If you’re an avid Disney fan, chances are that you have at least heard of the Disney Vacation Club, but may not really know what it’s all about. The Disney Vacation Club , or the DVC, is the Disney version of a typical timeshare vacation property. Instead of buying a part of one house you have to share with other owners, you get your run of multiple Disney Properties with lots more options! With DVC you can get great perks, amazing resort locations and if you’re like us you take every chance to upgrade your Disney vacation to something special. Want luxury? Something Extra? The Ultimate Disney Vacation? It’s time you learned about the DVC.
Disney Vacation Club Properties from SellMyTimeshareNow
Here’s everything you want to know about buying into the Disney Vacation Club as an Official Member.
We asked the specialists over at the popular timeshare re-seller SellMyTimeshareNow to provide us with information on how exactly this special Disney Vacation Club works. The following guide they provided us with will help you to understand the ins and outs of the Disney Vacation Club.
What is the Disney Vacation Club?
The Disney Vacation Club is just what it sounds like. It’s a club for people who love vacationing with Disney. The Disney Vacation Club features 14 luxurious yet family-friendly resorts and villas. Staying with the DVC allows you high end access to the best properties and extra perks to make your vacation extra magical.
Where Can You Stay with the Disney Vacation Club?
The majority of Disney timeshare resorts are conveniently located just minutes from all the parks and attractions. Most properties are located just outside of Orlando in Lake Buena Vista. Other resorts in the DVC network include Aulani in Hawaii, Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
How Can I Stay at a Disney Vacation Club Property?
As a DVC owner you are able to stay at any of the resorts in the network by simply using your points to reserve accommodations at the property of your choice. We’ll share more on the points system below.
What is Included in a Disney Vacation Club Resort Experience?
Each resort offers its own unique accommodation styles and sizes and because they are timeshare resorts, the units offer many more amenities and conveniences than traditional hotel rooms. Families of every size will be able to find a suite that comfortably sleeps all members with features like private bedrooms, living and dining areas, fully equipped kitchens, full bathrooms, private balconies, flat screen TVs, and WiFi access. On-site resort amenities also add a lot to the Disney experience. Themed pools, character dining, spa services, activity programs for kids, and much more are included. These properties are usually at the Deluxe Level pricing so getting access to them through the DVC is the most budget-friendly way to go.
Below is the full list of resorts in the Disney Vacation Club collection.
- Animal Kingdom Villas- Jambo House
- Animal Kingdom Villas- Kidani Village
- Bay Lake Tower
- Beach Club Villas
- Boardwalk Villas
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge
- Copper Creek Cabins and Villas at Wilderness Lodge
- Old Key West Resort
- Polynesian Villas
- Saratoga Springs Resort
- Vero Beach Resort (Vero Beach, Florida)
- Aulani (Kapolei, Hawaii)
- Disney’s Hilton Head Resort (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (Anaheim, California)
When Should I book My DVC Resort?
As a DVC Owner you are able to book at your home resort up to 11 months in advance, and other resorts within the DVC network up to 7 months in advance. Each DVC resort is assigned a specific number of points per night. You can find the updated pricing and point charts for 2018 at all the DVC resorts here. The factors that go into the pricing include the time of year you want to visit, location, and unit size.
What are the Perks of the Disney Vacation Club?
People love Disney Vacation Club because of the extra perks they get through the membership that make their traveling and park visiting experience more enjoyable. One of the favorites among the benefits is the Early Morning Theme Park Entry. This gives you access to the Disney parks before they open and after they close so you can enjoy the rides and attractions without the crowds and long lines. Other DVC benefits are listed here.
- Magic Bands
- Discounts on dining plans
- Access to members-only areas and lounges
- Pool hopping between resorts
- Free DVD rentals
- and more.
Possibly the best part of being a DVC member is having a magical Disney vacation to look forward to every year. DVC members get guaranteed accommodations and never have to worry about the rising costs of area hotels. Booking a trip to Disney can get competitive and expensive fast, being a DVC member takes the stress out of having to book a hotel so that everything else can easily fall into place.
How Much Does Buying a Disney Vacation Club Membership Cost?
Unlike more traditional timeshare ownership where you purchase a fixed week at an individual resort, DVC is a points-based membership. This allows owners to flexibly book vacations that work best for their busy and ever-changing schedules. With a points ownership system you’re able to utilize points like you would currency. Just like Starbucks, where you’ll need 125 stars to get a free drink, you’ll need a certain number of points to trade them in for resort nights. While you buy these points through a home resort like traditional vacation ownership, you are not limited to visiting just that one property. Use your DVC points to reserve when, where, and how long you want to visit any resort within the network.
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- You get points by buying them through Disney or a reseller.
- Points vary in cost, but check the Disney site for details.
- Go hunting for where you want to stay on SellMyTimeshareNow.com or on the Disney website to get a good idea of how many points and dollars you will need.
- If you’re ready to be a DVC Owner you can also chat with a cast member at Disney, and they can share how many points you should purchase based on the length and location of your desired DVC vacation. On SellMyTimeshareNow.com the resorts offered show exactly how many points you get with purchase, and what those points will give you. Once the points are purchased through the re-seller the buyer will go through a closing company we recommend to make sure those points are fully transferred to the buyer, before releasing the funds to the seller. You can pick your dates once you’re an owner by calling your home resort.
When you’re a DVC Buyer, your money goes into an escrow account until the membership has been fully transferred in your name. After that, you’re officially in the most magical club on earth.
How Many Points do I Get as a DVC Owner? Do these renew every year?
This depends on the resort you choose, and how many points you decide to purchase. If you choose to purchase direct from Disney, you can find out info on how much each point is worth here . If you choose to buy Disney points from a re-seller, each ad details exactly how many points you will get with purchase. The points do renew every year. And if you do not use them all in a given year, they can be banked for the years following. So, not only will you get renewed points in the new year, but if you bank the points from the prior year, you double them!
What Happens to DVC Points I don’t use?
Another perk of a points-based ownership is the ability to bank and borrow. When you bank your DVC points, you are essentially saving them for the following year. This can be done in the first 8 months of the current use year. As such, you can utilize them to upgrade your unit, reserve a more popular week, or even just enjoy a longer vacation. You can borrow points from the following year if you are making a reservation that requires more points than you currently have. That way, you can enjoy your upgraded vacation without paying anything additional out of pocket.
Disney Vacation Club Fees and Recurring Costs
As with any vacation ownership property, DVC timeshares have annual dues that you will need to pay to continue to enjoy all that your membership has to offer. DVC fees change every year, and they are priced per point that you own. So the more points you have, the more you will owe in annual dues for your DVC ownership. Points to maintenance fee ratios vary by your home resort and accommodation type, so keep in mind that what each DVC owner pays is different. These annual dues and fees are how timeshare resorts maintain their property upkeep and are able to make renovations and improvements as needed. The fees also cover the annual property taxes, like you’d pay if you owned a vacation home.
Not Ready to Own a Piece of Disney?
SellMyTimeshareNow.com also offers affordable DVC point rentals for those wanting to try the Disney Vacation Club out before committing to ownership. In the same way that owners will advertise their DVC timeshares for sale, they can advertise their timeshare weeks for rent if they are unable to travel on any given year and want to get their maintenance fees covered. As such, interested renters can find incredible deals on their desirable DVC timeshare rentals. Many of the rentals even offer a convenient “book now” feature so that you can get your whole trip set up right online with a 100% reservation guarantee. Others are advertised at a weekly rate and allow you to make an offer and work with the owner to find a price that works for you both.
With Disney Vacation Club rental points you can skip the sales presentation and just simply stay at the resort and enjoy your vacation without any of that added pressure to buy.
How to Rent a DVC Resort
- Choose which DVC resort you would like to stay at and the dates you hope to vacation.
- Browse available DVC rentals to find an ad that matches your wish list.
- Submit an offer directly to the owner using the form on the ad page. If you have any questions about the Disney timeshare rental or resort, this is your opportunity to ask the owner.
The owner will respond to your offer, and you’ll negotiate a price for the reserved week or DVC points rental. Once you’re in agreement, you will send the funds to the owner. They will be responsible for placing your name on the guest reservation at the resort. Keep in mind that if you are renting DVC points, the owner will also need to book the week you have requested. There is no guarantee your desired week will be available at the resort you want, so stay in touch with them through the process.
Is Buying or Renting from a DVC re-seller safe?
Owners will often advertise their DVC timeshares through SellMyTimeshareNow.com when they no longer have use for their properties. They are priced according to their true value. Without the added fees, taxes, and sales commissions that developers will tack onto the retail price tag. As such, shopping the resale market can save you up to 70% off your purchase. That’s thousands of dollars! SellMyTimeshareNow.com has been connecting owners with prospective buyers and renters for more than a decade.
Is Disney Vacation Club Worth It?
To those that desire regular Disney vacations or want to take their trips to Disney to the next level, Disney Vacation Club is absolutely worth it. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly atmosphere to vacation or are just a huge Disney fan, the DVC has so much to offer. Remember that if Disney’s rates don’t fit within your budget, buying a DVC timeshare may work. This makes it easy for families of every size and budget able to afford annual vacations and make a lifetime of everlasting magical memories.
Have you ever stayed at a Disney Vacation Club Resort? Are you a current member? Let us know what you think!
Rochelle Mariah is a writer, designer and photographer with an MLIS in Information Science and a B.S. in Arch and Design. Determined to make Planning a DIY Disney Vacation easier she makes lots of lists and drinks lots of coffee. When not designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's watching old movies and planning the holidays. She has been traveling to Disney destinations since 2010.
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