How To Choose Your DVC Home Resort

So you’ve decided to buy DVC, now it’s time to choose your home resort. The good news is that although some resorts are “sold out” at the Disney Vacation Club sales centers, it is possible to purchase any Disney resort as your DVC home resort on the resale market. Resellers like DVC Shop often have packages available that you may no longer be able to purchase directly from DVC sales centers. Click here for a list of available DVC resale timeshares.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing which of Disney’s 16 Vacation Club resorts to make your DVC home resort. 

Booking Window Advantage

DVC owners have an 11 month booking window when booking into their home resort. The booking window decreases to 7 months when booking into any resort that is not your home resort. Therefore, choosing your DVC home resort can be a very important decision as you’ll receive a 4 month advantage when booking. Those who like to travel during high season or holidays may find this extra 4 months of booking time very advantageous.

Frequency

Many owners choose their home resort based on where they believe they want to travel most frequently. This is a great way to narrow down the list of resorts. For example, if you want to travel to Hawaii every year, or almost every year, you will likely find your home resort booking advantage beneficial when booking your vacations as Hawaii resorts tend to be very busy and can be difficult to find availability.

Cost

Others choose their home resort based on purchase price and annual maintenance costs. Once you’re part of the DVC family, you can use your points to travel to any resort you choose, this is a valid and effective way to enjoy the benefits of DVC at a reduced cost. Essentially you could pay a lower cost than others and still receive the same quality vacations as other owners who have paid premium rates for their Disney Vacation Club ownership.

Expiration

DVC resorts have an expiration date. The earliest expiration being 2042 and the latest being 2068. Keep the resort’s contract expiration in mind when choosing your home resort as this expiration date can affect the resale value of your property. Additionally, DVC contracts are transferable, meaning you can pass on or give your property to someone down the road. So even if you don’t think you’ll use your vacation package for the next 50 years, you may want to consider the expiration date and your future plans when choosing your home resort. 

Points

Disney Vacation Club uses a point based booking system, meaning that each night at each resort costs a certain number of points to book. When choosing your home resort and point package, be sure to choose a package that includes enough points for you to book the type of vacation you’re looking for. Keep in mind the season you usually travel and the room type you’ll be booking when reviewing the DVC point charts. 

Location and Transportation

If you’re a huge Disney fan and the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando is your home away from home, you may want to choose a resort in the Orlando resort area. Currently, there are 12 DVC resorts in the Orlando area. How will you choose the best resort for you?

The location of the property in the resort and how easy is it to get to your favorite park can be a big factor for many when choosing their home resort. For example, the DVC locations at the Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian all have easy access to the Magic Kingdom through the monorail system or walking paths. The Beach Club and Boardwalk Resort are located on the Disney Boardwalk and have easy access to Epcot through the back entrance. How easy it is to move from your resort to your destination plays a big role in your vacations and is a factor that should be considered when choosing your home resort.

Family and Amenities

If you frequently travel with a large family, you may want to consider unit sizes and layouts when choosing your DVC home resort as not all resorts have 3-bedroom Grand Villas. Additionally, if you travel with small children you may want to consider activities available at resorts like the Animal Kingdom Villas that have the added benefit of a wilderness zoo on premises. If you always travel during warm seasons and love lounging poolside, choose a resort that has an amazing pool like the Beach Club.  

Choosing your DVC home resort can be a big decision but remember that once you’re part of the DVC family you’ll get to enjoy all the benefits of the program and all the resorts for many years to come. DVC Shop representatives are always here to assist you with any questions you have about purchasing, points, fees, etc. Feel free to contact us directly or post any questions in the comments section below.