What is "renting points"?

[RainK]

I have read many posts with people commenting "rent points". What exactly do you mean and how do you do it?
I get that it is associated with DVC but for someone who is not a DVC member, how do you do it and how is it cheaper than a normal reservation?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[MEK]

You basically pay a DVC member a pre-set dollar amount per point for the total number you would need for a trip.

The DVC member books the trip in your name. Generally they want a deposit at the time of transaction and then you have to pay the remainder of the reservation at a pre-determined time. You have all the benefits of a DVC member while staying on that reservation.

Let's say (hypothetically speaking) you needed 120 points for the reservation you wanted and they are charging $12 a point. Your total would be $1440.

Renting points is a lot cheaper than making the reservation through CRO.

For example, my brother & SIL made a reservation at the treehouse villas for 5 nights. Rack rate was $4000. They rented points through an owner and paid $2400.

Go to the DVC boards to find more information on how to rent points.

 

[ToddyLu]

if you do not know a DVC member personally then you can rent from someone on the rent/trade board. You need to read all the info in the stickies there. You as the renter are risking that the reservation be made legit by the member. The member is taking the risk that you will not damage the property which leaves him covering that cost. The member has complete control of the reservation and you are not allowed as a non member to contact Members Services. So if you want to add the dinning plan they do it for you.

Personally if I did not know a member I would go with David's Rentals. He matches you with an owner and is the middle man. He has a great reputation. His points might be a little more but he "guarantees"
the reservation. He is a member himself. He is a sponsor on the DIS.

Renting is a great way to get "deluxe" accommodations an more space. Everything larger than a studio has a w/d and full size kitch. Studios have a kitchenette.

 

[momofboyz3]

I am very interested in renting points as well and since I don't have friends or family that are DVC owners I looked at Davids. His website is very clear. I calculated the points (easy) and looks like a studio at AKL would be the same as mod price wise. My issue again is you don't have the ease of paying it out over a few months. Also, looks like the dvc owner makes the DDP reservation which needs to be paid upfront.
*** again, I've never done this. Just very interested!

 

[Missyrose]

I am very interested in renting points as well and since I don't have friends or family that are DVC owners I looked at Davids. His website is very clear. I calculated the points (easy) and looks like a studio at AKL would be the same as mod price wise. My issue again is you don't have the ease of paying it out over a few months. Also, looks like the dvc owner makes the DDP reservation which needs to be paid upfront.
*** again, I've never done this. Just very interested!

You've got it right. You typically have to pay for the reservation up front (no making payments like you can through Disney). And the DVC owner you rent from retains ownership of the reservation until you check in, which means they have to make your DME reservation and if you want the dining plan, they have to book that too (and that payment is due in full at the time you book the plan).

The other thing to remember about renting points is that there is typically no refunds if you have to cancel. So be very set in your plans before you book!

 

[myzel]

You do not get the benefits of a DVC owner. There have been times when a KTTW card has DVC member on it and people say they have been given the same courtesy's as a member, but that is supposed to be fixed, and cast members are supposed to ask to see your DVC card for confirmation. I am not complaining about people taking advantage of this oversight, just making you aware of policy. Renting as others have said is a lesser expensive way to stay in a more deluxe room.

 

[Missyrose]

I am very interested in renting points as well and since I don't have friends or family that are DVC owners I looked at Davids. His website is very clear. I calculated the points (easy) and looks like a studio at AKL would be the same as mod price wise. My issue again is you don't have the ease of paying it out over a few months. Also, looks like the dvc owner makes the DDP reservation which needs to be paid upfront.
*** again, I've never done this. Just very interested!

The thing to remember about renting points is the DVC owner you're renting from retains ownership of the reservation until you check in. That means they have to make your DME reservations and if you want the dining plan, they have to book it (and payment is due in full at the time of booking).

Renting DVC points also typically requires you to pay in full upfront, no making payments like how you can through Disney. Also keep in mind that there are typically no refunds if you have to cancel a trip for which you've rented points.

 

[sndral]

There's no daily housekeeping for DVC units when points are being used. Reserving that same unit for cash through Disney (CRO) includes daily housekeeping and clean towels.
You really need to run the numbers of cost of renting points v. reserving the same unit through Disney w/ any discounts Disney is offering to see which works best for the unit you want on the dates you want.
Studios typically will cost less than an equivalent room, but generally you only get 1 real bed and a sofa/hidabed v. the 2 real beds you get in the hotel rooms. Even w/ 1 br. Villas you still only get one real bed (kingsize) and a sofa/chair/hidabed.
David's site suggests you reserve early to increase your chance of getting the resort you want and he's got a great points needed calculator making it very easy to calculate your cost to rent.

 

[wendow]

We rented points last year through David's and it was awesome. We had absolutely no trouble at all. The family members we went with rented from him too. Good experiences all around. We paid him 100% upfront and there was basically no cancellation policy. We took out trip insurance and felt fine about that.

This year we chose to rent from a DVC member that i found here on the Disboards through the renting points board. He charged us less per point than David's had so I felt we got a great deal. He also allowed us to pay half upfront and the other half 35 days before check-in. He has been fabulous to work with and while we did not know him and we took a risk renting from him, I feel very comfortable with him. Many, many people rent from perfect strangers on this board all the time. People just need to use caution, go back and read previous posts from these people, look at their post count, etc.

For first time renters, I think renting through David's is the way to go. Learn how the process works and then if you want to venture out on your own the next time, you'll feel more equipped.

 

[kay1864]

For example, my brother & SIL made a reservation at the treehouse villas for 5 nights. Rack rate was $4000. They rented points through an owner and paid $2400.

Also note that using points, you avoid paying room tax (12.5-13% IIRC). You pay the $2400, that's it you're done. So the $4000 rack rate (for comparison) is really something like $4500

 

[wendow]

Also note that using points, you avoid paying room tax (12.5-13% IIRC). You pay the $2400, that's it you're done. So the $4000 rack rate (for comparison) is really something like $4500

I had forgotten about that part. GREAT point!

And just fyi, we've booked our own DME while renting points...

 

[Lynne M]

I don't think anyone's provided the basics yet, so let's start there:

Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is Disney's timeshare. It's a points-based timeshare, meaning that owners are alloted a certain number of points per year, and they use those to 'pay' for their resort stays. Each room type at a DVC resort 'costs' a certain number of points per night. Those point requirements also vary with the seasons, so it takes more points to book a room during, say, Christmas week, than it would to book a room in September.

When people say 'renting points', it's kind of a misnomer. What actually happens is that you arrange with a DVC owner for them to make a reservation for you. You total up the number of points required, and you pay by the point. Often, this ends up being significantly less costly than booking the same room with Disney would be.

In a sense, it's like renting someone's beach house at the shore. You're making a business arrangement with another individual to use their timeshare, for which you pay them.

You can find owners looking to rent on our DVC Rent/Trade board, or through a service that matches owners and renters like DVC By Request.

Important differences between renting points and booking a room through Disney:

As I mentioned above, this is a private transaction. Disney is not involved, except that you're staying at a Disney resort. If anything goes wrong with the transaction, Disney cannot and will not help you.

The owner retains control of the reservation at all times, even though it's in your name. Any changes - adding requests, adding the dining plan, etc - must be done by the owner.

Consider it to be a final transaction. Changing your dates, your room type or your resort will probably not be possible. If you have to cancel, you will probably not get a refund, since DVC's cancellation policies are complex, and the owner may lose their points if you cancel.

Since it's a timeshare, housekeeping will be limited. If you want daily housekeeping, you can pay for it out of pocket.

Since you're not booking through Disney Reservations, you are not eligible for free dining or any other discounts and promotions. You'll have to run the numbers and see what's the better deal, if a promotion is offered during your dates of stay.

Phew, I think that's the highlights. Now hop on over to our Rent/Trade board and read through the stickies at the top of that board to get the details.

 

[RainK]

I don't think anyone's provided the basics yet, so let's start there:

Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is Disney's timeshare. It's a points-based timeshare, meaning that owners are alloted a certain number of points per year, and they use those to 'pay' for their resort stays. Each room type at a DVC resort 'costs' a certain number of points per night. Those point requirements also vary with the seasons, so it takes more points to book a room during, say, Christmas week, than it would to book a room in September.

When people say 'renting points', it's kind of a misnomer. What actually happens is that you arrange with a DVC owner for them to make a reservation for you. You total up the number of points required, and you pay by the point. Often, this ends up being significantly less costly than booking the same room with Disney would be.

In a sense, it's like renting someone's beach house at the shore. You're making a business arrangement with another individual to use their timeshare, for which you pay them.

You can find owners looking to rent on our DVC Rent/Trade board, or through a service that matches owners and renters like DVC By Request.

Important differences between renting points and booking a room through Disney:

As I mentioned above, this is a private transaction. Disney is not involved, except that you're staying at a Disney resort. If anything goes wrong with the transaction, Disney cannot and will not help you.

The owner retains control of the reservation at all times, even though it's in your name. Any changes - adding requests, adding the dining plan, etc - must be done by the owner.

Consider it to be a final transaction. Changing your dates, your room type or your resort will probably not be possible. If you have to cancel, you will probably not get a refund, since DVC's cancellation policies are complex, and the owner may lose their points if you cancel.

Since it's a timeshare, housekeeping will be limited. If you want daily housekeeping, you can pay for it out of pocket.

Since you're not booking through Disney Reservations, you are not eligible for free dining or any other discounts and promotions. You'll have to run the numbers and see what's the better deal, if a promotion is offered during your dates of stay.

Phew, I think that's the highlights. Now hop on over to our Rent/Trade board and read through the stickies at the top of that board to get the details.

Excellent info. Thank you.