Questions About Renting DVC vs. WDW Hotel

[EnviroChick]

Hi all. I've been watching the DVC boards for months and have some questions. We are planning a WDW vacation for 6 (11 in all, 5 off-site) in January 2007. I like the idea of renting points and staying in larger accomodations. I was wondering if the DVC members could list the "perks" that pass on to point renters vs. (or as well as) the Disney "perks" one gets with renting rooms at a WDW resort. I'm speaking of things besides the obvious differences in accomodations, such as free parking, discount dining, DDE, Magical Express, etc... What is included? Are ther any "perks" that a DVC point renter gives up vs. staying at WDW hotels? Thanks.

Can you also give an opinion on not renting points on weekends and whether or not it is worth it to pay for and move to a WDW hotel or to pay for and move to another DVC villa?

 

[crisi]

Cancellation policies - most owners won't give you the sweet deal cancelling that CRO will give - plan on this being a Travelocity type deal, you can't back out.

Maid service - you'll only get trash and towel on day four. If you stay longer than a week, your room will get cleaned once. You make your own beds.

Promotions - if Disney runs a promotion during that time (like free dining) its generally tied to room rental.

You get ME, EMH, free parking, and most of the other perks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Non-members are not entitled to specific DVC perks unless they are staying with the member who is using points for their stay. If you are not with the member, you don't get the perks.

However, you will get the general Disney onsite guest perks like crisi mentioned.

We don't like to move, so we stay put, even on the weekends. We just look at the total number of points we have used for out stay. Then we average them out over the stay. Works for us.

Plus leaving the DVC resort (one bedroom usually) to go to a smaller room with no king sized bed (we have a kiddo, so we would have to get a room with at least two beds), is a no go for us.

 

[mom2grace]

We just got back from a trip renting points at SSR.

We were treated just like everyone else, but we didn't "ask" for anything extra.

The CM's at the resort have no idea if you are an owner or not, and they treat you as an owner. (Our room keys said DVC on them, but of course we didn't have the DVC member card)

We have always stayed at Poly in the past, this felt the same to me, except we had access the free laundry and we had the in-room kitchenette in our studio. We will definitely rent points again!

 

[Chuck S]

The "Disney" onsite perks are the same as for regular WDW resort guests. As a previous poster stated, the DVC specific perks are technically for members only, you may get lucky and get a few dining discounts because it says DVC on your room key, don't bank on it, but it doesn't hurt to ask your server. More and more perks now require the actual membership card.

 

[EnviroChick]

Are you able to purchase the dining plan if you rent points?

What size villa would be recommended for one couple with no kids and one couple with kids (close family)? Would two studios be better than a 2 br? It seems a 1 br would be too small for all.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Are you able to purchase the dining plan if you rent points?

What size villa would be recommended for one couple with no kids and one couple with kids (close family)? Would two studios be better than a 2 br? It seems a 1 br would be too small for all.

Yes, you are able to purchase the dining plan with a DVC reservation. It will be paid for seperately at the time of check-in though, and must be for all members of your party for the entire stay.

I would say a 2 bedroom villa would be great for a couple plus a family with 2-4 children, depending on their ages. If the couple takes the master bedroom, and the family takes the second bedroom, you will both have access to the common living area of living room and kitchen. I would prefer OKW for such a group, because the common areas are larger and the second bedroom has 2 queen beds in it instead of the 1 queen and 1 full size sleep sofa that the other DVC resorts have. I would see no real advantage to getting 2 studios, since that would defeat the purpose of staying with DVC.

 

[EnviroChick]

Thanks Dianne. Glad to hear about the dining plan. We see two differences regarding renting studios, both related to cost. One, the studio villas are larger accomodations than a similarly priced resort hotel (ie., value resort) - which is a bonus) and the cost between the different types of villas. We'll be going in January and like BWV. Two studios puts us at 170 points, a one bdrm (what's the point renting a 1 with 6 people - we'll have less privacy than 2 studios I would think) for 162 points and a 2bdrm for 222 points. Roughly 2 studios at 1700.00 or a 2 bdrm at 2220.00 We are thinking that BWV would be our best choice due to the fact there are 2 small children (4 & 6) and it is 1. Centrally located to two parks, 2. an array of close by dining options 3. good pools for the kids 4. close by nightlife for adults. Are we looking at this wrong?

 

[Deb & Bill]

You are almost correct about the problems with a one bedroom. Mainly, they wouldn't let you book a one bedroom with 6 people. You'd need a two bedroom (waaaay nice) or the two studios. Studios don't connect, but you might be able to get them somewhere close to each other.

Have you thought about SSR at all? You are just across the lagoon from DTD and you can easily walk from there. The main pool at SSR has a Donald play area for the little kids. You'd have to take a bus to the parks, but the buses really are pretty good from SSR.

Plus the number of points that you would need at SSR would be less than BWV.