Take an insider look at the Disney Vacation Club benefits that just might make a membership work for you
As any Disney superfan (I count myself as one!) likely knows, Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s version of a timeshare across its many properties around the United States. So when I was invited to travel along with my husband and two kids as honorary DVC members to Disneyland and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Oahu, Hawaii, I jumped at the chance.
Curious about what the magic looks like behind Disney? While there are plenty of benefits of having a DVC membership, it also comes with its own set of caveats. Read on for a quick primer on Disney Vacation Club and the seven standout Disney Vacation Club benefits that make fans rave.
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What is the DVC (Disney Vacation Club)?
Before we dive into the many Disney Vacation Club benefits, it helps to understand what the Disney Vacation Club is. According to their website, the DVC bills itself as “a flexible vacation-ownership program that helps families enjoy the magic of Disney year after year.”
Members get and buy points that can be redeemed for stays at Disney Vacation Club’s resorts, including the two properties where we stayed and 14 others (and counting) spread across Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disney’s beach resorts in South Carolina and Florida. Depending on the type of membership you buy, you may also be able to redeem points on Disney Cruise Lines, Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions.
Unlike traditional timeshares, DVC members can travel when they want and to the DVC property of their choice (pending availability). Members can bank points from year to year, or borrow points from future years to take a big trip. They also have access to a Vacation Club guide, who will help them plan the best trip for their family.
While membership pricing varies, there’s an initial payment of at least $22,000, along with recurring dues, which are a minimum of $900 annually. The rate goes up depending on room preferences, destination, the size of your group and more.
What are the Disney Vacation Club perks?
Now that we’ve covered the Disney Vacation Club basics, let’s dive into the Disney Vacation Club benefits that make getting a membership so appealing.
A wider range of room sizes
One of the biggest benefits for DVC members is that Disney Vacation Club resorts offer accommodations of various sizes to fit every traveler’s needs. These generally include studios, deluxe studios, one-bedroom villas, two-bedroom villas and even three-bedroom grand villas.
My family stayed at a brand-new property—The Villa at Disneyland Hotel. The hotel, part of the Disneyland Hotel complex, is just a short walk from the Disneyland Monorail that whisks you away to the entrances to the parks. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, skip the monorail and take a brisk 10-minute walk.
Our deluxe studio at the hotel had a charming Princess and the Frog theme, with delightful touches such as a light-up headboard depicting scenes from Tiana’s French Quarter, and a bathroom mirror with lily pads and stars etched in the glass. The room had a queen bed and an additional pull-down queen sofa bed, as well as a small kitchenette with a mini-fridge, sink, coffee maker and microwave.
While there wasn’t quite enough room for the four of us to spread out, it was just the right size to serve as our home base in between trips to the park, Downtown Disney and the hotel’s Palette Pool.
My husband and I appreciated the coffee maker for our early-morning cups of joe, which we enjoyed in our robes while getting ready for the day. The mini-fridge was perfect for keeping leftovers fresh—my son was thankful he had leftover chicken fingers from lunch to eat as a late-night snack.
If your group needs more room, you can upgrade to a two-bedroom villa, which sleeps nine, or the luxurious 2,765-square-foot, three-bedroom villa (that’s its Moana-themed bedroom above), which sleeps up to 12. It has a spectacular terrace too, which overlooks the hotel complex.
Rooms with more amenities
One of the most advertised Disney Vacation Club perks is that you have all the “comforts of home” when you travel. We really felt that at the Aulani in Oahu, where we stayed in a spacious one-bedroom villa with an ocean view. Our suite had a separate bedroom with a king-size bed, a living room area with a queen-size sleeper sofa and pull-down twin bed, and a full kitchen with a fridge, stove, oven, microwave and eat-in area.
We all appreciated having the extra space. The kids were able to stay up late watching Bluey on the sleeper sofa—plus, they were happy they didn’t have to share a bed with each other. Meanwhile, my husband and I were delighted to have more quiet time.
Once again, we used our fridge to store our perishable leftovers, which came in handy when one of the kids needed a snack. We also got milk and cereal for quick breakfasts, and a box of mac and cheese for when we didn’t want to spend the time eating lunch at a restaurant.
Perhaps the best amenity was the in-room washer and dryer. As anyone with children can tell you, kids have a way of getting their clothes dirty even when there’s not a speck of mud in sight. Plus, my son, despite owning three swimsuits, likes to wear his favorite one on repeat. With the washer-dryer, we were able to rinse it and toss it into the dryer so it was ready for him to wear the next day. The resort even provides the laundry detergent.
Member lounges
DVC benefits don’t end when you step outside of your hotel. There are a handful of members-only lounges across the Disney parks and resorts.
On our trip to Disneyland, we had the opportunity to visit Disney Vacation Club Star View Station, a member lounge that opened in 2023. It’s situated near the Autopia attraction in Tomorrowland and provides a perfect pit stop for when you need an uncrowded bathroom, a strong Wi-Fi signal, complimentary soda or coffee, or just a comfortable, quiet and cool spot to regroup for a minute. My family loved ogling the themed decor and collectibles, including the S1 Spaceship model that appeared in a 1962 episode of The Magical World of Disney.
The other DVC member lounges are at Disney World: the Top of the World Lounge atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and in the glass pyramid at Epcot’s Imagination! Pavilion.
What are some lesser-known Disney Vacation Club benefits?
While we didn’t partake in the experiences listed below on our travels, these are even more Disney Vacation Club perks you can expect with a membership:
Discounts on other Disney experiences
These include entrance to Disney water parks, mini golf, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party and more.
Members-only events
This includes sneak peeks at new attractions, such as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure; culinary experiences, such as mimosa-tasting and macaron-making; and after-hours parties at the parks.
One of the most popular is Moonlight Magic, an exclusive event that happens a few times a year at Disneyland and Disney World. (In 2025 and 2026, this will be held at Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Typhoon Lagoon and Disneyland’s California Adventure Park.)
Not only is the specific park closed to everyone save DVC members, but there are also rare character experiences, such as Spiderman and Bernard and Bianca from The Rescuers, plus vouchers for complimentary treats like Mickey bars. I hear that this event is so popular that members will plan their annual trips around it.
Members-only cruises on Disney Cruise Line
In addition to all the regular entertainment and fun on a Disney cruise, members-only sailings offer special gifts, such as a cookbook and exclusive entertainment; past guests have included the actors who voice Goofy and Ashoka from Star Wars.
A sense of community
When you arrive at a Disney Vacation Club resort, cast members greet you with the signature DVC phrase, a cheery “Welcome home!” Because our DVC experience was limited, I checked with my friend Julia, who has been a DVC member since 2017. “I am a part of all the online DVC forums on Facebook. We get information from one another,” she shares. “Also, we have met people at the resort who have become Facebook friends, which is fun. Because we all love Disney, it’s a great way to connect.”
What are some drawbacks of the DVC membership?
While Disney Vacation Club has its perks, according to DisneyParkNerds, there are some major downsides to keep in mind before taking the plunge with a membership. These are:
Long-term commitment
When you join DVC, you’re signing up for a contract that lasts decades (many run through 2042 or even 2075). If your life changes (such as your job, finances, travel habits), getting out isn’t always easy. Plus, reselling a DVC membership comes with its own set of hurdles.
Annual dues climb upward
Beyond the hefty buy-in, members owe yearly fees that usually rise over time. A typical contract can mean $1,000-plus a year—even if you don’t use your points.
Tough peak-season bookings
Holiday and spring break dates vanish fast, unless you’re willing to commit early. Even with “home resort priority,” scoring your preferred resort or room type during high-demand seasons can still be tough unless you plan well in advance.
No park tickets included
One of the biggest surprises to many is that DVC covers lodging, not admission. You’ll still need to pay full price for tickets to the parks, which can add several hundred dollars (or more) to every vacation, especially for families.
So, is the DVC membership really worth it?
Though the initial investment into Disney Vacation Clubs is high, for those who can afford it, DVC membership offers VIP access that you can’t put a price on.
The sticker shock with Disney Vacation Club is real. Contracts often run between $30,000 and $35,000 up front, plus annual dues that hover around $900 to $1,000 (or more). But for die-hard Disney fans, that investment can start to pay for itself. According to DVC Resale Experts, a Deluxe Studio at Copper Creek Villas can cost about $455 a night if you book with cash. That’s more than $3,500 for a weeklong stay—a trip that DVC points could cover for far less over time.
And Julia agrees: “Eventually, you’ll be staying at amazing resorts for a fraction of the price.” If your family members are Disney fans—like mine—and you plan on taking regular trips, the answer is a wholehearted yes!
Fans who’ve done the math say the “break-even point” usually comes in around 8 to 11 years, as long as you’re taking regular trips. According to a Reddit thread where existing members shared their experiences, the real savings show up when families use their points every year and occasionally splurge on bigger villas that would be pricey out of pocket. You could even consider opting for a private VIP tour instead, if you want to just skip the lines and cover more ground.
On the flip side, if you only visit Disney every few years (or you’re content with value-tier hotels), DVC probably won’t make financial sense.
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Sources:
- Disney Vacation Club
- TripAdvisor: “The Villa at the Disneyland Hotel”
- TripAdvisor: “Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa”
- Disney Vacation Club: “Star View Station – A Member Lounge”
- Disney Vacation Club: “Moonlight Magic Returns in 2026!”
- Disney Park Nerds: “Pros and Cons of Disney Vacation Club That Buyers Should Know”
- DVC Resale Experts: “Calculating Cost Savings Of Disney Vacation Club”
- Reddit: “Thinking about becoming a DVC member”
