Renting DVC points

[melvin1970]

My group is thinking of renting DVC points. For some reason I am nervous. We really want to stay at a Deluxe because they are favorite and about the only way price wise is to rent points. I looking at going through David's. Would love to hear any opinions from people that have done this.

 

[rwdavis2]

Nervous about what exactly? David's is reputable. You pay up front and you cannot get a refund if you cancel. What do you need to know?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

When you "rent points" you are actually renting a reservation at a DVC resort made for you by a DVC member.

• The member will control the reservation until you check in.
• Your booking is generally non-refundable and cannot be cancelled for refund due to the restrictions of a timeshare booking by the owner.
• You will often need to pay in full up front, versus the $200/first night's stay deposit on a booking with Disney.
• Any changes, special room requests or adding the dining plan have to be done through the owner. Dining plans must be paid in full at the time that they are added to the reservation because that's the way that DVC works.
• Tickets, FP+ and ADRs are your own responsibility.
• DVC units are not the same as staying in a hotel room. Aside from not getting daily housekeeping, you will not get 2 beds in a studio unless you're staying at OKW. What you get in a studio is a queen bed and a full sleeper sofa. Some studios will also have a Murphy bed that is smaller than a twin bed that will accommodate a 5th person. Most 2BR units are a 1BR+a studio, so if you're looking at a bigger unit for a larger group, know the bed set up.
• You will have all of the advantages that any Disney resort guest gets (like EMH, access to the resort's theme pool, ADRs at 180+10, FP+ at 60 days prior to arrival, MBs) but none of the benefits that DVC members have (such as member discounts or events or Top of the World Lounge).
• You will not qualify for any additional Disney discounts. You also are unlikely to get any kind of upgrade (and should not ask for one, as the owner who made the reservation for you may be charged for it).
• Demand for DVC rental far exceeds the number of available units and owners willing to use their points for a rental. DVC is designed to be at or near 100% occupancy all year long.
• Your chances of getting exactly what you want are much greater if you have lined up someone, who owns at the resort that you are interested in booking, at least 11 months in advance of the day you wish to arrive. The probability of success goes down from there.
• A broker is a go-between between a renter and a broker. To meet your reservation request, they need an owner, with the right number of points, in the right use year, at the right resort -- AND the unit needs to be available. This can be a challenge to get alignment on.
• In general, as a renter do not expect to book Boardwalk Standard Studios or 2BR, BLT Standard Studios or 2BR units, Grand Floridian studios, or Animal Kingdom Value or Club Level units. You can ask, but have backup plans (and budget, in the case of the Standard/Value units).
• DVC "busy season" does not align to what people think of as high season at Disney, and starts in late September and runs through marathon. Epcot resorts and near-park can be hard for owners to book during Food & Wine.
• Renting from a DVC owner can get you staying at a deluxe resort, in a villa-type room, for less than a standard room at that resort would cost from Disney. But it is non-refundable.
• If there is any issue, Disney will not be a part of any fix, as your transaction is not with them.

David's is a reputable broker.

 

[jmillertime]

I rented through David's DVC last April. We were able to get into the Boardwalk Resort. Easy process, had no issues. Once your booking is complete through David's your reservation is linked to the My Disney experience app and it's as if you booked through Disney's website.

 

[GPC0321]

We're doing it for the first time for our trip next December. I started researching DVC months ago and learned all that I could. I've met two wonderful owners, and both have been so helpful. One owns BLT and BWV, and she was ready to help me rent at one of those, but she encouraged me to keep searching for a VGF owner since that was where I truly wanted to stay. VGF isn't easy to get, especially in December, but I found another fantastic owner, and she has been so great. I feel 100% confident in her and know that she's going to do everything possible to get us our reservation. She's even noticed me saying that it'll be my mom's birthday and has said she'll note that on the reservation.
If I wasn't trying to get VGF at a popular time, I would have considered David's or one of the other brokers. But I honestly have loved meeting and working with the two owners I found. I'll rent from either of them with no hesitation in the future. I also think DVC is absolutely the way to go if you want to stay deluxe. I'll know better after our trip next December, but I anticipate more DVC renting for future trips.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If I wasn't trying to get VGF at a popular time

VGF studio always demands a private owner. It's just not likely via a broker.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I have rented 5 times thru 3 different private DVC owners and each experience has been a flawless transaction. Could not have afforded the accommodations otherwise. The owners have been beyond helpful. I highly recommend it - but do your research.

 

[emmabelle]

I rented with Dave and everything went great. Just make sure you look into trip insurance because if something happens and you can't go you have no recourse

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I have used David's to both rent my points out and rent points from. Everytime the process went very well and we were very pleased. The only thing is like PP said if you cancel you loose your money unless your insurance covers it.

 

[melvin1970]

Thanks everyone for your input. We did try renting but what we wanted and when was booked. End up with a fairly good rate right through Disney at the Boardwalk Standard view so we are happy.

 

[Harambe]

I have looked into renting points a bunch of times, and just can't pull the trigger. That is just me, and my choice, as everyone seems to have wonderful experiences. I know I pay more, but I am just more comfortable going through Disney, and hopefully having a discount code that I can apply. Sometimes, peace of mind is worth the money - and again, it is just me and this is no reflection on those that rent points. I just want the OP to do what s/he feels best doing.

 

[jdmn2010]

Sorry you couldn't get what you wanted through renting. As a DVC owner, I just used Dave's for the first time to rent out points. It was my first time renting to a stranger so I was nervous about going about it myself, but will give it a go eventually. Dave's was really easy to go through and made the process simple for me and the person I rented to and I liked that I rented out my points about an hour after posting them. It's a good way to go if you aren't quite sure about renting without a middle man yet.

 

[yaksack]

I rented through David's DVC last April. We were able to get into the Boardwalk Resort. Easy process, had no issues. Once your booking is complete through David's your reservation is linked to the My Disney experience app and it's as if you booked through Disney's website.

Sorry to ask a question, but did you purchase your park tickets and dining through Davids? I just purchased points through them and they said i must give the owner of the points my CC number to purchase tickets.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sorry to ask a question, but did you purchase your park tickets and dining through Davids? I just purchased points through them and they said i must give the owner of the points my CC number to purchase tickets.

You can buy your tickets anywhere you want. You don't need to buy through David. Dining plan is another story. The owner of the points must add the dining plan for you and it must be paid for when it is added. So if you plan to use a credit card, you'll need to give the member your CC number (and the three digit code on the back and your full address including zip code).

 

[yaksack]

You can buy your tickets anywhere you want. You don't need to buy through David. Dining plan is another story. The owner of the points must add the dining plan for you and it must be paid for when it is added. So if you plan to use a credit card, you'll need to give the member your CC number (and the three digit code on the back and your full address including zip code).

Deb and Bill have you ever done this?

 

[yaksack]

I rented with Dave and everything went great. Just make sure you look into trip insurance because if something happens and you can't go you have no recourse

Where can i get the insurqnce you are referring to?

 

[emmabelle]

I've used insure my trip when cruising, luckily never had to use it, but they have all different plans to compare. You can choose the one that works best for you.


I usually book WDW on a cash reservation because we enjoy club level, so I don't get insurance because it's usually easy to cancel or change your ressies when not renting points.

 

[BaymaxForever]

We recently returned from our trip. Rented points from David's with a stay at AKL. Everything went smoothly from request to check-in. We loved it and plan on renting again in 2018. Just be sure that you and you party understand the risks involved (no cancellation is the biggie) and you accept the risk. Purchase trip insurance if that will give you more peace of mind.
We bought our tickets separately from UT, no issues adding them to MDE and making FP at 60 days out staying with rented points. Best wishes!

 

[rwdavis2]

Where can i get the insurqnce you are referring to?

Another point rental agency we're not allowed to name here. Just google rent DVC points and check out the sites that pop up. One will offer insurance on a sliding scale. The closer to the reservation date you cancel the less you get back. We used that point rental company but bought travel insurance that covered the entire trip and not just the points rental.

 

[Marionnette]

Sorry to ask a question, but did you purchase your park tickets and dining through Davids? I just purchased points through them and they said i must give the owner of the points my CC number to purchase tickets.

Owners are not going to purchase your tickets for you and you do not have to buy them from David's. You can purchase them anywhere and link them to your MDE account. The dining plans must be booked by the owner if you are staying in a DVC unit on points. And it has to be paid for, in full, at the time that it is booked. Some owners are willing to use a gift card to accomplish this, but if I'm not mistaken, David's asks renters to supply their credit card info.