If you are a Disney fanatic, then you have probably heard about Disney Vacation Club. This fabulous brand boasts 16 unique resorts with spacious accommodations, one-of-a-kind amenities, and fabulous locations. Whether you are ready to take the next step and buy a Disney Vacation Club membership, or want more information, you have come to the right place! In this blog, we will walk you through how to become a DVC member and what a membership entails.
- How Does Disney Vacation Club Work?
- What Does it Mean to be a Disney Vacation Club Member?
- If I Become A DVC Member How Many Vacation Points Should I Buy?
- Disney Vacation Club Resorts
- How to Choose a Home Resort
- DVC Member: Buying Direct vs. Resale
- Is it Worth Becoming a DVC Member?
- DVC Resale: Buy Disney Vacation Club
- Sell DVC Ownership
How Does Disney Vacation Club Work?
Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s timeshare brand created by Disney Vacation Development, Inc. Unlike traditional timeshares, which require owners to buy a specific-sized unit at a specific time, DVC allows owners to travel whenever, wherever, and however often they choose, as long as there is availability and you have enough points. For example, one year you can stay at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and then the next year you can stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Although you can trade to stay at other DVC resorts, you get priority booking for your DVC Home Resort, so we recommend buying points at the resort you want to visit most frequently.
What Does it Mean to be a Disney Vacation Club Member?
Your Disney Vacation Club membership begins when you buy a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort. There are two main ways to become an owner you can either buy directly from Disney or a resale.
When you become a DVC member you become a part of a family of owners who love the brand. You get your annual allotment of points that you can use towards your travels. If you already visit Walt Disney World yearly, this is a great way to save on your vacation accommodations. In addition, you get to stay in resorts with spacious units compared to a normal hotel room.
Read more: DVC Use Year Is More Important Than You Think!
If I Become A DVC Member How Many Vacation Points Should I Buy?
The amount of vacation points you buy is very important. When it comes to timeshare ownership, points are used as a currency to book accommodations at different resorts within a vacation club. DVC points can be complex, but we are going to help you break it down.
DVC resorts have different point requirements for their accommodation. For instance, if you wish to stay in a deluxe studio at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, the starting point requirement is 16 points per night. On the other hand, if you are considering a deluxe studio at Animal Kingdom, the starting point requirement is 7 points per night. This means that when you are considering which home resort to buy points at, you should also take into account the size of the accommodation you want at that particular resort. By doing so, you will be able to determine how many points you will need.
Another thing to consider is that during peak travel time you will need more DVC points. For example, during Spring Break a lot of owners plan to use their points, so the amount of points you need is greater. If you have the freedom to travel during the off-season then you can stay for less DVC points.
When trying to decide how many points to buy as a new DVC member, here are a few things you will want to keep in mind:
- How many people will you be traveling with?
- How much space will you need every vacation?
- Which Disney resorts will you plan on going to most?
- What season do you travel during?
For more information about DVC points, check out our DVC points chart.
Disney Vacation Club Resorts
Disney vacations are even better when you stay at a deluxe resort! You can find Disney Vacation Club resorts in Florida, California, Hawaii, and South Carolina. No matter which DVC resort you stay at you are in good hands.
Theme Park DVC Resorts
If you love Disney trips to the theme parks, you will want to look at resorts in Orlando or Anaheim. Click on the Disney Vacation Club resorts below to learn more.
- Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas
- Bay Lake Tower At Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
- Boulder Ridge Villas At Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins At Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Grand Californian
- The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Old Key West Resort (exp. 2042) | Old Key West Resort (Extended)
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Beach and Island DVC Resorts
Do you want a touch of Disney on your beach vacation? If so, you are in luck there are three DVC resorts in beach towns. Click the resort links below to learn more about these DVC properties.
Read more: Cheapest DVC Resort For Your Next Disney Vacation!
How to Choose a Home Resort
As a Disney Vacation Club member, your points belong to your home resort. There are 16 incredible Disney Vacation Club resorts, so how do you pick your Home resort? We recommend that you thoroughly research every resort that the club offers before making your purchase. With priority booking privileges at your home resort, you can make reservations every year before everyone else. This is a huge advantage especially if you want to travel during peak vacation times.
Read more: DVC Resorts Ranked: Fidelity’s Top Picks!
DVC Member: Buying Direct vs. Resale
When comparing the purchase of Disney Vacation Club points on the resale market and directly from Disney, the main difference lies in the cost. Buying DVC points on the resale market can significantly reduce the upfront cost of ownership. This can be particularly appealing for individuals who are looking to become Disney Vacation Club members but want to minimize their financial commitment. In the graph above, you can see how significant these savings are.
The resale market offers lower prices but comes with certain restrictions. Despite these restrictions, many DVC members find that the savings are worthwhile. If you own at least 150 points directly from Disney Vacation Club you get all the membership perks. This is why some owners choose to buy from Disney and add to their ownership on the resale market. Ultimately, the decision is up to you if the savings outweigh the restrictions.
DVC Member Resale Benefits and Restrictions
When you buy off of the DVC resale market, some of the benefits transfer over. For example, you can pool hop. When you go pool hopping, you get to take advantage of the pools at other DVC resorts. Another benefit that transfers over is that you can ditch your room key. Guests can access their rooms via the My Disney Experience App’s digital key directly from their phones. Lastly, you can join Interval International. II is a vacation exchange network that allows owners to stay at resorts across the world. For example, there isn’t a Disney Vacation Club timeshare near Disneyland Paris. But with Interval International you can trade to stay at Marriott’s Village D’Ile-De-France.
There are a few benefits that don’t transfer to new DVC members on the resale market. You won’t get discounts on dining, shopping, and park passes. If you do not purchase ownership directly from DVC, you will also not be able to use National Geographic Expeditions, Adventurer Collection, Concierge Collection, Disney Cruise Line, or Disney Collection. In addition, since January 19, 2019, there have been changes to the Disney Vacation Club resale purchasing process. Specifically, Disney Vacation Club resale contracts for the original 14 DVC resorts will only be eligible for exchanges within those 14 resorts in the DVC network. These contracts won’t be able to be exchanged for Disney’s Riviera Resort, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, and potentially any future DVC properties that may be added.
Read More: What You Need to Know About Buying DVC Resale vs. Direct!
Is it Worth Becoming a DVC Member?
For people who travel to Walt Disney World properties frequently, or love all things Disney, owning Disney Vacation Club points might be right up your alley. Check out our YouTube video, “Is Disney Vacation Club Worth it?” to see if this fabulous vacation brand is the right fit for you.
DVC Resale: Buy Disney Vacation Club
A DVC membership can be expensive, but when you shop on the DVC resale market, you can save a substantial amount of money on your initial purchase price. We have DVC points for sale at all the top DVC resorts. Browse our DVC listing now. Then, simply make an offer on the DVC points that fit your criteria. Have question? Give us a call today at 1 (800) 410-8326. We’d love to assist you.
Sell DVC Ownership
If you no longer want to be a DVC member, let us help you sell your DVC timeshare. Fidelity Real Estate is the recommended DVC reseller and has been in the timeshare industry for over 20 years. In general, our DVC listings sell in less than a week at their current market value, and more than 90% of our new listings are sold within 30 days. Let us help you, today! Fill out the form below or give us a call at 1 (800) 410-8326 to get started.
