Renting DVC Points vs. Buying a DVC Contract

Renting DVC points is a great way to both save on your vacations and stay in some of the best accommodations Disney has to offer!  However, when does it become advantageous for guests to become DVC members themselves?  Here are some considerations to help you decide between renting DVC points and owning DVC points.

How Often Do You Visit?

If you stay in a Disney resort often, over time it will be more economical to own your own DVC points.  In fact, you may consider putting the money you would have paid for a rental towards a down payment on a contract instead.  

With DVC, you can bank points to use them the year after or borrow points from the next year to use them sooner.  This means that as long as you can take a trip at least every other year, you can make a contract worthwhile.  Moreover, owning points gives you more control of your reservations if you ever wish to modify or cancel a trip.  

If you visit only every few years or less often than that, you won’t use your points frequently enough to justify a DVC membership or the annual dues that come with it.  Renting is the better option in this case.  

Can You Plan Out Far in Advance?

DVC works best when you can plan trips in advance.  After all, DVC members can book as far out as 11 months from their check-in date.  That’s when room availability is best.  While some DVC members can make last-minute plans, it does require flexibility in terms of dates, resorts, and even room size, and you often have to check frequently for availability.  

If you prefer more last-minute trips, renting confirmed reservations is a better option. 

Do You Prefer to Stay at Resorts with Limited Availability?

Some DVC resorts are very popular and book up quickly, which makes them more difficult to book as a guest.  These include the Beach Club Villas and the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.  With small resorts such as these, having the 11-month booking window as an owner is a big advantage.  If you like to stay at these popular resorts year after year, owning points will give you a lot more control in booking compared to renting points.

When you don’t have a strong preference for where you stay, the 11-month home resort advantage isn’t as critical.  With this kind of flexibility, you are likely to find a great rental deal.  

With renting DVC points versus buying a DVC contract, there’s no one right answer for everyone, but hopefully this gives you a better idea of what would better suit your travel habits and needs.