Talk to Me About Renting Points

[DGsAtBLT]

We're experienced Disney guests, we've stayed at DVC properties, but we've never rented points. We're planning on renting from Davids in Spring 2018 for a stay at BLT.

What do I need to know? We know the basics like the lack of everyday maid service, that the reservation will be out of our control, that kind of stuff. We're planning on buying our tickets soon through Disney to take advantage of the Canadian discount. In your experience, how likely is it that Davids has a large amount of BLT home resort points to use at 11 months out (we need 10 nights in a 2 bedroom)? What have you done about trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance (bonus points if you're Canadian)? Is it true that if you want to add the dining plan you need to give the member your credit card number for that portion? Anything else we should be thinking about?

Thanks, and sorry if this is posted in the wrong section! I wasn't sure if this belonged here or in the DVC forums.

 

[_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. Most owners will need your credit card to do this.
• 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 an owner. 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. Odds on what points they have when varies -- a lot. It can't be predicted.
• 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.

One other thing I will mention is that an owner can only book 7 nights at 11 months. To book 10 nights, they need to be at 11 months + 3 days. Via a broker, the broker will wait until the whole stay can be booked. A private party might book the 7, then add each day.

For BLT, assume you need to budget for Lake View. You can ask for Standard, but it can be difficult sometimes. Spring is less bad than fall, though. You also should check on the difference between a 2BR locked and a 2BR dedicated for sleeping arrangements -- a dedicated has an additional actual bed vs. a sleeper, but sacrifices a kitchenette. (Still get a full kitchen.)

 

[DGsAtBLT]

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. Most owners will need your credit card to do this.
• 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 an owner. 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. Odds on what points they have when varies -- a lot. It can't be predicted.
• 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.

One other thing I will mention is that an owner can only book 7 nights at 11 months. To book 10 nights, they need to be at 11 months + 3 days. Via a broker, the broker will wait until the whole stay can be booked. A private party might book the 7, then add each day.

For BLT, assume you need to budget for Lake View. You can ask for Standard, but it can be difficult sometimes. Spring is less bad than fall, though. You also should check on the difference between a 2BR locked and a 2BR dedicated for sleeping arrangements -- a dedicated has an additional actual bed vs. a sleeper, but sacrifices a kitchenette. (Still get a full kitchen.)

Thank you! Most of that we already knew, our numbers included the cost of a LV 2 bedroom as I had read standard view at BLT is much harder to grab.

I wasn't aware of the 7 days at a time when booking, good to know! So making sure I'm understanding correctly, the broker will book 3 days "late" for us to get the full 10 nights? Am I correct in assuming we would still have a good shot at a 2 bedroom LV at BLT at that point? Are lock off and dedicated 2 bedrooms booking categories or is it just a request the member makes for us?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Am I correct in assuming we would still have a good shot at a 2 bedroom LV at BLT at that point?

yes.

Are lock off and dedicated 2 bedrooms booking categories or is it just a request the member makes for us?

They are booking categories.

 

[GPC0321]

We're renting points for the first time this year for our December trip. I'm going through an owner privately instead of using a broker like David's, mostly because I want a hard-to-get reservation (VGF studio) for that time. I spent time on the DVC board here and at another site, and was blessed to find a great owner. We've been in contact several times via email, we have a signed contract, and I've paid 1/2 down as a deposit. She has always been so helpful with any questions I have, and contacted me just the other day to touch base and let me know she's gearing up to make the reservation. It has been nothing but a pleasant experience so far, and as our reservation day draws near, I'm getting very excited.

I've heard nothing but good things about David's too. As far as availability, it might be tough to get a block of 10 nights in a row at one of the monorail resorts during a peak time. It depends on when you're going in the spring, I guess. It might be worth it to consider a split stay since you've got 10 nights. I don't know how easy that'd be with a broker. I was in contact with yet another fabulous owner early in my search, and she owned at both BLT and Boardwalk (and Beach Club, I think), and was willing to book split stays. That would be ideal to me for a longer stay, because half of the time could be in the Epcot/HS area, and half could be in the MK area. Our stay is only 3 nights though, and our #1 choice is VGF, so she encouraged me to network and find an owner, and it worked! Or hopefully it did! I'll know next week! LOL!

I find DVC owners who rent points are very nice folks.

ETA: Just read the part about 7-day blocks. I didn't know that either! Doesn't affect us this trip, but good to know for the future!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

There's a dedicated DVC rent/trade forum here:

http://www.disboards.com/forums/dvc-rent-trade.29/

 

[mort1331]

As a DVC Canadian owner, I would add that if your looking for March break, you need to put in your request around 12-13months out. That will give Dave or a private time to get things ready. You might also want to be flexable by one or two days. Both with moving the time around, and by shortening the time.
The private owner can book at the 11month mark for your 7 days, then after the 3rd day book the other 3. Its very easy and they do not have to call each day. The reason is no one else can get that booking if they have booked for 7 days. The room is not open to other bookings for 7 more days, so the owner would only need to call one more time. Most would not have an issue with this, but BLT does command a premium at the 11 month mark, so budget for that.
Good luck.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Thank you everyone!

We are hoping to leave the first Friday in March, so not during March break, and we're also somewhat flexible. Just to confirm, once we have a reservation booked although we can't make any changes to it we can attach it to our MDE account and everything from that point on is the same as it would be if we booked through Disney, right?

 

[chalee94]

right - you will be able to see it on the MDE website and get 60 day fastpass booking and such.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thank you everyone!

We are hoping to leave the first Friday in March, so not during March break, and we're also somewhat flexible. Just to confirm, once we have a reservation booked although we can't make any changes to it we can attach it to our MDE account and everything from that point on is the same as it would be if we booked through Disney, right?

American spring breaks are not during a single week. Many schools start breaking the first week in March. It really is rolling based on district.

When you attach it to MDE it isn't exactly as though you booked through Disney. You still cannot change, cancel, put in special requests, add DDP, etc. etc. all you can do is view it, and it works for ADR and FP+ planning.