The magic of Disney—there’s just nothing that compares. In 2019, Orlando attracted more than 75.7 million visitors, making it the sixth consecutive year that Walt Disney World attracted more tourists than New York City.

Are you ready to go back? Did you buy a Disney World Vacation Club membership? If so, you need to keep reading so you can make the most out of your membership.

Get Discounts

Walt Disney World Vacation Club  (DVC) members get a 10 percent discount at all Disney-owned merchandise locations. All you need to do is show your membership card. 

When you buy all those collectibles, souvenirs, and snacks, these prices can add up quickly, so this is a great perk of membership. You can even get savings on spa services, mini-golf, and regular golf at the Disney courses.

If you are not on a Disney Dining Plan, you get savings at select Walt Disney World restaurants. These restaurants are in Walt Disney World resort hotels, in the parks, and also in Disney Springs. Discounts can range from 10 to 20 percent.

DVC members along with their families can also get discounts on annual passes for Walt Disney World. This makes it even easier to make frequent visits to Disney. If you are a fanatic and constantly going to the park, it makes sense to get an annual pass and take advantage of this discount. 

Character Wakeups

It can be hard to wake little kids up after a long day of adventure. But, imagine if Mickey or Elsa called to wake them up? You can schedule a character wake-up call well in advance to keep your surprise. The characters do vary based on location, so talk to your front desk for the list of available characters. Get the camera ready to capture that elusive smile in the morning!

Go Pool Hopping

Don’t like your resort pool or want to check out another pool? Guess what, as a DVC member you can pool hop at various DVC resorts. Some Disney World Vacation Club hotels are a little more strict like the Beach Club Villas, Polynesian Villas, and Kidani’s Uzima Pool. There are some blackout dates you have to keep in mind, including holidays.

Get Exclusive Merchandise

You can get your own DVC merchandise. This includes items like member pins, Pandora charms, Dooney & Burke purses and totes, and Alex & Ani bracelets. You can show the world that you have a Disney World Vacation Club membership. There are also specially branded apparel items, drinkware, towels, hats, and more available at the Disney Store website or at the DVC resorts.

Explore the Parks for Longer

As a DVC member, you can explore the Disney theme parks during complimentary, after-hours events. There are different times throughout the year, so make sure you check before going to the park.

When the park closes to the general public, enjoy shorter wait lines on some of your favorite attractions. During this time, you may even spot some special characters and entertainment. Keep your eyes and nose ready to spot some complimentary treats.

Reserve your Moonlight Magic spot as soon as the event is announced. As you can imagine, these events fill out rather quickly.

Relax at the DVC Lounge

Need an escape from the parks? Check out the 16th floor of Bay Lake Tower to find the DVC exclusive lounge and bar. All you have to do is show your membership card in the lobby and the cast member will direct you to the elevator to reach this exclusive area.

Here you find charging stations, complimentary soda, gaming devices, computers, and more. Take in the awesome views while you cool down in the air conditioning. You can also watch the Happily Ever After fireworks from the outdoor viewing area for an extraordinary experience.

This lounge is located above the Figment in the Imagination Pavilion, so you can get the much-needed break during your Epcot Day without leaving the park.

Be Prepared for Booking

Make sure you have your booking date reminders set. You want to be up at least 20 minutes early, so you can have all your booking information ready by 8 EST. Then you can hit Enter as the clock strikes 8. There may be others doing the exact same thing, so get your plan B ready.

If you need firm dates, you should book your home resort to make sure you have a place to stay. Once the seven-month window opens, you can call Member Services and see if you can switch your reservation to another property. It is a little risky because Member Services does not open until 9 a.m. during the week and 10 a.m. on Sundays, so you could be at a disadvantage to all the competitive bookers out there.

Rent Points or Sell Points

If you cannot use your points, you can rent out your points or sell them through a rental company. This is one way to make sure your points don’t go to waste. This gives you less stress if you can’t find the booking you want or are unable to go.

You can use the funds to pay for your own trip or keep the money if you can’t go. It gives you a little flexibility.

Wondering about the points? Check out this point chart DVC for more details on what they are worth.

Use Your Disney World Vacation Club Perks 

Enjoy the magic of Disney in new ways with your Disney World Vacation Club membership. You have exclusive discounts, perks, extra hours, and more all by showing your card. You will want to go back again and again.

Looking for more vacation advice? Keep exploring our site for your next adventure.