Hi there, Helen--thanks for stopping by planDisney with another great question. I hope our advice has been helpful as you prepare for your July vacation at
Walt Disney World Resort! Let's settle in for a chat about
Disney Vacation Club and go over some of the benefits of Membership before you arrive at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
Our family became DVC Members nearly a decade ago and we've never looked back! When we started bringing our girls at very young ages and realized we wanted to continue vacationing at Disney destinations, we started investigating Disney Vacation Club. I am not someone who makes snap decisions, so I spent quite a bit of time doing my DVC homework and determining if Membership was a good step for us. Some initial factors to keep in mind:
- Members may pay for their deed in full, or finance this purchase. Financing will likely add some additional costs.
- Annual Dues are charged for each year of the duration of the Membership, so it's important to factor this into your decision when looking at the cost of Membership. Dues can be paid in full at the start of the year, or in monthly installments. We typically purchase discounted Disney Gift Cards from our local discount department store and combine them to pay our dues.
The main benefit for us has always been the ability to stay in deluxe-level accommodations when we travel. We've done the math to see how much our past DVC vacations would have cost had we not been Members, and the savings are significant. Just this week, I booked a trip for next year with our Vacation Points, and then reserved a villa in the same building for another family member at rack rate. The DVC booking was substantially less.
Beyond the fantastic lodgings, there are many additional benefits for Members including exclusive events like
Moonlight Magic. A current offering that is an excellent deal is the Sorcerer Pass, a deeply discounted Walt Disney World Annual Pass available only to DVC Members. Before we head out on our next Disney adventure, I always take a look at the
Member Benefits site, which has an up-to-date list of available deals and discounts. These might include discounted water park tickets, savings on certain shopping and dining locations, and even some reduced-rate tours and other unique experiences (subject to change).
Helen, since you'll be at Walt Disney World, I highly recommend
scheduling a meeting with a DVC Guide who can go over the ins and outs of Membership and answer any questions you might have. In my experience, these meetings are very low-pressure and can really help you in your decision-making! They will also be up to date on any current incentives that can be applied to the purchase of a new Membership.
I hope this information is helpful for you--joining Disney Vacation Club is a big decision, but for us, it's been totally worth it to have years of memories with our family and friends. If I can help answer any other questions from a Member's perspective, please don't hesitate to
reach out directly--I'm happy to share our experiences! Wishing you safe travels and a wonderful vacation with your family...
Stay Magical!
Susan