Renting Disney Vacation Club points vs. paying rack rates
Everyone is looking for ways to cut costs these days, especially when it comes to something as costly as a Disney World vacation. There is a little known way to save hundreds or possibly even thousands of dollars off rack rates while staying at one of Disney’s Deluxe Villa Resorts, also known as Disney’s Vacation Club (DVC) Resorts.
Disney Vacation Club members, those who own a Disney timeshare, are allotted points each year which they exchange for stays at the Vacation Club resorts. Members can trade or rent any unused points. The going rate for renting points is, on average, anywhere from $10 to $14 per point. Here’s an example of possible savings:
5 nights: July 22 – 26 (Disney’s Value Season)
Disney’s Beach Club Villas – Studio
Rack rate: $335/night x 5 nights = $1,675 + 12.5% tax = $1,884
Disney’s Vacation Club points required: 106 points x $12/point = $1,272
Difference: $612
Sounds great, right? This may not always be to your advantage, however. Before you go looking for someone who has points to rent there are a few things you will want to consider. If you have more than three children, unless one is small enough to sleep in a crib, you will need something more along the lines of a two bedroom unit at a DVC resort, a Family Suite at the All-Stars Music resort, a room at Port Orleans – Riverside that has a trundle bed or a cabin at Fort Wilderness. Studios and one-bedroom villas typically accommodate 4 people with one queen bed and one sleeper sofa; some Animal Kingdom Villas one-bedroom villas accommodate 5. Two-bedroom villas accommodate 8 people. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can reserve a room that sleeps 4 and put one of the kids on a roll-away or the floor. Disney has pretty strict fire regulations that prohibit this. That said, we have heard of an additional person being accommodated, however, that is the exception rather than the rule. So, if you will need room for more than 4 people and your primary concern is price over premium accommodations, you may get a better deal by paying Disney’s rack rates at one of their other resorts.
In the following example you can see that a one-bedroom villa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas that sleeps 5 will still cost more than even a room at the deluxe Contemporary Resort. The advantage of a one-bedroom villa, besides almost twice the square footage (807 SF) of the other rooms, is that it has a full kitchen as well as its own washer and dryer. Fort Wilderness Cabins have a full kitchen, and the All-Stars Music Family Suites offer a kitchenette and two bathrooms. It’s true, $2,100 is less than the rack rate for that room. Disney’s rate for a one-bedroom, standard view villa at Animal Kingdom Villas would be $2,531, including tax.
Another factor to consider is that when you rent DVC points, the entire amount is due up front and it is non-refundable. You will definitely want to purchase travel insurance, however, make sure that any policy you buy does not contain exclusions that may prevent you from being reimbursed should your trip be cancelled. Cancellation due to business reasons is a typical exclusion. If you purchase a Disney vacation package, depending on how far out you make reservations, you may be able to pay over a period of weeks or months. And, should you need to cancel, again depending on how close you are to your travel date, you may be able to get all, or at least a portion of your money refunded.
When buying a Disney vacation package you also know who you are dealing with. Most people who advertise DVC points for rent are reputable, but there are unscrupulous people who are waiting to take advantage of someone who is only trying to save some money. It may end up costing you more in the long run. So, let the buyer beware!
Before jumping into a contract to rent DVC points with the idea that you are going to save hundreds of dollars, decide what your needs are, do a little comparison shopping, and do your own math.
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