How Do I Use Disney Vacation Points for a Disney Cruise?

The Disney Vacation Club is the only time share offered by The Walt Disney Company. The club allows members to purchase points at a set rate, then redeem those points at any DVC resort or for a Disney cruise.

DIsney Vacation Club Properties

The Disney Vacation Club includes seven home resort properties in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and one in Disneyland in Anaheim, California. DVC members must choose a home resort, but can redeem points at any DVC location worldwide. DVC Villas offer units with kitchens and laundry facilities.

Using Club Points

Members redeem club points when they book a vacation. Points are used in lieu of cash to pay for a resort room or cruise. The number of points a member has to redeem depends on the home resort they have selected. As of 2010, the DVC resort offering the most points per member is the Bay Lake Towers in Disney World. This may change when the newest DVC resort, Aulani, opens in Hawaii in 2011.

Other Considerations

Check the cash rate and available discounts before you book a Disney cruise using DVC points. The cruise line offers different discounts throughout the year, and it may be less expensive to pay for your cruise with cash and save your points for a Disney vacation. You should also consider several different cruise dates, as some times of year will cost more points than others.

References

• "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2010 (Unofficial Guides)"; Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa; 2009
• Disney World: Book a Vacation
• "Walt Disney World & Orlando For Dummies"; Laura Lea Miller; 2009
• Disney Vacation Club owners contract 2006
• Disney Vacation Club: Using Points

Resources

• More about the Disney Vacation Club