Why does Disney make it hard for larger families?

[_auroraborealis_]

How/Where do you rent points for DVC? Is there a certain website that you would recommend?

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.
• 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.
• 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.

David's DVC Rentals, a sponsor of the DIS, is a reputable broker. You can also do a private-party transaction via the DIS Rent/Trade Board. Read the rules there before diving in.

 

[Hopefully]

How/Where do you rent points for DVC? Is there a certain website that you would recommend?

There are 2 main ways: Find an owner and negotiate with them to rent privately or use the services of a 3rd party broker.
There is a DVC Rent Trade Forum in the DVC area here on the DIS to find and work with an owner.
David's DVC Rentals at www.dvcbyrequest.com is a highly recommended broker who is here on the DIS
Good Luck

 

[HopperFan]

This is something I have trouble understanding. How is it in this day and age Disney can't guarantee connecting rooms? I can book a Hilton and through their app I can not only get guaranteed connecting rooms I can look at a floor map and pick my exact room. I've been tempted to book connecting rooms for us but tried it once at AoA, got burned so never again. We vacation to spend time together, not apart. Hopefully Disney can work this out someday.

Yes, we travel Hilton when possible (Diamond) and we pick out our rooms ......... Disney hotels are not the same size as most hotels - and Disney wants no empty rooms.

I am sure they have no plans to ever "work it out" as in their minds it's not broken. Guests book rooms. They fill rooms. Their occupancy rates have been way above industry standards. Business is working just fine for them.

They allow requests, they try, but they are never going to guarantee something that places a burden on their system, particularly when they offer larger options and that includes continuing to build more DVC (as others pointed out another option).

It's not that they don't offer choices for bigger families, it's that many of us don't want to pay the inflated prices for them, so we look at other options. It is our choice as guests if we want to work within their offerings. If you want to be together, then you have to book the bigger option or move offsite.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I also would recommend checking out a DVC villa for rent. We are DVC owners but have also rented when we have used all of our points, and have rented through David's rentals among others. A villa will give you plenty of space for everyone, you can check them out here on the Disboards in the DVC section. All villas have a pack-n-play in the room and you could request an additional one. Good luck with your plans.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Looking at the OP's original post it's 6 plus 2 infants. As others have explained there are options on site with the family suites and DVC that sleep 6 or two rooms. I can't think of any standard hotel that sleeps more than 6 plus infants in a single room and even those that sleep 6 are rare (Residence Inn, Embassy Suites types come to mind). Whatever the OP does when travelling not at Disney is what they should expect to do at Disney.

 

[Terri]

Ahhhh, the larger than normal family problems in a world designed in multiples of 4. We have four kids and often host an exchange so we understand the struggle, LOL! We found renting DVC points and booking an OKW 2 bedroom to work the best for us. OKW tends to require few points than other resorts, they have a large number of 2 bedroom units, and the units are large. The added bonus is the kitchen! Park food is expensive and if you all are willing to eat more meals "in" the difference in cost will justify the expense of the 2 bedroom over 2 value rooms.

Don't discount Fort Wilderness, either. As a PP mentioned, it is a very nice resort in itself and would be an awesome destination even if not associated with WDW. I have never thought of renting an RV but will keep in in mind for another trip. We've done the Wilderness Cabins the couple of time when we only had 3 children. They are a great option for families of 5 that want a kitchen.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We are a family of 5, so not "large", but bigger than average. In our experience, Disney has soooo many more options for larger families than most hotels.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

Also check the Swan and Dolphin. They have family suites, and do offer some discounts.

 

[Kaleea]

Another family of 6. We do DVC normally. We are going in July 2017 and for 8 people we are getting a 2 br villa at Bay Lake Towers with Theme Park view. The villa we are in has a full kitchen, washer/dryer, 1 King bed, 2 Queen beds, Pull out Sofa, and pull out chair.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Looking at the OP's original post it's 6 plus 2 infants. As others have explained there are options on site with the family suites and DVC that sleep 6 or two rooms. I can't think of any standard hotel that sleeps more than 6 plus infants in a single room and even those that sleep 6 are rare (Residence Inn, Embassy Suites types come to mind). Whatever the OP does when travelling not at Disney is what they should expect to do at Disney.

Actually, they are a family of seven plus one under the age of three. You can only have one under the age of three that doesn't count towards occupancy. One of the smaller ones will count towards occupancy. So they don't fit in lodging that sleeps six. They need something that sleeps at least seven, like a two bedroom villa or a three bedroom villa or a treehouse villa. Or a bungalow (but those points would be obnoxious as would a cash rate).