Why we choose to stay DVC at Disney.
2 years ago, we drank the DVC koolaid. And we are never looking back. Well, never say never, but there’s a pretty good possibility that we will never stay at a non-DVC resort again.
For most people, DVC is foreign lingo and they have no idea what we’re talking about when we use that term. If you’re reading this, you probably already know that it stands for Disney Vacation Club, and is essentially Disney’s variation on a time-share. But rather than restricting to 1 location or 1 set time of year with your buy-in like time shares often do, DVC is a contract in which you buy a set number of points that can be used to “purchase” your accommodations at any DVC resort at any time of year. The amount of points required for your stay will fluctuate based on the time of year and which resort you are booking at, but the points are yours to stay where and when you choose once you own them.
As a child-free couple, we have stayed at a number of Disney resorts, and as fairly easy going people, we have very little in the complaints department about any of our stays. However, when first traveling with our son, who was 2 at the time, we decided it may be worth dipping our toes in to renting DVC points and landed ourself at the Grand Floridian. The second we arrived, I knew that I could never stay at a ‘standard’ Disney resort again.
Now I know that probably sounds a little snobby, but let me tell you why it is well worth the hype. While the Grand Floridian is by far, in my opinion, the grandest (see what I did there) and one of the most beautiful DVC resorts, all of the resorts that fall into this category are incredibly & tastefully themed and highly aesthetically pleasing. Most of the DVC resorts are also in prime-time location for getting to & from the parks, with the exception of Old Key West, Saratoga & Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The rooms are also a HUGE draw, especially if you are traveling with children and want to be able to have space to stay comfortable and have a chance to enjoy your time at night after the kiddos are asleep. As opposed to a standard sized hotel room with a small bathroom, 2 beds and maybe a beverage cooler, DVC studios are much larger, have a small kitchenette, and generously sized bathrooms. There are also 1 and 2 bedroom villas available, depending on what size space you are looking for (which have full kitchens and dining areas).
The overall feel of staying at a DVC resort is hard to explain. Cast members anywhere in Disney are top notch and in our experience, go above and beyond to make your experience magical. But there is something about the cast members and the interactions at a DVC resort compared to anywhere else we have stayed. The way that you become familiar with cast members, they learn your names, “pixie dust” your children with small magical surprises, and go out of their way to make you feel like they’re an old friend. For us, its the cherry on top of an already amazing experience.
