I saved THOUSANDS on my Disney World trip with this little-known hotel hack
A trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is magical... at least until the bills arrives.
With Disney World prices hitting record highs, savvy parkgoers are scrambling to cut costs without sacrificing the magic.
Enter David's Vacation Club Rentals, which makes Disney resort villas - often thought to be inaccessible to non-timeshare owners - available to the masses thanks to a little-known savings hack.
The company acts as a middle man between vacationers and Disney Vacation Club owners who have unused points, listing rooms at significantly reduced rates that can save guests up to 60 percent off regular Disney pricing.
And 60 percent off makes a huge difference for hotel rooms that cost hundreds or even thousands per night.
'In many cases, families can stay in larger villas with kitchens, more space and premium amenities for the price of what Disney would typically charge for a moderate or even value resort,' David's Vacation Club Rentals CEO Melissa Mullett told the Daily Mail.
Consider a weekend stay at the Grand Floridian this May. Booking through the Walt Disney World website would run guests an eye-watering $1,341 per night for a 1-bedroom villa.
But if you booked through David's Vacation Club Rentals, the exact same stay would drop to $1,058 per night - roughly $300 less that you can spend on Dole Whip and Mickey pretzels.
David's Vacation Club Rentals offers customers to pick their preferred room size and resort
Rooms at Disney's Grand Floridian resort can cost over $1,000 or more depending on the room size and dates
The bungalows at Disney's Polynesian come with their own private plunge pool and can sleep up to eight guests
Depending on availability, some of Disney's most coveted hotel rooms are available at a fraction of the cost, including the log cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the Polynesian's new Island Tower.
How is this even possible? A dependable middleman, that's how.
Disney Vacation Club members own their annual allotment of points - they are deeded real estate - which means they may sell or transfer them at their own discretion, within certain limits.
If a member has leftover points, they can sell them to David's Vacation Club Rentals, which lets non-members reserve DVC-level rooms at a much lower rate than direct through Disney.
Everybody wins: Disney Vacation Club members make extra money on unused points and non-members get cheaper access.
Disney World has been cracking down on the resale market in recent months, warning that 'frequently or regularly' renting or selling reservations is 'strictly prohibited.'
However, it still allows 'occasional' sales of extra points - and that's the sweet spot David's Vacation Club Rentals operates in.
'David's is a real option to save money if you are willing to be patient and jump through some extra hoops to save money,' Gavin Doyle, founder of Mickey Visit, told the Daily Mail.
The Grand Floridian is one of Walt Disney World's original resort hotels, located next to Magic Kingdom
Melissa Mullett is the CEO of David's Vacation Club Rentals, taking over for her father, David
Doyle warned that availability is limited on David's Vacation Club Rentals, which offers far fewer options then booking through a Disney travel agent or direct with Disney.
'If you can find a reservation, this is a solid way to save money on trips,' he said.
The company even provides a 'cost calculator' so Disney fans may compare prices on different vacation dates.
The calculator helps them understand room costs and sizes - and for timeshare holders, how many 'points' each room translates to.
Melissa Mullett's father, David, is the namesake behind David’s Vacation Club Rentals.
He founded the company more than 20 years ago, inspired by his family's love of all things Disney.
'It was always our happy place growing up, and even when we didn’t have much, those trips meant everything to us,' Mullett said.
Before snagging her current role, Mullett was answering customers questions at a phone bank. In 2010, she had the opportunity to pivot and she jumped on it.
'It felt like a natural next step,' Mullett said. Now, she's leading a global team and growing her father's business.
Disney resorts offer perks for vacationers that those staying off-property don't experience, like early park entry, outdoor movie nights and free transportation
When she's not working at David's Vacation Club Rentals, Mullett is often visiting Disney World at her own timeshare - and loves the 'home away from home' feeling she gets there.
'It’s something I genuinely enjoy both personally and professionally - and it gives me firsthand insight into what makes a DVC vacation so special,' she said.
The Orlando, Florida-based theme park has over 20 different resorts to choose from, and each one offers its own unique dining and transportation options.
The theme park giant's 21 hotels are split into tiers: deluxe, moderate, value and deluxe villa.
It's not just accommodations that add up to a costly vacation. The company's annual pass will run Disney World fans $1,629 per person for unrestricted access to its Orlando theme parks.
While a 'fastpass' used to be an extra perk, the theme park has ditched their old 'skip the line' system in favor of the add-on Lightning Lanes.
The most flexible option of the skip-the-line options, the 'Premier Pass,' will set you back close to $500 per person just for the convenience of hopping on rides at will.
NerdWallet estimates the cost for a 'frugal' family of four to visit Disney World can easily reach $6,000 for a seven-night trip - and that's what makes David's Vacation Club Rentals so refreshing.
'It’s true that a Disney World vacation can feel more expensive than ever, but it doesn’t have to be,' Mullett said.
