Unlock the Magic of Disney Vacations
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) offers ‘enchanting’ approach to timeshare ownership, deeply integrated with the magic of The Walt Disney Company. Established in 1991, DVC provides a flexible, points-based membership that grants access to a portfolio of Disney-branded resorts and exclusive Disney experiences.
Who is Disney Vacation Club For?
DVC is the ultimate choice for dedicated Disney enthusiasts and families who prioritize frequent visits to Disney theme parks and desire immersive Disney-themed accommodations. It gets you access to on-property Disney resorts for upwards of 70% less than the same room would cost if booked directly with Disney. It should appeal to those who value Disney, visit or want to visit Disney Parks frequently. While points can be used for other Disney experiences (cruises, tours), the optimal value is realized within the DVC resort network itself.
Understanding the DVC System
DVC operates on a points-based system, where members acquire a ‘real estate interest’ in a DVC resort, which really translates to a contract for a defined annual allotment of “Vacation Points.” These points are the currency for booking stays. The renew each year at a specific month defined as your “Use Year.” Points can be both banked (if they aren’t used in a year, saved for a later year), or borrowed from a future year.
The Home Resort
A key consideration for DVC owners is the “Home Resort” concept, which is the actual hotel you own your contract at. This is because your ‘Home Resort’ will dictate both your annual fees/dues, as well as your booking windows for when you can book that resort vs. other properties in the portfolio.
Annual Dues based on Home Resort:
DVC calls it a ‘real estate interest’ in a specific resort, but really it is a set amount of points that can be used across the DVC portfolio, with each point carrying a specific maintenance fee depending on the resort it is associated with.
In practice, what this means, and illustrated below, a 100 point contract from one resort won’t cost the same upfront or annually, even though, those 100 points have similar booking power across the portfolio. The annual dues are specific to the resort, and they can be dictated by the resort’s age, amenities and if Disney is subsidizing them. Here’s an example of some of the individual resort cost per points and the subsequent annual cost of those contracts:
| Resort Name | 2025 Annual Dues Per Point | 2025 Annual Dues for 100 Points (Annually) |
| Polynesian Villas & Bungalows | $7.92 | $792.96 |
| Bay Lake Tower | $8.01 | $801.00 |
| Riviera Resort | $9.06 | $906.00 |
| Villas at Disneyland Hotel | $9.83 | $983.04 |
| Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort | $11.88 | $1188.00 |
| Vero Beach Resort | $14.30 | $1430.00 |
Therefore, in determining WHERE to buy a DVC contract, one absolutely should consider the annual price per point, and understanding that all resorts aren’t created equal.
Booking Windows:
This might lead to a question of why not just buy the resort with the cheapest annual dues? The main consideration many DVC owners have in the resort they buy (when balancing price) is the Home Resort Priority booking window contract owners are afforded.
DVC sets booking windows that give owners a specific resort a 4 month priority window to book the days and units they want, before inventory releases to all DVC members
- Home Resort Priority: Owners can book stays at their Home Resort 11 months in advance of their desired check-in date, providing a crucial four-month priority window.
- Other DVC Resorts: Once travel dates fall within 7 months, owners can use their points to book at other DVC resorts, subject to availability.
So, as an example, only people that own AT The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel can book rooms there from 7-11 months out. This means there is much less competition and a higher likelihood you will get the room and days you want. At 7 months out, you compete with all DVC owners, and availability (especially at several high demand resorts) becomes much more limited.
As such, many DVC loyalists preach a ‘Own where you want to stay’ mentality, and accepting they are paying more to get more guaranteed access to a specific resort. That said, there almost always is some availability at some resort in Florida, as well as Aulani in Hawaii, it just might not be the exact room or resort you want. California, where there are less DVC inventory in general, can be more limited. So, if you are willing to gamble or simply maximize your value, being more strategic with where you buy can offer additional savings.
Points Usage and Booking Dynamics
Which leads into what is the cost of a DVC room, and how much savings can be had?
The number of Vacation Points required for a stay is highly variable, influenced by:
- Resort and Room Type/View: Premium resorts, larger villas, and desirable views require more points.
- Seasonality: Peak travel times demand a greater number of points.
- Weekday vs. Weekend: Weekend stays consistently require more points, making weekday bookings a strategic way to conserve points.
To illustrate, here are average points per night for selected 1-Bedroom Villas (based on 2024 data), the average cost of that room (using Saratoga Springs Annual Dues Per Point) through DVC, the average cost of booking directly with Disney (outside of DVC) and the total savings:
| Resort Name | Room Type/View | Average Points Per Night | Average Cost Per Night (using Saratoga Springs $8.54) | Average Cost Per Night (via Disney Website) | Total Savings |
| Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House | 1-Bedroom Value Unit | 22.1 | $188.73 | $1,210.50 | $1.021.77 or 84% |
| Disney’s BoardWalk Villas | 1-Bedroom Standard View (sleeps five) | 28.1 | $239.97 | $1,380.38 | $1,140.41 or82% |
| Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort | 1-Bedroom Lake View Villa | 52.6 | $449.20 | $1,768.50 | $1,319.30 or 75% |
| Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas | 1-Bedroom Ocean View | 52.8 | $450.91 | $1,831.95 | $1,381.04 or 75% |
Destinations and Resort Portfolio
DVC resorts are primarily concentrated within or in close proximity to the iconic Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, with additional properties strategically located in California and along the U.S. coasts. All properties fall under the singular Disney Vacation Club brand.
Key Locations:
- Walt Disney World Resort (Florida): Properties across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs areas.
- Disneyland Resort (California): Includes The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel.
- Coastal Resorts: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas (Hawaii); Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort (South Carolina); Disney’s Vero Beach Resort (Florida).
Notable Resorts (Selected Examples):
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows: Highly popular with monorail access to Magic Kingdom.
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Offers direct proximity to Magic Kingdom.
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas: Known for its walking distance to EPCOT and access to Stormalong Bay.
- Disney’s Riviera Resort: Provides elegant accommodations with Disney Skyliner access to EPCOT.
- Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas (Ko Olina, Hawaii): A beautiful resort offering a Hawaiian paradise experience.
Exchange Network Affiliation
Disney Vacation Club primarily utilizes Interval International (II) for its “The World Collection” exchanges. This allows DVC members to exchange their Vacation Points for stays at thousands of non-Disney affiliated resorts worldwide, offering a broader range of travel destinations beyond the core DVC portfolio. However, it’s generally noted that using DVC points outside of official DVC resorts may lead to a perceived devaluation of points. Meaning if you are buying DVC, the smart move is to use it at Disney.
Resale Nuance
While DVC resale offers substantial upfront savings on contracts and discounts compared to room rates, contracts purchased after specific cut-off dates (e.g., April 2016 or January 2019) are generally not eligible for “Membership Extras” (such as dining/shopping discounts, exclusive events, lounges) or access to newer resorts like Riviera and Reflections. That said, they still benefit from early entry access to the park when staying on property.
