Rent DVC or Mod w/ Free DDP?

[cursivesailor]

Sorry for the cross post...

We are possibly going to be making a trip down to WDW in the fall/early winter.

I am new to renting points for DVC rooms, but am very interested. But I understand that DVC is not eligible for any DDP promotions.

Last trip, we stayed in the newly opened AoA and I absolutely hated it. I loved the themeing, dont get my wrong. But we must have been put in the room next to the worlds noisiest family. Their kid would slam the front door repeatedly when he woke up bc he was ready to go at 6am. The father was always loudly cursing and it seemed like they were in the room with us. My husband and I could hear everything they said because of the thin walls. The AC also kicked off during the night, part of the new "green" movement, and I repeatedly woke up "stuck" to my husband from sweating. I asked the front desk about it, but they said there was nothing they could do to over-ride it.

So, I think we are done with Value hotels. That being said, we don't have a lot of money to throw around. I want to get the best deal possible, but still enjoy the trip.

So, do we rent a studio at one of the "cheaper" DVC hotels and pay OOP for food... Or do we go with a moderate and hope for the free DDP that is usually during this time? Any ideas/suggestions?

 

[Weather_Lady]

All I can suggest is to run the numbers and talk to your DH about your priorities.

Obviously, if you rent DVC points, you will have to either be prepared to make your reservation request 7-11 months out, or not care much about which resort you'll stay in. Also, because the DVC booking is non-refundable, you'll want to budget an extra $200-$300 to buy vacation insurance to cover the amount in case you have to cancel. On the other hand, the savings (off of rack rate for the same villas) are huge.

You didn't say whether you have children, but assuming it's just you and DH, DDP is going to run around $700 for 6 nights. For a 6-night stay (say, May 4-10, 2014) your rough totals would look something like this: (Obviously, the prices for you will go up or down depending on the 'price season' and length of your intended visit. This is just for comparison... the totals for DVC rentals come from the calculator on the David's DVC Rentals website, at $14/point):

6 nights at a moderate (standard room at PORS) with "free" dining: $1,380
6 nights at a moderate (standard room at PORS) with a 20% room discount and DDP: $1,800
6 nights at a moderate (standard room at PORS) with no discounts and DDP: $2,080
6 nights at Animal Kingdom Villas (standard studio) with vacation ins. ($200) and DDP: $1,780
6 nights at the Beach Club Villas (standard studio) with vacation ins. ($240) and DDP: $2,340
6 nights at the Grand Floridian Villas (lake view studio) with vacation ins. ($300) and DDP: $3,150

As you can see, you'd save a minimum of about $400 (off of the price of a DVC studio + DDP) if you get lucky and get "free dining" at a moderate resort. On the other hand, if free dining is not offered, you could end up paying as much or more for the moderate than you'd pay for a lower-rent DVC deluxe studio. It's a bit of a gamble. I'd talk with DH and see what matters to you most (is it a particular theme, a particular location, or a particular set of amenities you want, or would you prefer to have some extra money in your pocket, guaranteed?). If the latter, I wouldn't hesitate to stay at a moderate. We've stayed at both Coronado Springs and PORS and they were absolutely lovely. But... we're also looking forward to staying at the Wilderness Lodge Villas in May on rented DVC points -- a choice we made because of a larger party size, a desire to be closer to the MK, and DH's personal love of the theme.

 

[slappy magoo]

Sorry for the cross post...

We are possibly going to be making a trip down to WDW in the fall/early winter.

I am new to renting points for DVC rooms, but am very interested. But I understand that DVC is not eligible for any DDP promotions.

Last trip, we stayed in the newly opened AoA and I absolutely hated it. I loved the themeing, dont get my wrong. But we must have been put in the room next to the worlds noisiest family. Their kid would slam the front door repeatedly when he woke up bc he was ready to go at 6am. The father was always loudly cursing and it seemed like they were in the room with us. My husband and I could hear everything they said because of the thin walls. The AC also kicked off during the night, part of the new "green" movement, and I repeatedly woke up "stuck" to my husband from sweating. I asked the front desk about it, but they said there was nothing they could do to over-ride it.

So, I think we are done with Value hotels. That being said, we don't have a lot of money to throw around. I want to get the best deal possible, but still enjoy the trip.

So, do we rent a studio at one of the "cheaper" DVC hotels and pay OOP for food... Or do we go with a moderate and hope for the free DDP that is usually during this time? Any ideas/suggestions?

By "cheaper" do you mean you're strictly looking at DVC rooms that use fewer points, like Old Key West or Standard View Boardwalk or Value Rooms at Animal Kingdom Villas? Or do you mean in general renting points for a DVC studio is "cheaper" than rack rate at a moderate (but not as good a value if you could get free dining in that moderate)?

 

[BigTxEars]

I rather have the DDP than the DVC room if all things were equal. But I bet they are not so it s comes down to money and what things are worth to you. For the money POR a
the free dinning plan is just about paradise IMO. But if you want the Delux resort then the DVC point renting might make more sense.

 

[hsisthebest]

I think it all comes down to how much table-service eating you plan on doing. If you want to do a lot, then obviously go with the free DDP. If you're happier with counter service and only a few special meals, then the DVC could work. We have done both in the past, I would never pay for DDP because then I would feel like I always had to eat the most expensive thing to get my money's worth. Mousesavers has tons of suggestions for the best and cheapest counter service options as well as the best and worst deals for sit-down restaurants as well.

 

[stevehousse]

I'm in the same boat as you are! I can't decide which would be better for us! I will sadly say though, that the studios at grand Flo are all booked for the time we r going

 

[dreamfinder]

Run the numbers. Try to get a guess as to what you would eat and where you would eat it. If you don't eat to the plan, then you may end up missing out on savings. Party size, room type, etc. Remember that free dining will require you to buy your tickets through Disney, doing DVC you could buy from a 3rd party and save money that way. DVC also has the in room kitchens/laundry (depending on room choice) meaning you could do laundry for free, or cook meals in room further saving money.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Just a note - I've heard many complaints about "thin walls" at all levels of resorts, even the monorail resorts - just because you aren't at a value resort doesn't mean you won't be able to hear your neighbors; much depends on the neighbors.

Also, search forums for AC over-rides, there are some, although I don't know if they are still valid. Some are motion activated, so if you have a balloon in the room, that can help.

 

[slappy magoo]

Just a note - I've heard many complaints about "thin walls" at all levels of resorts, even the monorail resorts - just because you aren't at a value resort doesn't mean you won't be able to hear your neighbors; much depends on the neighbors.

Also, search forums for AC over-rides, there are some, although I don't know if they are still valid. Some are motion activated, so if you have a balloon in the room, that can help.

The Unofficial Guide to Disney World once did a survey of noise levels in various rooms at every resort. If memory serves, their verdict was, when it comes to outside noise, Values and mods and SSR & OKW did a better job compared to the Deluxes. They chalked it up to exterior vs. interior walkways. If you're staying at a Deluxe resort with all interior walkways, there's less need for heavier insulated or weather stripped doors, as the hallways are as air conditioned as your room is. But in resorts with exterior walkways and corridors, there's more of a financial incentive for WDW to use doors/walls with weather stripping and better insulation to keep the cold in. As a reuslt, it also mute outside noise.

Bear in mind, when I read this survey, it was before AoA was built, so it's possible that they use better insulation on the doors and windows and walls that face the exterior, and then save some dough-re-mi by using less insulation in the walls that separate rooms. I also think their study focused more on noise coming from outside versus next door, which is what you and the OP are mainly talking about. But I thought it interesting at the time I read it.