Are you a Disney Vacation Club member wondering if your membership can be passed down to your loved ones? The answer is yes, you can inherit your DVC membership. However, there are some important factors to consider before assuming that the inheritance process is straightforward.
What is Disney Vacation Club?
First, let’s go over what the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) actually is. It’s a timeshare program offered by Disney that allows members to purchase points that can be used to book stays at Disney resorts and other vacation destinations. Members can choose from various accommodation options such as studios, one-bedroom villas, and even grand villas with up to three bedrooms.
Inheriting DVC Membership
Now let’s dive into the specifics of inheriting a DVC membership. When a member passes away, their membership can be transferred to their designated beneficiary through estate planning or through probate court if no beneficiary was named.
However, it’s important to note that inheriting a DVC membership does not mean inheriting the remaining points in the member’s account. Points are not transferable upon death and will expire at the end of their use year unless they are banked or borrowed. The new owner of the membership will receive an allotment of points based on their ownership interest in the vacation club.
Ownership Interest
Ownership interest refers to the percentage of ownership in a specific unit or property within the vacation club. For example, if a member owns 100 points in a specific resort and another member owns 200 points in the same resort, then that second member has twice the ownership interest in that property.
When inheriting a membership, it’s important for the new owner to understand their ownership interest as it determines how many points they will receive each year. If they want more points than their ownership interest provides for, they may need to purchase additional points on resale or transfer their ownership interest to a different resort.
Resale vs. Direct Purchase
Speaking of resale, it’s worth noting that DVC memberships can be purchased either directly from Disney or through resale. Resale memberships are often significantly cheaper than direct purchase memberships but come with some limitations such as not being able to use points for certain perks such as Disney Cruise Line sailings.
If the new owner inherited the membership through resale, they may also face restrictions on the use of their points such as not being able to use them for certain resorts or during peak times. It’s important to thoroughly research and understand these limitations before inheriting a membership through resale.
Final Thoughts
Inheriting a Disney Vacation Club membership is possible and can provide wonderful memories for years to come. However, it’s important to understand the ownership interest, point allotment, and potential limitations of the inherited membership. By doing so, the new owner can ensure that they get the most out of their inheritance and continue to enjoy magical vacations with their loved ones.