DVC Vocabulary

With so many terms and phrases used by members, the Disney Vacation Club program can be a bit overwhelming at first. So what does it all mean? We’ve compiled a list below of the most important terms to know as a DVC Member.

Annual Dues (aka Maintenance & Taxes) – A member’s dues are calculated based on the calendar year and are due by January 15 in one lump sum or automatic payments every month. The amount you pay in Annual Dues is determined by your Home Resort and how many points you own. 

Banking – Putting current use year points into the next. It can only be done up to one use year forward and this transaction is final. Example of Banking Vacation Points

Banking Window – The time frame that Vacation Club Live members have to “bank” their points into the next use year if not being used. Banking is 8 months from the start of your use year. For example: February Use Years must be banked by the end of September. Once that timeline is missed, points must be used in that use year or they will expire.

Borrowing – Bringing the next use year’s points into the current use year. Borrowing can only be done up to one use year forward, at the time of making a reservation, and the transaction is final. Example of Borrowing Points

Exchanging – Owners can exchange their Vacation Club Live points for a stay at another timeshare resort around the world through Disney’s World Passport Collection. The current timeshare developers in the exchange program are RCI, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest.

Expiration date – The date that all contracts revert back to Disney. Expiration dates vary by resort.

Holding points – If a Vacation Club Life vacation is cancelled less than 30 days out, points go into “holding status.” This means they must be used in the current use year and can only be used to book a vacation up to 60 days in advance.

Home Resort – The resort in which a member has a real estate interest.

Home Resort Booking – Members are allowed to book their Home Resort up to 11 months in advance.

11 month window – The booking window for members that own at that specific resort. You can book the trip 11 months from the date of the start of your planned vacation.

7 month window – The booking window for members to book a non-home resort. Example: If your home resort is Animal Kingdom and you want to book the Beach Club Villas, you can do so at the 7 month mark from the first date of your vacation since it is not your home resort.

Wait List – A member can get on a waiting list for a certain reservation if it was not available initially. A member cannot have more than two active wait lists at once.

Use Year – Marks the time each year when you receive a new allotment of Vacation Points. It affects when you can bank and borrow Vacation Points, and sets the deadline for certain vacation decisions. Example: October Use Year means that on October 1st of every year the amount of points purchased appears into the owner’s “account”, less what was “borrowed” and in addition to what was “banked” if applicable.