If you’re planning to become a Disney Vacation Club member, you may already be aware that the cost structure can be quite complex. There are various factors and fees to take into account when determining the Disney Vacation Club cost of ownership. Before purchasing DVC points, it’s important to consider two key factors: the number of points you need and which accommodations will best suit your family’s needs. By taking these factors into consideration, you can calculate the cost of Disney Vacation Club ownership for your family.
How Many DVC Points Should I Buy?
The very first thing to think about when determining Disney Vacation Club cost is the size of your family and what type of room you desire. A Deluxe Studio sleeps four and costs the least amount of points, but lacks privacy. The One-Bedroom Disney Vacation Club Villas also sleeps four and includes a full kitchen and laundry area. Larger families will probably require the Two-Bedroom Villa, which sleeps nine, or the Grand Villa, which can accommodate 12 guests. Of course, there’s nothing tying you down to one unit size. You can stay in a Studio on one visit and then a One-Bedroom next year. However, in order to estimate the total cost of DVC membership, you’ll want to select the unit you’ll likely use the most.
Families typically purchase somewhere between 150-200 vacation points. A package of that size is usually enough for a five to six-night stay in a Two-Bedroom Villa at most resorts. Remember that the point cost will depend upon the time of year, length of stay, home resort, and view. For a better understanding of these cost fluctuations, look at the DVC point chart for each resort or try experimenting with a DVC point calculator in order to get a feel for how many points you’ll need.
Keep in mind that it’s better to have a few extra points on hand than to come up short. You can bank the points for a later date, or rent them out.
Consider DVC Annual Dues
Many people don’t realize that the annual maintenance fees have a much bigger impact on the total cost of DVC than the initial purchase price. Historically, annual dues have generally increased over time, but there are a few rare instances of annual dues decreasing from one year to the next. With that in mind, you can expect a two to three percent increase in the cost per point of annual dues each year.
Read More: 2023 DVC Points Charts Released and Show New Increases
Bay Lake Tower and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort usually have the least expensive annual dues, and Vero Beach usually costs the most. If you’re not set on a particular home resort, remember a higher initial purchase price is sometimes justified in the long term by lower annual dues.
Get the Best Price Per Point on DVC Membership
The price per point is going to be determined by where you buy and which home resort you choose. If you decide to purchase your DVC membership directly from Disney, you’ll pay a significant premium. That’s why some DVC members buy DVC on the resale market because they can save a substantial amount of money. Take a look at Fidelity’s DVC listings, and you’ll notice a substantially lower cost per point, which will add up to thousands of dollars saved on the initial purchase. Annual dues will remain the same no matter who you buy from, so there’s no financial downside to buying Disney Vacation Club resale.
Is Disney Vacation Club Worth The Cost?
If you’re a Disney enthusiast and enjoy frequent visits to the parks or the beach, you might want to consider becoming a Disney Vacation Club owner. With a DVC membership, you can enjoy amazing vacation experiences and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones. Still wondering if it’s worth it? Check out our video and see for yourself!
Calculate the Cost of Disney Vacation Club
Once you’ve gone through all of the steps above, you’ll have a pretty good general idea of what the cost will look like. Take note of the tremendous difference it makes to the bottom line when you replace the default per-point prices with the cost of Fidelity’s DVC resale listings.
Lowest Point Cost for Disney Vacation Club Resorts in Orlando
Keep in mind that the low seasons or Travel Periods will cost the least in points when you make a reservation. Typically, this is during the month of September on Walt Disney World Resort property in Orlando.
Animal Kingdom Villas | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
Value Accommodation | 7 | 17 | 22 | ||
Standard View | 10 | 20 | 28 | 68 | |
Savanna View | 13 | 27 | 35 | 73 | |
Kilimanjaro Club Concierge | 18 | 38 | 51 | ||
Bay Lake Tower | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
Standard View | 13 | 24 | 35 | ||
Lake View | 16 | 29 | 38 | 82 | |
Theme Park View | 18 | 35 | 48 | 101 | |
Beach Club Villas | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | ||
View | 14 | 26 | 36 | ||
BoardWalk | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
Standard View | 9 | 19 | 29 | ||
BoardWalk View | 14 | 26 | 35 | 76 | |
Boulder Ridge | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | ||
View | 13 | 27 | 36 | ||
Copper Creek | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | Cabin |
View | 13 | 25 | 35 | 91 | 84 |
Grand Floridian | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
Standard View | 16 | 31 | 44 | ||
Lake View | 19 | 39 | 54 | 111 | |
Theme Park View | 24 | ||||
Old Key West | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
View | 9 | 20 | 27 | 46 | |
Polynesian | Studio | 2 Bedroom | |||
Standard View | 14 | ||||
Lake View | 19 | 112 | |||
Riviera | Tower Studio | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom |
Standard View | 14 | 29 | 38 | ||
Preferred View | 10 | 17 | 36 | 47 | 103 |
Saratoga Springs | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | Treehouse |
Standard View | 9 | 21 | 27 | 63 | |
Preferred View | 14 | 24 | 35 | 74 | |
View | 38 |
Lowest Point Cost for Disney Vacation Club Resorts Outside of Orlando
Aulani | | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
Standard View | | 17 | 34 | 47 | 95 | |
Island Gardens View | | 19 | 35 | 49 | | |
Disneyland Hotel | Duo Studio | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
Standard View | 10 | 13 | ||||
Preferred View | 11 | 15 | 30 | 43 | 94 | |
Grand Californian | | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
View | | 17 | 31 | 46 | 94 | |
Hilton Head Island | | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
View | | 6 | 14 | 20 | 27 | |
Vero Beach | | Studio | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | |
View | | 12 | 21 | 30 | 60 | |
Inn Room | | 10 | 14 | | |
Get Some of that Money Back! Savings and More…
Disney knows how to treat guests, and they really know how to treat DVC members. If you’re planning a family vacation at Disney every year or two, the benefits and savings add up.
Read More: 9 Disney Vacation Club Benefits You Should Be Taking Advantage of
On those off years when you just can’t make it to Disney, renting your points can help you earn some of that money back. The money that you receive for renting out your DVC points will easily eclipse your annual dues. If you plan on visiting Disney every other year instead of annually, you can deduct the rentals from your cost of ownership.
Become a DVC Expert
You can never be too well informed before a big purchase. Learn everything that you need to know about Disney Vacation Club ownership with Fidelity’s free Family Guide to Disney Vacation Club.
Sell Your Disney Vacation Club Points
Do you own a Disney Vacation Club membership you no longer want or use? We can help you sell it. As Disney Vacation Club’s featured reseller, our licensed real estate agents are experts in all things DVC. Not to mention, 90% of our DVC listings sell within the first 30 days. To get started selling your DVC points, fill out the form below.