Please keep in mind that the machacz.com web site does NOT in anyway represent Official Disney Information. This site is not in any way associated with the Disney Company. (Please read the disclaimer below!) CT

Getting Familiar with DVC:

Official Disney DVC Site is the place to go for official DVC info.
Deb's AllEarsNet DVC FAQ has an excellent description of the program. This is a great all-around Disney info site.
DIS DVC Board at the Disney Information Station (DIS) site is by far the best source of DVC info.
Disney Information Station DVC FAQ has a brief overview.
Mouse Planet's DVC Info explains the program and offers an opposing argument as well.

Resort Properties (Disney Collection @ WDW): compare properties

DVC Tools:

DVC Planner is an easy to use Excel Workbook planner created by Bill Neth. This is a personal favorite. (uses Excel macros)

The Nitty Gritty: (taken from Walt Disney™ literature - please see disclaimer)

Vacation Points:

Vacation Points are the root of the Disney Vacation Club reservation system. In fact, they’re your keys to Membership. Because in order to become a Member of Disney Vacation Club, you must purchase a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort. And your real estate interest—or ownership interest—is represented by an annual allotment of a certain number of Vacation Points. The more Vacation Points you own, the more vacation choices you can enjoy. At the beginning of your Use Year, you will receive a new allotment of Vacation Points. And you can bank and borrow Vacation Points for greater flexibility.

Use Year:

Your Use Year is like a birthday, of sorts. It is determined at the time you purchase your Membership. And it marks the time each year when you will receive a new allotment of Vacation Points. You see, your Use Year signifies more than the presentation of new Vacation Points. It is also a benchmark for banking and borrowing Vacation Points, and it sets the deadline for certain vacation decisions.

Banking Vacation Points:

One of the great advantages you have as a Disney Vacation Club Member is vacation flexibility. Some years, you may not be able to take enough time away from home to use all your Vacation Points. Other years, you may want to set your sights on a longer vacation than your current Vacation Points would allow. Banking Vacation Points for future use can help you reach your goals.

The earlier you make a banking request, the more Vacation Points you can bank:

If you contact Member Services to bank your Vacation Points during the first six months of your Use Year, you can bank as many as 100% of this year’s Vacation Points to use next year.

If you contact Member Services to bank your Vacation Points with three to six months left in your Use Year, you can bank up to 50% of this year’s Vacation Points to next year.

If you contact Member Services to bank your Vacation Points with three months left in your Use Year, you can bank up to 25% of this year’s Vacation Points to next year.

If you do not contact Member Services to bank your Vacation Points, or if you call within the last two months of your Use Year, you cannot bank your Vacation Points for next year! So please, plan ahead.

* During Leap Years, this banking deadline is February 29.

A reminder: Banking percentages are based on the cumulative number of Vacation Points banked as of the banking deadline.

Here are some important things to remember about banking:
Vacation Points can only be banked from your current Use Year into the following Use Year.
Vacation Points can only be banked one time. If banked Vacation Points are not used by the end of the Use Year they have been banked into, they will expire.
Vacation Points that have been banked cannot be returned to their original Use Year.
Banked Vacation Points cannot be borrowed or transferred.
Banked Vacation Points may be applied to all exchange program reservations, including other Disney Vacation Club Resorts, The Disney Collection, World Passport Collection, Concierge Collection, and Adventurer Collection.

Borrowing Vacation Points:

Just like banking, borrowing Vacation Points can give you a great deal of flexibility. For instance, let’s say after reading this Member Guidebook you come up with an incredible vacation plan for you and your family. The only problem, the vacation you’re dreaming of requires nearly twice as many Vacation Points as you’re allotted this Use Year. Well, that’s actually not a problem. As a Disney Vacation Club Member, you have the freedom to borrow Vacation Points from your next Use Year.

Here are some important things to remember about borrowing:
You may borrow up to 100% of your allotted Vacation Points from the next Use Year into your current Use Year.
Borrowing Vacation Points can only occur at the time of confirming a reservation. Only the number of Vacation Points needed to make the reservation can be borrowed.
Once borrowed, Vacation Points cannot be returned to their original Use Year, and will expire if not used by the end of the current Use Year.
Borrowed Vacation Points cannot be transferred to another Member.
Borrowed Vacation Points cannot be banked.
Borrowed Vacation Points may be applied to all exchange program reservations, including other Disney Vacation Club Resorts, The Disney Collection, World Passport Collection, Concierge Collection, and Adventurer Collection.

Banking and Borrowing Conditions:

In order to bank and/or borrow Vacation Points, Members need to be current on their annual dues and monthly loan payments (if applicable), and any other outstanding balances, including, but not limited to, Member Getaways transaction fees, miscellaneous services booked by Member Services in connection with a Member reservation, and balances due in relation to Disney Vacation Club Resort stays.
Only Members who have closed on their contracts are eligible to bank and/or borrow.
The total number of Vacation Points that are allotted, banked and/or borrowed may not exceed 300% of your Vacation Points allotment for any given Use Year.
In order to maintain a proper balance of Vacation Points in the Central Reservation System, banking and/or borrowing may be suspended or limited from time to time.

Making your reservations:

Since all reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis, be sure to reserve as soon as you can!

When making reservations at your Home Resort, you have an 11-month booking window. Which means you can make your reservations as far as 11 months in advance of your check-out date. The Home Resort Priority Period grants you exclusive access to book specific dates at your Home Resort 11–8 months before your check-out date. When making reservations at all other Disney Vacation Club Resorts, you can book as far as 7 months before your desired check-out date.

Wait List:

Wondering what to do if you contact Member Services and are unable to secure the reservations you want? You do have options. Before contacting us, be sure to have alternate choices selected. Alternate dates, resorts, and/or accommodations can assist you in your efforts to secure a reservation. However, if you need a specific reservation that is unavailable to you, you may ask to be placed on our wait list. Here’s how it works:

Your request will remain on the wait list for up to 31 days before your arrival date. If you would like to keep your name on the wait list beyond that time, please contact Member Services, and we’ll extend your request to seven days before check-in. There is no wait list within seven days of arrival.

If your wait list request becomes available more than 60 days before your arrival date, Member Services can secure it for you automatically. Just let the Vacation Advisor who’s placing you on the wait list know you want “automatic confirmation.” And if it’s necessary to borrow Vacation Points to secure your reservation, make sure you authorize Member Services to do that as well. Please make sure you have given Member Services the daytime telephone number where you can be reached most often. If your request becomes available we will contact you immediately, and we will hold your room only until the close of the next business day. As a courtesy, we ask that you contact Member Services if you no longer wish to be on the wait list. We’ll remove your name, and give the slot to another Member.

And finally, there is no need to contact us once your request has been placed on the wait list. We’ll let you know the moment something becomes available to you.

FYI: Because of high demand during certain periods, Special Seasons Preference Lists may be established at one or at all Disney Vacation Club Resorts. These lists provide Members an equal opportunity to make reservations during these periods of high demand. Currently, there are no Special Seasons Preference Lists in place at any of the resorts. If a Special Seasons Preference List is established, you will be notified.

What is a Holding Account…and how does it work?

A Holding Account is a “parking space” for Vacation Points from a Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation that has been changed or cancelled 1–30 days before your scheduled arrival date. Here are some guidelines regarding usage of Holding Account Vacation Points:
They can be used for a new Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation that is booked 60 days or less before the new arrival date, during your current Use Year.
They can be used for an exchange through The Disney Collection, Concierge Collection, Adventurer Collection, and World Passport Collection, if you are making the reservation 60 days or less before the new arrival date, but more than 60 days before the end of your Use Year.
They cannot be banked or borrowed.
They will expire at the end of the Use Year if they are not used.

Changing a Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation:

Cancelling a Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation:

Please note: If you leave the resort earlier than your scheduled departure date, or if you don’t show up for your stay at all, the Vacation Points associated with that reservation will be forfeited. And, if you made your reservation using cash, other policies apply.

Planning:

Room Reports give guests' feedback by resort, room condition rating, building # and room #. (1=worst 5=excellent)

Buy, Sell & Rent:

Official Disney Vacation Club Office offers the newest DVC properties for sale. Also most expensive.
A Timeshare Broker was the resale broker I used for my purchase. Ask for JAKI. She is very helpful.
The Timeshare Store is another highly recommended resale broker.
DVC By Resale is yet another resale broker.
DIS Rent/Trade Forum is a good place to find or advertise points for rent or trade.

Favorite Travel Sites:   

Southwest Airlines
Delta Airlines
Song Airlines
Expedia
Orbitz
Travelocity

Favorite Discount Sites:   

MouseSavers
DIS Disney Budget Board
Orlando Rental Car Specials
AAA Online
Entertainment Book
TicketMania

Favorite Disney & Florida Info Sites:   

Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide - AllEarsNet is my favorite WDW resource.
Mouse Planet
Carlson's WDW Resorts and Parks Picture Site
Disney World Online Guide
Disney Information Station
WDW Passporter
Digital Disney has hours of video from the parks.
Disney Property Map #1
Disney Property Map #2
Laughing Place
Disney Trips
Orlando Event Guide
RADP Forum
Universal Studios 
SeaWorld 
Busch Gardens
ThemeParks.com

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Disclaimer:
Please keep in mind that this web site does NOT in anyway represent Official Disney Information. This web site is not in any way associated with the Walt Disney Company. This web site is not affiliated with, maintained by, or in any way officially connected with the Walt Disney Company or any of it's affiliates. I do NOT work for the Disney Company and never have. The authors and editor of this document/website shall not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented here and do not represent the Walt Disney Company in any manner.