DVC Annual Dues by Resort: Which Cost the Least to Own

Why Annual Dues Matter More Than Purchase Price

A lot of buyers get laser-focused on the per-point purchase price and then treat annual dues as a footnote. That's a mistake. Dues are forever. You'll pay them every single year for the life of the contract, which at most resorts runs through 2042, 2057, or even 2064. A difference of $2 per point per year sounds small until you multiply it across a 150-point contract over two decades. That math adds up fast.

So before you fall in love with a specific resort, it's worth knowing exactly what the annual maintenance fees look like. Here's a full rundown of where every resort lands, and which ones give your wallet the most room to breathe.

2024 DVC Annual Dues by Resort

Disney updates dues each year, and the numbers below reflect the 2024 rates. These are charged per point, per year. If you own 150 points at a resort with dues of $8.00 per point, you're paying $1,200 annually before any other costs.

These figures can shift slightly depending on the source and timing, so always confirm the current rate with the listing broker before making an offer.

The Cheapest Resorts to Own

Saratoga Springs Resort

Saratoga Springs consistently comes in with the lowest dues on the list, sitting at around $7.97 per point in 2024. It's also one of the most affordable resorts to buy into on the resale market, which makes it a genuinely attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. The resort itself is large and spread out, and it's located near Disney Springs rather than a theme park, so you're not getting that "walk to the Magic Kingdom" convenience. But if you're focused on value, it's hard to argue with the combination of low buy-in prices and low annual fees.

Old Key West Resort

Old Key West lands right behind Saratoga Springs at $8.03 per point. It's the original DVC resort, opened back in 1991, and it has a laid-back, spacious feel that a lot of longtime members love. One thing to watch here: some contracts expire in 2042 while others were extended to 2057. That's a meaningful difference in long-term value, so pay close attention to which expiration year a resale listing carries. The extended contracts typically command a higher price per point.

Beach Club Villas

Beach Club comes in at $8.10 per point, which is low for a resort with its location. You're steps from Epcot's International Gateway entrance, which is one of the most coveted spots on Disney property. The tradeoff is that Beach Club contracts expire in 2042, meaning you're buying fewer years of membership than you'd get at newer resorts. Still, for Epcot fans, the location often makes up for the shorter runway.

The Most Expensive Resorts to Own

Vero Beach Resort

Vero Beach is the clear outlier here. At $11.20 per point, it costs nearly 40 percent more per year to own than Saratoga Springs. That's a real number. On a 150-point contract, you're paying about $480 more per year in dues alone. Vero Beach is a Florida beach resort, not a theme park property, and it's a two-hour drive from Walt Disney World. The point charts are also not particularly generous. Most financially savvy buyers steer clear of Vero Beach on the resale market unless they have a specific attachment to the property.

Hilton Head Island Resort

Hilton Head sits at $9.35 per point, which puts it in second place for highest dues. Like Vero Beach, it's an off-site resort, and the same math problem applies. You're paying a premium every year for a property that isn't connected to the Disney theme park experience in any direct way. If you love Hilton Head as a destination, that might be worth it to you personally. But purely on numbers, it's hard to justify versus a Walt Disney World property.

Grand Floridian Resort

The Grand Floridian charges $9.01 per point. That's on the higher end for an on-property resort, though the location is genuinely excellent. You're on the monorail loop, steps from the Magic Kingdom, and staying at one of Disney's most iconic hotels. The contract runs through 2064, so you're getting a long runway. Just know that the premium location comes with a premium annual cost.

A Few Things That Can Skew the Math

Annual dues aren't the only number that matters in the total cost of ownership. Here are a few other factors worth keeping in mind.

• Contract length: A resort with slightly higher dues but a contract running to 2068 might deliver more total value than a cheaper-dues resort expiring in 2042. Run the full math over the life of the contract, not just the annual snapshot.
• Point charts: Some resorts require more points for the same room type than others. A lower dues rate doesn't help much if you need 30 extra points to book the same vacation.
• Resale restrictions: Resale points purchased after January 2019 cannot be used at Riviera Resort, Disneyland Hotel, or the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. If you're buying resale, those resorts are effectively off the table for stays, even if you own at a different resort. Factor that into which properties feel worth owning.
• Banking and borrowing flexibility: DVC lets you bank unused points into the next year or borrow from the following year's allocation. How you use this flexibility can affect whether a higher-dues contract still makes sense for your travel patterns.

How to Use This When Shopping Resale

When you're browsing listings, try to think in terms of total annual cost, not just the sticker price. If a Saratoga Springs contract at 160 points costs you $7.97 per point in dues, that's $1,275 per year. A Grand Floridian contract at the same point count costs $1,442 per year in dues. That $167 annual difference adds up to over $3,300 across 20 years, before you even account for dues increases over time.

Dues also tend to rise every year, typically somewhere in the 2 to 4 percent range. That means the gap between high-dues and low-dues resorts actually widens over time. Starting lower gives you a compounding advantage.

On DVC Market, you can browse resale listings from multiple brokers side by side without creating an account or paying any fees. It's a genuinely useful way to compare what's available at your preferred resort and see how prices vary across brokers for the same property. Once you find a listing you like, you deal directly with the licensed broker handling that contract. DVC Market is completely free for buyers, no commission, no sign-up required.

If you have questions before making an offer, you can reach the DVC Market team at (407) 205 to 1435. They're based in Winter Garden, Florida, and can help point you in the right direction.

Once you're under contract, most closings wrap up in about 35 days. Disney reviews the contract under its Right of First Refusal process, though it waives that right on the majority of resale contracts today. Closing costs for buyers typically run $500 to $1,000, plus Disney's $500 administration fee. DVCSafePay is available as a secure escrow option if you want extra peace of mind during the transaction.