Ahoy, Anthony!
Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney. One of my favorite things about Disney Vacation Club Membership is having the flexibility to use our Vacation Points in so many ways. Whether you're relaxing after a day in the parks at a DVC Resort, exploring the world with
Adventures By Disney, or even blasting off to
a galaxy far, far, away, the possibilities are pretty much endless. How exciting that you're thinking of using your Points to set sail with
Disney Cruise Line –– I have a feeling that plenty of high-seas adventures are heading your way!
When using choose to use your Vacation Points for Disney Destinations and Experiences around the world that are outside of the scope of Disney Vacation Club, including Disney Cruise Line sailings, this is known as a
Disney Collection Exchange. However, while you can view the
Points Charts for these types of stays on the Disney Vacation Club website, you won't be able to use the DVC online booking portal to book your reservations. Because booking a Disney Collection Exchange requires you to convert your Vacation Points to Reservation Points, you'll need to give
Member Services a call at (800) 800-9800 to check availability and begin the booking process. Also, keep in mind that booking with Disney Cruise Line through Disney Vacation Club can be booked once the Points Charts are published (which typically happens as soon as Disney Cruise Line releases their future itineraries) –– since those sailings have already been released for 2023, you're welcome to book for next year at any time.
While the flexibility of using your Points outside of Disney Vacation Club is a great perk, it also works a little differently than booking a DVC reservation, so there are a few details I'd like to share with you before your begin the booking process. First, each Disney Collection Exchange reservation requires a non-refundable, $95 transaction fee due at the time your reservation is confirmed (prices are subject to change). Most exchange reservations, including Disney Cruise Line sailings, fall under something known as the
Rule of Four, which prohibits you from booking these stays during the last four months of your Use Year if you plan to travel during the same year. And finally, once your Vacation Points have been converted to
Reservation Points, they can no longer be used to book DVC reservations. This means that in the event you need to cancel or modify your exchange, any unused Points you have from that reservation can't be used to book a stay at a Disney Vacation Club Resort. You don't need to worry about losing those Points, though –– they can still be used to book another Disney Collection Exchange reservation before they expire at the end of your Use Year.
I hope this helped to answer your question, Anthony, and I really appreciate you visiting planDisney. If you think of more questions about your Disney Vacation Club Membership or any other part of the Disney vacation planning process, please don't hesitate to stop by again –– we're always happy to lend a helping hand!
Have a Magical Day,
Amy