Renting a DVC Resort reservation from a DVC Member
DVC Point Rentals
DVC members are expressly allowed to make reservations for others and offer those reservations for rent. The DVC Public Offering Statements for all DVC resorts include specific language allowing the rental of accommodations at DVC Resorts. DVC themselves make reservations using DVC points so allowing Members the same ability was made part of the documentation for all DVC Members.
From a DVC Public Offering Statement delineating the allowance for Member rentals:
Anyone may rent a DVC Resort accommodation from a DVC Member.
Two ways to have a reservation at a DVC Resort are:
Make a reservation directly with Disney Reservation Center (DRC) just as you would reserve any other Disney resort hotel
OR-
Rent from a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member.
Available DVC inventory through DRC comes from Members through several avenues – inventory owned by Disney Vacation Club directly, inventory provided to DRC from DVC points used by members from non-DVC reservation options, and from DVC Breakage inventory for DVC villas not reserved by Members 60 days before arrival.
Inventory from a DVC member is available when DVC Members offer to make reservations using points they will not be using themselves. There are a couple of ways to access DVC Members offering to make reservations for others – the
DIS DVC Rent/Trade Board provides a ‘classified ad’ resource for DVC Members to offer DVC Resort rentals to others and Rental Brokers will make reservations for others using DVC Member points. It will typically cost less to rent from a DVC member than to book a DVC resort direct from Disney. Potential renters should always have an understanding what a reservation will cost when made through Disney directly before entering into a
DVC rental.
When you “rent points from a DVC Member”, the reservation will be in your name and you will check in at the regular Disney Resort arrival desk. You will be treated the same as every Disney Resort Guest and you will have access to almost all of the same amenities and perks afforded to each and every guest staying at a Disney Resort.
If you do decide to rent points from an individual DVC member, there are a few things you should be aware of so that your rental is nothing less than a ‘magical’ experience.
THE RISKS OF "RENTING POINTS"
"Renting Points", as it is commonly referred to, is a misnomer. Only a DVC Member is able to use points from their account to make a reservation at a DVC resort. Non-members (and even other DVC Members) have no means to use points from a DVC Member's account. However, a DVC Member may make a reservation in someone else's name using points from his own account. DVC Members are also allowed to rent those reservation to another person. This is true for both rentals directly from a DVC Member or through a Rental Broker. In both rental options, a DVC Member is using his DVC points to make a reservation for another party. When working directly with a DVC Member, you will deal with the person making (and controlling) that reservation. With a Rental Broker, you will deal only with the Broker even though a Member is the one making the reservation in your name.
Renting a reservation from a DVC Member is a little different than booking directly through Disney
There are differences between renting from a Member or Broker and booking a hotel reservation with Disney. Potential renters should educate themselves on the process of renting points and perform due diligence prior to entering into any agreement to rent points.
These rental transactions are a private transaction between individuals and Disney is not going to be involved in any way. If anything goes wrong or if you have questions about your reservation before arrival, Disney will not provide any assistance.
There is some risk in these types of private transactions especially when dealing with someone you do not personally know.
The risk is that someone else controls your reservation until you check in at the resort, even though it is in your name. It requires some trust that the DVC owner/member will honor your contract with them and remain a 'Member in Good Standing'. DVC Members must be current on mortgage payments and maintenance fees to be in 'Good Standing' which might cause DVC to cancel the reservation from their end.
While cancellation of a rental reservation is a very rare occurrence on our DVC Rent/Trade Board it is something that should not be overlooked. We always suggest Due Diligence in getting to “know” the DVC Member via reviewing their posts on the DIS, direct correspondence with the Member, contacting prior references, conversing via phone and reviewing their ownership online. If a renter is comfortable with the DVC Member after exercising Due Diligence as described above, a transaction can be a very cost effective means to enjoy a Disney vacation at a DVC Resort.
Renting through a DVC rental broker may reduce the risk of losing your money, as some offer full refunds if there is negligence on the part of the owner/member. Using a rental broker may reduce some risk, it does not completely eliminate the possibility and disappointment of arriving without a reservation in place at the resort.
The risk involved is that there is a small chance that the member (with or without a rental broker) you are working with could cancel your reservation before arrival. While this has happened only a few times over the past 19 years using the DIS DVC Rent/Trade Board, it has happened. Most of those failed transactions may have been prevented by using DUE DILIGENCE prior to entering into the rental agreement.
That said, reported instances of failed DVC rentals occurring are extremely rare, and the actual amount of risk is low. Tens of thousands of successful rental transactions have been completed over the years here on the DIS alone and the potential savings renting from a DVC Members can be substantial.
If you are not comfortable accepting any risk then don’t rent a reservation from a DVC Member. Guests who want a risk-free choice should pay more to book directly with Disney rather than renting points. That peace of mind may be worth it to some.
DVC Members have much less flexibility regarding reservations changes and cancellation with these rentals just due to the nature of the DVC program while Disney offers a very friendly cancellation policy compared to renting points. Cancellations and reservation changes could result in potential penalties or even the loss of points for DVC members so they will usually try to protect themselves with limited flexibility with regard to making reservations for others.
With reservations made through DVC Members, all requests will need to go through the DVC Member. The
Disney Dining Plan will need to be added through the DVC Member.
“Free Dining” is not available through a DVC Member reservation as that program (offered occasionally with reservations made through Disney) requires a package including a full priced room reservation and also Theme Park admission.
DVC Reservations can (and should) be verified using the
www.MyDisneyReservation.com/DVC website.
DVC Members (and their guests/renters) will NOT receive daily Housekeeping services. Housekeeping will be on the 4th day of your reservation and will include clean towels and trash removal for stays of 7 days or less –OR- a full cleaning (which includes clean linens, trash removal, replenishing of supplies) on day 4 and a partial clean on day 8 for stays of 8 days or longer. (Arrival day counts as Day 1). Additional housekeeping services may be ordered from the Resort at additional cost.
DVC rental reservations are included in all WDW guest benefits like Disney’s Magical Express, Extra Magic Hours, Theme Park parking and the use of Disney transportation (busses, boats, monorails).
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I LOOK FOR A RENTAL?
DVC anticipates full occupancy year-round at its Resorts. DVC Members are able to reserve at their Home Resort 11 months before arrival and 7 months ahead for non-Home Resorts. We suggest making your reservation as early as you can. If you try to get a reservation less than 7 months in advance, your options may be limited as DVC Members have already had at least 4 months to make reservations at the resort. Reservations within 60 days of arrival can happen but the remaining DVC inventory is also available through DRC at 60 days which will limit reservation success. With most rental transactions, flexibility is not really an option (as with reservations made directly through Disney), so be sure your dates are firm before entering into any agreement.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
When you rent from an individual DVC member, the price you pay might be negotiable but unless the dates are within a few months of the expiration of their points (these are referred to as "distressed" points) most owners may be willing to wait for someone able to work within their price structure.
In many cases, the DVC Member is already motivated to rent their points by making a reservation for someone else. This is especially true if the points were banked from the prior year or if they are already beyond their banking deadline for the current year. For dates within 6 months, availability will be the greatest challenge, so negotiating over a few dollars is counter-productive for everyone as the reservation may not still be available tomorrow.
It would be wise to already know what your dates, resort and villa type would cost if reserved through Disney directly and compare that to any risk involved after the 'Due Diligence' process.
Use the DVC
Point Charts to determine total point cost, based on room type, resort, and desired travel dates.
THE DISboards DVC RENT/TRADE BOARD
DISboards.com offers the
“DVC Rent/Trade” Board which serves as a “classified ad” service where you can go if you wish to connect with individual DVC members to rent a reservation at a DVC Resort using a DVC Member's points. The DIS is NOT involved in the actual transactions between the parties involved, and has no control over the truth or accuracy of the listings or the abilities of the parties to complete the transactions, and cannot and will not be held responsible for same. The DIS will not intervene in any issues resulting from these private transactions. The DIS does not endorse anyone offering rentals, trades or transfers and all transactions should be viewed as “Buyer Beware”.
Please review the ** How to use this Board** thread at the top of the Board before posting as there are suggestions included for both potential renters and DVC Members.
USING A DVC RENTAL BROKER
As a potential renter, using a DVC Rental Broker is another option. These services can simplify the rental process.
The downside is that it may cost more than renting direct from a DVC member, since the services of the third party rental broker will be paid from the rental charges.
WILL USING A RENTAL BROKER ELIMINATE ALL RISK?
When using a rental broker, a potential renter can’t do any due diligence, since they will NOT know the name of owner making their reservation. You will work directly with the rental broker who will take care of everything for you. It’s
almost like you’re using Disney Reservation Center and booking direct with Disney. Most rental brokers will refund money from a failed transaction and will also work hard to find suitable accommodations for their renters in the event of a rare failed reservation.
Renting DVC points still involves some risk since a renter could find themselves without a reservation when they arrive at the resort. That risk is what creates the opportunity for great potential savings. If a renter wants more protection and stronger assurances, they can pay more and reserve directly with Disney who will offer greater flexibility regarding cancellation.
A rental broker can offer some more protection assurance than a direct rental, but there are still risks – perhaps not losing your money, but of losing your reservation. Regardless, tens of thousands of successful rentals have been transacted using the DIS DVC Rent/Trade board and over the years with very, very few failed transactions.
