Renting Points vs Booking through Disney

[LoveBugs]

We're trying to decide between booking a 2 bedroom villa at Old Key West through Disney or booking the same room by renting points from someone. We want to get the Disney Dining Package as well as the 7 day Park Hopper passes. If we book through Disney, we'll get the dining package for free. However, it appears (if I'm doing this correctly) that it would be cheaper still to rent points from someone (estimating at $10/point...sound right?) and just purchase the dining package on top of that. I think it'll be around a $650 difference for 3 adults.

Anyhow, we're wondering what differences we might come across going one way versus other. My understanding is that going with points we don't get maid service (not that big of a deal). Any other similar things that I should know about?

Thanks! I'm a total WDW newbie!!

 

[Caskbill]

They don't have park hopper passes anymore, so I assume you mean the Magic Your Way pass with the park hopping option as an add-on.

You're not entitled to any member benefits even if you rent from a DVC owner, so there's no difference there between renting or going through CRO.

If any of your dates include a weekend, it can be cheaper to go through CRO for those nights rather than rent points, since weekend points are roughly the same as 2-1/2 times a weeknight rate, but I assume you already calculated that.

The other difference is that if you go through CRO, there's an 11.5% room tax. The rate quoted by Disney may not include that so be sure you add that into your calculations. If you rent points, there is no tax, so whatever you agree on with the DVC owner for the point rental is the total you pay. There are no additional taxes or resort charges of any kind. (Except for any optional charges for items such as using the telephone, getting an internet connection, getting extra towels, soaps, coffee, etc).


As far as the resort itself, the only difference would be the mousekeeping. You would get full daily mousekeeping if you get a room through CRO. With DVC you get a trash/towel service on day 4 (Clean towels, and trash removed).

Remember, if you rent point to stay, that transaction is strictly between you and the person you rent points from. Disney is not involved at all. Most renters will have some pretty severe cancellation requirements since a cancelled DVC reservation can result in the owner losing points, or havng them severely restricted. You can cancel a CRO reservation fairly easily, even at the last minute, so if there's any chance at all that you may have to cancel, you'd be better off with a CRO reservation. If not, then renting DVC points can be a good cost savings.

 

[LSchrow]

since you didn't give dates, i plugged in 8/20 (sunday) thru 8/27 (sunday), 7 nights. OKW 2 bdrm, 3 adults (note: i did not include passes - too many variables )

thru WDW CRO: $3902.64 (inc Dining Plan & tax)

if rented at $10pp (263pts): $2630 plus $798 (7 day DP at $38 per person) = $3428


savings: $475 (which go toward discounted park passes ~ if renting pts, you could also save some more $'s by buying passes thru a discount broker (see mousesavers.com). if book thru CRO, you would need to purchase at least 3 1-day passes thru them to get the free DP)

major difference:
no daily housekeeping (see above post). personally, we like not having to "clean up" for housekeeping

you can still use magical express.

the level of trust when renting is VERY important. read the DVC rent/trade board FAQs, check out posts.

(& thanks for catching my "didn't have enough coffee yet to do math" mistake, lizziepooh )

good luck!

 

[bounceliketigger]

I could be wrong, but I believe that free dining offer is only good on "select" resorts.

The weekend point value, as already mentioned is an extremely important point to note.

 

[lizziepooh]

The $114 for dining is only for one day. It would cost $798 for the 7 days for 3 adults.