[mickeymotto]

OK, here is the situation. We would like to bring my Mom, my cousin and her little boy with us for a trip next summer. ***inside back story*** My cousin's husband left her while she was pregnant and she has raised her son alone who will be turning 6 for this trip. She has been a fantastic Mom and we would like to do something nice for the both of them that they could never afford to ever do on their own.

Since we will be paying for a group 8 this trip, DH and I wanted to keep the costs down if we can. We have always stayed at the Deluxe resorts and we would like to stay at AKL because her little boy loves animals , but for the 12 days we will be there including the DDP, the price would astronomical.(So if anyone has any ideas for us I would really appreciate it) We are considering a split stay vacation for this trip. I was thinking 7 days at a value and then the last 4 days at AKL.

Here is my question:

If we were to do a split stay, would we have to buy 2 sets of MYW tickets to continue on the Dining plan?

We were considering a 10 MYW ticket w/ options because we plan on hitting the water parks for a couple days. When trying to price these options out on the website, I always have to purchase another base ticket to continue the DDP. I hope this is not the case.

Sometimes I feel like trying to figure out the best possible solution for our trip is like an Algebra problem!

[Dana]

A split stay would mean two different reservation definately for the DDP. My best advice is for you to try and rent points and stay at a two-bedroom villa at OKW. It's the cheapest in regards to points and it will give you that deluxe feel without the deluxe costs...you are able to do the DDP there too...regardless of park pass options. I rented one for my party of 6 and it worked out perfectly.

As for AKL, you can always make an ADR for Boma and visit the animals then.

[mickeymotto]

Originally Posted by Dana

A split stay would mean two different reservation definately for the DDP. My best advice is for you to try and rent points and stay at a two-bedroom villa at OKW. It's the cheapest in regards to points and it will give you that deluxe feel without the deluxe costs...you are able to do the DDP there too...regardless of park pass options. I rented one for my party of 6 and it worked out perfectly.

As for AKL, you can always make an ADR for Boma and visit the animals then.

How do you rent points?

[Dana]

Originally Posted by mickeymotto

How do you rent points?

Go the the DVC forum here at mousebuzz and post in the rent/trade area about what dates you need. People rent from each other all the time on here...this is my second time renting. I highly suggest you rent from someone you *know* on here.
http://www.mousebuzz.com/forum/trade-rental-requests/

[mickeymotto]

Originally Posted by Dana

Go the the DVC forum here at mousebuzz and post in the rent/trade area about what dates you need. People rent from each other all the time on here...this is my second time renting. I highly suggest you rent from someone you *know* on here.
http://www.mousebuzz.com/forum/trade-rental-requests/

Thanks Dana! Your the best!

I will start checking out. I didn't even know you could even do that unless you actually owned a DVC.

[DisneyTeacher]

We have rented points several times and have had very good luck renting from people we 'know' from MouseBuzz. There are also several other Disney boards that have very big Rent/Trade boards. I have never rented from 'strangers' but people do it all the time. Do your homework and get to know the person you are renting from because this is a pravate deal between you and the DVC owner.

With 8 people you will need a 2 bedroom and that will run you about 300 points depending on the season and resort. Points usually rent for $10-12 per point so you'll spend at least $3000 on the room but it will sleep all 8 of you and have a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and laundry.

[mickeymotto]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

We have rented points several times and have had very good luck renting from people we 'know' from MouseBuzz. There are also several other Disney boards that have very big Rent/Trade boards. I have never rented from 'strangers' but people do it all the time. Do your homework and get to know the person you are renting from because this is a pravate deal between you and the DVC owner.

With 8 people you will need a 2 bedroom and that will run you about 300 points depending on the season and resort. Points usually rent for $10-12 per point so you'll spend at least $3000 on the room but it will sleep all 8 of you and have a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and laundry.

Thanks DT! Since we have never done this, I know nothing about DVC. Can I just post a request for the dates we are considering and what property?

Also, I noticed another link I found that they have Villas at AKL that accommodate 8 also. I can't really tell if they are more expensive or not.

I would only feel safe renting from someone I know too.

[Prezcatz]

If you are set on a deluxe, I think renting points will be a lot cheaper. You could do the split stay (and I would recommend it to help reduce costs), but as I understand it, you should not have to do 2 separate MYW packages. I thought you could buy the DDP for the length of your stay and only buy a 1-day ticket, because the DDP was tied to the nights of your stay, not your tickets.
Also, if you rent, realize the weekday nights (Sun - Thurs) are less points than weekend nights (Fri - Sat), so you could save some $$$ there as well, maybe do a value or moderate on the weekends and switch to the deluxe during the week. I don't know how many days you are planing to go into the parks, but you may want to look at APs as a cheaper alternative, which could get you some other discounts (AP rate for rooms, etc) as well.

Prezcatz Paul

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by mickeymotto

Thanks DT! Since we have never done this, I know nothing about DVC. Can I just post a request for the dates we are considering and what property?

Also, I noticed another link I found that they have Villas at AKL that accommodate 8 also. I can't really tell if they are more expensive or not.

I would only feel safe renting from someone I know too.

Price two rooms at AK for 8 days and see if it's more or less than $3000 and you'll know. The villas at AK that sleep 8 are the DVC rooms. I do know it will cost you a lot more to book that same room through Disney than to rent points from a member. That $3000 is just a guess but you'll need about 300 points so it's close.

You can post a request but you may also have to go through all the offers as well.

I don't know how it works but there's a site that is run by a DVC member and he rents points out for other members so I am sure he would have enough points for you because it's his business. If you want that information I could pass it along too.

[mickeymotto]

Originally Posted by Prezcatz

If you are set on a deluxe, I think renting points will be a lot cheaper. You could do the split stay (and I would recommend it to help reduce costs), but as I understand it, you should not have to do 2 separate MYW packages. I thought you could buy the DDP for the length of your stay and only buy a 1-day ticket, because the DDP was tied to the nights of your stay, not your tickets.
Also, if you rent, realize the weekday nights (Sun - Thurs) are less points than weekend nights (Fri - Sat), so you could save some $$$ there as well, maybe do a value or moderate on the weekends and switch to the deluxe during the week. I don't know how many days you are planing to go into the parks, but you may want to look at APs as a cheaper alternative, which could get you some other discounts (AP rate for rooms, etc) as well.

Prezcatz Paul

I was hoping that was the case with the DDP and tickets.

I never really thought about renting points until now, but it certainly sounds like something to consider.

I'm not sure about the AP discounts either. If I were to get an AP would I have the ability to get a discounted rate whenever I would want to go or just during certain dates or specials.

DH and I are actually going in February this year for a band trip with one of our sons and then again in the summer with the group. I believe that the Feb trip we will be there for 6 days and then in the summer for 12. Now not all of those days we will spend in the parks, some will be at the Water Parks too. So I wasn't sure if the AP was the route to go.

Like I said in the beginning, it feels like an Algebra problem at this point. and I just don't know which way to go. The only thing I do know is that I want to go to WDW!

[Willbegone]

We are renting points for the first time this Thanksgiving for a party of 7. It turns out to be about the same price as 2 rooms at a moderate. The whole renting process was so much easier than I expected (because we are renting from a WONDERFUL mousebuzzer). We are doing SSR but OKW is the cheapest on points.

[mickeymotto]

Originally Posted by Willbegone

We are renting points for the first time this Thanksgiving for a party of 7. It turns out to be about the same price as 2 rooms at a moderate. The whole renting process was so much easier than I expected (because we are renting from a WONDERFUL mousebuzzer). We are doing SSR but OKW is the cheapest on points.

Wow!! How do I go about requesting points for June 2009?

[Dana]

Originally Posted by mickeymotto

Wow!! How do I go about requesting points for June 2009?

go to the forum I linked you to and start a thread saying "looking to rent points". Post your dates and resort preferences in the thread. you will be contacted by anyone who has the points. It's that simple.

[llama]

I hope you do try to rent points. DVC properties offer so much more than a single hotel room - with a 2 bedroom villa you'll be able to settle in and relax with lots of room, have a full kitchen, living/dining room three tvs, two bathrooms and a laundry room. Puts a whole different aspect on your vacation. OKW is ideal for large groups, with the biggest suites and a wonderful atmosphere. It's also the cheapest of the DVC properties - but you'd never know it.

[mickeymotto]

Originally Posted by llama

I hope you do try to rent points. DVC properties offer so much more than a single hotel room - with a 2 bedroom villa you'll be able to settle in and relax with lots of room, have a full kitchen, living/dining room three tvs, two bathrooms and a laundry room. Puts a whole different aspect on your vacation. OKW is ideal for large groups, with the biggest suites and a wonderful atmosphere. It's also the cheapest of the DVC properties - but you'd never know it.

I'm so excited to hear all of you talk about this option. I would have never really considered it because I never thought I could!

We should be having a family meeting on this over the weekend. (We have to confirm that the dates will work for all of us) I am so excited about telling everyone about this and I know it will save us some money. I just hope I can find someone to rent me the points that I feel comfortable with. That would be the only reservation I would have about this option.