't know til you get there).

But this is going through Disney paying cash...maybe there are different room configurations for the DVC-booked rooms?

2BR units can be booked as either "lock-off" or "dedicated." The dedicated 2BR unit always has the two queen beds in the 2nd bedroom, and there is only a single entrance to the entire unit with the 2nd bedroom not having any separate kitchenette area.

A lock-off is where an adjacent 1BR unit and studio unit can be rented out separately or combined as a 2BR unit based on demand. The lock-off unit will therefore have a main entrance the full living room/kitchen area plus a separate entrance directly into the 2nd bedroom (i.e., the studio portion) that will also have the kitchenette area in the 2nd bedroom. Old Key West is the only studio layout that has two queen beds. All other lock-off 2BR units will have a queen and sleeper sofa in the 2nd bedroom.

Also, the living room sofa in all 1BR and 2BR units also includes a pull-out sleeper sofa. The chairs in the AKL-Kidani and BLT living rooms also have a single-size pull-out sleeper.

 

[ArwenMarie]

2BR units can be booked as either "lock-off" or "dedicated." The dedicated 2BR unit always has the two queen beds in the 2nd bedroom, and there is only a single entrance to the entire unit with the 2nd bedroom not having any separate kitchenette area.

A lock-off is where an adjacent 1BR unit and studio unit can be rented out separately or combined as a 2BR unit based on demand. The lock-off unit will therefore have a main entrance the full living room/kitchen area plus a separate entrance directly into the 2nd bedroom (i.e., the studio portion) that will also have the kitchenette area in the 2nd bedroom. Old Key West is the only studio layout that has two queen beds. All other lock-off 2BR units will have a queen and sleeper sofa in the 2nd bedroom.

Also, the living room sofa in all 1BR and 2BR units also includes a pull-out sleeper sofa. The chairs in the AKL-Kidani and BLT living rooms also have a single-size pull-out sleeper.

Not to belabor this point on the OP's thread, but I stayed in a dedicated 2 br last year at BCV (couldn't be made into a studio, had only one entrance into the entire 2 br unit) and there was one queen and a pullout in the second bedroom.

 

[bellazachmom]

BCV 2 bedrooms only have a queen and a pullout in the second bedroom, even in the ones that aren't lockoffs.


This is not completely true - there ARE 2 bedroom villas at BCV that have 2 Queen beds in the second bedroom. It is actually a booking category when using points for reservations.

The only way to "guarantee" ( as much as you can guarantee anything at Disney ) that you get the 2 queen beds is to book that category. This is done with DVC Member Services. If renting points, make sure that is the category you book.

If you pay cash for the villa through CRO you can request it and/or might end up with the 2 queen beds, but it is only a request.

 

[bellazachmom]

We stayed there last year. And I called many CMs trying to figure this out lol! I came to the conclusion that OKW and BLT are the only ones where you are guaranteed two queens in the second bedroom but maybe I am missing some. I know that some DVC resorts are a mix for the 2 br (you might get 2 queens or you might get a queen and a pullout and you won't know til you get there).

But this is going through Disney paying cash...maybe there are different room configurations for the DVC-booked rooms?

This is correct! You can get the 2 Bedroom villa with 2 Queens as a dedicated booking category through DVC. When using cash, it is luck of the draw as to what inventory has been released to CRO from DVC.