Is Disney Vacation Club Worth It? A Balanced Review

Millions of kids and grownups dream of living at the Disney theme parks. But you can’t live in the parks, but you can have the next best thing. As a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, you can stay as close to the parks as possible, all while immersive theming and theme park-worthy amenities leave you wondering where the resort ends and the park begins. Moreover, Disney Vacation Club members can use their Vacation Points to stay when, where, and for how long they want within the DVC portfolio, enjoying spacious accommodations and luxury amenities in bucket-list destinations like Hawaii, California, and beyond. That said, vacation ownership isn’t worth it for everyone. In this blog, we’ll give you a balanced account of the pros and cons of DVC so you can make the right decision. So, is Disney Vacation Club worth it? Read on to find out!

What is Disney Vacation Club?

Disney Vacation Club is one of the most popular timeshare brands in the industry. From its humble beginnings in 1991, Disney’s timeshare program has grown from just one resort (Old Key West) to 18, with locations in Florida, California, Hawaii, and South Carolina. Today’s DVC owners love the flexibility that the vacation club provides, with a points-based system that lets them choose the location, duration, and date of their vacation. As an affiliate of Interval International, DVC offers external exchange options at thousands of additional destinations worldwide, as well as discounted hotel stays, cruises, excursions, airfare, and car rentals.

How Big is DVC’s Portfolio?

Still, DVC’s portfolio of 18 resorts is relatively limited compared to other vacation clubs. For example, Marriott Vacation Club has over 90 resorts in its portfolio. Hilton Grand Vacations has a whopping 200+. Moreover, DVC has no international locations, which can be an issue for those who want to travel the world with their vacation ownership. However, what DVC’s portfolio lacks in quantity, it certainly makes up for in quality. After all, this is the Disney brand we’re talking about. And, of course, owners can always join Interval International to broaden their travel horizons. But DVC’s limited selection is something to consider when deciding if Disney Vacation Club is worth it for you.

What Resorts Are Part of DVC’s Portfolio?

While DVC’s portfolio is relatively small, it is growing fast. In fact, since September of 2023, DVC has grown from 15 to 18 resorts, opening the all-new Villas at Disneyland Hotel and Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness and splitting its Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas into two separate resorts: Jambo House and Kidani Village. Thus, one of the pros of Disney Vacation Club is that members will enjoy expanded travel opportunities as time goes on.

Another pro of DVC is the ease of visiting Disney parks. Whether you want to visit Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando or Disneyland in California, you’ll find a DVC resort nearby. Some are even within walking distance! Only three DVC properties are not located near the theme parks. Of course, this can be a potential disadvantage for vacationers looking for a relaxing vacation away from the tourist crowds. Then again, if you’re like most Disney Vacation Club buyers, getting away from the theme parks isn’t a priority.

Here are the resorts that are part of the DVC family:

How Disney Vacation Club Works

As mentioned, DVC is a points-based vacation club that allows owners to travel to multiple locations within the club’s portfolio. You must first choose a “Home resort” and purchase Vacation Points to join. The number of points you buy will equal the “value” of your Home timeshare, as determined by unit size, resort popularity, and other factors.

Each year, you’ll receive a new allotment of Vacation Points equal to the amount you bought in the initial transaction. You can then choose to stay at your Home resort or use your Vacation Points to book a timeshare of equal or lesser value. You can also convert your Vacation Points to Reservation Points to book a Disney cruise line. Any unused points can be banked for the subsequent use year, or you can divide your Disney points to book multiple stays throughout the year. Conversely, you can borrow points from future allotments to use in the current year.

DVC members enjoy priority booking at their Home resort. However, popular resorts and dates sell out fast, so plan ahead if you want to travel outside your home resort. This is another thing to remember when weighing DVC’s pros and cons.

How Much is Disney Vacation Club?

To be sure, DVC’s price per point tends to be higher than most other vacation clubs’. However, most owners find their DVC timeshare well worth the cost. Not to mention, unlike other brands, DVC timeshares tend to hold their resale value. So, while you shouldn’t consider your Disney Vacation Club timeshare a financial investment, you likely won’t have to absorb a significant financial loss if you decide to sell your timeshare down the road. In short, the high cost of DVC Vacation Points is another thing to consider when determining if Disney Vacation Club is worth it.

Upfront and Secondary Costs

So, how much do Disney Vacation Club Vacation Points cost? Well, the price per point varies depending on the resort and the number of points you buy. It can also vary widely depending on whether you buy your points directly from Disney or on the resale market. For example, the current retail price per point at Disney’s Riviera Resort is $217.00. On the resale market, Riviera points average $116.42.

In addition to the initial purchase price, there are some secondary costs you should be aware of when deciding if Disney Vacation Club is worth it for you. These include one-time expenses such as closing costs and ongoing expenses like maintenance fees, which you must pay throughout your ownership and tend to increase over time.

Is Buying a Disney Vacation Club Resale Worth It?

If you want to save money on the upfront price of your DVC timeshare, or if you want to add more points to your ownership without paying retail, consider purchasing DVC points on the resale market. The average price difference between retail and resale Vacation Points ranges from around $70 to over $150, but the total savings for a full points package can be in the thousands of dollars. Keep in mind, however, that resale restrictions come into play when you buy points on the secondary market.

Disney Vacation Club Resale Restrictions

While buying DVC Vacation Points on the resale market is a great way to save money, resale restrictions mean you won’t get all the same benefits as owners who buy their points directly from Disney. For a complete overview of these restrictions, read your DVC contract carefully. In the meantime, here are some examples. If, for instance, you buy resale points for one of Disney’s new resorts (2019-present), like The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, you can only use your resale points at The Cabins. Conversely, if you buy a resale timeshare at an older resort, Like Old Key West, you will only be able to stay at Old Key West and other Disney resorts built before 2019.

Blue Membership Restrictions

Another resale restriction to be aware of applies to DVC’s Blue Membership. DVC owners with a Blue Membership card enjoy discounts on shopping and dining at Disney-owned stores and restaurants. However, owners must purchase at least 150 Vacation Points directly from Disney to be eligible for the Blue Membership. In other words, any points bought on the resale market will not count toward eligibility.

Workarounds for DVC Resale Restrictions

One workaround for DVC’s resale restrictions is to buy your Home timeshare directly from Disney and use the resale market to add points to your ownership. This way, you’ll have access to DVC’s entire portfolio of resorts, plus some extra points to play around with if you want to take a more significant, better vacation.

Another workaround is using vacation exchange. Learn about how to use Interval International to get the most out of your DVC timeshare below!

Interval International

If you can’t use your resale points to stay at your desired Disney property, consider joining the vacation exchange platform Interval International (II). As an II-affiliated timeshare brand, Disney Vacation Club’s 18 resorts can all be accessed through Interval International. Simply deposit your Vacation Points on the platform, then use your converted points towards the Disney Vacation Club property of your choice.

What Other Exchange Options Does Interval International Offer?

In addition to DVC, you’ll find several other top brands on Interval International – including Marriott Vacation Club, Hyatt Vacation Club, and Holiday Inn Club Vacations – with thousands of resorts in sought-after locations worldwide. Moreover, you can use your Interval International points for discounted cruises, tours, excursions, airfare, car rentals, and more!

Top DVC Resorts

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest pros of Disney Vacation Club is the resorts themselves. True to Disney’s reputation, every resort in the DVC portfolio boasts luxury accommodations, top-flight amenities, first-class customer service, and spotless facilities. However, a few DVC resorts just have that extra wow factor. Here are some of our favorite Disney Vacation Club resorts:

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

As Disney Vacation Club’s flagship resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort was designed to wow. This Old-Florida-style resort is located in Orlando, Florida, just a short water taxi ride from the Magic Kingdom and a quick bus or monorail ride from Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. Everything about it is grand, from the Victorian-inspired architecture to the capacious, well-lit lobby to the rooms available in studio, one-and two-bedroom configurations. Every unit has plush furniture, marbled bathrooms, and Disney’s spa line of bath products, while one- and two-bedroom suites feature fully equipped kitchens. Resort amenities include two pools, a waterslide, six restaurants, a spa, and much more.

The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

Located in Anaheim, California, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel is within walking distance of Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, and Downtown Disney. Meanwhile, rustic theming evocative of the California wilderness makes you feel like you’re miles away from civilization. While the resort’s location is ideal for accessing the parks, you could have the vacation of a lifetime without ever stepping foot off the property. On-site amenities include three pools, multiple hot tubs, a spa, a kid’s club, a gift shop, as well as a robust calendar of activities and entertainment. Choose from a deluxe studio, one- or two-bedroom villa, or three-bedroom grand villa, and enjoy generous appointments such as in-unit kitchens, free WiFi, private balconies, flat-screen TVs, and more!

Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas

Aulani, DVC Villas, infuses the magic of Disney with the aloha spirit. Get on island time as you relax by the resort’s sprawling pools and dine at the many on-site restaurants. Or, take advantage of Aulani’s prime Kapolei location to experience bucket-list Hawaii activities like golf, water sports, and volcano hikes. Aulani offers spacious accommodations ranging from cozy studios to oversized three-bedroom villas. But no matter what unit you choose, you’ll enjoy a private porch or balcony, flat-screen TV, rainfall shower, and free WiFi. Larger villas also boast full kitchens, in-unit washers and dryers, and whirlpool tubs.

Is Disney Vacation Club Worth It: Reviewing the Pros and Cons

So, is Disney Vacation Club worth it? Let’s review the pros and cons of DVC and find out!

If you love Disney and want to take magical vacations regularly, then DVC might be worth it for you. However, it might not be a good fit if you don’t travel regularly, are looking for a budget timeshare brand, or don’t like Disney. Ultimately, you are the only one who can decide if Disney Vacation Club is worth it!

Buy a Disney Vacation Club Timeshare Resale With Timeshare Broker Associates

Want to become a member of Disney Vacation Club for less? Looking to add to your existing DVC membership? Start by shopping the resale market! Our DVC resale market is your one-stop shop for Disney timeshares at low secondary-market prices. As a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in timeshares, Timeshare Broker Associates can help you at every step of your purchase, from finding financing to closing and every step in between. And as an ARDA-accredited resale company with over a decade of experience and an A+ rating by the BBB, you can trust us to put your interests first.

Browse our selection of Disney Vacation Club resales at the link below. You can use our search filters to find the perfect DVC timeshare for you! Have questions? Call (407) 917-8432 or email Info@timesharebrokerassociates.com to consult with one of our licensed agents today!