Questions about Renting

[CalSea12]

Hi,

I have never rented points before and not sure how it works.... I had a little idea but with Covid now I have no clue.

I found a website that says "dedicated reservation".. what does that mean?

Is it currently safe to rent... I have been hearing about owners canceling on renters...

Also how do tickets work? Where would I buy them? How do the park day reservations work if I do not have a package directly through Disney?

I'm sorry if its so many questions... I am just beyond confused.

 

[ForWhomTheMouseTolls]

1) There is always risk to renters, but going through a broker will usually protect you to some capacity. In general, it’s very difficult to cancel on renters without paying them back and it’s extremely unusual. What’s been happening recently is that owners are losing their points due to rentals during the closure and they’re not willing to provide additional help in those moments.

2) Renting is about as safe as it always has been, realizing that any cancelation to the trip outside or inside of your control is 100% your responsibility. No refunds should be assumed.

3) You can buy park tickets through Disney or your favorite reseller. Once you’ve done that, you can attach them to you My Disney Experience account like usual name make park reservations.

Hopefully this helps!

 

[starry_solo]

Hi,

I have never rented points before and not sure how it works.... I had a little idea but with Covid now I have no clue.

I found a website that says "dedicated reservation".. what does that mean?

Is it currently safe to rent... I have been hearing about owners canceling on renters...

Also how do tickets work? Where would I buy them? How do the park day reservations work if I do not have a package directly through Disney?

I'm sorry if its so many questions... I am just beyond confused.

#1 - I have never rented points before and not sure how it works.... I had a little idea but with Covid now I have no clue.

So, you actually rent a reservation, although some owners will qualify it as renting points. Regardless, you get a set reservation dates (check in and check out) and it costs so many points to make that reservation.

#2 - I found a website that says "dedicated reservation".. what does that mean?

It means that the reservation is already made by the owners and the broker is trying to sell the reservation.

#3 - Also how do tickets work? Where would I buy them? How do the park day reservations work if I do not have a package directly through Disney?

You can buy tickets directly through Disney or an authorized ticket reseller. Once purchased, link them to your My Disney Experience (MDE) account at Walt Disney World and then make park reservations.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

but going through a broker will usually protect you to some capacity

I wouldn't say that after this spring's meltdown at the brokers.

 

[ForWhomTheMouseTolls]

I wouldn't say that after this spring's meltdown at the brokers.

“Usually” and a point that cancellations for any reason are going to go against the renter. Pretty sure that’s about as clear as that can get.

 

[Sandisw]

Honestly, right now, you need to understand the risks for rentals. They are pretty much non refundable and changes are limited. Many owners have now added some info on what would happen if the resorts close,

Unlike Disney, if you book and something happens and you can’t go, you can’t just cancel.

As mentioned, sometimes using a broker can add a sense of security, but lots of issues this year. Those dedicated reservations are ones already set and most likely, there because a renter doesn’t want to go and of course, with resorts open, would use all money.

If you were going soon, like in the next month, and know that nothing would stop you from going, you might pick up a good deal and the rental savings might be worth it,

Beyond That, be sure you really understand what would happen if resorts close again, or you had to cancel out And compare those savings against a cash stay at Disney which will allow you to get all your money back.

 

[sethschroeder]

“Usually” and a point that cancellations for any reason are going to go against the renter. Pretty sure that’s about as clear as that can get.

Correct if you rent directly from a member you have more ability to work something out.

Only ever rented directly from members and after this year that would reinforce only renting directly from the member.

You saw members on here willing to give cash back (brokers didn't to my knowledge), you have members willing to reschedule (limited to no option from brokers), you saw members willing to change who the reservation is for (brokers only have given the option for you to let them realist guaranteed reservations for $20/point and even then all you get is a credit I think right?)

I would stick to renting directly from a member, through a forum, with someone who has a history on that forum, and do a search on the member after I rent.

The only thing a broker does is protect against a rental scam of someone not having points. I would simply ask for a reservation number after the contract is signed and before I pay. Again I would also do a search on the email, names, phone numbers, username, and anything else to find out about the Person I am renting from.

 

[Pluto777]

Hi,

I have never rented points before and not sure how it works.... I had a little idea but with Covid now I have no clue.

I found a website that says "dedicated reservation".. what does that mean?

Is it currently safe to rent... I have been hearing about owners canceling on renters...

Also how do tickets work? Where would I buy them? How do the park day reservations work if I do not have a package directly through Disney?

I'm sorry if its so many questions... I am just beyond confused.

I have been both a renter of points, and an owner who has rented out my points (through a broker site)
As both a renter and an owner I have been completely satisfied. Renting, I saved a lot of money over the cash rate - even with a discount. The only caveat as a renter is that there can not really be a 'refund' since points expire, bookable spots close up and so unless you get insurance (the website I use did and does sell a "cancel for any reason" renters insurance policy) you can not make any changes. Essentially you are sacrificing flexibility for the sake of getting a discount (which in some cases is a very big one) vs. having no flexibility (unless again you paid for some type of cancellation insurance if you can find it).

As I said it has worked for me personally from both ends and has saved me money, best of luck to you!

Mod edited out details.

 

[Pluto777]

Hi,

I have never rented points before and not sure how it works.... I had a little idea but with Covid now I have no clue.

I found a website that says "dedicated reservation".. what does that mean?

Is it currently safe to rent... I have been hearing about owners canceling on renters...

Also how do tickets work? Where would I buy them? How do the park day reservations work if I do not have a package directly through Disney?

I'm sorry if its so many questions... I am just beyond confused.

-Oh and your question about tickets? That is a seperate issue completely from renting points. Tickets are tickets whether you buy them direct through Disney or not. Renting points for a stay only deals with staying in a DVC resort (which may also give you the benefits of a DVC owner such as the right to the Disney Dining Plan, free parking at your DVC resort, the use of the resorts facilities, pools etc).
As to what goes on as the Corona Virus crisis I believe as of now there is no Disney Dining plan available for anyone - as well as other Corona related changes but my hope and belief is that things will go back to normal faster than most people think as better treatments evolve, people adjust, the virus weakens and vaccines come out. Once the Corona passes or is under conntrol I assume (as I think most of us do) that WDW will go back to it's old policies. I do not think this is the end of the world - and certainly not the beloved mouse!

 

[Deb & Bill]

-Oh and your question about tickets? That is a seperate issue completely from renting points. Tickets are tickets whether you buy them direct through Disney or not. Renting points for a stay only deals with staying in a DVC resort (which may also give you the benefits of a DVC owner such as the right to the Disney Dining Plan, free parking at your DVC resort, the use of the resorts facilities, pools etc).
As to what goes on as the Corona Virus crisis I believe as of now there is no Disney Dining plan available for anyone - as well as other Corona related changes but my hope and belief is that things will go back to normal faster than most people think as better treatments evolve, people adjust, the virus weakens and vaccines come out. Once the Corona passes or is under conntrol I assume (as I think most of us do) that WDW will go back to it's old policies. I do not think this is the end of the world - and certainly not the beloved mouse!

Not the benefits of a DVC owner, but the benefits of being a resort guest. Renters do not get DVC owner benefits.

 

[Pluto777]

Not the benefits of a DVC owner, but the benefits of being a resort guest. Renters do not get DVC owner benefits.

Not the benefits of a DVC owner, but the benefits of being a resort guest. Renters do not get DVC owner benefits.

Correct - I may have meant to put the word 'SOME' of the benefits..too late to edit my post now.

 

[Jmar2009]

Are there any differences between renting directly with an owner from Canada / International vs an owner from the US? Different fees, cancellation policies, etc?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Are there any differences between renting directly with an owner from Canada / International vs an owner from the US? Different fees, cancellation policies, etc?

This is all based on the owner themselves, who set their own policy. If via an agency, the agency's standard contract will always apply regardless of where the owner is from.

The cancel policies for a DVC booking are universal for DVC owners.

 

[Marionnette]

Are there any differences between renting directly with an owner from Canada / International vs an owner from the US? Different fees, cancellation policies, etc?

Currency conversion fees and changes in the exchange rates would be the big factors influencing renting directly from someone outside of your country of residence.

 

[fsulaw2001]

I'd second (or is it third? fourth?) that the best place to rent right now is directly from a member. We're more flexible, you have direct contact with the person controlling the points, and you can check on the person who you are sending a lot of money to prior to doing so. Its easy to search on this forum, for instance, on someone. Moreover, I always give renters my contact information. Its very easy to find out just about everything about someone with that.

For instance, I recently points to someone who did a quick google search on me and my email address. They quickly were able to find out who I was and what I do for a living. This doesn't bother me as a member who rents points and I think its what renters should be doing - a reasonable amount of due diligence.

Eric

 

[crisi]

This is all based on the owner themselves, who set their own policy. If via an agency, the agency's standard contract will always apply regardless of where the owner is from.

The cancel policies for a DVC booking are universal for DVC owners.

The cancellations policies are universal for DVC owners, but individual owners may have different cancellation policies for their renters. Generally, DVC rentals are non-refundable. A lot of owners tried to work with renters through Covid, but since points expire and really only have a life of 12 to 24 months (and extending them to 24 takes planning) that wasn't always possible. Few owners permit cancellation for any reason - because in addition to points having a limited life, it becomes very difficult to find rooms on short notice (right now is a strange, strange time) - so if I tie up my points for your April trip, and my points expire in May, and you cancel in early March, I have to find a room available - and someone to take that room - for travel by the end of May three months later...... there may not be any rooms available on that short notice - especially by the time I find a renter - or my points become worthless. Now I don't have points, but I have paid dues on points I'm not going to use. So most DVC rentals are non-refundable.