Three years ago, our family made a leap into DVC membership — one that the financially sensible crowd might raise an eyebrow at, and one that we haven’t regretted for a single moment. We purchased our DVC membership directly through Disney, with Riviera Resort as our home resort. Now, three years in, here’s what that journey has looked like for our family.
The Resorts Our DVC Membership Has Unlocked
One of the greatest joys of DVC membership is the ability to explore Disney’s incredible portfolio of deluxe resorts. In just three years, we’ve had the privilege of staying at:
- Saratoga Springs
- Disney’s Grand Floridian
- Bay Lake Tower
- The Polynesian DVC Villas
- Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
The room experiences have been just as varied. We’ve stayed in Studios at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Riviera; Tower Rooms at Riviera; 1-Bedrooms at Riviera and Bay Lake Tower; and a gorgeous 2-Bedroom suite at Kidani Village. Each one has its own personality, its own magic.
DVC Membership Goes Way Beyond the Parks
Yes, we’ve had incredible park days as part of our DVC membership. But some of our most treasured memories have come from experiences that had nothing to do with a ride queue. We’re talking horseback riding and archery. DVC Bowling Night at Splittsville in Disney Springs. Apps, drinks, and desserts at the Villains Lair atop Bay Lake Tower — more than once. The DVC Member Lounge at EPCOT. And an unforgettable night at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness.
We’ve covered many of these magical beyond-the-parks moments in detail in our post on Magically Epic Adventures Beyond the Parks with DVC — a great companion read if you want to explore what DVC membership can look like off the beaten path.
What Our DVC Membership Has Lined Up Next
As full as our list already feels, the “still to do” column is just as exciting. We have a Wine & Dine Weekend stay at Disney’s Beach Club DVC Villas on the horizon, and a Thanksgiving holiday trip to Old Key West that we simply cannot wait for. The magic of DVC membership is that there’s always something new to look forward to.
DVC Membership as a Financial Investment — The Honest Take
DVC membership is not cheap. Let me be crystal clear. It is absolutely an investment, and anyone who tells you otherwise hasn’t looked at the numbers. But here’s the flip side: have you priced a studio room at a Disney Deluxe Resort during spring break or a holiday week? We’re often talking over $1,000 per night.
For a family already committed to regular Orlando trips, the math looks different. As direct purchasers — not secondary market buyers — our DVC membership comes with the full suite of perks, including access to the Sorcerer Pass Annual Pass. If you’re planning a serious Disney strategy, our P.O.G Approach to Disney World and Universal Orlando breaks down how we think about maximizing every trip.
Add to that: our kids are deeply involved in a competitive high school marching band that regularly travels from the Midwest to Walt Disney World to perform. Disney trips aren’t a “someday” — they’re already on our calendar every year. In fact, we’re even training for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon as Sorcerer Passholders. Our DVC membership has become a cost optimization tool for travel we were already committed to making.
The Guilty Pleasure Defense of DVC Membership
Could Dave Ramsey endorse a timeshare-adjacent purchase? Not a chance. And I get it — on paper, it’s not the “right” financial move. But most people have a guilty pleasure. Some spend it on cars or shoes or overpriced hotel weekends. Ours is creating lifelong memories with our kids in one of the most magical places on earth through our DVC membership.
If that’s the poor financial decision they want to put on my record, call me guilty — every day, and twice on Sunday.
We bought into DVC membership a few years later than we should have, given how many Disney trips we made before signing on. But to say we haven’t thoroughly enjoyed every moment since? That simply wouldn’t be true.
Have questions about DVC membership, what it’s really like, or whether it might be right for your family? Drop them in the comments — I’m happy to share what we’ve learned.
Magically Epic™ is a trademark. All rights are claimed in Magically Epic™, MagicallyEpicIdeas.com™, MagicallyEpicIdeas.blog™, and related website and blog domains. These marks are protected by common law trademark rights. MagicallyEpicIdeas is proudly owned by Meridian Whimsy LLC.
We are proud to maintain a preferred partnership with Compass Luxe Travel for all things Disney related, ensuring our readers have access to top-tier vacation planning expertise.
Leave a Reply