I see that I have the option of using an online broker to rent Disney villas, and it is much cheaper than calling Disney for the same room. Is this a real option, or a scam? If it is real, are there any drawbacks to taking this route?
I see that I have the option of using an online broker to rent Disney villas, and it is much cheaper than calling Disney for the same room. Is this a real option, or a scam? If it is real, are there any drawbacks to taking this route?
If you are talking about a broker that partners with DVC members to help rent out their points, then I would probably stray away. While this topic has not come up in a while, from what I recall, most of them are not worth the hassle.
If you are really interested in a DVC villa for your vacation, I personally think it would be better to call Disney or your TA to see what can be done. As an alternative, dealing with a DVC member directly to rent their points can also be a decent way of doing business at a decent price.
I am sure that others may have different experiences, so its safe to say that you need to explore all options before going down a certain path.
What kind of accommodations are you looking for?
The search function is like the Force. It may take practice, but the more you use it, the more control you will have over it!
Yes, that is exactly what I saw, a broker partnering with DVC members to rent out their points.
I am looking for a 2-bedroom villa, preferably at the Contemporary's Bay Lake Tower, in about a year. And while we are prepared to pay the full Dinsey rate if that is the only option, it certainly would be nice to get the exact same room for a good deal less. What sort of hassle is involved? Sadly, I don't know anyone who has a DVC for me to work directly with.
We are renting 85 points at BC in November from a member. I was very nervous and skeptical at first but I have to say it has been a piece of cake to this point.
Pro's-we saved a lot of money and we got reservations where and when we wanted. Beach Club Villas was already full for our dates by booking through WDW website. (During Food & Wine) You can still add the dining plan and Magical Express it just has to be done through your member.
Con's-You deal directly through the dvc member, there is NO communication accepted between you and Disney. You are gambling that your member is honest and will follow through.
We have not had any problems yet. We looked for a member with BC as home resort so we could make reservations more than 7 months out. She made the reservations the same day and provided us with the confirmation number. I could immediately verify our reservation at mydisneyreservation.com/dvc (and do so almost daily). We both signed a rental contract and we mailed a cashiers check to her for the full amount. I would rather have paid with paypal but she only took cashiers check. After checking her references I was much more at ease with this part. We communicated through e-mail, as of now she is waiting to hear back from me with flight information when I have it and whether or not we want to add the dining plan.
I would recommend renting only if you are willing to gamble the money. I was not but hubby was, so we did it. We found our member from wdwinfo.com, dvc trade/rent discussion board. Check it out and maybe you'll get some more questions answered. Good luck!
Michelle
Next trip May 2014
Before we purchased our DVC points, I rented points, and it was a successful transaction. It was a lot less expensive than treating it as a hotel reservation through Disney. As others have posted, you are entering into a contractual arrangement with the DVC owner, and there is an element of trust. I would think that going through a reputable broker would add a level of security to the transaction-it is less likely to be a scam, but if someone made off with your money, recourse could be difficult, lengthy, and expensive, and it would not get you your vacation back. That said, people rent out and rent points all the time, and, generally, it works out well. I only rented enough points for a studio, for five days, so it was not a major investment for me. If you check out a DVC rental board, you will also get a feel for the current market rate for point rental-that's how you determine the appropriate price, not by the number of nights, or the dollar amount. It's probably somewhere in the range of $10 a point. You can also check out the DVC points charts, to figure out the number of points you need. The DVC "seasons" are not the same as hotel rate seasons-there is a significant difference between, say April (over 300 points for the week), and May (which is less). If your kids won't be in school yet, consider avoiding the higher spring break period. I think you can access the points charts on www.allearsnet.com. I would be surprised if someone was renting out enough points for a 2 bedroom at the Contemporary villas; that's a lot of points, and, because it's a new DVC resort, it would be a recent purchase. There is usually a lot more availability at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs, which are the resorts near Downtown Disney, which are exclusively DVC. Be aware that it is a timeshare rental, not a hotel rental. You are not going to get daily maid service, unless you pay extra. You will get mid-week towel and trash service, and, after a certain number of days, a cleaning. Honestly, it hasn't been an issue for us- I have a washer right there anyway, and I just toss the towels in for a wash, and we don't make much of a mess. If you approach the transaction with knowledge and caution, it can be just fine. If it is the owner's home resort, they can make the reservation 11 months before the date of check-in; if it is not their home resort, 7 months before check-in.
Yeah, clean towels every day doesn't matter to me and we are pretty neat people, so maid service is not crucial to us. I would much rather have a washer and dryer than a fresh bath towel each evening and my bed made for me! It is more expensive to use a broker than dealing directly with a DVC person, but I think I will feel a bit more secure.
I am not sure what brokers are selling points for these days, but the average private-party price is somewhere between $10 and $12 per point.
I usually go to dvcbyresale.com's website for a quick reference on current point values.
One note.... A good renter will make all the reservations for you, and provide you with a copy of the conformation, which should be in your name, before you send any cash. Additionally, an experienced renter will have a contractual agreement as to the transaction. I know that may sound like a lot, but it is to protect you and the person renting the points.
To add to the above, know that you will NOT be able to contact DVC Member Services for anything in regards to the transaction.
The search function is like the Force. It may take practice, but the more you use it, the more control you will have over it!
I actually had a friend use the online broker that you are probably referring to and she had a great experience. However, I also know Disney has been cracking down on such businesses (because DVC members are not supposed to "commercially" rent their points).
She rented and went on her trip within a month or so; she also thought the broker was very professional and things went very smoothly and she saved a ton of $$. However, I would probably be wary of renting so far out from anyone--whether a broker or private party--because a lot can happen in a year. Most private parties have a no refund or half refund policy if you have to cancel. One idea might be to make a reservation directly with Disney and in the meantime look into other options that you might use later on down the road when your vacation gets closer.
If I go down, I'm going down fat and full.
To add to that, members cant book rooms at their home resort until 11 months before arrival, so thats one thing to consider.... Anyone saying that they can book you now more than 11 months in advance using DVC points is just plain wrong.Originally Posted by Toocherie
Now, keep in mind that if you just try to rent a room from Disney they may not show inventory that far out for the villas. That is because there are only so many villas at each resort that are reserved for cash reservations. So, just because there is no availability now does not mean that you are completely sunk. Do try again later. (A good TA would also be of assistance in such a situation as well.)
The search function is like the Force. It may take practice, but the more you use it, the more control you will have over it!
Can a travel agent assist with all options, including the possibility of getting a brokered room?
I highly doubt that a TA is going to want to deal with a timeshare broker of sorts.
I am sure that a TA would be more than willing to help arrange a cash reservation of any Disney room.
The search function is like the Force. It may take practice, but the more you use it, the more control you will have over it!
I agree. This is a private contractual transaction, and the TA can't insure it will go off well. A TA would only deal with Disney.
Another prominent website geared towards WDW has a large DVC section as well as a rental section. I've rented as well as rented out points using this website. Its the Disboards. Renting points is a lot cheaper than going through Disney. Figure $12 per point for BLT. Use someone thats rented before and or has a high post count or long history on the boards. With a two bedroom you might not save as much money renting so check out the points required then compare to Disney. Remember to add tax to Disney's rate.
Are you talking about me??
Yes, it was a very smooth transaction, first with a 3-way phone call to do the actual booking, then emails back and forth, including the contract, and payment through Paypal.
It was a spur of the moment thing, plus I had ulterior motives... wanted DH to stay in an actual DVC before trying to convince him that we needed to buy one. We went in October last year, and closed on our DVC in December!! Guess it worked!!
Reindeer Games, December 2009 - 75th place; Decades, May 2010 - 48th place; World Explorers II, October 2010 - 24th place; Luau, April 2011 - 11th place; World Explorers III, November 2011 - 26th place; Card Games, March 2012 - 17th place; Road Trip, September 2012 - 35th place; World Explorers IV, November 2012 - 7th place
Yes I was talking about you! Can't wait to see you in less than a month!!!! Whoo hoo!
If I go down, I'm going down fat and full.
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