What About The Disney Perks? Part I What Are The Perks? 

What About the Disney Perks? Part I

Understanding the Perks

Many potential Disney Vacation Club members ask about perks when considering a resale purchase: "What Membership Extras will I miss if I don't purchase directly from Disney?" We get this question regularly at DVC Sales, and it's a smart consideration. In this three-part series, we'll break down the differences between purchasing a DVC membership on the resale market versus purchasing directly through Disney. Let's start with what these perks actually include.

Before we dig in, let me be clear about something. The core product is identical whether you buy direct or resale. You're purchasing real estate. Deeded vacation points that give you the right to book rooms at DVC resorts for the life of your contract. The "perks" we're discussing here are extras that Disney adds on top of that core product. And Disney can change or remove them at any time without notice.

That last part matters more than most buyers realize.

Disney Vacation Club Member Benefits: What Everyone Gets

All DVC members enjoy the same core benefits, regardless of whether they purchased direct from Disney or through the resale market:

• Stay at 15+ Disney Vacation Club resorts located at:
  • Walt Disney World (12 resorts including Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Riviera, and more)
  • Disneyland Resort (The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian)
  • Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
  • Vero Beach, Florida
  • Aulani in Ko Olina, Hawaii
• Exchange vacation points to stay at non-Disney resorts worldwide through the RCI program
• Access to Member Services for booking assistance and account management
• Stay in accommodations ranging from studio villas to three-bedroom Grand Villas
• Enjoy views from Cinderella Castle to African savanna wildlife
• Receive that signature "Welcome home!" greeting when you arrive at your DVC resort
• Early Theme Park Entry at Walt Disney World (30 minutes before regular guests)
• Access to the DVC Member Lounge at Epcot
• Full kitchen or kitchenette in every accommodation (even studios have microwaves and mini-fridges)
• In-room washer and dryer in one-bedroom and larger villas
• Disney resort transportation including buses, monorail, and Skyliner

These benefits represent the heart of DVC membership. You're purchasing points that provide access to some of the most desirable resort accommodations Disney has ever created. And every single one of these benefits comes with a resale contract.

Let me say that again because it's important. Every benefit listed above works exactly the same for resale buyers as it does for direct buyers. No exceptions. No restrictions. No asterisks.

The Booking System: Same for Everyone

The DVC booking system treats all members equally regardless of purchase source. Here's how it works:

• 11-Month Window: You can book your home resort exactly 11 months before your check-in date. This is where owning at a popular resort like Polynesian or Grand Floridian really pays off. You get first crack at those sought-after rooms.
• 7-Month Window: At 7 months, you can book any DVC resort in the network. This is where the system opens up and you can explore different properties.
• Banking: Didn't use all your points this year? Bank them to next year (within specific deadlines).
• Borrowing: Need extra points for a bigger trip? Borrow from next year's allocation.

These booking mechanics are the backbone of DVC ownership. They work identically for resale and direct buyers. Disney can't restrict your booking window based on how you purchased your points because your ownership is a real estate deed recorded with the county.

Additional Membership Extras for Direct Purchases

Members who purchase at least 100 vacation points directly from Disney receive additional "Membership Extras." These include:

• Access to member-exclusive events and experiences (Moonlight Magic, member mixers)
• Discounts on Disney merchandise at select locations (typically 10-20%)
• Discounts on Disney theme park annual passes (saves roughly $200-300 per pass)
• Option to use vacation points for Disney Cruise Line vacations (at unfavorable exchange rates)
• Discounts on Disney dining at participating restaurants (10% at select locations)
• Special offers on Disney experiences and tours
• Access to Adventures by Disney trip discounts
• Member-only merchandise through the DVC Member website

Disney markets these extras as valuable add-ons to membership, but the key question is whether they justify the price difference between direct and resale purchases. We'll examine that calculation in detail in our next post.

Important Details About Membership Extras

Disney considers these Membership Extras as "incidental benefits" that are subject to change or elimination without notice. This distinction is important because it means Disney doesn't guarantee these perks will continue throughout your membership term.

And this isn't theoretical. Disney has actually removed perks in the past. They've changed discount percentages. They've eliminated certain experiences. They've restricted access to events. When you purchase direct, you're paying a premium for perks that Disney can take away tomorrow with no obligation to compensate you.

Think of it this way. If you pay $50,000 for a direct contract instead of $30,000 resale, that $20,000 premium is buying you access to perks that exist entirely at Disney's discretion. There's no contract guaranteeing those perks will exist in five years. Or even next year.

The cruise point exchange, for example, typically offers poor value compared to other options. Most members find better results by renting out their DVC points through a service like David's DVC Rental and using that cash to book their cruise directly. The point values Disney assigns to cruise cabins rarely match what you could get by converting your points to cash first.

Annual pass discounts vary in value depending on the current discount percentage and how frequently you visit the parks. Merchandise discounts are typically 10-20% at select Disney locations, which can add up if you're a frequent purchaser of Disney goods. But you can get similar discounts through a Disney Visa card at no annual cost.

The Resale Restriction at Newer Resorts

One important restriction applies to Disney's newest resort, Riviera. Contracts purchased resale at Riviera are limited to booking only at Riviera itself. They cannot access the broader DVC resort network at the 7-month window. This restriction was implemented in 2019 and applies only to resale purchases at Riviera.

No other DVC resort has this restriction. Every other resale contract gives you full access to all DVC resorts at the 7-month booking window. Disney has stated this restriction will apply to all future DVC resorts, but existing resorts (everything before Riviera) remain unrestricted for resale buyers.

This is worth knowing, but it only affects one resort. The other 14+ DVC resorts operate with full network access regardless of how you purchased.

Maximizing Your DVC Membership Value

Whether you purchase direct or resale, these strategies will help you get the most from your DVC membership:

• Master the booking windows: Book at your home resort 11 months in advance for the best availability, or book at any DVC resort 7 months in advance. Set calendar reminders.
• Understand point values: Different room types, seasons, and resorts require different point amounts. Learn to identify good value opportunities. Studios at resorts like Saratoga Springs or Old Key West often provide the best points-per-night value.
• Plan your banking and borrowing: You can bank unused points to the following use year or borrow from the next year to maximize flexibility. Know your deadlines.
• Consider the RCI exchange program: Your DVC points can access thousands of non-Disney resorts worldwide, expanding your vacation options beyond Disney properties.
• Factor in annual dues: These maintenance fees vary by resort and increase over time. Current Walt Disney World resort dues range from about $7 to $10 per point annually. Check our annual dues page for current figures.
• Buy the right number of points: Don't over-buy and don't under-buy. A good broker can help you calculate exactly how many points you need based on when you travel, where you want to stay, and how large a room you need.

The Resale Consideration

Resale DVC contracts typically cost 30-50% less than purchasing the same contract directly from Disney. That's a substantial savings that often far exceeds the value of the Membership Extras you'd give up.

For example, if you're considering a 150-point contract at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, you might pay around $275 per point direct from Disney (approximately $41,250 total) versus around $150 per point on the resale market (approximately $22,500 total). The $18,750 difference represents significant savings that could fund many years of Disney vacations.

At DVC Sales, we charge a 6.9% commission and handle the entire process from listing to closing. The buyer pays a $500 administration fee to Disney and closing costs. The seller pays the $150 estoppel fee. These are the real costs of a resale transaction, and they're a fraction of the premium you'd pay going direct.

Most resale purchasers find they can recreate many of the "lost" perks through other means. Annual pass discounts are available through other sources, and you can often find better merchandise deals through Disney's regular promotions or outlet stores. We'll cover these alternatives in detail in Part III of this series.

Looking Ahead

In our next post, we'll run the numbers to show exactly how the financial benefits of resale purchasing compare to the value of Membership Extras. We'll also explore creative ways to enjoy similar perks without paying the premium for a direct purchase.

The core DVC experience remains the same regardless of how you purchase your membership. You'll still wake up in a Disney resort, walk to the parks, and create the same magical memories. The question is whether the additional perks justify the additional cost, and we'll help you make that determination based on your specific vacation patterns and priorities.

If you're ready to explore DVC resale options, browse our current listings to see what's available. We've helped thousands of families find the perfect DVC contract at substantial savings compared to purchasing direct from Disney. The ROFR process takes about 30 days after your offer is accepted, and most closings complete within 60 to 90 days total.

Have questions about what you'd gain or lose going resale? Give us a call. We've been in this business since 1999 and we'll give you straight answers without the sales pitch.