As the 2025 property tax season approaches, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) owners at Walt Disney World resorts are receiving updates on property assessments and unofficial tax rates. These assessments and tax rates play a significant role in determining annual dues, which include property tax contributions. This article provides an overview of the 2025 property assessments, tax rate changes, and their potential impact on DVC owners.
2025 Property Assessments
Increased Appraisal Values
For 2025, property appraisal values have increased across all twelve Walt Disney World DVC resorts. Notably, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa has become the first DVC property to exceed a $1 billion valuation, with a market assessment of $1,006,581,030.
Two-Tiered Assessment System
Florida uses a two-tiered system to determine taxable values for non-homestead properties like timeshares:
- School-Related Taxes: These are based on the full market value of the property and are not subject to annual caps.
- Non-School Taxes: These include county, city, library, and water management district taxes. Annual increases for these assessments are capped at 10% over the previous year’s value.
For example, while Saratoga Springs’ market value is over $1 billion, its non-school taxable value is capped at $878,697,485, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year.
2025 Tax Rates
Proposed Millage Rates
Each DVC resort is subject to taxes from seven different authorities, including school districts, county taxes, and city taxes. For 2025:
- Four authorities, including Orange County and the South Florida Water Management District, are maintaining their 2024 millage rates.
- Two authorities, including the Central Florida Tourist Oversight District, are reducing their rates.
- The cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista are increasing their millage rates by 18% and 36.1%, respectively.
Impact on Resorts
These changes result in slight variations in overall millage rates:
- Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, such as Old Key West and Saratoga Springs, will see a 0.7% increase.
- Resorts in Bay Lake, including Animal Kingdom Villas and the Grand Floridian, will experience a 1.3% decrease.
Property Tax Credits and Shortfalls
Estimating Tax Contributions
DVC’s Board of Directors estimates property taxes when setting annual dues. However, actual tax amounts are finalized in October, often leading to discrepancies:
- If taxes are overestimated, owners receive a credit applied to the following year’s dues.
- If taxes are underestimated, owners are charged a debit to cover the shortfall.
For example, Saratoga Springs’ estimated 2025 property tax was $1.5115 per point. Based on current projections, the actual tax is expected to be $1.6517 per point, resulting in a shortfall of approximately $0.1402 per point.
Resort-Specific Adjustments
Most Walt Disney World DVC resorts are expected to have tax shortfalls added to their 2026 annual dues. However, Riviera Resort and the Grand Floridian are projected to have overestimated taxes, resulting in credits for owners.
What This Means for DVC Owners
Planning for Annual Dues
DVC owners should be prepared for potential adjustments to their 2026 annual dues based on the finalized 2025 property taxes. These adjustments will be reflected in the dues statements released in December 2025.
Staying Informed
While the information provided here is based on publicly available data, DVC members should rely on official communications from Disney for the most accurate details regarding their accounts.
Conclusion
The 2025 property assessments and tax updates highlight the dynamic nature of property taxes for Disney Vacation Club resorts. With increased appraisal values and changes to millage rates, DVC owners can expect adjustments to their annual dues. By staying informed and understanding how these factors impact their ownership, members can better plan for the financial aspects of their DVC membership.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
