Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World on a Budget: Renting DVC Points

One of my absolute FAVORITE ways to have a luxury Disney World vacation without the luxury price tag is by renting DVC points for my hotel stay.

So how does it work? And how much will I save? Is it safe and secure? And what the heck is DVC anyway?!

Let's talk it out so you can decide if this is a great way for you to save some cash on your vacation.

What is DVC?

DVC stands for Disney Vacation Club. It is essentially a time share program that Disney offers. You can buy points and use them to stay at any number of Disney locations.

The rooms are all studios, villas, or bungalows. There are DVC rooms available at all of the deluxe resorts, and a few other DVC exclusive locations.

How Can I Take Advantage Without Buying DVC Points?

Often times DVC owners have points that they have purchased, but they can't use for whatever reason. Those DVC owners then sell those points to you.

You CAN book the same DVC rooms directly from Disney, but you will be paying a premium for those rooms.

Renting is going to be the cheapest way for you to take advantage of those amazing rooms.

How Do I Safely Rent Points From A Stranger!?

In order to do that there is a little bit of trust involved. The person who owns the points is the one who makes the reservation for you.

You might be thinking it is a risk to rent points from someone you don't know. I totally get that.

You can definitely find Disney Vacation Club boards where people are looking for someone to rent their points. And it does feel risky. So I actually recommend going through a DVC broker. It will cost a little bit more, but brokers like David's Vacation Rental are safe and secure.

DVC owners can book rooms 11 months in advance. So you can request a rental of DVC as early as 11 months out.

Will I Really Save Money?

Yes! You can stay at one of the deluxe resorts through a DVC rental for about the price of a moderate resort.

What Happens When I Book?

The owner of the DVC points will have to make the reservation for you (even if you go through a broker). That person will then give you your confirmation number and you can add it to your My Disney Experience account.

Once you do that you can even add tickets or a dining package by calling Disney. You can also take advantage of Magical Express by calling and adding it to your reservation.

Is This Too Good to be True?

Not at all. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. You will need to book early to get what you want. And even if you do request a certain resort and room early there is no guarantee that what you want will be available to rent.
2. You wont get Mousekeeping service (Disney's housekeeping) every day like you normally would.
3. Some of the DVC rooms are not in the most convenient of locations at the resorts
4. You don't get to take advantage of DVC owner perks (discounts, special events, lounges, etc)

The bottom line is that this is a great way to save some money if you are looking for a deluxe vacation on a moderate budget.

Still confused or need help?

I am happy to help! Contact me.

Looking to rent DVC points? Head to DVCRequest to rent points.

See you at the parks,
-Julie