Hey there, Margaret! Welcome to planDisney! I'm so excited that you've stopped by with your vacation planning question!
Seven years ago, I had this exact same question! My wife and I had recently taken our 10-month-old daughter on her first visit to
Walt Disney World Resort, and we caught the Disney bug ... BIG time. On our trip home, I booked a Christmastime stay at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and started researching
Disney Vacation Club. We knew that traveling to The Most Magical Place on Earth was something we wanted to do year after year, and after learning about the flexibility and endless list of destinations, we knew that DVC was right for our family. It seems as if this most magical Club may be right for your family, too, so, I am thrilled to answer your question today!
While you technically would not be able to use Points towards your existing Resort hotel reservation, once you become a Disney Vacation Club Member, you can book a DVC reservation for the same time as your current reservation using your Vacation Points at a
Disney Vacation Club Resort or using Reservation Points at a
Disney Collection Resort and then cancel your existing cash reservation. When we were in this situation, we used our new DVC Membership to book a reservation at a DVC Resort, canceled our current reservation at Wilderness Lodge and put the money from the canceled Resort hotel reservation towards our DVC Membership. I felt as if I was investing that vacation's money into a lifetime of future vacations. I haven't had a single regret since!
Margaret, I can't wait to wish you a "Welcome Home," and I'm wishing you a lifetime of magical memories! Please stop by any time with any questions that you may have.
I hope to see ya real soon,
Mandy