Buying Disney Vacation Club
Buying DVC – The Ultimate Guide
Everything you need to know before you buyFrom what DVC actually is, to resale vs. direct, financing, maintenance fees, and the step-by-step buying process – written by owners who’ve done it themselves.
What’s In This Guide
- What Is DVC? – The Basics Explained
- Membership Basics – Points, Home Resorts & Booking Windows
- DVC Lingo – Terms Every Owner Should Know
- How Many Points Do You Need?
- Direct vs. Resale – Pros, Cons & the Math
- The Buying Process – Step by Step
- Financials – Cost, Maintenance Fees & Financing
- Direct Buyer Perks – Blue Card & Membership Magic
- Booking Strategy – Hardest & Easiest Resorts
- Renting Your Points – When & How
What Is DVC?
Disney Vacation Club is a points-based ownership program – not a traditional timeshare. Here’s how it actually works.
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is where individuals own a portion of a DVC resort. When you purchase DVC, you purchase a certain amount of “vacation points” that you can use at your DVC “home resort” on a yearly basis. Owners have priority for reservations and can book at their home resort 11 months from the date of travel, and at other DVC resorts at 7 months.
Each room type at each resort costs a different number of points per night. At the low end, a studio at Old Key West in September can be as few as 9 points per night. At the high end, a 3 Bedroom Grand Villa at the Grand Floridian over Christmas can run 195 points per night. As an owner you have flexibility – you’re given a set number of points each year to use however you like, rather than being locked into a specific week.
How Long Is the Contract?
Contract length varies by resort. The end date is 50 years from when the resort first opened. Some resorts like Old Key West and Boardwalk expire in 2042, while newer properties like the Cabins at Fort Wilderness expire in 2075. Contract length is an important factor in calculating the true cost of ownership.
Where Are the DVC Resorts?
- Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani & Jambo
- Beach Club Villas
- BoardWalk Villas
- Old Key West
- Saratoga Springs
- Riviera Resort
- Bay Lake Tower (Contemporary)
- Polynesian Villas (incl. new tower)
- Grand Floridian
- Boulder Ridge & Copper Creek (Wilderness Lodge)
- Cabins at Fort Wilderness
- Reflections (under construction)
- Disneyland Hotel Villas – Anaheim, CA
- Grand Californian – Anaheim, CA
- Aulani – Oahu, Hawaii
- Vero Beach – Florida Atlantic Coast
- Hilton Head – South Carolina
All DVC resorts located at Disney theme parks qualify as deluxe hotel accommodations. At Walt Disney World this means you get Early Park Entry and Evening Extra Hours. At Disneyland you get Early Morning Hours. This is included with every DVC stay – rented or owned.
Points, Home Resorts & Booking Windows
Understanding how the points system and booking windows work is the foundation of getting value from DVC.
How DVC Points Work
Each room costs a certain number of DVC points per night, ranging from as few as 9 up to hundreds. When you buy a DVC contract you buy a set amount of points each year. For example, you might buy a contract for 150 DVC points at Saratoga Springs.
Home Resort & Booking Priority
Your home resort is the resort where you purchase your contract. The great thing about DVC is that you are not limited to only staying there. The only three locations that restrict non-home-resort bookings are the Riviera, Disneyland Tower, and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness – these can only be booked by owners who purchased directly from Disney. Every other resale contract allows you to book at all DVC locations.
Point Charts & Seasons
To figure out how much a room costs in points, you look at the DVC point charts provided by Disney. Point charts show the set DVC prices for each resort by room type, view category, and time of year. Prices vary throughout the year – DVC has a rule that if they raise point costs for one part of the year, they must reduce them at another part of the year to keep the annual average consistent.
Home resort: book up to 11 months from your check-in date. All other DVC resorts: book up to 7 months out. This 4-month window at your home resort is the key strategic advantage of ownership – especially for high-demand resorts like Beach Club and Boardwalk.
Terms Every Owner Should Know
DVC comes with its own vocabulary. Here’s a plain-English glossary of the terms you’ll encounter most.
Thinking about buying a larger contract? Split it up into smaller ones instead – especially if buying direct. A good rule of thumb is 150-point contracts. They are significantly easier to sell later on and give you more flexibility.
How Many Points Do You Need?
Use this simple formula to figure out the right contract size for your typical vacation style.
Formula #1 – How Many Points Per Year
Look up the room cost in points per night on Disney’s DVC point charts, then multiply by your total number of vacation days. That’s your baseline annual point need.
Formula #2 – True Cost Per Point Per Year
Use this to compare different contracts and resorts side by side. It accounts for both the purchase price and how long the contract has left to run.
Comparing Contract Value
This formula is used to compare different contracts and resorts. Be aware it doesn’t account for dues increases over time or the present value of money – but it’s a great starting-point comparison tool.
Real Example – Two Contracts Compared
Here’s how contract length dramatically impacts the true cost, even when the purchase price looks similar:
| Resort | Price/Point | Years Left | Dues/Point | True Cost/Point/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boardwalk Villas | $125 | 17 yrs (exp. 2042) | $9.06 | $16.40 |
| Bay Lake Tower | $133 | 35 yrs (exp. 2060) | $8.02 | $11.82 |
Even though Bay Lake Tower costs more per point upfront, it works out significantly cheaper per year because of the longer contract. This is why contract length is one of the most important factors in your buying decision.
Direct vs. Resale – The Full Picture
Most of the time, resale is the smarter financial choice. Here’s the math – and the exceptions.
- Higher price per point
- Blue Card perks (150+ pts)
- Access to all resorts including new ones
- Choose your own use year
- Faster process (days to 2 weeks)
- Magical Beginnings: sell back year 1 points at $22/pt
- Can put full purchase on credit card
- Significantly cheaper per point
- Same deluxe hotel privileges
- Access to most resorts (not Riviera, DL Tower, Fort Wilderness)
- No Blue Card perks
- Cannot choose use year
- Slower process (~3 months)
- Look for “double points” contracts with banked pts
The Price Difference Is Real
Using the Polynesian as an example: buying direct from Disney is currently around $225 per point. The same resort on Fidelity resale runs $157–$170 per point. For a 100-point contract that’s a difference of over $7,000 – and the Polynesian is one of the higher-priced resale options. For resorts like Saratoga Springs, the savings are even more dramatic.
Resale contracts cannot book at three restricted resorts: Disney’s Riviera Resort, the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. If staying at those resorts is important to you, buying direct may be worth the premium. All other resorts are fully accessible with resale contracts.
Double Points – A Hidden Resale Advantage
When buying resale, look for contracts that have extra (banked) points from a previous year already loaded. You can then rent out those extra points to help offset the purchase cost immediately. For example, a 250-point contract with 250 extra banked points – renting those at $18.50/pt brings in $4,625, reducing your effective contract cost right away.
Step-by-Step Buying Process
The process is different depending on whether you buy direct from Disney or through a resale broker. Here’s exactly what to expect for both.
Buying Direct from Disney
- Contact a DVC Guide Our guide’s name is Kathy Galcik – she’s great and can walk you through the whole process. Mention Kim’s name and we get a fun referral gift!
- Decide on Home Resort & Use Year When buying direct, you get to pick both. Use year is important – if you typically vacation in March, don’t pick April as your use year, or you won’t be able to cancel and bank points. Choose February or March for more flexibility.
- Sign the Contract & Pay Contracts move fast when buying direct. The last contract we bought direct was drawn up the very next day.
- Points Drop into Your Account DVC sets up your membership. If you already have a membership number, your points may be available the next day – even before the deed is officially recorded.
Buying Resale
- Find a Contract Online We recommend Fidelity Real Estate – they tend to be slightly less per point and are excellent communicators throughout the process.
- Make an Offer & Pay Deposit Once your offer is accepted, you’ll be sent paperwork online to sign and pay a small deposit (usually around $1,500). You can use a credit card for this part.
- First Right of Refusal Disney has 30 days to decide whether to buy the contract back. This actually helps keep resale values higher – anything priced too low gets bought by Disney and resold. Your broker will notify you when it clears.
- Closing Timeframe The title company prepares closing paperwork and sends it electronically. You then wire transfer the remaining balance. The title company sends the deed to be recorded with the county.
- The Hard Wait After the deed is recorded, DVC sets up your membership account and deposits your points. This can take up to a month for new members. If you already have a membership number, the process is faster.
Cost, Maintenance Fees & Financing
The full cost of DVC ownership is more than the purchase price. Here’s everything you need to budget for.
The True Cost of Owning DVC
The total cost includes the price of the points, closing costs (typically a closing fee + deed/transfer fee), and annual maintenance fees that you pay every year on January 15th. Maintenance fees also increase with inflation each year, so factor that into your long-term math.
Annual dues can be paid with Disney gift cards, credit card points (the charge codes as travel), or broken into monthly payments throughout the year. This flexibility makes it easier to budget for the ongoing cost.
Can DVC Be Inherited?
Yes – DVC contracts can be inherited and pass to a beneficiary. To make the process simple, include your contracts in your family trust.
2025 Maintenance Fees by Resort
| Resort | 2025 Dues / Point |
|---|---|
| Animal Kingdom Villas | $9.65 |
| Aulani | $10.12 |
| Aulani (Subsidized) | $7.61 |
| Bay Lake Tower | $8.02 |
| Beach Club Villas | $9.12 |
| BoardWalk Villas | $9.06 |
| Boulder Ridge | $9.19 |
| Copper Creek Villas | $8.49 |
| Disneyland Hotel Villas | $9.82 |
| Fort Wilderness Cabins | $11.88 |
| Grand Californian | $8.80 |
| Grand Floridian | $7.93 |
| Hilton Head | $11.92 |
| Old Key West | $10.50 |
| Polynesian Villas & Bungalows | $7.93 |
| Riviera Resort | $9.06 |
| Saratoga Springs | $8.54 |
| Vero Beach (Post-1996) | $14.30 |
| Vero Beach (Pre-1996) | $11.24 |
Financing Options
The interest rate on a DVC contract runs around 11%+ whether you finance direct or through resale. We generally recommend buying a contract you can pay off quickly or in cash. If you do need to finance, here are the main options:
| Provider | Interest Rate (APR) | Loan Term | Down Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Direct | 11.0%–12.5% | Up to 15 yrs | ~10% |
| DVC Resale Store | Starting at 11.9% | Up to 10 yrs | 10% |
| Fidelity Real Estate | Starting at 11.9% | Up to 7 yrs | 10% |
| Monera Financial | 9.9%–17.9% | Up to 12 yrs | 5%–20% |
If buying direct, you can put the entire purchase on a credit card – earning a welcome bonus worth $900+ toward your Disney trips. Look at the Capital One Spark Plus or Venture X for large contracts. If buying resale, you can typically charge about half the purchase to a card. Cards with 0% APR intro periods to consider: Chase Freedom Unlimited (15 months), Venture One / Quicksilver Capital One (15 months), Ink Business Cards (12 months), Disney Visa (6 months).
Blue Card & Membership Magic
Buying at least 150 points directly from Disney unlocks a set of exclusive perks that resale buyers don’t receive.
Blue Membership Card Privileges
Members who buy at least 150 points directly from Disney receive a Blue Membership Card. This card unlocks the following perks:
- Moonlight Magic – Member-only after-hours events at select Disney parks with shorter wait times, unique character meet-and-greets, and exclusive entertainment
- DVC Member Lounges – Access to exclusive lounges inside the parks
- Dining & Merchandise Discounts – 10–20% off at numerous Disney dining locations and merchandise shops across WDW, Disneyland, and other Disney properties
- Sorcerer Pass Eligibility – Qualify for the WDW Sorcerer Annual Pass even as an out-of-state pass holder, for anyone in your household
- Access to All DVC Resorts – Including restricted new properties like the Riviera, Disneyland Tower, and Fort Wilderness Cabins
Membership Magic (New in 2025 – Direct Only)
A new add-on program for direct owners at $99 per year. Here’s what you get:
- Discounted 5-day weekday WDW park tickets with water park visit – up to 7 tickets per household
- Discounted 3-day Disneyland park tickets with Lightning Lane Multi Pass – up to 7 tickets
- Memory Maker photo package included
- Use DVC points to purchase a Sorcerer Pass – new pass is 75 points, renewal is 65 points
- Biggest perk: Buy 12 bonus one-time-use points and get 24. Double points on purchases – this alone can make the $99/year well worth it
When buying direct from Disney, you have the option to “rent back” your first year of DVC points to Disney at $22 per point. This is helpful if you want to buy DVC but can’t use the points the first year – it offsets the purchase cost significantly.
Hardest & Easiest Resorts to Book
Where you buy can be just as important as what you buy – especially if there’s a specific resort you love.
Some resorts are significantly harder to book if you don’t own there. If getting into one of these resorts is important to you, that should influence where you purchase your home resort contract.
- Grand Californian
- Beach Club Villas
- BoardWalk Villas
- Animal Kingdom Lodge – Value rooms
- Saratoga Springs
- Old Key West
- Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard rooms)
You don’t have to buy at the resort you most want to stay at. We recommend buying at a less expensive resort with flexible availability, then making your reservation at 11 months at your home resort. At 7 months, start looking at your preferred resort. This gives you the best of both worlds – lower buy-in cost with access to premium resorts when availability opens up.
Renting Out Your Points
DVC ownership isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition. When you can’t travel, your points can earn you cash.
Can Someone Else Use Your Points?
Yes – Disney allows owners to rent out points they aren’t using. You make the reservation for the individual and charge them per point used. This is a powerful way to offset the cost of ownership in years when you can’t travel.
How to Rent Out Your Points
- DVC Broker Shops – Most first-time or risk-averse renters go this route. We own a DVC broker shop and would love to rent your points for you. Mention this guide and we’ll pay $18.50 per point – no matter the resort.
- Facebook Groups – Active DVC owner/renter communities with direct peer-to-peer rentals
- Third-party websites – Sites like Redweek also connect owners with renters
Never Use Points for Cruises or Other Disney Vacations
If you do the math, you should almost never use your DVC points for Disney cruises, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney, or value/moderate hotels at WDW. The point cost is extremely poor value. Instead, rent out your points and use the cash.
A Disney Dream 4-night cruise for 2 adults and 2 children costs roughly 500 DVC points. If you rented those 500 points at $18.50 each, you’d get $9,250 – enough to take two cruises in cash and have money left over for excursions. Always run the numbers before using points for non-villa stays.
Vero Beach & Hilton Head – A Special Case
These beach resorts have higher maintenance fees but are often quick to pay off through renting. Run the math carefully – we’ve seen contracts at both that pay for themselves within just a couple of years thanks to high rental demand and competitive cash rates.
How much will my room cost if I buy Disney Vacation Club?
✨ Pixie Point Gals
DVC Buying Calculator
Is buying DVC worth it for your stay?
Step 1 — Your Contract
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Step 2 — Your Room Stay
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Your Estimated Cost
