DVC Resorts

Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Resorts Include: (Click on Individual Resort for a Full Review!)

1. • Dedicated to Villas Only: 
     1. Old Key West 
     2. Saratoga Springs 
   • Shared with Deluxe Resorts:
     1. Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village and Jambo House
     2. Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary 
     3. Beach Club Villas 
     4. Boardwalk Villas 
     5. Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge 
     6. Grand Floridian Villas
     7. Polynesian Villas and Bungalows 
   • Offsite DVC Resorts:
     1. Aulani Villas (in KoOlina, Hawaii)
     2. Hilton Head Island Resort (in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina)
     3. Vero Beach Resort  (in Vero Beach, Florida)
     4. Villas at Grand Californian Resort and Spa (in Anaheim, California)

This can be confusing to people who do not literally study this stuff!  Let me try to explain how it works and hopefully it will be more clear! 

• DVC is Disney's timeshare system.  People buy points that they can use every year for the life of the contract.
  • Example:  We bought 100 points at the Polynesian last year and it cost us just a little under $18,000. This is a one time buy in yet we have annual dues that are somewhere around $600/year. I believe we got to choose from the Polynesian Villas or Copper Creek Villas as our "home resort" but it changes based on their availability at that time. You can use these points at the Disney DVC Villas, Disney Cruiseline and several properties all over the world! 
  • You can book up to 11 months in advance at your home resort whereas you can only book at the "non-home" DVC properties up to 7 months in advance.
• You can rent points from current owners who do not plan to use their points for the year. This can be done directly with the owners that you can find on different Disney forums or through a 3rd party internet site such as DVC Rental Store (we used them before we were owners and highly recommend them)!
• You can book the villas directly through Disney but you will pay a significantly higher price.
  • If you book through Disney you will get daily "Mousekeeping" (Disney's housekeeping) which is the big difference between using DVC points vs paying cash.
  • If you book using DVC points you will only get trash and towel service on day 4 with a 7 night or less stay but if staying 8 or more nights you get trash and towel service on day 4 plus a full cleaning on day 8. 
  • Day 4 trash and towel service includes:
    1. New bathroom towels
    2. Trash removal
    3. Refilling coffee, sugar and cream
    4. Replacing diswashing liquid, dishwasher detergent, sponges and laundry detergent as needed
    5. Refilling facial tissues, paper towels and toilet paper
    6. Replacing shampoo, facial soap and bath soap
  • Day 8 full service includes the above plus:
    1. Changing the bedding
    2. Vacuum and dusting
    3. Cleaning the bathroom
    4. Washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen/kitchenette

• Villas have studios, one, two and three bedrooms.
• Studios can range in size from 316 sq. ft. (Animal Kingdom Villas) to 447 sq. ft (Polynesian Villas). Other rooms vary in size and can be as large as 2800 sq. ft. (Grand Floridian 3 bedroom grand villa)!
• Depending where you stay the 1 bedroom villa can have 1 or 2 bathrooms, 2 bedroom villas can have 2 or 3 bathrooms and the 3 bedroom villas can have 3 or 4 bathrooms. These will all include a jacuzzi bathtub.
• Studios include a kitchenette and the larger villas have a full kitchen.
• DVC studios sleep 5 (plus a crib) and are smaller than standard rooms but they include a kitchenette. The Polynesian Villas are the only exception to this.
  • The standard rooms at the Polynesian are 404 sq. ft. and the DVC studios are 447 sq. ft.
  • The studio rooms at the Polynesian also have 1 full bathroom plus another half bath with only a shower and sink.
• DVC studios typically have a queen bed, queen pullout sofa and twin size murphy bed whereas standard rooms typically have either a king or 2 queen beds plus a twin murphy bed.
• Transportation and other amenities are shared with the Deluxe Resorts.
• Rooms may open to the inside or outside depending on the resort.
• Price (rack rates):  $371 - $3,583 per night depending on the resort and size of room.

• Beautiful must see lobbies and grounds.
• Most have more than one mode of transportation except Animal Kingdom which is bus transportation only to the theme parks and Disney Springs. Others will have bus, boat or monorail access.
• Standard rooms sleep up to 5 (plus a crib) except at Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom and Boardwalk Inn which only sleep 4 (plus a crib). All have several different suite options that can accomodate 6 - 10 guests.
• Standard room size ranges from 340 - 448 sq. ft.  Suites can be found over 1,000 sq. ft.
• Standard rooms have either 2 queen beds or 1 king. Most will have an additional bunk size murphy bed.  Suites have several different combinations of bedding available including queen, king, sofa pullout and sleeper chairs.
• Standard rooms will have one bathroom w/ a double sink. Suites have several different combinations of bathrooms depending on the size of room.
• Themed pools with a water slide and hot tub. Other quiet pools also available.
• Poolside bar available.
• Table and Quick Service restaurants available. Some table service options are upscale or have character meals available.
• Full room service menu available.
• Some offer onsite fitness centers, spas or salons.
• All rooms include either a mini-fridge or full refridgerator depending on the type of room selected.
• Microwaves in all rooms.
• Rooms open to inside corridors.

Click the Following to Jump to a Particular Resort:  Old Key West,  Saratoga Springs,  Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani Village and Jambo House,  Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary,  Beach Club Villas,  Boardwalk Villas,  Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek Villas at Wilderness Lodge,  Grand Floridian Villas, Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, Aulani Villas, Hilton Head Island Resort,  Vero Beach Resort, Villas at Grand Californian Resort and Spa