Renting DVC Points to Cruise??

[shaycamp21]

Is it possible to rent DVC points to pay for all or part of a cruise. If so is it worth it and how many points would you need for a cruise (in say March)? Does anyone have a link to a points caculator? Thanks!

 

[Dean]

Renting someone else's points to pay for a cruise would only be worth it if you got a VERY low price on the points. You'd have to get somewhere around $5 per point max to make it worthwhile for a large number of reasons which I can list if you need the info. A DVC member usually gets a value of about $6-6.75 per point, many times less if they are a FL resident.

 

[shaycamp21]

Sure any info you can provide would be appreciated. We just got back from WDW 3wks ago (our 1st which we know will be many trips) and have been tossing around the idea of buying a DVC, though for our next Disney vacation we really want to do a cruise.
Thanks
Shay

 

[crisi]

Many DVC members cruise for cash and rent their points out to pay for the cruise. Crusing on points is not a great value. Its an OK value for members - particularly members who have low point costs. But it isn't for renting.

For instance in early March two adults, 7 night Eastern would be 520 points in Category six for 2006. Points rent at around $10 a point, so you have $5200 in rental fees. Add a $75 booking fee. Add port taxes. And you don't have the luxury of cancelling in the same way you do with cash. And that assumes the room is bookable, DCL only permits a certain number of bookings with cash. You can book that cruise right now on the DCL site for $4000.

Now for me, valuing my already purchased points at just over $6 - I take the cruise for $3500 - might be worth it.

 

[Dean]

Sure any info you can provide would be appreciated. We just got back from WDW 3wks ago (our 1st which we know will be many trips) and have been tossing around the idea of buying a DVC, though for our next Disney vacation we really want to do a cruise.
Thanks
Shay

Lets look at this from the members perspective as any of the benefits and negatives would apply. If one is booking on points, you get a return of about $6-7 per point max while you could easily rent out your points for $10 per point or more. You'd have a $75 fee and any changes you made would result in an additional $75 fee. If you cancel, you do not get your points back as they were before, they would only be available for things like DCL, Disney Collection, Concierge Collection and would expire at the end of the use year, you could not bank them. If the price went down, your price would not. If you had to book part on points and part on cash, the cash portion would be at the contract price, usually somewhat higher than the early booking discounted price. You could only book at 11 months out meaning the best cabins are likely to be gone.

If you book cash, you get the lowest rate available. If the price goes down, you get a refund. If you cancel before 60 days, you get a full refund. You can book farther out giving you a chance at some of those special cabins like the obstructed view units that are less cost.

IMO, for what it's worth, there are FAR more risk in using points than paying cash and renting out the points unless you're already close to the 60 day window. As a renter, you would incur all of those risk plus the inherent risks associated with renting. As a Florida resident, you'd have to get the rental for $4 per point or less to make it worthwhile. A non FL resident would need to be at or under $5 pp to even consider it a break even.

 

[udflyer00]

Funny this topic has come around again... I actually just rented out all of my 2006 point at $10 per point to raise $2000 to put towards the $2400 it will take to cruise my family of 4 in a deck 2 cat 9 room... Which is an entirely fine room by me... My wife and I took the DCL for our honeymoon in 99 and were in this same type of room and loved it...

But I was quick to understand that renting my points was better than using points because if I recall it was about 150 points per person so just for my wife and I it would be 300 (not counting our 2 kids). The cash cost was $2400, and we had 200 points... 200*10=best decision for us... Lots of nice people out there wanting to give DVC a try or stay in a nice resort for a pretty reasonable price too!!

Mark