Renting Points?

[Kristina1024]

I see alot of people talking about renting points to stay in a deluxe resort, how does this work..i know its non refundable but i dont know anything else about it..im assuming its from DVC members?

 

[Goofy4]

There's a FAQ list here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/RentTrade-FAQ.htm

 

[xceebeex]

I am starting to look in to this as well. It seems like a pretty good deal. For example, I found someone "renting" points for $11 a point and OKW for 7 nights is 269 points which comes to $2959 and if I were to book through Disney it would be $3941 for those same 7 nights. So that is almost $1000 in savings.

So I am trying to do some research to see if there are any catches or anything like that.

 

[Goofy4]

And don't forget: no additional room tax when renting points.

 

[Sammie]

There is no "catch" as long as you deal with someone that is honest.

Renting a reservations from a DVC member can save you money over rack rates. However if you have a PIN or Disney is offering a public discount or you have an annual pass, then you need to figure up the difference in cost.

Also DVC reservations do not qualify for free dining. You will not get daily housekeeping and there will be no cancellation. Also your reservation will require payment in full prior to arrival.

Until you check in the member you rent from owns the reservation and any requests, etc must be made to the member then they make them for you. So good communication is a must.

Weekend stays require more points therefore those nights will be more expensive. Except for OKW: DVC studios will have one queen bed and one full size sofa sleeper.

Also DVC does not rehab their rooms as often as Disney resorts so there could be some wear and tear on the room.

There are times it can save you money, but educate yourself by reading all the info on the Rent/Trade forum before proceeding.

 

[Goofy4]

Thankfully (for me anyway), Disney recently balanced the weekend rate with the weekday rate. The difference was dramatic -- almost double in some cases.

On the wear and tear... Our room this week had a slight tear in the carpet, but it was otherwise near perfect. That issue might not be addressed until a scheduled carpet replacement for that entire building as it was not in a high traffic area of the room. If an owner complained, however, something might be done.

 

[xceebeex]

There is no "catch" as long as you deal with someone that is honest.

Renting a reservations from a DVC member can save you money over rack rates. However if you have a PIN or Disney is offering a public discount or you have an annual pass, then you need to figure up the difference in cost.

Also DVC reservations do not qualify for free dining. You will not get daily housekeeping and there will be no cancellation. Also your reservation will require payment in full prior to arrival.

Until you check in the member you rent from owns the reservation and any requests, etc must be made to the member then they make them for you. So good communication is a must.

Weekend stays require more points therefore those nights will be more expensive. Except for OKW: DVC studios will have one queen bed and one full size sofa sleeper.

Also DVC does not rehab their rooms as often as Disney resorts so there could be some wear and tear on the room.

There are times it can save you money, but educate yourself by reading all the info on the Rent/Trade forum before proceeding.

Thanks for the information. So are the DVC Villas the same as the ones you can book through Disney just in a different "block"? I am assuming they must be in blocks otherwise you wouldn't be able to make "requests" but how is it determined what is a DVC Villa vs Resort Villa?

 

[Goofy4]

Disney owns X number of shares in each DVC resort. They can make those shares available as rooms through standard reservations (at a higher rate). The room assigner can then try to accommodate requests from the general pool of rooms.

 

[Gregawsk8]

This is a great way to stay at a Deluxe resort for about the price of a Moderate resort. Take a look through the DVC Point Rental section of this site. We booked 2 trips for this year by renting points from here. This is especially good if want more space or need to accomodate more then 4 people.

 

[Sammie]

Thanks for the information. So are the DVC Villas the same as the ones you can book through Disney just in a different "block"? I am assuming they must be in blocks otherwise you wouldn't be able to make "requests" but how is it determined what is a DVC Villa vs Resort Villa?

No they are the same, you can make requests but they are never a guarantee. The hotel assigns rooms, not the booking agent.

 

[Lynne M]

Thanks for the information. So are the DVC Villas the same as the ones you can book through Disney just in a different "block"? I am assuming they must be in blocks otherwise you wouldn't be able to make "requests" but how is it determined what is a DVC Villa vs Resort Villa?

There aren't specific rooms that belong to members, and other rooms that belong to Disney. DVC retains ownership of a very small percentage of the room inventory, and villas from the member inventory can be rented out to the general public in certain very specific situations. That's what you see available when you look at the WDW resort reservations web site.

But once a member or non-member makes a reservation, their villa is assigned from the same pool of rooms.

 

[xceebeex]

There aren't specific rooms that belong to members, and other rooms that belong to Disney. DVC retains ownership of a very small percentage of the room inventory, and villas from the member inventory can be rented out to the general public in certain very specific situations. That's what you see available when you look at the WDW resort reservations web site.

But once a member or non-member makes a reservation, their villa is assigned from the same pool of rooms.

Interesting. I thought I just read somewhere that the DVC Villa's could potentially have more "wear and tear" because they don't get renovated at the same pace as the other rooms, but that doesn't make sense if ALL rooms come out of the same pool of rooms.

 

[Marionnette]

Something else to think about is that you do not get maid service when you rent points. You will get a "trash and towel" service on Day #4 if your stay is less than 8 nights. If it's 8 nights or longer, you get a full cleaning on Day#4 and a trash & towel on Day #8.

It's not a big deal unless it bothers you to make your own beds, hang your own towels, wipe off your own sinks and tub and take out your own trash.

 

[Goofy4]

if ALL rooms come out of the same pool of rooms.

DVC rooms are either renovated resort rooms (to include kitchenettes or full kitchens) or built specifically for DVC. They then become owned and operated by DVC and are not part of the same general pool of rooms available for reservation. Disney can, however, make those rooms available via the standard reservation system (where they usually get the "Villa" designation). Perhaps they still use the "Home away from home" name?

An any given time the vast majority or DVC rooms will be occupied by DVC owners and renters. Any specific room could be occupied by an a owner, renter, or as they call it, "cash", via standard hotel reservations.

 

[vicki_c]

Interesting. I thought I just read somewhere that the DVC Villa's could potentially have more "wear and tear" because they don't get renovated at the same pace as the other rooms, but that doesn't make sense if ALL rooms come out of the same pool of rooms.

That is a comparison between DVC properties and regular resort properties (not between 2 DVC rooms at the same location). Furnishings in DVC rooms are different than those in the regular resort (for example, BCV vs. BC) and DVC properties may be refurbished less frequently than the regular resorts, because the money for that comes from owner's dues.

The pool of rooms is ALL DVC, not mixed between DVC & resort rooms at the resorts that have both.

 

[xceebeex]

That is a comparison between DVC properties and regular resort properties (not between 2 DVC rooms at the same location). Furnishings in DVC rooms are different than those in the regular resort (for example, BCV vs. BC) and DVC properties may be refurbished less frequently than the regular resorts, because the money for that comes from owner's dues.

The pool of rooms is ALL DVC, not mixed between DVC & resort rooms at the resorts that have both.

This makes sense. I follow now, thanks!

 

[Lynne M]

Interesting. I thought I just read somewhere that the DVC Villa's could potentially have more "wear and tear" because they don't get renovated at the same pace as the other rooms, but that doesn't make sense if ALL rooms come out of the same pool of rooms.

Ah, now I think I understand your question.

DVC resorts are separate from the non -DVC resorts. For example, the Beach Club and Beach Club Villas are actually separate buildings. They share facilities like pools and restaurants, but the villas - the DVC rooms - are in their own building. So, a guest either makes a reservation at the Beach Club resort, or the Beach Club Villas resort. A DVC member staying on points will not be given a room at the Beach Club resort, and a guest staying on a cash reservation at the Beach Club resort will not be assigned to a villa.

 

[oswald12]

Does anyone have a link to where we can rent points? For whatever reason I am having trouble finding it.

Thanks!

 

[jujube]

Be very careful. There have been instances of people showing up and not having a reservation, also of people sending in payment and then never hearing from the "owners" again. I would only rent from someone I know personally or through www.dvcrequest.com This is a business so there is recourse whereas dealing with a private individual set up to steal could get involved.

 

[Goofy4]

Does anyone have a link to where we can rent points? For whatever reason I am having trouble finding it.

Thanks!

Here's the DIS rent/trade board: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29

See the "how to" sticky on that forum: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2647748