Disney Vacation Club Streamlines, Improves Incentives for Spring 2024

Sometimes simplicity is the key to success. Disney Vacation Club is apparently trying to find out whether this applies when selling ownership in an expensive timeshare program. After many years of varying incentives based upon the resort and number of points purchased, the latest offer allows first time buyers to save a flat $13 per point for 150 or more points at all 4 resorts being actively-marketed. Current owners will save $17 per point for those same resorts, starting with an add-on of 100 or more points.

But wait, there's more! An additional "Welcome Home" credit also applies, which varies depending upon the size of the purchase. The Welcome Home offer is typically made available to buyers who purchase while on vacation at a Disney destination or who have an upcoming trip scheduled.  

Let's start with the newest property, The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort:

200 points purchased at a base price of $225 would cost $45,000 with no incentives applied. However, a first time buyer saves $2,600 via the per-point incentive (200 x $13) and an addiitonal $2,500 from the Welcome Home promotion. That lowers the effective net rate to $39,900 or $199.50 per point. 

A current DVC owner adding 200 points would save $3,400 via the per-point incentive plus $3,000 for the Welcome Home discount, for an net price of $38,600 or $193 per point. 

These rates are significantly lower than the launch pricing for the Cabins which came in around $212 each for a first time buyer of 200 points with the Welcome Home offer and $209 for current owners adding 200 points. 

Disney's Riviera Resort sports the same $225 base price and $13/$17 discounts. However the value of the Welcome Home offer varies. At the same 200 point level, Riveira points cost a little more than the Cabins at $202 net for first-time buyers, while current owners pay the same $193 effective rate.

Going up to 250 points pushes Riviera lower than the Cabins thanks to a bump in the Welcome Home offer, with effective rates of $190 per point for new owners and $184 for current owners adding-on. 

Aulani is the third resort to carry the $225 base price. At the 200 point level, effective net rates are identical to Riivera at $202 each for fist time and $193 for current owners. Rates vary slightly at higher and lower levels. 

The last of the four active resorts, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, sports a higher base price at $239 each. Performing similar calculations on 200 points yields a rate of $203.50 for new owners and $197 each for add-ons.  

These rates are a stark improvement over the last round of incentives, particularly at the smaller buy-in levels. The winter 2024 incentives offered first-time buyers savings of just $5-10 per point off an initial 150 point purchase. Add-on savings started at $7-8 each for 100 or more. 

Meanwhile, buyers not afraid of an older resort with fewer years remaining may wish to consider Disney's Old Key West Resort. The base price starts at $205 per point with ownership running through January 31, 2057. However, incentives for first-time buyers of Old Key West start at $30 off and rise all the way to $80 per point, depending upon the size of the purchase. Current owners will save $20 off a 100-point add-on, with the savings rising to a massive $90 per point for larger purchases:

With the base price of $205, a first-time owner could get into Old Key West for $165 per point on 200 points, while a current owner would pay $155 each adding-on. Rates fall as low as $125 each for a 1000-point purchase or $115 for a 1000-point add-on. It is not immediately clear if the Welcome Home offer is also available for Old Key West. 

Buyers may also wish to inquire about Magical Beginnings, a program under which Disney Vacation Club will often "buy-back" the first year's points in exchange for a one-time credit of $20 each. 

Additional closing costs and fees may be required for any direct purchase. These incentives are scheduled to expire on June 24, 2024. DVC reserves the right to modify pricing at any time. Contact a Disney Vacation Club sales representative for complete details.