With buying vs renting DVC, the best option depends on your plans. Not just this year’s plans but your future vacation plans too. Is it better to buy or rent DVC points? Why would someone rent DVC points? Should you rent DVC points if you don’t go to Disney often? Is it worth buying DVC if you have a small budget? Let’s talk about how DVC, resale in particular, can really stretch your budget, who it’s for and who should pass on it. Many people see the initial cost of Disney Vacation Club and think it’s not an option for their budget. Know that financing is an option too.
You’ve Got Options: Buying vs Renting DVC Points
Can you rent DVC points from Disney?
You can’t rent DVC points from Disney the way you can rent DVC points from other Members. There is no discounted way to rent DVC points from Disney. You can only book a room at the going Disney rates. Many people don’t realize you can book Disney Vacation Club rooms like you can other rooms. It’s possible to book villas at all DVC resorts depending on availability. Most of the rooms are held for Members but a percentage of rooms is kept for those renting a room with cash or credit. This is different than paying with points or renting DVC points. It works just like renting a regular hotel room. It’s possible that sales and specials, like annual pass and Florida resident promotions, will apply to these DVC rooms as well.
Renting DVC Points
There are third party sites that match those who can’t use their points with others who want to rent DVC points. Renting DVC points is not buying DVC. It’s simply paying to use someone else’s points for a single trip.
DVC rental sites usually offer a few different kinds of booking. Some reservations have options where you can request certain resorts and dates. It’s also possible to browse and book reservations that have already been reserved.
Prices: Buying vs Renting DVC
Besides owning your points instead of borrowing someone else’s when you rent, the real difference in buying vs renting DVC is the price. When you buy DVC you get access to years of hotel stays. Of course when you commit to years of the Disney timeshare, the upfront price is much greater than renting for one trip. What about buying vs renting DVC over time? Is it cheaper to just rent DVC?
How much is it to rent DVC points?
Let’s casually price out a few different trips, switching up the time of year and resorts. These can be different depending on where you rent so your own research will be important in consideration.
Pricing out a stay at The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa from June 14, 2024 through June 20, 2024 in a Standard View Studio, the cost could be around $2394.
Over at BoardWalk Villas during the peak time of December 22, 2023 to December 26, 2023, a Studio with a Garden View could cost around $2340.
For an extended stay, Saratoga Springs from October 1,2024 through October 14, 2024 could cost around $4368 in similar accommodations of a Standard Studio villa.
Upon researching, you’ll notice different sites may charge more per point for stays at certain home resorts. You may also pay an additional cost when you want to rent points more than seven months in advance. Last minute trips can come at an excellent price when you rent DVC points. Just know that cancellation policies will vary and it won’t be like you are dealing with Disney directly in that respect because you are not.
Rent DVC to Try DVC
Renting DVC can be a good way to try DVC out. If you haven’t stayed in the villas before, there are so many options. You can rent DVC points at any resort based on availability and give different home resorts a try. When comparing what you’ll pay renting over time to buying a resale contract, renting might not be the best financially.
It can be an option to rent DVC but remember it’s based on availability. If you like to stay at a popular resort or at a busy time of year, you may not have the best picks as a renter. When you own DVC points, you get the home resort booking advantage and are able to book eleven months out at your home resort. That’s four months sooner than Members who own elsewhere. This advantage might help you secure the stay you want.
Renting DVC points might give you less of a booking advantage. It will just depend on each trip individually. Renting DVC is best suited for those flexible in when they can visit and where they stay.
How much is it to buy DVC resale?
Compare the amount for one stay renting DVC points to how much further your money could go buying resale that will last for many, many trips. We’re pricing out what 100 points could cost at each resort. You can take a look at the DVC point charts to see what the amount of 100 points can cover per stay. The bigger the villas, the more points you need. You’ll also need to consider the time of year you visit and how that affects points. Something else to think about is how long each Disney Vacation Club Membership is. Some of these will last longer than others but all contracts have decades ,or nearly decades, left to use. With each Membership there are DVC annual dues to pay so overall the cost will be a bit more than you see here.
| Resort | Resale Average Price 2023 | Price Per 100 Points |
|---|---|---|
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas | $111 | $11100 |
| Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas | $101 | $10100 |
| Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort | $142 | $14200 |
| Disney’s Beach Club Villas | $139 | $13900 |
| Disney’s BoardWalk Villas | $121 | $12100 |
| Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge | $100 | $10000 |
| Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge | $147 | $14700 |
| The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel | $254 | $25400 |
| The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort | $160 | $16000 |
| Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort | $68 | $6800 |
| Disney’s Old Key West Resort | $89 | $8900 |
| Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows | $147 | $14700 |
| Disney’s Riviera Resort | $130 | $13000 |
| Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort | $102 | $10200 |
| Disney’s Vero Beach Resort | $58 | $5800 |
Resale vs Direct Prices and Benefits
DVC resale has contracts with excellent prices. If you’re looking for the best price on deluxe Disney hotel stays, start with resale DVC. Know that there are some DVC resale restrictions and you don’t get access to discounts or Member spaces or events. If that’s important to you, buying direct from Disney is worth looking into. Comparing resale and direct DVC prices might change your mind about what’s important to you.
Flexible Buying DVC Options
If you’re concerned buying DVC isn’t right for you because of how much it costs or how infrequently you go, there are a few things to consider. Banking and borrowing points can help with this. You don’t have to visit every year for DVC to make sense. Visiting every other year makes it work too.
In DVC talk, banking your points means saving them for the next use year. Your use year is the time span in which you need to use your points. So let’s say you buy just 100 points. That means you can use 200 points every other year if you choose to. You can book one stay or more than one with those points. However you use them is up to you. You just have to use them in the use year you transfer them to when you bank. DVC is quite flexible that way.
Borrowing points is the opposite of banking. Instead of saving your points up to use in the future, borrowing is when you choose to use your points from next year early. Using banking and borrowing, it’s easy to vacation every other year and make the most of your points. This can also cut the amount of points you need by half. This means you’re paying less in annual dues too.
DVC Resale Experts Can Help
DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. If you have more questions about buying vs renting DVC points, the Experts can help! Whether you’re adding on points, buying or selling Disney Vacation Club, the Experts can help you find the right price to place a bid with or list your contract for. Our independent, licensed real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides. They have decades of pixie dusted experience selling DVC and delight in providing excellent service to their clients. The Experts have seen it all and are happy to answer your questions throughout the process.
Resale DVC prices can pleasantly surprise Members interested in selling DVC. See our resale DVC listings for a look at real time availability and current pricing. Ready to sell DVC? Get in touch for a complimentary valuation of your specific contract today. There may be someone waiting on our Buyer Wish List for a contract just like yours.
