How Much Does the Disney Vacation Club Cost?
The Disney Vacation Club, similar to a timeshare, allows members to buy “real estate” which is represented by vacation points. These points can be used to take your family on different vacations and allow them to experience many new things.
How much does the Disney vacation club cost?
The Disney Vacation Club will be no different than any other timeshare. Before you can join the program, there will be a one-time purchase price and closing costs. Aside from this, there will be an annual fee to keep your membership active. On average, the one-time fee for the Disney Vacation Club, if bought new, will be around $25,000, and the closing costs will be around $500. This price range would give you around 160 membership points. To break it down, if you were to buy from the DVC direct, then you should be prepared to pay $140 to $165 per point. Recurring monthly and yearly fees will apply as well.
For a ballpark average to see what you can buy on the resale market, refer to the chart noted below.
| Resort | Price per Point (one-time fee average) |
|---|---|
| Animal Kingdom | $150 |
| Auani in Hawaii | $150 |
| Bay Lake Tower | $165 |
| BoardWalk Villas | $130 |
| Grand Californian Hotel | $165 |
| Grand Floridian Resort | $150 |
| Hilton Head Island | $115 |
| Old Key West | $130 |
| Saratoga Springs | $130 |
| Vero Beach | $115 |
| Wilderness Lodge | $130 |
NOTE: This is just an average on the second-hand market. Remember that most places on the secondary market are going to require a minimum of 50 to 100 points. So $150 would technically be $15,000. On top of this, annual fees and closing costs may apply.
To budget, most members state that you should be prepared to spend $3 to $5 per point, per year, for your dues. This, of course, will not include the one-time fees that will vary. As for the one-time fee, this can range from $140 to $170 per point. The more points you are able to purchase at a time, the lower the price per point will be.
DisneyVacationClub.Disney.go.com, the official website of the Vacation Club, offers the following example: If you wanted to buy 160 points, you would have to pay $24,000 up front, $424 in closing costs, $75 per month, and $95 per transaction. With 160 points, you will be able to book anywhere from three to eight weeks, depending on the type of vacation you chose.
SellMyTimeshareNow.com offers a great selection of affordable DVC points on the secondary market. Resales can be found on this site for as low as $29 per point, and you can typically purchase 100 to 400 points at a time. Prices and point increments are subject to change based on availability.
DVC-Resales.com has hundreds of listings on the second-hand market that range anywhere from $47 to $88 per point. The costs depend on the resort and the number of points available. Most points on the website, however, total anywhere from 110 to 300 points.
Disney vacation club overview
When you buy into the vacation club, members will receive a number of “points” for the year. With these points, members will be able to book accommodations on Disney properties that are a part of the program, each with its own point value based on various factors. Today, there are more than 500 global properties where the points can be used, and the number of points needed for each property will vary. The price of the resorts will depend on the time of the year, the days and size of the resort room.
Most of the time, members are able to stay near Disney.
Points can be redeemed on one-, two- and three-bedroom villas.
Members are able to get discounts on annual Disney passes.
The points that you purchase and accumulate can be rolled over from one year to the next in case you are not able to plan a vacation one year.
What are the extra costs?
As stated above, annual fees will have to be paid to keep the membership active. These fees will be around $75 per month. Effectively, it’s best to budget $5 to $7 per point in mainteannce expenses, paid whether you visit or not.
If you purchase used or new, closing costs will be involved which can cost anywhere from $500 to $900.
Rooms booked during peak times and weekends can often cost up to 40 percent more in points. Also, the larger the room is, the more points it will require. For example, a studio will cost one-third of what a three-bedroom villa would cost.
If your membership does not have enough points, you can add more on throughout the year.
Tips to know:
Take a tour of some of the properties before committing; it also does not hurt to read the reviews online to see what other guests are saying. Remember that the professionals will be biased, pressuring you into a sale.
Some days are going to be a lot cheaper than others. If you learn the strategies involved to get lower point rates, you can actually come out well ahead.
Members can purchase anywhere from 160 to as much as 2,000 points.
The points won’t be good forever as there will be an expiration date.
The biggest difference between a DVC guest and a regular guest will be the housekeeping services. DVC members, if staying fewer than eight days, will get a “trash and tidy” service on the fourth day. Additional services are available for a fee.
How can I save money?
Buying a Disney timeshare used is going to potentially save you more than 50 percent on your purchase. If you are heavily considering this club, consider going the used route.
Be sure to crunch the numbers ahead of time. As long as you think you are going to be able to take full advantage year after year, it may be worth the investment. However, not taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the Disney Vacation Club will result in wasted money.
- If you cannot afford the costs up front, Disney does offer low-cost financing options for up to ten years.
- If you’re questioning if it’s worth it, here are a few questions to ask yourself first: Do I need to take out a loan? Will you visit at least once a year for the next 10 years? As long as you think you can come out ahead by doing the math, then it may be a decent investment; however, if you’re questioning it, you’re better off reserving a room as you please without any monthly maintenance commitments.
- The DVC does offer financing options in one, three, five, seven and 10-year increments.
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