25 Reasons I Love Being A Disney Vacation Club Member

This year the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is celebrating 25 Years ... and beyond of creating amazing vacation magic. Disney's unique concept of a time share and the things that it would offer its owners shook up the industry when it first debuted and has been providing world class service ever since. My husband and I bought our membership in 2008 and while we wouldn't really call it a financial "investment," it is by far the best investment in our family that we've ever made.


Mickey Topiary at Wilderness Lodge Villas

1. The innovative points system means allows members flexibility chose a different way to travel every year offering flexibility in the time of year, and in the type of room you can book.




2. I can always book a room at my home resort 11 months before I travel, making sure that there will be a room for me on the dates that I cant.




3. If I want to switch to a different DVC resort, I have the opportunity to do that beginning at 7 months before my arrival date. This gives me a wider range of hotel options to enjoy.




4. The DVC Member Website is a one stop information center for everything I need to do from catching up on the latest news and information, to checking the balance on my contract and paying my dues, to booking my next DVC Vacation.




5. And if I'm not at the computer, I just call DVC Member Services at an easy to remember number and the cast members are friendly and helpful, always willing to go over travel plans with you and answer questions.




6. Some of the most unique rooms on property such as the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Saratoga Springs, over the water bungalows at Disney Polynesian Village, and my favorite - concierge rooms at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.



The open living space inside the bungalows



7. The rooms are fully stocked with everything you could need, Villas with 1 bedroom or above also come with full kitchens and an in room washer/dryer. I never realized what a perk that washer/dryer is until I had it.




8. Resort guest perks such as Complimentary Transportation, Extra Magic Hours, and Disney's Magical Express are also always available to DVC Members staying in the resort villas.




9. Disney Files Magazine - a quarterly surprise in my post box, this members only magazine allows me to stay on top of everything going on in the Disney Vacation Club.




10. The Merry Member Mixer Party is held annually during the holiday season at Walt Disney World. Stop by to meet your favorite Characters, have some light refreshments, and take home a special treat.



Disney Vacation Club announces Merry Member Mixers!



11. In Spring of 2016 Disney Vacation Club is opening a special members only lounge at the Epcot Theme Park where DVC members can stop in and chill out to relax a bit while charging up their phones, using the free Wi-fi, and enjoying complimentary soft drinks.




12. DVC Members who have purchased their interest in the Vacation Club directly from Disney have full access to a huge list of special offerings including select tours, discounts, merchandise, and more.




13. Members can use Vacation Club Points to Book with Adventures By Disney.




14. Members can also book at trip on the Disney Cruise Line with their points.




15. Each year Disney offers a special DVC Members Only Cruise that's full of membership fun.



The Disney Dream's Grand Atrium



16. I love having things delivered to the room to make it a little extra special, and Disney Floral and Gifts offers an exciting selection of special DVC Member in room Celebrations!




17. Quite simple, my family travels more often because we're DVC members and get a brand new points allotments of points to use each year.




18. DVC members and their guests enjoy exclusive access to one of the vacation kingdom's most exciting spaces: Top of the World Lounge sits high atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Not only is this a luxe lounge with fantastic cocktails and a chocolate cakes to die for, it offers one of the best Magic Kingdom Fireworks views that there is.



Top Of The World Lounge Cake



19. On the rare occasion that I can't make it down to Disney one year, I can bank my unused points to the next year - or do something special and give them to friends for their vacations.




20. Disney Vacation Club Properties are always Deluxe Level resorts with a wide variety of high-end amenities, and full service opportunities. Though some times you have to pay an extra fee.




21. The opportunity to use my DVC points at cities across the globe in the concierge collection is a special treat. I've used DVC points to stay at the Whitehall in Chicago, IL and famous Hotel del Coronado, in Coronado, CA. Who says you can't get a room for Comic-Con at the last minute.




22. Not to be out-done by the fabulous third party resorts around the world, Disney Vacation Club also has Disney run properties in Vero Beach, Florida; Hilton Head, South Carolina; and the amazing Aulani in Ko Olina, Hawaii!





Winners Circle Statue at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa



23. My children love our DVC, and plan on becoming members in their own right once they have their own families. They've seen first hand how much Disney brings us together.




24. On an emotional level (warning: never buy something just because you're emotional about it) I get to say that my Vacation Home is at Walt Disney World.




25. And - as an Animal Kingdom Lodge Member, I like to claim that I have my very own Okapi. Hey - my dues pay for him, while I'm there looking at him I can think he's all mine. Folks that own over at the Beach Club Villa have their own water park. It's all a little Disney magic.

I don't believe that the Disney Vacation Club is the best option for every traveler. However, for my family it has been truly magical because we vacation all together more frequently than we ever did before. DVC has given us that time to slow down and connect with each other and discover what is truly important. Having an interest in the Vacation Club means that we always have another trip to plan and look forward to, with the payment for our room already covered.

Are you a Disney Vacation Club Member? Leave a comment and tell us what your favorite part of membership is!