DVC Glossary

Every DVC Term, Explained

From banking to borrowing, use years to waitlists — this A-Z glossary defines every Disney Vacation Club term you need to know.

A B C D E G H I L M O P R S T U V W

A

Add-On Contract: A second (or third) DVC purchase made after your original contract. Members buy add-on contracts to increase their annual point allotment, often at a different home resort than their first purchase. Each contract maintains its own use year and home resort priority.
Adventure Season: The lowest-cost travel season on the DVC point chart. Typically covers early January through mid-February and parts of September. Point costs during Adventure Season can be 30–40% lower than peak seasons, making it the most point-efficient time to travel.
Annual Dues: Yearly maintenance fees paid by DVC members to cover resort upkeep, property taxes, insurance, and management. Dues vary by resort and are charged per point owned. They typically increase slightly each year and are due on January 1st.

B

Banking: The process of carrying unused points forward into the following use year. Banking allows you to accumulate points for a larger trip. Points must be banked before a specific deadline — typically 8 months into your use year. Banked points expire at the end of the year they're banked into.
Borrowing: Using points from next year's allotment for a current-year reservation. Borrowing lets you take a larger trip this year, but reduces next year's available points by the same amount. There's no deadline for borrowing — you can borrow any time before your next year's points expire.
Blue Card: The membership card issued to DVC members. Officially called the Disney Vacation Club Membership Card, it provides access to member lounges, special events, and discounts on merchandise, dining, and tours at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Booking Window: The time frame during which DVC members can make reservations. Home resort bookings open at 11 months before check-in, while non-home resort bookings (called 'walking') open at 7 months. This staggered system gives home resort owners first access to their resort's inventory.

C

Choice Season: A mid-range travel season on the DVC point chart, typically covering late April through May and parts of early December. Point costs fall between Adventure (lowest) and Dream (higher) seasons.
Confirmed Reservation: A booking that has been fully processed and confirmed by Disney Vacation Club. Once confirmed, the points are deducted from your account. Confirmed reservations can be modified or cancelled subject to DVC's policies.
Contract: The legal agreement between a DVC member and Disney that specifies the home resort, number of points, use year, and contract duration. DVC contracts are real estate transactions — you're buying a deeded real estate interest in a specific resort.

D

Deed: The legal document that records your ownership of a DVC interest. DVC contracts are deeded real estate, meaning you actually own a fractional interest in the resort property. Deeds are recorded with the local county and can be resold or transferred.
Deluxe Studio: The most common DVC room type. A hotel-room-sized accommodation with a queen bed, a pull-down or sleeper sofa, and a kitchenette (mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker). Sleeps 4–5 guests. Deluxe Studios offer the best balance of point cost and comfortable accommodations for couples and small families.
Direct Purchase: Buying a DVC contract directly from Disney (as opposed to a resale purchase). Direct purchases include full membership benefits, including access to the DVC Member Lounge, Concierge Collection, Adventures by Disney exchanges, and other perks not available to resale buyers.
Dream Season: A higher-cost travel season covering summer months, spring break, and parts of the holiday season. Point costs during Dream Season are significantly higher than Adventure or Choice seasons, reflecting peak demand.

E

Exchange: Using your DVC points to book accommodations outside the DVC system, such as through the Concierge Collection (luxury hotels and resorts worldwide) or through Interval International. Exchange options are typically available only to direct-purchase members.

G

Grand Villa: The largest DVC room category, typically a three-bedroom unit sleeping up to 12 guests. Features a full kitchen, living and dining areas, multiple bathrooms, washer/dryer, and expansive square footage. Grand Villas command the highest point costs but offer the best per-person value for large groups.

H

Home Resort: The specific DVC resort where you purchased your contract. Home resort owners get priority booking access at 11 months before check-in, compared to the 7-month window for non-home resorts. Your home resort is a permanent part of your contract and cannot be changed.
Home Resort Priority: The 11-month booking advantage that home resort owners receive. Between 11 and 7 months before a check-in date, only owners at that specific resort can book rooms there. After the 7-month mark, all DVC members can book at any resort, subject to availability.

I

Interval International (II): A timeshare exchange company that DVC partners with, allowing members to trade their DVC points for stays at non-Disney resorts worldwide. An II membership is included with DVC ownership, and exchanges require a separate booking fee.

L

Lock-Off: A villa configuration where a two-bedroom unit can be 'locked off' into two separate accommodations: a one-bedroom villa and a studio. This gives owners flexibility to stay in one side and rent or bank the points for the other. Lock-off villas are slightly different from dedicated two-bedrooms in layout.

M

Magic Season: One of the highest-cost travel seasons, covering holiday weeks (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter) and special event periods. Point costs can be double or triple those of Adventure Season.
Member Services: DVC's dedicated support team that helps members with reservations, account management, point transactions, contract questions, and other membership needs. Available by phone and online. The official DVC Member Services number is (800) 800-9800.
Modification: A change to an existing reservation, such as adjusting dates, room type, or resort. Modifications are subject to availability and may result in a point cost change. Some modifications can be made online; others require calling Member Services.

O

One-Bedroom Villa: A DVC room category featuring a separate bedroom with a king or queen bed, a full kitchen, living area, washer/dryer, and a sleeper sofa. Sleeps 4–5 guests. One-bedrooms offer significantly more space and amenities than studios and are ideal for families who want to cook meals and spread out.
OKW (Old Key West): Disney's Old Key West Resort — the original DVC resort, opened in 1991. Known for its spacious room layouts (the largest studios in the DVC system), Key West theming, and relaxed atmosphere. One of the most affordable DVC resorts in terms of per-night point costs.

P

Point Chart: The official pricing schedule that determines how many DVC points are required per night at each resort, for each room type, during each travel season, and for each day of the week. Point charts are published annually and can change from year to year. MyDVCPlanner's database is updated with each new chart.
Points: The currency of Disney Vacation Club. Members receive an annual allotment of points based on their contract, which they spend to book rooms. The number of points required varies by resort, room type, season, and day of the week. Points can be banked, borrowed, or (for direct members) exchanged for non-DVC stays.
Premier Season: The absolute highest-cost travel period on the DVC point chart, typically the week between Christmas and New Year's. Not all resorts have a Premier Season designation. When it exists, it commands the maximum per-night point cost.

R

Resale: Purchasing a DVC contract from an existing owner rather than directly from Disney. Resale contracts are typically 30–50% cheaper than direct purchases but come with restrictions: resale buyers cannot access the Concierge Collection, Adventures by Disney, or certain other member perks. Core benefits like room booking and Blue Card discounts remain.
Right of First Refusal (ROFR): Disney's right to match the sale price and purchase any DVC contract being resold on the secondary market. When a resale contract is submitted for transfer, Disney has 30 days to decide whether to 'buy it back.' ROFR exercise rates vary by resort and market conditions.
Room Type: The category of accommodation at a DVC resort. Common room types include Tower Studio, Deluxe Studio, One-Bedroom Villa, Two-Bedroom Villa (lock-off or dedicated), Three-Bedroom Grand Villa, Bungalow, Treehouse Villa, and Cabin. Each room type has a different point cost and sleeps a different number of guests.

S

Split Stay: A vacation that splits nights across two or more DVC resorts. Because different resorts have different point costs for the same dates, a split stay can save 15–30% on total points compared to staying at a single resort. MyDVCPlanner's algorithm automatically finds the cheapest split-stay combinations.
Stripped Contract: A resale DVC contract where the current owner has already used (or borrowed) some or all of the upcoming year's points before selling. Buying a stripped contract means you may not receive points until the following use year. Stripped contracts often sell at a discount.

T

Tower Studio: The smallest and most affordable DVC room type, available at Disney's Riviera Resort. A compact studio sleeping two adults, with a pull-down bed, small kitchenette area, and bathroom. Tower Studios can cost as few as 9 points per night, making them ideal for couples or solo travelers.
Transfer: Moving points from one DVC member's account to another's. Transfers allow friends or family with DVC contracts to share points. Disney charges a fee for point transfers, and there are annual limits on how many points can be transferred.
Travel Season: A time period on the DVC point chart that determines pricing. DVC divides the year into multiple seasons — typically Adventure, Choice, Dream, Magic, and Premier — with different point costs for each. Season dates vary by resort, so the same calendar week may fall in different seasons at different resorts.
Two-Bedroom Villa: A spacious DVC room category sleeping 8–9 guests, featuring two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a full kitchen, living/dining area, and washer/dryer. Available as 'lock-off' (can be split into a one-bedroom and studio) or 'dedicated' (single unit with a slightly different layout). Excellent value for large families or multi-generational trips.

U

Use Year: The 12-month cycle during which your annual DVC points are available. Use years start on the first of a given month (e.g., February 1, June 1, October 1) and your contract's use year is permanent. All banking and borrowing deadlines are calculated relative to your use year.

V

Villa: The general term for DVC accommodations, which are distinguished from standard hotel rooms by features like full or partial kitchens, separate living areas, and washer/dryers (in one-bedrooms and above). DVC villas offer a home-away-from-home experience.

W

Waitlist: When a specific room type and date are fully booked, DVC members can place a waitlist request. If a matching room becomes available due to a cancellation, the waitlisted member is automatically booked and their points are deducted. Waitlist requests can be made up to the booking window limit.
Walking (Non-Home Booking): Booking a reservation at a DVC resort other than your home resort. Walking reservations open at 7 months before check-in (compared to 11 months for home resort). The term 'walking' refers to the idea that your points are 'walking' to a different resort.
Weekday Rate: The per-night point cost for Sunday through Thursday nights at most Walt Disney World DVC resorts. Weekday rates are lower than weekend rates (Friday and Saturday nights), typically by 1–5 points per night depending on room type and season.
Weekend Rate: The per-night point cost for Friday and Saturday nights at most Walt Disney World DVC resorts. Weekend rates are higher than weekday rates due to higher demand. The difference varies by room type and season but can add up across a multi-night stay.

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