{"id":5528,"date":"2024-02-01T20:15:33","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T01:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevacationear.com\/?p=5528"},"modified":"2024-02-01T20:15:44","modified_gmt":"2024-02-02T01:15:44","slug":"is-disney-vacation-club-worth-it-an-honest-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevacationear.com\/is-disney-vacation-club-worth-it-an-honest-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Disney Vacation Club Worth It? An Honest Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Are you a die-hard Disney fan who can’t get enough of the magical world of Disney? Do you dream of staying at Disney resorts year-round and experiencing the magic over and over again? If so, you may have heard of the Disney Vacation Club (or DVC), a buy-in program that offers people who can’t get enough of Disney World a golden ticket to visiting as much as they want. But is Disney Vacation Club worth the cost?<\/p>\n

At first glance, DVC might seem like the key to Disney bliss \u2013 buy into the club and voil\u00e0, you’re set for years of adventures across Disney resorts, and beyond. However, becoming a DVC member isn’t cheap. With prices starting at $225 per Vacation Point as of 2024 and a minimum purchase of 100-points required PLUS closing costs…the membership can dig pretty deep into your pockets. <\/span>But is it worth the investment?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Disney Vacation Club Kiosk in Disney World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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You may be wondering whether the perks match the price tag or if it’s merely a mirage of exclusivity. Some assert it’s a budget-savvy choice for those frequenting Disney locales, while skeptics point out that the value doesn’t always pan out \u2013 especially when venturing outside the realm of DVC-specific properties. So, let’s dive into the pros and cons of the Disney Vacation Club to help you decide if this exclusive membership is the right choice for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What is DVC? Understanding the Basics<\/h2>\n

The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is — at its core — a timeshare program that allows you to purchase points that can be used to book stays at Disney Vacation Club Resorts<\/strong> across the globe.<\/p>\n

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Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you become a member of the Disney Vacation Club, you are essentially buying into a points-based system.<\/strong> You purchase a certain number of points and then use those points to book stays at one of the Disney Vacation Club resorts. Each resort has its own point chart, which determines how many points are required for each night of your stay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It’s important to note that you’re not locked into one location when you buy in. Rather, you have the flexibility to choose from a range of resorts each year, based on point availability and your personal preferences.<\/strong> This point system offers a departure from traditional timeshares, offering some additional freedom and variety to your Disney vacations.<\/p>\n

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Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Thanks to the flexibility of being able to book any Disney Resort at any time of the year with your points, DVC can be a great option for frequent Disney visitors who want to save money on accommodations and enjoy some extra perks.<\/strong> However, it’s important to carefully consider the cost and commitment before deciding to join.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How much does DVC membership cost?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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If you’re considering joining the Disney Vacation Club, brace yourself for a dose of reality on the financial front. Becoming a part of this timeshare program is no small feat for your wallet.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Disney’s Riviera Resort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cost of membership varies depending on how many points you want to purchase and which resort you want to make your home resort.<\/strong> As of January 30th, 2024, the cost per point is $225, and members must buy at least 100 Vacation Points at enrollment. This means that the minimum cost to join the DVC is $22,500.<\/strong> But, that’s not all of the upfront costs — you’ll also have to pay a closing fee which starts at $380.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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But the spending doesn’t stop there. Year after year, you’ll need to pay annual dues.<\/strong> These fees cover the maintenance of the resorts, property taxes, and other operational costs — and they tend to increase as the years roll by. Currently, these annual fees start at $74 per month (or $888 per year), but they can be much higher than this with no maximum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Jambo House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With that in mind, it might be easier to think of your DVC membership as more of a prepaid vacation plan rather than a property investment that grows in value.<\/strong> So, while you might save on future vacations, consider this — will you be able to fully utilize your points year after year?<\/p>\n

The good news is that you can bank your points from the current “Use Year” to the next or transfer them to another DVC member if you don’t end up using all your points in one calendar year.<\/strong> However, it’s important to note that transferred Vacation Points maintain their original “Use Year,” so the family you transfer the points to will have to use them within the year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The DVC Points System<\/h2>\n

Grasping the complexities behind a DVC Vacation Point starts with understanding that the points are not static in value. They fluctuate year to year, resort to resort, and even day to day.<\/strong> Rather than booking a Disney hotel for a specific cost, the Vacation Points you own as part of your Disney Vacation Club membership are your currency. But here lies the big question — what is the actual value of each point?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The baseline value comes from your initial purchase, where you buy a specific number of points to become a member at whatever the cost is at the time you buy in.<\/strong> Now, you can choose to purchase more DVC points after you initially buy into the program, however, you’ll be paying a new rate and your new points will likely be at a different home resort.<\/p>\n

At DVC’s inception in 1991, a point’s price tag was $51. But, fast forward to 2024 and that value is now up $225 per point with more room to grow in the future.<\/p>\n

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Disney’s Contemporary Resort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When we’re talking about the value of your points, it’s also important to talk about annual dues as these can greatly impact the long-term cost per point. As these dues increase over the years, they eat into your initial estimation of worth<\/strong> and contribute to a rising average cost per point well beyond the purchase price.<\/p>\n

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Disney’s Beach Club Resort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond the mere cost per point, the inherent worth of DVC points is really in the vacations you take and the types of places you can stay with the points.<\/strong> The value of your DVC points is a lot higher when you use them for stays at highly sought-after properties, like Aulani or the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian & Spa<\/a>. So, the membership is more worth it if you stay at places that maximize your points’ potential.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, remember that this calculation is nuanced. DVC points aren\u2019t a traditional commodity and their “value” can’t be boiled down just to the mere cost. Buying into DVC is ultimately a promise of more Disney vacations without having to think about the cost in dollars which, to some, is their greatest value.<\/p>\n

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About Disney Vacation Club Resorts<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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So, where exactly can you stay with Disney Vacation Club points? Well, pretty much anywhere in the Disney Resort Collection<\/a><\/strong>. However, over the years, Disney has built specific DVC properties that offer a few more perks, better room options for larger families, and more luxurious stays.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ranging from the shores of Aulani to the rustic grandeur of Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney\u2019s Wilderness Lodge to the newest addition at the Disneyland Hotel, DVC Resorts are located all around the globe. And, with your DVC membership, you unlock the door to a huge variety of deluxe accommodations and vacations, each with the unmistakable value of Disney\u2019s world-class service and attention to detail.<\/p>\n

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Disney’s Boardwalk Inn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Here are all of the current Disney Vacation Club Resorts that you can book with a membership:<\/strong><\/p>\n