For new and seasoned members, Disney Vacation Club terms can often feel like trying to decipher another language. I thought it would be helpful to review some commonly used DVC vocabulary and give an overview of what these words and phrases mean. Also, be sure to check out the DVC Fan Show video on this topic for a more in-depth look.
ROFR (Right of First Refusal)
Right of First Refusal refers to Disney’s right to buy back any contract sold on the resale market. Each resale listing, once an offer is accepted between buyer and seller, must go through the Right of First Refusal process. This process allows DVC to view the contract being sold and decide if they want to assume the buyer’s position. When this happens, Disney will instead purchase the contracts under the terms and conditions agreed upon with the seller and original buyer. This has little effect on the seller. The original buyer can receive a refund of their deposit or move it to a new contract to start the process over.
OTU (One Time Use Points)
One-time use points are extra points that are available for members to purchase through Disney to round out a reservation when they are out of points. One-time use points can change in price (at the time of this article, they are $20 each) and can only be purchased on the phone with member services at the 7-month mark (or later)and must be put in use for a reservation at the time of purchase. Members are able to cancel the reservation using the points and reuse the points. However, the points can only be used for bookings for 7 months (or later). One-time Use Points expire at the end of the use year they were purchased in.
Banking
Banking is the process of moving points ahead by one use year. As of today, members are able to bank up to 100% of their points from one use year to the next. Points are only bankable by one use year and will expire at the end of the next use year if banked. Points can only be banked up until the banking deadlines for each use year. In order to bank points, they must be eligible for banking. This means they must be current use year points within the banking deadline. Holding points and borrowed points cannot be banked.
Borrowing
Borrowing is the act of moving points from a future use year into a current one. Points are borrowed only when making a reservation. Only points one use year ahead can be borrowed. As of the time of this article, 100% of the next use year’s points can be borrowed, although Disney has restricted this number in the past. Borrowing is a final transaction. Once points are borrowed, they will expire at the end of the use year they were moved into and cannot be banked or put back into the use year they came from.
MS (Member Services)
Member Services is who you will want to call when you need assistance with your DVC membership. They can be reached at (800) 800-9800 option 1. For issues with a loan or dues, you will want to speak to DVC Accounting, which is option 3. For questions regarding your membership in terms of names, title, etc., you will want Member Administration, which is option 2.
Split Stay
Split stays are when a member stays in more than one resort in a single trip. They are often used by members who are being flexible in their vacation when looking for availability. There are various pros and cons to split stays. On the downside, members have to pack up and move resorts during their vacation, and their new room might not be ready until later in the day. Split stays also mean you have to wait for the beginning of each hotel stay to make dining reservations for that leg of your trip.
On a positive note, split stays are a great way to get new scenery, experience new resorts, put together a trip you might not otherwise find availability for, and customize your trip to be closest to the parks you are spending time in. When doing split stays, bell services will move your luggage for you, but your luggage may not be accessible until later in the day. Split stays are always a way to not have to purchase the dining plan for an entire trip, as you only have to purchase it for one of your hotel stays if you so choose.
Sleep Around Points
This is certainly not an official term, but one that is often used on social media and on message boards. So, as funny as it sounds, I thought I would share it. Sleep around points are typically the most economical points to purchase that the member intends to mostly use at the 7-month window or later to “sleep around” at other non-home resorts. These are usually points at resorts like Saratoga Springs, but the most economical points can vary as the market changes.
Stalking
Another funny term often used is stalking. Stalking a reservation is when the member frequently checks availability on their own in an effort to increase their odds of scoring a reservation they are looking for. Since availability changes by the minute with DVC and people cancel trips often, it is recommend to stalk the site to find what you want as opposed to just relying on a waitlist. Just remember, stalking a reservation is good. Stalking a person is bad and usually illegal.
Holding
Holding is what we refer to as the point penalty box. Basically, if you cancel a reservation (or modify one) in 30 days or less, the points used or left over will be placed in holding. Points in holding can only be used at the 60-day window. It is a rolling window, so the 60 days continue to move. However, availability can be challenging this last minute. Holding points also can’t be banked or transferred and expire at the end of the use year they are in at the time of holding.
Break Even
Break-even refers to the time in which your DVC membership has given you the full value of what you paid. Everyone has different ways of calculating what they deem to be their break-even number. For ideas on calculating your break even, we recommend checking out the many files stored in the DVC Fan Facebook group.
Transfer Points
Transfer points are points that have been moved from one membership to the other. For members who have more than one membership, they will often transfer points from one to the other to use them together. We have transferred points to friends in order to book and share larger accommodations. While some members will transfer points for money, it is technically against DVC’s bylaws to receive compensation for transfer points. In order to transfer points, they can’t be banked, borrowed, or points in holding. Transfer points maintain their own use year and home resort. Once transferred, they are bankable and borrowable to the new owner of the points. Transferring is a final transaction. Members get one transfer in or out per use year, though it is often rumored that DVC does not count the transfer of points between accounts owned by the same person. Your mileage may vary here.
Blue Card
A blue card is an old term used to refer to a DVC member who qualifies for direct benefits. This is because prior to the switch to digital credentials, all direct DVC members (or those grandfathered into direct benefits) had a blue membership card they had to show cast members to receive discounts and other benefits. Resale members were provided with a white membership card they could print online. Today that has been changed to the digital credentials on My Disney Experience in a member’s wallet. Here, you will now see DVC Y, meaning the member qualifies for direct benefits. DVC N means they do not qualify. This is also where you will find Annual Pass credentials.
Home Resort Booking
The home resort booking window is the special 4-month time period in which only owners of a home resort can book. This time period is currently from 11-7 months out from the check-in date of the reservation. At 7 months, other members will be allowed to start booking that resort. Some resort owners benefit from this home resort booking window more than others. For example, resorts like Grand Californian and Beach Club can be challenging to get into at 7 months. Therefore, being an owner gives members a better advantage to get in sooner.
Lock Off vs Dedicated
Lock-off is a room booking category in which a two-bedroom villa consists of both a Deluxe Studio and a One-Bedroom Villa joined through a lock-off door that can be locked to separate the two-room categories or opened to make a full two-bedroom. This villa type is designated on the booking engine with the term Lock Off. Dedicated is the other two-bedroom booking category. This is not designated with the word Dedicated, but will simply read as a Two Bedroom Villa without the Lock Off designation. Dedicated villas do not have a lock-off door, and instead of a studio, there is a second bedroom, usually with two queen beds.
Walking
Probably one of the most controversial topics in the DVC community, walking is when a member books a stay before their desired dates in order to hold the 11-month booking window and regularly modifies that stay to move it until they get to their desired dates.
Often Used Resort Abbreviations
| Animal Kingdom Villas | AKV, sometimes referred to as AKL for Animal Kingdom Lodge |
| Aulani | AUL |
| Bay Lake Tower | BLT or BL |
| Beach Club Villas | BCV or BC |
| BoardWalk Villas | BWV or BW |
| Boulder Ridge Villas | BRV, BR, or sometimes VWL (originally named Villas at Wilderness Lodge) |
| Copper Creek Villas & Cabins | CCV or CC |
| Villas at Disneyland Hotel | VDH or DH |
| Villas at Grand Californian | VGC or GC |
| Villas at Grand Floridian | VGF or GF |
| Hilton Head Island Resort | HHI or HH |
| Old Key West Resort | OKW, sometimes referred to by it’s original name Disney’s Vacation Club Resort |
| Polynesian Villas & Bungalows | PVB or POLY |
| Saratoga Springs Resort | SSR or SS |
| Vero Beach Resort | VB or Vero |
| Riviera Resort | RR or RIV |
| Cabins at Fort Wilderness | CFW or FW |
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