More than 157 million visitors experience the magic of Disney each year at one of the theme parks. Do you find yourself wanting to experience Disney over and over again?  Maybe the magic of Mickey has you thinking about the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) and you want to plan regular visits.

So, is DVC worth it? Here’s what you need to know before you purchase a DVC membership.

How Does Disney Vacation Club Work?

DVC is a timeshare program, giving members ownership in one of the DVC properties like Disney Boardwalk Villas. This is your home base for future weeks. 

However, you are not limited to that single property. You can book vacations at both non-DVC resorts and DVC resorts. You don’t have to go at a particular time or a set number of days.

The program is a point system, so you purchase points that are good for 50 years. You have the flexibility to use your points how you want. 

To join the club, you pay a one-time fee to buy your points. This year, the points are $195, with a minimum purchase of 100 points. This would cost $19,500. 

You also have to pay closing costs based on the home resort and the number of purchased points. Closing costs start around $587.

You can make a down payment and finance the rest through Disney. There are also annual dues that start around $70 per month.

Based on your points, you can take annual trips or bank points for up to two years for a larger vacation. This program is flexible to accommodate several types of vacation plans. 

In addition to the popular Walt Disney World in Florida, you can also use points to DVC locations in Hawaii, Hilton Head, Vero Beach, Disney cruise, or DVC and non-DVC properties in Disneyland, Disney World, and other Disney theme parks around the world. 

Pros of Disney Vacation Club

Wondering why you should spend this money? Let’s take a look at the pros first. 

Book Points at Current Rates

You can lock in your DVC points price for 50 years at current rates. Each year, prices tend to increase, so imagine how much you can save in a few years. The sticker shock now may seem like huge savings down the road with inflation.

Luxury Accommodations

The resort rooms are very nice and are designed to comfortable like your second home. You can choose the size you want depending on your party size like a studio to sleep four, two-bedroom villas for nine, or a three-bedroom Grand Villa to sleep up to 12. 

Most units, except studios, come with home-like amenities like a washer, dryer, dining room, and a full kitchen. You may even be welcomed “home” by a character when you arrive.

Added Benefits

DVC members receive additional benefits and bonuses like deals on park tickets, coupons for Disney restaurants, behind-the-scenes tours, character meet and greets, exclusive gifts and merchandise, and discounted Disney Broadway show tickets.

Cons of Disney Vacation Club

There are some downsides you need to consider before your purchase. 

You Are Locked in for 50 Years

While it is wise and beneficial to pay today’s prices against future increases, you have to use these points. If your situation changes, you still have these points to use. You can sell these points, but you will probably have to take a loss, or you can rent out your points for cash.

You Still Have to Pay

Your DVC membership points do not cover all your vacation costs. You still have to pay for travel expenses, food, theme park tickets, and any other merchandise you want. However, if you plan to take Disney vacations regularly, joining DVC could still make sense, and you do have 50 years.

You Have to Plan

If you are not a planner, you may find this aspect difficult. DVC members need to plan way in advance because the popular DVC resorts sell rather quickly. You need to book your vacation at least six months in advance, so it may be hard to plan a spontaneous trip.

Fees Can Rise

Your annual fees can still rise. Even though your point price is set, your annual fees can still go up, so that monthly cost could be higher down the road due to increased real estate taxes and operating costs.

Ways You Can Save Money

If you think DVC may be something you would enjoy as a Disney fanatic, there are ways you can save money. 

As we mentioned above, people can sell their DVC points, but they typically take a loss. You can look into buying Disney Vacation Club resale to save a lot of money. You still get the DVC membership perks, but you have limited availability based on the listings. 

You can also rent out some of your DVC points if you purchased, or you can try out the DVC membership by renting points yourself to see if the experience is worthwhile. 

So, Is DVC Worth It?

It’s important that you mull over the reasons why you want to join Disney Vacation Club. Is DVC worth it? Yes, to some regular Disney travelers, they can save money over the years and experience the magic like never before. 

However, you do need to consider if you can afford the annual dues along with the purchase price. Remember you also need to pay for tickets, food, and travel expenses. You can try saving this money each year and planning your own vacation if you are worried about the upfront costs. 

Looking for some other interesting travel ideas? Keep checking out our site for useful tips and articles on interesting places.