Point Rentals & Vacation Packages

[ExtinctJenn]

I know a good bit about the DVC but not a ton of detail. This is on purpose because financially we aren't anywhere near ready to invest in the DVC (but we will some day).

We always book right through Disney and always take advantage of any promotions we can like Free Dining etc. We like the extra goodies you get when booking a package like the free Photobook they did with the Memories promotion. We also like having everything on one reservation and subsequently one "bill."

Here's my question... if we used someone else's DVC points (I guess that's called renting), could we still book a vacation package (tickets, dining etc.) or at that point are we looking at having to get everything ala carte? My mother is DVC and I seem to remember her saying that when they go they don't get to take advantage of things like free dining but I can't be sure.

 

[GoofGoof]

I know a good bit about the DVC but not a ton of detail. This is on purpose because financially we aren't anywhere near ready to invest in the DVC (but we will some day).

We always book right through Disney and always take advantage of any promotions we can like Free Dining etc. We like the extra goodies you get when booking a package like the free Photobook they did with the Memories promotion. We also like having everything on one reservation and subsequently one "bill."

Here's my question... if we used someone else's DVC points (I guess that's called renting), could we still book a vacation package (tickets, dining etc.) or at that point are we looking at having to get everything ala carte? My mother is DVC and I seem to remember her saying that when they go they don't get to take advantage of things like free dining but I can't be sure.

No. Free dining is to get you to pay rack rates for your room. In the past before free dining they would just discount hotel rooms. Now they make you pay full rack price but you get free dining. You can book the dining plan and get park tickets when staying at DVC and it will all be on your room keys, but you have to pay for the dining plan.

 

[tjkraz]

Yeah, like this prior poster said "free dining" is just a catchy way of Disney selling you two things at full price (room and tickets) while discounting another. There's also a minimum stay with such promotions which DVC does not have.

When you rent points you do not get the dining plan for free. But you also will not be paying anything near the cash prices guests pay for Deluxe resort rooms WITH "free dining."

And yes, when you stay on points you must buy all portions of the trip separately. But trust me when I say that it's no great hardship to pay separately for park tickets and the dining plan.

You may like the "goodies" you get when booking through Disney but they are all included in the price. The vast majority of people who rent points will pay far less than Disney prices even when promos like "free dining" are included.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Oh wait that's actually kind of good news. I didn't even think paying for the dining plan was an option if you were going with DVC points. I thought to get the dining plan you had to be booking a package. Thanks guys!

 

[sgtmgd]

Oh wait that's actually kind of good news. I didn't even think paying for the dining plan was an option if you were going with DVC points. I thought to get the dining plan you had to be booking a package. Thanks guys!

Another thing to consider..

Renting points can only be done 11 months out vs 499 days with Disney...at 11 months there is no guarantee that the points you want for the resort are available..though generally by the 7 month mark you can find something...

YOU MUST PAY IN FULL up front when renting points...no deposit and ability to pay over several months like Disney

YOU CAN get the dining plan.....it must also be purchased by the owner that is renting the points and also MUST BE PAID IN FULL UP FRONT...the caveate is you dont have to do both at he same time if your villa is available at 11 months and you book it...then you can order the dining plan up to 30 days prior to arrival as a rule of thumb...this gives the broker time to get with the owner to order the plan...but again it has to be paid in full.


Renting points can be cheaper as a whole...but is much more costly up front

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Renting points can be cheaper as a whole...but is much more costly up front

Thanks for all that info! It's not something we're considering for our next trip (because we are 100% decided that we will be doing a Cars suite at AoA) but we fell in love with the Villas at WL and I think once we get our AoA stay out of the way, we may look into renting some points and staying in one again (or seeing if we can get my mom to "lend" us some again). I'm one of those people who likes to plan way ahead and I start thinking of future trips probably a year or more in advance.

 

[tjkraz]

YOU MUST PAY IN FULL up front when renting points...no deposit and ability to pay over several months like Disney

That is not true. Every rental agreement is different. Some require full payment up front or when a reservation is confirmed. Others ask for half up front and the other half just 45 or 60 days prior to arrival. All depends upon who you rent through.

...then you can order the dining plan up to 30 days prior to arrival as a rule of thumb...this gives the broker time to get with the owner to order the plan...but again it has to be paid in full.

The dining plan can be added as little as 48 hours prior to arrival.

 

[sgtmgd]

That is not true. Every rental agreement is different. Some require full payment up front or when a reservation is confirmed. Others ask for half up front and the other half just 45 or 60 days prior to arrival.



The dining plan can be added as little as 48 hours prior to arrival.

OK..I should have stated this is based on using The Timeshare store as the broker...also for the dining plan I sais as a rule of thumb..as the broker has to have time to contact the owners who may not always be readily avaible for last minute changes..hence the 30 days..it certainly could be done sooner...but again when dealing with Rental points...you are always at someone elses mercy....and the cost up front will always be much more significant

 

[kparn]

We are new DVC members, but before buying into DVC, we bought all of our vacations through "Small World Vacations." This saved us almost 1000.00 with each trip. Some trips we purchased the DDP; sometimes we used the Free Dining. We just worked with our SW agent to see where the biggest savings were. Do not book directly through Disney. You don't get the large savings no matter what the "specials" are that you do going through an independent agency. Plus, using Small World Vacations is free. You are also able to pay in installments if you wish. It's a great way to do a deluxe resort if you're not ready to purchase DVC.

 

[dreamfinder]

Oh wait that's actually kind of good news. I didn't even think paying for the dining plan was an option if you were going with DVC points. I thought to get the dining plan you had to be booking a package. Thanks guys!

They have made exceptions for AP holders and DVC owners. Not all DVC owners go to the parks, and AP holders obviously don't need tickets. Renting points, and paying for the DDP and tickets will almost guaranteed be cheaper than renting a villa through Disney just to get free dining. The owner will need to request that the DDP be added to the rental, and you will need to be paying them for it in advance per the terms of your contract.