Are you a Disney fanatic looking to buy a Disney Vacation Club timeshare? If so, we will give you the full rundown on DVC and how their contracts work. As Disney Vacation Club is renowned for serving as a top vacation club in the industry, it differs from other leading timeshare companies. Hence, it’s vital to know that DVC timeshares offer a leasehold contract with an expiration date. So, regardless of whether you’re purchasing or adding more DVC points, it’s vital to understand how their leasehold contracts work and how the expiration date can affect you. Further, let’s dive into the logistics of DVC contract end dates so you can start vacationing with Mickey Mouse today!
When Do DVC Points Expire?
If you didn’t know already and are just starting to look into buying DVC points on the secondary market, all their points expire. Whether you buy directly from Disney or resale, every contract at each home resort will have the same expiration year. See the table below to check when the contract expires for each home resort you may be interested in.
DVC Contract Expiration Dates
DVC expiration dates are essential to consider when buying Disney Vacation Club points because you will want to make sure it fits in with your travel plans for the future. Remember, whether you buy Disney Vacation Club points at Grand Floridian today or ten years ago, all Grand Floridian contracts will end on 1/31/2064. The same goes for each resort listed below, with varying expiration years. Continue reading to learn each DVC contract end date for each resort.
| DVC Resort | Contract Expiration Dates |
| Vero Beach | 1/31/2042 |
| Hilton Head | 1/31/2042 |
| BoardWalk Villas | 1/31/2042 |
| Boulder Ridge at Wilderness Lodge | 1/31/2042 |
| Beach Club Villas | 1/31/2042 |
| Old Key West | 1/31/2042 – OR – 1/31/2057 |
| Saratoga Springs Resort | 1/31/2054 |
| Animal Kingdom Villas | 1/31/2057 |
| Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort | 1/31/2060 |
| Grand Californian | 1/31/2060 |
| Aulani | 1/31/2062 |
| Grand Floridian | 1/31/2064 |
| Polynesian Villas & Bungalows | 1/31/2066 |
| Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge | 1/31/2068 |
| Riviera Resort | 1/31/2070 |
Further, now that you’ve viewed the DVC deed expirations, let’s examine how Old Key West contracts differ from other DVC contracts.
What’s Up with Old Key West’s DVC End Date for Contracts?
The standard across most of the DVC resorts is 50-year contracts. However, you might have noticed that Old Key West has two expiration dates. That’s because in 2007, owners were initially offered the option to extend their Old Key West contracts for 15 years at $15 per point, but now the price per point is $25.
When buying DVC resale and looking specifically for Old Key West points for sale, always note the contract’s expiration. You’ll see both expiration years floating around the resale market, and that’s because some owners at the time chose not to extend their contracts! You can find our listings separated for this resort:
- Disney’s Old Key West – Expires in 2042 (original expiration date)
- Disney’s Old Key West (Extended) – Expires in 2057
Why Do Disney Vacation Club Contracts Expire?
A leasehold property is when a developer leases a piece of land for several years. Disney Vacation Club leases from Disney Vacation Development Inc., where they build upon their leased land with resorts. For this reason, all DVC contracts expire because they lease land from Disney Vacation Development.
Leasehold Property
Contrary to your expectations, DVC is not a right-to-use (RTU) timeshare. Being a leasehold property, however, it does have some similarities because the contracts expire. Once the contract expires, you won’t be able to book reservations anymore.
Timeshare right-to-use means the owned contract or deed has an expiration date. The timeshare owner has the “right to use” their unit for a specified number of years. These are usually found in Mexico, Aruba, or other international countries where an international buyer cannot hold land ownership.
How Long Are DVC Contracts? What if I Buy a Resale?
As Disney Vacation Club offers a leasehold contract to buyers, each one has an expiration date. These contracts may last 50 years or more, but they remain the same for all owners of the particular resort. For instance, if you were to buy a DVC resale at Bay Lake Tower, every contract for sale on the resale market would expire on 1/31/2060. Even if you were to buy a Bay Lake Tower resale in 2025, the contract will have the same expiration date, and you will no longer own it by 1/31/2060. All deeds expire on January 31.
What Happens When a DVC Contract Expires?
Sometimes, like in the case of Old Key West, DVC will offer owners the option to extend their contracts. If DVC does not allow owners to extend, they take back the sold units.
What DVC will do with those timeshare units has yet to be discovered, but we can guess that they will either build a newer, more extensive resort to replace the one before it or re-sell the units. Either way, once your contract expires, you will no longer own a piece of the resort or have the option to use those DVC points for vacations.
How Do Resort Expirations Affect Other DVC Resorts?
When the expiration dates arrive and some resorts reach the end of their contracts—like Old Key West’s original 2042 expiration—a natural question is what this means for the remaining Disney Vacation Club resorts with later dates. In practical terms, the impact on resorts with expirations further in the future is minimal, at least at first. Each resort’s expiration is managed independently, so the closure or transition of one property won’t change the expiration timeline for others.
However, there could be a ripple effect for members, especially if their “Home Resort” is one that expires while they still hold points at another property. Availability at remaining resorts may tighten as the overall number of DVC accommodations shrinks, and Disney may choose to refresh or expand properties to address shifting demand.
For now, though, buying into a resort with a later expiration date means your contract remains tied to its specific timeline, regardless of what happens at other resorts. Just keep an eye on how Disney handles the process as each property nears its end date, as it could offer insight into potential future options—or surprises—for owners down the road.
Should You Choose a Shorter or Longer DVC Deed Expiration?
When weighing your options between DVC contracts with varying expiration dates, it’s important to consider your personal travel goals and long-term plans.
For some buyers, a shorter expiration can actually be a plus—especially for those who see themselves enjoying Disney vacations for only a set number of years. Maybe you’re close to retirement or your children are nearly grown; in these cases, a contract that ends sooner means you can use up your points without worrying about managing or reselling the membership years down the line. On the other hand, longer deeds tend to appeal to families who want to maximize their vacation opportunities or even create a tradition to pass down.
Ask yourself:
- How long do I expect to travel with Disney Vacation Club?
- Do I want the flexibility to pass along my membership, or am I happy letting it sunset?
No matter your preference, understanding how the expiration date aligns with your plans ensures you get the most enjoyment—and the most value—out of your DVC purchase.
What About DVC Subsidized Dues?
For certain Disney Vacation Club resorts like Aulani, you might come across a contract on the resale market that has “subsidized dues.” DVC subsidized dues contracts are a hot commodity because they usually mean lower maintenance fees for the owner. Coming across a subsidized dues contract is rare, and Disney will likely exercise their right of first refusal.
Contracts with subsidized dues will still have the exact expiration dates as ones without, so the maximum contract length will not be affected.
Buy a Disney Vacation Club Resort Timeshare
Do you want to buy a Disney timeshare and take magical vacations yearly to a DVC resort? If the answer is yes, you must check out our DVC listings. Once you find a timeshare that interests you, simply make an offer.
Are you looking for more information about Disney Vacation Club? Give us a call today at 1 (800) 410-8326.
Is Disney Vacation Club Worth it?
By now, you have probably discovered that Disney Vacation Club offers numerous benefits. But the question remains: Is it worth it? The answer is often a resounding yes for families who frequently visit Disney World or Disneyland. If you’re wondering whether it’s the right choice for you and your loved ones, we invite you to watch our video.
Sell Your Timeshare
No longer using your timeshare? Interested in selling your DVC timeshare? Fill out the form below to meet one-on-one with an agent!
