RentDVC points-Good Idea? & Which Resort?

[welovedis]

After some contemplation over the last week I cannot figure out what to do about our January ressies. Right now we are booked at CSR (standard room) for $133.00/night + tax ($147.63/nite). There are no AAA discounts available at this point and who knows if there will be an AP rate either. We are booked there for the first 9 nights of our stay.

I have been thinking about renting DVC points and it seems to be a pretty good deal-depending on what you pay for points (the going rate is about $10/pt). For the time frame we are going we could get a studio with a standard view @ BWV for 103 points (probably none available though) or a preferred view at BWV or a studio at BCV for 128 points (availability at both). This works out to either $1030 or $1280 for the 9 nights. Right now we are looking at paying $1329 for the 9 nights at a moderate.

If we end up having to go for the 128 points the room will end up costing us about $142/night at a HAFM resort versus $147.xx/night at a moderate-seems like a no-brainer, right? But DH keeps reminding me that we would probably end up getting some type of discount on our rate so that if we stick with CSR we'll end up paying around $100/night with tax. I feel that with the way things are going there are no guarantees for that to happen.

If we do rent DVC points which resort would you choose? I was thinking BCV for SAB but who knows if we will be able to use it in January!

Anyway-what would you do? Our specifics are as follows: Me, DH & DS (7 yo then), our 4th family trip to WDW since 2000. Planning on spending time leisurely at the hotel & parks, & DTD. I'm participating in the 1/2 marathon & we have PAPs for all of us. After these 9 nights we'll be at AKL Concierge for 2 nights. Once this trip is over we won't be back for 2-3 years. Dates are 1/7/04 (Wed) thru 1/16/04(Fri), then over to AKL until 1/18/04.

Any suggestions or anyone want to tell what they would do? Our opinions would give me even more to contemplate-lol!

 

[Shannon G]

Personally, I would rent the DVC points & stay at BWV or BC whether a discount came out for the moderates or not. We rented points in February, and stayed at BWV, and it was wonderful! IMO, these resorts have the best location of all of the resorts - you can walk or take a boat to MGM and Epcot (my two favorite parks), and you have all the restaurants at the Boardwalk, the Yacht & Beach Club, & the Swan & Dolphin right there, or you can even just walk over to Epcot for dinner. And at $142/night for resorts that book through Disney for around $300/night you're getting a great deal. Plus, the DVC studios have the convenience of kitchenette with a small fridge & microwave. I'm not one to try to save a lot by eating in my room all the time (hey - I'm on vacation!), we did keep some easy breakfast foods in the room, along with some drinks & snacks. Of course, walking down to the Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast was a favorite too!

Good luck and enjoy your trip, whatever you decide!

 

[Ursula]

I rented points and stayed at BCV. Overall, it was a very positive experiance. The down side is that you may have a problem if you needed to cancel for some reason, and there is a level of trust involved. We had no problems at all, but I was very nervous about something going wrong right up until we checked in at the resort. I still would not hesitate to rent points again.

 

[welovedis]

Shannon G-Thats true about the proximity to the Epcot & Mgm-we love going to Fantasmic and this would be a great location. I really had not given much thought to the kitchenette but the small fridge would be nice for a quick breakfast-we are not big breakfast eaters anyway, so that would probably save us a bit.

Ursula-that is probably the only thing that is holding me back-trusting someone I never met with my vacation plans. I am still reading as much as I can about the whole process. Glad to hear that it worked out for you and you would do it again!

I appreciate both of your responses!

 

[wdwstar]

renting would be good for you since you are going to hang out at the resort during your trip, the beach club villa would be perfect for you, they have the best pool and its walking distances and just a little boat ride over to the boardwalk to shop and eat.
im a dvc member and i can tell you right now that if your going to rent points you better get over to the rent and trade board and start looking to rent, the beach club villas, boardwalk villas, wilderness lodge villas get booked up very fast and especially if there is something going like conventions,marathons, etc.
if you need anymore info on renting just post, good luck.

 

[wdwstar]

i see yoyur alittle afraid because of the whole trust thing, i have been reading these post for a long time and even though i dont have points to rent to you i can steer you in the right direction, who i have seen rent their points and are very honest and the transaction very successful. some even have contracts, because once the ressies are made and are canceled at the last minute because the renter cant go, the points go in a holding and can only make ressies 30 days out of the first day of arrival, and a possible losing the points. so, its nervesness on both ends of the deal.

 

[welovedis]

Thanks for the thoughts.

I posted this on the resorts board as I was hoping to get opinions from both DVC & non-DVC members. I didn't realize i couldn't post about renting points over there.

 

[spiceycat]

if you are trying to compare DVC resort to a moderate you are looking at the wrong resorts.

Look at OKW - a studio for a week will run you around $800. you will have 2 queen beds - all the other stuff that the other DVC resorts have (except room service and valet parking - OKW does not need valet parking).

As DVC member guest - you can definitely go visit CSR, BWV and BCV - you can't pool hop to SALB or AKL - but everything else is okay.

You are trying to compare deluxe resorts to a moderate resort - now OKW is not a moderate no way - it is one of the best DVC resorts there is - but the point cost is much lower than the other DVC resorts.

believe me if you are use to a moderate than OKW will feel like heaven and your husband won't make you mad by trying to wait for a deal!!!

for your 9 night stay (I am assuming 1 weekend) - 96 points so around $960 total. give your exact dates and I will give better estimate.

sorry my original numbers were wrong!!!

 

[welovedis]

Pat-spiceycat-thanks for the info on OKW. I had started this post off on the resorts board as I am a regular there and can relate to many there. Since I'm not a DVC owner my DVC knowledge is pitifully apparent as I read the posts here.

I guess i wasn't really trying to *compare* the 2 resorts but trying to get a feel on what my resorts board compadres would do if they were in my shoes. I have done my figuring this way & that for this trip, trying to determine what would be the best for our family.

I think that the DVC resorts would win, hands down, if we were only talking amenities, but since there is a price to consider, and a good deal of trust involved I was also trying to get a handle on that as well.

I think if we end up renting points we will stick with either BWV or BCV (if they are even available) as we enjoy Epcot & MGM & will be relying solely on WDW transportation after the 1st 2 days.
Thanks again for your ideas & I appreciate the advice!

 

[spiceycat]

no offense - Karen, sorry, I just though that you haven't consider OKW - if you are used to CSR and your husband is fussing about the DVC rental price. Believe me you will love any DVC resorts - okay that is my opinion - but since you were staying at a moderate - any DVC resorts is better in alot of ways.

I love all the DVC resorts - that are very special in different ways.

 

[welovedis]

spiceycat-no offense taken, I just wanted to make things clear--typing is so much harder than speaking-lol!

We are really leaning towards renting points-no more worrying about "catching" the day the APs come out and not getting on the phone in time, etc... it would relieve my stress level.

Thanks again for the info!