Top 10 Disney Vacation Club Member Perks
Beyond the potential money saving benefit Disney Vacation Club offers, there are other member perks at Walt Disney World. DVC calls these its “Membership Extras,” which are usually discounts or special events. When looking at Disney’s site, it’s difficult to tell which of these benefits are truly…beneficial, and which are thinly-veiled marketing. In this post, we’ll share the 10 best Membership Extras offered by Disney Vacation Club, and how they might save you even more money, or otherwise benefit your value.
First up, we should offer a caveat. If you’re thinking of becoming a Disney Vacation Club member, there is a new-ish restriction that took effect last spring. Now, Members who do not purchase their ownership interest directly from Disney will not have access to Membership Extras. While existing owners (us included) were upset about this change, Disney spins it as a way for Members who purchase directly to “receive a premium advantage – in addition to all the magic that Disney has to offer.”
This effectively changes the math of buying DVC via resale v. buying directly. Fortunately, there are ways to circumvent this restriction, which we cover in that post. For other things to consider before purchasing DVC, we suggest reading our comprehensive Disney Vacation Club Buying Guide.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best Disney Vacation Club Membership Extras, so you can better understand whether buying into ‘da club’ is right for you!
1. Annual Pass Discounts
The key Membership Extra is the Annual Pass discount at Walt Disney World. Normally, Disney Vacation Club members save $100 per person on the Platinum and Platinum Plus Annual Passes. Additionally, they are able to purchase Annual Passes normally only offered to Florida residents, such as the Gold Pass.
This discount is available for everyone in the same household. For a family of 4, that’s a savings of $400 per year just on Annual Passes. That’s a pretty significant discount–for some families, that’s close to the cost of annual membership dues!
On occasion, there are even better temporary discounts on Annual Passes. Last year, we took advantage of a deal on the Platinum Plus Annual Pass, making it $595 after tax. A couple of years before that, there was an even better discount, both both of these have expired.
Basically, Disney offers them as ways to increase park attendance, which the parks probably don’t need in the next year or so with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening in just over a year, in late 2019. After that, there are plenty of new attractions on the way between 2019 and Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary in 2021, so the deep discounts on APs might be a thing of the past.
2. Ticket Discounts
Discounts on standard park tickets are less common with DVC, but they are offered from time to time, usually as a way of spiking park attendance. A few years ago, there were some really good offers; then nothing for a couple years.
Currently, there are discount tickets on hard ticket parties and special events, but nothing on standard day-tickets for DVC members. Additionally, Disney Vacation Club members will be able to enter Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at 2 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. with the general public, so that’s a small victory.
3. Moonlight Magic Special Events
At one point, these were infrequent events held a couple of times per year at Walt Disney World. Not ‘big’ enough to justify a trip down for them, and not regular enough that they’d coincide with already-planned trips. Unless you were a local or happened to get lucky, the special events were not a selling point of Disney Vacation Club.
That changed last year with Disney Vacation Club’s 25th Anniversary. We attended the Typhoon Lagoon Beach Bash, Safari Spectacular at Animal Kingdom, and 25th Anniversary Bash at Disney California Adventure. This year, there are even more events, with a few dates for every Disney park in the United States.
While I would not fly out just for one of these parties, I could see tweaking the dates of a trip to make it fall within one of these events. There are usually rare characters, unlimited ice cream and refreshments, special entertainment, or some other selling point. You can read our Typhoon Lagoon Beach Bash Report or 25th and Beyond Bash Disney California Adventure Report for an idea of what they’re like. This year, we did Moonlight Magic at Magic Kingdom, and it was our favorite even yet.
We expect DVC to keep these events going for the foreseeable future. These Moonlight Magic events are not just a nice perk–they’re a potential selling point for those who are leaning towards saving significant money on the resale market. Events aside, the only perk that really matters is the Annual Pass discounts, and that doesn’t matter if you’re not buying an Annual Pass.
4. Free Laundry
Every Disney Vacation Club resort has a dedicated laundry facility, and the use of the washers and dryers is no charge for Members. In my experience, these laundry rooms are fairly nice and have sufficient capacity (I’ve never had to wait to wash or dry my stuff). Even better, 1-bedroom villas and larger-sized rooms have washers and dryers inside the rooms.
I’m not a fan of cooking or cleaning while on vacation, but I’ve taken advantage of the free laundry a few times. My socks are basically a biohazard after a long day in the parks, and having access to the laundry facilities means I was everything on our last morning before heading home so I don’t have to quarantine my suitcase or throw the socks in a hazmat bag. It’s also nice for longer trips, as it means packing less.
5. Pool Hopping
One perk that Disney Vacation Club members can enjoy regardless of how they purchased is pool hopping. This concept has long been a point of contention among all Walt Disney World guests, but it’s officially sanctioned for members per Disney Vacation Club rules.
Basically, this means DVC members can use whatever pool they want, regardless of the resort at which they’re staying. There are a few exemptions, though: Bay Cove Pool at Bay Lake Tower, Uzima Pool and Samawati Springs Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Stormalong Bay at Yacht & Beach Club, the leisure pool at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Lava pool and the leisure pool at Polynesian Village, Copper Creek Springs Pool at Wilderness Lodge, and all pools at Art of Animation. Other than those, capacity restrictions still apply, and blockouts will be implemented during busier times.
6. Restaurant & Shopping Discounts
Disney Vacation Club members save 10% to 20% off dining and shopping throughout the Walt Disney World theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. AllEars has a good PDF comparing the current discounts (these seem to be constantly changing and are difficult to keep track of).
While these discounts are always offered, sometimes they are bumped to as much as 30% off when dining is slow. We would not be shocked to see these higher discounts return. As Disney Springs has opened in a ton of new, exceptional restaurants and prices have gone up across the board, deals have been more plentiful recently.
Another option available for DVC members is purchasing a Tables in Wonderland card that offers a 20% discount on both food and alcoholic beverages at most Walt Disney World table service restaurants.
7. Room Discounts
This might seem counter-intuitive since the whole point of Disney Vacation Club is using your points on rooms to save money. However, if you’re particularly Disney-obsessed and burn through all of your points for the next two use years in the first three months of having them (not that we know anyone who has ever done that…), this is an option.
DVC Members receive a 25% discount off the regular rack rate at Disney Vacation Club resorts only. Now, if you are in a position to need this discount, there’s a good chance you’re eligible for a better deal as an Annual Passholder. We have used our allotment of points well before we were “done” visiting for a given year, and have always found the AP or general public room-only discounts to be better for us.
In fairness, we are flexible with regard to where we stay and usually favor the resorts with the best (usually 30% or more off) deal. If you are dead-set on a particular resort, this may amount to a savings of 25% when the AP or standard room-only discount is 15% off…or nothing at all.
8. Tour & Event Discounts
This is a pretty broad category, but Disney Vacation Club members receive a 15% discount on theme park tours (like the Keys to the Kingdom tour at Magic Kingdom or the exceptional Behind the Seeds at Epcot tour). Members also received flat-rate discounts on some shows (like Cirque du Soleil).
Then there are discounts on special events. This mainly applies to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. At least, that’s how we use our member ‘tour/event’ discount most frequently.
This also extends to a bunch of other stuff, including events during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, among other things. It’s best to check the DVC website before booking anything, as this changes.
9. Top of the World Lounge
On paper, this may not seem so special. After all, Top of the World Lounge is “just” a bar in Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. However, it’s so much more than that. First of all, it’s a classy, exclusive location only for DVC members. Second, it has a delicious 7 Layer Cake.
Most importantly (yes, even more important than cake!), Top of the World also offers sweeping views of Walt Disney World comparable to those of California Grill. This means great views of the fireworks, including those shows during special events and seasonal shows. We once watched the fireworks from Top of the World Lounge on New Year’s Eve. Avoiding those crowds? Now that was pure Disney magic!
Additionally, unlike the Imagination Lounge at Epcot, this is available to all members, regardless of how they purchased their ownership interest.
10. Imagination Lounge at Epcot
One of the newer Disney Vacation Club perks is the Imagination Member Lounge in Epcot. It’s located in the Imagination pavilion, and accessible via the gift shop at the end of the attraction (you can enter through a separate door on the left side of the building…you don’t have to ride the attraction).
Almost immediately inside the door, there’s a podium with a kiosk where a Disney Vacation Club rep will ask to see your membership card and photo ID, and then allow the member (plus up to 5 guests) upstairs. The lounge is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and offers free Coke Freestyle, coffee, and snacks. There are also charging stations.
We love the Imagination Lounge, and visit (at least) once per day while in Epcot. First of all, free soda and gummy bears. That’s a nice plus. Second and more importantly, I have fond memories of the upstairs ImageWorks from when I was a kid, and revisiting that is always nice. The atmosphere is wonderful up there, and it’s a nice respite from the crowds and humidity.
Overall, there are a lot of Membership Extras for Disney Vacation Club members that actually will save you money or enhance your vacation experience–and we’d file all of these under one of those categories or the other. In adding up the money we save or the value we receive from special events, we find that the “benefits” of membership outside of savings on accommodations regularly amount to over $1,000 per year for us. That’s significantly more than we pay for dues each year. Obviously, this savings is going to differ for everyone–for some people, it might not be much at all. It’s just another variable worth considering when debating whether or not Disney Vacation Club is right for you.
If you’re considering joining DVC, first be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club. If you still can’t decide whether membership is right for you, “try before you buy” and rent points from DVC Rental Store. If you are convinced a membership is for you, check out the discounted options at DVC Resale Market.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your thoughts about the Membership Extras that DVC offers? If you’re a member, which benefits are your favorites, and which do you take advantage of regularly? Which are not worth it for you? Any questions about DVC perks and discounts? Hearing your feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts or questions below in the comments!
We are staying at the Dolphin in December, but would like to pool hop with our DVC membership. I am looking at the verbiage…do I need to be staying at a DVC resort? How would be admitted, by showing our card? Dont want to arrive with high hopes and be turned away! Faith
Looking for someone to help me with the math on the AP. If I plan to take my family of 6 down for a week every other year it looks like the platinum annual pass (with a discount) would cost me around $4.8k, but buying a 7 day park hopper is about $3k. The annual pass discount sounds like a big perk when I read about it, am I missing something?
No, your math is probably right. You have to visit at least 2x within an AP period for the pass to work out, financially.
Purchased 50 points last year for 7,000 now I want to buy another 100 points resale. What is the best way to proceed in buying resale. Any suggestions would be great ty. Norbert
My mom and i have been visiting Disney about once a year for the past 5 years. We considered doing the DVC but we also enjoy the dining plan. Part of the fun of Disney for me is calculating what i paid for the plan vs what we actually get in food (i’ve managed to pay $500 for the plan, and get $900 worth of food for 2 people for 5 days doing 2 credit restaurants).
Does the DVC allow purchase of the dining plan? i find it totally counter intuitive to get these small 10-20% discounts when i could just get the dining plan and get potentially bigger savings, with less hassle of cash/credit cards. There’s nothing better than seeing a $160 bill come to your table and sending it back with only a magic band and tip!!!
Yes, you can purchase a Dining Plan with the DVC- you have the option of going into your reservation (or calling them) any time up to three days in advance of your arrival to add it- but you will need to pay in full at the time you add it.
Haha! The pool hopping “perks” made me laugh. Basically, any pool that’s actually worth hopping to is excluded!
How does Disney know if you bought from them or resale? Are the member cards different.
I thought the top of the world was open to all DVC members then sometimes I read only to members staying at Bay Lake Towers
I read on the DVC website that even if a pool is listed in the “not ever allowed” column if not at capacity, you can go to the front desk and ask if capacity is low enough for you to swim there. AKL is not really crowded a lot and is a bigger pool. Some of the gates you have to scan your armband, but most are just lockable so after the pools are closed the gates will be locked. We have enjoyed the AKL pool when not staying there.
Pool Hopping is still currently a perk, but I think the list of exclusion pools is telling. Everyone understands why Stormalong Bay is excluded, but for the rest of the list the only real differentiating factor between ‘allowed’ and ‘not allowed’ pools is the recency of pool construction / refurb. I mean, I’m sure Copper Creek Springs is a nice pool, but I don’t think DVC members are building their itineraries around the requisite pool hop day to Wilderness Lodge.
The fact that I can’t think of a pool that has been refurbed in the last several years and not added to the list makes me think that this is just Disney’s way of phasing out this perk without coming out and saying that they aren’t going to allow it any more.
I keep hoping that as some of these pools get older, they will be removed from the list of excluded pools. Grand Floridian’s pools are not on the list, which is at least a positive.
How does pool hopping work? I’ve never tried it before, but we we’re DVC members and we have a few days in our upcoming September trip when I think it would be nice to get out of the park and sit by a pool for a bit. Do we have to check in with somebody?
Also, is there any pool at Animal Kingdom that you CAN hop to? I’m not as familiar with their pools.
We live all the perks and use them as much as possible. Our only gripe is that the member lounge doesn’t have a restroom. It’s great to have a place to get out if the crowds but it just doesn’t make sense to omit a clean members only restroom. I’ve got three girls and this was a big disappointment.
It would’ve been a huge undertaking to add a restroom to the Imagination Lounge–probably so expensive that the lounge would not exist if that had to be done.
(This could also explain why the upstairs ImageWorks never reopened to the general public. Between the lack of bathroom and the small elevator, it’s a difficult space to utilize with larger crowds.)
I am going to be the negative one on this. I pay $30,000 for my buy in, plus about $850 in dues + increasing percentage over the next 30 years. And these are good saving measures? Plus lets not skip the savings lost if I use my points at another resort. Besides 9 and 10 I can get the same or very close to the same discount being a FL resident ( I know not everyone), AP holder, and a Disney credit card.
I hope you don’t think I was rude, but not seeing the value.
Your not being negative, just sharing your opinion. While being a DVC member since 2006, I too sometimes question the savings. It sometimes seems like AP members get so many more perks than DVC.
Remember the cool welcome kits and the nice lithos they used to send after watching the new property videos…? Love my DVC, just think they have dropped the ball a tad. 😉
People ask me if it is a good deal… I look them in the eyes and say NO…
BUT! I have taken vacations with my family, sometimes a couple times per year at Disney and I have memories of everyone. The question everyone needs to answer is what is important. For us… family time.
We never use our points in the summer because I can get more bang for my points in the early spring or Fall. We always do the dining plan. The choice is for everyone to decide for their family. I would never change my mind after seeing my daughters fall in love with Disney and now… we get to do it all over again with the Grands!
It depends on where you usually stay if you generally stay at a value resort or even a moderate, your savings will not be as significant. I just spent 2 weeks at The Beach Club. Spent approximately $8,000 to do that. We generally go 1-2 times/ year. In 4 years I will have spent 32,000 on my lodging, if I go deluxe every time. I have now spent 2,000 more than your original quote of $30,00, yet with a DVC, I now have 46 more years to go that are basically free. I buy annual passes for a family of 4. Rack rate for non Floridians is a little over $800.00/ ticket. That is 3,200.00 With my DVC DISCOUT, I just paid 2,400 for those same tickets. I have now almost saved what my annual dues are. Don’t forget doc outs at Disney stores, restaurants, tours and FREE, photo pass, every time I enter the park. Isotherm my annual pass, I can go a few more times a year. I upped this over for 4-5 years before I took the plunge. Yes, you will save significant money
So it seems as though there are more perks for the Florida parks vs. the California parks. So wondering if it’s worth it if I primarily go to Disneyland?
I’ve actually read that top of the world (and I assume the Epcot lounge as well) will be available to resale members, as will the pool hopping perk.
That’s not currently the case, and it would shock me if DVC changes that. They have no incentive to give more to resale buyers–just less.
Top of the World is still available to resale buyers (even now). See here for one discussion on the matter. http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1350236#post1350236
Thanks for the heads up on that. Previously, we’ve always been asked to show our card, but I guess (based upon that thread) that the MagicBand should be enough. Makes sense, given the (lack of) popularity of that lounge.
Top of the world is not popular?? Really??
Is it correct to assume that people who rent DVC points are not eligible for any of these perks during their stay?
You should be able to pool hop and use the no-charge laundry facilities, but otherwise, that is correct.
I rent my DVC points from Dave’s Vacation rentals and I have used all of the perks minus the food discounts
You were able to book a tour at the discounted rate? (I ask because we rented points through David’s and will be going next May and would love to have that option)