Hey There, George!
There's nothing better than when a fellow Disney Vacation Club Member visits planDisney for a chat, so thanks for stopping by with your question. As Members, we have so much flexibility when it comes to using our Vacation Points to create magical vacation experiences –– we can relax at a Disney Vacation Club Resort, exchange Points for
Disney Stays around the world, or even make cash reservations, if necessary. Let me share a few details about making a cash reservation to help you decide if this option is right for your upcoming visit.
Many times, Disney Vacation Club Resorts have
cash availability –– when this happens, Members have the opportunity to rent these rooms at a discounted rate. These discounted rates can only be booked by a Purchaser or Associate on a DVC Membership and are subject to availability. This means that if the DVC Resort you choose has cash availability, you could use your Vacation Points to book a certain number of nights and book a cash reservation for the rest of your visit. Keep in mind, though, that cash reservations can be booked beginning 11 months in advance (with the exception of
The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa), and because availability may be limited, it's often best to book these reservations as early as possible. To check availability and book a cash reservation, you can give Member Services a call at (800) 800-9800.
Depending on how many Vacation Points you need for your upcoming visit, you might also want to consider purchasing
one-time-use Points to make up the difference. Each year, Members can purchase up to 24 additional Points to add to their Use Year. You'll just want to note that these Points can only be used to book reservations in the
7-month booking window, and unlike normal Vacation Points, they can't be banked, borrowed, or transferred. One-time-use Points can be purchased, as needed, at the time of booking by calling
Member Services. If you're just a few Points short, there's a chance that one-time-use Points might be a more cost-effective solution than a cash stay –– I definitely recommend calling to speak with a Member Services Cast Member for more details and to talk through your options.
Again, thanks for visiting planDisney, George. No matter how the Vacation Points math shakes out, I hope your upcoming visit is filled with Membership magic from start to finish!
Happy Planning,
Amy