DVC Field Guide 2024 Edition

DVC Field Guide Chapters

Chapter 1 Introduction to the DVC Field Guide

Chapter 2 DVC Introduction

The following text provides an overview of DVC (Disney Vacation Club) and its membership basics. It also includes a brief tour of the DVC resorts where you might want to vacation. The text explains how to choose your home resort, how to select a use year, and how to determine the number of points you should purchase. Additionally, it provides a helpful planning model that allows you to input different scenarios and calculate the required points accordingly.

Chapter 3 Buying A DVC Contract Direct From Disney

The initial membership cost will be the highest one-time expense a member will face. There are two primary ways to buy a membership - directly from Disney or through existing owners. In this chapter, we will discuss purchasing a contract through Disney and what to expect from a DVC sales presentation. Additionally, we will explain DVC financing.

Chapter 4 Buying A DVC Contract From Resale

Purchasing a DVC membership from existing owners can be a cost-effective option, as it may save potential members up to 40%. In this chapter, we will discuss the initial cost of ownership when buying a contract from a current owner through a resale broker rather than directly from Disney. We will also go over the limitations in benefits and club usage that come with purchasing a membership from existing owners.

The chapter will cover the following topics:

- Resale cost of a membership

- Impact of resale restrictions on membership

- Resale timeline

- Resale-Disney's right of first refusal (ROFR)

- Resale historical prices

- Resale financing options

Chapter 5 DVC Direct vs. Resale

The chapter provides details on restrictions imposed by Disney on owners who do not purchase a membership directly from them, compares initial costs between direct and resale purchases, outlines resale restrictions, and highlights the advantages of buying directly from Disney versus buying through resale.

Chapter 6 Annual Dues-Maintenance Cost

Most timeshare ownerships, including Disney Vacation Club (DVC), require members to pay annual dues for the management and maintenance of the resorts. This segment of the guide aims to explain the various parts of the annual operating budget and how it relates to DVC membership. Additionally, we will compare the yearly dues by home resort historically to estimate future increases.

What are Annual Dues?

Annual dues refer to the amount a member pays each year to maintain their ownership at a DVC resort. These fees cover the expenses of operating and managing the resort, including housekeeping, maintenance, utilities, and other services.

Annual Dues Cost Components

The annual dues vary based on the resort and the type of ownership purchased by the member. The cost comprises several components, including operating expenses, reserves for replacements, taxes, and insurance.

Replacement Funds

DVC sets aside reserves for replacements to ensure that the resorts' physical infrastructure remains in good condition. These funds cover the expenses of replacing furniture, appliances, and other equipment necessary to maintain the resort's high quality.

Saving Money on Paying Annual Dues

DVC offers several ways to save on annual dues payments, such as using a Disney Rewards Visa card, participating in the Referral Program, or choosing to pay the dues in full.

Home Resort Annual Dues Comparison

Historical data on yearly dues by home resort is useful in predicting future increases. By comparing the annual dues of different resorts, members can make informed decisions about purchasing ownership and managing their finances.

Chapter 7 DVC Ownership Discounts

DVC offers additional benefits to its members, but not all members are eligible for these perks. The chapter provides a comprehensive list of current benefits available to DVC members, including dining, shopping, and tour discounts, access to member-exclusive events, and complimentary benefits. It is important to note that eligibility for these benefits may differ between Blue Card and White Card holders.

Chapter 8 DVC Ownership Evaluation-DVC Economics

As a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, owning a piece of Disney is both a financial and emotional experience. In this chapter, we'll focus solely on the financial aspect of the decision. By subscribing to DVC, you gain access to an economic model that compares the cost of DVC ownership to that of a regular Disney vacation. Don't worry, the model is straightforward and only requires a few inputs. It will provide you with a financial analysis that compares the two options. This includes the cost of a Disney vacation and the room rack rates for all WDW hotels. With this easy-to-use financial model, you can make an informed decision about whether DVC ownership is the right choice for you.

Chapter 9 DVC Accommodations

Vacation points purchased by DVC members are primarily used for vacations at DVC resorts. This chapter provides a comparison of DVC accommodations across all resorts, including descriptions of the accommodations and their kitchens, as well as a list of kitchen amenities.

Chapter 10 DVC Availability

DVC rooms maintain a high occupancy rate of 95%. Knowing the availability of a particular room type can assist in making a more informed membership decision and save you some money. I have been monitoring room availability for several years at different intervals. This is an introduction to my availability charts which show historical availability for every DVC resort, the impact of the pandemic on villa availability, and the ranking of accommodation availability from the hardest to the easiest to obtain.

Chapter 11 Using Points For Non-DVC Accommodations

You can also use your points for vacations at non-DVC resorts, Disney cruises, and Disney tours. However, it is generally not recommended to use points for these kinds of vacations as it may not provide the best value. This chapter provides information on the current non-DVC accommodations, including Disney Cruises, Disney Member Cruises, Adventures by Disney, Concierge Collection, and RCI Exchanges.

Chapter 12 DVC Owner Topics

This section is dedicated to discussing various topics related to DVC membership. Although it is titled "owner topics," potential owners may also find it helpful in understanding how DVC works. The topics covered in this section include banking and borrowing, owning contracts with multiple use years, owning at multiple home resorts, reservation modifications and cancellations, saving money by renting points, transferring points between members, waitlisting a reservation, understanding lock-off premiums, housekeeping, grocery delivery options, owner's locker, travel insurance, and many others.

Chapter 13 Resort and Accommodation Details

This chapter is the core of the book, containing comprehensive information about every DVC resort and its 154 accommodations. It includes room layouts, locations, views, vacation point requirements, and availability. The information provided will help members and potential members plan vacations or make future DVC purchases. Specifically, it covers the following:

- Overview of DVC resorts

- Floorplans of accommodations

- Locations of accommodations

- Point charts for accommodations

- Tables showing room availability every week of the year at 11, 7, 5, 3, and 1 months from the reservation

- Room availability for key dates of the year.

Chapter 14 Ownership Key Dates

Here are some important DVC milestones to keep in mind each year: the 11-month booking window, the 7-month booking window, and the DVC resort addresses. This chapter provides helpful guides for each.