Flexible Vacation Ownership: Enjoy Disney on Your Terms

Buy DVC Points: What You Need to Know

Purchasing DVC points represents a significant investment in future Disney vacations. Understanding the essentials before buying ensures you make an informed decision that aligns with your family's vacation patterns and financial situation.

Understanding DVC Points Basics

DVC points function as vacation currency within the Disney Vacation Club system. Each point can be redeemed for accommodations at DVC resorts according to published point charts. The number of points required varies by resort, room type, and travel season, giving members flexibility in how they use their allocation.

Points are tied to a specific home resort that determines your priority booking window. During the 11-month advance period, you have preferred access to your home resort. At 7 months, all DVC resorts open to all members equally, creating a two-tier booking system that rewards home resort loyalty.

Direct Purchase vs Resale

Disney sells points directly through their sales channels at premium prices. These direct purchases include full membership benefits including access to Member Getaways, certain discounts, and other supplementary perks. Direct buyers pay substantially more per point than resale purchasers.

Resale points come from existing members selling their contracts through licensed brokers. Prices typically run 40% to 60% below direct prices, offering significant savings. However, resale purchases made after certain dates come with restrictions on some supplementary benefits while maintaining full resort booking capabilities.

Calculating Your Point Needs

Determining how many points to purchase requires understanding your vacation patterns. Point charts show the cost for different room types during various seasons. A studio at Beach Club during regular season might need 14 points per night, while a two-bedroom villa at Christmas could require 40 points nightly.

Consider how often you plan to visit Disney and what accommodations your family needs. A family visiting once yearly for a week in a studio might need 100-150 points. Families wanting larger accommodations or more frequent visits need proportionally more points to meet their vacation goals.

Home Resort Selection

Choosing your home resort is one of the most important decisions when buying points. This choice affects your booking priority and influences long-term satisfaction. Consider which parks you prefer, what amenities matter to your family, and where you envision spending most of your Disney vacations.

Popular home resort choices include Beach Club for Epcot walkability, Polynesian for Magic Kingdom monorail access, and Animal Kingdom Lodge for unique theming and wildlife. Each resort offers distinct advantages that appeal to different vacation styles and preferences.

Use Year Considerations

Every contract has a use year determining when your annual point allocation becomes available. Use years include February, March, April, June, August, September, October, and December. Selecting a use year that aligns with your typical vacation timing ensures points are available when you need them.

For example, if you typically vacation in summer, a June use year provides fresh points just before your trip. If you prefer holiday travel, an October or December use year might work better. Misaligned use years require more banking and borrowing to manage effectively.

Understanding Costs Beyond Purchase Price

The purchase price represents just one component of DVC ownership costs. Annual dues cover resort maintenance, operations, and property taxes. These dues vary by resort and typically increase annually. Budget for these ongoing costs when evaluating affordability.

Closing costs add several hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on contract size and transaction specifics. These one-time fees cover title insurance, document preparation, recording fees, and other closing expenses. Factor these costs into your total investment calculation.

The Purchase Process

Whether buying direct or resale, the process involves several steps. Direct purchases occur through Disney sales centers at resorts or via phone consultations. Resale purchases involve working with licensed brokers to find suitable contracts, negotiate terms, and navigate the ROFR and closing process.

Expect the timeline from decision to membership activation to span several weeks for direct purchases and two to three months for resale transactions. Planning accordingly ensures realistic expectations about when you can begin using your points.

Making Your Decision

Buying DVC points commits you to ongoing ownership responsibilities including annual dues and point management. Evaluate whether your vacation habits support this commitment. For families visiting Disney regularly, DVC ownership often provides excellent long-term value compared to paying rack rates.

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