Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is Disney’s version of a timeshare or vacation program. Disney fans who dream of calling Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort home when on their theme park vacations, or want to spend time at Disney’s other locations, can buy into one of several DVC properties.
Disney Vacation Club operates much differently from traditional timeshares in terms of ownership, how members buy into the DVC program, and the use of DVC properties. What follows is an overview of features that set DVC apart from other timeshare properties.
DVC Properties –Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Beyond the Theme Parks
Walt Disney World Resort operates eight DVC properties. In addition to Disney’s Old Key West, the original DVC property, the following are DVC resorts: Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort, Beach Club Villas, BoardWalk Villas, Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, and Tree House Villas at Saratoga Springs, and the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.
In addition to Disney World’s DVC properties, Disneyland Resort offers a single DVC property – the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Non-park DVC properties include Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, in South Carolina, and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, in Florida. A third property, Aulani is in development in Hawaii, near Honolulu on Oahu; it is expected to open Fall 2011.
A member’s points may be used at DVC properties as well as Disney hotels in Florida, California, France, Hong Kong, Japan, and on the Disney Cruise Line and special Disney Adventures programs. DVC is also a member of Resort Condominiums International (RCI), a global vacation exchange organization, and points may be traded at nearly 5000 resort accommodations.
DVC Ownership – Home Resorts, Points and Use Year
Unlike traditional timeshares, DVC members don’t buy into a specific-sized property to be used at a specific time of year. DVC uses a points system in which member purchase a set number that can be used to reserve accommodations at various properties at different times. This system provides DVC members with a great deal of flexibility in planning their Disney and non-Disney vacation travels.
DVC members buy points for a particular resort, called home resorts, although they may stay at a variety of locations. DVC requires members to purchase a minimum of 160 points initially, if buying directly from Disney rather than through resale agents. The maximum number of points for a single resort is 2000, with a 5000-point maximum for multiple DVC properties.
DVC points need only be purchased once, with that set number is allocated yearly based on the member’s “use year,” which is actually the month for which the initial points were purchased. Of course, members may buy more points later on, as needs demand. DVC members may also save or spend their annual points (see “Banking and Borrowing,” below).
Worth noting is that DVC properties are real-estate interest purchases, not property purchases. Points are purchased once, but DVC members pay annual dues based on the number of points owned. DVC memberships usually expire 50 years after a property’s initial offering, in the years 2042, 2054, 2057 or 2060 (dates are dependent on the DVC property). Ownership then returns to Disney.
DVC Members –Booking, Banking and Borrowing Points
DVC members use their points to book various accommodations. The number of points a specific accommodation costs depends on several factors: the resort, type and size of lodging, location, and travel dates. Members may reserve DVC accommodations at their home resort up to 11 months in advance, or at another property 7 months in advance.
DVC members may save or spend their allocated use-year points. These non-reversible strategies allow members to allocate DVC points to take shorter or longer vacations, select different lodgings, or adjust Disney vacation frequency. DVC has deadlines for banking or borrowing points, and no more than three years may be combined at any time.
DVC Sales and Cost
Current costs to buy into DVC start at $17,920 (plus closing costs and annual dues). This price reflects the 160-point minimum, at a base price of $112 for each point. The figure doesn’t include DVC annual dues, which vary from resort to resort.
While the initial DVC purchase figure may seem daunting, Disney Vacation Club notes the average DVC membership figures roughly equal to the cost of seven Disney vacations. Frequent Disney guests may find DVC membership worth the investment, especially when factoring in regular increases in resort prices at Walt Disney World and Disneyland over time.
Individuals can purchase DVC directly through Disney Vacation Club, or through DVC resale agents. Investing in DVC, as with any timeshare program, requires careful research. In addition to visiting the Disney Vacation Club website, which will send interested parties a DVD on DVC ownership, individuals might visit the DISboards DVC forum, whose members offer insights and advice.
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Debra Peterson - A freelance writer and scholar, Debra Peterson specializes in Disney Studies, with particular interests in Walt Disney World and ...
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