Author Archives: David Mumpower

  1. Everything You Need to Know About Guaranteed Weeks

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    Guaranteed Weeks

    Did you know that not all Disney Vacation Club (DVC) contracts work the same? A few years ago, The Walt Disney Company introduced a new kind of ownership option, one that doesn’t operate the same way as standard contracts. This unique form of DVC ownership is called the Guaranteed Week. Here’s everything that you need to know about it.

    What Is a Guaranteed Week?

    When Disney first introduced the DVC program, they bristled at the concept of their standard timeshare. In a way, the entire system that you know functions as a direct reaction against the outdated timeshare premise. Initially, timeshares were exclusively fixed-week programs wherein a person would get to stay at a deluxe resort for a set week each year.

    Disney went a different way with the concept. Understanding that many Disney vacationers prefer more freedom with their bookings, corporate executives designed the points-based system that you know and love. You get a set number of points each year as a member. You can purchase as many of these points as you want, and you can book as many rooms for as many nights as you like. All you need is hotel availability and enough points to “pay” for your reservation.

    While the DVC system has worked almost perfectly over the years, a few guests complained along the way that they preferred the primary timeshare concept instead. DVC officials wanted to satisfy as many customers as possible, and so they introduced the Guaranteed Week program.

    Explaining the Guaranteed Week

    This system is akin to a conventional timeshare, albeit with one huge difference. When you purchase a Guaranteed Week, you have the option to stay at your home resort during a fixed week each year. Disney numbers these weeks from 1 to 52, and the “week” begins on Sunday. Ergo, the first Sunday of the year signals the beginning of Week #1. The last Sunday of the year marks the start of Week #52.

    Your Guaranteed Week contract will display a number. That’s the week when you have a guaranteed reservation for your home resort. Disney goes so far as to book your reservation automatically each year. You don’t have to do anything. When your 11-month window opens, the system schedules the reservation starting on the Sunday of your ownership week. Disney presumes that you will stay during this week, but it’s not set in stone. You have another option.

    The way that the Guaranteed Week differs from the fixed week timeshare is that you have your standard DVC flexibility. When you don’t want to travel during your guaranteed week, you just opt out of your regular reservation. Your DVC Guaranteed Week contract will show a point total, too. You have this many DVC points annually. You just don’t use them in the usual way when you book your Guaranteed Week.

    A Guaranteed Week Example

    I understand that this situation is a bit confusing. Let’s use a real-world example to demonstrate the mechanics of a Guaranteed Week.

    A friend of mine owns a DVC contract at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. This individual says that their Guaranteed Week is #44. Their contract has a value of 168 points. Should you look at the points chart, you’ll notice that this week falls into Choice Season.

    A week’s stay at the Polynesian during this season should cost 153 points. It’s not a typo. You pay more to buy a Guaranteed Week contract. The premium is generally around 10 percent. Disney does this because they believe that a Guaranteed Week contract has more value.

    Let’s say that my friend cannot visit a DVC resort during Week #44. They are not in any way harmed by this situation. Instead, they just opt out of their scheduled week and receive the points instead.

    Rather than a booked stay starting on the Sunday of Week #44, the person receives 168 points. They can now do with the points as they see fit. Renting the points, selling them, giving them away, or banking them for the following year are all possible.

    Once they convert from the Guaranteed Week to DVC points, their membership works like any other. They’ve simply switched from a Guaranteed Week owner to the holder of 168 points for that year and that year alone and can book their Home Resort 7-11 months in advance or another DVC resort up to 7 months. When the next 11-month window opens, their Guaranteed Week contract will once again automatically book a room starting on the Sunday of Week #44.

    What Are the Benefits of the Guaranteed Week?

    You may read this information and wonder about the benefits of the Guaranteed Week. To Disney officials, they’re significant. You must determine whether you agree with them on the point. Here’s what you must understand to decide:

    The Guaranteed Week gives you more flexibility than a standard contract. You save yourself the aggravation of logging into the DVC site to book each year. Your vacation this year is the same as your vacation next year, assuming that you’re okay with that. When you’re not, you just opt out and reserve a room on your own.

    You may wonder about the utility of such automation. Think about the situation in these terms. When are the times that you’re most likely to visit a DVC resort? For many guests, the answers are things like birthdays, anniversaries, and major holidays.

    Let’s say that your birthday is on July 4th. How easy is that room to book with a standard DVC contract? Your answer depends on when your birthday or anniversary occurs.

    Did you know that one of the most popular anniversaries is Valentine’s Day? That’s obviously not an easy day to book a room. Similarly, I have a couple of friends with July 4th birthdays. They wouldn’t have much luck getting the room that they want at the seven-month window.

    Alternately, let’s remember that the busiest week on the Disney calendar is the time between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Have you ever tried to get the perfect reservation during the holiday week? The odds are not ever in your favor.

    In these examples, you can see how a Guaranteed Week would be favorable. You’re paying a slightly higher price to ensure that your family can visit Disney at the same time each year. It’s invaluable to anyone who has made a tradition out of Christmas at the parks.

    For my family, a Guaranteed Week makes perfect sense. My wife’s birthday and our wedding anniversary are a few days apart. With a Guaranteed Week, we always have the option to spend that week at Disney, proudly wearing our Celebration Buttons!

    A dear friend of ours likes the Guaranteed Week for a different reason. She is a marathon runner who has participated in RunDisney events. With a Guaranteed Week, she can always get a room even though Disney resorts are usually at full occupancy during RunDisney weekends.

    The value in the contract is that you always have a Plan A as part of your contract. Your ownership week will never change until the membership expires decades from now. Plus, Plan B is naturally built into the system. Let’s say that you have different plans for Christmas week or don’t want to run a marathon this year. You just opt out and switch your contract to DVC points instead.

    What are the Drawbacks of the Guaranteed Week?

    The Guaranteed Week has two primary drawbacks. One of them is the price. As I mentioned, Disney rightfully perceives the Guaranteed Week as having more value. They’re selling inventory during their busiest times of the year. They should and do charge more.

    You may wonder about whether the Guaranteed Week is worth the extra money. What I would suggest is that you list the weeks when you believe that you’re most likely to visit Disney. Next, think about previous experiences that you’ve had in trying to book your preferred hotel and room type during this period. Also, if any of these rooms are in the current 11- or seven-month window, please check for availability now.

    What I suspect that you’ll discover is that you cannot get your first choice right now. Instead, you must schedule a Waitlist reservation instead. With a Guaranteed Week contract, you wouldn’t even need to look. Disney’s system will book the room that you want as a standard part of your membership package. Is that benefit worth roughly 10 percent more money? Only you can say for sure.

    The other con is the inflexible start date. The Guaranteed Week gives you a room from Sunday to Sunday. You check in on the first Sunday and then check out on the following one. Not everyone vacations that way. When you buy this sort of DVC contract, you may find the inflexibility of the dates problematic.

    Which Resorts Offer Guaranteed Week Contracts?
    Now that you’re sold on the value of Guaranteed Weeks, I do have a bit of bad news. Not every DVC resort offers them. In fact, only five of them do right now. The places where you may buy a Guaranteed Week contract are:

    Unfortunately, Disney would have difficulty adding Guaranteed Weeks to existing properties due to real estate laws. They would have to create a new property at a current site a la Copper Creek. The good news is that all of Disney’s recent DVC offerings have included a Guaranteed Week sales option. It’s reasonable to expect that pattern to hold in the future.

    Now that you understand the mechanics of the Guaranteed Week, you’ll also know to target these contracts. That’s especially true if they’re similarly priced to regular contracts. You’re getting a lot more value via the Guaranteed Week.

  2. How to Decide if Riviera is Right For You

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    The most subjective debate in the Disney Vacation Club community right now involves a resort that’s not even open yet. Disney’s Riviera Resort embodies the best of Disney Imagineering with its design and theming. Owning a contract here should be a no-brainer.

    Frustratingly, DVC management did something regrettable that has damaged the perception of ownership here. There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s take an honest, hard look at the situation. Here’s how to decide whether Disney’s Riviera Resort is right for you. 

    Why the Riviera Is Great

    You won’t find a Disney fan with something bad to say about the Riviera Resort. Everyone agrees that it looks like a fitting tribute to Walt Disney and his older brother, Roy. The two men famously visited Europe during the 1930s, a trip that would have a profound impact on their lives. 

    The hotel’s theming embraces the European sensibilities that bewitched the Disney brothers. The style of the South of France is on display in the architecture, the restaurants, the stores, and especially the hotel rooms. 

    The hotels on the Mediterranean coast have unmistakably inspired Imagineers in the design of the eateries and bars. Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, the rooftop restaurant, provides breathtaking views of many landmarks at Walt Disney World. 

    However, this eatery and lounge is also intended as a gathering place to nurture a beverage in a social setting, just as you’ll find at many Western European cities. Similarly, a coffee shop, Le Petit Café, and Bar Riva are places where Disney encourages guests to spend time at the hotel rather than the parks. For this reason, it’s perfect for laid back DVC members who visit Walt Disney World regularly.

    The other selling point of the Riviera is its Disney Skyliner station. When this resort opens, it’ll come with ready access to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You’ll simply board a Skyliner gondola and catch a ride to your preferred destination. Your preferred park is only minutes away. This amenity matters greatly to DVC members, as it allows us to skip buses and boats a lot of the time. 

    Due to the theming and other hotel features, Disney’s Riviera seems like a great location to buy your first/next DVC contract. But…

    The Problem with the Riviera

    Disney screwed up with the Riviera. Worried about the soaring popularity of DVC resales, the company did something reckless and short-sighted. DVC introduced new rules for resales purchases at the Riviera. 

    Those members who choose to buy a resales contract at the Riviera may only stay at the Riviera. Don’t worry. Those of you who owned at DVC before January 17, 2019, are grandfathered in. The change won’t apply to your existing deals. That’s beside the point, though.

    The purpose of this discussion is to determine whether buying a Riviera resales contract is a smart move for you. As such, you must understand that when you buy here, your purchase comes with a bit of an asterisk. You’ll only have the ability to use your Riviera DVC points at the Riviera. And that complicates the situation a great deal. 

    What’s Your Budget?

    Is money no object for your family? I’m not looking to pry, but it’s a crucial question in this debate. When you have money to spare, purchasing a contract directly through Disney seems sensible. You don’t face the resales restrictions this way. The catch is that you’re paying a lot more…and I mean A LOT more. If you can afford that, congratulations!

    Realistically, for most people, a vacation budget comes with some restraints. You can’t just buy whatever you want, no matter the cost. Instead, you must factor in the added price of direct purchase.

    At the time of publication, the Riviera Resort costs $188 per point directly through Disney. The first DVC resales listing at Garden Views Realty has an asking price of $144 per point for 175 points. You’d pay $44 more for each of those 175 points through Disney, which is an added expense of $7,700. 

    I don’t know many people who would shrug off an extra cost of $7,700 for the same product. To wit, nobody goes into a car dealership and asks, “Can I pay more than sticker price?” The idea is to negotiate down from that number, not up. 

    Unfortunately, the situation is even more nuanced due to Disney’s unprecedented decision to reduce the value of membership for some Riviera owners. At some point, you may want to sell your DVC contract. Even though the resort suits your needs, it won’t fit everyone’s, and that’ll ding you when it comes to resale value. 

    Due to these complications, you must debate a few other aspects of buying here to decide whether the purchase is worth the potential downside. For starters…

    Where Do You Plan to Stay?

    Whenever my friends ask me about DVC – and it happens a lot — I stress the maxim that you should purchase where you plan to stay the most. I regrettably didn’t do this because the hotel that I love the most, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, wasn’t in the DVC program yet. It is now, but I’ve been a member for a long time. So, I have to hope for the best whenever the seven-month window opens, and I try to book the Polynesian. Generally, I’m only able to wait-list most nights and hope for the best.

    I say this to demonstrate the real-life problems that come from not owning a contract at the DVC resort where you plan to stay the most. As DVC grows more popular, the situation only gets worse. For this reason, debating a Riviera direct or resales contract comes down to a straightforward question.

    Will you stay at the Riviera most of the time? Well, if you plan to purchase via resales, the question is actually, “Are you okay with staying at the Riviera all the time?” 

    I can’t answer either question for you and couldn’t even hazard a guess. Everyone vacations differently. What I’ll say is that I would go crazy if I were locked out of the monorail resorts and Beach Club. They’re my go-to DVC hotels. The Riviera is a place where I’ll stay sometimes, but it’s certainly never going to be a primary destination. 

    Even if you feel differently, I’ll suggest a couple of other ideas here. You may find that the safer play is to buy elsewhere. On those occasions when you want to stay at the Riviera, you can always rent your DVC points out, either on your own or through a third-party broker. Then, you can turn around and use that money to rent someone else’s points at the Riviera. I prefer this option because it provides much more flexibility. 

    How Much Do You Care about Expiration Dates?

    One of the strongest selling points of the Riviera is its expiration date. DVC members who buy a contract today will own it until 2070. I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan to live that long. But there’s excellent news on this front! DVC contracts are deed-able; you can deed them to someone you love when you’re ready to go to The Good Place.

    Obviously, an expiration date in 2070, Walt Disney World’s 99th year, represents a strong selling point. It’s legitimately one of the most tempting parts of the Riviera for me.

    Of course, those of you who like that idea but don’t want to pay the $7,700 have other options. The Polynesian and the Copper Creek part of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offer similar expiration dates. The former ends in 2066 while the latter ends in 2068. Those of you who want to do Disney from now until the 2060s won’t notice much difference. If you do, come back and yell at me in 2069. If I’m alive and still have my hearing, I promise to apologize. 

    Are You Intrigued by the Tower Studios?

    Have you ever tried to book a Club Level or Value room type at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas at the seven-month window? It was never easy to do this, but it’s become increasingly difficult in recent years. Hospitality House at Disney’s Old Key West behaves similarly. 

    Some DVC room types attain a special status amongst members. Booking these accommodations is more challenging. Should you have a preferred room type that falls into this category, you should purchase a contract at the applicable resort. It’s the extreme example of buying at the property where you intend to stay the most. 

    In the case of the Riviera, the resort features an entirely new room type, the Tower Studio. This room only accommodates two guests, and it’s the smallest DVC room ever at 255 square feet. However, it costs substantially less in terms of points than other hotel rooms. 

    A Tower Studio requires a modest 81 points for a week’s stay during Adventure Season. The standard studio costs 109 points, while one with a preferred view is 134 points. You can appreciate why Tower Studios will have demand. If these romantic but tiny rooms suit your vacation needs, you probably should get a Riviera contract to guarantee that you can book them. 

    Have You Considered Annual Dues?

    Some people refer to maintenance fees as the hidden cost of DVC ownership. I’ve never subscribed to that philosophy, as the fees are right there in the contract. Disney’s never ran away from the fact that maintaining the villas costs a lot of money. They’re justified to bill guests for the upkeep expenses, and they’re much fairer than timeshare operators.

    Still, you should always factor maintenance fees into your DVC contract calculations. And the news is grim at the Riviera. This resort’s fees start at $8.31 per point, which is already the highest of any Walt Disney World property. Previously, the most expensive maintenance fees were at Animal Kingdom Villas, which costs $7.44. 

    In other words, Riviera isn’t just the highest in terms of maintenance fees. It’s the most expensive by a lot. We’re talking 12 percent. Over the course of a Riviera contract, you’ll pay a lot more for these fees. 

    Does the Riviera Offer Anything Special?

    The answer to this question is absolutely yes. A DVC resort with a Disney Skyliner station is invaluable, especially now that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is open. Until Disney adds a DVC component at the Star Wars hotel, Galactic Starcruiser, which not happen until 2069, the Skyliner is the next best thing. You can hop on a gondola and head straight to Hollywood Studios. That sounds fantastic, right? 

    Please don’t get carried away. Remember that Disney has built a Skyliner station at the International Gateway. Rather than getting locked into a single-resort DVC contract, you could just as easily buy into Disney’s BoardWalk Villas or Disney’s Beach Club Villas. 

    Both of them are only a few hundred steps away from that Skyliner station. Better yet, contracts at these resorts will allow you to stay at all 14 of the original DVC properties. To my mind, that’s a smarter play. 

    Again, that’s just one person’s opinion, though. I absolutely understand why some members will fall in love with the Riviera. It’s beautiful to look at, and it comes with several pragmatic amenities. The goal here is to guide you toward asking the right questions before you buy your first/next contract. I hope this discussion has helped!

  3. DVC Options for 300+ Point Contracts

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    Hello Daddy Warbucks! It’s nice to meet you and your trophy wife/husband. Today, I’d like to speak to you about your Disney Vacation Club membership which isn’t difficult since you own ALL the points. You’ve got at least 300 of them across your one or more DVC contracts. With that many points, you have the run of Disney theme parks, and you know it. Still, I’d like to offer you a few suggestions about what you can do with your many, many points. Here are some ideas about the kinds of vacations you should expect when you own/buy one or more large DVC contracts.

    Covering the Basics One Last Time

    By now, you should understand how Disney constructs their points chart. The beautiful part of having tons of points is that you don’t look at it the same way. You know that you own enough points to stay when you want where you want. If that means Christmas week at a monorail resort, you can do that! If you want the nicest suite at a DVC property, that’s on the menu, too. The sky is the proverbial limit when you have a lot of points.

    Think about the situation in these terms. The first article demonstrated how much a DVC owner can do with 50 points and some solid strategies. You have AT LEAST six times as many points as the person in that scenario. You can literally do six times as much. You’ve invested a lot in the Disney Vacation Club, and you should enjoy the benefits of said investment.

    Still, many of the basics still apply. You must choose where you want to stay, how long you want to stay, and what type of room you want. In fact, room type becomes a critical consideration for people with large DVC contracts. You can book a room overlooking the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge…and that room can have concierge club access. Alternately, you could hole up at a bungalow at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for a long weekend. You can do it all with your contract(s). The only limit is your understanding of the best ways to utilize your points…and that’s why we’re here.

    The Large Membership

    The undeniable truth of a large membership is that you’ve invested $25,000 or more in DVC. Even if you purchased in the earliest years of the program, economic principles such as inflation adjustments and opportunity cost would still indicate that you’ve spent the equivalent of that much over time. In fact, the current valuation of your DVC contract(s) is probably in excess of $30,000, possibly much more. You’ve supported Disney with your wallet, and the company wants to reward you for your loyalty.

    The one likely difference with a large membership is the point distribution. Members with small contracts of 50 points almost certainly own a single contract. Program participants with 160-200 may own multiple contracts, but it’s just as likely that they have only one. To acquire 300 points, you’ve probably given in to that wonderful urge of Add-on-itis, the DVC fever that drives us to buy more points. After all, more points mean more Disney, right? Who wouldn’t want to pick up more contracts as long as they can afford it?

    With multiple contracts, you’ll have a few minor inconveniences. More importantly, you’ll have a wealth of options that enhance the value of your membership. The inconveniences are trifles such as having to pay maintenance fees in multiple months and having to keep up with multiple contract numbers. It’s simple stuff that you can add to your Google Calendar to maintain.

    The same is true of Disney’s Beach Club Villas and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas. Do you have a soft spot for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival? You could buy a contract at one of these resorts and guarantee your family a hotel room right by the International Gateway each year. In fact, with four annual festivals in the Epcot rotation now, owning a contract at one of these DVC properties is always a good idea.

    With a large amount of points, you have that flexibility. In fact, you have another hidden option that other owners wouldn’t even consider. Should you decide that you want a contract at a new DVC resort, you can cash in on the value of your current membership. You could sell a contract at a DVC property you haven’t visited in a while and use that money to buy a different contract at a desired DVC hotel. If your contract is more than a couple of years old, odds are good that you’ve turned a profit on it. You could engage in some profit-taking while flexing your DVC muscle to turn a less useful contract into a better one. You are a DVC power user, and you SHOULD maximize that power in creative and exciting ways such as this example.

    What Can You Get for 300 Points?

    The short answer is anything. It’s not even an exaggeration. You can book anywhere at any point on the DVC calendar. During the discussion of the moderate membership contract, I noted that options expand dramatically with 160 points. Imagine how much more you can do with roughly double the points from there!

    Last time, I used Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas as an example. At the time, I pointed out that DVC members with 160 points could book a full week of a room with a Savannah View most of the year. With 300 points, we can scratch out the word “most”. In fact, you can book a studio with Kilimanjaro Club Concierge access any week of the year! Yes, you could spend the holidays at Walt Disney World, looking out from your patio to see frolicking zebras playing beneath you. When you get bored of this marvel, assuming such a thing is possible, you can head over to the concierge lounge and gulp Jungle Juice.

    The DVC points cost for this vacation would be 211 points for a week during Premier Season. You’d still have 89 points to spend during the rest of the year! With a large number of DVC points, you’ve purchased the right to take full control of your Disney vacation…whenever, wherever. And that could mean multiple Disney trips in the same year.

    I’ll use one more example to make my point. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the gold standard in Walt Disney World accommodations today and has been ever since it opened in 1988. A few years ago, Disney finally indulged DVC owners by giving them the opportunity to buy DVC contracts and stay at this lavish hotel. To many program participants, it’s the ultimate in Disney vacations.

    The only downside of a stay at the Grand Floridian is the cost. The Points Chart at this resort reflects the pristine status of the property. Few DVC members have enough annual points to spend a week at the Grand Floridian. You’re one of the lucky ones, though. You have enough on your contract to stay in a Lake View studio hotel room during Premier Season, a time when a week at the Grand Floridian costs 271 points.

    Most of the year, the cost is 199 points or less, meaning that you’d still have more than 100 points to spend elsewhere. That’s the twice amount from the small contracts article! You could do so much with that surplus, and that’s AFTER you’ve spent a holiday week at the Grand Floridian. This statement alone should signal the true potential of owning 300+ points. Everything at Disney is possible

    What Else Can You Get for 300 Points?

    When you have this many points, you may discover that you have a taste for suites. One- and two-bedroom suites at DVC resorts are spectacular hotel rooms that will add that extra level of luxury to your vacation. Plus, suites come with washer/dryer appliances and kitchens. You’ll feel like you’re at your home away from home when Disney welcomes you home in a DVC suite.

    The additional space is something that quickly grows addictive. I have a friend who will only stay at Disney’s Old Key West Villas due to their size. The one-bedroom suites that his family prefers are a whopping 942 square feet. A lot of people who live in metropolitan areas stay in apartments smaller than that! The suite life will elevate your Disney vacation into something mythic and unforgettable. Don’t sleep on this option.

    You should also investigate some of Disney’s upscale hotel room offerings. Perhaps the most famous one is the Treehouse Villa, a special room type at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. It’s an octagonal standalone hotel room in the middle of the woods. You’ll relish in a serenely rustic setting when you stay here. Plus, you’ll stretch out across 1,074 square feet of cleverly used space. It’s one of the best floorplans at Walt Disney World.

    A night’s stay in a Treehouse Villa ranges between 39 and 76 points. During Adventure or Choice Season, you could spend a full week here at a cost of 281-295 points. During 49 out of 52 weeks of the year, a Treehouse Villa is 366 points or less. You can easily bank or borrow the points you need to stay here when you have 300 points annually. Alternately, you can just indulge your Add-on-it is and buy a few more if you want to make a Treehouse Villa stay a regular thing! Why shortchange yourself, big spender?

    May I Interest You in Some Hawaii?

    Oh, so you have ALL the points, eh? Well, don’t feel like you’re stuck in the continental United States. Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa is the pride of Kapolei on the island of Oahu. Yes, the DVC program stretches out to the Hawaiian Islands and, yes, the resort here embodies every fantasy that you’ve ever had about an island vacation.

    The glorious part of Aulani is that Disney structured the DVC points chart in a clever way. There is an option to fit almost anyone’s membership contract. A one-week stay could cost as little as 112 points for a standard hotel room. A studio with Standard View is only 119 points to start. From there, the prices stretch out in a way that suits the needs of most members.

    As a power user, a person with more than 300 points, you’ll want something special. I’d suggest a one-bedroom suite with an Ocean View. After all, you’re there for the view, right? During Adventure Season, which I should note isn’t the same as Adventure Season at Walt Disney World, you can book a week in a one-bedroom with an Ocean View for 322 points. The cost goes up to 350 points, 405 points, and 434 points for the other three seasons. You may need to bank or borrow a bit, but it’s a small aggravation to spend a week in Hawaii, right?

    I should also point out that there’s a weird nightly room tax for “transient guests” in Hawaii. It’s a modest fee of $17.66-$23.94 per night, depending on the season when you visit. Given that the room is otherwise totally free via DVC points, it’s the best deal you’ll ever get on a Hawaiian vacation. You’re staying at an award-winning property that’s equal parts decadent and family-friendly. There’s a reason why reviews of Aulani are glowing. It’s in the conversation for best overall property in the DVC lineup.

    Hey, Don’t You Deserve that Bungalow at the Poly?

    With so many points under your belt, don’t you deserve some bragging rights? Wouldn’t you like to post on social media that you’re staying at the most extravagant suite at Walt Disney World? Seriously, who wouldn’t? And with 300+ points, you can!

    A few years ago, Disney introduced a new room type at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. They constructed Bungalows, the best of the best at Disney today. Later, Disney mimicked the idea with the Cascade Cabins at Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The concept is the same at both places. When you stay at these deluxe villas, you’re holing up in a two-bedroom suite that’s isolated from the rest of Walt Disney World. It’s spectacular.

    The cost of a Bungalow or Cascade Cabin is price-prohibitive to some. The lowest cost for a Cabin is 87 points on a weekday, 102 points on a Friday/Saturday. Let’s be clear about the fact that 102 points is a decent DVC contract for a lot of people. To wit, the small contracts we discussed originally are 50 points. A small contract owner would need to use two years’ worth of points just to spend one night in a Cabin.

    A Bungalow is that much more expensive. The cheapest weeknight costs 115 points, while a Friday/Saturday is 133 points. You’d either have to buy extra points to go with your two years of points or you’d have to bank AND borrow points to have enough to book a Bungalow. Seriously, the price on these is obscene.

    What do you get for your points? A Cascade Cabin sits on the waters and delivers a wonderful rustic experience. The suite is 1,700 square feet in size, with two bedrooms. One of them has a queen bed while the master has a king plus a private bathroom. The highlights are the living room with a fireplace and a screened patio area. The latter space includes a hot tub and a picnic table/sitting area with a view of the lake. It’s amazing.

    The Bungalow isn’t quite as big, but it’s that much more impressive. Its 1,300 square feet of space is ideal for fans of the Polynesian, one of the original two resorts at Walt Disney World. Again, the smaller bedroom has a queen while the master has a king plus a private bathroom. You may think that the star of the Bungalow is either the impeccably themed living room or the large kitchen, but that’s not the case. Each Bungalow has an exterior sitting area featuring a line of sight to Magic Kingdom! You can sit in a swing on the deck and gaze at Cinderella Castle. In a way, it’s the best seat at Walt Disney World…and it’s your HOTEL ROOM!

    With a large DVC contract, you’re one of the lucky few who can stay at a Cabin or Bungalow. For that matter, you could spend a long weekend in a Bungalow for 381 points. You’d need to borrow or bank those extra points, but it’s a small price to pay for the unforgettable romantic backdrop that’s also decidedly Disney in tone. You deserve that kind of happiness, don’t you? Well, with 300+ DVC points, you’ll have it!

  4. Buying Riviera Resort- What Should You Do?

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    You’ve seen pictures of Disney’s Riviera Resort. You may have even taken the hotel tour. You’ve decided that you want to stay here. There’s just one problem. You really don’t want to own here. You know that the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) has changed the program’s rules, arbitrarily punishing owners of this resort. What’s the best course of action to spend time at Riviera without buying one of these contracts? We have a few thoughts on how to approach the Riviera Resales conundrum. Read on to get some ideas. 

    Buying Directly from Disney

    The option that Disney prefers you to choose is to buy directly from them. You’ll gain a few benefits from such a purchase, primarily that your Riviera contract will allow you to stay at the other DVC resorts, the Original 14. 

    How much will you pay for this privilege? Let’s be honest. It’s a lot. Disney requires a purchase of at least 175 points. The current cost per point is $188, and that price is subject to increase without warning. Currently, you must spend at least $32,900 to buy directly from DVC. That’s the high cost of purchasing a contract at Disney’s Riviera Resort. To many people, that’s a deal breaker. 

    Clever DVC members may take different approaches to the same goal. You aim to stay at the Riviera sometimes, right? While DVC has altered the rules to lessen your chances, you’re the enterprising type. You won’t be deterred from getting what you want. And you’re not going to do it at Disney’s ridiculous prices. Here are a few ways to beat the system.

    Buy a Small Direct Contract

    Current DVC owners don’t have the same rules as new members. Disney requires non-owners to make a sizable investment in the program. When you are already part of DVC, however, you don’t need to buy as many points. 

    The current rules require a minimum purchase of 50 points. It’s a much more manageable $9,400 out of pocket. Plus, 100 points is more than enough for a one-week stay in a Tower Studio during Adventure Season every other year. That would cost 81 points, and all you’d need to do is bank points every other year to do it. So, there’s a way to stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort for more than half off of DVC’s current pricing. 

    Buy Two Contracts for Less Than the Price of One

    How does this help if you’re not already a member? That’s a fair question. The answer is that it technically doesn’t, at least not yet. What you could do, however, is buy a resale contract first. Then, you may add a direct contract of 50 points later. 

    While inventory fluctuates daily, the listings page at ResalesDVC usually has a handful of contracts available that are $15,000 or less.  You could grab one of these contracts and then add 50 points at Riviera directly through Disney later. 

    Because resales are so much cheaper, you would still save a few thousand dollars. From your perspective, the more important aspect is that you’d own more points that way, too. 

    Let’s say that you get a 150-point contract via resales, which is sometimes possible, plus 50 points directly from Disney. Your financial outlay would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $24,400. That’s 200 points in total for $8,500 less than what 175 points costs for a direct DVC contract at Riviera! 

    Since so many factors impact your contract decisions, you might approach the situation from a different angle. You could seek out the smallest or cheapest contract that you can get. Once you are a member of DVC, you can buy the minimum number of points for the Riviera. 

    You could feasibly own only 125 points yet have 75 of those points exclusively for your Riviera stays. And again, 81 points is all you’d need to stay for a week at certain times of the year. Disney sells one-time use points, too. You could feasibly spend a week at the Riviera Resort every year as long as you’re willing to pay $114 for half-a-dozen points at $19 each. 

    If you purchased only 50 points for Riviera, you could still spend a week at the resort every other year simply by banking your 50 points. How much would that scenario cost?

    Stripped 50-point contracts, ones without immediate DVC points available, sell for as little as $5,000 at times. You won’t care about the stripped contract aspect, as Disney usually will give you double points the first year that you own a direct contract. You’ll still have 100 points during your first year, but you’ll spend roughly $15,000 for your two contracts. That’s less than half of what Disney would want you to spend on a Riviera contract. Of course, you’ll have fewer points as well, but that’s totally fine. You’ll pay only what you want rather than what Disney dictates.

    • 100 points total: 50 points resale (roughly $5,000) + 50 points direct at $188 pp ($9,400) = $14,400
    • 125 points total:  50 points resale (roughly $5,000) + 75 points direct at $188 pp ($14,100) = $19,100
    Thinking outside the Box

    Your DVC contract entitles you to exchange your points at a DVC hotel for a stay of one or more nights. While you receive legal real estate documents, the underlying concept involves a somewhat intangible service. What you do with your points is entirely up to you.

    For example, you could rent your points through a reliable third-party service like David’s Vacation Club Rentals or DVC Rental Store. These sites will pay you anywhere between $13.50 and $15 per point. You can sell them for even more points if you perform the transaction yourself, although that strategy comes with its own hurdles. 

    Let’s say that you have a 150-point DVC contract. Should you rent your points for $14 each, you’d have $2,100. Then, you could turn around and use that money to rent Riviera points for a hotel stay. 

    The concept is exactly the same. You’re exchanging DVC points for a hotel stay at the Disney resort of your choice. The difference is that you’ll use a middleman for this particular transaction. 

    Playing the Long Game

    Disney’s content to change the rules for DVC because sales are robust right now. We’re a decade past the last major recession, and theme park attendance is at all-time highs. With the arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the upcoming 50th-anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World, DVC officials are confident that the market is strong.

    What would happen if the economy took a turn, though? Nobody wants to think about such unpleasant circumstances, but it’s a fair question. DVC is the one timeshare program that has historically increased in price consistently. Even it has the occasional pricing hiccup, though. During turbulent economic periods, people don’t spend as much on recreational real estate. 

    You could take advantage of this by saving for a rainy day. Add a bit of money to a savings account each month in the hope that you see the perfect contract at a spectacular price. 

    This strategy should be especially effective with the Riviera Resort, as questions persist about its market value. You may stumble into a bargain courtesy of a frustrated buyer, someone who did what you didn’t: They bought a questionable direct contract at the Riviera. 

    Alternately, you could play the long game a different way. While buying a resale contract now, you could wait to see what happens with the Riviera. While Disney has changed the rules for now, the situation is fluid. There’s always a chance that they rescind the change later. 

    The most likely scenario would involve disappointing sales at the Riviera. As DVCNews recently suggested, its early results weren’t impressive, although that’s not unusual for new properties. Should sluggish sales continue, however, DVC executives could decide that they’ve made a mistake in limiting the resort stay rules at the Riviera. 

    At this point, a rules change is improbable, but the situation bears monitoring. There’s no need for you to rush into a direct purchase unless you’re absolutely certain. You could just as easily wait a couple of years to see what happens next.

    Finally, those of you who are dead set on staying at the Riviera have another option. As DVC members, you always have the right to pay cash for a room. Some program participants get discounts to stay at the hotel. It’s a great way to spend a weekend trying out the Riviera to decide whether you want to buy a contract here. 

  5. Important Dates for 2019 – Disney and DVC

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    In recent years, the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) has shown a deeper appreciation for its members. They’ve hosted more special events and exclusives to program participants on top of the delightful affairs that they provide for all Disney vacationers. Let’s take a look at some of the most important remaining dates for 2019. 

    July 18th, August 8th, and August 22nd

    Disney will hold three more Moonlight Magic events this summer at a different location. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been the preferred destination of many vacationers since it added Pandora – The World of Avatar. The park is also open into the evening now, and Animal Kingdom after dark is a breathtaking, almost otherworldly experience. 

    Close your eyes and imagine having a nearly empty Animal Kingdom to yourself. It sounds incredible, right? And I have even better news. This Moonlight Magic evening isn’t sold out yet! It can’t be. Tickets for the events aren’t available until June 5th for DVC members with hotel reservations. All other DVC owners may book starting on June 12th. Since these dates are close, you will have to take what you can get in terms of booking DVC rooms. 

    September 18th and October 16th

    Disney’s trying something different with Moonlight Magic as the calendar turns to fall. They’re holding a pair of events at Typhoon Lagoon. Starting on August 14th, guests with official Disney resort reservations can book this event. On August 28th, all other card-carrying members can join them.

    A closed water park is an especially tantalizing proposition for DVC members. As this video shows from last year’s event, you will have no problem riding everything that you want. Plus, there’s bathing suit dancing at the park complete with a DJ! The only caveat here is that Florida weather is especially unpredictable. You may discover that the water’s a bit chilly if the temperature drops significantly after dark. 

    August 16th through November 1st and September 17th through October 31st

    Everyone’s favorite ticketed event, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) will open earlier than ever this year. It’ll debut in mid-August, testing the accepted calendar concept of Halloween season. 

    As you know, MNSSHP costs about $100 for DVC members and isn’t available every night. It’s only open on days when Disney closes Magic Kingdom early to regular customers, giving the party-goers the run of the most popular theme park on the planet for several hours. I went this past Halloween, and I genuinely hated that the evening had to end. Cast members felt the same way, as they were singing and dancing desperately as the final minutes ticked down for the last MNSSHP of 2018. Due to the calendar configuration, this one will add the first day of November, too.

    Over at Disneyland Resort, West Coast fans finally get their own version of the event. Disney recently announced Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party. On select dates in September and October, Disney California Adventure will close early for regular guests to host this soiree. It’s a ticketed event as well. You can read full details here. 

    November 8th through December 22nd 

    You may notice that I’m bouncing around the calendar event here. I’m trying to keep similar activities together in case you want to pick your best option among them. Along these lines, the other popular ticketed event at Magic Kingdom is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

    This event will return in early November this year and has many of the same general features as MNSSHP. For about $100 per person, guests get to celebrate the holiday with Mickey and friends. While the Halloween version leans toward the spooky side of the spectrum, the Christmas party is like a warm yuletide hug. 

    The seven-month booking window is already open for at least a portion of all three events. What you’re realizing right now is that the 11-month Home Resort window is there for a reason. It gives DVC members a safe way to secure a reservation for any popular theme park event during the calendar year. Many long-time owners at Disney’s Beach Club Villas and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas specifically purchased there to guarantee a hotel room during Epcot’s various festivals. 

    August 29th

    Did you know that Disney will open a new themed land based on Star Wars? I’m kidding. Of course you do. It’s all anybody can talk about when they mention Disney vacations right now. From August 29th forward, all of your visits to Walt Disney World will include a stop at Black Spire Outpost, a settlement on Batuu, the final place at Galaxy’s Edge. 

    I can’t sugarcoat this one. Those of you who have your hearts set on visiting Walt Disney World for Star Wars Land need to book now. The seven-month window is already into December. You must act fast. Otherwise, you will likely have to wait until 2020 to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The good news is that most of the other dates here are one-time only or limited time excursions. Star Wars Land is forever!

    August 29th through November 23rd

    The final few days of August will be crazy this year, y’all! In addition to the debut of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, August 29th marks the start of the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. As any self-respecting DVC owner knows, this festival is one of the greatest aspects of being a member. Anyone lucky enough to stay at a monorail resort or Disney’s Beach Club Villas or Disney’s BoardWalk Villas has convenient access to Epcot and all of the treasures inside. 

    The Food & Wine Festival has staked a claim as one of the most significant activities at Walt Disney World during the fall. This year’s version will have a record-setting 87 days for you to eat the magnificent cuisine from the pop-up restaurants at the World Showcase. The one irregularity this year is that the Eat to the Beat concert series will end before the actual festival does. Its last day is November 19th, as Disney needs time to set up Candlelight Processional. Speaking of which…

    November 29th through December 30th

    Disney’s other popular festival at the end of the year is Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays. One of its beloved activities is the aforementioned Candlelight Processional. Due to Disney’s scheduling for this year, you won’t even have a week between the end of one festival and the start of the next. 

    The Festival of the Holidays is one of my favorites, as I love the yuletide activities here. Various countries have cast members recite (or act out) stories involving their own versions of Christmas. It’s a fascinating insight into cultural approaches regarding the same subject matter. 

    For those of you who want to visit during one of the festivals, you’re already within the seven-month window for Food & Wine. You could start booking your non-home resort for Festival of the Holidays on April 29th. In other words, it’s time to take action. 

    I cannot stress enough how much DVC rooms will be at a premium this year due to the arrival of Star Wars Land. Pandora almost singlehandedly increased traffic Animal Kingdom traffic by 25 percent. Star Wars makes Avatar look like a Police Academy movie. Disney parks will be insane during the fourth quarter of the year. 

    December 12th 

    The DVC Condominium Association Meeting isn’t an event most members regularly attend. It is, however, something that everyone should do at some point in their lives. It’s an enlightening discussion of the ins and outs of DVC ownership during a calendar year. 

    You’ll learn about your upcoming maintenance fees while getting a detailed explanation of what goes into the pricing calculations. You’ll also be one of the first to hear about upcoming DVC events, changes, and new resorts/amenities.

    December 16th

    Disney doesn’t add new properties to its lineup often. It’s even rarer for them to construct an entirely new property that’s primarily for DVC accommodations. That’s what we have with Disney’s Riviera Resort, the 15th DVC property. It is now taking reservations in anticipation of an opening date of December 16th. 

    I’m not going out on a limb when I say that this place will book quickly for its first few months of operation. As such, you should schedule your reservation as soon as possible. Keep in mind that the Disney Skyliner should be open by this point, although we don’t have an official date yet. All park officials have indicated is “fall 2019,” but the testing phase right now suggests that they’ll have no problem making that deadline. 

    With the advent of the Skyliner, the Riviera becomes arguably the best place for Star Wars fans to stay at Walt Disney World. You’ll receive direct transportation to and from Hollywood Studios. I say again that this place will book quickly. 

    Special Holiday Events

    On many major holidays, DVC hosts unique events for card-carrying members. Many of them cost extra, although some are free. Here’s a quick list of potential offerings throughout the rest of 2019:

    • June 18th: DVC Father’s Day Lunch – Location to Be Announced at Disneyland
    • July 3rd: Independence Day Dessert Party – Contemporary Resort
    • October 31st: DVC Halloween Dessert Party – Location to Be Announced at Disneyland
    • October 31st: DVC Halloween Dessert Party – Contemporary Resort
    • November 28th: DVC Thanksgiving Dinner – Contemporary Resort
    • December 24th: DVC Holiday Dinner – Contemporary Resort
    • December 30th: DVC New Year’s Eve Party – Contemporary Resort

    Special note: The events held at the Contemporary Resort are located in at least one of these three places: the Ballroom of the Americas Porte Cochere, and Fantasia Ballroom.

    Okay, there you have it. You now know precisely when you should book your DVC reservations for the rest of 2019. It’s poised to be a historic year in many ways, so don’t delay! You don’t want to look back with regret later, knowing that you could have gone to Star Wars Land during its first few months but didn’t.

  6. What can you do with 160 DVC points?

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    In a prior piece, we explored the benefits of a smaller Disney Vacation Club (DVC) contract. The article demonstrated that a member can have a lot of fun with as few as 50 annual membership points. It begs a question, though. What could you do with a lot more points? The most common contracts fall in the range of 160-200 points, which is at least triple the amount discussed last time. With so many points on hand, you have a lot more options for your vacation. Here are some ideas about the kinds of vacations you should expect with an average amount of points.

    Returning to the Basics

    As previously discussed, Disney constructs their DVC point occupancy and logistics, they’ve identified which resorts are more desirable and which ones are less desirable. When you have fewer points, you’re left with a hard choice. You can spend more nights at one of the less coveted resorts or fewer nights at the most popular locations.

    The great news about a larger contract is that your options expand dramatically. You’ll still have the same general constraints, as you unfortunately can’t stay at a DVC resort every night of the year. Nobody has that many points. So, you still have the same basic decisions about how to spend your points, debating whether to stay longer or at a more popular resort. You’re just not as constrained. With triple the points, you can do a LOT more.

    With DVC membership, you currently have 14 different properties where you can spend your points. The Walt Disney Company will introduce a 15th location, Disney’s Riviera Resort, in 2018. Even if you only spend a three-day weekend at each property, you would still need 45 entire days to vacation at the various participating hotels. This causes an additional kind of decision making.

    In addition to length of stay and points utilization, you must choose where you want to stay. And that choice starts early for those who believe that you should buy at the place where you plan to vacation the most. Once you have a contract, that place is where you will have the easiest time booking hotel stays, making it the most likely place for you to visit throughout the life of your membership agreement.

    The Average Membership

    These three factors comprise the basics of DVC ownership. With 160 points in hand, however, you will have more flexibility in how you address each one. Since you’ve invested $15,000 or so (or bought more than a decade ago), your contract rewards you. You will get what you’ve paid for, which is innumerable great Disney vacations.

    When you’re ready to book, you’ll run into the same disclaimers from the previous article. You’ll discover that the DVC Points Chart for each resort varies. Some of them require fewer points for a week’s stay. The ones that tend to cost the most are the three monorail resorts at Walt Disney World: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa joins that list, primarily because it’s currently the only viable option for DVC members at Disneyland Resort.

    The other overriding factor is that Disney has grouped their various DVC properties into tiers. You’ll spend more when you stay during a holiday such as Thanksgiving since that’s a more crowded period on the Disney calendar. Should you visit during a slower time such as January or September, you’ll spend fewer points. We’ll evaluate how that helps or hinders you as the discussion unfolds.

    What Can You Get with 160 Points?

    Okay, with the economics lecture out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff! You’ve got 160 points. What can you do with it? Your initial instinct may be that with an average number of points, you’ll receive an average DVC vacation. This belief couldn’t be further from the truth. You’ll relish a multitude of options available to you thanks to your moderately-sized contract.

    What you’ll discover with your 160 annual points is that your options have expanded dramatically from a small one. Disney wants people to join DVC, and they really want guests to own a lot of points. Park planners and DVC strategists structure the Points Chart to entice travelers to spend more time at Disney theme parks and resorts.

    In the small contract article, I referenced the fact that you could stay for a week at a resort. You’d simply have to plan ahead by banking or borrowing points from a different Use Year. With 160 annual points, you can spend a week at Disney every year. In fact, you could do a lot more than that if you like.

    Let’s use Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge as an example. Whether you prefer the villas at Kidani or Jambo House, you’ll find a welcoming DVC Points Chart here. A week’s stay in a standard studio here costs as little as 81 points, 146 points at most. Would you rather look out at the animals from your room? Of course! Those rooms have higher points costs, but you’ll have enough on your annual contract to stay there during all but three weeks of the year. A Savannah View room is 181 points during Premier Season. Those are the dates of March 25th through April 7th and December 24th through December 31st.

    Your contract gives you a strong chance to book a room with a zoo view 49 out of 52 weeks each year! Should you want to go during Christmas, remember that you can always buy single-use points from Disney. A maximum of 24 are available. Since you’re only 21 points short, you could even stay a week during Premier Season for a modest fee of $17 per points ($357 total). It’s a great deal. Plus, you’ll never forget your Christmas holiday that you spent with the animals!

    Animal Kingdom Savanna View Studio

    What Else Can You Get with 160 Points?

    You’ll find other wonderful possibilities when you receive 160 points each year. Let’s start with single-year usage. With so many points, you can stay at a monorail resort for a week. You must be selective with your room types and your traveling dates, though.

    For example, you may schedule a studio room at Bay Lake Tower. The cost for a week is less than 160 points for all times except Premier Season. The catch is that your only options for that amount are standard view and Lake View. Theme Park View (TPV) is just a bit out of your point range most of the year.

    Lake View is 153 points or less during four out of five DVC seasons. TPV costs 141 points during Adventure Season and 151 points during Choice Season. Dream Season and Magic Season are still possibilities with one-time points, as they cost 174/183 points. You can’t stay during Premier Season unless you borrow/bank points, though. It’s a stiff 241 points. Disney makes you pay to have the best view at Christmas.

    Standard View Bay Lake Studio

    A quirk of the points chart is that the Polynesian and Grand Floridian have largely similar costs for studios. A standard view at both properties is 153 points or less during the first three seasons. Magic Season is 169 points for each location, and Premier Season is out of reach at 227 points. Remember, these are just the standard views.

    DVC members who prefer Lake View at these properties will need to travel during Adventure (148 points) or Choice Season (153 points). You could also purchase enough one-time points to split the difference on Dream Season (183 points). Both Magic and Premier Season would require banking/borrowing, though. Even with 160 points, you only get so much in DVC. Your best bet when you want these experiences is to shorten the length of your vacation or dip into a different Use Year’s points.

    But Wait! There’s More!

    Owning 160 points opens up another door for DVC members. Now, you may experience a different sort of vacation experience. With this many points, you could book a one-bedroom suite instead. Most DVC properties feature one-bedroom options. These rooms come with an obvious benefit and a hidden one.

    The obvious advantage of a one-bedroom suite is space. Generally speaking, DVC studios are in the 350-square feet range. That’s a massive amount compared to a standard hotel room, which is why Disney refers to the rooms in the program as villas. When you stay at an extended stay hotel room, it should be bigger, after all.

    One-bedroom suites are much larger. These properties are generally around 800 square feet, the same as a one-bedroom apartment. They have kitchen features, plates and cooking utensils, larger bathrooms, and other benefits, too.

    One Bedroom Villas at Bay Lake Tower offer full kitchens and expanded living spaces

    My favorite one is the washer/dryer combo that comes standard. I tend to spend 10 days at Walt Disney World during each trip. Packing enough clothing for that long is tough. Thanks to the washer/dryer, I can clean my favorite Disney outfits from the comfort of my own room. A pro tip is to start the laundry then head down to the pool for a while. Eating a meal at the restaurant works, too.

    About Those One-Bedroom Suites…

    The DVC Points Chart has a general rule of thumb that one-bedroom suites are double the points of standard rooms. There’s some wiggle room there, of course, and I’m speaking in generalities with the statement. What I can say for sure is that enterprising DVC members with 160-point contracts will be able to book a suite.

    You’ll have several choices about the best way to do so. For example, a one-bedroom suite at Disney’s Old Key West Resort costs 157 points during Adventure Season or 174 points during Choice Season. You could stay in one of these rooms for a week in January, September, or October plus some of November and December, too.

    Old Key West is one of the most popular places to book a one-bedroom for a different reason beyond its reasonable points cost. Its suites are comically spacious, with 942 square feet in the floorplan. You can really stretch out here. Since this was the first DVC resort, Disney gradually realized that they’d overcompensated with their room sizes, gradually reducing the suites in particular. Old Key West stands out to this day due to its size and is the perfect choice for families who prefer some breathing room.

    Old Key West Villas offer much more space!

    Most DVC properties charge more than 160 points for a week at a one-bedroom facility. As an example, Disney’s Beach Club Villas starts at 197 points. This may sound price-prohibitive until you remember that you can bank or borrow points.

    Let’s be real. You’re unlikely to visit a Disney resort every year through the life of your contract. Pick one of those years to add your points to the year when you will. With 320 points available, you’ll have access to a week (or more) in a DVC one-bedroom suite most of the year.

    Finally, I should add that a 160-point contract gives you access to one other room type that you can’t get with a small contract. Animal Kingdom Villas includes a room type called Kilimanjaro Club Concierge. It’s the same type of room you would otherwise book as a DVC member, only it gives you special access to the concierge floor of the hotel.

    The Kilimanjaro Club Concierge is effectively the club lounge. The room type is difficult to book due to its popularity, which speaks volumes about why you want to stay there. With concierge access, you’ll get free benefits like continental breakfast and food and drink options throughout the day. Many of these free foods and drinks are ones that you love from restaurants like Boma. Yes, they’ve had Zebra Domes at the club lounge at times. The famous Tusker House Jungle Juice is oftentimes an option, too.

    Booking the concierge level costs a minimum of 125 points for the week. That’s for a studio during Adventure Season. Basic studios require as many as 211 points, but the maximum for anything Magic Season or lower is 153 points.

    In other words, you can (and absolutely should) book a concierge level studio at Animal Kingdom Villas at some point. You’ll reduce your snack, drink, and possibly even breakfast expenses since you’ll get all of that free in the lounge. It’s just another way that having an average DVC contract benefits you as a loyal DVC member!

  7. Five Reasons to Stay at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

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    Photo credit – Penny Cooper

    By the end of 2019, the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) will feature 15 different resorts. Out of these properties, 80 percent of them are close to Disney theme parks. The other three may seem like anomalies, but they are perfectly in keeping with the concept of the timeshare. The Walt Disney Company merely modified the perception of the timeshare to fit better with their needs.

    Today, let’s discuss one of the three DVC resorts located far away from a Disney theme park. Specifically, let’s talk about the one that tends to fly under the radar a bit, the property that I would describe as the hidden gem of the DVC lineup. Here are five reasons why you should visit Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort.

    1. The City

    The city of Hilton Head, South Carolina, is ostensibly a tourist trap. I say that because it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the south. It holds that claim almost grudgingly, though.

    For those who have never visited Hilton Head, it’s difficult to understand why this city is so different from most popular vacation destinations. The explanation involves the city government. You see, Hilton Head is an island whose officials are environmentally conscious. They want their home to look as beautiful as it did decades ago when they were kids.

    This goal sounds impossible, but Hilton Head has proven that it’s not. Thanks to some forward-thinking laws, they’ve protected the pristine beaches. Just as importantly, their strict ordinances for urban development rule out gaudy signs and banners.

    You won’t see bright neon lights trying to lure you to cheap tourist attractions. To the contrary, laws state that signs have a height limit. Also, they’re generally made of wood or wood by-products. The grandeur of Hilton Head is more important than any single business, and the town rules enforce this notion.

    You can read the full list of restrictions on the city’s official website. After looking at it, you’ll understand why people refer to Hilton Head as the anti-Las Vegas. This town isn’t just laid back; city officials have codified that attitude.

    2. The Hobbyist Activities

    When you visit Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, prepare to have lots of outdoors fun. Hilton Head is a mecca for golf and tennis, and you’ll find courses and courts throughout the city. Disney doesn’t offer either one onsite, but they’ve set up several agreements with local businesses.

    The official hotel page displays a highlighted list of some of the 300 tennis courts in Hilton Head. As a pro tip, Van Der Meer Shipyard Racquet Club is highly recommended. The Disney site also shows many of the best golf courses on the island. For those who aren’t diehard duffers, lessons are also available.

    I lead with golf and tennis, because the perception that southerners have of Hilton Head is that it’s a hotbed for patrician sports. Sailing and yachting are also popular here. While you’re in the city, you can charter any sort of boat or rent aquatic equipment.
    Disney even has some exercise activities at the resort. You can rent bikes to ride around the island. It’s a popular way to pass a couple of hours. Hilton Head is a bike-friendly city, so cyclists have things better than drivers in some ways.

    3. The Resort

    Photo Credit – Chad Sparkes

    Shut your eyes and imagine a resort that backs up to river. Envision the grass peeking up from the water, and the walkways that lead to the best views of this idyllic setting. Imagine a hotel that isn’t on the beach but somehow shares most of the same traits as an oceanfront resort. Now, think about all of that as perfected by Disney’s Parks & Resorts division, the global leaders in dream vacations. That’s the gist of Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. It’s a small slice of southern heaven, only with Disney amenities as the cherry on top.

    The rooms at this resort don’t all have great views, but even when you can’t look out at the water, you’re still looking at something magnificent. Disney’s done an impeccable job of constructing a resort with plenty of panoramic vistas. By wandering around the resort campus, you can see restaurants and shopping centers, a giant shipyard, and serene seas.

    Don’t let the surroundings fool you, though. You’re staying at a Disney resort here, and the amenities more than live up to the brand. An area right beside the lobby is home to storytelling sessions, many of which involve local pirate legends and cultural tidbits from the region.

    The pool here is child-friendly, with a dynamic slide that satisfactorily splashes down in the end. You can really drench a stranger when you aim right on this slide. And the sitting areas provide competitive sports like billiards, cornhole, shuffleboard, and the like. Rather than shoot pool, however, my family just sits in the chairs in this area and basks in the ambience of the fireplace area of the Live Oak Lodge.

    The only huge knock on this resort is the food. The restaurants here are both counter service ones, and they also close at 5 p.m. Disney presumes that you’ll visit one of the hundreds of restaurants in the city rather than staying onsite for dinner. Out of all DVC properties, Hilton Head is the worst bet for meals. The parking here is also a bit confusing, but that’s a minor gripe.

    Overall, this resort is the perfect place to stay when you want a different kind of DVC vacation. The hotel is more of a conventional timeshare experience, albeit one with a strong Disney vibe. When you stay in one of the spacious rooms here, you’ll know that you’re at Disney, but you’ll also feel like you’re on a beach vacation, too. It’s a dream combination.

    4. The Beach

    Photo Credit – Chad Sparkes

    When I used to work in the hotel industry, one of the ways I was certain to lose a sale was when someone asked, “Is the resort right on the beach?” To a lot of people, anything that’s not oceanfront is out. I’ve always believed that this philosophy is short-sighted, and Hilton Head is the ultimate proof of it.

    Disney’s resort is a bit more than a mile away from the beach. That may seem like a good distance, but it’s not. We’ve comfortably walked it and would have no qualms about doing so again. On a lovely day, it’s actually preferable to driving. I don’t want to come across as negative about Hilton Head’s roads and traffic, as they’re quite good by tourist destination standards. I just feel that when I’m on an island, it’s more fun to get in touch with nature by walking and biking to places.

    Once you reach the beach, you’ll love everything about it. Disney owns a private section, and they’ve done it up right. They have a clubhouse area that includes a pool and restaurant. So, you can hole up at the beach all day, maintaining confidence that Disney professionals can take care of your every need, including hunger.

    Since this area is exclusive to Disney hotel guests, it’s one of the emptiest spots on Hilton Head Island. You won’t feel like you’re getting crowded out of your spot on the beach. To the contrary, you’ll almost believe that you have the beach to yourself. And it’s an amazing beach. The soft sand and gentle waves will sweep away all of your problems. You’ll luxuriate in a sunny slice of heaven. Once you’re done, you simply walk, bike, or drive back to the resort to engage in other Disney-based activities.

    5. The People

    Look, every Disney cast member demonstrates the utmost in professionalism most of the time. The company’s training is the gold standard to the point that other companies use Disney practices as teaching methods in their training. Anyone in an employee uniform is someone you can trust to get the job done. This statement applies to any Disney theme park or resort in the world.

    Having acknowledged that fact, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort claims the finest roster of workers that I’ve ever met at Disney…or possibly anywhere. They take a special kind of collective ownership of the resort, the island, and your vacation enjoyment.

    The moment that you check in, a staff member will hand you more maps than you’ve held in years. This person will take the time to explain what’s important about each one and how it will benefit you during your trip. They’ll also inform you of special activities held onsite that day and week. The cast members at Hilton Head marry the concepts of exemplary Disney customer service and genteel southern charm in a tidy package.

    You don’t have to take my word for this, either. I understand that everyone has a different experience each time. To emphasize the point, I’ve visited the TripAdvisor page for Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. Here are some applicable quotes just from the first few pages of reviews:

    “As soon as you drive up you are greeted by a member of the Disney Staff, all are friendly, courteous, and fun to be around, which adds to your enjoyment during your stay. They were also very knowledgeable about the local area and were able to help with recommendations.”

    “The staff is incredibly friendly and went out of their way to welcome us.”

    “Samantha, Savanna, Michelle and Becky all went above and beyond. The way we were treated made us feel like royalty.”

    “…the staff really makes you feel special!”

    “By the end of our visit, we were in awe of the professionalism and dedication to customer service demonstrated by all the employees on staff.”

    Okay, that last one is mine. Each one proves the point, though. DVC members love to hear the words, “Welcome home!” The cast members at Hilton Head go out of their way to make that phrase resonate in a rare and profound way. Once you visit here, your only regret is that you have to leave.

  8. How to Make the Most out of a Small DVC Contract

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    One of the most important aspects of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is that its pricing is elastic. No matter your budget, you can find a resales contract that will suit your family’s needs. As you plan your purchase, however, you might wonder exactly what you’ll get for your money. It’s an understandable concern. Over a series of articles, we’ll take a look at three different entry levels for DVC ownership, examining how much you’ll spend and what kind of vacations you should expect from each investment. We’ll start with a modest contract purchase today.

    The Basics of DVC

    Before we discuss specifics, let’s talk about the basics of a DVC contract, as this information will impact all of our later discussions. The crucial aspect of a contract is location. You will buy an ownership interest in a certain resort. Here, you’ll have a longer booking window of 11 months as opposed to seven months at all other DVC resorts.

    Some resorts cost more than others. As examples, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort are generally the cheapest properties. They’re also ones that aren’t located near a Disney theme park.

    At Walt Disney World, Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa tend to sell for the lowest price per point. Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa sometimes has contracts available for less than $100 a point, too, at least at the time of publication in 2018. All DVC prices are trending up at an accelerated rate, which is another good reason to buy now rather than wait.

    Generally, the most expensive resorts in the DVC lineup are three monorail resorts at Walt Disney World. Those are Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Since Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa is the only option at Disneyland Resort, it’s usually the most expensive contract overall. Also, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins is in this grouping since it’s the newest property.

    As we talk about various contract and points options and vacation scenarios, you should keep the above in mind. You can get more points at the places that have cheaper prices, but you receive better amenities (primarily logistics) at the more expensive ones.

    Since DVC has exploded in popularity over the last few years, the primary issue with a cheaper resort is the booking window. You may struggle to get reservations at resorts where you don’t own a contract, especially if you’re a last-minute shopper rather than a planner. With DVC, you can manipulate any booking scenario into a dream trip. I simply want you to understand the potential selling points and weaknesses of each scenario. Keeping that in mind, here are three different ways to approach a modest DVC ownership contract.

    The Budget Membership

    I have a soft spot in my heart for budget DVC membership, as that’s how my family joined. We targeted a 50-point contract while we debated how much we’d like the idea of DVC. It was a comfortable starter investment that entitled us to a couple of wonderful vacations at affordable prices. With the (giant) hotel room paid for, we could spend our money on admission tickets, food, and (especially) merchandise.

    For the purpose of this discussion, I’ll define budget membership as $10,000 or less. For that price, you should be able to get 50-75 points at a cheaper Walt Disney World resort in the DVC program. You could even get 100 points at Vero Beach or Hilton Head. The downside with these two resorts is that you’ll pay more for maintenance fees at these properties, and you also can’t fully guarantee a room at Walt Disney World prior to the seven-month window.

    Keeping these pros and cons in mind, let’s presume that you’ve purchased 60 points at Old Key West. You may worry that you don’t have enough points, but I can alleviate these concerns. Here’s a reasonable expectation for your vacation pattern as a DVC member.

    The Annual Vacation

    Old Key West Studio

    Old Key West Studio

    With 60 points annually, you may take one of three different approaches to your vacation strategy. One is to visit annually. Another is to visit every other year, and the final choice is to go to a DVC resort every three years. Let’s examine each one.

    You may worry that 60 points isn’t enough for a lengthy Walt Disney World vacation. I have some good news on this front. According to CBS News, the average vacation is four nights. With clever manipulation of the DVC Points Chart, you can definitely do that!

    Assuming that you like staying at your home resort, Old Key West (OKW), you can take advantage of their generous off-season points system. On weekdays (i.e. not Friday and Saturday) during several months, OKW charges only 10 points per night for a studio room. That’s a steal for any DVC member!

    During January, September, October, and key parts of November and December, a DVC member could stay from Sunday through Thursday for 50 points! That’s one night longer than the average vacation! This is a good time to mention that you can also buy “extra” one-time use points from DVC. For a cost of only $17 per point, you can add up to 24 more points to your account for the year.

    I include this point because the points chart shows that a Friday or Saturday stay at OKW during Adventure Season is 13 points. Choice Season is 14 points. For $51-$68 more, you could use your 60 points and then buy 3-4 more from Disney. This move would enable you to stay six consecutive nights at Old Key West!

    Yes, with only 60 points and a bit of calendar-based strategy, you can spend a week’s vacation at Walt Disney World! When you have a smaller contract, you shouldn’t view it as a negative. Instead, you’ll have the opportunity to get more creative in managing your annual points.

    The “Every Two Years” Strategy

    We can extend this premise to the biennial visit. By attending Disney once every two years, your points double. You bank them for the year and then use them the following one. It’s a great vacation strategy for people who want to visit Disney but who also prefer to travel to other places, too.

    With 120 points in your account from two years of savings, you have even better options. Let’s say that you want to stay at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, home to the best pool at Walt Disney World, Stormalong Bay. You desire the convenient access to the World Showcase section of Epcot, too. Plus, you could hang out at Disney’s BoardWalk some, and that’s always big fun.

    To appreciate the pool fully, you’ll want to stay during the spring or summer, preferably before the weather grows too humid. That’s Dream Season at Beach Club, when a studio costs 16 points on weekdays or 20 points on Fridays/Saturdays.

    With 120 points in your account, you can spend *seven* consecutive nights at Beach Club. That’s 80 points for the Sunday-Thursday portion and then 40 points for Friday and Saturday. By spending seven nights at Beach Club, you can spend a day at each of the parks, shop at Disney Springs a lot, and still have plenty of time to hang out at the pool.

    To a larger point, you won’t have a hectic, go-go-go Disney trip. You’ll have more time to savor it. By spending eight days and seven nights in Orlando, you’ll savor the perfect vacation length according to science! Plus, during your non-Disney year, you can check out other vacation destinations around the country/world. While some DVC members can’t imagine traveling anywhere else (and I’m one of them), it’s probably healthy to mix things up year to year. Along those lines…

    The “Every Third Year” Strategy

    DVC Grand Floridian

    DVC Grand Floridian

    With a small contract purchase, you maintain a lot of flexibility. You’ve spent $10,000 or less to buy into the DVC program. What you may not have realized is that with some clever planning, you can still have the run of Walt Disney World during a decadent vacation stay!

    The key is to maximize both the banking and borrowing aspects of DVC membership. Once your points enter your account for a given Use Year, you have the right to bank them. You also have the option to borrow points from the following year. This sounds confusing, but it’s a huge benefit to you once you understand the system.

    Let’s say that your target vacation date is late 2019, after Star Wars Land opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. What you can and should do is bank your 60 points for 2018 so that you’ll have them next year. Once you’re in your 2019 Use Year, your account will have 120 points.

    Despite having twice your normal amount of points, you can still borrow points from 2020! By doing so, you stuff your 2019 Use Year with triple the points. After banking from 2018 and borrowing from 2020, you have 180 points to spend in 2019!

    What can you do with that many points? Well, you can have the Disney vacation of your dreams! I’m not even exaggerating. Since we previously established that eight days is the perfect vacation length, we will target a seven-night stay for this mega-trip.

    Where would you want to stay during such a magical vacation? Why settle for anything less than the best? Book a room at Grand Floridian! A week’s stay during Dream Season is 153 points for a studio.

    You actually have your choice of ways to jazz up your trip even more! You could add one more night for 21-24 points! Alternately, you could choose Lake View for 183 points. You’d have to buy three single-use points for the latter, but that would cost only $51.

    When you looked at cheap contracts at DVC, did you ever imagine that you could book a week at Grand Floridian? As you can see, it’s not only possible but fairly easy once you understand how to work the system.

    Any of these three vacation strategies would maximize the value of your inexpensive DVC contract. The main decision you’ll face is whether you want a contract with fewer points at a Walt Disney World facility or one with more points at a DVC resort like Vero Beach or Hilton Head.

    By choosing the latter option, you’ll pay less upfront while attaining a lot of points. However, you will spend more on maintenance fees over the lifetime of your DVC membership. Run the calculations and do whatever makes the most sense for your family. Given the above, it’s clear that you’ll have many wonderful vacations whatever you decide. A small contract goes a long way for a smart DVC owner.

    Check out our current DVC Resale listings to find your perfect small point contract today!

  9. How To Decide Which DVC Resort Is Best For You

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    You’re ready to buy into the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). You just have a few questions, and all of them involve the same concern. You want to get your DVC membership at the perfect resort, a place where your family will hear those glorious words, “Welcome home!”, for decades to come. It’s a big choice that will impact your family for decades to come. Here’s a guide on how to decide which DVC resort is best for you.

    Think about the Cost

    We can dance around the subject, but let’s be honest. For a lot of people, upfront costs are the critical aspect of DVC membership. Your choice of DVC resorts may come down to money, and that will impact your decision.

    On the DVC Resale Listings page, two of the resorts are generally the least expensive in terms of price per point. Those properties are Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. They cost less for reasons that will come into focus throughout this discussion, but they are the most frugal places to buy, at least initially.

    This brings us to the second aspect of thinking about cost: maintenance fees. The two cheapest resorts in terms of price per point, Hilton Head and Vero Beach, are the two most expensive locations for maintenance fees. Their current rates are $7.72 and $8.53 per point, respectively.

    There’s a hidden third factor that goes into cost, also. The genius of the Disney Vacation Club is that you get to stay at a Disney resort using points that you own. Each trip you take is cheaper since you don’t pay for your hotel room. It’s a brilliant system, and you can extend the value even more. You need to pick a place that provides tremendous point value per night’s stay.

    What does that mean? Every resort has its own Points Chart, and some of them offer superior value. For example, you may stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas for as little as nine points per night. You’ll have to book a certain room type during a certain season, but it’s possible.

    As you debate where to buy, take a hard look at the Points Chart. You need to know which resorts have the “cheapest” rooms in terms of DVC points during the times you’re most likely to vacation there. And that brings us to another factor. How often will you visit? Will you vacation multiple times a year or once every two or three years? These answers will determine the number of points that you need to purchase.
    Summarizing, you’ll need to balance three cost factors: upfront expense, maintenance fees, and Points Chart value. What you’ll discover is that each DVC resort has positives and negatives in all facets. As such, other factors will come into play…

    Think about the Calendar

    The one true law of DVC membership is that you should buy an ownership interest at the resort where you plan to stay the most. While some people feel more strongly about this concept than others, it’s a generally accepted philosophy, and the explanation is simple.

    DVC uses booking windows for its resorts. Anyone can book at any resort at the seven-month window. In other words, all properties are fair game at that point. You don’t have to own at a place to make a reservation when you’re within seven months of your stay.

    Your home resort expands this window to 11 months. Let’s say that you own at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. You can book a 2019 Christmas Day vacation there starting on January 25th, 2019. Should you want to stay at another resort like Disney’s Polynesian Villas, you couldn’t book the same trip until May 25th, 2019.

    Those four extra months may make all the difference in whether the resort has availability. During peak theme park traffic periods like Spring Break, summer, Epcot festivals, and end-of-year holiday season, the extended booking window is your salvation. As long as you book well before the opening of the seven-month window, you’re likely to get a room at your home resort.

    The booking window isn’t the only calendar consideration, though. You should also evaluate the expiration date of the DVC contract. Some timeshare companies have lifetime ownership interests. DVC works a bit differently. A DVC agreement ends at a designated time. Some contracts expire as early as 2042 while others last until the 2060s!

    By purchasing a DVC contract at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins, you’ll have an ownership interest until 2068. Conversely, half a dozen DVC resorts have contracts that expire in 2042. Only you’ll know how much you should value the difference in contract length of up to 26 years.

    The one critical aspect I’ll point out is that you can deed DVC contracts to others, meaning that you could pass your ownership to a friend or family member. Even if you don’t plan to be around or still visiting Disney resorts in 50 years, someone else that you love could get a lot of enjoyment out of your contract.

    Think about Logistics

    Do you plan to visit Hawaii a lot? Is the Happiest Place on Earth YOUR happiest place on Earth? Is Hilton Head or Vero Beach your favorite beach? Is Walt Disney World your home away from home?

    By answering yes to any of these questions, you’ve introduced logistics into the conversation. The location of a DVC resort is a huge factor in where you choose to buy. For example, Disneyland fans only have one option right now, Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa. Similarly, Hawaii fanatics should buy at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

    For Walt Disney World fanatics, the conversation is complex. Most of the properties in the DVC lineup are located in Orlando, Florida. People who plan to make Walt Disney World their second home will want to buy at one of these places. The question is where.

    Logistics should play a huge role in this decision. If Magic Kingdom is your favorite theme park, you should buy at a monorail resort or one of the options at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. These properties are closest to Magic Kingdom. One of them, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, is only a five-minute walk away from the front entrance to the park.

    Similarly, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s BoardWalk Resort have a back entrance to Epcot. Buyers who love the World Showcase should buy at one of these properties. Shopaholics and foodies will want to stay close to Disney Springs. The hotel of choice for that location is Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, which is only a walking bridge away from the entertainment district.

    You’ll also want to think about transportation options. The monorail resorts have quick access to Magic Kingdom, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is even better. You can walk out the back of this property to board a monorail directly to Epcot, so it’s a monorail ride away from two parks.

    Meanwhile, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas is in close proximity to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s a haul to the other three theme parks, though. Even ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are scattershot in this region. Drivers tend to hang out where the action is, and that’s the area between Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

    The logistics variables are endless, but you get the drift. Think about location and available transportation options at the various resorts. Your family will have much better vacations when they spend less time on buses and more time at theme parks.

    Think about Your Family

    Ultimately, your expected traveling party is the most important aspect of your choice. Do you have a large family? Are you part of a couple? Do you have children? How much space do you expect to need when you stay at a DVC resort, and which features do you need in your hotel room?

    That’s a lot of questions, but the answers all matter. Let’s narrow this discussion to Walt Disney World. A large family that includes young children should give special prioritization to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, a hotel that’s also a functional zoo.

    When you stay here, your kids will have an unforgettable set of memories. Even if they age out of loving the place as teenagers, it will remind them of a happy childhood as they get older. These are the sorts of factors you should anticipate with your purchase.

    Other factors also come into play. People who need big hotel rooms should think about buying at Disney’s Old Key West or Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, both of which have gigantic studios. Alternately, you should buy enough points to book a one- or two-bedroom suite for each stay. You’ll have the added benefit of a washer and dryer in your room when you book a DVC suite, too.

    Onsite resort amenities are also hugely important. The Stormalong Bay pool area at Beach Club is reason enough to want to stay there all the time. The new Disney Skyliner will make Disney’s Riviera Resort instantly appealing. The hotel lobby music and elegant ambience at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will add some class to your vacation.

    Which Disney resort is right for you? Only you can say for sure. Hopefully, the guidelines in this article will help you to make a more informed choice, though. Factors like cost, contract length, amenities, logistics, and room size all matter to varying degrees. There’s no single right answer to the question, but there’s also a comforting piece of knowledge. EVERY DVC resort is wonderful. You can’t make a wrong choice with any of them. The only real mistake would be not to join DVC.

  10. The 6 Best DVC Resort Gift Shops

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    Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members aren’t like regular Disney guests. We visit the Most Magical Place on Earth so regularly that sometimes we don’t even need to spend the day at a theme park. We know that the resort amenities are so wonderful that hanging out on the hotel grounds is a viable way to pass the day. And one of the best ways to spend some time when you’re at the hotel is in the shops.

    The DVC resorts are all in the Deluxe tier, and the products in the stores run the gamut. Some of the available items are ones that you’d expect at any Disney merchandise vendor. Others aren’t merely exclusively to that store; they embody the immaculate theming of the accompanying resort. Today, let’s take a look at the best of the best, the hotels with the finest shopping. Here are the six best DVC resort shops.

    6) Zawadi Marketplace – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House

    Many Disney shops have a sameness to them. That’s not a bad thing, of course. Disney stocks their stores with their most popularity products. A deep inventory of a product reflects its expected sales. You see tons of Mickey key chains and Mouse Ears for a reason. People want them. They’ll move a ton of Mouse Ears and Mickey chains every day, but you’re a DVC member. You already have all the basic trinkets. You crave something different, something better. This list presumes that you do.

    The embodiment of different and unique is Zawadi Marketplace. Located just past the entrance of Jambo House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, it’s one of the most interesting themed Disney stores anywhere on the planet. The merchandise here reflects the overall theme of the resort, which is an African Wildlife Preserve.

    At Zawadi Marketplace, Disney encapsulates the look and feel of an African bazaar while showing total reverence to the safety and sanctity of animals. The products here are culturally significant and visually stimulating. Disney imported authentic carved wall art that guests may purchase. Similarly, pictures of Animal Kingdom Villas are also for sale, allowing DVC owners to bring a piece of their home resort back to their other, less exotic home.

    This store is the type place where everyone carefully studies and often touches the merchandise to feel closer to it. For example, I’m a huge fan of safari-themed plates available here, although I haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Many visitors have that one item that they’ve eyed for multiple trips. The items available for sale here are so memorable that people think about them even when they’re not at the resort.

    5) Beach Club Marketplace – Disney’s Beach Club Villas

    Beach Club Marketplace

    Pragmatism and utility play a huge factor in Disney resort shopping. Sometimes, you’re not wandering the aisles in search of some retail therapy. Instead, you have specific needs as you shop. Beach Club Marketplace is one of the finest shops at Walt Disney World for satisfying customer needs. This place may not have kitchen sinks, but it’s got virtually everything else.

    The top half of the store is the clothing section. Here, you’ll find all the swimming/beach gear you need to spend a couple of glorious hours at Stormalong Bay, the best pool at Walt Disney World. You also have a choice of dressy apparel options for those nights when you want to eat at nearby Yachtsman Steakhouse but don’t have anything to wear.

    The combination might seem incongruous at first blush. What Disney’s shoppers understand that you don’t is that they have to service the needs of both the family vacationers ready to swim and the businesspeople who frequently attend meetings at the accompanying Disney’s Yacht Club.

    Their unusual inventory reflects this purpose, and the all-purpose nature of this de facto general store even has a secondary option. The right side of the lower level of Beach Club Marketplace sells food, and I don’t mean cereal…well, not just cereal. This store includes a Quick Service Restaurant with flatbreads and sandwiches. Whether you need to buy a new outfit, sunglasses, flip flops, or breakfast, it’s one Beach Club shop where you should stop.

    4) Fantasia – Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

    Photo Credit: mrkathika

    Guests at Bay Lake Tower don’t have a store of their own, but they’re always a fifth floor bridge away from the treasures of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. So, I’m including those options on the list. I do this primarily because I use these two stores as much as anything at Disney.

    Out of the two, Fantasia tends to get overshadowed because it’s small and precisely themed. It’s a shop specifically for fans of Disney toys. They have Star Wars merchandise, stuffed animals, Disney Princess dolls and clothing, and other high-end options. They also sell monorails and tracks, and I know this because I see one from where I’m sitting as I type this.

    Fantasia doesn’t have a huge lineup of shopping options, and I like that about it. During a 10-minute visit each Disney trip, you may view all their wares and decide if something tickles your fancy. Unlike the other options listed here, it’s a quick-hitter, making it a lovely change of pace.

    3) M. Mouse Mercantile – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

    Unquestionably the most elegant of all DVC resort stores, M. Mouse Mercantile exudes the patrician atmosphere of Disney’s Grand Floridian. It caters to the highest class of Disney customers, which makes it a bit pricey for many DVC members. Assuming that you don’t get sticker shock walking through here, however, you’ll find the Disney store of your dreams.

    This store has an open space concept, a fancy way of saying that the aisles aren’t right on top of each other. You won’t feel claustrophobic as you window shop. You’ll also quickly realize that it has the most Disney Princess dresses of just about store on the planet. Disney knows that parents dream of dressing their children up and taking them to the Perfectly Princess Tea Party.

    What I love about M. Mouse Mercantile (other than the room to move, something I don’t take for granted at Disney) is the mood. Everyone here always seems so happy, even by Disney vacation standards. There’s something about the lobby of the Grand Floridian that sets a tone, and it seeps into the hotel stores. Everyone walks around with a smile on their faces. That’s what Disney shopping should be!

    2) BouTiki – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

    BouTiki Polynesian

    Photo credit: FrankHPhillips

    I like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain. That’s a ridiculous way of saying that Polynesian Village is far and away my favorite DVC property, primarily because of its serene atmosphere. It’s a place that feels like a romantic island getaway that also happens to be a quick hop on the monorail away from Magic Kingdom.

    BouTiki is the store that represents all the wonders of island life. It’s the go-to place whenever you have a fashion emergency that you may solve only with a Hawaiian shirt or skirt or whatever. You may think said emergency never arises, but it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy at the Polynesian.

    At this Boutique BouTiki, all the items have a distinct island flair. Sundresses and bathing suits adorn the aisles next to hideous but thematic Hawaiian shirts. South Pacific artwork is available for purchase, and the knickknacks all represent oceanfront living in some capacity. Even the ties and scarves here are exotic prints of questionable (but fun) taste. Plus, Stitch merchandise is readily available, a huge plus in my and many other families. Out of all the wonderful DVC resort stores, BouTiki is the most fun.

    PS: Pay attention to the walls, shelves, and themed accessories the next time you visit. The bamboo and carvings are absolutely adorable and deserve recognition. You’ve likely ignored them in favor of the merchandise since all the products are so great.

    1) Bayview Gifts – Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

    Nicknamed BVG, this store is the ultimate in DVC resort shopping options. It combines the luxury and refinement of M. Mouse Mercantile with the functionality of Beach Club Marketplace. At Bayview Gifts, you may (and should) buy everything from the candy to luggage. It’s like an entire shopping mall condensed into one amazing retail space.

    This stylish shop has a contemporary (natch) design, one that you’ll best appreciate from a floor or two above it. Make sure to look at it this way at some point to understand the tastefulness of the design. Inside the store, you’ll discover a wealth of products that will make your credit cards scream in terror. Basic fare like picture frames and cookbooks sit beside jewelry and paintings that cost thousands of dollars. I always feel momentarily taken aback when I realize that I can buy an $1,800 lithograph and a cupcake here. It seems like a recipe for disaster, right?

    At BVG, Disney’s goal is to empty your wallet as much as possible. Shoes, clothing, and sunglasses are available alongside Disney stuffed animals and other toys. This store possesses one of the largest apparel sections of any DVC resort, and it also includes a shockingly strong selection of Christmas ornaments. I know because I’ve bought literally) dozens here.

    Similarly, luggage and other more expensive goods reside on the far side of the store (the one closest to the Bay Lake Tower connecting bridge). Anyone in the market for a new Dooney & Bourke bag will love it here. Once you get past the oddity of toasters for sale at the same place as designer merchandise and authentic Disney paintings, you’ll begin to accept that no other store can touch the overall appeal of Bayview Gifts.