Questions re points and cruises

[ratfam]

Hi, I will apologize in advance because I bet this question has been asked before but I'm relatively new to these boards and brand new to the DVC ones. We just cruised on the Magic exclusively on points, but for four of us it took over two years' worth. I want to cruise again in the future, but the way that the point requirements keep soaring every year I'm not sure we will be able to do it again on points alone without foregoing a lot of other vacations. I think I have seen a reference to people renting their points and using the money to book cruises with more success. Can anyone explain to me how this works? Are there any risks to the DVC member? (renter doesn't pay, trashes the property and you're responsible, etc.) I don't think that I have anyone I know who would be interested in renting. My booking window will open soon for next spring break so I'm trying to make some decisions, any input or sharing of any experiences with this situation is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Scoootch]

Basically, you'd rent out your points to someone (the going rate is $10-$12 per point - unless you're in a hurry to rent them due to expiring points or what have you in which case some rent for more like $9 per point). You'd then take the money from the points you rented and just book cash for the cruise.

As for risks involved, yes there are risks on both sides...you the renter, that you won't book your points and then have the rentee cancel on you and depending on how far (or not so far from the reservation time) you could be in a situation where those points need to be used or lost. And them, the rentee that they won't pay you for a points rental and have you run with their money (the rentee has no control of the ressie whatsover ~ only the member can book,change things,cancel and whatever is necessary on the ressie). If you book the points for the person renting from you far enough in advance,collect the money and make your refund (or I should say NON refundable) policies known before entering into the deal, you should be safe.

i.e. have a contract and/or deal with all your terms met and agreed to up front. You may want to say something in your terms about NO REFUNDs past 31 days out which would be the point your points would then have to be rebooked and used before the end of your UY if they were to be canceled. Plus whatever other terms you may have.

Or any other way you may want to set up your terms. But make them all known ahead of time

I don't know anyone who would be interested in renting.

While it would be ideal to rent to someone you know, you can always hop over to the DVC RENT/Trade board here on the Dis and just post that you have X amount of points to rent and for how much per point you want to rent for. Check it out..it will give you an idea of what everyone who is renting is renting for. I'd also hop over to the DVC RENT/Trade board and read the FAQ at the top of the board as I'm sure that will probably be much more of a help to you then how badly I'm probably explaining things even though I'm trying to help

Best of luck!

 

[ratfam]

Thanks, Scoootch--enjoy your upcoming trip!

Any other thoughts?

 

[MCazer]

After renting points last year for our recent Disney Magic trip (1/29/05), I would only rent points to people who already own, and to whom I can just transfer the points to.

This way, they know exactly how DVC works, and once you get paid, you transfer the points and there is nothing else to worry about.

Our cruise would have used 622 points for a cat 6. We booked early 2004 and got a great rate of $3,600. Now, since I got $10 a point, I only needed to rent 360 points to pay for the whole thing, and I didn't need to pay the $75 transfer fee that Disney charges.

I got to go to the DVC party onboard after mentioning it to the DVC cast member at the desk. So I didn't lose out on that either! Got some great hats, and won a prize, as did my daughter who picked names from a hat!

Our first cruise in Oct 2001 cost us only 338 points for a 7 day in a cat 5. Both of these trips were off season... that is a big difference in points.

We won't be sailing on Disney (unless they come out with a new ship). We are doing the RCCL Mariner in November. Got a Junior Suite for $3,100 for a week for 4 of us! This was booked last year to save!

 

[CharlesTD]

I agree with scootch we rent ours out to pay cash for the cruise it is far more economical you can rent half the number of points required to cruise and have enough cash to pay for the trip.

 

[ratfam]

Margaret, thanks for your reply. Just to clarify--if you rent your points to a DVC member, you don't remain in control of the reservation like you would if you rent to a non-member? You tranfer the points (through member services?) and then you're out of the picture? That would seem to make it a lot easier/eliminate a lot of the risk. I can't believe the difference in points between those two cruises for you, just in a few years time. If we had sold our points rather than using them for the cruise we just took, we could actually have taken two cruises! (or been in a much nicer room, I suppose) Live and learn, I don't want to make the same mistake twice, but I am a little nervous about the uncertainties of renting, maybe this renting to members way would be less stressful?

 

[Dean]

Margaret, thanks for your reply. Just to clarify--if you rent your points to a DVC member, you don't remain in control of the reservation like you would if you rent to a non-member? You tranfer the points (through member services?) and then you're out of the picture? That would seem to make it a lot easier/eliminate a lot of the risk. I can't believe the difference in points between those two cruises for you, just in a few years time. If we had sold our points rather than using them for the cruise we just took, we could actually have taken two cruises! (or been in a much nicer room, I suppose) Live and learn, I don't want to make the same mistake twice, but I am a little nervous about the uncertainties of renting, maybe this renting to members way would be less stressful?

If you rent to a member it could go either way. It seems that most rentals even to members are simply renting the reservation and not a transfer. But if you transfer, you do lose control and leverage incase there's a problem like a check bounces or other lack of payment.

 

[MCazer]

When I rented my points to a member, they sent me a certified bank check (just like cash). I deposited in my bank account, it immediately cleared, i called member services, they transferred my points to their account and that was that.

I would never transfer the points until payment had cleared, just like I would never send out an item from ebay without payment.

It was the easiest thing to do!

I would never make a reservation for someone ever again after doing it once, then having them tell me they wanted to have 5 people in a studio, or could I let them pay over time. After that, I would only rent to a DVC owner that I would transfer points to.

Hope this has cleared it up for you!

 

[LakeAriel]

Can't you use points for the first two adults and cash for the children or third or fourth party?

 

[MCazer]

Can't you use points for the first two adults and cash for the children or third or fourth party?

Yes, you can, but usually cost more than Disney Cruise Line quotes for regular reservations.

At least it has been in my circumstances. Anyone?

 

[ratfam]

So member services just transfers your points to the purchaser's account, even though from what I've read on other threads they don't seem to support the renting of points? That sounds great because then, if the payment has previously cleared, it doesn't sound like you would have any risk.

 

[MCazer]

Member Services has no problem with you renting points that I am aware of. Funny, during our last cruise, the cast member from DVC even brought up the whole renting issue.

Once the money is received and cleared, and you transferred the points, you are done with it all! Easiest thing in the world. Its trying to make reservations for people that don't understand the whole concept and keep changing their minds. I had 3 people back out after their initial emails and me trying to work around them. They even wanted me to borrow a few more from my sister to let them have to even it out. LOL

 

[ratfam]

Margaret, thanks again! This sounds like something that even a very risk averse person like me could handle. Maybe I'll be able to cruise again after all!

 

[LakeAriel]

Yes, you can, but usually cost more than Disney Cruise Line quotes for regular reservations.

At least it has been in my circumstances. Anyone?

I spoke to Member services about this today. She said only one person needs to be covered by points per cabin. This person could be a child but would have to be the third in the room to get the child's fare. This is interesting info because it makes it easier to use points to cruise if you are short the total amount of points.

 

[Dean]

I spoke to Member services about this today. She said only one person needs to be covered by points per cabin. This person could be a child but would have to be the third in the room to get the child's fare. This is interesting info because it makes it easier to use points to cruise if you are short the total amount of points.

I suspect the point is that you must pay the contract price which is usually must more the the discounted cash price plus you have to pay all up front. That would be the important part to know when paying for a combo of cash and points.

 

[LakeAriel]

Dean
What do you think the price would be Disney vs a Discounted price? This was my first cruise and I would do it again... and again... and again! I am not famililar with cash prices though. We were two adults in 2070 category 9 deck two, March 24 Wonder 3 day.
Thanks

 

[Dean]

Dean
What do you think the price would be Disney vs a Discounted price? This was my first cruise and I would do it again... and again... and again! I am not famililar with cash prices though. We were two adults in 2070 category 9 deck two, March 24 Wonder 3 day.
Thanks

What I've seen is that the points usually give you a return in the $4.50-$6.75 per point range with the lowest being for FL resident specials. The higher cabins are usually discounted less so it makes sense you're likely to get a better return using points compared to cash when reserving them. The only other situation is when you miss the cash discounts and one should decide if it's worth even reserving in that situation, it just depends on how you want to spent your money. What I've seen posted and the little info I've gotten directly would suggest there is likely between a 10 & 25% increase of cash through DVC compared to a DISCOUNTED early booking rate. But maybe someone has actual cash examples to pin it down further and more accurately than my recollection and impression. But what's really important is the difference in what YOU want to reserve. So get a quote from a TA or DCL and get the DVC prince in points and combo of points and cash and see how it truly compares. Use a cruise at least 11-12 months out.

 

[LakeAriel]

Thanks Dean.
I did a little research and see that places like Dreams Unimited have really good deals if you don't have to stick to a certain time frame. I haven't followed up because I would need my Castaway Cay Club number first so I'm not sure if it's for outside staterooms. (which I would want) Anyone know how long before the club cards come?
Thanks again!