Gran Destino
  • On Oct 28, 2021
    Alene from MI Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    how do I plan a non-dvc resort with points?

    Welcome Home, Alene!

    One of the many reasons we decided Disney Vacation Club Membership was for us, was that we appreciated the flexibility of the program. While we knew that staying in a villa was our main goal, knowing that we could also use our Vacation Points for things like Disney Cruise Line, exchanges with RCI, and even the ability to stay in standard rooms at Disney parks around the world was a huge bonus for us. (Disneyland Paris is still on my bucket list!)

    Eligible Members can elect to turn their Vacation Points into Reservation Points, which can be used to book Disney Resort Collection Hotels. If you have a blue Membership Card and are eligible for discounts and perks then you are also eligible for this kind of exchange! To begin your planning, I would check out the Points Charts for the Disney Collection. Points Charts are available on the Disney Vacation Club Member Website, though I think they can be a bit hard to find. If you are specifically looking for Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, you can see those points charts here.

    A few things to know about before you book. First, booking within the Disney Collection at the Walt Disney World Resort is subject to the Rule of Four. This means you cannot book and stay during the last four months of your Use Year. You can stay during that time if you book earlier, or book during that time for a stay during your next Use Year, but you cannot book a last-minute stay if your Vacation Points are about to expire. Also, these stays are subject to a booking fee. If you do have expiring Vacation Points and you are wanting to use them, neither the Rule of Four nor the booking fee currently apply to stays at the Disneyland Resort, so that may offer you another option to consider. Also, know that once you convert your Vacation Points (used to book villas) into Reservation Points (used to book the Disney Collection) that transaction is final and you cannot convert the points back, or book a villa with Reservation Points.

    If booking sounds like the right choice for you, you’ll need to call Member Services to check availability and complete the reservation! Since availability throughout the Walt Disney World Resort is tight right now, I would have a prioritized list of a few resorts you would like to consider in case your first or second choices aren’t available.

    I hope this helps you to start your planning, Alene! And sending pixie dust that you can find that perfect reservation for your Disney Vacation Club family!

    Wishing you Membership Magic!
    - Kate
thumbnail image for Kate

Meet the Panelist: Kate, Indiana

"Welcome Home!" I'm Kate, a mom and nurse from Indiana. A lifelong Disney fan, Disney Vacation Club opened a world of vacation possibilities for our family. I’ve traveled with young children and those young at heart, planned romantic trips for two and made FastPass+ reservations for an entire marching band! Whether dining with Mickey, surfing in Hawaii, or relaxing around the pool we make the most of our Disney Vacation Club Membership. For this nurse, every day is better with a little dose of Disney! Learn More About Kate

Related Video

  • thumbnail image for Making Family Vacations a Priority | Disney Vacation Club

Tips from a Disney Vacation Club Panelist

Make The Most of Your Disneyland Resort Vacation

view tips

Didn't find what you were looking for? Click the Ask a Question button to open the Ask a Question dialogue box. If you are not logged in a dialogue box will appear to signin in order to ask a question.

To submit your question, please sign in now if you have not already done so.

Ask a QuestionOpens the Ask a Question dialog box.
x

Update Browser

For a better experience browsing this website, please download an updated version of Internet Explorer.


Or you can continue browsing without updating.