Not too long ago DVC (Disney Vacation Club) raised the minimum amount of points someone would need to purchase to become a member. DVC has responded. Read on to see what they had to say.
What is DVC
DVC is short for Disney Vacation Club. It is a timeshare run by Disney. Unlike other timeshares DVC has the flexibility of a point system.
You can book the time of year you travel and type of accommodation, including your resort of choice. With this style of timeshare you are not stuck in a particular week every year. You purchase an allotment of points that you can then choose to spend however you would like.
For all the ins and outs of DVC check out a previous post about what DVC is HERE.
If you are a current Blue Card Member, you may have noticed your physical Membership Card is about to expire. Read HERE for more information about what to expect.
Minimum Buy In Raised
The minimum buy in amount was raised to 150 points. This is for a Direct Membership and to receive all Member benefits. These Members will have a BLUE card.
Another option to become a Member (but you will not have full membership benefits) would be to buy resale. These Members will have a WHITE card.
Read here for Rebecca’s article on DVC direct purchase versus resale.
DVC Repsonse
DVC loves to hear from their members. You can share your feedback at disneyvacationclub.com/feedback.
Members wanted to know why DVC raised their minimum number of points to become a Member. The Disney Vacation Club Vice President of Sales, Dottie Clendenin, shared why.
They stated lowering the minimum points to become a member had some unintended consequences. This was felt by many members, not just the families with smaller contracts.
DVC surveyed families and found that owning too few points is a key cause of dissatisfaction. They found families can’t vacation as they had hoped to.
Even though the minimum number of points to purchase an initial contract has increased, there was no change to minimum number of points to add on to an existing contract.
DVC also found that these smaller contracts made more families have to choose split stays for their vacations. Members looking for full weeks at their desired hotel were struggling to book.
Some people enjoy split stays. It’s a great way to visit multiple resorts in one trip. However, it can be difficult with packing up children and moving to another resort. Read all about split stays HERE.
They sum up their response with it being a “balancing act between short-term attainability and long-term satisfaction.” Basically, they know this will put DVC out of reach for some families, but will help keep the magic of Membership enjoyable for the long haul.
What do you think of DVC’s response? How do you feel about the increased minimum points to be purchased to become a Member? Let us know on the Kenny the Pirate Facebook page. Don’t forget to join the KtP crew page, too!
-Heather Alosa
Source: Disney Files Magazine Fall 2021 Volume 30 Number 3
This is just for Disney to get more money from members I am ok with what working for people
Disney is looking to get more money and seeing this is the best way
Totally agree!
No trip for us this year.
Of late nothing Disney does is for anyone’s benefit but theirs, this included.
Yes, they did it for us….sure.
How much per point back then?
It’s annoying that you’re initial purchase keeps getting diluted from being able to use it the same way each year as they increase the points costs, forcing one to buy more points in a few years just to have the same vacation time you had when you started. And then to second class citizen resale purchases so it’s getting harder to unload your contract as it doesn’t suit your needs anymore.
Am sure this is not for the member benefit as people can purchase what they can afford and then add on,. The reason you would not benefit in purchasing a smaller contract and adding on is if point charts go up (they have already added additional seasons). We were lucky enough to buy in at VGF in 2013 at 160 pts. Would never be able to do this now. I didn’t know there was a minimum and didn’t know about resale at that time.
That’s a B.S. response. It removes flexibility. So what if they couldn’t enjoy how they wanted, That’s what they purchased…and that has more to do with raising point requirements for specific stays. People can CHOOSE to buy more…this takes away choices for dvc membership.
The real reason is that they don’t want smaller point owners. Disney wants to cater to the wealthier crowd who will raise revenue. It’s the trend for Disney.
My minimum buy in was 230 in 1991 at OKW
Phew, glad we bought a couple years ago when the munimum was 75 points. It’s done well for us, but we are planning to add more points in the next couple of years.
Yeah – I thought that we had bought the minimum in 93 at 160 points. This is confusing.
However, I don’t believe that raising the minimum points is for the guests’ benefit. If they buy as they can afford, they then can add on when it is more practical.
After all, you don’t force 1st time homeowners to buy a minimum size house because you know that they will enjoy having more room.
We bought Boardwalk in 1996 – minimum then was 210 points