Renting DVC Points - How does that then effect using My Disney Experience?

ExtinctJenn

ExtinctJenn

Well-Known Member
First, let me just say that, after years of having to avoid these forums because we wouldn't be making a return trip to Disney for quite some time (and it depressed me to be here), I am glad to be back because that means we are finally in the planning stages for a trip in early 2020!

For nearly my entire adult life, every visit to WDW I've made (besides during the 3 years I lived in FL) has been booked via the official website and, has always been a full trip package (room and tickets at least). For the first time, I am strongly considering a DVC point rental instead of booking a room as usual through the site. This is because we are bringing along some additional family and I'm thinking a 2-BR Villa would be a fantastic option. It seems using one of the rental stores out there is a huge money savings over booking one of those rooms directly.

My question is this... despite being well versed in the process when a full package is being booked, I have no clue what happens when you don't book a room and buy just your tickets on the official site. I know you still get magic bands but, can you still customize them? Do you still have access to make FP+ reservations 90-days out? I assume there is likely other stuff that will work differently that I maybe need to be aware of? Any help would be sincerely appreciated!
 
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Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
If your trip is in early 2020, you may have slim pickings for DVC villas, which have been bookable by "home resort" members since 11 months out and all DVC members at 7 months out...

That being said, when you rent DVC points, as soon as the reservation is made (immediate payment is generally required, in full, at that point) you'll be sent your resort reservation conformation number. You can link that confirmation number to your My Disney Experience ("MDE") account just as you would if you booked your room directly through Disney. Then you can buy your tickets a la carte (via the Disney website, or an authorized reseller like Undercover Tourist), and then link them to MDE the same way. Then everything else -- MagicBand customization, dining reservations (180 days out for the length of your stay), Fastpasses (60 days out for duration of tickets, as with any onsite reservation) -- is done via MDE as usual. You can make your Magical Express arrangements (if desired) by calling WDW or using the online link: https://secure.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/dme/dmeform. We've rented several times - through reputable middleman agencies like David's Vacation Rentals and DVC Rental Store - and it's always been convenient and seamless. Not only could we get customized MagicBands, but the time we did a split stay with two DVC rentals at two different DVC resorts, we got two sets of MagicBands -- so we chose different colors to match every outfit! ;)

One difference between a typical room reservation and a DVC rental reservation is that the making of the reservation and the addition of a dining plan (if desired) need to be done by the member from whom you are renting: although the reservation is for you and linked to your MDE account, you don't have any authority or ability to modify it. Also, DVC rental arrangements cannot typically be canceled, meaning you'll want travel insurance to cover the non-refundable cost if there's any chance you might not end up going.
 
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ExtinctJenn

ExtinctJenn

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Minthorne said:
A DVC reservation number can be added to MDE and acts just like any other Disney resort reservation including Dining Reservation at 180 day + length of stay, Magic Bands, and FastPass+.

BTW the FassPass+ booking is 60 days, not 90 :)
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Weather_Lady said:
That being said, when you rent DVC points, as soon as the reservation is made (immediate payment is generally required, in full, at that point) you'll be sent your resort reservation conformation number. You can link that confirmation number to your My Disney Experience ("MDE") account just as you would if you booked your room directly through Disney. Then you can buy your tickets a la carte (via the Disney website, or an authorized reseller like Undercover Tourist), and then link them to MDE the same way. Then everything else -- MagicBand customization, dining reservations (180 days out for the length of your stay), Fastpasses (60 days out for duration of tickets, as with any onsite reservation) -- is done via MDE as usual. You can make your Magical Express arrangements (if desired) by calling WDW or using the online link: https://secure.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/dme/dmeform.
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Thank you both! That is super helpful! And duh on the 60-days thing... :)

Weather_Lady said:
If your trip is in early 2020, you may have slim pickings for DVC villas, which have been bookable by "home resort" members since 11 months out and all DVC members at 7 months out...
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Yeah, I'm crossing my fingers. I won't be able to book for probably another 3-6 weeks on top of that. If it works out, it works out. If it doesn't, we'll just book two rooms the old fashioned way. :)
 
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ExtinctJenn

ExtinctJenn

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Hcalvert said:
You can "unofficially" check DVC availability using this site: https://tools.dvcvacations.com/points-calculator
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I'm actually looking at using the store from which that tool is taken and, in reaching out to them, they emphasized that it is just a calculation of roughly how much a trip during the dates selected will cost per point based on the resort/time of travel and in no way associated with actual availability. I think, in general, there's a good chance I'll get what we need but, alas I can't even venture further than just that sort of tool until we are 100% sure we are going to have the funds (long story short I'm waiting on a refi that will ultimately fund the trip). :)
 
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Minthorne

Minthorne

Well-Known Member
ExtinctJenn said:
I'm actually looking at using the store from which that tool is taken and, in reaching out to them, they emphasized that it is just a calculation of roughly how much a trip during the dates selected will cost per point based on the resort/time of travel and in no way associated with actual availability. I think, in general, there's a good chance I'll get what we need but, alas I can't even venture further than just that sort of tool until we are 100% sure we are going to have the funds (long story short I'm waiting on a refi that will ultimately fund the trip). :)
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That calculator just gives you the cost and in no way checks availability.

If you know the general dates and the resort/room type you are interested in I am a DVC member and I can take a peek at what is available.
 
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