We’re sharing a guide to everything you need to know about staying at a Disney Vacation Club Resort – whether you’re a DVC member or not.
If you’ve ever gone to book a Disney World Resort hotel, you’ve likely seen certain hotels referred to as “Disney Vacation Club Resorts.” The Disney Vacation Club is a version of a timeshare sprinkled with a bit of Disney magic — its members can name a “home resort” at certain locations that they can use points to stay at. Some examples include Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. These resorts are just a few of the 17 Disney Vacation Club Resorts located in Florida, California, Hawaii, and South Carolina.
Of course, Disney Vacation Club Members (or DVC) can use their points at these resorts for different types of rooms and stays with their membership. But, do you need to be a DVC member to stay in a Disney Vacation Club Resort hotel or room? We’re here to take you through everything you need to know about Disney Vacation Club Resorts, including who can stay there.
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What are Disney Vacation Club Resorts and Villa Rooms?
Bay Lake Tower. Photo by Mike Billick
Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare-like program through Disney. Members of the Disney Vacation Club purchase points at a “home resort” and can use these points in over 17 different resorts. Want to learn more about the Disney Vacation Club? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to the Disney Vacation Club.
Disney Vacation Club Resorts
But what resort’s are actually considered DVC properties? Here’s a full list of the resorts:
- Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawaii
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Orlando, Florida
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Orlando, Florida
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas- Jambo House, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas- Kidani Village, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s Riviera Resort, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resorts, Orlando, Florida
- Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Vero Beach, Florida
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, Anaheim, California
- The VIllas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Orlando, Florida
- The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, California
Disney Vacation Club Vila Rooms
The rooms at DVC resorts are usually classified in one of a few ways: either a deluxe studio, a 1-bedroom villa, a 2-bedroom villa, or a 3-bedroom Grand Villa.
The difference between these rooms is the number of bedrooms and amount of bathrooms. Most of the deluxe studios are in one room and include a bed and sofa bed, plus a bathroom. Most 1-bedrooms, with the exception of the Animal KIngdom Lodge- Kidani Village and Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which include two bathrooms, include one bathroom and one bedroom with a sofa bed. The other rooms, the 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom villas, increase in size and amount of points.
Can Non-DVC Members Stay at DVC Resorts or in DVC Rooms?
Treehouse Villa at Saratoga Springs. Photo by Dani Moritz
A common question among guests visiting WDW is whether or not non-DVC members can actually stay at DVC resorts or in DVC villas. The answer is yes! Whether you book through Disney directly, a travel agent, or through a DVC resale site, guests are not required to be DVC members.
Booking Directly Through Disney or a Travel Agent
Suppose you are an Annual Passholder or are looking to utilize some other type of discount. In that case, non-DVC members can book directly through Disney or by using a travel agent (we recommend Destinations to Travel). Seasonal vacation package discounts are valid on the villa rooms as well as Passholder discounts.
Booking Through a DVC Rental Site
Ever heard of DVC rental sites? These sites allow DVC members to sell their unused points and vacations to non-DVC members, usually at less money per point than normal. How does this work? You would visit a DVC rental store online which will be booked in the guests’ name, and have a room assigned to you. It’s just like booking through another booking site, but you are purchasing DVC points. But keep in mind that if you do this, you won’t be receiving DVC perks such as discounts. Depending on the site you use, the option for cancelation may also not be available, so make sure to factor that into your decision.
Some popular DVC rental sites to purchase from include David’s Vacation Club Rentals, DVC Rental Store, and DVC Shop Rentals. You can find these sites online, and some are now even adding on dining plans, which is a great perk.
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