Hello, Dana!
So glad you asked this question!
Disney Vacation Club is a vacation ownership program that is explained well on
disneyvacationclub.com. Take a look at the link that will take you right to the page entitled "Learn About Disney Vacation Club." You're going to love it!
Here's what I recommend that you consider, regarding Membership:
Are you going to travel for vacations in the future? If so, look at the options you'd have if you were to travel using your Disney Vacation Club Membership. When we were deciding whether or not to purchase Membership in Disney Vacation Club, we calculated how much money we had spent on our first trip to Walt Disney World, then added the cost of our second trip, the one we were on at that time. When we realized that the cost of just two additional trips such as the ones we'd taken added to the cost of what we'd spent thus far (for a Disney Cruise Line cruise + a stay at Disney's Polynesian Resort, as well as a week at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort) would be equal to the amount it would cost us to purchase a Membership in Disney Vacation Club, we decided to join right then and there.
Not every family is going to plan to travel; we, however, had two young children and knew that it was important for us to travel together. DVC Membership is a great way for us to head back to WDW when we want to, but to also get the kids on a cruise ship and, when they're ready, to head to Europe, Alaska or Australia...all on our Disney Vacation Club Membership points!
Call DVC at (800) 500-3990 to discuss specifics of Disney Vacation Club Membership.
Please send me questions as often as you think of them, too! I'd love to help you understand DVC, including perks such as Annual Pass discounts, discounts on select merchandise and dining discounts at Walt Disney World resorts and so much more!