The Basics of Renting DVC Points

by
AllEars Staff

Feature Article
This article appeared in the December 17, 2019 (#1056) edition of ALL EARS®

Editor’s Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.

Yea! You’re planning a Disney Parks vacation! As you start the planning process you may have run across the option to stay at a Disney Vacation Club resort using DVC points, even if you’re not a DVC member.

Polynesian Village Resort Bungalows

AllEars answers your Walt Disney World  planning questions — read about them here!

If you have heard about renting DVC points — or if you’re just hearing about it for the first time — you might assume the process is complicated or difficult. You might be wondering if it’s safe or where you should even start.

We have gathered the basics to renting DVC points for your next Disney vacation in the hopes of making it easier for you to decide if renting is for you!

The Basics of Renting DVC Points

Decide When You Are Going

After deciding you want to go to Disney, you will need to know WHEN you are going to Disney. This will determine the timeframe during which you can or should rent your points. DVC members can start making reservations at their “home resort” up to 11 months in advance, so points for the various DVC resorts should be available to rent then.

Check out AllEars’ DVC primer here — everything you need to know about Disney Vacation Club!

Determine Where You Want to Stay 

In order to “shop” for points and calculate their cost, you will need to know where you want to stay. Currently, resorts with DVC options include:

Walt Disney World

Beach Club Villas

Disneyland

Other Locations

Get Your Calculator Out

Time to crunch the numbers! Work with your travel agent, or do the work yourself, and price out your vacation if you were to purchase it directly from Disney or your travel agent. Be sure to check Disney’s special offers when you are evaluating the numbers. AllEars.net recommends Mouse Fan Travel — learn about why you should use a vacation planner/travel agent for your Disney trip here.

Now, find out how many DVC points you would need to rent for your vacation and the price per point, as well as any other rental fees.  You can find DVC points calculators on several websites, including David’s Vacation Club Rentals.

Kidani Village

Find Out How and Where to Contact DVC Members

You can find DVC members renting points on message boards, on online auction sites, and on sites dedicated to DVC rentals such as David’s Vacation Club Rentals. Each of these approaches comes with its own benefits and drawbacks.

Additional Options — If You’re Flexible

David’s Vacation Rental offers two other options for finding rentals, but you’ll have to be flexible to take advantage of them. The first is the site’s Dedicated Reservations. These are reservations that are set in stone; Resorts are booked for specific dates with specific room types and views. But if you browse these last-minute options and find one that works for you, you might score a great deal as they are often a reduced price.

Saratoga Springs

David’s also offers Last-Minute Specials which are typically only shared via email to subscribers. If you’re flexible enough to book a spur-of-the-moment trip, you may get a great deal that way, too.

Make Your Reservation

After you have reached an agreement on dates, location, and price go ahead and make your reservation with the DVC member.

Remember, this is not your conventional hotel reservation. You are entering into a private transaction with the DVC member, regardless of how you contact them. This means you are trusting them to make the reservation and maintain the reservation for you. Disney will not be able to help you if something goes wrong — they have entered into the transaction with the DVC member, not with you.

Disney’s Riviera Resort Concept Art ©Disney

Get Ready for Your Vacation!

You can use the Disney website with your reservation number (be sure to get that from the DVC member). Mark your calendar for your 180-day window to make Advance Dining Reservations and your 60-day window for FastPasses.