The Disney timeshare opportunity Disney Vacation Club (DVC) uses a flexible and point-based system. It enables Members to book hotel accommodations at magical destinations year after year. Compared to paying cash and renting a room, Disney Vacation Club point stays offers a much better value. Especially for staying at Deluxe tier resorts annually. With resale DVC, you can save thousands over buying direct from Disney. What about those special DVC benefits though? We’ve got answers if you’re wondering, ‘what benefits do I not get with DVC resale?’ It’s important to know all the details so you can feel confident in your DVC purchase. See a list of the benefits you do not get with DVC resale here including Member sailings on Disney Cruise Line, special discounts and more. We also explore why these benefits may not matter and what you can do instead.
First, we should clarify that if you are already eligible for Membership Extras, adding on resale points does not change that status.
Membership Extras is the official term for a set of perks and benefits that eligible DVC Members have access to.
In order to qualify as a new Member, you must purchase a minimum of 150 points directly from Disney Vacation Club.
Resale points do not count and purchasing them will not make you eligible for these benefits.
It’s also good to consider that Membership Extras are an “incidental benefits.”
Disney says they are “subject to change or termination without notice, may require the payment of a fee and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions.”
This means, even for those who are eligible, Membership Extras can go away at any time.
The upfront financial savings always make resale DVC worth considering before buying direct.
Membership Extras and Benefits Not Included with DVC resale
1. Using DVC Points to Book at All Other Home Resorts
When it comes to booking, resale mostly operates the same as points purchased directly from Disney. Both direct and resale Members can use features like banking and borrowing points. An exception is when it comes to booking at home resorts other than your own. If flexible booking is important to you, consider buying resale at one of the original fourteen DVC resorts. Owning at one of these will allow you to use your points at the other properties in that category too.
There are restrictions with the following newer resorts:
These properties can only be booked with resale DVC points if they are your home resort.
Also, if you purchase resale at one of these, you can not use those points to book anywhere else.
Is using your resale DVC points at other properties important to you? As with all of the points here, consider if this matters to you personally. If you’re choosing a home resort because you only like to stay there, booking others isn’t a priority. Using the four month additional booking window, you have the best chance at getting dates and accommodations you want at your home resort.
2. Access to DVC Member Events
Resale does not include access to Moonlight Magic events. It’s important to know that, even when you are eligible, these events aren’t a guarantee. They often have other requirements like needing to have a room reservation at the time of the event. Moonlight Magic only happens on certain dates. If you only visit during certain times of the year, or need ample time to plan, attending DVC events might not work for you anyway. Use the money you save buying resale to buy tickets to special events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party or other Disney World events!
3. Access to DVC Lounges
DVC resale points alone do not get you into special DVC spaces. There is a growing number of Disney Vacation Club lounges around Disney destinations. This includes venues like Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower and the Epcot DVC lounge in the Imagination Pavilion. In order to visit, you must be eligible for Membership Extras. If you plan full days at the parks, spending time in DVC lounges might not be important.
4. Disney Cruise Line Member Cruises
Buying DVC resale points does not make you eligible for Disney Vacation Club Member Cruises. These special sailings are part of Membership Extras. There is some other information about DVC Member cruises you should know. For starters, DVC Member cruises are exclusive to Members but not discounted. These sailings are a great place for community if you’re interested in sailing with people who may have similar interests. However, they are not offered at special rates and may even cost more than other comparable cruises.
5. DVC Discounts
Disney Vacation Club discounts on tickets, shopping, dining and recreation aren’t included with resale. These discounts can’t be stacked and are comparable to Annual Pass discounts and Disney Chase Visa discounts which you may already have.
6. Booking the Disney Collection
Aside from DVC home resorts, booking the Disney Collection is not available with resale points. This includes using points to book additional resort hotels domestically and internationally like properties found at Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort. You can not use DVC resale points to book Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney or the Concierge Collection. These are usually not the best economic choice in spending points.
FAQs Benefits Not Included with DVC Resale
Where can I use DVC resale points?
You can use DVC resale points at your home resort and possibly others depending on which property is your home resort.
Do resale DVC Members get to go to Moonlight Magic?
No, Members who own resale DVC points only do not qualify to attend Moonlight Magic. Buying DVC resale points does not grant you access to Moonlight Magic events.
Are DVC discounts worth it?
Some DVC discounts are decent and can add up like $10 or $15 dollars off of special event tickets. Many DVC discounts are exactly the same as those offered to annual passholders like 10% off of specific meal times at certain restaurants.
Remember DVC discounts are incidental benefits and can go away at any time. There used to be Disney annual pass discounts for Members. Now Members are only given access to purchase the Sorcerer Pass, which is otherwise reserved for Florida residents.
Can resale Members go DVC lounges?
All of the DVC lounges are reserved for those who are eligible for Membership Extras. This does not include DVC resale Members.
DVC Resale Experts Can Help
If the benefits of Membership Extras are not as important to you as DVC resale savings, you’ve got great options.
DVC Resale Experts has a team of licensed real estate agents that are passionate about resale DVC and dedicated to serving your needs. As former Disney Vacation Club guides, our agents made magical vacation dreams come true. Whether you’re buying or selling, it changes your entire experience to have a knowledgeable professional helping you through the process. View our current resale DVC listings for pricing and availability and please get in touch if you don’t see what you’re looking for. You can join the DVC Resale Buyer Wish List and be contacted when the right contract becomes available.
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