The Disney Vacation Club is a unique timeshare program that Disney Vacation Development began in 1991. The first resort in the Disney Vacation Club was the tropical, Old Key West Resort. Since that time, Disney has added an additional six more Disney Vacation Club Resorts, with the new Animal Kingdom Villas under construction, making it the eighth Disney Vacation Club Resort.

The Disney Vacation Club is one of the higher end timeshare real estate programs, comparable to Hilton Grand Vacations, and Marriot Timeshares. There are many things to consider when shopping for or considering a purchase in a timeshare real estate vacation property. The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) offers a real estate interest in one of the Disney Vacation Club Resorts through an initial purchase of a minimum amount of points. The current minimum buy in directly from Disney Vacation Club is 160 points at $101 per point at the DVC Saratoga Springs Resort, or $104 per point for the DVC Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas.

The Disney Vacation Club Timeshare Resorts

There are a total of eight Disney Vacation Club Timeshare Resorts, at the present time, with the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas in the final construction phase. The Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas are opening in phases.  The first phase opened in September of 2007, with completion of the new resort addition in the summer of 2009. Disney timeshare Hilton Head Resort is located in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Disney timeshare Vero Beach Resort is located about two hours from Walt Disney World, in Vero Beach, Florida. The other five existing Disney Vacation Club Resorts are all located at Disney World.

Plans are in the works for a California Disney timeshare location and also a Hawaii location.  There are also persistent rumors that a portion of the landmark Contemporary Hotel in Disney World will become a Disney Vacation Club timeshare resort location. A portion of the hotel was recently demolished and is now under reconstruction.

Each Disney Vacation Club Resort offers studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom accommodations. A few of the DVC Resorts also feature Grand Villas, which will accommodate up to 12 guests. The studio and one-bedrooms will accommodate 4 guests, and the two-bedrooms will accommodate up to 8 guests. Studios have efficiency kitchens with a microwave, sink, cupboards, and a small refrigerator, while all others have full kitchens.

Old Key West is a large, tropical resort that was the first of the Disney Vacation Club Resorts. It was built in 1991, and features the largest two-bedroom accommodations of all the DVC Resorts. This resort offers a boat service to Downtown Disney, and is located near the Downtown Disney area.

Disney's Boardwalk Villas are located in the Boardwalk area, convenient to both Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot. Directly across the lake from DVC Boardwalk Villas is Disney's Beach Club Villas. Both of these Disney Vacation Club Resorts are located near the corresponding hotels (Boardwalk Inn and Yacht and Beach Club Resorts).

The Wilderness Lodge Villas are located adjacent to Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort. The Northwest, woodsy theme continues at the DVC Villas. Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort is the newest Disney Vacation Club Resort, aside from the newly announced Animal Kingdom Villas. Saratoga Springs Resort is located near Downtown Disney, within walking distance or by the Disney ferry service.

Disney Vacation Club Timeshare Points System

The Disney Vacation Club works on a point system, which varies greatly for each DVC Resort and season. Unlike some other timeshare systems, the Disney Vacation Club does not have set weeks for sale. Each owner has a number of points to use as they wish each year, with the ability to bank and borrow each use years' points. The points are a part of a real estate interest in Disney Vacation Club, rather than a life use or permanent ownership. Points owned at Disney's Old Key West Resort, Boardwalk Villas, Wilderness Lodge Villas, Beach Club Villas, Hilton Head Resort, and Vero Beach Resort, will expire in 2042. Ownership points at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort will expire in 2054, and Animal Kingdom Lodge points will expire in 2057.

Weekend point costs at the Disney Vacation Club Resorts are about double the points of stays for Sunday through Thursday nights. A studio at Saratoga Springs Resort costs 11 points per night Sunday through Thursday during adventure season, 20 points for a one-bedroom, and 27 points for a two-bedroom.

Disney Vacation Club Timeshare Purchasing and Financing

There is a buy in minimum of 160 points for new members of the Disney Vacation Club. This amounts to about $16,000 or so without any incentives. Disney often has specials, however, that may save potential buyers some money. Current Disney Vacation Club members can purchase as few as 25 additional points to add to their membership points. The Timeshare Store and a few other reputable timeshare resale companies list Disney Vacation Club resales for varying amounts of points and buy-in costs. Those interested in purchasing less than the minimum 160 points may want to consider resale.

Sold-out Disney Vacation Club Resorts can also be purchased through Disney, depending on current inventory. The cost per point varies for each of the sold-out DVC Resorts. There is also a wait list for certain use year months for sold-out resorts, and the Beach Club Villas are often unavailable, aside from the wait list.

A minimum deposit is required for purchasing membership in the Disney Vacation Club, usually about 10%, depending on credit. Financing is available through Disney at a rate of 10.75% on a ten year loan. Some members choose to finance, which is fairly easy to set up, while others pay in full, or choose to find better financing rates.


 

Disney Vacation Club Timeshare Resale Value

Current resale values on Disney Vacation Club Resorts have remained steady, due to Disney's Right of First Refusal. Sellers must offer Disney the first chance to accept the resale, and buy it back, before selling to new purchasers through resale. This has kept prices for Disney Vacation Club Resorts from dropping. Disney Vacation Club is not an investment, however, but more of a pre-paid vacation plan, as Disney officially states.
Members who purchased in 1991 did pay considerably less for points, and some may have made a profit through resale, but membership is best for those who plan to vacation at Disney World regularly.