Can you rent a villa without being a DVC member?

[MsNewsradio]

Is renting a villa through Disney's official website possible if I am not a DVC member? When I try various dates to test, it doesn't ever seem to come up with a reservable result.

We are currently booked in All-Star Music (traveling end of October), but would like to hopefully book a BLT 1 bed, as we have some party members with disabilities that the close proximity to MK would be extremely beneficial for the multiple days we'd be doing at that park. However, my mother is hesitant to book with David's DVC Rental due to the possibility of losing the money in the event of a last minute cancellation, like a hurricane, and it's not an insignificant amount of money for her. Any recommendations? I know theoretically travel insurance is a possibility if we booked a DVC rental, but they would need to be specifically covered for time shares, correct?

 

[teamsamant]

Yes, periodically rooms are released for cash sales on the website. Depending on the room and resort availability can change wildly. Your best bet is hoping a 1 bedroom lake view pops up for BLT. If not Saratoga and Old Key West will generally have the best availability. Word of warning the cash prices on the disney site for these rooms will be astronomical in comparison to a DVC rental.

 

[eticketplease]

BLT might not become available as it may already be sold out as MNSSHP will be going on and that is certainly the closest hotel to MK

 

[lanejudy]

You may find more availability once it is within 7 months. Right now booking for late October is within the "home resort" booking period so only those guests with BLT points can book there, or if they turned in points for another use the room could become available. I'd check back but also keep other options open. As PP says, be aware the price will be high for cash. Maybe consider any discounts for 2 resort rooms in that area instead of the 1 bedroom villa.

 

[FSU Girl]

I stay in DVC rooms pretty much every visit for the last 6 years and I’m not a DVC member. I book on Disney’s website for a cash stay each time. I don’t do super long trips my longest is usually 7 days and I never book far in advance usually 3 months at most. The room availability changes daily so if you keep checking back it’s possible to find what you’re looking for. For Magic kingdom there are a few DVC rooms near it so you can see if any of those have availability instead if BLT doesn’t end up opening up

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

You may find more availability once it is within 7 months. Right now booking for late October is within the "home resort" booking period so only those guests with BLT points can book there, or if they turned in points for another use the room could become available. I'd check back but also keep other options open. As PP says, be aware the price will be high for cash. Maybe consider any discounts for 2 resort rooms in that area instead of the 1 bedroom villa.

Sorry this is not true. Cash sales can be made the day after the 11 month mark. It's "non-home resort" DVC members that have to wait until the 7 month mark to book with points. I am currently booked on a cash sale for BCV in Oct, I book every year right on the opening date. Cash sales must be made very near to the 11month mark for OCT as it is such a high demand time of year with all of the festivities. Most cash and DVC inventory is probably already booked. That being said I just looked and for the first three weeks of OCT there is a 1bdrm preferred available for $1200 per night at BLT.

 

[lanejudy]

Sorry this is not true. Cash sales can be made the day after the 11 month mark. It's "non-home resort" DVC members that have to wait until the 7 month mark to book with points.

I probably didn't convey what I meant well. At the 11-month mark, the only inventory available for cash bookings is the limited WDW-owned units. Whether more units become available really depends on what owners do with their points after that. And definitely, October is high-demand time for DVC owners which will impact availability.

 

[Miffy]

OP, for the gigantic price difference between ASMu and a cash 1-bedroom at BLT, you could rent a Minnie Van to MK from ASMu every day of your trip and still come out with many many dollars to spare.

 

[MsNewsradio]

OP, for the gigantic price difference between ASMu and a cash 1-bedroom at BLT, you could rent a Minnie Van to MK from ASMu every day of your trip and still come out with many many dollars to spare.

Yes, that is something we are also considering. However, the unique nature of the disability of one of our party who is dealing with extreme long COVID symptoms is prompting us to consider shifting to an MK monorail resort, as the close proximity will make it much more possible for them to travel with us comfortably for at least part of the trip. But nothing is off the table at this point, including keeping our current reservation and relying on Minnie Vans, etc. for more direct transport to/from parks.

You guys have all been very helpful - thank you for all the information you've provided.

 

[Miffy]

Yes, that is something we are also considering. However, the unique nature of the disability of one of our party who is dealing with extreme long COVID symptoms is prompting us to consider shifting to an MK monorail resort, as the close proximity will make it much more possible for them to travel with us comfortably for at least part of the trip. But nothing is off the table at this point, including keeping our current reservation and relying on Minnie Vans, etc. for more direct transport to/from parks.

You guys have all been very helpful - thank you for all the information you've provided.

I understand. I'm sure you'll come to the right decision . . . and have a wonderful trip.

 

[manaxpower]

Yes, that is something we are also considering. However, the unique nature of the disability of one of our party who is dealing with extreme long COVID symptoms is prompting us to consider shifting to an MK monorail resort, as the close proximity will make it much more possible for them to travel with us comfortably for at least part of the trip. But nothing is off the table at this point, including keeping our current reservation and relying on Minnie Vans, etc. for more direct transport to/from parks.

You guys have all been very helpful - thank you for all the information you've provided.

I'm very sorry to hear about one of your party with the long COVID disability.

If I may share my experience staying at a monorail resort earlier this month...I told myself, never again. We had so many issues with the monorail, I got sick and tired of riding that thing. Yes, it is nice to be able to resort hop the monorail resorts, but I personally think that staying at monorail resorts are overrated. Because the monorail goes one way, sure it's one stop in the morning to get to MK from the Grand Floridian, but going back you'd have to take it all the way around to get back. Coming back from Epcot one night, the monorails had technical issues and was stopped for over 20 minutes at the transportation center and we decided to take the express to MK and walk back, except once we got to MK the monorails were running again so had to go back to the transportation center and get on the regular monorail. The switch at the transportation center is also a lot of walking - the ramp feels endless - and it was difficult for my mother who has a lung condition. (In hindsight, we should have just gotten her a scooter)

Also on our way back from MK after hours, monorails were no longer running and had to take the bus, which basically ran the route of the monorail, so staying at the Floridian, we were the last stop after Contemporary, TC, and Polynesian, which was infuriating considering we're all exhausted at 1:30am and just want to get back and go to bed.

On the other hand, we switched to AKL and it was nice to just be on the bus. The buses were frequent and generally reliable. Very simple. Even with people in those e-scooters didn't seem to have issues riding the bus, there were multiple scooters on a bus we got on one time.

Just a food for thought.

 

[Marthasor]

Yes, that is something we are also considering. However, the unique nature of the disability of one of our party who is dealing with extreme long COVID symptoms is prompting us to consider shifting to an MK monorail resort, as the close proximity will make it much more possible for them to travel with us comfortably for at least part of the trip. But nothing is off the table at this point, including keeping our current reservation and relying on Minnie Vans, etc. for more direct transport to/from parks.

You guys have all been very helpful - thank you for all the information you've provided.

We stay in villas most of the time and have never rented points. As others have said, just keep checking for availability to open. I would also highly suggest pricing out 2 rooms at any of the MK resorts (including WL which is easily accessible by boat) and also consider looking for 1-bedroom options at the other villa resorts in the area - Boulder Ridge, Copper Creek, Villas Grand Floridian and Poly Tower. Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek will be the better priced of the villas in that area and WL rooms will probably be most cost effective as well. Also keep an eye out for any discount releases for your travel period.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OP, I’m usually looking at other room types than the 1BRs so can’t comment specifically to that category, but BLT is a resort that generally tends to have more cash availability than others, especially as you get closer to the date (although that can always vary). Worth noting though that BLT is currently going through a major renovation that was long overdue. Rooms should be done by your October trip, but it may be more of a popular draw for DVC folks than in years past as people want to try the shiny new thing. TBD on that though, just seems like on the margins that could influence things a bit.

I don’t own DVC but do really like BLT and CR in general. Hope your plans work out for you and your traveling party.

 

[saraheliz]

Yes, two of the last three summers we’ve stayed in one bedroom villas through Disney (Kidani and bay lake tower). The better cancellation policy is worth it to us, and we were actually able to get the rooms at a discounted rate that was cheaper than renting points through an agency.

 

[Mazz519]

If theres availability you can definitley rent DVC rooms through Disney...Most of the newer DVC resorts rent out quick... You can also go on this Forum and look to rent from a DVC owner probably at a much cheaper rate than what Disneys rates

 

[kevinnissen]

Yes, we have at poly. It was marketed as a villa vs standard room

 

[Dug720]

Absolutely. Studios and Villas at those resorts show up on the regular reservations page as options. I book studios quite often and am nowhere near a DVC member.

The travel agency I use uses the verbiage "Villa Resorts" because so many people get confused and think if it's DVC they can only stay there if DVC.

 

[nursejackie]

We rent all the time without being DVC owners/members. Grand Floridian this year for 5 nights in August. Counting down the days

 

[wendlle]

we love DVC rental store, IMO much better than David's for many reasons.
They have a great cancellation policy and if you're worried about last minute cancellations get some travel insurance. It will still cost you less than paying Disney prices for the DVC room.

 

[yaksack]

Yes, we used David’s Vacation Club rentals.