Is the park reservation priority the same for DVC guests versus normal Disney resort guests?

[DisneyFive]

We are considering DVC renting for the first time this year. Now that we're required to reserve our park days due to Covid, I'm wondering if there is any difference in priority for those park reservations whether you are at a DVC resort versus a standard Disney resort guest?

Also, you get all the same perks as a standard resort guest right? Dining reservation window, Magical Express, early entry if they offer it, etc...

If they open up FP+ again, that's also available at the same window as standard resort guests?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Fangorn]

There is no difference between a DVC points reservation and a "normal" Disney Resort reservation for any of the things you listed. All are considered resort guests.

The only difference I can think of off hand is that DVC points reservations are not charged the hotel parking fee, as the maintenance fees associated with those points covers it already.

Steve

 

[Sandisw]

DVC reservations are treated the same for park entry.

They are also eligible for any perks that go with being an on-site guest.

However, you are booking a room from a private owner and therefore, the rules for cancellation and stuff are different.

You are also not eligible for WDW promotions that may be offered for booking A cash stay. For example, when Disney offered free dining it did not apply to DVC.

 

[DisneyFive]

Thank you both! I plan to rent through and an online rental store. I assume the reservation transfers to me? Can I then book a specific room (assuming availability)?

Dan

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thank you both! I plan to rent through and an online rental store. I assume the reservation transfers to me? Can I then book a specific room (assuming availability)?

Dan

The owner of the points makes the booking. As a nonowner, you can do nothing with points. The owner owns the reservation until the moment you check in.

Magical Express

It is going away on 12/31 so if you are booking 11 months out it will not be available.

 

[Brian Noble]

Can I then book a specific room (assuming availability)?

Disney does not do this, even for owners---it is requests only, and requests are never guaranteed. If the person who owns these points is willing to do so they can call Member Services to make requests on your behalf. Otherwise, you can express preferences through the online check-in tool. Touringplans also has a tool that will make requests for you if you sign up for their service. I've used it before, and would again. https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/member-benefits

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you both! I plan to rent through and an online rental store. I assume the reservation transfers to me? Can I then book a specific room (assuming availability)?

Dan

That is one of the big differences with a rental, even a broker Vs. Disney. You have no control over the reservation. It belongs to the owner and you are simply a paid guest,

The broker holds back some of your payment to ensure the owner does not cancel, but up until check in, they can.

You can not modify dates, change names, put in requests, etc. without the owner becoming involved and most rental brokers have specifics to what is and is not allowed.

You can enter the reservation in to MDE and will see it. But, other than that, you have no access. You can’t even call DVC as they only talk to the owner. Since you didn’t book with Disney, they can do nothing either.

Just be sure you really understand it all. Renting can save money but it’s very inflexible and you have to understand that short of resort closures again, what you agree to will be pretty difficult to change or cancel.

 

[DisneyFive]

Thank you all again for your time to reply to my questions. You have been very informative and I really appreciate it!

Dan

 

[DisneyFive]

Touringplans also has a tool that will make requests for you if you sign up for their service. I've used it before, and would again. https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/member-benefits

Agreed. I love Touringplans, and have used their room request tool before also. Would do it again. I'm a big fan.

Dan

 

[drusba]

Thank you all again for your time to reply to my questions. You have been very informative and I really appreciate it!
Dan

One other difference to be aware of. With a DVC reservation for 7 nights or less, you do not get daily room service. You basically get trash emptied and some replenishment of toiletries. If reservation is for more than 7 nights, you get full cleaning on the 4th day.

 

[DisneyFive]

One other difference to be aware of. With a DVC reservation for 7 nights or less, you do not get daily room service. You basically get trash emptied and some replenishment of toiletries. If reservation is for more than 7 nights, you get full cleaning on the 4th day.

Thank you. We are looking to stay 10 nights total and do a split stay of seven nights at the boardwalk and three nights at the Polynesian, so I guess neither one is more than seven nights. I’m guessing we can request more fresh towels? I thought I read something about a cleaning on day 4?

Thx, Dan

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you. We are looking to stay 10 nights total and do a split stay of seven nights at the boardwalk and three nights at the Polynesian, so I guess neither one is more than seven nights. I’m guessing we can request more fresh towels? I thought I read something about a cleaning on day 4?

Thx, Dan

Yes you can request new towels any time for free now. But they will only come in to do trash and towel service,,where they remove the old ones on day 4 of a 7 day trip. Less than 4 and they will only do a safety check and remove trash.

But, your trip will not include any cleaning as it needs to be reservations of 8 nights or more.

 

[drusba]

You can, if desired, actually order one or more full cleaning days while at the resort by calling Housekeeping (a designated button for the phone) while there. The charge is $30 for a studio, $45 for a 1BR and $60 for a 2BR. What some of us do when staying 7 nights is order full cleaning on the scheduled day for the trash and towel service, the fourth day of the stay (counting arrival date as 1). On that day, the charge is half the stated price because the price is reduced by the value of the trash and towel service which is just part of the full cleaning. Note if you consider doing that, make sure you call housekeeping at least as early as the day before the desired service.

 

[DisneyFive]

You can, if desired, actually order one or more full cleaning days while at the resort by calling Housekeeping (a designated button for the phone) while there. The charge is $30 for a studio, $45 for a 1BR and $60 for a 2BR. What some of us do when staying 7 nights is order full cleaning on the scheduled day for the trash and towel service, the fourth day of the stay (counting arrival date as 1). On that day, the charge is half the stated price because the price is reduced by the value of the trash and towel service which is just part of the full cleaning. Note if you consider doing that, make sure you call housekeeping at least as early as the day before the desired service.

This is great info, thank you! Well worth it for us to pay and have a full clean on day 4 or so.

Dan

 

[DisneyFive]

Since you've all been so helpful, one more question. (sorry if you've answered this 1000 times before).

Once I have a DVC reservation loaded into MDE, I assume I can add tickets for the stay? Let's say that I decide later, for some odd reason, to only make this a resort only stay. Can I cancel the tickets and get a refund or credit?

Thx,
Dan

 

[Sandisw]

Since you've all been so helpful, one more question. (sorry if you've answered this 1000 times before).

Once I have a DVC reservation loaded into MDE, I assume I can add tickets for the stay? Let's say that I decide later, for some odd reason, to only make this a resort only stay. Can I cancel the tickets and get a refund or credit?

Thx,
Dan

The tickets you buy will be separate from DVC, which is as it is for owners, If you buy via Disney, they will not refund but what you paid can always be used toward future tickets,...you’d pay the difference if the new ones are more,

If you use a ticket broker, you’d have to check the policy but most of those are also non refundable.

 

[DisneyFive]

Thank you Sandi. I would purchase directly from Disney. So if I cancelled the tickets prior to first use, I will have a credit in that amount? I'm o.k. with that.

Thanks.

Dan

 

[Sandisw]

Thank you Sandi. I would purchase directly from Disney. So if I cancelled the tickets prior to first use, I will have a credit in that amount? I'm o.k. with that.

Thanks.

Dan

Yes. You don’t actually need to cancel. They will expire. Just be sure to keep the information about them. Then when you buy on a future trip the CM can apply that balance to the new ones.

Disney can always look up but I always save the email with the ticket numbers just in case!!!

 

[ScubaCat]

Yes. You don’t actually need to cancel. They will expire. Just be sure to keep the information about them. Then when you buy on a future trip the CM can apply that balance to the new ones.

Disney can always look up but I always save the email with the ticket numbers just in case!!!

+1 on this, completely. When they expire, they will disappear from view when you log in, so keep that confirmation number(s). It was a little unnerving to see five 6-day park hoppers vanish from my account, but when I called ticketing many months later they applied them to different tickets, no problem. They don't have to be the same ticket types, either -- it's just like a ticket credit amount. For instance, I was able to apply these 5 tickets to 3 AP renewals.

 

[DisneyFive]

Thanks again!

Dan