Renting DVC points questions

[chucky2k]

Hi All

New to the site and planning our 1st WDW vacation (Fiancee & myself). After a suggestion on the TGM forum about Renting I discussed with my Fiancee about renting the points and she would like me to look into it a bit.
I was originally planning on staying at POP but was made aware that an OKW studio comes close to the same price as what I would pay at POP. My dates are 11/5/2006 - 11/26/2006.
I cannot ask to rent the points at the moment as I do not have the funds to be able to pay for a deposit just yet, but I should have the money soon.
I was hoping anyone could tell me what my chances are for that length of a stay. I have calculated that I would need 258 points for the stay and at $10 per point it is marginally more that POP but with the kitchenette included it is alot closer if I was to get a Refrigerator at POP and with the Aussie dollar exchange every bit counts.
Any other suggestions or advice on renting DVC points for my trip would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

David

PS thanks to JohnNJ and his signature at TGM for directing me here.

[withdisneyspirit]

I really don't think you will have a problem at this point getting a studio at OKW, especially if you can rent the points from an OKW owner. You need to try to do this soon though so there won't be a problem with the time close to Thanksgiving. Good luck!

Thanks to John NJ for his great advertisement:jumpingbe

[jnrrt]

I just wanted to say that having stayed at both the POP and OKW, you will be very glad to spend the money and stay at OKW. And you'll be shocked that the difference in cost was so small. OKW is beautiful. Pop is nice too, and we've liked staying there just fine, but there is no comparison.

Other than that, I would just say that renting is a great way to go, it's always worked for us, and I hope you guys have a fabulous trip!

[tjkraz]

I wouldn't wait too much longer to start the process. You have two hurdles to overcome at the beginning and end of your trip. Early November is a time nicknamed "Jersey Week" in which a large number of families from the US state of New Jersey have an entire week of vacation due to teacher conventions and so forth. Believe it or not, this odd vacation period in just one of our 50 states has a dramatic effect on attendance at WDW. While the crowds aren't Summer-like, you can almost guarantee that the 20+ resorts owned by Disney will be booked solid during this period.

Then, toward the end of your trip is our Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving always falls on a Thursday--this year on 11/23. The week of Thanksgiving most schools are closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday--with many adding Tuesday as well. Thus it's a prime time for parents to pull their kids out of school a day or two early and squeeze in a week-long vacation. This week is probably the 4th or 5th busiest week at WDW overall, trailing only a couple weeks around both Easter and Christmas.

In between those two events you'll have a great, low-crowd period.

My point here is that since you're trying to book a solid 3 weeks at OKW, you don't want to drag your feet. Start looking for the points as soon as you have your funds available. Disney's Value resorts have about 10,000 rooms spread over four resorts, but Old Key West only has about 250 Studio rooms. Now, remember that only DVC members have access to those 250 rooms, so it's not as bleak as those numbers may seem on the surface.

We rented points twice before buying and I'm sure you'll have a great experience. In addition to the refrigerator you mentioned you'll also have a private balcony on your room at OKW that overlooks either a golf course, waterway or forested area. You'll also have the thrill of staying at a Deluxe class resort rather than a Value resort. I don't know if you've ever been to WDW before but the upgrade in accommodations is staggering. You DEFINITELY want to pursue the rental. There's no question it will make your honeymoon that much more magical.

Good luck.

[chucky2k]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I will have to hurry up with getting the funds together. Sorry for posting in the worng area to start with.

Thanks again

David

[PoohsPal]

Good luck with your rental! 3 weeks? Color me jealous!

Don't worry about posting in the wrong place. Things get mnoved to where we think you'll get the best replies.

One thing to remeber, you will want to have a contract and references, just so there iwll be a comfort level on both sides. Have fun!

[Colorado Belle]

I ditto all that was said above.

However, it being your honeymoon, you might want to consider one of the DVC resorts whose studio room is a bed with a 'living room' area, as opposed to the OKW studio which has 2 beds.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE OKW, but not so much the studio rooms (unless I have 4 people). The one bedroom OKW are divine!!!!!! however, and maybe you could splurge on a one bedroom for a few nights and make use of that jacuzzi tub!

There is no doubt that an OKW studio is much much much more dulux than a value resort (which would also have 2 beds and be about half the size), but if you can afford a wee bit more, you might try a BWV standard (which is only a point or so more per night) which would give you the 'lsitting/living room area'.

If you are going for 3 weeks, you might want to try a few different DVC resorts anyway.

Finally, the points (and hence cost) of weekdays vs weekends at DVC is significant. Perhaps 5 nights (Sun-THur) in a DVC studio and then a weekend in value and then a DVC studio for the weekdays....and so on.

Of course it is your honeymoon and your moolah...so you should do what makes ya happy!

[PoohsPal]

FYI - Here's a link to our new points rental section.

http://www.mouseowners.com/RentingPoints.html

[chucky2k]

Thanks PoohsPal and Colorado Belle for the extra advice. Will sort out my funds and make a request in the next few weeks hopefully :fingerscr

David

[TW1]

I'd like to second ColoradoBelle's suggestion.

I love OKW, almost as much as I love BCV.

If I were staying three weeks I might consider three different DVC resorts. As you know each has different theming and locations and it may make the trip that much more fun. Hotel staff can arrange to move your bags for you, so some morning you can pack up, enjoy a park and simply come home to a new location.

Besides, as TJKraz points out, you are coming up on busy time periods, so you may have no choice but to move around a bit. Take that as an opportunity to see more DVC.

[mushu]

Renting can get you hooked. I did and now own.

[Daitcher]

This is definitely a friendly board. Am I the only one that sees a problem with a renter getting an OKW studio for the same price as POP? This is great stuff from a renter standpoint but as a DVC owner I have to wnder if rental prices are too low? Anyone agree or disgree? I'd like to hear some thoughts on this here. OP, go for it and take advantage of those low prices while they last. OKW is a great place. Have a great trip.


DAVE

[tjkraz]

This is definitely a friendly board. Am I the only one that sees a problem with a renter getting an OKW studio for the same price as POP? This is great stuff from a renter standpoint but as a DVC owner I have to wnder if rental prices are too low? Anyone agree or disgree?

If I remember correctly from my economics classes, a product's "value" is whatever you can get someone else to pay for it. I'm sure there are creative people who do much better than $10 pp. Others just want the effortless transaction.

One thing that complicates point renting are the weekend costs. Guests who are willing to mirror the popular Sunday - Friday DVC schedule will get a really cheap trip. But, if you try to charge more than $12 per point to someone who wants a 7-night trip, suddenly the numbers don't look so good.

7 nights in May in a BCV Studio is 123 points. At $12 each, you're looking at nearly $1500 or $210 per night. You can get an AP or AAA rate for close to that, plus you get full housekeeping and don't incur the risk of sending $1500 to a complete stranger. (As someone who rented before buying, I have to tell you that it's a very nerve wracking process right up to the point you have a key in your hand.)