One of the most appealing aspects of a Disney Vacation Club purchase is its flexibility. Traditional timeshares often left buyers with the option of spending one specific week in one specific resort year-after year. DVC owners can use their points for different resorts, different seasons, different trip durations and different villa sizes.
Despite that degree of flexibility, some members still prefer one destination over another.
One of the primary reasons for buying into Disney Vacation Club is ultimately to save money. Between the up-front cost, annual dues and (for some buyers) interest, it can take many years to break even on the DVC purchase.
But many buyers dilligently track the economics of their Disney Vacation Club purchase, comparing their out-of-pocket charges against the current Rack Rates to see how much they are "saving."
Just as Disney Vacation Club was preparing to kick-off sales at one of its most prestigous locations, rumors started pointing toward another cherished destination.
Points are now available for sale at the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa--inarguably the most luxurious accommodations Disney Vacation Club has ever created. Yet rumors suggest another fan favorite--Disney's Polynesian Resort--is the next to see a DVC villa addition.
Arriving at a Disney Vacation Club resort seems pretty straighforward but there are many different philosophies owners adopt in order to maximize the value of their points.
Some choose to fly or drive into town early in the day and check in as soon as possible, often hoping a room will be immediately available. Some arrive later and really don't fret over the limited amount of time the villa is used that first night. Some will stay in alternatie lodging (Disney Value resort, off-site, etc.) on an arrival day so that they don't waste time (and points) on a day with limited villa access.
Three years ago Disney Vacation Club introduced a Guaranteed Week purchase option at Aulani and it has since been duplicated at the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
The Guaranteed Week option allows buyers to lock-in a specific timeshare week, villa size and view by purchasing approximately 10% more points than they would otherwise need. With the Guaranteed Week, owners no longer have to deal with the risk and hassles involved in making a reservation at 11 months. The room is automatically booked for the week purchased, but owners still have the ability to "opt-out" of the Guaranteed Week if they wish to use their points in a different manner.
