What do you think about the Disney Vacation Club?

by Beach Comer

Help! In the past year I think I spent about $15,000.+ going to Disney with my family and thought I really need to invest the Disney World Timeshare Program the Disney Vacation Club! What do you think about them and do you know if they are making new ones that will fit with the new Fantasyland in the magic kingdom?

We love Disney World and I for one would love to keep the theme of Fantasyland with our living environment and imaginations!

Thanks for your time on this one and do love your post!

Just don't make me stay in a It's a Small World Themed Room

Photo by Jeff_B.

Dad's I wish I could go back in time Answer

Dear Beach,

I love the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). I wish I could go back in time to the 1980's when the first Disney Vacation Club property called the Disney Vacation Club (now the Old Key West Resort) was built. It sold for about $50.00 per point and included park tickets for the whole family. Please, someone find me a time machine so I can go back and buy.

It sounds like you might be a great candidate for the DVC. For some families, it doesn't make much sense.

First let me say, buying the DVC is very expensive. Currently it costs up to $112 per point plus yearly dues. The minimum purchase (through Disney) is 160 points. That means you will have to shell out almost $18,000 dollars for your "investment".

It's not financially smart to borrow money to buy the points for the Disney Vacation Club (but many do). In the long run the interest will make the total price too high.

Let's take a look and see who the Disney Vacation Club makes sense for ...

Who the it makes sense for

If you go to Walt Disney World either every year, or every other year and stay in a Deluxe Resort you should purchase a membership. If you go every year and stay at a Moderate Resort every you should purchase a membership.

Those who it doesn't make sense for

If you go to Walt Disney World infrequently it doesn't make sense for you. If you can't afford the big upfront payment and the yearly dues, it doesn't make sense for you. If you are comfortable staying at a Value Resort, the Disney Vacation Club won't make sense for you.

 

Once you pay the initial price you will only pay the yearly dues that are around $4 to $6 per point per year. These change from year to year and tend to go up almost every year.

What I like about the DVC

I like the idea of having lots of room when vacationing. I'm a big fan of having a the kitchen (but Mrs. Mom hates it, guess who wins that argument) and a sitting room to relax in. The Disney Vacation Club rooms are huge compared to normal hotel rooms.

What I don't like

What I don't like about the it is the newer resorts aren't nearly as family friendly as the old ones. Disney seems to be in love with couch beds. Not Dad. Dad wants a real bed and any room that "sleeps" 8 but 4 of them are sleeping in couches or chairs means the room only sleeps 4 to Dad.

The Future

Just a quick word about the future of the Disney Vacation Club. I do see the building binge slowing down at Walt Disney World. Rumors are that the next resort will be at the Grand Floridian. These rumors come up all the time. (Two years ago it was the Ft. Wilderness Campground.)

With the new resorts at Disneyland and Hawaii, I see Disney expanding to more locations outside of Disney World.

About the Fantasyland Theme, that's probably not in the cards. None of the Disney Vacation Club Resorts have themes that come from the parks or movies. For now the only themed rooms are in the Moderate Resorts and the Contemporary Resort. Sorry.

Dad's Bottom Line

Beach Comer, I wish I had a Disney Vacation Club membership. Maybe when the Grand kids come. Maybe not. The idea is great if you can afford it and you plan to go to Walt Disney World a lot over the next few years.