Using points to stay at a non DVC Disney resort -- doing the math

[rutgers1]

I was hoping someone could check my numbers a wee bit and tell me if I am missing anything.

We happen to love Port Orleans Riverside. It was the hotel that made us become "Disney people." I cracked open the new DVC vacation planner the other day and thought the points required to stay there weren't that bad compared to a studio at a DVC resort.

For the sake of comparison, I will choose a week in the second half of August at both POR and Saratoga Springs (my home resort):

POR: 144 points for a week, standard view + $95 fee to Disney
SSR: 112 points for a week

The cash price for the room at POR for that week is $1,200.

So, I guess the comparison would be:
1) I could obviously stay at SSR for 32 less points. Over a week, that doesn't seem like THAT big of a difference. Of course, there would still be that additional $95 fee.....On the other hand, if I decided to stay at SSR and use the same number of points, I could stay there for 2 more weekdays than I could stay at POR.
2) I could take the 112 points that I was going to use at SSR and rent them for $9/point. That would give me $1,018. I'd have to pony up a bit more for the room.
3) I could try to rent those same points for $10/point and would have $1,120, just a bit less than the cash price of the room.

I think my head is spinning now. I guess my early conclusion is that, although it isn't as good of a deal as staying at a DVC resort, it isn't a HORRIBLE deal. It probably only becomes a horrible deal if they are running free dining at that time. In that situation, I would definitely be better off renting the points and paying cash so that I could take advantage of dining. The main issue would be the rental process, which seems like it could be difficult.

Any insights?

 

[Deb & Bill]

But why would you want to give up at least one queen sized bed (and the sleeper sofa) for two double beds? You'd give up the access to the free washer and dryer. You'd give up pool hopping.

If you want to stay at POR, just sell your points and use the proceeds to stay at POR.

The best part of DVC is getting a one bedroom or larger.

 

[CNPHILLY]

No chance I would stay at POR on points...it's too much of a waste of points. If you have an annual pass, the POR room should actually be much cheaper than $1,200. For example, a quick check on the passholder website shows that a room at POR during the first half of August (higher rate than second half) for a week is $969, tax included. You could almost buy an annual pass for the difference in price it saves you on the room....assuming passholder rates will be announced for the second half of August (which they haven't been yet).

One of the points of buying DVC is staying at DVC resorts (Deluxe resort level for the most part). I guess I can understand loving a particular resort that is not a DVC resort, but using points to book it is such a waste compared to how far points get you at a DVC resort. Pay cash.

 

[rutgers1]

Thanks for the replies. We just have a sentimental attachment to POR, as it was where we stayed on our honeymoon and it was the first hotel we stayed with our children (actually, first place was Fort Wilderness in a motor home).

I didn't realize that there was a AP discount on rooms.

 

[jekjones1558]

We feel the same way about POR. It was our favorite place to stay before DVC. We still visit there almost every trip. We haven't stayed in a room there for a long time but have considered paying cash to do so. There are a lot of things at WDW that have emotional connections for us that are hard to explain.

 

[CMOORE185]

We have an emotional attachment to Grand Floridian and have considered using our points to stay their, but in the end it is just not a good use of points, and I would miss the one and two bedroom villas. Here is to a DVC Grand Floridian, the only resort I would have to own at if it was DVC.

 

[CarolMN]

I...(snip).....3) I could try to rent those same points for $10/point and would have $1,120, just a bit less than the cash price of the room. ............. In that situation, I would definitely be better off renting the points and paying cash so that I could take advantage of dining. The main issue would be the rental process, which seems like it could be difficult.

Any insights?

Check out Daddio's service. (There are banner adds at the top of the R/T Board for him). He takes the hassle out of the rental process for owners and the owner still gets $10/point. You may have to wait a bit for the money, though. IIRC, you don't get $$ until after the rental has been completed.

 

[CarolAnnC]

The only time I used DVC points for a WDW resort hotel (other than DVC) was one year when I had a last minute decision to go down the first week in December. This is notoriously busy and I think I planned it only 2 or 3 months out.

We were able to get a few nights at DVC, but needed 3 more at the beginning of the trip.. Everything booked solid, so we took the only thing we could get on points which was Animal Kingdom Lodge. This was pre- AKL villas.

It wasn't horrendous and I had the points to use. If I had the strong desire to stay at POR I would probably try for an AP rate, with enough advance planning.

We have on occasion utilized the Swan/Dolphin resorts on cash, however. They have some great discount offers out there and the location is excellent - over near the Boardwalk.