How to Decide Whether or Not to Buy a Disney Vacation Club Membership

The Disney Vacation Club offers members a number of benefits. The club is a points-based timeshare agreement that allows you to stay at one of seven Walt Disney World resorts in Florida: Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower, Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs and Wilderness Lodge Villas. Additionally, vacation club members may also stay at the Grand Californian Villas located at Disneyland in California. However, the membership comes with additional perks according to the Walt Disney Corporation, including access to Disney parks during premium hours, previews of Disney events, park transportation, discounts and more.

Step 1: Evaluate how often you visit Disney attractions each year. Provided you regularly stay at Disney World or Disneyland at least once a year, a Disney Vacation Club membership may be right for you. According to Mouse Savers, a Disney Vacation Club membership is most cost effective for those who stay at Disney resorts for at least 10 days every year.

Step 2: Evaluate your long term vacation needs. Yearly maintenance dues in 2010 will only be $587 for the 160 point minimum according to Mouse Savers. However, the initial buy-in cost for those points requires a one-time fee of $17,920 plus closing costs. When considering the yearly vacation savings of a 160 point membership, Mouse Savers reports that most members will not break even for 13 years. After 13 years, these members will enjoy significant savings and the timeshare becomes a viable, long-term vacation solution. If you do not intend to use your timeshare for at least 13 years, it is likely not a good investment, since Mouse Savers indicates that resellers usually only earn back 55 to 75% of their initial buy-in money.

Step 3: Consider the time of year you tend to travel. The Disney Vacation Club's points-based timeshare is especially useful for families who vacation sporadically throughout the year, rather than during specific, predetermined annual dates. As a points-based timeshare, you are not limited to using specific timeshare properties on specific days. Instead, you can stay at any resort at any time during the year, provided you book the property in advance using your excess points. If you, however, travel at the same time every year, a traditional timeshare may provide equal benefits for a somewhat lower price.

Step 4: Factor in incentives. For most Disney Vacation Club members, the main benefit of membership is staying at resorts for only nominal maintenance fees. However, you'll want to consider the discounts on Disney attractions if you will be primarily using your vacation timeshare for visiting nearby Disney World or Disneyland parks. Incentives vary with point values, so be sure to ask a Disney representative at what point level you'll see the greatest savings for your favorite Disney attractions.

Step 5: Schedule a meeting with a Disney Vacation Club representative by calling 1-800-500-3990. After you've evaluated all of your vacation needs, purchasing a points-based vacation club membership is very simple.

Purchasing the timeshare simply requires a credit check, a deposit, and your signature on a contract. The most important part of the buying process is simply evaluating your needs versus the program's cost. Once you are certain it is a good financial decision, you can become a member after one brief meeting with a representative.

References:
Walt Disney Corporation, "Disney Vacation Club Membership," Disney Vacation Club.
Mouse Savers, "Disney Vacation Club," Mouse Savers.