Owning a Disney Vacation Club membership opens up a world of possibilities for magical vacations, but what happens when your vacation needs, or dreams, outgrow your first contract? Many members eventually consider purchasing additional contracts, particularly at different home resorts.
This approach can enhance your flexibility and vacation options, but it also requires thoughtful planning. Let’s explore the benefits, considerations, and strategies of owning multiple DVC contracts across different home resorts.
Why Consider Owning Multiple DVC Contracts?
Expanding Vacation Options
Grand Floridian
Saratoga Springs
One of the main reasons DVC members add contracts at a new resort is to unlock the ability to enjoy a second home resort’s unique offerings. From the equestrian charm of Disney’s Saratoga Springs to the victorian opulence of The Villas at Grand Floridian, each resort offers a distinct experience. Having home resort priority at more than one location increases your chances of snagging your preferred accommodations at the 11-month booking window, which is especially beneficial during high-demand periods.
For example, owning a 150-point contract at Saratoga Springs along with 150 points at Grand Floridian would allow you to use home resort priority to book at either location. This arrangement is perfect for members who want flexibility or enjoy alternating between resorts on their trips.
Meeting Vacation Point Needs
Another reason for adding a second contract is to accommodate growing vacation needs. Your initial contract may not provide enough points if you want to book larger accommodations or extend the length of your stay. A second contract, either at the same resort or a new one, can give you the additional points you need to make those dreams a reality.
Key Considerations for Owning Multiple Home Resorts
Point Usage Rules
While owning multiple contracts at different home resorts offers more options, there’s an important rule to keep in mind. Points associated with a particular home resort can only be used there during the 11-month booking window. You cannot combine points from two different resorts until the seven-month mark, when booking opens to all DVC members for any open resort.
For instance, if you have 150 points for Saratoga Springs and 150 for the Grand Floridian, you can’t combine them into 300 points to book one resort during the 11-month home resort priority window. Instead, each contract’s points remain tied to its respective resort until booking 7 months or less in advance.
Consistency vs. Diversity
When determining whether to add points to your current home resort or purchase at a second location, consider your vacation habits. If you frequently stay at your current resort and need more points to guarantee longer stays or larger rooms during the 11-month window, it might be more advantageous to consolidate your points at a single location.
However, if you enjoy variety and new experiences or find yourself often booking 7 months or less in advance, dividing points between two resorts might be a great fit for your situation.
Strategies for Managing Multiple Contracts
Banking and Borrowing Points
One way to maximize the value of multiple contracts is through banking and borrowing points. By banking unused points from one year into the next or borrowing future points into the current year, you can create larger point totals for a single resort’s booking window.
For example, you might borrow all 2025 points from your Saratoga Springs contract into 2024, giving you 300 points to use during that home resort priority period. Alternately, you could bank your 2024 Grand Floridian points into 2025. This approach allows you to create two large pools of points, one for each resort, in alternating years.
Alternating Booking Strategies
Some members adopt an alternating booking strategy, focusing on one resort in one year and the other resort in the next. This gives you greater flexibility to enjoy longer or more luxurious stays at each destination while still taking full advantage of the home resort priority window.
Considerations for Owning Multiple DVC Contracts
Owning multiple contracts can complicate point management and annual dues payments. Each contract comes with its own annual dues based on the resort, which can vary. Additionally, keeping track of banking and borrowing deadlines for multiple contracts requires some planning.
Another potential downside is the limitation on combining points before the seven-month window. If you prefer staying at just one resort consistently, the inability to consolidate points early might require some additional planning.
Final Thoughts
Owning multiple DVC contracts at different home resorts can be a rewarding step for members who want to expand their vacation options or increase their points for more accommodating bookings. While it offers flexibility and variety, it’s important to weigh the benefits against the challenges, such as point usage rules and financial commitments.
Taking the time to evaluate your vacation goals and strategies for managing points will help you determine whether adding another home resort is the right move for you. By understanding the nuances and planning effectively, you can make the most of your Disney Vacation Club investment and create magical memories for years to come.
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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.
