Renting DVC points - pros/cons

[Marionnette]

Curious...if I were to rent, do I get the 180+10 ADR benefit? Do I purchase magic bands separately? Or can I use ones from a prior trip? TIA!

DVC resorts get the same 180+10 advantage, although there has been some discussion on the DVC boards that MDE is not recognizing DVC reservations for that purpose. Your mileage may vary on this.

You do not need to purchase MBs. You will be able to customize MBs and have them sent to your home once you add your reservation in your MDE account.

However, if you're in love with the MBs from a previous trip, they should still work on your DVC stay. The MBs are just clones of one another.

 

[Vernie822]

We are renting DVC points for the first time. We are renting through a site that is not the one previously mentioned but I have had a great experience so far. PM me and I will let you know the site. There was no fee to ask for a quote which was nice - with the other one I didn't like that you had to pay $98 and then take the room that you requested if it was available. Sometimes I just like to know my options and then decide - I understand that it makes sense so that they aren't looking up rooms all day long for people that aren't going to follow through though so I totally understand. We are staying 3 nights AKL and 3 nights at the Polynesian Villas.

 

[Julylady]

The only downside is that once booked, you can't cancel. We don't mind making our own bed, taking out the trash, and washing our own towels.

 

[ANforever1030]

My DF and I are renting points for our honeymoon. We weren't able to get all the nights though so we are actually doing a split stay with Poly Villas, POFQ, and AKV. This is the third time I've rented and easily the most difficult of the three. However, that was partly my fault as we were originally getting married September 2016, but then because of a change in Thanksgiving plans decided to move forward the wedding to October 2015 just a week before the 7 month window.

I will say this: It is much easier to book at the 11 month window than the 7 month window.

 

[kiki02]

I have rented points twice, once for a June 2013 stay at BWV and again for our upcoming October trip. Both times I found an owner on the rent/trade boards here on the DIS. Here's the process I went through.
1. Pick the dates for my trip
2. Decide where we want to stay
3. Look on rent/trade boards to find an owner who had points available and owned at the resort we were looking to stay at (members can book rooms 11 months out at resorts they own points at and 7 months at other dresorts) because really wanted to stay at WVL (or BWV last trip) and needed to book as soon as possible to get what we wanted.
4. Once I found a member who had points at VWL, I contacted him.
5. We corresponded through e-mails so I was able to ask questions and get more information
6. I asked for references
7. I checked a website that list properties owned, to check to make sure he owned points at the resort stated
8. I asked for a sample rental agreement and he sent me a copy
9. I reviewed the rental agreement
10. I decided this was the person I wanted to rent from and he checked to see if my dates were available at the resort I wanted
11. The resort and dates were available so I had the member make the reservation for me
12. The member made my reservations (one for me and one for my in-laws)
13. He forwarded the confirmation numbers to me
14. I sent payment via paypal (the whole amount was due at this time, and I was fine with that.
15. I can log into MDE account and see both reservations
16. I checked into and purchased travel insurance that will cover us if something should come up and we need to cancel

I like renting points because it allows us to stay at resorts we otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. I chose to go through the DIS boards because 1. I didn't have to pay a deposit and 2. I was able to get the points cheaper than going through one of the rental sites. It takes a lot of trust on both parties, but if one feels comfortable doing it, it is a great way to stay at a deluxe at the price of a moderate. I'm paying $188/night (standard rate at a moderate is $192 without a discount). I don't mind that we don't get mouse-keeping. At home I don't change my towels and sheets daily and it's nice to be able to go back the room and not worry about be interrupted.

Just remember when renting points, you won't be able to apply any discounts that Disney releases such as a room discount or free dining. I knew that even if FD was released, my dates would probably be not included based on previous years dates. I was right, my dates Oct. 10-17 are blacked out. Even if a room only discount comes out for my dates, I'm not paying that much more to stay at VWL.

Overall, I am happy with my choice to rent points. I researched a lot and knew exactly what I was getting into. I wouldn't not recommend renting to somebody who does not want to do their homework and understand how it works. It is definitely not for everybody.

Didn't find it that much cheaper than Davids though. Also, seems to be (?) more work to go on line and find a person with the correct amount you need/ email back and forth.

 

[ohcanada]

Rented through the DVC Rental Store..no fee to check for availability, just submit your dates online and they will e-mail back some options with prices. Both times the reponse was within 24 hours of our request for information...might be an easy way to just get some information and options with no obligation? We are staying at the Poly in a DVC studio..the difference in disney price and rental price is $1300 for our stay. We bought discount tickets through undercover tourist. We have since linked our tickets...magic bands, fastpass and hotel reservation, dining reservation through the online disney website....and yes we were told up front about the construction.

Not for everyone but it worked for us...I just keep looking at the money we saved, especaily with the Canadian Dollar being so low.... and we added another week in Florida after disney with the money we saved. Canadians love Florida!!

Happy Travels

 

[adobbs10]

One big disadvantage is the rooms at beach club and Boardwalk are not the same quality as the hotel rooms rented from Disney at those resorts.

Can you elaborate on this? I've been debating renting points at Beach Club and am curious about the difference.

 

[Vernie822]

@ohcanada We rented from them as well - they were great to work with! We also got a letter in the mail right after the Poly reservation was made letting us know about the construction. Can't wait to see those rooms.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Curious...if I were to rent, do I get the 180+10 ADR benefit? Do I purchase magic bands separately? Or can I use ones from a prior trip? TIA!

Yes. Your DVC reservation is no different than any other WDW reservation, except it still belongs to the member and you cannot call Member Services about it, make changes or additions to it or add the dining plan or DME. You enter your reservation number in MDE and then make your dining reservations like normal. BUT, sometimes you can't get the extra ten days without calling Disney Dining. You will be able to customize your magic bands on MDE just like always. You don't need to purchase them. They come with the reservation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Can you elaborate on this? I've been debating renting points at Beach Club and am curious about the difference.

Both the BWI and BC seem to be themed with a luxury theming. The BWV and BCV were always themed like someone's resort home at the beach, so a little less upscale. But with the renovations, the BWV and BCV are a little less themed, a little more vanilla and might be a little more like the BWI and BC.

You need to realize that all renovations for the villas comes out of the pockets of the members, not Disney. Disney pays for all renovations at the hotels. DVC members pay for all renovations at the villas. So they don't happen as frequently. And they might not be as completely gutted as the hotels. Sometimes it's just soft goods or paint.

The villas include lots of appliances that aren't in the hotel rooms. They include dishes, pots and pans, all sorts of things not found in the hotel rooms. So the cost of complete renovations are higher in the villas. Plus the villas are usually 95% occupied where the hotels aren't a full.

 

[sndral]

It is important to compare price to rent with Disney's cash reservation w/ discount (if available) price. Studios almost always are less to rent than rooms, other unit sizes not always. For example the one time I did a cash 1 Br villa reservation through Disney it was about the same as the going DVC rental rate and I got daily housekeeping and all the other benefits of dealing with Disney rather than an individual owner/broker. David's has a great point/price calculator online which makes it easy to compare with Disney's price. Because Disney waits so long to release discounts and you never know how much they'll be or which resorts will be covered or exactly which dates if you like to plan ahead (and you should w/ a DVC reservation) and secure your savings early then renting allows you to do that.

 

[BStew]

Yes. Your DVC reservation is no different than any other WDW reservation, except it still belongs to the member and you cannot call Member Services about it, make changes or additions to it or add the dining plan or DME.

Am I reading it right that you can't use DME with rented DVC points? Or you just can't add that from the website?

 

[rance]

Can you elaborate on this? I've been debating renting points at Beach Club and am curious about the difference.

I am not sure how to post pictures but if you do a google search on BWV room photos and BCV room photos you will see the difference in quality...might not be a big deal to you but worth comparing apples to apples.

 

[rance]

I am not sure how to post pictures but if you do a google search on BWV room photos and BCV room photos you will see the difference in quality...might not be a big deal to you but worth comparing apples to apples.

 

[jimandami]

Am I reading it right that you can't use DME with rented DVC points? Or you just can't add that from the website?

No, you are misunderstanding. You can use DME when renting points. It used to be that the DVC member had to add it for you, but the last two times I rented, I called DME directly and was able to easily add it myself.

 

[Earning my ears]

I have rented points twice, once for a June 2013 stay at BWV and again for our upcoming October trip. Both times I found an owner on the rent/trade boards here on the DIS. Here's the process I went through.
1. Pick the dates for my trip
2. Decide where we want to stay
3. Look on rent/trade boards to find an owner who had points available and owned at the resort we were looking to stay at (members can book rooms 11 months out at resorts they own points at and 7 months at other dresorts) because really wanted to stay at WVL (or BWV last trip) and needed to book as soon as possible to get what we wanted.
4. Once I found a member who had points at VWL, I contacted him.
5. We corresponded through e-mails so I was able to ask questions and get more information
6. I asked for references
7. I checked a website that list properties owned, to check to make sure he owned points at the resort stated
8. I asked for a sample rental agreement and he sent me a copy
9. I reviewed the rental agreement
10. I decided this was the person I wanted to rent from and he checked to see if my dates were available at the resort I wanted
11. The resort and dates were available so I had the member make the reservation for me
12. The member made my reservations (one for me and one for my in-laws)
13. He forwarded the confirmation numbers to me
14. I sent payment via paypal (the whole amount was due at this time, and I was fine with that.
15. I can log into MDE account and see both reservations
16. I checked into and purchased travel insurance that will cover us if something should come up and we need to cancel

I like renting points because it allows us to stay at resorts we otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. I chose to go through the DIS boards because 1. I didn't have to pay a deposit and 2. I was able to get the points cheaper than going through one of the rental sites. It takes a lot of trust on both parties, but if one feels comfortable doing it, it is a great way to stay at a deluxe at the price of a moderate. I'm paying $188/night (standard rate at a moderate is $192 without a discount). I don't mind that we don't get mouse-keeping. At home I don't change my towels and sheets daily and it's nice to be able to go back the room and not worry about be interrupted.

Just remember when renting points, you won't be able to apply any discounts that Disney releases such as a room discount or free dining. I knew that even if FD was released, my dates would probably be not included based on previous years dates. I was right, my dates Oct. 10-17 are blacked out. Even if a room only discount comes out for my dates, I'm not paying that much more to stay at VWL.

Overall, I am happy with my choice to rent points. I researched a lot and knew exactly what I was getting into. I wouldn't not recommend renting to somebody who does not want to do their homework and understand how it works. It is definitely not for everybody.

 

[Denise W]

Actually Boardwalk Villas have not looked like that photo for several years (not sure about Beach Club Villas). The bedspreads are gone.
Denise

 

[BStew]

No, you are misunderstanding. You can use DME when renting points. It used to be that the DVC member had to add it for you, but the last two times I rented, I called DME directly and was able to easily add it myself.

I figured I did misunderstand but wanted to make sure. Thanks!

 

[Sinders99]

I know this is an older thread but I'm hoping someone can answer a burning question for a newbie to renting DVC points. Hubby and I had our first trip to WDW in Sep 2016 and booked via a Disney travel agent for a split stay at POP & POR. We loved the convenience of charging everything to our magic bands in the parks. Do you still get this same perk if you rent DVC points?? Sorry if it sounds like a silly question.

 

[jpeden]

I know this is an older thread but I'm hoping someone can answer a burning question for a newbie to renting DVC points. Hubby and I had our first trip to WDW in Sep 2016 and booked via a Disney travel agent for a split stay at POP & POR. We loved the convenience of charging everything to our magic bands in the parks. Do you still get this same perk if you rent DVC points?? Sorry if it sounds like a silly question.

Yep you do!