First Time Renting DVC Points

[nickys]

Yes that's the number I got...sorry I was rounding lol! But that's crazy. $1176 for 5 nights?! Why is it so cheap? Is it sort of like a time share deal where the owners of the points rent the points since they won't be using them??

Yep. DVC is a timeshare, but works on a points system rather than fixed weeks. Different room types, resorts, time of year cost different number of points per night. Owners sometimes don't need all their points and can rent those points out. It isn't really renting out the points though, the owner makes a reservation for the renter.

 

[ELG13]

Yep. DVC is a timeshare, but works on a points system rather than fixed weeks. Different room types, resorts, time of year cost different number of points per night. Owners sometimes don't need all their points and can rent those points out. It isn't really renting out the points though, the owner makes a reservation for the renter.

Well dang. Now that I understand it I wish I would have done it sooner! Is it ever not cheaper? And it sound like it may be risky in a sense that you may not get your reservation?

 

[nickys]

Well dang. Now that I understand it I wish I would have done it sooner! Is it ever not cheaper? And it sound like it may be risky in a sense that you may not get your reservation?

With a broker you're protected financially. But if the owner falls behind with annual maintenance fees, DVC will cancel all their reservations. If the room falls through, David's will do everything they can to find you one. But yes, worse case is you don't have a room.

If you rent privately, you could find the "owner" isn't an owner but a scammer. It happens. Rarely, but it does. If you do want to do it that way, make sure you read up about how to check them out.

Either way, visit David's site. They have a lot of useful information there.

 

[slappy magoo]

Well dang. Now that I understand it I wish I would have done it sooner! Is it ever not cheaper? And it sound like it may be risky in a sense that you may not get your reservation?

Renting through a broker like David's helps remove a lot of the risk. And if you screw a broker like David's you can pretty much only do it once, they won't work with you again, and I wouldn't be surprised if they put the word out to other brokers.

As far as "is it never not cheaper?" I found, much like @nickys mentioned earlier, that renting 1BR units doesn't save you as much, especially if Disney itself is offering deals, because the point values of 1BR units is often at or near double the point values of studios, but booking the room direct for Disney isn't double the cost. If you're sticking to studio villas, I think it's always a saving to rent points, except maybe when Disney is offering something like a free dining plan (that could also vary depending on how many people are in your party, clearly free dining for a party of 4 has more value than a party of 3 or 2 or 1).

Just an example for chucks and giggles - I picked a week in August at Kidani Village. Studio rooms are unavailable/booked so I couldn't compare those. WDW is offering a room-only discount which, with tax included, is about $608 a night for a 1BR savannah. Renting from David's that same week works out to about $553 a night. Saving $55 a night isn't nothing.

Same week in a 2BR savannah unit direct from WDW with their room only discount is $902 a night. Renting from David's is about $725. More substantial overall savings...asuming of course a 2BR is what you need.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

We've used David's two times and have good experiences using them.

 

[Skibum1970]

Have now used Dave's twice. The first was last year and I had to cancel due to the hurricane. However, they worked with the owner to re-rent the points and refunded my money afterward. They don't normally due that, either, but they went above and beyond to help me out. I am using them again with no qualms and no cancellation. Also, I purchased trip insurance this time to hedge against anything going wrong.

Please note. They do not typically do cancellations as they have paid the owner for those points based upon your acceptance and payment. It isn't as if they can easily turn it around like a normal hotel. We had extenuating circumstances with the hurricane. They tell you all of this in advance and they highly recommend trip insurance.

 

[GSP Guy]

So I've just recently been exploring on David's and between that and reading the comments here I think I understand how it all works. My business isn't possibly going to allow time for a vacation this year so we are planning for a long vacation next November from 11/6/19- 11/22/19 split between either Beach Club or Boardwalk and Poly. Is this even possible or a reasonable expectation when renting DVC points?

 

[nickys]

So I've just recently been exploring on David's and between that and reading the comments here I think I understand how it all works. My business isn't possibly going to allow time for a vacation this year so we are planning for a long vacation next November from 11/6/19- 11/22/19 split between either Beach Club or Boardwalk and Poly. Is this even possible or a reasonable expectation when renting DVC points?

Yes. But work out what you want and contact David's a year ahead, so they can have people ready to bookat the 11 month mark.

You'll need to know dates and have a back up plan. I think they ask for a second and third choice for each request, although that's just to try and get you something. If Poly is a definite then say that.

And look into cancellation insurance, especially booking that far ahead.

 

[correcaminos]

So I've just recently been exploring on David's and between that and reading the comments here I think I understand how it all works. My business isn't possibly going to allow time for a vacation this year so we are planning for a long vacation next November from 11/6/19- 11/22/19 split between either Beach Club or Boardwalk and Poly. Is this even possible or a reasonable expectation when renting DVC points?

I might try to go the private route in this case. Line up owners who will be ready to book for you at 11 months

 

[Skibum1970]

I might try to go the private route in this case. Line up owners who will be ready to book for you at 11 months

Not that it is Dave's fault but I just can't get Bay Lake Tower. I really want to stay there but haven't managed to get it booked. Even at nine months out.

 

[correcaminos]

Not that it is Dave's fault but I just can't get Bay Lake Tower. I really want to stay there but haven't managed to get it booked. Even at nine months out.

Just curious, what time of year and room type? For a few at BLT you need to have it set up before the 11 month mark

 

[Skibum1970]

Just curious, what time of year and room type? For a few at BLT you need to have it set up before the 11 month mark

I tried September and November. I probably need to do the 11 month commitment. However, I'm a typical guy and am afraid of commitment.

 

[nickys]

I tried September and November. I probably need to do the 11 month commitment. However, I'm a typical guy and am afraid of commitment.

September through to early January is the busiest DVC time. You really need to be booking more than 7 months out, wherever you want to stay at that time.

 

[correcaminos]

I tried September and November. I probably need to do the 11 month commitment. However, I'm a typical guy and am afraid of commitment.

Unfortunately that's super busy time for DVC. Granted Epcot area resorts go first during F&WF, but monorail resorts are next to book up. Especially if looking at studios.