One of the most common questions we get: "Should I buy a big contract or start small?" There's no universal right answer, but after watching thousands of buyers figure this out, we can tell you what works for most families and what usually ends up being a regret.
What Counts as Small, Medium, and Large
In the DVC resale world, contracts break down roughly like this:
- Small: 25-100 points
- Medium: 100-200 points
- Large: 200-400+ points
Most DVC resale transactions we handle fall in the 100-200 point range. That's the sweet spot for families who visit Walt Disney World once a year and want a studio or one-bedroom for a week.
The Case for Starting Small
Buying a small contract (50-100 points) has real advantages that most people overlook.
First, the money. A 75-point contract at Saratoga Springs at $95/point costs $7,125 plus maybe $1,200 in closing costs and fees. For under $8,500, you're a DVC member. Compare that to dropping $20,000-$30,000 on a larger contract. If you've never owned DVC before, $8,500 is a much less scary way to test the waters.
Second, you learn. Owning a small contract for a year teaches you things you can't learn from reading blogs (including this one). You discover your actual travel patterns. You learn which use year really works for you. You find out whether you prefer studios or if you need a one-bedroom. All of that knowledge makes your second purchase smarter.
Third, pricing. Small contracts often sell at lower per-point prices because fewer buyers want them. A 50-point contract might list at $88/point when 200-point contracts at the same resort are going for $98/point. The per-point discount on small contracts can be 5-10%.
The Case for Going Big
Larger contracts have their own advantages. One closing cost instead of two (or three). One annual dues bill. One contract to manage in your DVC account. Simplicity has value.
And per-point pricing cuts both ways. While small contracts sometimes list cheaper, large contracts (250+) also sometimes come at a discount because fewer buyers can afford them. We've seen 300-point Copper Creek contracts sell at $115/point when the resort's average was $122. The seller wanted a quick sale and the large size limited the buyer pool.
If you know exactly what you need, if you've stayed at the resort and love it, if your use year preference is locked in, then buying the right size upfront saves you the hassle and cost of a second transaction later.
The Real Math: One Big Contract vs Two Small Ones
Let's compare buying 200 points at Saratoga Springs in one transaction versus two:
| Scenario | Purchase Price | Closing Costs | Admin Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One 200-pt contract at $96/pt | $19,200 | $700 | $500 | $20,400 |
| Two 100-pt contracts at $92/pt | $18,400 | $1,400 | $1,000 | $20,800 |
The two-contract approach costs about $400 more in fees but you might save $800 on the purchase price if small contracts are priced lower. It's roughly a wash financially. The real benefit of two contracts is flexibility and learning time, not cost savings.
The Add-On Strategy
Here's what we recommend to most first-time buyers: buy small now, add on later.
Buy 75-150 points at a resort you've stayed at and enjoyed. Use them for a year. Figure out your patterns. Then when you're confident about what you need, buy a second contract. Maybe at the same resort for more points there. Maybe at a different resort for variety and a second home resort booking window.
This staged approach costs a few hundred dollars more in duplicate closing costs, but it eliminates the risk of buying the wrong amount at the wrong resort. That risk is worth way more than $400 in extra fees.
How Many Points Do You Actually Need?
This is the question underneath the question, and most buyers get it wrong by overestimating.
A 7-night stay in a studio during regular season costs roughly:
- Saratoga Springs: 84-112 points
- Animal Kingdom Lodge: 95-133 points
- Bay Lake Tower: 105-147 points
- Polynesian Village: 112-161 points
The range depends on the specific week and view category. But the point is that 150 points covers a week-long studio stay at most resorts. If you visit once a year for a week, 150 points is plenty. Don't buy 250 because you might want to go twice someday. Buy 150 now and add 100 later if that second trip actually materializes.
We can't tell you how many buyers we've talked to who bought 300 points, use 150 of them, and spend every year scrambling to bank or rent the other 150. They're paying annual dues on points they don't need. That's $600-$900 per year wasted at most resorts.
One More Thing: Contract Size and Resale Value
When it comes time to sell, contract size affects how quickly you can find a buyer. The 100-200 point range sells fastest because that's what most buyers want. Very small contracts (under 50 points) can sit on the market because many buyers don't want to deal with the closing costs on so few points. Very large contracts (over 300 points) can sit because the buyer pool at that price point is smaller.
If you're thinking about future resale value, the 100-200 point range is the most liquid. Two 150-point contracts are easier to sell than one 300-point contract.
Need help figuring out the right contract size for your family? Give us a call at (407) 205-1435 and we'll walk through the math together.
How many DVC points do I need for a week at Disney World?
A one-week studio stay during regular season costs 84-161 points depending on the resort. Saratoga Springs requires the fewest points (84-112) while Polynesian Village requires the most (112-161). For most buyers, 150 points covers a week at the majority of resorts.
Is it better to buy one large DVC contract or two smaller ones?
Two smaller contracts cost slightly more in closing fees (about $400-$700 extra) but give you flexibility to buy at different resorts and learn your preferences before committing to your full point count. For first-time buyers, starting small and adding on later is usually the smarter approach.
Do small DVC contracts cost less per point than large ones?
Often yes. Small contracts (50-100 points) sometimes list 5-10% lower per point because fewer buyers want them. But very large contracts (250+) can also be discounted because the total dollar amount limits the buyer pool. The 100-200 point range typically trades at the highest per-point prices.