What About the Disney Perks? Part II: Crunching the numbers

Are the Disney perks you get when you purchase 100 Disney Vacation Club points directly from Disney worth the thousands of dollars more you’ll spend obtaining them? In this three-part series, we’re looking at the value of purchasing your Disney Vacation Club membership through our resale market. In our first post, we discussed the various extras DVC members are entitled to. In this post, we’re crunching the numbers to see how purchasing a DVC membership resale adds up.

Buying DVC direct vs resale

For this example, we’ll use a sample DVC contract of Bay Lake Tower for 150 points. Buying directly from Disney costs $235 per point for a total of $35,250. At DVC Sales, the average price for a Bay Lake Tower membership is about $145 per point, totaling $21,750. That’s 40% off with savings of $13,500! 

Factoring in the perks

Many members believe that the discount on annual passes is a huge benefit of buying directly from Disney. Even at the non-discounted rate, though, a family of four could purchase Platinum passes for three years with their savings from purchasing resale, based on our Bay Lake Tower example above. What about the dining and merchandise discounts? These discounts end up being relatively minimal, especially when factoring in tax and tip at table-service locations. Plus, you’d have to purchase 528 discounted Minnie ears to equal the $13,500 worth of savings you’d get by buying resale! 

The value of your DVC membership

The value of your membership is also an important consideration when purchasing through the resale market. You can use your vacation points to visit 14 resorts, three of which are on WDW’s monorail system and two within walking distance to Epcot. These resorts are likely to be the most popular ones for years to come, and maintaining access to them is a huge benefit.      Restrictions on new DVC resorts may also affect a DVC membership’s value on the resale market. Current resale DVC members cannot use their vacation points at Disney’s new Riviera Resort or future resorts that will be constructed. This means that if a Riveria DVC member wants to sell a contract, the buyer can only stay at Riviera. DVC members love the flexibility of staying at multiple resorts, so this restriction could make it quite tricky for Riveria members to sell their memberships when the time comes.

DVC resale vs direct

When you look at the numbers, it’s easy to see the savings of purchasing your Disney Vacation Club membership from our DVC Sales resale market. In our next post, we’ll explain how to save even more with alternative ways to receive similar benefits to Disney’s Membership Extras. Ready to become a DVC member with our team at DVC Sales? Please take a look at our available listings to find the right fit for your family. Or, you can create a listing on our website if you want to sell your membership!  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How can DVC members evaluate whether Disney perks are worth the cost?
Start by comparing your annual dues, travel frequency, and savings on dining, tickets, and shopping. Many members find that the long-term savings outweigh the upfront investment. To understand more about cost structure, read Annual Dues Explained.

Q2: Do DVC resale buyers receive the same perks as direct buyers?
While some direct-purchase perks differ, resale buyers still enjoy access to top-rated resorts and excellent vacation flexibility. Explore DVC Resale Listings to compare options and find the best value for your budget.

Q3: What’s the best way to calculate the financial benefit of DVC membership?
Use a point calculator and compare what you’d spend on traditional hotel stays versus DVC point stays. The Vacation Point Calculator by DVC Sales helps you see long-term savings more clearly.

Q4: Are DVC perks still valuable even if you don’t visit every year?
Yes, because unused points can often be banked or borrowed for future trips. This flexibility ensures your membership remains cost-effective. Learn more about strategic planning in Effective Disney Vacation Club Planning Tips.