Renting form DVC VS resort

[VeeHam]

Hello All
I' am new to this board and it seems like their is so much useful information here. If I posted this in the wrong place please let me know! I am just starting to plan our first disney trip EVER and I am super stoked! I am planning for myself, DH and my 2 DD's who are 6 and 3. I have been reading the Unnofficial guide to DW and in the book they mentioned DVC. After researching this it seems like a good idea to rent from someone versus rent a room at a resort. I am curious as to the pros and cons of doing this. I noticed the price seems good, but there are obviously things I do not know. Any information about this would be very helpful. We would like to stay as close as possible to either MK or Epcot as we will probablt be spending 2 days at each and 1 at AK. I am also hoping to do breakfast in our room, so any suggestions with rooms that are not going to break the bank would be great. Does anyone think $**** for * nights is doable for lodging? And do all the hotels decorate for Christmas? We really would like to stay somewhere that is decorated. Thanks so much for all advice and information.

Edited to remove some specifics so as not to be construed as a Reservation Wanted post - Chuck S

 

[Disneypubgal]

Hello All
I' am new to this board and it seems like their is so much useful information here. If I posted this in the wrong place please let me know! I am just starting to plan our first disney trip EVER and I am super stoked! I am planning for myself, DH and my 2 DD's who are 6 and 3. I have been reading the Unnofficial guide to DW and in the book they mentioned DVC. After researching this it seems like a good idea to rent from someone versus rent a room at a resort. I am curious as to the pros and cons of doing this. I noticed the price seems good, but there are obviously things I do not know. Any information about this would be very helpful. We would like to stay as close as possible to either MK or Epcot as we will probablt be spending 2 days at each and 1 at AK. I am also hoping to do breakfast in our room, so any suggestions with rooms that are not going to break the bank would be great. Does anyone think $**** for * nights is doable for lodging? And do all the hotels decorate for Christmas? We really would like to stay somewhere that is decorated. Thanks so much for all advice and information.

Good luck with trip planning!! Renting from a member is a leap of faith on both sides... you are trusting that someone won't take your money and run and they are trusting that you will actually pay once reservation has been made... Cost of your room will really depend on the time of year you are going and what type of room you want...All the DVC hotels are decorated for the holidays...

 

[Chuck S]

As the previous poster said, all of the Hotels decorate. Some more extensively then others. OKW does a sort of "Tropical Christmas" where poinsettias replace many of the outside plants, the light poles are wrapped in lights and tinsel and the lobby is decorated.

The amount you suggested should be sufficient for a studio, maybe not a 1 bedroom if you are trying to travel during the actual Holiday season. Be aware, though, that most DVC resorts will have already been booked for much of December, it is a popular travel time for DVCers, the entire month is popular from Thanksgiving through New Years.

We don't allow too many specifics to be posted on the regular boards, but you may reply to a Points for Rent thread on the Rent/Trade board with your details when you're ready to actually search for an owner to rent from.

These threads may help answer some of your questions about renting:

Considering Renting...?

and

DVC Point Rental Primer

You'll also want to read through the sticky threads on the Rent/Trade board for the posting requirements. We no longer allow Reservation Wanted threads, but as I said, you can reply in an existing thread.

Good luck with your trip

 

[yourMaire83]

I think it's a very good value to rent DVC points. We're trying it for the first time in August. For our dates, renting points for Animal Kingdom Lodge will be roughly the same price as booking All Star Sports! The biggest added value, is that all DVC rooms have a kitchen or kitchenette. Kitchenette (studio rooms) is a small fridge, microwave, coffee machine, and prep sink with dish soap, plates, glasses and plastic flatwear (forks, etc.). Disney value resorts do not have these, and moderates only have minifridge and coffee maker. All DVC rooms have balconies too. Only Disney's Deluxe resorts feature balconies, and cost double what you would pay for renting DVC.

The first thing you should consider when trying to pick which resort to stay, is transportation. If you're driving down in your own car, then any resort would work - when you check in to your DVC resort, they give you a parking pass to put on your dashboard. Parking at all theme parks will be free. If you booked your room through Disney, value, moderate, deluxe... they all give the same parking pass when you check-in. For those staying off-property, parking is $14 per day!

If you are flying into Orlando International, you really don't need to have a car. Disney's Magical Express will pick you up at the airport and take you to yor DVC or Disney resort.

If you have children (especially small ones) you would benefit most from the resorts close to Epcot, or Bay Lake Tower, which is near Magic Kingdom. Bay Lake Tower is part of the Contemporary resort, so you can access Magic Kingdom or Epcot via the monorail. The Epcot DVC resorts, Boardwalk and Beach Club, are a short walk to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. You can also take a quick boat ride to either, for free. There is a monorail route between Epcot and Magic Kingdom, but I believe it is only useful if you have Park Hopper added to your tickets. All Disney resorts bus transportation to the theme parks and Downtown Disney, but I think with small children, it would be nice to have your lodging close to the theme parks at the end of a long day.

If it were me, I would only stay at these resorts if I had a car with me: Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Animal Kingdom. But that's just one gal's opinion.

Also, you can only use the Disney Dining plan if you own DVC, as opposed to those of us who rent points. From my research and my own eating habits, I would waste money on the Dining Plan. If you were going to have 2 meals a day in the most expensive restaurants for the length of your trip, the dining plan is a bargain. In order to do that, you usually have to make your meal reservations 6 months in advance!

Here's some things you should Google:
dvc point charts
-keep in mind you will probably pay $10 per point
disney menus

A month before your trip, go to touringplans.com and check their crowd calendar. I would print it and take it with you. Avoid the parks it says to avoid for each day. I think the Extra Magic hours are only worth it if you have a Park Hopper ticket.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!

 

[Tara]

Renting points can be a great way to get spacious, homey accommodations! That said, the first 2 weeks of December are VERY busy at DVC resorts (even though the parks aren't as crowded) because the number of points needed per night is at its lowest AND you have all the holiday loveliness. It might be tough to come by a reservation at this point if you are looking for a particular resort. If you can be flexible on the resort and the days, then you might be able to find something. (it's worth a try!) I'd recommend reading the sticky threads at the top of the DVC Rent/Trade board to familiarize yourself with the rental process, then post a request for a reservation as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. If someone has points available for you, they can connect with you and then check availability before you commit to the transaction.

For $**** you should be able to get * nights at most DVC resorts in a 1br villa for Saturday-Thursday. (Except Bay Lake Tower - points are a bit more expensive to rent there and points per night are higher than other resorts, so you'd likely go over $****.) If you include both Friday and Saturday nights, your $**** won't go as far; likewise if go Sun-Fri your $**** will go farther.

And yes, everything is decorated for the holidays! The park decorations go up first by about mid-November and the resort decorations start going up the week before Thanksgiving. WDW decorated for the holidays is truly a sight to behold!

Good luck figuring out what to do for your vacation!

 

[yourMaire83]

I almost forgot - all DVC have laundry facilities that are free. For a studio room, you walk down the hall; but in the DVC rooms that have a living room and kitchen, it's in your room. All DVC rooms have DVD players too. You can go to the lobby and rent (for free) DVDs and board games.

 

[tjkraz]

You can go to the lobby and rent (for free) DVDs and board games.

Note that is a DVC member perk (free rentals) and there is no guarantee that the privilege would be extended to a non-member guest or renter.

 

[sissy_42]

Also, you can only use the Disney Dining plan if you own DVC, as opposed to those of us who rent points. From my research and my own eating habits, I would waste money on the Dining Plan. If you were going to have 2 meals a day in the most expensive restaurants for the length of your trip, the dining plan is a bargain. In order to do that, you usually have to make your meal reservations 6 months in advance!

Renters can have a Disney Dinning plan, the owner just has to call member services to add it. There are three or four different plans to chose from as well., including the quick service plan that does not include table service restaurants at all. So as a renter or owner you have many dinning options.