Disney Vacation Club celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. So, if you’re investigating buying a timeshare, you’ve probably come across this option.
DVC is one of the world’s most recognized and well-reputed timeshare brands, but despite all your research, are you still wondering, ‘is Disney Vacation Club worth it?’
Find out more about this popular vacation product, here.
What Is Disney Vacation Club?
Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare points club that offers its members vacations in a selection of resorts located in prime vacation spots across the USA.
Many of these accommodations feature easy access to Disney theme parks or other draw cards like beaches and lakes.
The club allocates points to each night, room size, and property in its portfolio based on its desirability, facilities, and location. You can get this DVC info. online or contact Disney Vacation Club for details.
Members purchase points from the Disney developer, which they can use to exchange into these resorts’ room nights.
Each member receives their allocation of points once a year.
They can either use these points or save them for future holidays. Members can also borrow points from the following year.
How Do You Join DVC?
It’s best to attend a sales presentation with DVC before you buy into the club. This will explain everything to you in detail and highlight the costs and savings involved.
You are not obliged to buy anything during this presentation, and DVC doesn’t promote high-pressure sales. There are two different costs involved in purchasing a DVC membership.
The first purchase involves buying points at a Home Resort.
The cheapest option is 150 points at a cost of around $30,150.You’ll pay from $628 in closing costs.
If you can’t afford to pay upfront for the points, there is finance available from Disney. That means you’ll pay a minimum of $408 per month for ten years if you can manage a 10% down payment.
You own the right to use these points until they expire, provided you pay the annual dues that go toward the operational costs of your home resort. These amount to around $105 per month.
Most resorts have an expiry date in the very distant future and DVC can offer you the option to extend your membership beyond these expiry dates if you want to.
What Is DVC Resales?
You can’t cancel your DVC membership, but you can sell it via DVC resales. You’ll get a lot less for your points when you sell them this way, but you’ll pay a lot less if you buy points this way, too.
When you buy your DVC membership from a reseller, you’ll have fewer privileges than members who buy direct from Disney.
You can also purchase your original membership directly from the developer and then plump up your portfolio with resale points.
What Are DVC Rentals?
If you’re going through a bad patch and struggling to afford the costs associated with your membership, you can rent your DVC point to someone else at a fee.
There are two ways to do this. You can book a desirable week with your points and advertise it to interested parties either online, via classified ads, or by word of mouth.
When you find a willing buyer, you simply contact DVC and advise them that you’re sending a guest to occupy your week.
The trouble with this method is that, unless you rent your week to someone you know, you’re opening yourself up to a world of admin and could even get scammed.
The second option is much easier – asking a broker to rent your points for you. These professional realtors have all the marketing tools and know-how to find clients fast.
Once they’ve got someone interested in renting your week, you can contact DVC, make your booking, and advise them of the guest’s name.
If you’re keen to try out DVC before you buy, it’s a good idea to rent a week via one of these brokers. It’s much cheaper than booking with Disney.
What Are the Perks of Being a DVC Member?
When you sign up for DVC, you free yourself from the inflation associated with rising hotel costs. Despite the high initial cost of a membership, you’ll still save more with DVC in the long term when compared to hotel accommodation.
These are the DVC resorts currently available for members and their guests:
- Old Key West
- Aulani Villas in Hawaii
- Beach Club Villas
- Bay Lake Tower
- Boulder Ridge Villas, Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, Wilderness Lodge
- Animal Kingdom Villas
- BoardWalk Villas
- Hilton Head Island Resort
- Riviera Resort
- Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Grand Californian Villas
- Vero Beach Resort
- Grand Floridian Villas
You benefit from several savings when staying at a Disney Vacation Club resort. These include kitchens for catering, free parking, in-room laundry facilities, excellent onsite amenities, and free entertainment.
DVC members enjoy a few privileges while staying at these resorts too. These are:
- Access to the Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower
- Pool hopping between nearby resorts
- Special member events
- Discounts on shows and theme park tours
- Savings on Annual Passes to Disney World
- Discounts at restaurants and retail stores
Members can also book a host of exciting extra vacations using their points, like international escapes, expeditions, and cruises.
Is Disney Vacation Club Worth It for You?
Most DVC members find delight and variety in their DVC vacation products. Yet, some detractors complain about the ongoing costs involved in membership.
Timeshare ownership is almost as expensive as owning a second home, with ongoing expenses that may last long into your retirement. So, think realistically while pondering, ‘Is Disney Vacation Club worth it?’.
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