Disney Vacation Club resorts are some of the most unique vacation ownership opportunities for families. Each Disney resort offers something special, but the DVC resorts have an extra dash of pixie dust. There are 16 DVC resorts across the United States, in some of the country’s top vacation destinations. From the thrills of Walt Disney World to the relaxing shores of Hawaii, there is a DVC resort for every type of traveler. DVC points work like vacation currency, so it’s important to know how to use them to best benefit you! How many DVC points you’ll need to buy depends on multiple factors, and there are many ways to use them! Let’s discuss how these points work, how many you’ll need, and how to add more to your existing DVC membership!
How Do DVC Points Work?
Think of Disney Vacation Club points as a currency that you can use on vacation. When you purchase points (whether it’s directly from DVC or resale), you are buying a leasehold contract at a specific resort. Your contract ownership details determine the annual allotment of points you receive.
With a flexible points-based system, Disney Vacation Club owners can use their points at any resort within the DVC catalog.
There are many things to consider when purchasing DVC. These include the annual allotment of points they will receive, which Disney resort they have priority booking with, and when their points will renew. Your home resort, how much space you’ll need, and how often you’d like to vacation affect how many points you will need.
Use Year
Disney Vacation Club gives owners an annual allotment of points every year on their Use Year. It may come as a surprise to learn that your Use Year actually refers to a month. The first of that month is when you can use your annual allotment of points over the next year.
Learn more about the importance of Use Years with DVC on our blog.
There are eight Use Years to consider: February, March, April, June, August, September, October, and December.
DVC points are flexible! You can bank them for the following year up to 8 months after your Use Year. For example, if your Use Year is February, you have until September 30th to bank your points before they must be used or banked. Otherwise, they will expire.
You can also borrow points from the following year and use them in your current Use Year. The way Disney timeshare points work gives members greater flexibility and freedom to vacation to the fullest. You can choose what Disney Vacation Club resort villas you want to stay in and when!
How Many DVC Points Do I Need?
It might be tricky to determine how many DVC points you will need to buy. Consider a few things first:
- How many people will you be traveling with?
- How much space will you need every vacation?
- Which Disney resorts will you plan on going to most?
- What season do you travel during?
Disney Vacation Club resorts have a range of accommodations, from quaint studios all the way to three-bedroom villas. Studios generally sleep up to four to five people, depending on the resort. Riviera Resort features Tower Studios, which only sleeps up to two people.
Not every DVC resort has a large variety of room sizes. Beach Club, Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge, and the Polynesian Villas at Walt Disney World can only comfortably accommodate up to eight people.
However, you may want some extra space or additional amenities if you will be traveling with the family. Although you’ll be staying at a deluxe resort, not every room is right for large families. A Studio Villa room or One Bedroom DVC Villas might not be the right room type to check in to.
If you need more space, or perhaps you’re planning an extra special family Disney vacation, you can bank or borrow your points if need be. This way you can make a resort reservation for larger Disney Vacation Club villas that can fit your entire travel party.
If you’re wondering how many points you need, also consider which resorts you will want to travel to the most. Newer Disney Vacation Club resorts are going to have higher demand and cost more in points as well. The Polynesian bungalows with unbeatable views of Magic Kingdom are also popular, so you can account for this as well.
What Is a DVC Points Chart?
One of the most helpful tools you’ll encounter as a Disney Vacation Club member is the DVC points chart. Think of it as your vacation planning roadmap—it shows exactly how many points you’ll need for different resorts, room types, and travel dates throughout the year.
Every DVC resort has its own section, breaking down point requirements based on factors like room size (from cozy studios to sprawling villas), view type, and the season in which you plan to travel. For instance, visiting during the holidays or spring break usually costs more points than off-peak times.
With these charts, you can:
- Compare point requirements across resorts and seasons
- Optimize your vacation timing for maximum value
- Decide whether to splurge on a villa or save with a studio
You’ll find point charts directly on our website to help you crunch the numbers for your upcoming trip. With these resources, you’re empowered to make the most of your membership, whether you’re planning a quick weekend getaway or a grand family reunion.
Why Effective Points Management Matters
Planning and managing your DVC points can truly unlock the full magic of your membership. With a little strategy, you can stretch your points to enjoy longer stays, book at the most popular resorts, or visit during peak seasons—all without running short. Proper planning also means fewer headaches down the road, whether you’re banking, borrowing, or even transferring points for that dream trip.
By keeping track of your annual allotment, travel preferences, and key booking windows, you’ll have the flexibility to pick the vacations that fit your family best—whether it’s an action-packed week at Disney’s Riviera Resort or a relaxing escape to Aulani’s sun-soaked beaches. Making the most of your points ensures every Disney vacation is as memorable and magical as possible.
Travel Periods at DVC
Each resort may have a different set of Travel Periods. DVC Orlando resorts have seven different Travel Periods. September 1st through the 19th is generally the slowest travel season in Orlando, so you won’t need as many points if you plan on visiting during that time. The weather is pretty warm, but kids are back in school, making it perfect for a trip to Disney World for adults.
You can take a look at our DVC Point Charts to get a good look at how many points you will need to spend at each resort, depending on the Travel Period.
Understanding how Travel Periods work and looking at DVC points charts is vital for planning Disney vacations. Knowing what room types you can get when making a reservation at Disney Vacation Club villas is a no-brainer! So, whether you want to stay at the Grand Floridian or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, be sure to familiarize yourself with the system before booking.
Booking Your DVC Stay
Using your Disney Vacation Club points to secure accommodations is as easy as planning your next adventure. Members can reserve stays at any participating DVC resort, offering a world of possibilities, whether you dream of a Magic Kingdom view at Bay Lake Tower or a peaceful escape at Disney’s Aulani in Hawaii.
The number of points you’ll need for each reservation depends on a few key details:
- Resort location: Popular destinations like Disney’s Grand Floridian or Disney’s Beach Club Villas may require more points.
- Room type: Studio villas need fewer points than two-bedroom or grand villas.
- View preference: Rooms with coveted views—like fireworks or savannah vistas—generally come at a higher point value.
- Length of stay: The longer your getaway, the more points you’ll use.
- Travel season: Visiting during peak times, such as holidays and summer, will require more points compared to slower periods.
With this flexibility, members can stretch points for shorter, more frequent trips or save them for that extra-special getaway. You even have the option to bank or borrow points to tailor your vacation to your family’s needs.
Home Resort Priority: What Does It Mean for You?
When you join Disney Vacation Club, you’ll designate a “Home Resort.” This comes with a unique perk known as Home Resort Priority. In practice, this means you can book your vacation at your Home Resort up to 11 months before your desired check-in date—much earlier than members booking at other resorts, who must wait until the 7-month window.
This extra booking time at your Home Resort is a game-changer, especially if you love staying during busy travel seasons, prefer specific room types, or have a favorite building (Wilderness Lodge fans, you know what I mean). Think of it as your FastPass to the accommodations you like most, helping you lock in those high-demand dates before the rush.
If you’re eyeing a popular event week—like the Epcot Food & Wine Festival or a holiday stay—having Home Resort Priority seriously boosts your odds of snagging the perfect villa for your magical getaway.
How to Buy Disney Timeshare
Whether it’s the first time you buy a Disney timeshare or you are looking to add more points to your existing ownership, there are a couple of ways to do so. You can buy points directly from Disney and enjoy the maximum benefits that DVC offers. It does come with a hefty price tag, but there are also financing options Disney offers.
If you’re adding points to your membership or you just want to spend less for a Disney Vacation Club contract, resale is a great option. You can browse listings by resort, points, Use Year, etc. Call us or fill out a form on a listing of your choice to make an offer.
Keep an eye on our monthly “Average DVC Resale Price Per Point” blog to keep up with the trends. Knowing what resale customers pay per point at each Disney property may help you decide where to buy. Of course, buying timeshares resale is a great way to save money compared to the rack rate cost of booking Disney hotel rooms every year!
Tips to Add Points to Your Existing Membership
If you’re worried about how many DVC points you will need, keep in mind that you can always buy more, especially on the resale market. DVC resales are at a much lower cost and have some of the same benefits you will enjoy. Take a look at DVC Resale Vs. Direct, as well as DVC Resale Restrictions, to learn more.
Recently, Disney announced that in order to receive your Blue Membership card (giving owners discounts on dining, access to Members Only lounges, shopping discounts, and more) you must hold 150 DVC points that are originally purchased directly from Disney. DVC changes its resale regulations often, so keep this in mind.
If you are happy with your current membership but simply want more DVC points, adding on can be pretty simple. The easiest way to go about it is to keep things consistent with your current membership. Pay for the same Use Year and make sure the property is deeded to the same names as your original.
When you add on this way, you will have two deeds but only one Disney Vacation Club membership number. You will use these DVC points as if they were all part of a single package, so you can book Disney Vacation Club villas with ease. It’s completely hassle-free.
Buying DVC Points at a New Home Resort
So, you’re loving your DVC membership, but there’s another resort you want to have priority reservations with? We get it. Maybe you bought a contract from the Polynesian, but you want to have priority booking access to the newest addition to Disney World, the Riviera Resort.
If you buy the same Use Year, you’ll maintain one account. The points will renew at the same time, but booking can be tricky. Let’s say you buy the same Use Year from the Riviera Resort. When it comes time to book a vacation, you will still only have a seven-month booking window. Why? Because you’re using points that are also associated with your Polynesian resort (your Home resort). This is one “gotcha!” that can come with purchasing more points at a different resort under the same account.
After the Home Resort priority period—which allows you to book at your Home Resort up to 11 months in advance—members can still book accommodations at other Disney Vacation Club Resorts, but only based on availability and within a 7-month booking window. So, even if you’ve added points at a new resort, your ability to reserve there ahead of the crowd depends on whether you’ve made it your Home Resort. Otherwise, you’ll be working within that 7-month window, just like everyone else booking outside their Home Resort. This is an important consideration if you’re eyeing popular dates or hard-to-get villas.
Buying a Different Use Year
If you choose to buy DVC Points under a different Use Year, the only con is having to manage two different accounts. Multiple use years can be really useful, especially if you plan to visit Disney more than once a year and have very specific dates in mind. For instance, perhaps your family does a trip to Disney every spring, but you would also like to start a new tradition of seeing the New Year fireworks from Bay Lake Tower.
It’s a great idea, but the holiday season is a very popular time to make a reservation at the resort. You will almost definitely need the full 11-month booking window of a December Use Year at Bay Lake Tower if you hope to book club villas during the holiday season each year.
In this case, multiple Disney accounts make sense and will actually help you to make the most of your membership.
Note that, unlike multiple contracts at the same home resort, if you choose to sell your DVC points packages of different resorts, they cannot be combined into a single deed for the buyer. The two contracts will be sold independently.
Transferring DVC Points
If you own multiple DVC memberships (more than one membership number), Disney gives you a limited ability to transfer points between accounts. The “official policy” is that a single owner can only make one transfer between accounts each year.
DVC is firm on how restrictions work: only points for the current year can be transferred.
Experiencing More Than Just Disney
Beyond the magic of Disney resorts, members can use their DVC points for adventures far beyond the parks. Thanks to Disney Vacation Club’s network of exchange partners—including trusted programs like Interval International—you can turn your points into getaways around the globe. Imagine trading in your points for a ski week in Colorado, a European escape, or even a relaxing beach retreat in the Caribbean.
This flexibility means your DVC membership can take you to places like Manhattan’s dazzling cityscape, the serene shores of Hilton Head, or mountain resorts in the Rockies, simply by exchanging your points appropriately. So, whether you’re craving Disney pixie dust or dreaming of destinations elsewhere, your membership opens the door to a world of vacation possibilities.
Can You Buy Unused Disney Vacation Club Points?
If you don’t plan on using your DVC points and cannot bank them for next year, you should contact Disney directly for assistance in renting them out. You can buy unused points on the resale market from DVC members selling their full points package.
Curing Add-on-itis With DVC Resale
There are some useful tools to help you search for more DVC points. Create an account on our website to receive the latest Disney Vacation Club listings of your choice as soon as we post them. Browse resort listings for the Grand Floridian, Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Kidani Village, and more! This is the best way to snatch up the point package, Home Resort, and Use Year that you have been searching for at a great cost.
Join Disney Vacation Club and Save With Fidelity Real Estate
There are many perks to becoming a DVC member! Experience resort reservation booking priority, access to stunning DVC villas, free parking, and so much more! Disney Vacation Club villas can be found in Florida, California, South Carolina, and Hawaii. So if you’re planning on relaxing on the beach or exploring the thrills of theme parks like Animal Kingdom, this vacation club might be the best for you!
Call us at 1-800-410-8326 to get in touch with a Licensed Real Estate agent. We have over 20 years of experience in timeshare resales and have been the Recommended Resale Broker for Disney Vacation Club for over 15 years. Our team can show you how DVC points work and walk you through buying them.
