What is DVC?
The Disney Vacation Club is point-based timeshare program.  Members purchase an allotment of points for a one-time purchase price (typically in the range of $70-90 per point), and then receive the same amount of points to use each year until their contract end date arrives.

Point-based timeshare programs should not be confused with fixed-week timeshare programs.  Under a fixed-week program, owners typically purchase the right to use a single accommodation for the same week every year.  Under DVC’s point-based system, the member purchases points which may be redeemed for stays at any time of year, in a variety of different-sized units at many different resorts.

How many points do I have to buy?
DVC has a minimum purchase threshold of 150 points.  However, contracts can be found on the resale market in smaller increments. 

A contract of 150 points will cost upward of $10,000.  That contract entitles the owner to receive 150 points for the next 37-50 years.  Those 150 points could be used to stay as many as 18 nights per year in a Studio-size villa (which is comparable in size and amenities to a standard guestroom at any Walt Disney World Deluxe resort).

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What other costs are associated with DVC ownership?
Aside from the initial buy-in cost, DVC members must pay annual dues on their membership interest.  Annual Dues are expressed on a per-point basis.  Following are the 2006 Annual Dues rates for each DVC resort:

OKW - $4.24
VB - $5.27
HHI - $4.34
BWV - $4.69
BCV - $4.48
VWL - $4.61
SSR - $3.98

No other fees are charged for reservations at DVC resorts.  DVC members do not pay resort taxes or any other fees at check-in.

Note that DVC owners are still required to pay for theme park admission.

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What is a “Home” resort?
Being a timeshare program, members of the Disney Vacation Club purchase a deeded ownership interest in a resort that is part of the club.  The primary relevance of one’s Home resort is twofold:

1. Annual Dues are based upon the operating budget for one’s Home resort.
2. Members can book a stay at their Home resort 11 months in advance of the check-out date.  Stays at non-Home resorts cannot be booked until 7 months prior to the check-out date.

Can I stay at resorts other than my Home resort?
Yes.  Provided there are rooms available, you can stay at any of the DVC resorts.  It should be noted, however, that your contract does not guarantee that this will always be the case.

When do DVC contracts end?
Contracts at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (the resort currently being marketed by DVC) end January 31, 2054.  All other DVC resort contracts end January 31, 2042.

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When do I receive my points each year?
Each contract is assigned a Use Year (UY) at the time of purchase.  The Use Year is the month that points are put into your account.  Below is a table listing the dates points are valid for each UY:

 
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What if I cannot use my points in a given year?
If you are not going to use points by their expiration date, you can Bank them into the next Use Year.  Banking points effectively moves them into the next Use Year.  Once points are banked, they must be used the next UY or they will be lost.  Points cannot be banked more than once.

What if I need more points in a given year than I own?
You may Borrow points from the next Use Year.  You may only borrow one (1) UY ahead.  After you have borrowed points, those points will expire at the date of the UY they were put borrowed into (current UY).

Click HERE for information about Banking and Borrowing.

Points may also be Transferred from another DVC member if some agreement is made (independent of DVC) to acquire the points. 

Click HERE for information about transferring points.

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How flexible is DVC with regard to cancellations and re-scheduling of trips?
Cancellations more than 31 days prior to the check-in date result in points being returned to the member’s account.  There is no penalty or fee associated with cancelling or re-scheduling a trip on more than 31 days notice. 

Cancellations coming between 1 and 30 days prior to check-in result in points being placed in a Holding status.  Holding points are still the property of the member, but they can only be used to book a subsequent trip on 60 days’ notice or less.  Holding points may not be banked, and will expire at the end of the current Use Year.

Cancellations on the day of arrival (or no-shows) result in forfeiture of the points.

Can DVC points be used for locations other than the seven DVC resorts?
Yes, DVC points can be used to book other resorts at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.  They can also be used to pay for trips on the Disney Cruise Line and even for many non-Disney hotels around the world via DVC’s  Concierge Collection, Adventurer Collection, and World Passport Collection.

However, additional fees may apply to booking outside of DVC, and the point value of doing so is suspect.  While it may be comforting to know that the options exist for booking outside of the DVC resorts, buying into DVC with the intention of frequently using points toward non-DVC resorts would not be wise.

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Do I have to buy points directly from the Disney Vacation Club salespeople?
No.  There are a number of resale timeshare companies (such as The Timeshare Store and DVC By Resale) that specialize in DVC contracts.  Buying contracts on the resale market can often save a considerable amount of money over buying direct from DVC.  The primary drawbacks of buying resale are the time it can take to complete the transaction (at least 6-8 weeks) and the inability to utilize DVC’s financing plans.

Click HERE for additional information on buying DVC Direct vs. Resale.

Is DVC for me?
While you are the only one who can make that decision, here are the general rules of thumb to determine if DVC will work for you:

1. You can afford the initial cost and Maintenance fees.
2. You travel to WDW at least every other year.
3. You stay onsite in moderate or deluxe accommodations.

Those buying into DVC will typically reach a breakeven point on their investment 6-8 years from the date of purchase when compared to paying Disney’s cash room rates.  Variables for individual owners include the manner in which they use their points and purchase price (including interest if financed.)  But frequent visitors to Walt Disney World can obviously save a great deal on their accommodations in the long run after they have passed that breakeven point.

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