Disney Vacation Club Buying Guide
Our Disney Vacation Club Buying Guide covers best & worst home resorts, buying DVC via directly v. resale, how to use points, membership perks, plus the pros & cons of joining. Finally, we share our story of why we joined, and answer frequently asked questions.
Although we are DVC members, we weigh the benefits and drawbacks of joining. In other words, this isnt a sales pitch for Disney Vacation Club. The fact is, DVC is not right for everyone. So, rather than presenting the kind of emotional and rosy marketing message youll hear from a DVC guide trying to make a sale, well present a more balanced perspective here.
Lets start with a little background. Disney Vacation Club is Disneys twist on the traditional timeshare concept, and Disney advertises it as a way to save money on future vacations at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and beyond. There are currently 15 Disney Vacation Club resorts, with more projects in development: a new Disneyland Hotel tower in California and expansion of the Grand Floridian Villas in Florida.
Disneys Riviera Resort is the newest DVC resort, having debuted a couple years ago with its main selling point being a Skyliner station providing gondola access to Disneys Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Check out our Disneys Riviera Resort Review for thoughts on the standard rooms and resort as a whole. Read Riviera Resort Tower Studio Review: Terrible or Terrific? for thoughts on the newest room category, which will spread elsewhere.
Epcot And Disneys Hollywood Studios Area Resorts
If Epcot is your jam and a simple stroll back to your room after drinking or festival-ing around the World Showcase sounds like a dream, Disneys Beach Club Villas and Disneys BoardWalk Villas can’t be beat. Both properties are also a 15- to 20-minute walk or boat ride from Disneys Hollywood Studios, so you can easily visit each park without a ton of effort. Disneys Beach Club Villas boasts the most desirable pool on Disney property, while Disney’s BoardWalk Villas is home to a lively mix of nightlife and entertainment.
Just behind these two properties is DVCs newest resort, Disneys Riviera Resort. It’s a quick, scenic ride on the Disney Skyliner from both parks. Rivieras upscale European theming, breathtaking views and luxe details make it arguably the most elegant DVC resort.
Is Disney Vacation Club Worth The Investment
When considering how much Disney Vacation Club costs, you may also wonder if its worth it.
Yes, Disney Vacation Club is worth the investment. The club members receive plenty of benefits and bonuses after paying the initial fee. Anyone who enjoys traveling and would like to save money should consider joining.
The Disney Club resorts are always in demand on a local and international scale. This means you will never miss a guest in your room if you havent booked it. You can also choose to sell your card at a higher rate before it expires. The price of the points is constantly rising.
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Will I Be Able To Upgrade To A Bigger Room If I Am A Disney Vacation Club Member
One of the biggest perks of Disney Vacation Club is having access to multiple room types at some of Disney’s best on-site resorts. For example, at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you can stay in studio rooms that sleep up to four guests or one-, two- or three-bedroom villas that can accommodate up to 12 guests. The latter come with full kitchens and laundry machines.
At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, you can go all-out and stay in an overwater bungalow that sleeps up to eight guests and has a private plunge pool and Magic Kingdom views. Room sizing and layout options vary by property, but each DVC resort has multiple room types to choose from.
How Does Dvc Work
Like we said, DVC is a points rental style of timeshare. Members of the Disney Vacation Club buy rental points in order to rent future vacation stays at different places on Disney property. At the time of purchase, the members buy a set number of points more on this later and the members choose a home resort.
The points bought dont change from year to year, but you can choose to add more points later on during the life of your timeshare. Points can also be saved or borrowed from year to year.
There are different factors when it comes to how many points are needed for a stay. Time of year, choice of resort or vacation location, size of room, and length of stay are common factors that will impact the amount of points necessary for a stay.
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Who Is Disney Vacation Club Not For
Value Resort Guests:
If you typically like to stay in a Value resort, you are not going to see as much savings by being part of the Disney Vacation Club. However, you will get to stay at some of the best resorts Disney has to offer for about the same price.
Those who plan to visit Disney once or twice in your lifetime.
The Disney Vacation Club is definitely more geared to if you visit Disney once every few years, but like I said earlier you can always rent out your points on your non-Disney trip years.
Disney Cruise Goers
If you love a Disney Cruise, but not a Disney World Vacation so much, do not get the Disney Vacation Club. Yes, you can use the points on a Disney Cruise, but it is the worst way to use your points because the pricing comes out to the same as paying the normal rate for a cruise.
Those who plan on owning for a few years?
You can resell your Disney Vacation Club, however, if you plan on getting rid of it after a few years, you will probably find yourself selling for less than you bought. Now, if you wait longer 5-10 years, then the price will have most likely gone up. I bought our first Vacation Club for $65 a point and it now resells for $120 a point and another one I bought at $85 resells for $140 a point. If you keep a vacation club for more than 10 years you are likely to sell it for your purchase price or more, which means you only paid annual dues for all those amazing vacations.
How Much Does The Disney Vacation Club Cost
Its expensive. A DVC purchase is a major one and an investment for your future. Youre buying your family vacations for the next 50 years. You purchase a set amount of points to use in a calendar year. The minimum number of points you can buy is 160 and the max is 2,000. We bought 250 points and our total investment was about $40,000. We purchased while aboard a Disney Cruise and there were some incentives to purchase on the ship.
A travel agent friend told me the best place to join DVC was on board a Disney Cruise and I think that was solid advice. However, topping up your points on a Disney Cruise doesnt come with the same incentives. We looked into buying some additional points on our most recent Disney Cruise and we could have gotten the same pricing by just going online and buying the points.
We had to pay a down payment and financed the rest. Youre looking at an initial cost of about 10 percent of your purchase price to buy-in. We used a credit card and loaded up on miles. We currently pay about $500 per month for our membership fees and resort fees. The upside is that no money changes hands when we stay at Disney World. We book our room through the Disney Vacation Club members have access to a special portal to book their rooms and not the regular way. Our vacations are pre-paidwe just have to take them.
You can also rent DVC points.
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Is A Disney Vacation Club Worth It
Imagine sunning yourself by the lake only steps from your luxurious accommodations before spending an exciting day in a Disney theme park. Thats how many members of the Disney Vacation Club spend time on their vacation every year. The Disney Vacation Club is a vacation ownership program thats more commonly referred to as a timeshare. With the mega-success the Walt Disney Company has achieved, investing in real estate with its subsidiary corporation Disney Vacation Club can be tempting. Is it worth it, though? That depends on several key aspects of how and why you travel. Potential members should consider whether the perks, benefits and joys of being a member outweigh the risks.
Disney Vacation Club Point System For Deciding If Dvc Is Worth It
As discussed above The Disney Vacation club operates on a point system. The amount of points you purchase is a one-time buy and is based on your families vacation goals. The great thing about the Disney Vacation Club points is you can use them for other vacations such as international Disney trips and Disney cruise line. You have the option to buy your DVC membership directly through Disney or you can purchase resale points from someone selling their membership.
Its important to note that as of March 21, 2011 only DVC members who purchased directly from Disney will receive all of the most recent perks.
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Vacationing At A Disney Deluxe Resort
6 Night Vacation at Disneys Beach Club Resort: 6 Nights x Average room cost of $450.00 = $2,700 annual cost X 50 years
Non Disney Vacation Club Cost Over 50 Years: $135,000
Its important to note again that these numbers are only examples. However as you can see the Disney Vacation Club membership could be worth it in the long term depending on your families vacations goals.
Disney Vacation Club Overview
Your purchase consists of ‘vacation points’ and based on availability, those points may be used for reservations at any time of year in a selection of villas found at each DVC Resort or even at a selection of Resorts located around the world as well as Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney options. If you want to branch out from the Mouse, your points can also be used to stay at top hotels or resorts world-wide through RCI.The flexibility is what makes DVC so unique. You can use your points at any time throughout the year and you can choose the size of accommodations that best suit your needs. You can even bank points from one year to use them together with the following year for larger vacations. From studios to Grand Villas, your “Home Away from Home” will have everything you need to make your vacation a memorable one.
- DVC News and Articles – Find the latest news and updates on Disney Vacation Club.
- DVC Resales – Take a look at the current DVC resales available from DVCResaleMarket.com
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Dvc Resale Vs Direct Financial Savings
Picture a magical Disney vacation at your home away from home, one that includes larger & more comfortable accommodations, such as one, two and three bedroom vacation villas with all the comforts of home, like fully equipped kitchens and a washer & dryer. This is what DVC resale members enjoy year after year, at a fraction of the cost of non-DVC members and even those that bought direct.
These magical Disney experiences dont have to cost you a fortune. As a DVC member buying resale, Disney accommodations are offered to you at extremely discounted rates of around 70% off Disneys rental rates. Youll experience Disney vacations with huge savings, as well as the exclusive perks that come with DVC membership.
These additional perks of being a Disney Vacation Club member buying resale include RCI access , Top of the World Lounge, pool hopping, complimentary parking, as well as all the benefits you receive when staying on Disney property .
Membership Has An End Date
Even though youre technically buying real estate there is a date your membership will expire. The person who sold us our membership explained this really well and it will be in your contract that you sign. The length of our contract is 50 years and there are provisions that allow us to transfer or will our membership to our children or mention it in our wills.
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Can You Change Or Cancel Your Dvc Membership
Flexibility is an issue, though. If you need to cancel or change a stay you booked, you will lose your DVC points unless you make the changes at least a month in advance.
There is also a lack of flexibility for changing your membership. Its a real estate deed that you wont be able to change until you have paid it in full if you used financing. You might also have to pay your annual dues for the current year before you can make any changes.
Disney will let you update your information on the deed or add an adult child as a beneficiary. However, you wont be able to cancel your membership before the end of the contract you signed.
How Often Do You Go To The Disney Parks
Really think about this question and try to guess what your future plans might entail.
Do you want to go to Walt Disney World every year? Are you thinking of vacationing there every five years? Have you considered going to Disney World, but you might also like to travel to Disneyland?
If you can evaluate your vacation planning needs and determine that you and your family members would like to go to Disney World at least once every other year, then you should consider becoming a Disney Vacation Club Member. The Disney Vacation Club works at its very best when the members are actively using their points to stay in the Walt Disney World resorts.
Before I became a Disney Vacation Club Member my family was traveling from Ohio to Florida at least once a year. We were spending outrageous amounts of money on vacations, including flights, hotels, theme park tickets, and food. After our third trip to Disney, we were contacted by a Disney Vacation Club sales associate, and having a conversation with her really made me think about the benefits of becoming a member.
As if the heroes who created the Disney Vacation Club knew you were out there, they have added hundreds of other places where you can use your Disney Vacation Club points. These vacation options can still be connected to Disney.
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Value And Moderate Shoppers
A preference for staying at deluxe level resorts at lower costs over the long-term remains the biggest draw for owning a DVC membership. Youll notice that value and moderate resorts dont even appear on the list. Frequent users of inexpensive accommodations, who dont mind sacrificing deluxe amenities and benefits, should avoid buying a membership.
They can use their savings for theme park tickets and souvenirs. With many non-Disney hotels surrounding the area, choosing to stay off-property to save money on future vacations may even be the wiser choice, one thats impractical with DVC membership.
How Does Disney Vacation Club Work
Disney describes the Disney Vacation Club as a flexible timeshare thats represented by vacation points. The phrasing is intentional, as flexibility is one of DVCs most significant selling points beyond it being Disney property. DVC members do not need to lock in standing travel dates like more traditional timeshares. Instead, they purchase the aforementioned points, which allow them to visit Disney properties as they wish throughout the year, albeit with restrictions. As we mentioned in the previous section, members must purchase a minimum of 150 points, and must select what DVC calls a home resort. While this can be useful for those who know exactly where theyd like to stay, it can be a nerve-racking decision for those who arent so sure where theyd like to be. Selecting a home resort thats the right fit is crucial, as members are given an extended booking window at their selected resort. This is especially helpful for snagging dates during popular times of the year.
Its essential to consider how you like to vacation when selecting your home resort. If youd like to visit more frequently and want your points to stretch further, you may want to choose a less in demand resort. If, however, you like to experience luxury, you may want to consider shorter stays or smaller rooms to avoid overextending yourself by buying more points than you can comfortably afford.
Disney Vacation Club home resorts include:
Aulani
Bay Lake Tower at Disneys Contemporary Resort
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Aulani & Disney Vacation Club
For savings comparison we are going to look at Aulani, which is a premier Disney resort in Hawaii.
We are going to look at two scenarios: booking online without any membership booking this same resort with a Disney Vacation Club membership.
Scenario One:
When trying to book for April 1, 2020 through April 8, 2020 on a web-based booking site rooms were between $513 and $560 a night for Deluxe Studio rooms.
This means that for a seven-night stay total cost would be around $3,500 to $4,000 before taxes and fees.
Additionally, fees we could find right off the top was $37 a day for parking, rental fees and the other fees possible were noted.
Scenario Two:
When trying to book for the same period, April 1, 2020 through April 8, 2020 on Disney Vacation Club we found that it would be around 164 points for which you will have to use your 100 point allotment for 2020, and either rollover points from previous years if available or borrow from 2021 to book this resort.
We are going to use the $18,800 for 100 points a year scenario from earlier which basically works out to $3.76 a point for the 50 year commitment.
For this trip, it would be $616.64 for the points portion of the booking.
Again, please be aware long-standing members of Disney Vacation Club will have reduced rates, based on when they joined the club dictating their point rates.
This also does not include yearly annual dues, which vary across properties. This would be a scenario if you bought points at todays rate.