Easily Determine Disney Vacation Club Cost for Your Family

If you are considering becoming a DVC owner, then you probably know that the Disney Vacation Club cost structure is complicated. There are a lot of variables and fees to keep in mind when you are trying to determine the cost of vacation ownership. Consider two things before you buy DVC points: 1. How many points do I need? and 2. Which accommodations are most appropriate for my family? With these considerations, it is helpful to calculate the cost of Disney Vacation Club for your family.

How Many DVC Points Should I Buy?

The very first thing to think about is the size of your family and what type of room you desire. A Deluxe Studio sleeps four and costs the least amount of points, but lacks privacy.  The One-Bedroom Villa also sleeps four and includes a full kitchen and laundry area. Larger families will probably require the Two-Bedroom Villa, which sleeps nine, or the Grand Villa which can accommodate 12 guests. Of course, there’s nothing tying you down to one unit size. You can stay in a Studio on one visit and then a One-Bedroom next year. However, in order to estimate the total cost of DVC membership, you’ll want to select the unit you’ll likely use the most.

Families typically purchase somewhere between 150-200 vacation points. A package of that size is usually enough for a five to six-night stay in a Two-Bedroom Villa at most resorts. Remember that the point cost will depend upon the time of year, length of stay, resort, and view. For a better understanding of these cost fluctuations, look at the DVC point chart for each resort, or try experimenting with a DVC point calculator in order to get a feel for how many points you’ll need.

Keep in mind that it’s better to have a few extra points on hand than to come up short. You can bank the points for a later date, or rent them out.

Consider DVC Annual Dues

Many people don’t realize that the annual maintenance fees have a much bigger impact on the total cost of DVC than the initial purchase price. Historically, annual dues have generally increased over time, but there are a few rare instances of annual dues decreasing from one year to the next. With that in mind, you can expect a two to three percent increase in the cost per point of annual dues each year.

Read More: 2023 DVC Points Charts Released and Show New Increases

Bay Lake Tower usually has the least expensive annual dues, and Vero Beach usually costs the most. If you’re not set on a particular home resort, remember a higher initial purchase price is sometimes justified in the long-term by lower annual dues.

Get the Best Price Per Point on DVC Membership

The price per point is going to be determined where you buy and which home resort you choose. If you decide to purchase your DVC membership directly from Disney, you’ll be able to spend your vacation points on hotel stays in addition to DVC resorts, but you’ll also pay a significant premium. That’s why most informed DVC members buy on the resale market. Take a look at Fidelity’s DVC listings and you’ll notice a substantially lower cost per point, which will add up to thousands of dollars saved on the initial purchase. Annual dues will remain the same no matter who you buy from, so there’s no financial downside to buying Disney Vacation Club resale.

Calculate the Cost of Disney Vacation Club

Once you’ve gone through all of the steps above, you’ll have a pretty good general idea of what the cost will look like. Take note of the tremendous difference it makes to the bottom line when you replace the default per point prices with the cost Fidelity’s DVC resale listings.

Lowest Point Cost for Disney Vacation Club Resorts

Keep in mind that the low seasons or Travel Periods will cost the least in points when you make a reservation. Typically, this is during the month of September on Walt Disney World Resort property in Orlando.

Get Some of that Money Back! Savings and More…

Disney knows how to treat guests, and they really know how to treat DVC members. You’ll get discounts on select restaurants, events, and even park admission. If you’re planning a family vacation at Disney every year or two, these discounts will really add up.

Read More: 9 Disney Vacation Club Benefits You Should Be Taking Advantage of

On those off years when you just can’t make it to Disney, renting your points can help you earn some of that money back. The money that you receive for renting out your DVC points will easily eclipse your annual dues. If you plan on visiting Disney every other year instead of annually, you can deduct the rentals from your cost of ownership.

Become a DVC Expert

You can never be too well informed before a big purchase. Learn everything that you need to know about Disney Vacation Club ownership with Fidelity’s free Family Guide to Disney Vacation Club.