Disney For Adults (We Have Fun Too)

Should You Become A
Disney Vacation Club Member?

There are many perks in being a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, and it doesn't stop at Disney World. You can literally travel the world using your DVC membership. Stay at some of the best hotels around, take cruises on the Disney Cruise Line. Get discounts and special offers not available to the general public.

Membership in the Disney Vacation Club is really a true value, but just like the Disney Dining Plans, whether or not you become a member of DVC is a decision you should make after getting as much information as you can and weighing the options.

My goal here is not to sell you on becoming a member (the benefits will do that), but to give you enough info so you'll look into it further.

Is it worth it for YOU to become
a Disney Vacation Club member?

Well, let's look at some of the benefits of DVC membership:

The Disney Vacation Club is based on a points system. You purchase a DVC membership with a number of points. The minimum is 160. You can purchase more initially and/or add on later. The membership lasts for 40 years. You can use these points to:

• Book cruises on the Disney Cruise Line - Some of the 2010 cruises include:

• Stay at Disney World resorts - Choose a "HOME" resort when you join DVC, but you can book reservations for any of the ones below, based on availability and Disney Vacation Club guidelines:

• Stay at other resorts owned by Disney, including:

• Stay at Disney Resorts around the world, including:

• Adventures by Disney - Wonderful guided tours at places worldwide, including:

Disney Vacation Club members also enjoy:

• Special Events - only offered to DVC members
• Member Perks - discounts on Annual Passes, entertainment, restaurants and eateries, etc. at Disney World and Disneyland Resorts
• Special Offers - created for Disney Vacation Club members and their friends
• Member Benefits & Privileges - huge array of benefits, including the World of Golf Program, World of Attractions Program, etc.

I think you get the picture... There are a lot of benefits, and I just scratched the surface. The bottom line is the Disney Vacation Club offers OVER 500 destinations worldwide for it's members, plus discounts, special events and offers, etc.

What you have to decide is if it is worth it for you and your family to join. Are you going to spend a lot of time over the years at any Disney location? Then the Disney Vacation Club may be your best option.

Here's a quick example:

We have 200 points a year. In December, we spent 95 of our points to stay at the Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa for 8 days. I'm paying for the membership on a monthly plan for 10 years (then enjoy the plan for another 30 years, for just the annual dues), so that stay cost me about $2,100 in cash value.

That's roughly the same price you'd pay cash If you book the same stay at the Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. The difference is that we still had 105 points left over for the year, which I banked into 2010. (Yes, you can bank to or borrow from the next year.)

If you do decide to become a member of the Disney Vacation Club, and I had a hand in it, thru this article, I'm shamelessly asking that you mention you were referred by me, unless of course a friend or family member wants you to use them as the referral.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope this article was helpful to you, and at the very least, inspired you to get more information so you can make the best decision for you and your family.

Julius Covington, Sr.
Julius@AllThingsDisney.com