Questions re: DVC vs. hotel

[Zoemakes5]

Okay, I need help.
We are looking at a vacation last week of March/first week of April 2007.
I'd like to stay onsite because I want to do Disney Dining.
There are five in my family.
Please tell me the benefits and drawbacks to renting points for that timeframe vs. getting hotel rooms. Are there any benefits for tickets?
Also, we were considering going with another family of 4. If we did is there any place that would house all 9 of us? How many points on average do we need?
Thanks!

 

[Groucho]

Renting points will not get you any break on the ticket price. In fact, you'll be giving up any promotion that might be offered with the Magic Your Way package tickets - free park hopper and water parks have been offered sometimes.

For 9 people, you'd have to rent a 12-person Grand Villa (or a two-bedroom plus a studio or one-bedroom.) You'll want to use the DVC Points Calculator to get an idea of just how many points you'll be needing, you'll then be able to figure out approximately what you'll have to spend and compare it to staying at one of the non-DVC resorts and see which works out the best for you.

 

[browniemtb]

Benefits:
There may be a cost savings by renting DVC vs a moderate to deluxe hotel.
Larger accomodations.
Full kitchen - washer and dryer......only in the 1, 2, and grand villas.
Drawbacks:
No maid service unless paid for.
During a 6 night stay you get fresh towels 1 time...unless paid for extras.

I still think DVC is the way to go.....as the previous op said, try to calculate how many points you will require to rent.

 

[rocketriter]

Given the price you'll pay renting points for 9 people, look into buying points instead. If you want to come back to the parks every couple of years (maybe with another 9 people), pretty soon owning gets cheaper than renting.

 

[greenban]

Renting points will not get you any break on the ticket price. In fact, you'll be giving up any promotion that might be offered with the Magic Your Way package tickets - free park hopper and water parks have been offered sometimes.

For 9 people, you'd have to rent a 12-person Grand Villa (or a two-bedroom plus a studio or one-bedroom.) You'll want to use the DVC Points Calculator to get an idea of just how many points you'll be needing, you'll then be able to figure out approximately what you'll have to spend and compare it to staying at one of the non-DVC resorts and see which works out the best for you.

OR

If one of the 9 guests are under 3, you can use the provided pack n play in a 2BR Villa for the little one. Disney provides a sheet for the PnP, but that's it!

-Tony

 

[bom_noite]

Random thoughts:

We just booked a Grand Villa at OKW for 5 days in September. I looked at the rack rate and it is $5500 if you rented it directly from WDW! I think it would be something like $7500 if you rented during the December Holiday period! If you plan to go alot - perhaps buying in to DVC is the answer.

Not sure if the new promotion applies to new sales - but - they are giving away 2 AP's for add-ons at SSR now! That may take care of your question on discounted passes. In addition, DVC members get additional discounts on AP's.

One advantage to staying at DVC resorts (versus Hotels) is the kitchen! If you stayed at DVC I would think seriously about skipping the dining package - the savings would allow you to take one of the Disney Tours or something else.

Just a thought!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Benefits:
There may be a cost savings by renting DVC vs a moderate to deluxe hotel.
Larger accomodations.
Full kitchen - washer and dryer......only in the 1, 2, and grand villas.
Drawbacks:
No maid service unless paid for.
During a 6 night stay you get fresh towels 1 time...unless paid for extras.

I still think DVC is the way to go.....as the previous op said, try to calculate how many points you will require to rent.

We still get maid service, only it is limited. If you stay seven nights or less, you get the trash removed and fresh towels on day four. If you stay eight nights or more, you get a full cleaning on day four and trash and towels on day eight.

To the OP, as long as all of the people staying in the villa are three years or older, they all count in the room. A studio and one bedroom sleeps four. A two bedroom sleeps 8 and a GV sleeps 12. Member Services will allow (at this time) a fifth person in the one bedroom, but you will still only have beds for four, four bath towels, two hand towels and four face cloths. No rollaways will be provided.

 

[rinkwide]

...drawbacks to renting points...

Do you have the stomach to send thousands of dollars to a complete stranger with absolutely no guarantee of a room when you arrive?

 

[crisi]

Cancellation policies for DVC rentals are very different - generally, you won't get ANY refund if you cancel within 30 days, and (policies differ from owner to owner) its possible you will lose half or all of your money if you cancel months out. Because of this, be very careful with your friends. Owners could write a book of horror stories about people who cancel on them last minute, leaving them with too many rooms for their party and no way to recoup the points.

If you book one rooms size and then want to move to different room size, you'll have to cancel your reservation and rebook. Availability may not be the same when you do this.

If you do want that Grand Villa, you'll need to book early and find an owner whose home is at BWV, OKW or SSR - they have Grand Villas at those resorts. The OKW Grand Villas are the best bargain.

 

[browniemtb]

We still get maid service, only it is limited. If you stay seven nights or less, you get the trash removed and fresh towels on day four. If you stay eight nights or more, you get a full cleaning on day four and trash and towels on day eight.

To the OP, as long as all of the people staying in the villa are three years or older, they all count in the room. A studio and one bedroom sleeps four. A two bedroom sleeps 8 and a GV sleeps 12. Member Services will allow (at this time) a fifth person in the one bedroom, but you will still only have beds for four, four bath towels, two hand towels and four face cloths. No rollaways will be provided.

I did realize this. But most renters go for either a 6 or 7 night stay so the cleaning wouldn't be included. The towel and trash on day 4 was mentioned. Maid service limited, yes, non existant for 7 nights or less, yes. I tell my renters that if they want extra towels or some one to actually clean, during a 7 night or less stay, they will have to pay for that service. Thank you for the clarification though......maid service is very limited unless other arrangements have been made...
Brownie