If you’re a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, you’ve probably heard people talking about renting out their points. And if you’re not a member but looking for ways to stay in a Deluxe Disney resort for less, you might be wondering if renting points is even allowed.
The short answer? Yes, DVC owners can rent out their points, but there are some new rules you should know about.
Disney’s Official Policy Update
Recently, DVC clarified their policy to say that points are intended for “personal use” and added a check box at the end of each reservation.
What does that mean? Essentially, DVC doesn’t want people turning their membership into a business. Owners can still rent their points to friends, family, or even strangers one-on-one, but mass renting or running it like a side hustle is against the rules. We can tell you first hand, that there are a few individuals that own HUNDRED of THOUSANDS of DVC points and that this is their sole business. This is what Disney is trying to crack down on, not the individual owner with a few hundred points.
This announcement does not eliminate renting. It just sets some clearer boundaries. Think of it as Disney saying: your membership is for vacations, not a rental empire.
How Owners Rent Out Points
- Direct to a Guest: An owner can book a reservation in someone else’s name (the renter) and work out payment directly.
- Using a Broker: Many owners work through point rental companies like ours, Pixie Point Gals. This gives both the owner and renter piece of mind and also makes it a lot easier for owners to rent. Spending less time looking up possible rentals and brokers handling payment.
Why Owners Rent Points
- Cover Annual Dues: Renting can offset those yearly maintenance fees.
- Get Value from Extra Points: Maybe you cannot travel this year. Or maybe you want to take your family on a Cruise or a different vacation and want to use the cash for that instead. Also life happens, we’ve had owners that have medical emergencies, unemployment and family circumstances that make it hard to use their points for a year. Renting gives them piece of mind and a little extra cash.
- Help Someone Else Experience Disney: Renting gives non-owners a chance to stay at resorts like Polynesian, Riviera, or Aulani for a lot less than Disney’s rack rates. We’ve had many renters that after staying at a DVC resort, have end up purchasing DVC for their families.
What Renters Should Know
- The reservation is always made by the owner in the renter’s name.
- Renters get the same experience as booking through Disney directly, including resort perks. These can include free parking, extra hours (WDW) and great transportation.
- You can add the Disney dining package but it must be done with the owner. No special room requests beyond what Disney allows during check-in. No daily housekeeping (trash pick up only), with room cleaning on the 4th and 8th day.
The Bottom Line
Yes, DVC owners can still rent out their points. Disney’s latest announcement makes it clear that it should be occasional and personal, not a full-time business. For members, it is still a great way to use points wisely. For guests, it is still one of the best-kept secrets for scoring a deluxe Disney stay at a big discount.
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