Disney Parks and resorts have become some of the top destinations to visit world wide. People love the food, fireworks and themed fun you can find at Disney World. At Disneyland, quaint charm and nostalgia are around every corner in Walt's original park. There's so much to see and do in the theme parks but the resorts have become a standout for many guests. Many Disney resort hotels have firework views. There are amazing pools you'll want to spend a day at and character meals right at many resorts. Disney Vacation Club hosts a whole new world of vacation fun. To get started, you'll want to know the basics. How does Disney Vacation Club work for its members?

Disney's timeshare: How Does Disney Vacation Club Work?

The Disney timeshare, Disney Vacation Club, gives you the opportunity to stretch your dollar further by investing in future vacations at today's prices. Disney Vacation Club, also referred to as DVC, has sixteen home resort properties.

Understanding Vacation Points with DVC 

To join DVC, Members purchase a contract at a specific resort. They can also use those vacation points at other resorts. The number of vacation points purchased determines how long you can stay, the time of year you can visit and the size of the accommodations you can book. The more DVC vacation points you own, the more options and flexibility you have. The DVC point chart for each resort shows how many points it takes to stay at any given time. Perusing the point charts can help you decide how many points you'll need to buy to vacation the way you want to. For basic accommodations, you might purchase 100 to 150 points to stay one week each year depending on the resort and time you want to visit.

Calculating Disney Vacation Club Annual Dues

As a Disney Vacation Club Member, you pay annual dues each year that cover maintenance and other upkeep fees. Annual dues vary by resort. To calculate total annual dues, a Member multiplies the number of points they own by the annual dues per point cost. So in 2023 for The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, someone with 100 points would pay $733 total because annual dues there are $7.33 per point. You can take a look at all of the DVC annual dues costs by resort.

DVC Home Resort Booking Advantage and Other Perks

Members get to book at their home resort eleven months out and seven months out everywhere else. That booking advantage can be helpful at popular resorts during busy seasons. It's possible to purchase contracts at different resorts if you have more than one favorite. DVC Members stay at the Deluxe tier of resorts and get all of the perks those properties offer. This means free parking at the resort and at the theme parks, access to early and late park hours as they are offered and, of course, the basics like Disney transportation.

Disney Vacation Club Home Resorts

Many Disney Vacation Club home resorts are located at Walt Disney World Resort but some are not, giving you the option to use your points different places.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas

Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas

Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort

Disney's Beach Club Villas

Disney's BoardWalk Villas

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel

The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort

Disney's Old Key West Resort

Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Disney's Riviera Resort

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort

Disney's Vero Beach Resort

Why People Love DVC

We have an entire article about why members love Disney Vacation Club. To highlight a few main points, the home like amenities are a big hit. Having a full kitchen in your hotel room can really make a difference in the morning or if you like to prepare lunches or dinners on your trip. Also, imagine having a private washer and dryer on hand. If you get caught in the afternoon showers, you can refresh your clothes. Some people love to go home from vacation with clean clothes to get a head start on settling back in. It's especially helpful for extended trips. You can wash clothes and not have to pack as much.

How spacious Disney Vacation Club villas are is treasured by members as well. Multi generational trips are made better when everyone has their own space. With one, two or even three bedroom villas, it's possible for everyone to get their own bedroom. The little touches like character murals in the pull down beds are a favorite detail for kids. But the big reason members love Disney Vacation Club is the price. The Disney timeshare makes Deluxe resort stays possible for those who might not have enjoyed them otherwise. It's also possible to stay longer on a smaller budget. With resale DVC, you can go even further and we'll talk about that below.

Can you sell Disney Vacation Club?

Yes, you can sell Disney Vacation Club. And that's where DVC Resale Experts comes in! If you decide to sell your Disney Vacation Club contract for any reason, DVC recommends using a licensed real estate broker. Disney Vacation Club does not have a resale department so sales of memberships are best processed by a third party professional.

Reselling Disney Vacation Club

When Members want to resell their Disney Vacation Club membership it presents a great opportunity for potential Members. Yes, you can buy a DVC contract that a member is selling. The best part is, DVC becomes much more affordable this way. It's legitimate and the contract becomes fully yours through Disney. There is an industry dedicated to reselling DVC contracts and DVC Resale Experts is happy to help make vacation dreams come true.

DVC Resale Compared to Buying Directly from Disney

It's possible to save thousands on resale DVC and get the same fabulous hotel stays. Disney Vacation Club is a great way to make the most of your vacation budget if you love visiting Disney destinations. So what's the catch? There are a few things to consider to make sure DVC resale is a good fit for you. Educated shoppers become happy customers. If you have specific questions, you can always reach out and an Expert can assist you.

There are a few differences you should know about with resale DVC contracts. Resale DVC doesn't come with all of the extras things some might get as a DVC member. In order to qualify for Membership Extras like DVC discounts, access to DVC lounges and exclusive events, a new member must purchase a minimum of 150 points from Disney Vacation Club directly. You can have the best of both worlds if you buy 150 points from Disney and then add on points from the resale market. If you get the same use year on all of your contracts, some aspects of booking are simpler like combining points for stays. Your use year is the month your points are allotted annually.

The discounts can be nice but if you are a Disney annual pass holder or have a Disney Chase Visa, you may be getting comparable discounts already. Discounts can't be stacked so you wouldn't be missing out there. With the exclusive events, capacity is limited, you sometimes need to have a stay booked to attend and there can be an associated fee. So these are really exciting but they aren't guaranteed and may have an additional cost. It's also good to know that neither buying direct nor resale DVC come with a Disney annual pass.

Then there's Disney's Riviera Resort. Disney Vacation Club's first fourteen resorts all went by the same rules with resale. When Riviera came to town, things changed. Those who purchase DVC resale at Disney's Riviera Resort can only use those points at that resort. Anyone who purchases DVC resale anywhere but Riviera can not use their points at Riviera. It's also assumed at this point all resorts built after Riviera will follow this rule as well. So for example, if you purchase a beautifully priced DVC resale contract at Disney's Beach Club Villas, you can use those points to book DVC stays at any resort but Riviera or those built after it. Those first fourteen resorts are fabulous and beloved! This gives you plenty of options to stay at the best hotels in amazing locations.

Now for the price comparison. It's possible to save thousands buying DVC resale. When Disney was selling Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort for $275 per point direct, resale was averaging about $153 per point. See our DVC resale listings to get an idea of current prices. 

DVC Resale Experts Make Magic

Want to visit Disney World theme parks every year? Disney Vacation Club is the flexible, point-based Disney timeshare that allows you to book stays at deluxe tier Disney resort hotels. It’s possible to get the Disney timeshare at much better rates when you purchase a resale contract. Resale refers to a contract that is sold by a Member and not Disney Vacation Club directly. It’s possible to save thousands on resale and book the same great vacations. Resale contracts mostly work the same way when it comes to booking but just don’t include all of the extras like discounts and access to Member lounges. DVC Members get to pick a home resort where they are eligible for an earlier booking window than others. If you can see yourself traveling to Disney destinations every year, you may want to consider joining Disney Vacation Club.

DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC contracts. Our professionals have decades of experience selling DVC. The Experts once worked for the mouse as Disney Vacation Club Guides. Now, as independent, licensed real estate agents, they provide pixie dusted service and helpful insight. See our current resale DVC listings for a look at pricing and availability. Have questions? Our team will be happy to help you find the right fit. Don’t see the contract you’re wishing for? Join the DVC Resale Experts Buyer Wish List and you’ll be contacted when one magically appears on the market.