We are planning our next trip in January 2009. We are considering renting a studio at Animal Kingdom villa from a DVC owner with dining. While is this is advantageous to our budget, I'm wondering if I'll miss out on any MYW January promotions. In January 08 we were able to get free ticket upgrades with hopper and waterpark/Disneyquest. Hopefully this will be offered again. Would it be possible to have 2 vacation reservations? Our Sunday-Thursday rental with the DVC owner and then a Friday-Sunday reservation @ Riverside as a MYW package with any potential promotions. Has anyone done this?

Many have done this and some find it to be a great option. However, some would say to go up in resort level instead of down, though... So in your case, start out at POR and then move to AKV, if possible.

In this case, however, if the OP wishes to spend a week at WDW, the point difference between the Sunday-Thursday stay and the weekend point rate, probably necessitates doing the DVC during the week. The OP could, however, do the regular resort stay first, starting with the weekend nights, then hop to the DVC resort on Sunday. It all depends on how you can and wish to arrange your days. If the OP must do the DVC first, it really won't spoil things to move to a moderate at the end.

The problem with doing the non-DVC at the end to take advantage of promotions on packages - is that you won't have them during your DVC stay! So if you stay at the moderate at the beginning of the trip, get a 7 day park hopper with your package and whatever promotions you're hoping they have, and then go to the DVC and get the dining (where you don't need to do a package to get it, if you're staying on points).

So, the best overall would be to have the weekend at the beginning of your trip, so you move up, can take full advantage of any promos, and get the DVC at the week-day only 'price'.

The problem with doing the non-DVC at the end to take advantage of promotions on packages - is that you won't have them during your DVC stay! So if you stay at the moderate at the beginning of the trip, get a 7 day park hopper with your package and whatever promotions you're hoping they have, and then go to the DVC and get the dining (where you don't need to do a package to get it, if you're staying on points).
Could I check in at Riverside Sat-Sun, take advantage of the MYW promotion with 7-day hopper, then move to AKL, and then back to riverside? I want to stay at AKL with the fewest amount of rental points, but still advantage of the promotions.

Thanks for the input!

If you get tickets as a part of a package, you can use them as you see fit, even after your package stay is over. After all, if you dont get the no expire option, you will have 14 days from first use to use them up.

However, if you get an offer like free dining, or even a purchased dining package, it will only be good for the number of nights you stay as a part of that package. For example, while you can buy 7 days worth of tickets as a part of a 2 night package, you cannot get 7 days worth of the dining plan on a 2 night package.

But as mentioned, you can purchase a dining package with your DVC stay. The renter will have to arrange that for you and you will pay for that upon check in to the DVC resort.