Opinions

How I purchased the Disney Vacation Club (and you can too…)
By Tricia Logan - Feb 11, 2003

First of all, this is my information on how I manage to get this little gem of Disney's and it is wasn't hard at all. These are the steps I took, but I also want to warn you that your experience may be different from my own.

Step 1: Visit http://dvc.disney.go.com/disneyvacationclub/home. There is not a lot of information here, but this is where I went to order my free Disney Vacation Club (DVC) brochure and video. When this material arrives, read and review it as much as possible. Take notes on things you do not understand, and call your DVC sales representative if you have questions. Your DVC sales rep's business card will be on the back of the brochure. This is a big purchase, and I do want to warn you that it is NOT an investment! As my DVC sales agent, Randy Kruger, pointed out, "if you are looking for an investment, you may want to consider purchasing a home in the Orlando area." Next, you will need to decided how many points to purchase. I based my decision on how many times I normally visit WDW (points are explained in both the book and video).

Step 2: Check your finances! Buying into a 39-year vacation contract is a big purchase, I actually started thinking about my purchase back in 1999, and had to put it off several times before finalizing the deal. An alternative to making your purchase directly through Disney that you may want to consider is a resale DVC property. I recommend contacting Shontell Crawford. Her email address is timesharesforsale@earthlink.net, and she is very good at what she does. Shontell will send you a listing of homes currently on the market. The resales often offer a lower price for points. The current rate is $84.00 per point, but for resales, I have seen them for as little as $55.00 per point.

Step 3: Once you have researched and check your finances it's time to call your agent. Prepare to spend some time going over all of the details of the sale. Your agent, will go through a checklist, point by point. Randy covered things like the deed (which is recorded in a Florida courthouse); claiming your purchase on your taxes; the meaning of a "use" year; how to use your points; when you can make your reservations; how to reserve a non-Disney property and the Disney resorts which are not part of DVC (i.e. Contemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge, etc); and so forth. This is all covered in the membership guide that you receive once a year as well. Next, Randy discussed the financing details of the purchase. One of the important differences between purchasing through Disney vs. a resale is that Disney does not require" closing" costs. You will have to make at least a 10% down payment. I was able to arrange to pay half immediately, and the other half the following month. Be warned if you make a 10% down payment, your subsequent payments will automatically be deducted from your bank account on a monthly bases. If you make a 20% down payment, you have the option of having the "automatic" withdraw or making payments with a coupon book. In addition to the purchase price, there will be yearly dues to pay as well. When I received my credit application, a backpack, and some other goodies from DVC were included as well.

My final thoughts on purchasing DVC: I am looking forward to vacationing with Disney for the next 39 years. I will no longer need to make my reservations through the Central Reservations office. My future trips are already paid for, and I can go when I am ready, providing that I have enough points. There are certain restrictions and some benefits to staying with DVC , and they are all detailed in the DVC guide book. You also are entitled to Getaways at other "select" vacation resorts as part of your DVC membership. The entire process left me with a good impression, and if I can do it, you can too. If you do decide to make a DVC purchase, take your time and do your research. The initial purchase is not TheMouseForLess, but it can save you money if you enjoy vacationing at Walt Disney World regularly. You will still need to purchase park admission tickets, but as a DVC member, you are entitled to 10% off of length of stay passes. I wish you luck in your purchase of DVC.