Has Anyone ever Rented DVC points before?

[Mickeymac]

DH really wants to stay at the Beach Club in December (11/28-12/5) but the only way I think we could do that is to rent points from a DVC member and stay at the Beach Club Villas (right?.) I have no clue what this is all about - am I right in figuring out that it would take 106 points for that date?

How do I find out if someone is ethical?

How do I protect our vacation investment?

What happens if we can't go?

Where is the best place to rent?

How much do the points usually go for?

Have you ever rented before? How did it go?

What am I missing?

I think this would also give him a taste of what ownership in the DVC is like. He's been hinting at it for years, but I swear, he's a turtle...

[djgiffordrn]

I would be interested in hearing how this is done too. Someday I might rent out some points. Maybe go on a different trip with the money....I will have 50 points left over this year...I don't need them for next year. So either we go on a short trip or I rent them out...sorry I don't have quite as many as you would need MM...although in Dec. I saw the Boardwalk at only 9 points a night for a Sunday through Thursday....if I don't rent them, I am using them, lol.

[OKWTink]

I don't know much about it and the only place I know that devotes any amount of board space to the topic is the Gairy Place where they have an entire board on renting points.

Last I knew points were renting for about $10 per point. Some will try to rent higher.

I only know of going through private owners, which puts the burden of determining honesty squarely on you.

What happens if you cannot make it is something you'd have to work out with the owner of the points you are renting. If you cancel within 7 days (I think) the points are lost. If you cancel within 30 days they are put into holding (need to be used or lost).

For owners there is travel type insurance, I don't know how that would work for a renter.

You'll have to really research the topic. I know there are some honest folks out there, but also know that there are some really shady characters.

Good luck. (Just booking a stay at a DVC won't work, huh)?

[djgiffordrn]

Hey MM, Here is a link to a discussion board tht is about renting the points...it does appear to be about $10 per night...


http://www.*********.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29

I hope this was okay to post here, if not and it gets removed...email me.

[Eeyore1974]

I've never rented, but the thought has crossed my mind. The 2004 Passporter has an advertisement in it for a company called DVCbyResale.com I don't know much about it, so I am just passing along the info as I don't have personal experience. It might be worth checking out. Those are all very important questions you bring up for people considering buying someone else's points for a season.

[dcfromva]

Mickeymac,

Renting points may not be the best option for you for that time period.
There are lots of advantages to renting points (cost savings is usually one of them), but you lose flexibility. Most owners consider the deal final when the reservation is made. Unfotunately, if you find a better deal elsewhere, you are pretty much locked into the points. (I should point out that each owner/renter have their own agreement and it is not controlled in any shape or form by Disney--so, you could reach your own agreement by negotiation).

If you have to cancel, generally the owner will work with you to reschedule the vacation. If you cancel more that 30 days out, there are more options. If you cancel from 30 days prior to 1 day prior, the points go into a holding account. Reservations using these points can only be made up to 60 days in advance. If you cancel on the day of arrival, all points are lost.

There is a trip Ins that can be purchased, however, while the points generally cost you $10.00 per point to rent, the Ins only reimburses for $5.00 per point (I "think"). IMHO, it would be far better to work your own trip ins. by booking another room for the day of arrival and then start the DVC the next day. (The cost of Trip Ins in some cases is more than the price of a discounted room). Then, if your trip falls through, you could reschedule your points within 60 days of the planned arrival until the end of the UY.

Another factor to consider in cancellations is Use Year. If the owner's points are December Use Year and your reservation is for Dec and you cancel more than 30 days out, the points are virtually intact--they can be banked or they could be used for reservations (for the home resort) up to 11 months in advance. (The only thing the owner has lost in such a situation is the opportunity cost--ie the points could have been rented by someone else and also the time invested in obtaining a reservation and working out your details). If the UY is Dec and you cancel within 30 days, then the points have less versatility--they can't be exchanged or banked and they can only be used for reservations within 60 days of arrival--the good part is there is almost a whole year to try to find reservations within the 60 day booking window.

On the other hand, if your owner has a Feb UY and you make your reservation in Dec and you have to cancel--depending on when you cancel the points may not be able to be banked and they expire Jan 31st!

The reason I say Dec might not be the best month to rent points is because Dec is typically a very popular month with DVC owners and a lot of times the rooms are booked at the 11 month window--so, in order to get exactly what you are looking for, you have to commit early. Then, if an AP holder rate comes out (which is not unheard of for Dec), you are locked into the rental deal. I have seen cases where an AP rate would beat out the rental price--especially when weekends are involved.

Are you looking for a studio for that time frame? How do you feel about moving once you arrive?

-DC

[Scoootch]

Originally posted by djgiffordrn
Hey MM, Here is a link to a discussion board tht is about renting the points...it does appear to be about $10 per night...


http://www.*********.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29

I hope this was okay to post here, if not and it gets removed...email me.

Just thought I'd give you an overview of how renting points works ---

Typically the DVC member will rent their points out for $10 per point (not per night). A stay in a studio for the time of year you are looking for would be 12 pts per night Sun. - Thurs. and 23 pts per night for Fri. & Sat. night. (choice season is Nov.27-30) . So for a studio for Nov.28 -30 it would cost you 36pts. (Dec. 1-14 falls in Adventure season) so for Dec. 1-5, it would now be 12pts per night Sun. - Thurs. and 22pts per night Sat. & Sun. so it will cost you 24pts for Wed. and Thurs. and then 44pts for Fri. & Sat.
So your total for the week would be 104 points .

At $10 per point your stay would cost $1,040.00. If you booked Directly through Disney and paid say $295.00 per night for the studio (guessing what they'd charge) it would cost you $2,065.00 plus tax. so it would cost you only half to rent the same room through a DVC member.

If you follow the link that djgiffordrn gave you it will bring you to the DVC rent/trade board. You can ask questions and find out who has points for rent there. Ask for references from the people renting, ask for experiences from people who have rented, etc. Personnally I've never rented but have heard good things from many others who have. It does involve alot of trust on both ends from the 2 parties involved but it can save you a tremendous amount of money to rent rather than go through Disney directly.

If you're interested in staying at BCV's for that time of year you'll want to look into booking WAY IN ADVANCE This is an extremely popular time of year for DVC members to be booked as the points are in their lowest season and Christmas decorations are up and holiday events happening. If renting points makes you too nervous or you can't get your stay booked because the villa's are full you may want to either book just a night or 2 directly through disney at the villa's (they may be booked up for members on points and Disney directly may have a few rooms availible as they retain like 4% of the rooms for non-member bookings) and check them out that way and continue the rest of your stay at the BC resort (the non-villas portion). Or you may want to stay at another DVC resort or choose a different date for your trip.

Anyway, hope this was of some help. If I can answer any other questions, feel free to PM me

[Mickeymac]

I know a little bit more this morning, of our travel plans.

(Just booking a stay at a DVC won't work, huh)?

Well, I priced out the cost of staying at the Beach Club itself, and it's 41917. for the week, standard view. I wish I knew what last year's AP prices were for the same time frame - i can't seem to find them. edit: just found them - Beach Club was $209. night for water view, so for seven nights, that's $1624 is. Saves about three hundred, if they are released, more if I could book a standard view.

DC, Yes, we would probably get a studio. For some reason, it look small to me?? Anyone know how it compares to an AKL room? We could not afford to get a one bedroom studio, but like the thought. The DIS calculator from 11/28 to 12/5 says we'd need 106 points, and at $10 a point, that's $1,060. I don't see how I could beat that? (it's 212 points for the one bedroom)

Flexibility is less necessary at this time, I'm hopeful to say. We are now definately going that week, unless airfare goes through the roof (it's $200 per person through Delta right now, wish I knew when Southwest was posting rates for Nov/Dec, as we need to include Thanksgiving week - ugh.) Once the airfare is booked, we would NOT cancel, so don't need trip insurance any more. The only flexibility we would need is to add on time at the beginning if my MIL decides they will not be around for Thanksgiving, and we'd need to book from Thanksgiving to Sunday. If that happens, we'd resort hop, I think, from the All Stars, since the kids miss it. (what a contrast, hey?)

Eeyore, that's the website we've been looking at for a long time. I've wanted to get an OKW resale for a while (it's right next to the golf course) but DH is just drrraaaggggiiinnnggg his feet. We received an offer for a 'free vacation' should we purchase a DVC from Disney a while ago, but I think that offer expired. We could use the deduction too - we dont' even itemize past the standard deduction any more.

How do the BCV rooms compare to the BC rooms?

DJ, I was on the Gairy Place (hehehee) so long last night I felt my brain cells popping as I read. Your posts helped though.

know there are some honest folks out there, but also know that there are some really shady characters.

'Tink - this makes me the most nervous - I would hate to convince my husband to spend his hard earned dollars this way, then get to check-in and find out it wasn't legit. Is there a confirmation number or something to follow up on?. I think what I would do is buy from someone who apparently has a past rental history, if at all possible. DJ, too bad you didn't have enough points, but I think your idea of making another trip is a noble sacrifice.

[Mickeymac]

Scoootch, thanks for the post! I wonder why the DIS calculator came out two points more? Not that I mind, mind you! LOL!

Typically the DVC member will rent their points out for $10 per point (not per night

LOL - that's funny! Wouldn't that be great if it were per night! Hehehehee! (I can understand where the confusion would come in though!)

I will probably ask questions publically though, since there's so little DVC rental information on this site, and so many valuable DVC members that I trust, and many more members like Eeyore that are interested also. Kind of like the 'stupid question' in the middle of class. LOL!

[Scoootch]

As far as how the studio at BCV's compares to the rooms at AKL or the regular BC rooms, a studio at BCV's (and all other DVC resorts except for OKW which will have 2 queen beds) will have a queen size bed and a pull-out sofa bed. It will also have a kitchenette with a mini-fridge, a microwave and coffee pot. As well as a bathroom and a balcony. The rooms at the other resorts will not have the kitchenette and will have usually 2 queen or double beds and a daybed (at the deluxes) -- AKL you can also get a queen/double bed and a set of bunkbeds.

HTH's