People join Disney Vacation Club for lots of different reasons. The promise of visiting a Disney destination every year is a big one. Deluxe hotel stays at the best price is another reason. The Disney Vacation Club discounts are probably not one of the reasons people join. While eligible Members can save here and there, it’s not one of the highlights of DVC. Discounts are usually minimal and, if you’re a Disney fan, you may already be getting similar discounts. Still, it’s good to be aware of what the Disney Vacation Club discounts are. So what are the Disney Vacation Club discounts on? Where do DVC Members get a discount? Do resale Members get Disney Vacation Club discounts? How much can you save by being a DVC Member?
Examples of Disney Vacation Club discounts, who is eligible and more information you need to know
First, remember that places like Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and other Disney destinations are made up of many businesses. Yes, The Walt Disney Company is responsible for most stores, restaurants and such in these locations. However, there are quite a few third party operators. Especially at Disney Springs and Downtown Disney. Discounts will vary and not all third party businesses will offer discounts for DVC Members.
You might think of it like, places you can use a Disney gift card probably offer Disney related discounts. It’s truly based on each location you visit and their standard operating procedures. Even some of Disney’s restaurants don’t accept discounts because they’re popular or upscale. And, of course, there will be merchandise that discounts don’t apply to. This usually happens with unique collections and some third party collaborations.
Does resale come with Disney Vacation Club discounts?
Let’s cover this commonly asked question. Buying DVC resale alone does not make a Member eligible for DVC discounts. This is one of the DVC resale restrictions. Only those who buy points directly from Disney get this special perk and some others. Not all direct contracts come with Disney Vacation Club discounts either though. If you plan to buy a small contract, you would not be eligible for DVC discounts, even if you buy direct.
In 2023, new Members must purchase a minimum of 150 points from Disney Vacation Club directly to qualify for discounts. This number has changed over time and could change again. It’s possible to buy as little as 100 points from Disney Vacation Club. However, unless you hit that 150 minimum, you won’t be eligible for discounts.
If you are already eligible for DVC discounts, adding on points through resale won’t affect your status as a DVC Member.
If you have a Disney annual pass or a Disney Chase Visa card, you already get similar discounts! Compare those to Disney Vacation Club discounts to see what makes the most sense for you.
How much are DVC discounts?
The thing to know about Disney Vacation Club discounts is that they can change. Offerings come and go or can change in percentage off any time. DVC discounts are what Disney calls incidental benefits. They are subject to change or termination without notice. You can’t combine Disney Vacation Club discounts with any other offers or promotions. Remember these discounts don’t include alcohol, taxes or gratuity. Something to keep in mind when you’re budgeting for your trip.
Below are some examples of what Disney Vacation Club discounts have looked like. Note these might not all be offered currently.
Disney Vacation Club Restaurant Discounts
The dining discounts are usually 10%. Some discounts are only available for a certain meal period while others are usable for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In many locations, when a discount is taken off, an automatic gratuity of 18% is added on. You can add additional tip beyond this.
Most restaurants in the parks and resorts have 10% off excluding quick service locations. They don’t offer discounts as much as sit down restaurants.
You can get 20% off mobile ordering from different candy locations around property like Karmell-Kuche at Epcot and Main Street Confectionary at Magic Kingdom.
Many Disney Springs restaurants offer 10% off as well. Some examples include Blaze Pizza, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, City Works Eatery & Pour House, Cookes of Dublin, Earl of Sandwich and Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC among many others.
Others at Disney Springs have a more substantial discount like 15% off at The Edison, Enzo’s Hideaway, Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante and Pizza Ponte. Some of the best DVC dining discounts at Disney Springs include Paradiso 37 Taste of the Americas and the Häagen-Dazs Kiosk which have 20% off for Members.
Does the DVC dining discount cover the whole party?
Disneys says this about Member dining discounts: “Discount is off the regular price of food and non-alcoholic beverages, excluding tax and gratuity, and is valid for the Member and up to 3 Guests, unless otherwise noted. Special events and packages excluded.”
Disney Vacation Club Merchandise Discounts
Probably the most exciting of the discounts is 20% off at Disney merchandise locations in the parks and resorts and at Disney Springs. Most other stores have a 10% or 15% discount including many non-Disney locations at Disney Springs. There is a 15% discount at both Basin locations for Members.
DVC Discounts on Tickets and Tours
Ticket discounts can come in handy with savings like $10 off of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets and $30 off of Disney After Hours tickets. Members can also save $20 on water park tickets and 15% on certain tours.
Discounts on Events and Experiences for DVC Members
Some hidden gems include 10% off of admission to Jellyrolls and 15% off of marina rentals. You can also get 20% off of Disney Institute courses as a DVC Member. Members save 15% on mini golf, 10% on scooter rentals and 15% on cabana rentals.
Disney Vacation Club Discounts vs Other Discounts
If you’re familiar with annual pass discounts, you’ll see a lot of similarities here. It’s common for annual passholders to get many of the same discounts like $10 off of party tickets on certain nights. Passholders also get the same or similar discounts at stores and restaurants. You can’t stack DVC and passholder discounts which makes resale even more appealing. If you can save thousands on DVC up front and already have access to these discounts thanks to your annual pass, resale is certainly worth looking into.
Is there a DVC annual pass discount?
One of the best examples of fleeting discounts is DVC Member annual passes. Once upon a time, DVC Members could get a discount on annual passes. Now they are able to purchase the equivalent of a Florida Resident annual pass. These cost less than others but do have blackout dates. Outside of this, all who are not Florida residents can only buy the most expensive annual pass. So is that a discount? It seems more like Members are given access to something instead. This could be seen as valuable to some.
The Disney Sorcerer Pass, as its called, is said to be made available for Members to buy more often than other passes. Disney paused annual pass sales for quite some time after reopening. All passes are currently for sale. If sales are paused again, DVC Members will be given a bit of priority access it seems. Bill Diercksen, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Disney Vacation Club and Aulani, said the following in a letter to Disney Vacation Club Members: “The DVC Disney Sorcerer Pass is expected to be on sale more often throughout the year, even when the pass is not broadly available for sale to Florida Residents.”
DVC Resale Experts Can Help
DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. Ready to pass on Disney Vacation Club discounts for an abundance of savings upfront when you buy resale? Whether you’re adding on points, buying or selling Disney Vacation Club, the Experts can help you find the right price to place a bid with or list your contract for. Our independent, licensed real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides. They have decades of pixie dusted experience selling DVC and delight in providing excellent service to their clients. The Experts have seen it all and are happy to answer your questions throughout the process.
Resale DVC prices can pleasantly surprise Members interested in selling DVC. See our resale DVC listings for a look at real time availability and current pricing. Ready to sell DVC? Get in touch for a complimentary valuation of your specific contract today. There may be someone waiting on our Buyer Wish List for a contract just like yours.
