How to Rent Disney Vacation Club Points and Save Big on Your Trip

When it comes to selecting the ideal Disney World hotel for your family, the options are endless.

For those wanting to enjoy Disney World benefits without overspending, Disney's Value and Moderate resort categories are great choices. If you're after the best in convenience, you might prefer a Deluxe resort connected to the monorail, such as Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Contemporary Resort, or Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

Families trying to keep their expenses low can explore several non-Disney, off-property hotels, including those where you can redeem hotel points, as well as the new Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando — Disney Springs Area. For those wanting the Disney experience on a budget, camping on Disney property is also an option.

Another affordable method to secure Disney accommodations is by utilizing the Disney Vacation Club. Here’s everything you need to understand about renting points and the advantages that come with it for your upcoming Disney getaway.

What is the Disney Vacation Club?

You may not be very familiar with the Disney Vacation Club, but you've likely spotted the DVC kiosks scattered around the parks during your previous trips to Walt Disney World. Established in the early 1990s, the Disney Vacation Club is essentially Mickey's take on a timeshare.

By purchasing a DVC membership, you can secure points valid for up to 50 years. These memberships typically grant you a fixed number of points each year, which you can use to book stays at DVC properties for yourself or others throughout the duration of the contract.

Although DVC members have some leeway to roll over points to a future year or borrow points from the following year, they generally must utilize or forfeit their points annually.

Members who do not intend to use all their allocated points have the option to rent them out to fellow vacationers. Regardless of who ends up using the points, the owner is responsible for annual dues, which provides a strong incentive to ensure the points are utilized.

How renting Disney Vacation Club points can help you save money

You don't need to own points to benefit from the DVC experience. In fact, renting Disney Vacation Club points feels like enjoying filet mignon while only paying for a steak sandwich. Although experiences can vary based on a few factors, you can typically rent DVC points to stay at a Deluxe Disney resort for about the same cost as booking a Moderate Disney resort.

When you reserve a Disney Vacation Club room, often called a studio or villa, you'll generally experience more space and amenities such as a kitchen and in-room laundry facilities. You'll also enjoy the standard benefits of staying at a genuine Disney resort (including 30-minute early entry to the parks and the ability to purchase individual Lightning Lanes at 7 a.m., among other perks) since you are at an authentic Disney resort.

Additionally, many Disney Vacation Club properties — including the monorail resorts like Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian Village, and the Grand Floridian — are perfectly located for park visits. If you have a preference for Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios, consider the DVC accommodations at Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Disney's Beach Club Resort. You might even want to opt for Disney's Skyliner-connected Riviera Resort if you're eager to experience this resort transportation method.

Standard room rates at these resorts often range from $500 to $700 per night. However, by renting DVC points, you can significantly lower your expenses, with bookings costing between 10 to 16 points per night. Therefore, if you rent DVC points for $20 each, you could secure a room at one of these Deluxe Disney resorts for as little as $200 per night.

Booking link: Rent DVC points through TPG's partner, David's Vacation Club Rentals

You can rent Disney Vacation Club points to enjoy a stay at Disney's beach resorts.

Besides using Disney Vacation Club points for accommodations at Disney's theme parks, you can also book a room at one of Disney's beach resorts — including Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, and Disney's Vero Beach Resort.

These resorts offer the same quality of accommodations and service you'd expect from a Deluxe Disney resort, all set in a serene beach environment. Indulge in beloved Disney snacks like Dole Whip and Mickey waffles, along with unique Disney experiences such as daily crafts and games, character meet-and-greets, and fantastic pools.

Like the DVC resorts at Disney World and Disneyland, there are several types of accommodations available. Studio villas are compact and offer amenities similar to those found in a standard hotel room. For larger families or extended stays, bigger villas with one, two, or three bedrooms provide a more spacious option, complete with a full kitchen, laundry facilities, a dining area, and a living room.

What kind of savings can you achieve by renting Disney Vacation Club points?

Having covered the fundamentals of renting Disney Vacation Club points, let’s dive into some practical examples to illustrate how much you can save on a three-night stay.

For the calculations below, we assumed a rental rate of $23 per point when booking through David's Vacation Club Rentals more than seven months in advance, as this period offers the best availability. This is due to Disney's policy that limits bookings to DVC members at their home resorts. Once you get within seven months of your desired dates, availability starts to decrease as DVC owners can use their points at other resorts where they may own membership. Consequently, David's Vacation Club Rentals offers slightly lower rates closer to the booking date, averaging around $21 per point.

When looking at point rentals from private owners, we used an average rate of $20 per rented point. Keep in mind that this price can fluctuate significantly.

The following two-night stays were available for booking at the time this article was written.

As shown in our examples, the savings can differ. However, achieving around 40% off the standard Disney rates by renting DVC points is quite feasible, even when opting for the higher rates from a major rental service.

Keep an eye out for current reservation listings, as these can provide additional discounts. For instance, we've noticed reservations listed for as low as $15 per point in the "Confirmed Reservations for Rent" section under "DVC Guests" on the David's Vacation Club Rentals website. If your travel dates are flexible, you can maximize your savings by booking one of these existing reservations.

How to rent Disney Vacation Club points

Having seen the substantial savings possible, even for a two-night stay, you might be curious about how to rent Disney Vacation Club points.

Once you verify DVC availability—either through the Disney Vacation Club website or by contacting a DVC representative—and get accustomed to the DVC points charts, the rental process is quite simple. However, it may differ based on whether you choose to go through a professional service like David's Vacation Club Rentals or rent directly from a DVC owner.

Renting Disney Vacation Club points from a service

As noted, you can rent DVC points from David's Vacation Club Rentals or another professional service.

To book a DVC rental with David's Vacation Club, click the "Reserve Now" button and provide your travel dates, desired resort, and room type. You can either choose multiple resorts you're open to or select a single resort if you have your heart set on a specific property. Before proceeding with the booking, check DVC availability on a site like DVC Vacations to confirm space at your preferred resort(s).

After submitting the required information, you'll be asked to pay a $105 deposit, which will count towards your rental price once it is confirmed. This deposit initiates the search process.

Important: David's Vacation Club Rentals operates from Canada, so ensure you use a credit card that does not incur foreign transaction fees.

If your desired resort and room type are available, you'll be prompted to pay the rental fee minus your $105 deposit. If there’s no availability, you'll receive an email with alternative options or a refund of your deposit.

If everything goes smoothly and you've successfully secured and paid for your rental, you will receive a confirmation number to link to your My Disney Experience account. This step grants you access to all the benefits of staying on Disney property.

David's has a long-standing reputation, and our experiences with this service have been positive. While renting through a service may cost more than booking directly with an individual owner, the total is often lower than renting a DVC villa straight from Walt Disney World. Plus, you gain the reassurance that comes with renting through a reputable brand.

Renting Disney Vacation Club points directly from an owner

You can also rent points directly from a Disney Vacation Club owner. Typically, individual DVC owners charge less than larger services, and prices often decrease as the points' expiration date gets closer.

If you choose to rent from an individual owner, keep these tips in mind:

• Look for individual DVC owners on platforms like DISboards. This well-known Disney message board features a forum for members wanting to rent their points. Since DISboards only allows active members or those who pay a fee to post points a limited number of times each year, it makes it more difficult for scammers to advertise points.
• Join a Facebook group like DVC Disney Vacation Club Points Rental to discover more trustworthy rental opportunities.
• Research thoroughly before renting points. If you find a potential owner to rent from, search their name online or ask in related Facebook groups for others' experiences. You might also check their social media profiles and request references from previous renters. Additionally, you can verify if they truly own at one of the Disney World resorts by searching online through the Orange County Comptroller.
• Use a credit card that provides some form of purchase protection to pay for your DVC rental.
• Consider purchasing a travel insurance policy to cover potential cancellations due to unforeseen issues, like medical emergencies. Some DVC rental websites offer an insurance plan through a partner. Regardless of how you rent, keep in mind that these reservations are less flexible than those made directly with Disney.

Is renting Disney Vacation Club points a good idea?

Each family's choice regarding accommodations and how to finance their stay will be as distinctive as their Walt Disney World experience. If someone insists that you must (or must not) rent Disney Vacation Club points, seek advice elsewhere. Ultimately, it comes down to individual preferences and specific circumstances.

We recommend beginning by checking prices and availability directly through Disney. If you come across a deal that satisfies you, that might be your best option—especially if flexibility is a priority for you. This is important because well-known rental services like David's Vacation Club Rentals do not allow changes to bookings or offer refunds if your plans alter.

Additionally, take the time to compare prices and availability at traditional point properties such as the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve resorts. These Marriott-affiliated hotels are located on Disney property and within walking distance to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. However, they are not officially Disney hotels, so they sometimes offer better rates.

If you find that these alternatives aren't suitable for you, opting for DVC rentals could be a great choice. Typically, DVC accommodations are worth exploring when the savings are significant or when they allow you to elevate your experience considerably.

For instance, we recently rented points through David's Vacation Club Rentals and booked a two-bedroom, three-bathroom suite at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge for $840 (or 40 points at $21 each). This spacious suite, featuring a full kitchen and a separate living area, would have cost over $1,300 if booked directly through Disney.

In conclusion

While it's important to conduct your own research to ensure you're comfortable with the process, whether you opt for a DVC rental broker or go through an individual owner, we can guarantee that you'll discover some of the finest accommodations at Disney World available through the Disney Vacation Club.

From enjoying the elevated views in a Treehouse Villa at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa to experiencing the Magic Kingdom fireworks from a private hot tub at the Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, many of our family's most cherished Disney moments have unfolded at these Disney Vacation Club resorts.