Disney vacation options for 2026 are going to be much more expensive than ever before thanks to this new price increase.
When a “Small Annual Update” Suddenly Signals a Bigger Shift for DVC Members
Every year, Disney Vacation Club owners brace for the financial update that quietly shapes their vacations more than any headline or park announcement. Yet this year’s release sparked more conversation than usual—not because of one single number, but because of what the overall pattern seems to suggest. Could the 2026 dues be the moment DVC begins transitioning into a more expensive long-term model?
It’s not immediately obvious which resort made the biggest jump, and that in itself is interesting. If this year’s increases had followed past trends, most members would have predicted a fairly predictable spread. But instead, the numbers reveal something subtly different. What exactly did Disney adjust this year—and what could it mean for both current and future members?
A Closer Look Shows a Clear, Consistent Rise Across All Resorts
Rather than sudden spikes at only a couple of properties, every resort—East Coast, West Coast, and standalone locations like Aulani and Hilton Head—saw its dues rise for 2026. And while some increases fall in the familiar 4–6% range, several climbed significantly higher.
Here’s the full breakdown released by Disney Vacation Club:
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Animal Kingdom Villas: $9.6470 → $10.1608 (+5.32%)
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Aulani: $10.1219 → $10.9572 (+8.25%)
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Aulani Subsidized: $7.6090 → $8.2369 (+8.25%)
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Bay Lake Tower: $8.0150 → $8.7415 (+9.06%)
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Beach Club Villas: $9.1207 → $9.8113 (+7.57%)
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BoardWalk Villas: $9.0570 → $9.6717 (+6.78%)
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Boulder Ridge: $9.1885 → $9.7672 (+6.3%)
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Copper Creek Villas: $8.4914 → $9.0200 (+6.23%)
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Disneyland Hotel: $9.8207 → $10.5354 (+7.28%)
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The Cabins at Fort Wilderness: $11.8769 → $12.2756 (+3.36%)
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Grand Californian: $8.7974 → $9.5203 (+8.22%)
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Grand Floridian: $7.9298 → $8.3142 (+4.85%)
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Hilton Head: $11.9207 → $12.8621 (+7.9%)
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Old Key West: $10.5049 → $11.2054 (+6.67%)
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Polynesian Villas & Bungalows: $7.9263 → $8.3334 (+5.14%)
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Riviera: $9.0572 → $9.4553 (+4.4%)
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Saratoga Springs: $8.5394 → $9.1877 (+7.59%)
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Vero Beach: $14.3026 → $14.8939 (+4.13%)
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Vero Beach Subsidized: $11.2374 → $11.6859 (+4%)
On the surface, this looks like a routine cost-of-business update. But a few numbers reveal a more strategic shift beneath the surface.
One Resort Outpaces the Rest—and It Happens to Be Freshly Refurbished
The largest year-over-year increase belongs to Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, jumping 9.06%, noticeably higher than the rest of the lineup.
Why this resort?
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It recently completed a full refurbishment.
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It’s a high-demand property steps from Magic Kingdom.
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Operational costs in monorail-area resorts tend to trend higher.
More importantly, the increase pushes Bay Lake Tower into a new cost tier—closing the gap with traditionally higher-dues properties. For owners who bought into BLT for its historically lower maintenance fees, this shift could change how they perceive the long-term value of their contract.
The Least Impacted Resort Points to a Different Kind of Strategy
Meanwhile, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, a newer DVC offering, experienced the smallest increase at only 3.36%.
That unusually low rise raises a few possibilities:
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Disney may be keeping the dues intentionally attractive for new buyers.
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The resort’s modern construction may be more cost-efficient to maintain.
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Early operational years often present fewer maintenance-related expenses.
For anyone considering a new contract, this could make the Cabins more appealing—but veterans know that low initial dues can climb quickly as a resort ages.
What This Means for Disney World Guests Who Aren’t DVC Members
Even guests who don’t own DVC points may feel the ripple effects of these increases.
Annual dues reflect the operating cost of running Disney resorts, which can be influenced by:
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Labor expenses
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Energy and utility costs
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Ongoing refurbishment cycles
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Resort-wide maintenance
When these rise for DVC owners, similar pressures often influence standard hotel pricing across Walt Disney World. So while non-members won’t pay DVC dues, they may notice future changes in rack rates, food costs, or amenities.
For Current and Prospective Members, the Long-Term Meaning Is Clear
For existing DVC members:
A 5%–9% rise may not feel dramatic in a single year, but when compounded over time, it reshapes the overall cost of ownership. Large-point contracts, especially at high-dues resorts like Hilton Head or Vero Beach, will see the most financial pressure.
For those thinking about joining DVC:
Understanding dues trends is just as important as comparing point charts or resale prices. Contracts with historically low dues may no longer hold the same long-term advantage, while new resorts could shift their pricing strategies after the initial launch phase.
A Subtle but Significant Shift for 2026
The 2026 dues don’t point to a crisis—but they do signal a new pattern: DVC increases trending closer to 6–8% instead of the more modest lifts seen several years ago.
If this becomes the new normal, members may rethink:
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which resorts they buy
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how many points they hold
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how they plan multi-year vacation budgets
The message behind the numbers is simple: DVC’s financial landscape is evolving, and owners who pay attention to dues trends will be better prepared for what comes next.
