Disney is a place where magic comes to life for people, old and young. If you love taking family vacations and your family are big Disney fans, you may have considered Disney Vacation Club (DVC).
However, it may not be entirely clear how Disney Vacation Club works. Maybe you’re wondering if it’s right for you and if it offers the things you enjoy the most. Take a look at this helpful guide for deciding whether DVC is a good choice.
What Is Disney Vacation Club?
Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare offered by Disney and it works similarly to how other timeshares work. DVC offers stays at Disney World and Hawaii, South Carolina, and Vero Beach.
It works by paying into the vacation club program and booking your vacations as dictated by the program rules. It is based on a points system. You purchase your points and then you can use those points at DVC resorts.
Buying your points directly from Disney means you can redeem them at Disney Resorts in Florida, Japan, France, Hong Kong, and many more. You can also use them on Disney Cruise Line.
Alternatively, if you’re unsure about whether the timeshare is for you, you can purchase someone else’s points through DVC Grand Californian resales. That way, if it turns out that it doesn’t suit your family, you can sell the points on to someone else. However, this may mean that you’re restricted on where the points can be redeemed.
You will undoubtedly get more out of your points from visiting Disney World, rather than Disney Cruise Line or Adventures by Disney. Always do your research and calculate your numbers to be sure to get as much out of your points as you can.
What Is the Cost of DVC?
Like any other timeshare, DVC should be thought of as an investment. It’s an investment in your future and your future vacations. It isn’t cheap to purchase Disney points but the value will be returned to you.
The minimum amount of points you can purchase is 160 and the maximum is 2,000. As an example, 250 points costs around $40,000. However, you don’t have to pay that all upfront. You can make a down payment of 10% and use financing to pay the rest. That option would mean you can make a smaller payment each month.
Doing it this way means your future vacations are taken care of and you won’t have to pay one big lump sum each time you want to have a holiday.
Financing Your Points
Disney offers some very attractive options for purchasing your points on finance. With a downpayment, you could be looking at as little as 10% interest on your loan. They also won’t charge you if you decide to pay off your loan early.
Using this option to pay for your future vacations now means you won’t have to pay additional fees in the future. As prices go up, as they inevitably will, you won’t have to worry about it. Your vacation prices will be locked to what they are at the time of DVC purchase.
In addition, having your DVC points means you can plan more luxurious vacations if you want to. Look at how you can spend your points and work out how to get the best deals for your vacation time.
Is DVC for You?
If you prefer to travel around and have different types of vacations, DVC may not be for your family. However, if you end up back at a Disney resort or Disney Cruise every other year, DVC could be a fantastic investment.
It’s ideal for large families with lots of children who love to experience the magic of Disney all year round. Whether it’s Christmas, Halloween, Easter, or even a birthday treat, there’s no place like Disney to make any occasion special.
So, if you see Disney as being a large part of your future, DVC could save you a lot of time, effort, and hassle.
Are There DVC Perks?
Absolutely. As a DVC member, you’ll be given access to a special platform to book your vacation details, rather than using the one the general public uses. DVC members also get a choice of deluxe rooms, depending on the accommodation they choose.
All Disney resorts are outstanding places to stay but if you can do a vacation in high-end luxury, why wouldn’t you? The idea behind being a DVC member is having access to the best of what Disney has to offer.
While you’re planning your vacation, Disney will even offer to assist you in arranging your plans. For example, transport to and from airports, car rentals, priority seating for meals, and room requests.
As a member of the Disney family, you’ll also receive a magazine called, ‘Disney Files’. This magazine includes news from Disney, upcoming Disney movies, and information about what’s on at the Disney resorts and parks. This makes it easier to plan your vacations around something you know your family will enjoy.
Love fireworks? As a member, you can enjoy the members’ lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Bay Lake Tower where there is an amazing view of the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. Disney vacation benefits for DVC members are virtually endless.
Disney Vacation Club: Plan Your Future
Becoming a Disney Vacation Club member couldn’t be simpler and knowing your vacations are taken care of for the foreseeable future is a big weight off parents’ minds.
Why not take a look at more of our articles for great travel tips for families?