When adding a new contract, DVC members will have the option to purchase the same home resort or purchase a new one. Unlike complexities around owning multiple Use Years, owning two or more home resorts will be more straightforward. Membership will be easier, but owning at two different resorts will also mean that both resorts' 11-month booking privileges will differ. This chapter discusses why people purchase a second contract at a home resort different from the original contract.

Is DVC a viable option for people who only stay at value resorts? The value resorts are the All-Star Resorts (Movies, Music, and Sports), Art of Animation, Pop Century, and Fort Wilderness Cabins. They are designed for the most frugal Disney World Vacationers. Guests who stay here can count on a clean room and a place to sleep and shower, but their time is generally spent at the parks.

The primary comparison members make when deciding whether to buy a DVC membership contract or not is how this compares to current Disney World accommodations. If your vacation typically includes one of the Deluxe Resorts, then there is good news, you'll probably save money by becoming a DVC member. You'll find your payback will only require a few visits. If you typically stay at a moderate resort and go every year or two, you will probably save money, but it may be a few years before you break even. In the meantime, you traded in moderate rooms for a villa with some of the best accommodations on site. For value accommodations, DVC may not be the perfect fit for you. You may not be able to justify strictly on an economic analysis.

In simple terms, the DVC Use Year is not a year but the month that your vacation points are put into your account. Points are added on the first day of the month, and you have one full year to use them. The Use Year is designated in your contract and can never change.

One of the issues that members have from time to time is calculating key membership dates. If you miss it, you may not get that coveted room or dining reservation. There are excellent features on the DVC Field Guide website that helps members determine upcoming key membership dates. These include booking openings (11/7-month), dining reservations (60 days), and the next banking deadline based on Use Year

The additional benefits of being a DVC member are not contractual and can be reduced or eliminated at any time. Typical perks are food and merchandise discounts, annual pass savings, villa room discounts, pool hopping, DVC lounges at theme parks or resorts, and special members-only events and cruises.

The benefits associated with being a DVC member are not the same for every member. Disney changed all of this when it started restricting resale members on April 4, 2016. Until then, all DVC members had the same perks. After this date, owners who only owned DVC Resale contracts did not have access to discounts and member events like other DVC memberships.

There is a significant initial savings of purchasing a resale contract. However, many owners choose to buy contracts direct from Disney to get a portfolio of DVC perks.

A DVC "Home Resort" selection is an essential first step in determining how to use your DVC membership. The designation of "Home Resort" is the location where your DVC timeshare is contractually located. The Home Resort determines the initial purchase price and the annual maintenance cost the owners must pay to get their yearly vacation points from Disney. It also determines the owner's home resort reservation priority.

Disney allows DVC members to transfer all or part of their vacation points to another member. Transfer between members is different than renting points between members. A transfer is an actual movement of points into the new owner's account. The new owner is in complete control of the points after the transfer and can make reservations without the original owner's aid. In a point rental, there is an agreement between parties, so the initial member must complete the reservations from his account.

A Disney timeshare is different from most timeshares because of its flexibility and ability to keep its value on an active resale market. Members who purchase DVC contracts get annual vacation points that can be turned into vacation stays at 15 DVC resorts. They can also use their points for Disney Resorts, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, or hotel accommodations worldwide through Interval International.

At the heart of the Disney Vacation Club are the DVC resorts. DVC resorts are owned by Disney Vacation Club and will almost always be the best use of your vacation points. Vacationing at one of these resorts is the primary purpose of buying a DVC membership.

Is DVC a viable option for people who only stay at deluxe resorts? Guests who regularly stay at Deluxe resorts will usually find that DVC makes the most sense for them. In essence, you are already getting the amenities of staying in the best Disney resorts, so the decision to move to DVC may be strictly a financial one.

If the resort accommodation is not available, DVC offers a waitlist process to help you get the reservation you want. This is a valuable resource for members as a reservation may not be available at the time of booking but may come open before you need the reservation. I have had good results using a waitlist, but success could take some time.

Disney Vacation Club uses a flexible point schedules. DVC members use these to calculate the number of points needed for a DVC resort reservation. If you booked a cash room at a hotel, you’d expect to pay more for bigger rooms, rooms with a better view, or rooms at peak times of the year. DVC resorts work precisely like that except cash=points at DVC Villas. The most desirable bookings will usually require more points.

One of the strengths of being a Disney Vacation Club member is having so many great resorts to choose from. Each of them has unique characteristics that are appealing to guests. Many DVC members enjoy splitting their vacation into multiple locations. Frankly, the idea of packing up and moving around the resort to resort may not be appealing to everyone. This blog discusses some of the reasons you may want to consider a split stay on your next DVC vacation.

Contracts purchased from Disney will usually be higher than ownership purchased from a current member. Over time, Disney has tried to lessen the advantages of lower-priced resale contracts in the marketplace by restricting the use and benefits. Disney has increased restrictions on three separate occasions in the last ten years, potentially making Resale less appealing. When the reason that you are buying a DVC contract is to be able to take a lifetime of excellent vacations at luxurious accommodations, you need to understand all of the ins and outs of your purchase, especially when the initial cost is so high.

I love the banking and borrowing features of the Disney Vacation Club. It allows flexibility and helps me utilize every DVC point that I have. Banking will enable members who will not use their vacation points to push them into the following year. Members can move every unused point into the following period. Borrowing is the process of getting points from next year and bringing them forward into this year. Together, banking and borrowing will allow you to utilize up to three years of vacation points in one year.

Buying or bringing grocery items with you can save you money and perhaps time. Even if you don't want to cook and utilize the fabulous kitchen in your DVC Villas, you may want to consider that some water items and quick-serve breakfast items will be cheaper and save you money and time. Parents with young children may find it more convenient to order diapers or formula to be delivered to the room rather than taking up luggage space.

There are a lot of options to get groceries to your room. These services are becoming more popular as you use them at your home to be familiar with the ones you use now. I can't say that I've used all of these at Disney, but I have used most of them.

Owner’s Locker is a third-party service whereby DVC guests can store items between visits to Orlando. The articles are packed in a nice container, kept in a safe place off-site, and are delivered to your resort whenever you want them. Guests typically utilize the service to have Disney-only items, kitchen goods, and small appliances that the DVC Villa doesn’t have. These items can make your DVC stay better, but they may be inconvenient or too large to carry back and forth each visit.

Is DVC a viable option for people who only stay at moderate resorts? The moderate resorts are Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Port Orleans Riverside. The accommodations at these resorts are more extensive and nicer than the value resorts. You may be surprised by the results.

DVC accommodations of One, Two, or Three Bedrooms are where guests can really feel like your Vacation Club room is a home away from home. These rooms have full-size kitchens and dedicated bedroom(s) that resemble an apartment or even a house. The One-Bedroom units have the highest vacancy rate of any other DVC accommodation. They are usually the easiest accommodation to book.