Disney World DVC Rental Ultimate Guide
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Disney World DVC Rental is the BEST way to save thousands on a Disney World vacation. Learn what resorts have DVC villas, what renting points costs, and the downsides of DVC rental at Disney World.
Ten years ago I learned how to “rent” Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points and stay at Disney World Deluxe resorts for up to 70% off.
DVC rental has made it possible for my family to stay in hotels that we never dreamed we’d be able to afford!
In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about how to rent points in the hopes that you can experience a stay at one of these amazing resorts, too.
What is Disney World DVC Rental?
Disney Vacation Club (DVC for short) is Disney’s vacation ownership program, kind of like a timeshare.
But unlike a timeshare, DVC owners buy a set amount of points that are added to their account each year.
These points can be used to stay at ANY Disney Vacation Club resort any time of the year.
DVC resort rooms are all called “villas” and vary in size from Studio Villas (slightly larger than a standard hotel room) to 3-bedroom “Grand Villas”.
They all have kitchenettes or full kitchens and sleep from 4 to 12 people.
DVC resorts are all in the Deluxe Category at Disney World, which means they have amazing pools, excellent dining options, fitness facilities, and more.
These are the ten DVC resorts at Walt Disney World in Florida:
- Animals Kingdom Lodge Villas (Jambo House & Kidani Village)
- Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort
- Beach Club Villas
- Boardwalk Villas
- Grand Floridian Villas
- Old Key West Resort
- Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Riviera Resort
- Saratoga Springs Resort
- Wilderness Lodge Villas (Copper Creek & Boulder Ridge)
How Does DVC Rental Work?
Sometimes DVC owners are not able to use all of their points themselves and decide to “rent” these points out to others.
A DVC owner can make a reservation with their points in anyone’s name, even if the people on the reservation are not DVC members themselves.
When you rent Disney timeshare points you essentially pay a member to use their points for a resort stay for your family.
You do NOT have to be a DVC member to rent points. I hope that makes sense!
The easiest way to rent points from a DVC owner is through David’s Vacation Rentals.
They handle everything for you and you’ll still save hundreds (or thousands) on your Disney vacation. Read on to get all of the details.
Do I Still Get Disney Benefits If I Rent DVC Points?
This is the question I get asked the most about Disney World DVC rental (well right after “Is this too good to be true???”)
And I’m happy to report the answer is YES! You get all of the same benefits of staying at a Disney resort when you rent Disney Vacation Club points that you do when you book directly with Disney (more, in fact).
After you rent DVC points for your stay, you will get a Disney confirmation number that you connect to your My Disney Experience account.
With this confirmation number, you will get:
- Early Theme Park Entry every day
- Ability to make Individual Lightning Lane reservations starting at 7 am (get my guide to the Lightning Lanes here)
- Ability to add a Disney Dining Plan to your reservation if you want
- Access to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours just for Deluxe resort guests
So you won’t miss out on anything by renting DVC points – you’ll just pay less because you are in-the-know and are willing to do a little bit of extra work.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent Disney Timeshare Points?
The number of points required for a stay in a DVC villa depends on several factors. The main considerations that determine how many points you will need are:
- What time of year you are going
- The resort at which you want to stay
- The size of the villa (Studio through 3-Bedroom)
Here is an example: The point range for an Animal Kingdom Lodge studio villa (which sleeps 4) is between 9 and 28 points, depending on the season.
The current going rate for renting points is between $18-$25 per point, with an average of about $21 per point.
So for my studio villa example above, the cost for one night can range from about $160 to $600.
I have rented points for stays at the Animal Kingdom Lodge many times and on average pay ABOUT $200 per night.
Other resorts at which you can get a studio villa room for around $200 include Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.
I frequently use these DVC Point Charts from Vacation Club Life to figure out the time of year during which we will visit and the type of villa we want.
A point chart shows the different “seasons” and their corresponding dates.
It can seem complicated at first but after you spend a few minutes studying one of the charts it should seem much easier to understand!
How do I rent Disney DVC points from an owner?
There are two ways to go about finding a DVC member who you can rent DVC points from. I’ll explain both approaches in detail below.
The Easiest Way – Rent DVC Points From a Broker
First I’ll describe the easier way to rent DVC points, which is using what is called a points “broker” to arrange your stay.
Points brokers are companies that help DVC owners rent their extra points to interested parties. I strongly suggest using David’s Vacation Rentals, my recommended points broker.
They have an excellent reputation and have been helping people with DVC rentals for many years!
This is how the process works: First, submit a reservation request on David’s site.
You’ll pay a $105 deposit when you make your reservation request, which is completely refunded to you if David’s is not able to secure a reservation for your dates and resort.
David’s handles finding someone with the right points, for the right resort, who is willing to rent at the quoted price. They also handle the rental agreement and making the reservation. Basically, they do all of the hard work for you!
The current going rate to rent Disney Vacation Club points through a broker is $20- $25 per point. This is maybe a dollar or two more per point than you would pay compared to renting from an owner directly, but it is a much easier process.
One other benefit of Disney vacation point rental through a broker is that your trip is eligible for travel insurance!
Because of the non-refundable nature of Disney World DVC rental, I strongly suggest getting a quote for travel insurance for your trip of more than two nights.
If you are traveling during hurricane season in Florida (generally June through November) then travel insurance is an excellent idea.
I recommend Travel Guard’s “cancel for any reason” policies . If you aren’t completely satisfied you can get a full refund within 10 days of booking.
Rent DVC Points Directly from an Owner
The second or DIY way involves renting directly from a DVC owner.
This has become increasingly difficult in recent years. The best way to find someone is through a Facebook group dedicated to DVC rentals, which you can find by searching.
Is It Cheaper to Rent Points?
A DVC rental will always be cheaper than paying for the same room directly with Disney.
Just how much can you expect to save by using this approach versus just booking a room through Disney?
Well, as I already mentioned, these resorts are the most luxurious Disney has to offer and come with a pretty exorbitant price tag.
But when you rent DVC points you’ll save up to 70% compared to Disney’s cost!
Normally you can expect to save anywhere from 40% to 70% off of Disney’s prices for similar rooms at these resorts.
I normally pay between $150 – $250 for a studio villa at resorts where a room through Disney will cost at least $400 per night.
How much does a DVC point cost?
The range for the cost of DVC points is generally from $18-$25 per point. You will pay between $20-$25 when you use a broker to arrange your stay, but you won’t have to deal with any of the confusing details or put yourself at risk.
If you rent directly from an individual, you can expect to pay between $18 – $23 per point.
The low end of this price range is usually just for last-minute rentals, so don’t expect to pay $18 per point for a week vacation that you are booking 11 months in advance.
Should I Try Disney World DVC Rental?
While there are clearly many pros to Disney vacation point rental, there are also some downsides.
The downsides are:
- You must be ready to pay the entire amount upfront
- There are no cancellations (though changes may be possible) so travel insurance is recommended
- You won’t get daily housekeeping, but trash and towel service on night four (full housekeeping for stays longer than eight nights)
When you make a reservation through a DVC broker or through an individual, the standard is to pay the whole amount upfront. You can pay via credit card either way.
Sometimes an owner is willing to work with a down payment and the balance due 60 days before arrival, but that depends on the individual.
Due to the nature of DVC points in general there are no cancellations. But I have had luck changing the dates of my trip, such as at the last minute due to a hurricane.
I strongly suggest getting travel insurance for a trip with rental points which you can only get when you rent through a broker such as David’s.
Unfortunately, trips arranged through an individual won’t usually qualify for insurance.
And last, you won’t receive daily housekeeping when you stay on points. You will get trash and towel service on the fourth night of your stay and a full cleaning on the seventh night.
If you need anything from “Mousekeeping” at any point during your stay (such as soap, toilet paper, or even more towels) you can call from your room phone and someone will bring the items to your room.
These are the factors you should consider when trying to decide if you should rent points DVC.
How difficult is it to find availability for my travel dates?
Since I started renting DVC points over ten years ago, it has become more difficult to find availability for dates.
My advice is to try to make a reservation as early as possible – ideally, 7-11 months before you want to visit.
If you want to travel on very popular dates, I suggest finding someone from whom to rent points before the 11-month booking window opens. I did this recently for my sister, and was glad I did – the resort was entirely booked a month later.
Renting DVC points likely won’t work for a trip that is just a few months out. These resorts are very popular and it is difficult to find even a few days in a row at many of them 7 months before traveling.
Can you get the dining plan if you rent DVC points?
Yes, you can absolutely add a dining plan to your reservation if you rent Disney Vacation Club points!
When you use a broker you would usually pay for this during your original booking. What’s nice is that you can pay for it with a Disney gift card that you got at a discount, saving you even more off the cost of the dining plan.
Get my advice on buying discount Disney gift cards here and my Disney Dining Plan tips and tricks here for further reading.
Is Renting Disney Timeshare Points Safe?
One additional question that I frequently get is something along the lines of… “I have no idea who this person is that I am renting points from. Couldn’t they just cancel my reservation and make off with my money?”
There are a few things that make this highly unlikely. First, you will exchange written communication with this person which creates a binding contract. Next, if you pay via PayPal, your purchase is covered by PayPal’s buyer protection. Plus, Disney people tend to be really nice folks.
Therefore I think the answer to the question “Is renting DVC points safe?” is a resounding yes.
You can check out my review of a Standard Studio at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for an idea of what to expect in a DVC studio villa.
I hope this information helps you understand how Disney vacation point rental works. I hope you will find a way to make a stay at one of these amazing resorts a reality for your family!
If you still have questions join the discussion in my free private Facebook group – The Budget Mouse!
Check out these related posts:
- Cheapest Way to Buy Disney World Tickets
- Disney World Lightning Lanes Guide & Cheat Sheet
- Best Time Of Year To Visit Disney World
Hi! What do I need to do if I want to rent DVC rooms for January 2021? Doesn’t sound like it’s possible. I’m sure there would be a lot of rooms open during these times.
I agree that there is likely lots of availability for January! Definitely worth putting in a request in with David’s. Here’s the link: https://www.dvcrequest.com/partner/idevaffiliate/idevaffiliate.php?id=200
The site I like to use for renting DVC points is dvcrentalstore.com for several reasons. There’s really only one downside to using them over Dave’s – they’re a little more expensive (usually I’ve paid an extra $60-80 for an 8-night stay). But I’ve had better luck with them finding the resorts I want on the dates that I want.
1. You don’t have to pay to have them check. Yes, the $124 you have to pay Dave’s for them to even check is refundable, but that ties your money up until it’s refunded (which may take up to 2-3 weeks)
2. They’re located in the United States; David’s is in Canada. That might not seem like an issue, but it will be if your credit card company charges a cross-border fee.
3. I’ve had more luck getting reservations through the rental store than through David’s.
4. They’ll do one-night reservations. Most others won’t.
5. You don’t have to pay the entire amount in full when you sign the contract, unless it’s for a resort costing 11 points or less. They allow a down-payment of 50%
For anyone wondering how much you can save & if it’s worth it, I rent a studio at a deluxe resort for about what it used to cost me to get a room at a moderate resort with my military discount! The resorts are nicer; the rooms are nicer; and the pools are nicer. Plus, the studio comes with a microwave, so you can save money on food.
Hi, So Im a little confused. I went to the Davids site and it shows me 347points for Wilderness lodge. When converted to money it shows over $6000 for the dates I want. Then says to reserve. Am I actually paying that amount? Does that mean it is available? Thank you
Hi amy! It doesn’t mean that it’s available but if you wanted to make the reservation that’s how much it would cost. If you do want to make the reservation you can go ahead from there and they will check availability. If it’s not available you will get all of your money back. Hope that helps!
Do you normally pay more for park tickets when you’re using someone’s DVC points ?
Hi Lisa! Nope, you pay the same amount for park tickets when you rent DVC points. The tickets aren’t connected to the accommodation in any way in this instance. Here are my tips for saving money on park tickets: https://www.thefrugalsouth.com/how-to-save-money-on-walt-disney-world-tickets/
Where were you able to rent DVC points from over 11 months in advance?
Hi Kate! No, the earliest you can book DVC is 11 months. Here is more info: https://thebudgetmouse.com/davids-dvc-rental/
I wish to stay at the Polynesian resort….3 people over 18
Flexible dates of Jan 4 to Jan 11 2019. For three nights.
Can I use rented dvc points for that?
You can use DVC points if there are any rooms available. They might be booked already.
Hi,
How does planning fastpasses work? Does the points owner do them for me or do I get to plan my own as I normally would? How does this work? Also, is it 30 days or 60days in advance for booking them?
Hi Cher! You plan your own FastPasses and dining and everything else. You’ll get the Disney confirmation number after you book and you link it to your account – it is in all ways your reservation. You get all Disney benefits including 60 FP window, Magical Express, etc.
Hi Leah!
Last year my family booked a DW resort reservation using my parents’ DVC account. While it was nice not having to pay for the room, we found that we were not able to pay for park passes or a dining plan in increments simply because we were using a DVC account. I know that you are able to do thins when booking a standard DW reservation. The addition of these (with our particular options) cost our family of 5 about $3,500. This was problematic with dining reservations; since we had to wait a while to add a plan, we were late booking reservations.
Is the same true when you rent DVC points from someone else? Are you booking through their account?
Yes, you are right, Natalie. When you book a package with Disney, you pay a $200 deposit and then the final payment isn’t due until 30 days before your trip. When you rent DVC points from an individual, you are booking through their account. If you rent from an individual, you may be able to negotiate a payment plan where part if due upfront and part due later (similar to booking through Disney). If you rent through a broker, payment is due in full when your reservation is confirmed. You can make dining reservations without having a dining plan and add it right before your trip (requirement is just 3 days prior) so there’s no need to add the dining plan immediately! For park tickets, you can get discounted tickets from Undercover Tourist and link them to your My Disney Experience Account. I suggest this at least 60 days before your trip so you can get FastPasses. So yes, you are booking through someone’s account, but no, you don’t need to pay for everything right away like you maybe thought.
Hi again!
Another question. 😀
My family is planning to go back to Disney in June of 2022. We are considering renting points from a DVC member so we can get the 3 bedroom villa at Old Key West.
What is the soonest that someone can book a unit before their stay?
Hi Jenn! You can book DVC villas 11 months in advance to the day. So if you wanted to check in on June 15th, 2022, you could make the reservation July 15th, 2021.
Hi there! Thanks for the advise!
Do I have to be a DVC member to rent points?
Hi Jenn! No, you don’t have to be a DVC member to rent points. You’ll still get all of the perks of staying on Disney property that a member would get.