Renting DVC points through a broker, no longer a great value?

[JohnDaleswife]

Anyone else feel that renting DVC points from some of the "professional" sites online are just no longer that great of a value? The prices to rent have really risen and I just no longer see the value in it unless you were able to get in on a last minute type special or something.

 

[supersnoop]

Are you complaining because the prices have gone up, or are you comparing the value of renting DVC versus booking a room directly from Disney? Everything goes up in price over time, and DVC rental prices don't seem out of line. Your signature doesn't list any DVC resorts, so I'm not sure what experience you've had in the past.

 

[AquaDame]

I don't like the surcharge for certain resorts that they are charging now, otherwise I'm still OK with the pricing.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

OP, which of the DVC resorts have you stayed at? Are you referring to a specific resort? Even with a price increase, renting points always is far cheaper than any rack rate going.....

 

[han22735]

My in-laws just rented points to stay at the poly with us in September and 10 nights cost them $2366...Paying rack rate would have been $4936. Even with a 30% room discount its still $1100 cheaper than booking with Disney. So I still see the value unless you're comparing it to moderates.

 

[LJSquishy]

I sort of feel the same way now that many of the brokers are charging an added premium per point fee to book at the 11-month window at the most desirable resorts. Part of the value of booking through a broker is the guarantee you won't be scammed so I suppose for some people the added expense is worth it versus securing a reservation directly through a DVC owner. I'm sure it's still WAY cheaper to book a reservation through a broker than booking a cash reservation directly through Disney.

I booked directly through a DVC member here on the Dis & have had a very positive experience (we travel in October). She was willing to spend the extra time to walk our reservation without me even asking and was able to secure us 9 nights in a Value studio at AKV during the Food & Wine Festival! She's been extremely helpful throughout the process with answering random questions I've had as well as setting up DME for us. My parents opted to book through a broker and they've had a great experience as well, but they ended up paying I think $16 per point (since they booked at a "desirable" resort 11 months in advance) whereas I paid $12.50 per point. Even at $16/pp they are still getting a fabulous deal.

 

[karpy111]

Just booked an 8 night split stay through Scott at DVC-rental. First of all he found me a studio at the Beach Club outside the 7 month window and didnt charge me anything additional for this. I was also able to book the Dining plan through his DVC members, again at no additional charge. It was an easy booking. He found me everything I wanted and I paid.

With regards to prices going up. Assuming that if in the fall Disney will have free dining my trip would have cost 900 dollars more through Disney than with renting points. Also I would not have been able to book a split stay with Disney. Well i could have but it would have cost me more money in tickets as I would have had to book two 4 night stays each with a 4 day ticket. By renting points I was able to do the split stay and just buy one 8 day ticket which is alot cheaper.

Renting was awesome and would definitely encourage anyone that wants to stay in a deluxe at cheaper prices to do so.

 

[Pooh2]

We saved closed to half by renting points on our Aulani trip last year.
I went to check out Hilton Head and Vero Beach, I did not see much savings..

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

I just used a broker to secure a reservation at Aulani for 7 nights in October. The 1 BR ocean view villa that I reserved was $7548 if reserved directly from Disney, plus an additional $245 for parking for the week. I paid $4508, and should get free parking since we'll be staying on points. That it a great savings. For several years I rented points for DVC resorts at WDW and HHI from a DISer, and I had fabulous experiences. The last time I rented from this person was in 2010, and I paid $13/point then. If you can rent from the broker at $14/pt and not $16/pt, it's still a good value.

 

[crisi]

Even with the price increases, David has a difficult time having enough points for those resorts to meet demand. So we may be near price equilibrium, but that point is higher than the great bargains people were getting.

 

[StitchBuddy]

I always get a better deal off of ebay.

 

[ValpoCory]

Since 2011, I have brokered 10 private DVC renting transactions for either my family (3 times), or others. The most I've paid per point is $12, compared to $14-$16 per point through the major brokers. Back in January, I booked a BLT standard view studio at the 11 month mark. I knew from research that those rooms were likely to go quickly, so I settled on $12 per point from a DVC owner I had used for 2 other transactions I had done for folks in the past. I was glad I did, because my DVC owner buddy checked availability the next day, and two of the seven nights were sold out.

If you know what you are doing and do your homework, you can truly reduce the risk of private DVC renting down to the level of renting through the major brokers.

Long story short ... try going with a private rental. You can save hundreds. Plus, each time you rent privately, you gain a "trusted" DVC owner, which can be reused in the future to reduce any risk involved in the process.

 

[kathy884]

I hear you. I guess if you are going to do Disney onsite, it's still better than paying retail. Condo rentals though offsite are about 1/3rd of the price of onsite, making Disney points seem really expensive to me.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I always get a better deal off of ebay.

Be very careful with Ebay rentals. If they are RCI trades and not reservations booked directly with DVC points, they are illegal. DVC and RCI both could cancel the reservation. The big clue on those is the $95 fee to be paid when you check in. Or if they are seven day rentals. Most DVC members will have points for rent depending on availability and not reservations for specific nights.