Too good to be true?

[Beeble]

I've just started seriously considering renting points for our next Disney trip, but it seems just too good to be true. For example, for our week it only costs 92 points ($920 at $10pp) to rent a studio at BWV. How is that possible? The other resorts don't seem to be much more expensive for a studio. It seems that the studios are bigger than the room we stayed at at AKL, too.

A couple other questions:
Are the foldouts comfortable and large enough for a 4 and 6 year old to share?

Do you still get to use ME?

With no maid service is it a pain to get more towels/washcloths?

Finally, why is BWV so much cheaper?

Thanks in advance for your responses!

 

[Metsoskil]

I've just started seriously considering renting points for our next Disney trip, but it seems just too good to be true. For example, for our week it only costs 92 points ($920 at $10pp) to rent a studio at BWV. How is that possible? The other resorts don't seem to be much more expensive for a studio. It seems that the studios are bigger than the room we stayed at at AKL, too.

A couple other questions:
Are the foldouts comfortable and large enough for a 4 and 6 year old to share? My 7 and 4 YOs shared last year w/ no problems. It's regular double bed size

Do you still get to use ME? Yes

With no maid service is it a pain to get more towels/washcloths? I've never needed more towels, so someone else will have to answer this one for you.

Finally, why is BWV so much cheaper? Renting DVC points can be a great value, but there are drawbacks, too. Make sure you know what you are getting into. Also, it may be difficult to rent points for a "standard view" studio unless you are both farther out than 7 months and find someone with BWV points willing to rent to you. "Standard View" studios are booked quickly by BWV owners due to their low point charts.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Hope that helps.

 

[drusba]

Go to top of page and click on DVC Point Charts on the right. Then view those for 2011 to determine number needed for any particular time period, resort and category of room. You should do so because there is no week for which the point cost in a studio at BWV is 92 points, there are some less than that and many that are more. In fact there is also no week in 2010 that is 92 points at BWV so I am not sure where you got that figure.

Yes, DVC can be less expensive renting through an owner at $10 a point (not everyone charges the same). You do not get daily maid service so you are giving up something. You also have to have trust because you are not renting through an established company like Disney. As to which resort may cost more depends on points needed. BWV standard view is likely what you are looking at as creating your sense it is cheaper than others. But if you want standard view you better find an owner at that resort who can call 11 months out because only about 15% of the resort is standard view and it can be hard to get many times if you don't reserve as early as possible. BWV preferred view is comparable in point cost to Beach Club Villas and Villas of Wilderness Lodge. BWV was built several years earlier than those and thus its point structure has the standard which is lower point cost (how many points are needed is to a significant extent tied to how much it cost to build a resort and BWV was built earlier than all WDW resorts except OKW and thus when building costs were less. AKV is later and is in part higher than VWL, BCV, and preferred BWV, but then that also depends on room because standard view there is lower than those. BLT is very high as the latest built reesort and it has the ideal location.)

You can get additonal towel and wash cloth sets for a fee (I am not sure what it is right now but probably $6 or $7. You just call housekeeping to get them. You can use ME but need to set that up, particularly for arrival trip, through the member. Pull-out couch is double size and OK for two kids.

 

[paults]

bwv

I've just started seriously considering renting points for our next Disney trip, but it seems just too good to be true. For example, for our week it only costs 92 points ($920 at $10pp) to rent a studio at BWV. How is that possible? The other resorts don't seem to be much more expensive for a studio. It seems that the studios are bigger than the room we stayed at at AKL, too.

A couple other questions:
Are the foldouts comfortable and large enough for a 4 and 6 year old to share?
yes and yesDo you still get to use ME?
yes, but the owner of the pts needs to set it up for you.With no maid service is it a pain to get more towels/washcloths?
no, just ask but there could be a fee.Finally, why is BWV so much cheaper?
Bwv has standard view studios that are less pts, but all there studios range from 76 pts to 188 pts for a week. There are no studios that take 92 pts any time of the year. you need to check your nights for the correct amount of ptsThanks in advance for your responses!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

I really have never gotten the hang up about no maid service. It takes all of a couple of minutes to make the bed and we just hang the towels up in the shower and use them another day (just like I do at home).

The pull out couches are ok to sleep on. My wife threw out her back on our last trip to the world so I moved to the fold out couch for a couple of nights. Sleeping on it was just fine.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've just started seriously considering renting points for our next Disney trip, but it seems just too good to be true. For example, for our week it only costs 92 points ($920 at $10pp) to rent a studio at BWV. How is that possible? The other resorts don't seem to be much more expensive for a studio. It seems that the studios are bigger than the room we stayed at at AKL, too.

A couple other questions:
Are the foldouts comfortable and large enough for a 4 and 6 year old to share?

Do you still get to use ME?

With no maid service is it a pain to get more towels/washcloths?

Finally, why is BWV so much cheaper?

Thanks in advance for your responses!

BWV isn't so much cheaper than other resorts. You may be looking at the standard view which is highly sought after by owners at BWV and goes fairly quickly at 11 months out. You'd probably get the preferred view - non-BW view unless you rented from a BWV owner more than 11 months out.

You still get Magical Express, you just need to give that information to the member who makes the reservation for you. You won't be able to call Member Services for any reason so plan on the member doing it all (you can buy your own tickets though).

Extra towels and washcloths are not free. You have to pay for any extras that you need. If you stay seven nights or less, you get your trash removed and towels replaced on day 4 when check in is day 1. If you stay eight nights or more, you get a full cleaning on day 4 and your towels replaced and trash removed on day 8.

In a studio, you get a queen sized bed and a double sized sleeper sofa. Should be plenty of room for two smaller children.

 

[n2mm]

I agree, you most likely are looking at standard view rooms at BWV. Unless you rent from an owner of BWV, there is no guarantee that you will be able to book the standard view as getting a reservation at that lower level for a week is not always possible at the 7 month window. I bought points at BWV for the standard view rooms and have to book at the 11 month window to get them. I would suggest you have a backup plan unless you can find a BWV owner willing to book your trip at the 11 month window. And also, depending when you are planning to book, also will determine whether you can get into BWV. For example, during F&W, it's nearly impossible to get into BWV or BCV at the 7 month window -- yes it does happen, but only at the preferred level.

Just wanted to add....yes, it's probably too good to be true!

As for getting towels and washclothes....nope, that's a no go. You can purchase an extra towel and washcloth package for $6. Other than that, you need to hang them to dry for another use, or take them to the laundry room and wash them yourself, unless you're in a 1 bd or larger, then you can wash them yourself right in your room.

 

[sweetdana]

The think you are "saving" with your $$ is risk. Dare I say insurance sor-ta??

If 3 days before you leave your DH needs his apendix out, you are likely out the whole $$. Maybe they owner works with you and maybe, the points expire in 30 days and they won't. Maybe they try, but points expire in 60 days and they cannot get 5 nights in a row any where, or you cannot get extra time off work. Maybe you end up 3 nights at ssr 1 night at okw and 1 night back at ssr.

Another example you rent from someone, for a room 10 -11 months from now, they are renting due to not having enough $$, as DH lost job. They struggle, but 6 months from when they rented from you, they stop paying dues, or even file BK... You lose all your $$. No " I am calling Disney to fix this", it isn't between them. In fact they won't even speak to you. If they haven't paid there dues, the ressie is cancelled if the file BK.. law requires them to cancel ressies until completed. Your 1K is gone.. what if you found this out while waiting in line for ME.. opps.. no room?

You need to have 100% trust, and you need to have no emergencies then yup too good to be true. I think renting can be the best kept secret, but you also get what you pay for. I will note, most transactions work out, but if they don't it is bad... bad.... bad.

And the sofa bed is fine. I sleep with DD5 a lot on it, as my DH snores. I get out of his bed and into hers. No complaints. I prefer having the sleeper, as we can fold it up and much better to watch TV, and much more space when awake. All other answered look like answered. Good luck.

 

[Brian Noble]

Renting points is a great deal. But it is not as easy as booking direct, it is not as flexible if you need to change your plans, and you are trusting an individual to perform rather than a large corporation. That's why it is a great deal. For people that can work with the limitations, it is a real bargain. But it is importent to understand those limitations.

 

[browniemtb]

Just to add....yes it can be a great deal, standard views are hard to get unless you book way in advance, perks such as ME and DDP are available. Towel/Maid service.....my DW actually prefers it this way, nobody is going into the room on a daily basis...just once in a weeks time is fine with us.

 

[Alexander]

Establish a good working relationship with the person you are renting points from and you will feel much better about your transaction. We have rented points both as owners and rentees more than a dozen times and always have had wonderful transactions. I often will chat with the other party regarding attractions or restaurants, etc.

There is a more secure means to rent points through (I cannot think of the guys name...Dave maybe) at the top of the DVC boards. You'll pay a little more per point, but the transaction will be taken care of for you and you will have more peace of mind.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

If you are worried about the pullout not being big enough then your would need to change to OKW. It has 2 queens in the bedroom. Unless one of them moves around alot at night or is a kicker then you shoud be fine at BWV. If you are unsure about the trust issue then ask around at work or with friends and family. You might be suprised at who actually owns at dvc. I know we were.