Travel to Walt Disney World often? Find yourself planning your next trip to Disney right as you are leaving your last trip? You may want to consider becoming a Disney Vacation Club Member! There are many perks of being a member, but it can be a big decision and it does come with a hefty price tag. So before jumping into the membership, here is some information on becoming a DVC Member you may want to consider.
What is Disney Vacation Club?
Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s version of a timeshare, although it is not what you think when you think of a typical timeshare. Instead of having a scheduled week at the same hotel every year, it is based on a “points” system. You can buy points and with those points you can book stays at DVC hotels. You have the freedom to choose when, where, and how often you stay. You are also able to borrow points from the next year or save points from one year to the following year. You can use points for a variety of items, such as dining plans or cruises, but you will have a greater value using your points for the resorts.
It can be bought, Sold, Willed, or owned by a trust because it is a real estate contract. Most contracts are about 40 years. Make sure you check your expiration dates on your contract. Also look at what your “Use Year”, or the start date of when you can use your points for that year. When you become a DVC member you start by choosing a home resort which your dues are paid towards, and you are discounted points to stay at that resort.
How much does a membership cost?
The purchase price through Disney starts at $201.00 per point. So, if you were to buy 150 vacation points per year to use, you would be paying $30,150. Throughout the year Disney offers discounts to featured resorts which can save quite a bit of money. You are only able to purchase between 150 and 325 points.
Your annual dues vary, based off where your home resort is located. For instance, if your home resort is Disney’s Riviera Resort you will be paying 8.39 per point. So, if you have 100 points, which is the minimum number of points you can buy, you will be paying $839.00 per year or 69.91 per month. There are closing costs that will be also included in your membership and they will also go off which resort you choose as your home resort.
Disney offers financing with a 10-year loan starting at 10% down and 9.99% interest rate.
What Resorts are part of Disney Vacation Club?
- Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai’i. Located in beautiful Oahu Hawaii you can own your own piece of paradise. You can choose from 1-, 2-, or 3-Bedroom Villas that will sleep up to 4-12 guest.
- Bay Lake Towers at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This beautiful resort is located walking distance to Magic Kingdom! Bay Lake Towers is located on the 7 Seas Lagoon and offers monorail, boat, and bus transportation services. This resort offers studios, 1-, 2-, and 3-Bedroom Villas, sleeping 4-12 guests a night.
- Boulder Ridge Villas and Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This fun resort is themed after the 1860’s railroad American West. Explore trails, enjoy delightful cuisine, and have fun at your home away from home. This resort offers boat and bus transportation and studio-, 1-,2-, and 3-Bedroom Villas. In Copper Creek Villas you are also able to stay in cabins with amazing views of Bay Lake.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, Jambo House and Kidani Village. Wake up to gorgeous views and safari animals right out of your room! Experience your own African safari adventure at this fun resort with exotic animals! This resort offers bus transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort area. Choose to stay in studio-, 1-and 3- Bedroom Villas.
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas. This elegant resort is themed around a charming New England style. This resort is walking distance to EPCOT and a boat ride away from Hollywood Studios. This resort offers bus, and boat transportation. This resort offers studio, 1- and 2- Bedroom Villas.
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas. Have a night out while enjoying the fun and old-fashioned charm at this waterfront resort. This resort is located on Disney’s BoardWalk, where you will find fun street entertainers, ice cream shops, dining, and dance clubs. This resort offers bus and boat transportation and studio and 1-Bedroom Villas.
- Disney’s Hilton Head Resort. This beautiful resort is located on the coast of South Carolina. Fashioned after a 1940’s hunting and fishing lodge, it is a great place to come and relax with the whole family. This resort offers Studio, 1-, and 2- Bedroom Villas.
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort. Stop by this fun, Key West style resort and enjoy the Florida vibes. This resort is in the Disney Springs area and offers boat and bus transportation. This resort offers studio, 1-, 2-, and 3- Bedroom Villas.
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. Come stay in you own island paradise while visiting Walt Disney World. With beautiful views of the Magic Kingdom, this resort is located across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the park. Themed after the South Pacific, enjoy the fun lake side, volcano pool, or spend the evening attending a real luau! This resort offers monorail, bus and boat transportation and stay in a studio, 1-, 2-, or 3- Bedroom Villa or stay in one of the Overwater Bungalows.
- Disney’s Riviera Resort. Disney’s newest resort Disney’s Riviera Resort is like staying in a fairy tale. European themed, this castle like resort is inspired after some of Disney’s greatest stories. This resort also offers the new gondola system to travel to EPCOT. This resort also offers bus transportation and offers studio, 1-, 2-, and 3- Bedroom Villas.
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. This 1800 Old New York themed resort is in the Disney Springs Resort area. Enjoy a boat ride to Disney Springs or spend the day at the spa while visiting this resort. This resort offers boat and bus transportation and stay in a studio, 1-, 2-, or 3-Bedroom Villa.
- Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Located in Vero Beach Florida, this beach front resort is a perfect family getaway spot to relax in the sun and spend the day in the Atlantic Ocean. This resort is 2 hours away from Walt Disney World and offers Studio 1-, and 2-Bedroom Villas.
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. The only DVC Resort located in California, with craftsman style elegance and attention to detail, this resort is an ideal home away from home while visiting Disney California Adventure Park. This resort has a spa, themed pools, and award-winning dining! Stay in a studio, 1-, 2-, or 3-Bedroom Suite while visiting The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Located at Disney’s Flag Ship Resort, relish in elegance at its finest. Indulge in a massage at the full-service spa or enjoy fine dining at Victoria and Alberts fine dining restaurant. The kids will love to play in the Alice in Wonderland water playground or having breakfast with characters. This resort offers bus, boat, and monorail transportation and offers studio, 1-, 2-, and 3- Bedroom Villas.
Disney also offers these resorts out of America:
- Disney Ambassador Hotel, Tokyo Disney
- Disney Explorers Lodge, Hong Kong Disneyland
- Disney’s Hollywood Hotel, Hong Kong Disneyland
- Disney’s Newport Bay Club, Disneyland Paris
- Disney’s Sequoia Lodge, Disneyland Paris
- Disneyland Hotel Paris, Disneyland Paris
- Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Hong Kong Disneyland
- Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel, Tokyo Disney
- Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, Tokyo Disney
- Tokyo DisneySea Hotel MiraCosta, Tokyo Disney
- Villages Nature Paris, Disneyland Paris
What are the perks that come with Disney Vacation Club Ownership?
DVC does not include park tickets, but they do have many perks of becoming a member. Here are a few of the many perks of becoming a Disney Vacation Club member:
- Being a DVC member provides you a discount to annual passes and day tickets. With savings of up to $100 per annual pass, a family of four can save up to $400 on their annual passes.
- Moonlight Magic is an exclusive time DVC members have access to parks, meet and greets, and many more magical experiences. (They have stopped since Covid 19, but there are talks of the events coming back in 2023).
- On Top of the World Lounge is located on top of Bay Lake Towers. With spectacular views overlooking Magic Kingdom and the nightly fireworks, this resort runs on a first come, first serve basis. They even sync the music to the nightly firework show.
- Member Lounge at EPCOT is the perfect spot to stop and relax during a long day at the parks. This member only lounge is located in the Imagination Pavilion. Stop in for a complimentary snack and drink or charge your phones while cooling off from the hot Florida sun. Kids can play games and watch a movie while taking a break.
- DVC members get restaurant and dining discounts ranging from 10-30%. On top of dining discounts, you can buy dining plans when staying with “points”.
- Staying at a DVC Resort is better for larger groups. You are able to stay in a 3-bedroom villa that holds 12 guests! You can split that between families and save money and gain space compared to a standard studio room.
- Free laundry services are offered to DVC members at DVC resorts, and while on vacation with a family that is a huge perk!
What should I think about before Buying?
There is much to think about before buying in to DVC. Even in you love Disney and spend much of your time there, it is still a large decision. Here is a list of a few of the reasons you may be hesitant about jumping into the membership.
- COST. Disney Vacation Club even buying the lowest amount of points is a big purchase. Weather you pay it all up front or make payments, it is a large amount of money and even after it is paid off you will still be paying annual fees.
- Every year your annual dues that go to your home resort will rise.
- It can be hard to end your contract early. Life changes can happen and can make the payments hard to make. If you are unable to continue making the dues and payments, you may have to rent out your points or sell them.
- You do not get daily housekeeping services like resort guest who stay at non-DVC resorts.
- You will want to plan your trip further out. Disney Vacation Club Members can book 11 months in advance to be able to make the accommodations they are wanting and still there is not a guarantee you will get what you are looking for.
- You can rent DVC points and stay at DVC resorts for about half of the cost of the points. Many websites buy member points and sell them for a fraction of the cost.
So, what do you think? Will you become a Disney Vacation Club Member? With so many perks, exclusive events, and discounts, becoming a member can be a great buy. Something for the family who is making trips to Disney often, this is a way you can make Disney your home away from home.
