FAQ Overview

Can room reservations be made via DVCMember.com or any other website?

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DVC room reservations can be requested via DVCMember.com.  Click on “Vacation Planning” then “Request a Reservation” to reach the appropriate form.

However, note that this is not a realtime reservation system.  Reservation requests are manually handled by a Member Services representative within 3 days of their submission.  Bookings are based upon what is available at the time the request is handled rather than the day/time of its submission.  Time-sensitive reservation requests (i.e. 11-month bookings during high-demand periods, 7-month bookings at smaller resorts) are best handled via telephone call to Member Services for the greatest chance of success.

To-date, DVC has not commented as to whether an on-line reservation system is forthcoming.

What happens if there are no rooms available when calling to make a reservation?

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DVC maintains a “waitlist” system which allows members to go on a waiting list for rooms which are not available at the time of the initial call.  Requests are satisfied on a first-in, first-out basis.  As members cancel existing reservations, attempts will be made to match the now-vacant accommodations to requests on the waitlist.

Are there different approaches to going on the waitlist?

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Yes.  The first approach is to waitlist for the entire stay.  This is the most common format of waitlist request.  It is an “all or nothing” approach to getting the desired villa.  In order for the waitlist request to be satisfied, all requested nights must become available simultaneously. 

It is important to note that DVC will not hold specific nights while waiting for the remainder to become available.  In other words, if a guest it waitlisted for 7 nights and 6 of them have become available, DVC is still unable to meet the entire request.  DVC will attempt to match the 6 available nights with another member’s request on the waitlist.  If they are unable to match some or all of the nights to existing waitlist requests, the nights will be made available to all members via the call center. 

The other alternative for setting up a waitlist request is to request each night individually.  In the previous example, if a member has a “day-by-day” waitlist request set up and 6 of their 7 nights become available, those 6 nights will be secured for the member.  Day-by-day waitlist request have a higher probability of being satisfied since the requirement of having all nights open up simultaneously is no longer present.  However the drawback is that the member may be asked to switch resorts or room classes if all of the nights do not open up before the trip arrives.  A member who has confirmed reservations for six nights in a Preferred BoardWalk View Studio and one night in a Preferred Garden / Pool View Studio will be required to switch rooms during their stay.

How long do DVC waitlist requests stay in effect?

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The first phase of the waitlist runs from 11 months out until 31 days before check-in.  Members who call at any time during this period are placed on a waitlist and their alternate accommodations will be booked subject to instructions left with Member Services.  However, 31 days from the check-in date, the entire waitlist is completely erased.

Those wishing to continue waiting for alternate accommodations must contact Member Services after the 31-day mark and ask to be placed on the second phase of the waitlist.  This second waitlist will run up to 7 days before the check-in date.  Seven days out the waitlist is eliminated altogether.  The only way to attempt to book DVC accommodations on that short of notice is to call Member Services periodically and inquire about availability.

The purpose of the two-pronged waitlist is most likely to address the Holding Account rules.  If a member were to forget that he/she made a waitlist request, and then had that request come through more than 31 days out, the trip could still be cancelled with no penalty.  However rooms booked on less than 31 days notice have strict cancellation penalties.  Points from these cancellations are placed in a Holding Account.  Holding Account points must be used by the end of the Use Year (they cannot be banked) and they can only be used for accommodations booked on 60-days notice or less.  Therefore the purpose of the second phase of the waitlist is likely to give members a chance to re-assert their desire to book DVC accommodations without leaving them inadvertently subject to the late cancellation penalties.

What are the odds of DVC meeting my waitlist request?

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That's a very difficult question to answer because no two waitlist requests are the same.  The primary factors in determining success are:

Number of consecutive nights.  Getting a reservation from the waitlist for 2 nights is going to be a whole lot easier than getting 10 nights.

Overall popularity of resort / dates / room class.  Obtaining a One Bedroom at Old Key West in January will tend to have a higher degree of success than a Standard View Studio at the BoardWalk in December.

How early in the process the request is added to the waitlist.  A waitlist request placed 10 months prior to check-in will have much greater chances for success than a request placed 2 months ahead. 

Many people report surprising success in using the waitlist.  Those who are using the waitlist in an attempt to obtain a different resort from the one currently booked (i.e. have a reservation for OKW but would prefer to stay at BWV) have little reason not to give it a shot.  There is no cost associated with using the waitlist and the process is entirely hands-off. 

However, those who have no current reservation and require a room confirmation before making other travel arrangements should be more cautious.  Simply going on the waitlist is no guarantee for success.

How do I request a specific room location, floor or view for my trip?

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All DVC room requests should be communicated to DVC Member Services prior to arrival at the resort.  Renters must ask that the DVC member communicate their requests to Member Services.

DVC resorts do not accept fax requests, and the resorts have limited ability to accommodate requests which are not communicated until the guest’s arrival at the front desk.

Remember that while the resorts will try to accommodate all member requests, they cannot guarantee their ability to do so. 

What is the housekeeping schedule for DVC Villas?

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DVC members (and their guests, including renters) staying on points receive limited housekeeping services. 

For stays of 8 days (7 nights) or less, guests will receive the Trash & Towel service on Day 4.  The Trash & Towel service is essentially what it sounds like; housekeeping will provide fresh towels, empty the trash and replenish consumables like toiletries and laundry detergent. 

For stays of more than 8 days (7 nights), guests will normally receive a full cleaning on Day 4 and Trash & Towel service on Day 8.

Guests who would prefer that the services be performed on a different schedule can simply request it at the front desk.  Services can be moved to different days at no charge as long as there is no increase in frequency of service.  Additional cleanings or T&T services are available for a fee.  The charges are as follows:

Trash & Towel:

Studio/Inn = $15 per service
1 Bedroom = $20 per service
2 Bedroom = $25 per service
Grand Villa = $35 per service

Full cleaning:

Studio/Inn = $30 per service
1 Bedroom = $45 per service
2 Bedroom = $60 per service
Grand Villa = $75 per service

The limited housekeeping services may seem odd to some, but it mirrors the practices of others in the timeshare industry.  Many timeshares will only provide cleaning services between guests. 

Member dues fund 100% of the housekeeping budget so limiting services is in the best interest of the resort's ownership.  Those who wish additional services are welcome to pay the listed prices.

I'm staying in a Studio this time. Is there somewhere I can do laundry at the resort?

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Those staying in DVC Studio accommodations may not have a washer and dryer right in their room but they do have free access to public facilities.  Each resort has washer and dryers available to members at no cost.  Use is first-come, first-served.  Locations vary by resort—at Saratoga Springs and Old Key West they are located near each of the pool complexes. 

Note that some of the washer / dryer units have coin slots, but money does not need to be inserted in order to operate the machines.

We don't need a lot of room, How many people can I REALLY put in a DVC room?

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Contractually, room occupancy for all resorts except the Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower and Villas at Grand Californian is limited to 4 persons in a Studio or One Bedroom Villa, 8 occupants in a Two Bedroom Villa and 12 in a Three Bedroom Grand Villa.  Unofficially DVC will allow up to 5 in a One Bedroom, 9 in a Two Bedroom and 13 in a Grand Villa.  However, in doing so, the resorts will not furnish any additional bedding or towels for the additional guest.  Guests must either bring their own resources (sleeping bag, air bed, towels from home, etc.) or make due with the standard room amenities.

Being an unofficial policy, DVC could legally alter its stance on these changes at any time and revert to the original 4/4/8 guest limits.

The Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower and Grand Californian will contractually allow 5 guests in most One Bedroom and 9 in most Two Bedroom Villas.  The Standard, Savanna and Concierge class rooms at AKV are all guaranteed the higher occupancy.  Only AKV’s Value class rooms will adhere to the 4/4/8 occupancy limits.

Can it divide my stay among multiple DVC (and non-DVC) resorts?

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Sure.  Disney will move your luggage from one Disney-owned resort to another at no charge (gratuities expected.)  Contact bell services on the morning of the move and when they arrive, let them know your final destination.  Expect luggage to arrive at your new resort after 5pm.  You will have to call bell services to request delivery to your room as they will not do so automatically. 

Expect to be without a room between 11am and 4pm on the day of the move.  Staying at multiple resorts may have a negative impact on the Disney Dining Plan (credits cannot be carried over from one resort to another), so consider that before booking a split stay.  Also note luggage delivery to/from the Vero Beach and Hilton Head Island resorts is not available.

What are Reservation Points?

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When DVC points are used to book a non-DVC destination, they are converted into something called “Reservation Points.”  Reservation Points cannot be used to book stays at any of the eight DVC resorts.  For this reason members should be cautious when committing points to non-DVC resorts, particularly if they do so due to a lack of availability at the DVC resorts.

Functionally a member cannot book a stay at, say the Grand Floridian Resort and then go on the waitlist for the BoardWalk Villas or Old Key West using the same points.  As soon as the reservation is secured at the Grand Floridian, the points used are converted to Reservation Points and even if the Grand Floridian stay is cancelled, the points remain Reservation Points and are no longer valid for bookings at the DVC properties.