Disney Vacation Club can feel overwhelming when you first start researching it. There's a lot of jargon (use years, banking, borrowing, ROFR) and the financial commitment is real. But once you understand the basics, the whole system is surprisingly straightforward. This guide covers everything you need to know to go from confused to confident.
What Is DVC, Really?
At its core, DVC is a points based timeshare system that lets you stay at Disney's best resorts. You purchase a deeded real estate interest at a specific "home resort" that comes with a set number of vacation points each year. You spend those points to book rooms at any DVC resort worldwide.
Think of it like a prepaid vacation account. Your points refresh every year on your Use Year anniversary (more on that shortly), and you redeem them for nights at Disney Vacation Club resorts. Bigger rooms cost more points. Peak seasons cost more points. Nicer resorts cost more points. You get the idea.
The ownership interest is deeded, meaning it's actual real estate recorded in Orange County, Florida (for Walt Disney World resorts). You can sell it, pass it to heirs, or finance it with a lender like us. Contracts have expiration dates ranging from 2042 for older resorts to 2077 for newer ones, at which point the deed reverts to Disney.
How Points Work
Every DVC contract comes with an annual point allotment. Popular contract sizes range from 100 to 300 points for most families. A 150 point contract gives you 150 vacation points every year to spend on accommodations.
How far do those points go? Here's a rough guide:
- A studio at a moderate cost resort during a low demand season: about 8 to 12 points per night
- A studio at a deluxe resort during moderate season: about 14 to 20 points per night
- A one bedroom at a deluxe resort during peak season: about 35 to 50 points per night
- A two bedroom at a deluxe resort during peak season: about 50 to 75 points per night
So a 150 point contract can comfortably book you a full week in a deluxe resort studio during moderate season (around 120 to 140 points total), with a few points left over. Families who want larger rooms or peak season dates typically own 200 to 300 points.
Use Years Explained
Your Use Year is the month when your annual points become available. Options include February, March, April, June, August, September, October, and December. Points from a February Use Year become available on February 1st each year and must be used (or banked) before January 31st of the following year.
The Use Year you choose affects your planning flexibility. If you typically vacation in summer, a February or March Use Year gives you several months to plan and book before your travel dates. If you usually go during the holidays, a September or October Use Year works well.
Home Resort vs. Other Resorts
Your home resort is the resort where you purchased your contract. You get a booking advantage at your home resort: you can book there at the 11 month window (11 months before your check in date). All other DVC resorts open for booking at the 7 month window.
That four month head start at your home resort is significant for popular resorts and peak dates. If you own at Beach Club and want to stay there during Christmas week, booking at 11 months gives you the best shot. At 7 months, those dates are likely gone.
For less popular dates and seasons, the 7 month window works fine at almost any resort. So if you're flexible on travel dates, your home resort choice matters less. If you always travel during holidays or school breaks, choose your home resort carefully.
Resale vs. Direct: The Big Decision
You can purchase DVC two ways: direct from Disney or resale from an existing owner. Direct purchases from Disney currently run $200 to $250+ per point depending on the resort. Resale contracts sell for $100 to $190 per point depending on the resort, contract size, and current market conditions.
That's a significant price difference. A 150 point contract might cost $35,000 direct from Disney or $18,000 to $25,000 on the resale market. So what do you give up purchasing resale?
Resale owners can still book stays at all DVC resorts (with one exception: Riviera has home resort only restrictions for resale buyers). You keep your annual points, banking and borrowing privileges, and access to all DVC resort amenities. What you lose are some ancillary perks like discounts on certain Disney experiences, the ability to exchange points through the Disney Collection (non DVC Disney hotels), and access to the Concierge Collection.
For most families who primarily want to stay at DVC resorts, resale represents dramatically better value.
Ongoing Costs: Annual Dues
Every DVC owner pays annual maintenance fees (called dues) based on how many points they own. Dues cover resort upkeep, property taxes, insurance, and management costs. They range from about $7.50 per point at Old Key West to roughly $20 per point at Grand Floridian.
For a 150 point contract at Saratoga Springs ($8.53/point), that's approximately $1,280 per year. Dues increase annually, historically around 3% to 4% per year, though some years have seen larger jumps.
These dues are your ongoing "cost of vacationing." There's no way to avoid them as long as you own the contract. Factor them into your budget before you purchase.
Your Next Steps
Once you understand the basics, the path forward is clear:
- Decide how many points your family needs based on typical vacation length and room preferences
- Pick a home resort that matches your priorities (location, theming, annual dues level)
- Decide between resale and direct based on your budget and perk preferences
- Secure financing if you're not paying cash. Our loan calculator shows monthly payments for any contract size
- Find a contract through a reputable resale broker and make an offer
The resale purchase process takes about 45 to 75 days from offer to membership activation. During that time, you'll go through Disney's Right of First Refusal (ROFR) period and closing. It's straightforward, and your resale broker handles most of the paperwork.
Ready to crunch numbers? Our financing application takes minutes, and there's no obligation. We'll show you exactly what monthly payments look like for the contract you're considering.