{"id":37797,"date":"2025-07-29T16:01:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T20:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/?p=37797"},"modified":"2025-08-30T13:24:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T17:24:58","slug":"why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We Finally Bought Into DVC After Years of Saying No"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>After decades of Disney travel and dozens of resort stays, we finally joined Disney Vacation Club. Here&#8217;s what changed\u2014and why it finally made sense for our family.<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#Our_Disney_Hotel_History\" >Our Disney Hotel History<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#Why_We_Waited_So_Long\" >Why We Waited So Long<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#What_Changed_in_2024\" >What Changed in 2024<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#Yes_It_Was_Emotional_Too\" >Yes, It Was Emotional Too<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#Choosing_Our_Home_Resort\" >Choosing Our Home Resort<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#A_Direct_Add-On_The_Polynesian\" >A Direct Add-On: The Polynesian<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#How_We_Use_Our_Points\" >How We Use Our Points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#DVC_vs_Military_Discounts\" >DVC vs. Military Discounts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#What_About_DVC_Maintenance_Fees\" >What About DVC Maintenance Fees?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#2025_DVC_Maintenance_Fees_Per_Point\" >2025 DVC Maintenance Fees (Per Point):<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#Pros_Cons_and_Surprises\" >Pros, Cons, and Surprises<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#Is_DVC_Right_for_You\" >Is DVC Right for You?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/why-we-finally-bought-into-dvc-after-years-of-saying-no\/#Final_Thoughts\" >Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>For years, we told ourselves Disney Vacation Club just wasn\u2019t for us.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36574\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Disneys-BoardWalk-Area-Screen-Door-General-Store.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36574\" class=\"size-full wp-image-36574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Disneys-BoardWalk-Area-Screen-Door-General-Store.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Disneys-BoardWalk-Area-Screen-Door-General-Store.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Disneys-BoardWalk-Area-Screen-Door-General-Store-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Disneys-BoardWalk-Area-Screen-Door-General-Store-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-36574\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Disney&#8217;s BoardWalk Inn<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We\u2019re 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?<\/p>\n<p>But in Fall 2024\u2014after 89 Disney Resort stays\u2014we finally joined DVC. And we haven\u2019t looked back.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019re on the fence.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_Disney_Hotel_History\"><\/span>Our Disney Hotel History<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Shades-of-Green-Resort-Sign.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-17983\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Shades-of-Green-Resort-Sign.jpeg\" alt=\"Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Shades-of-Green-Resort-Sign.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Shades-of-Green-Resort-Sign-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Shades-of-Green-Resort-Sign-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Shades-of-Green-Resort-Sign-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Our Disney journey started back in 1971, but we didn\u2019t 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\u2019s renovation years, Disney leased out the Contemporary\u2019s North Garden Wing (now gone, replaced by Bay Lake Tower), and we took advantage of those \u201cSOG overflow\u201d rates.<\/p>\n<p>From 2001 to 2007, we visited about every two years. After launching the website, trips became more frequent\u2014several per year for research, content, and family vacations.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, we\u2019ve stayed at every Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort hotel, often multiple times. Deluxe resorts were our favorites\u2014especially 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).<\/p>\n<p>All told? We racked up over a hundred Disney Resort stays. Thirteen of those were at Shades of Green.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_We_Waited_So_Long\"><\/span>Why We Waited So Long<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_37829\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37829\" class=\"size-full wp-image-37829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-37829\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Riviera 1 Bedroom<\/p><\/div>\n<p>DVC was always on the radar\u2014but never quite felt like the right move.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2014folks who didn\u2019t know the military travel tricks.<\/p>\n<p>And to be honest, when the business was doing well, Disney trips were a business expense. The model worked.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Until it didn\u2019t.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Changed_in_2024\"><\/span>What Changed in 2024<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_37827\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Kitchen.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37827\" class=\"size-full wp-image-37827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Kitchen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Kitchen.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Kitchen-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Riviera-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Kitchen-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-37827\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Riviera 1 Bedroom<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In summer 2024, we began having serious DVC conversations. Why? Because the landscape shifted\u2014fast.<\/p>\n<p>After Google\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-military-discounts\/the-state-of-the-internet-google-and-ai-are-destroying-the-internet-as-we-know-it\/\">Helpful Content Update<\/a>, the website\u2019s traffic and revenue took a hit. Suddenly, travel that used to be paid for by the business was no longer financially sustainable.<\/p>\n<p>We had to rethink everything.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2014and secure our family\u2019s Disney legacy for decades to come.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Yes_It_Was_Emotional_Too\"><\/span>Yes, It Was Emotional Too<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_37822\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AKL-Kidani-DVC-Deluxe-Studio.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37822\" class=\"size-full wp-image-37822\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AKL-Kidani-DVC-Deluxe-Studio.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AKL-Kidani-DVC-Deluxe-Studio.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AKL-Kidani-DVC-Deluxe-Studio-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AKL-Kidani-DVC-Deluxe-Studio-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-37822\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">AKL Kidani VIew<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Beyond the numbers, this was personal.<\/p>\n<p>Disney is our family\u2019s happy place. It\u2019s the one destination we never tire of, and we have no desire to vacation anywhere else. Buying into DVC wasn\u2019t just a financial move\u2014it was a commitment to keep the magic alive for future generations.<\/p>\n<p>We also knew that our daughter\u2019s family couldn\u2019t always afford to visit as often as we\u2019d like. With DVC, we now have the ability to bring them along and cover the cost. And that\u2019s priceless.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, DVC points can be passed on. We\u2019re building memories <em>and<\/em> leaving something meaningful behind.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choosing_Our_Home_Resort\"><\/span>Choosing Our Home Resort<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_37823\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BoardWalk-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Bathroom.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37823\" class=\"size-full wp-image-37823\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BoardWalk-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Bathroom.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BoardWalk-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Bathroom.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BoardWalk-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Bathroom-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/BoardWalk-DVC-1-Bedroom-Villa-Bathroom-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-37823\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">BoardWalk 1 Bedroom Master Bath<\/p><\/div>\n<p>When we finally decided to do it, we dove deep into research. We watched every episode from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@DVCFan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DVC Fan on YouTube<\/a>, scoured resale listings, and compared resort perks, contracts, and resale rules.<\/p>\n<p>We ended up buying <strong>two resale contracts at Disney\u2019s BoardWalk Villas<\/strong> (200 and 170 points), giving us a total of 370 points.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why BoardWalk?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We loved the EPCOT resort area.<\/li>\n<li>Beach Club was always a favorite, but its DVC wing feels tucked away and lacks views.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/walt-disney-world-disney-vacation-club-resorts\/disneys-boardwalk-villas\/\">BoardWalk<\/a> offers similar location perks\u2014with rooms that face Crescent Lake or the action of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/walt-disney-worlds-boardwalk-dining-and-entertainment-area\/\">BoardWalk itself<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We\u2019d 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\u2014just 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvcresalemarket.com\/?utm_source=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=MilDisneyThatDisFam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DVC Resale Market<\/a>, part of the World of DVC (also behind DVC Fan and the <a href=\"https:\/\/dvcrentalstore.com\/guests\/reservations\/?utm_source=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=MilDisneyThatDisFam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DVC Rental Store<\/a>).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Direct_Add-On_The_Polynesian\"><\/span>A Direct Add-On: The Polynesian<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_37825\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-Deluxe-Villa.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37825\" class=\"size-full wp-image-37825\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-Deluxe-Villa.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-Deluxe-Villa.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-Deluxe-Villa-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-Deluxe-Villa-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-37825\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Polynesian Deluxe Studio<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A few months later, we realized we wanted just a bit more flexibility\u2014and missed the perks that come with buying direct (like discounts, events, and the Member Lounge access).<\/p>\n<p>So in early 2025, we bought a <strong>150-point direct contract at Disney\u2019s Polynesian Villas &amp; Bungalows<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Buying at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/walt-disney-world-disney-vacation-club-resorts\/disneys-polynesian-villas-and-bungalows\/\">Polynesian<\/a> from direct from Disney was a completely different experience\u2014fast 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 <em>and<\/em> a monorail resort.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_We_Use_Our_Points\"><\/span>How We Use Our Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_19398\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Disneyland-Grand-Californian-Pool.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19398\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19398\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Disneyland-Grand-Californian-Pool.jpg\" alt=\"Walt Disney World General Public Room Discounts\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Disneyland-Grand-Californian-Pool.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Disneyland-Grand-Californian-Pool-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Disneyland-Grand-Californian-Pool-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Disneyland-Grand-Californian-Pool-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-19398\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grand Californian<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In just 8 months as members, we\u2019ve already done four trips:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>January:<\/strong> 2 nights at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/walt-disney-world-disney-vacation-club-resorts\/disneys-old-key-west-resort\/\">Old Key West<\/a> and 2 nights at Polynesian (Theme Park View)<\/li>\n<li><strong>March:<\/strong> 4-night solo research trip to Old Key West<\/li>\n<li><strong>May:<\/strong> 4-night solo research trip to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/walt-disney-world-disney-vacation-club-resorts\/disneys-animal-kingdom-villas\/\">Kidani Village<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>June:<\/strong> 7-night extended family trip to the Grand Californian (2-bedroom villa)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That last one? The retail value of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disneyland-resort-hotels\/disneylands-grand-californian-hotel-spa\/\">Grand Californian<\/a> stay was nearly equal to what we paid for one of our resale contracts. It was a huge moment of confirmation.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve got three more trips on the books between now and November 2025, plus plans for <strong>Aulani in May 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s how we use our points:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Studios<\/strong> for solo and couples trips<\/li>\n<li><strong>2-Bedroom Villas<\/strong> for family trips with 6\u20137 people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We haven\u2019t paid for a Disney hotel stay since becoming members. And honestly, it feels good to know we won\u2019t have to anytime soon.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DVC_vs_Military_Discounts\"><\/span>DVC vs. Military Discounts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022-Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute-Logo-Wide.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22387\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022-Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute-Logo-Wide.jpg\" alt=\"2023 Disneyland Military Resort Rates\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022-Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute-Logo-Wide.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022-Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute-Logo-Wide-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022-Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute-Logo-Wide-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022-Disney-Armed-Forces-Salute-Logo-Wide-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Military deals still have their place\u2014especially if you&#8217;re flexible or prefer value\/moderate resorts or Shades of Green. But the <strong>Armed Forces Salute room discount has become far less generous<\/strong> in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>If the Salute were to go away altogether (a risk I\u2019ve always acknowledged), military families would be left with:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>No room discounts from Disney<\/li>\n<li>Shades of Green (limited rooms + eligibility rules)<\/li>\n<li>Off-site hotels (some with military rates, but fewer perks)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>DVC gives us a consistent way to travel with built-in savings\u2014no codes, no seasons, no wondering.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_About_DVC_Maintenance_Fees\"><\/span>What About DVC Maintenance Fees?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One of the biggest differences between <strong>renting points<\/strong> and <strong>owning DVC<\/strong> is something many first-timers overlook: <strong>annual maintenance fees.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>These fees are billed every year to DVC owners and cover things like resort upkeep, housekeeping, staffing, landscaping, insurance, and taxes. They\u2019re due whether or not you use your points\u2014and they go up slightly each year.<\/p>\n<p>When you rent points from a DVC owner through the DVC Rental Store, the <strong>maintenance fees are already included in the rental price<\/strong>. But if you\u2019re thinking about buying into DVC down the road, it\u2019s important to understand what those fees look like.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2025_DVC_Maintenance_Fees_Per_Point\"><\/span>2025 DVC Maintenance Fees (Per Point):<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Aulani (Hawaii):<\/strong> $9.63 \u2013 $11.61<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bay Lake Tower:<\/strong> $7.57<\/li>\n<li><strong>Beach Club Villas:<\/strong> $8.17<\/li>\n<li><strong>BoardWalk Villas:<\/strong> $8.67<\/li>\n<li><strong>Boulder Ridge:<\/strong> $8.68<\/li>\n<li><strong>Copper Creek Villas:<\/strong> $8.56<\/li>\n<li><strong>Grand Californian:<\/strong> $8.61<\/li>\n<li><strong>Grand Floridian Villas:<\/strong> $7.52<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hilton Head (SC):<\/strong> $11.29<\/li>\n<li><strong>Old Key West:<\/strong> $8.68<\/li>\n<li><strong>Polynesian Villas:<\/strong> $8.29<\/li>\n<li><strong>Riviera Resort:<\/strong> $8.85<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saratoga Springs:<\/strong> $7.99<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vero Beach (FL):<\/strong> $11.39<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wilderness Lodge:<\/strong> $8.68<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong> Example:<\/strong> If you own 150 points at Beach Club, your annual maintenance bill in 2025 would be around <strong>$1,225<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Maintenance fees can add up\u2014especially with larger contracts. That\u2019s why renting points is a smart way to enjoy deluxe Disney stays without taking on long-term costs.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pros_Cons_and_Surprises\"><\/span>Pros, Cons, and Surprises<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h4>What We Love:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Guaranteed deluxe stays without paying cash<\/li>\n<li>Room for our entire family<\/li>\n<li>Flexibility across resorts and trip types<\/li>\n<li>No longer scrambling for discounts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>What\u2019s Tough:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Availability at the 7-month mark for non-home resorts can be tricky for popular resorts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Honestly, I wish we\u2019d done it sooner. But at the time, it didn\u2019t make business sense. Now, it\u2019s an investment in <em>us<\/em>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_DVC_Right_for_You\"><\/span>Is DVC Right for You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_37826\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-VIlla.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-37826\" class=\"size-full wp-image-37826\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-VIlla.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-VIlla.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-VIlla-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Polynesian-DVC-VIlla-768x540.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-37826\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Polynesian Studio<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Here\u2019s my take:<\/p>\n<h4>\u2705 DVC <em>is<\/em> for you if:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>You visit Disney at least every 1\u20132 years<\/li>\n<li>You love staying at deluxe resorts<\/li>\n<li>You want to lock in future vacations at today\u2019s prices<\/li>\n<li>You view Disney as a long-term family tradition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>\u274c DVC <em>isn\u2019t<\/em> for you if:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>You visit once every 5\u201310 years<\/li>\n<li>You always stay offsite or at Shades of Green<\/li>\n<li>You want to spend the least amount possible each trip<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And a quick word of caution: <strong>Financing DVC can eat into the value.<\/strong> We paid cash, using our Disney Visa for points and paying it off immediately.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span>Final Thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cinderellas-Royal-Table-Castle-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-27641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cinderellas-Royal-Table-Castle-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cinderellas-Royal-Table-Castle-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cinderellas-Royal-Table-Castle-1-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cinderellas-Royal-Table-Castle-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Cinderellas-Royal-Table-Castle-1-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>For us, buying into DVC was about much more than saving money. It was about creating something lasting for our family\u2014a way to keep Disney a part of our lives, even as everything else changed.<\/p>\n<p>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!<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking about DVC, I\u2019ll be sharing more soon:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How to choose your home resort<\/li>\n<li>Resale vs. direct: what we learned<\/li>\n<li>How DVC compares to military resort discounts<\/li>\n<li>How to rent out your points (or try before you buy)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And if you\u2019re ready to explore DVC for yourself, I highly recommend checking out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvcresalemarket.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DVC Resale Market<\/a> or renting points through <a href=\"https:\/\/dvcrentalstore.com\/?ref=militarydisneytips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DVC Rental Store<\/a>\u2014both part of the World of DVC.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about renting DVC points in this post: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarydisneytips.com\/blog\/disney-vacation-club\/try-disney-vacation-club-without-buying-in-why-we-recommend-the-dvc-rental-store\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Try Disney Vacation Club Without Buying In: Why We Recommend the DVC Rental Store<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Got questions? Thinking about buying in? Leave a comment\u2014I\u2019d love to hear your thoughts or help out.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"milit-2120935256\" class=\"milit-after-content milit-entity-placement\"><br>\r\n<div align=\"center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/ncp\/payment\/4V6YWP2M2DNAU\">Send Steve a Tip<\/a><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After decades of Disney travel and dozens of resort stays, we finally joined Disney Vacation Club. Here&#8217;s what changed\u2014and why it finally made sense for our family. For years, we told ourselves Disney Vacation Club just wasn\u2019t for us. We\u2019re seasoned Disney travelers. Between military discounts, Shades of Green stays, and years of knowing how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":36574,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[400],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-37797","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-disney-vacation-club","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why We Finally Bought Into DVC After Years of Saying No - Military Disney Tips<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After decades of Disney travel, we finally joined DVC. 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