Why We Finally Bought Into DVC After Years of Saying No

After decades of Disney travel and dozens of resort stays, we finally joined Disney Vacation Club. Here’s what changed—and why it finally made sense for our family.

For years, we told ourselves Disney Vacation Club just wasn’t for us.

Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

We’re seasoned Disney travelers. Between military discounts, Shades of Green stays, and years of knowing how to work the system, we always managed to make Walt Disney World vacations affordable. Why tie ourselves to a timeshare when we already knew how to get great rates?

But in Fall 2024—after 89 Disney Resort stays—we finally joined DVC. And we haven’t looked back.

This post is our story: what finally pushed us to buy in, the resorts we chose, and what I think military families (and longtime Disney fans) should know if they’re on the fence.

Our Disney Hotel History

Our Disney journey started back in 1971, but we didn’t do a multi-day stay until 2000. That trip was a weeklong stay at Shades of Green, and it kicked off a lifetime of magical memories. During the resort’s renovation years, Disney leased out the Contemporary’s North Garden Wing (now gone, replaced by Bay Lake Tower), and we took advantage of those “SOG overflow” rates.

From 2001 to 2007, we visited about every two years. After launching the website, trips became more frequent—several per year for research, content, and family vacations.

Over the years, we’ve stayed at every Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort hotel, often multiple times. Deluxe resorts were our favorites—especially Beach Club, which became our go-to for family trips. On solo or research trips, I often stayed at Pop Century (especially after the Skyliner opened).

All told? We racked up over a hundred Disney Resort stays. Thirteen of those were at Shades of Green.

Why We Waited So Long

Riviera 1 Bedroom

DVC was always on the radar—but never quite felt like the right move.

I looked into it a couple of times over the years when prices were lower. But even then, it felt just out of reach. With military discounts offering 40% off deluxe resorts and affordable rates at Shades of Green, we had what we needed. DVC seemed like something for other people—folks who didn’t know the military travel tricks.

And to be honest, when the business was doing well, Disney trips were a business expense. The model worked.

Until it didn’t.

What Changed in 2024

Riviera 1 Bedroom

In summer 2024, we began having serious DVC conversations. Why? Because the landscape shifted—fast.

After Google’s Helpful Content Update, the website’s traffic and revenue took a hit. Suddenly, travel that used to be paid for by the business was no longer financially sustainable.

We had to rethink everything.

And in that moment, DVC started to make more sense. Instead of constantly figuring out how to afford future trips, we could pre-pay for vacations at a discount—and secure our family’s Disney legacy for decades to come.

Yes, It Was Emotional Too

AKL Kidani VIew

Beyond the numbers, this was personal.

Disney is our family’s happy place. It’s the one destination we never tire of, and we have no desire to vacation anywhere else. Buying into DVC wasn’t just a financial move—it was a commitment to keep the magic alive for future generations.

We also knew that our daughter’s family couldn’t always afford to visit as often as we’d like. With DVC, we now have the ability to bring them along and cover the cost. And that’s priceless.

Plus, DVC points can be passed on. We’re building memories and leaving something meaningful behind.

Choosing Our Home Resort

BoardWalk 1 Bedroom Master Bath

When we finally decided to do it, we dove deep into research. We watched every episode from DVC Fan on YouTube, scoured resale listings, and compared resort perks, contracts, and resale rules.

We ended up buying two resale contracts at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas (200 and 170 points), giving us a total of 370 points.

Why BoardWalk?

• We loved the EPCOT resort area.
• Beach Club was always a favorite, but its DVC wing feels tucked away and lacks views.
• BoardWalk offers similar location perks—with rooms that face Crescent Lake or the action of the BoardWalk itself.

We’d only stayed at BoardWalk once before, so we booked a last-minute 2-night trip in a 1-bedroom just to test the waters. No parks—just relaxing and exploring the resort. We flew down the next day and fell in love. When we got home, we pulled the trigger and submitted our offers through DVC Resale Market, part of the World of DVC (also behind DVC Fan and the DVC Rental Store).

A Direct Add-On: The Polynesian

Polynesian Deluxe Studio

A few months later, we realized we wanted just a bit more flexibility—and missed the perks that come with buying direct (like discounts, events, and the Member Lounge access).

So in early 2025, we bought a 150-point direct contract at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

Buying at the Polynesian from direct from Disney was a completely different experience—fast and easy. The entire process took less than a week, and we had points available immediately. And now we have home resort priority at both an EPCOT-area resort and a monorail resort.

How We Use Our Points

Grand Californian

In just 8 months as members, we’ve already done four trips:

• January: 2 nights at Old Key West and 2 nights at Polynesian (Theme Park View)
• March: 4-night solo research trip to Old Key West
• May: 4-night solo research trip to Kidani Village
• June: 7-night extended family trip to the Grand Californian (2-bedroom villa)

That last one? The retail value of the Grand Californian stay was nearly equal to what we paid for one of our resale contracts. It was a huge moment of confirmation.

We’ve got three more trips on the books between now and November 2025, plus plans for Aulani in May 2026.

Here’s how we use our points:

• Studios for solo and couples trips
• 2-Bedroom Villas for family trips with 6–7 people

We haven’t paid for a Disney hotel stay since becoming members. And honestly, it feels good to know we won’t have to anytime soon.

DVC vs. Military Discounts

Military deals still have their place—especially if you’re flexible or prefer value/moderate resorts or Shades of Green. But the Armed Forces Salute room discount has become far less generous in recent years.

If the Salute were to go away altogether (a risk I’ve always acknowledged), military families would be left with:

• No room discounts from Disney
• Shades of Green (limited rooms + eligibility rules)
• Off-site hotels (some with military rates, but fewer perks)

DVC gives us a consistent way to travel with built-in savings—no codes, no seasons, no wondering.

What About DVC Maintenance Fees?

One of the biggest differences between renting points and owning DVC is something many first-timers overlook: annual maintenance fees.

These fees are billed every year to DVC owners and cover things like resort upkeep, housekeeping, staffing, landscaping, insurance, and taxes. They’re due whether or not you use your points—and they go up slightly each year.

When you rent points from a DVC owner through the DVC Rental Store, the maintenance fees are already included in the rental price. But if you’re thinking about buying into DVC down the road, it’s important to understand what those fees look like.

2025 DVC Maintenance Fees (Per Point):

• Aulani (Hawaii): $9.63 – $11.61
• Bay Lake Tower: $7.57
• Beach Club Villas: $8.17
• BoardWalk Villas: $8.67
• Boulder Ridge: $8.68
• Copper Creek Villas: $8.56
• Grand Californian: $8.61
• Grand Floridian Villas: $7.52
• Hilton Head (SC): $11.29
• Old Key West: $8.68
• Polynesian Villas: $8.29
• Riviera Resort: $8.85
• Saratoga Springs: $7.99
• Vero Beach (FL): $11.39
• Wilderness Lodge: $8.68

Example: If you own 150 points at Beach Club, your annual maintenance bill in 2025 would be around $1,225.

Maintenance fees can add up—especially with larger contracts. That’s why renting points is a smart way to enjoy deluxe Disney stays without taking on long-term costs.

Pros, Cons, and Surprises

What We Love:

• Guaranteed deluxe stays without paying cash
• Room for our entire family
• Flexibility across resorts and trip types
• No longer scrambling for discounts

What’s Tough:

• Availability at the 7-month mark for non-home resorts can be tricky for popular resorts

Honestly, I wish we’d done it sooner. But at the time, it didn’t make business sense. Now, it’s an investment in us.

Is DVC Right for You?

Polynesian Studio

Here’s my take:

✅ DVC is for you if:

• You visit Disney at least every 1–2 years
• You love staying at deluxe resorts
• You want to lock in future vacations at today’s prices
• You view Disney as a long-term family tradition

❌ DVC isn’t for you if:

• You visit once every 5–10 years
• You always stay offsite or at Shades of Green
• You want to spend the least amount possible each trip

And a quick word of caution: Financing DVC can eat into the value. We paid cash, using our Disney Visa for points and paying it off immediately.

Final Thoughts

For us, buying into DVC was about much more than saving money. It was about creating something lasting for our family—a way to keep Disney a part of our lives, even as everything else changed.

We stayed a week in a 2-bedroom villa at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa about a month ago. The price we would have had to pay if we were booked that room for cash was the same as the price of one of our BoardWalk contracts!

If you’re thinking about DVC, I’ll be sharing more soon:

• How to choose your home resort
• Resale vs. direct: what we learned
• How DVC compares to military resort discounts
• How to rent out your points (or try before you buy)

And if you’re ready to explore DVC for yourself, I highly recommend checking out DVC Resale Market or renting points through DVC Rental Store—both part of the World of DVC.

Learn more about renting DVC points in this post: Try Disney Vacation Club Without Buying In: Why We Recommend the DVC Rental Store

Got questions? Thinking about buying in? Leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts or help out.

• Back to Basics Posts - A great place to start, offering basic topics!
• Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
• The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide 
• Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist 
• Disney Military Tickets – Your Start-to-Finish Guide

• Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
• Dining Overview Page
• Transportation Overview Page
• Technology Overview Page
• Shades of Green, WDW’s Military-Only Resort

The Mouse Experts is a travel booking company specializing in Disney vacations. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!