Disney Direct vs. DVC Rentals: Understanding the Differences
If you’re browsing the DVC Rental Store website, you likely already know that you can save up to 65% by renting a stay from a DVC Member instead of booking a room directly through Disney. When it comes to accommodations, pricing, included benefits, and cancellation policies, what are the differences between renting DVC points and booking directly through Disney?
What Is the Difference Between Disney Direct and DVC Rentals?
Booking Disney direct means renting your hotel room through the company directly. This could be online through the official website, by phone or even with the help of a travel agent.
DVC rentals refer to renting your hotel room from a Disney Vacation Club Member usually through a third party company like DVC Rental Store. These rooms will be a Disney Vacation Club style villa which can accommodate a wide range of party sizes.
DVC Rentals Include the Same Disney Vacation Club Accommodations
When renting a stay through a DVC Member, you get to book the same great DVC accommodations as booking directly through Disney. These include studios and villas at Disney Deluxe Resorts like:
- Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House and Kidani Village)
- Aulani
- Beach Club
- BoardWalk
- Contemporary (Bay Lake Tower)
- Disneyland Hotel
- Fort Wilderness (Cabins)
- Grand Californian
- Grand Floridian
- Hilton Head
- Old Key West
- Polynesian
- Riviera
- Saratoga Springs
- Vero Beach
- Wilderness Lodge (Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek)
DVC studios and villas are larger than a regular hotel room and offer more amenities like kitchenettes or full kitchens and washers and dryers.
DVC Rentals Offer Lower Prices
Renting DVC points is a great way to stay at Disney Deluxe Resorts for less! If you wanted to book a Preferred View Resort Studio at the Grand Floridian from January 5 to 11, 2027, it would cost $940.67 per night for a total of $5,644.02 before taxes if you booked directly through Disney.
If you rented that same Grand Floridian Resort Studio for the same dates through DVC Rental Store, you would pay a total of $4,224, which includes taxes and fees. That’s a savings of $1,420.02!
DVC Rentals Provide the Same Benefits
Whether you book directly through Disney or you rent a stay, you still get some exciting perks!
Complimentary Transportation and Parking
Guests at Disney Resorts get complimentary transportation to all the Disney World theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs. Depending on which resort you stay at, this can include buses, boats, the monorail, or the Skyliner. If you’re bringing your own vehicle with you, you can also take advantage of free parking at the theme parks.
Extra Time in the Theme Parks
As a guest of a Disney World Resort, you get to enjoy Early Theme Park Entry. This means that you get to enter the theme parks 30 minutes earlier than the general public, which gives you a head start on riding attractions.
As the guest of a Disney World Deluxe Resort, you are also eligible for Extended Evening Theme Park Hours on select nights. During these hours, you get access to a theme park for two hours after it has closed to the general public, so there are shorter wait times for attractions. Oftentimes these hours are hosted at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.
DVC Rentals Offer Different Cancellation Policies
One final area where booking directly through Disney and renting DVC points differs is cancellation policies. Before booking your trip, make sure the policies fit your travel needs.
Disney
When you book through Disney, you can cancel up to 30 days prior to check-in, and the amounts paid will be refunded. If you cancel 2 to 29 days prior to check-in, the amounts paid (minus a $200 cancellation fee per package) will be refunded. If you cancel a day or less prior to check-in, the price of the reservation is not refundable.
DVC Rental Store
When you rent DVC points through DVC Rental Store, you can choose between two cancellation policies: the Stress-Free Cancellation Policy and the Cashback Protection Policy.
The Stress-Free Cancellation Policy comes with every rental reservation from DVC Rental Store. It offers you credits that you can put towards another trip up to two years from the original travel dates. The amount of credit you receive depends on how far in advance you cancel your reservation and how much you have already paid.
For an additional fee, there is also the Cashback Protection Policy that offers you a cash refund instead of a credit. The amount refunded depends on when you cancel and how much you have already paid.
Start planning your next Disney vacation! Browse the confirmed reservations, or request a free quote to rent DVC points and save up to 65% compared to booking directly through Disney.
