The Top 7 Biggest Disney Vacation Club Complaints From Current Members [you should be aware of this before becoming a DVC Member)

Thinking about becoming a DVC member and want to know the common Disney Vacation Club complaints?

Disney Vacation Club can be great for many frequent Disney World visitors. However, it does not come without flaws.

As a DVC member myself, I have experienced the many pros and cons of Disney’s timeshare program – and I’ll be sharing the biggest Disney Vacation Club problems with you today!

This post is all about the 7 most significant Disney Vacation Club complaints current members have (you should know this before becoming a DVC member).

Disney Vacation Club Complaints

1) High Initial Costs and Ongoing Fees

Unfortunately, your Disney Vacation Club doesn’t JUST require a one-time fee and then you can enjoy it for up to 50 years at no additional cost.

Let’s talk about the different DVC costs.

Upfront Purchase Price

The initial cost can be a major hurdle for many potential members.

This can vary depending on if you’re purchasing through Disney directly – or if you’re making a resale purchase (I speak more in detail about buying DVC resale contracts in this post).

If you’re buying 150 points directly, expect to pay over $30,000 as the initial purchase. Of course, this can vary depending on your Home Resort (this post covers everything you should know about DVC home resorts).

You also need to factor in closing costs (this could cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to the upfront expense.

According to DVC Resale Market, closing costs are usually between $699 and $1,219. This can vary depending on the resort and price of the contract.

Closing costs can be cheaper for direct contracts.

Annual Maintenance Fees

Once you’re past the initial purchase price, you’re locked into the annual maintenance fees. This is one of the most common complaints among DVC members. Every year, you pay fees that increase over time, and these can impact how much you actually save with your membership.

The annual dues tend to be highest for the beach resorts (think Vero Beach and Hilton Head).

You can find information on 2024 annual dues here.

2) Limited Availability During Peak Times

Booking Windows and Restrictions

Advance Booking: Members can book their home resort up to 11 months in advance and other resorts up to 7 months ahead. Miss that window and you might have few options at busy times of year.
High Demand, Low Supply: During popular times like holidays, school breaks, or special events, reservations can go fast – especially if you’re looking within the 7-month window.

Challenges with Last-Minute Bookings

Limited Options: The closer you get to your desired travel dates, the fewer the options.
High-Stakes Waiting List: If rooms are full, you can join a waitlist. I’ve had success with waitlisting in the past. However, if you’re trying to waitlist a popular room type for multiple nights (i.e. a studio at Beach Club for an extended period), you may struggle.

is disney vacation club worth it — Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Beach Club Villas

3) Resale Restrictions

Understanding the Resale Market Impact

Disney imposes certain restrictions on resale contracts, which can significantly affect your membership experience.

Long story short, if you buy a resale contract today, you won’t get DVC member benefits (such as discounts, access to member lounges or special events etc.). You also won’t be able to use your points at any new resorts that have opened since 2019 (including Riviera, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort) – as well as any future DVC properties). Click here for more information and details on resale restrictions.

If you bought a direct Riviera/Disneyland/Cabins contract, those points would be unrestricted. However, if you sold your contract, the new members would only be able to stay at their Home Resort.

disney vacation club problems — Disney’s Riviera Resort

As you can imagine, this negatively impacts the resale value of these contracts.

Why Some DVC Members Still Choose Resale Contracts

Despite restrictions, many opt for resale due to lower upfront costs. The appeal of saving money can outweigh exclusive perks. However, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

4) Variety of Resorts Can Be Confusing

Until you understand the booking windows (11 months for your Home Resort and 7 months for other resorts), this can be a little puzzling.

Also, you now need to check if the resale restrictions will impact the resorts you can stay at (if you’re a new resale member, this will impact you).

5) Expiring Points: They Don’t Last Forever

The Point Expiration Countdown

Disney Vacation Club points don’t hang around forever. You have to use these points within a specific “Use Year.” If they’re not spent, they’re gone, and there’s no getting them back.

What Happens When Points Expire?

Once your points hit their expiration date, they vanish, making it impossible to roll them over to the next year.

Strategies to Avoid Expiring Points

If you find yourself with points that might expire, you need to act quickly. Here are some strategies to avoid losing your valuable points:

Plan Vacations Early: Book your trips well in advance.
Bank Points: You can bank points into the next year, but make sure to do it ahead of the deadline (this post talks about this in detail).
Transfer Points: Certain points can be transferred to other members (see this post for info).

6) Diminishing DVC Member Perks and Benefits

If you bought into Disney Vacation Club in the early 90s, you got a lot of perks. The most notable being some free Disney World tickets during your stay!

However, in the 2020s, these benefits are almost non-existent.

If you’re a newer resale member like me, Disney won’t allow you access to their perks.

However, even if you have enough direct points to have access to perks (as a new member, you would need to purchase 150 direct points), there aren’t many benefits.

Here are some of the notable perks:

You can buy a Disney Sorcerer Annual Pass, even if you’re not a Florida resident. This is a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Incredipass.
You can use your points on Disney Cruises and other resorts (though this is often not a good value).
You can access tickets on shopping, dining and tickets.
You may be able to attend DVC member events (see here for details).
And more.

These perks are alright. But do they justify paying around double (or more) for your DVC contract (instead of buying a resale contract)?

Not always. This is something that will vary person to person. So, I’d recommend running the numbers and really diving into the perks to see if they’re worth having or not.

7) Contracts with 2042 Expiration Dates

Many Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members have contracts that expire in 2042.

That may sound like ages away – but if you want to take Disney vacations for decades, that may not feel long enough.

New DVC resorts have a 50 year lifespan when sales begin.

Disney has not announced what will happen to 2042 resorts. Will current members be offered a slight discount on new contracts at the same resorts? Would this be offered to resale and direct members?

Will DVC offer an extension on contracts before 2042 (like they did for Disney’s Old Key West many years ago – hence why some OKW contracts have a 2057 expiration date)?

how does disney vacation club work — Disney’s Old Key West Resort

None of us know, and that’s why it’s frustrating.

Here is a list of DVC resorts with a 2042 expiration date:

Disney’s Old Key West Resort (for contracts without the 15-year extension).
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Vero Beach
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Disney Vacation Club

Is Disney Vacation Club worth it?

If you visit at least every other year and usually stay at Moderate or Deluxe Resorts, Disney Vacation Club may make sense for you. It’s worth researching to see if it makes sense for your vacation preferences.

Is Disney Vacation Club a timeshare?

Yes, Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s timeshare program.

This is more flexible than your average timeshare (and tends to have good resale prices).

That being said, it is still a timeshare and a big commitment for members.

How long do you own a Disney Vacation Club membership?

Depending on your Home Resort, you can own your contract for up to 50 years.

The oldest DVC contracts will expire in 2042.

Ta Ta For Now

Are you a Disney Vacation Club member who’s experienced any of these DVC frustrations? Or, do you have any other DVC disadvantages I didn’t mention? Please share in the comments!

This post was all about the 7 most significant Disney Vacation Club complaints current members have (you should know this before becoming a DVC member).