5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a DVC Contract
When you’re first learning about DVC, it can be a bit overwhelming. If you’re wondering where to start, sometimes it helps to start with the basics. Here are 5 questions to help understand if DVC can work well for you and help narrow down which resorts may work best for you.
1. Are You Happy at Value Resorts?
Becoming a DVC Member can save you a lot of money on your accommodations, but this is typically in comparison to cash prices for stays in Deluxe or even Moderate Resorts. If you are happy staying at the Value Resorts like Pop Century or the All-Stars, having a DVC contract won’t produce as much savings. However, if the larger rooms, added amenities, expanded dining options, additional modes of transportation, and better locations of the Deluxe Resorts appeal to you, then DVC can offer a great way to make those Deluxe accommodations more affordable!
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2. How Often Will You Stay at a Disney Resort?
With DVC, you get points to use every year to book your stays. However, if you find there are some years where you want to use more points, or some years where you have other plans and won’t use your points, DVC has you covered. You can borrow points to use them one year earlier, or you can bank them to use them a year later.
Since you can only bank or borrow your points once (i.e., once you move those points, you can’t move them again), DVC points work best when you can travel at least every other year. If you travel less often than that, you risk letting points expire before you can use them.
3. In Which Theme Park Do You Spend the Most Time?
When picking a home resort, there are so many great options that it’s sometimes hard to choose! One consideration that can help is selecting a resort that is closest to your favorite theme park. Among the Disney World resorts, Bay Lake Tower, the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Boulder Ridge, and Copper Creek offer the best locations to be near Magic Kingdom. To be closer to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, it’s better to stay at Beach Club, BoardWalk, or Riviera.
On the West Coast, you can’t get much closer to Disney California Adventure than the Grand Californian, which has its own private entrance to the park. The Villas at Disneyland Hotel is a short walk to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
4. What Is Your Budget?
With DVC contracts, the price per point can really vary depending on which home resort you prefer. As of June 2025, they can be as low as $42 per point (Vero Beach) and as high as $233 per point (Grand Californian). If you’re looking for the most economical contract, be sure to check out DVC Resale Market’s Best Economical Resorts to Purchase blogs.
Over the lifetime of a DVC contract, the annual dues are a big component of the expenses, so it’s important to include that in your budget.
5. How Long Do You Plan to Keep Your Contract?
Contract lengths aren’t equal across all DVC resorts, so it’s important to get familiar with the deed expirations. Some people want to purchase a DVC contract that they can pass down to their children. If that’s the case, then it’s good to select a resort like the Polynesian or Copper Creek that have a lot of years left on their contracts. If you don’t care about passing down the contract, some of the resorts that expire in 2042, like Boulder Ridge or Old Key West, go for a relatively lower price per point and can be a good deal.
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