The Hidden Danger Of Using DVC Points at Disneyland Hotels

This lesser-known fee might have you thinking twice before using your DVC points for your next Disney hotel stay.

Being a Disney Vacation Club member could be more enticing now than it ever has been before. There are member exclusive events, lounges, and even more perks that can be enjoyed for years to come. But, if you’re planning to use your DVC points for your next trip to Disneyland and you’re not careful, you could be stuck with an unexpected bill!

Hey there, it’s me again…your resident AllEars Disney Vacation Club member, and there’s something else I need you to know about before you decide to become a DVC member OR rent points for your next Disney hotel stay.

My resident Disney parks are on the East coast at Disney World, but things do get to be a little, well…different, when you use your membership in California at Disneyland.

Using your own Disney Vacation Club membership or renting points from an owner can be a great way to offset costs to your vacation budget and let’s face it, who’s not looking for a way to do that while planning their vacation, right!? BUT, there’s one thing here at Disneyland’s hotels that you’re not accounting for if you’re used to how DVC points work for hotel stays at Disney World.

For a brief recap (I know, the boring stuff) when you pay for a DVC membership, you’re essentially prepaying for future stays around Disney hotels and villas, and you book these rooms with points rather than cash. It’s actually quite the notion to be able to check into your hotel room without a balance at a Disney World deluxe hotel and check out without owing anything more on the stay than what you’ve charged to the room for food and souvenirs. That’s generally what captures people’s attention to become a DVC member for up to 50 years per contract.

Now, here’s what you need to know about booking hotel stays at Disneyland. YES, you can use your DVC points to book stays at villas at Disneyland’s hotels, but, you’ll need to know about a specific California law that allows for a lesser-known cost you don’t pay at Disney World.

California’s Transient Occupancy Tax imposes a nightly transient occupancy tax based upon the number of DVC points required for your stay. This isn’t a Disney imposed cost but rather mandated by the city of Anaheim. The amount of the tax will vary from year to year, and the tax rate is subject to change. Here’s where it gets tricky — this tax must be paid before you check out of the hotel.

This could certainly put a damper on your vacation plans (and budget) if you assumed you had already paid everything for your vacation by using DVC points for your stay only to be hit with a bill before you leave. Here’s a look at what the Transient Occupancy Tax looks like for 2025 at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel. The cheapest tax for a duo studio room starts at $28.69 per night and ranges all the way up to $573.79 per night for a 3-bedroom grand villa.

Ah, you’re probably left wondering now why I’ve only mentioned the Villas at Disneyland Hotel up to this point when there are also DVC Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. Well, that’s because they work a bit differently.

You see, the Transient Occupancy Tax for the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel’s room is built in differently. The tax for this property is paid by the DVC owners that are deeded for the contracts in their annual dues. So, if you’re renting DVC points from an owner to stay at this Disneyland hotel, you may not be hit with the same bill at check out and may rather be striking a deal with the owner for your agreed upon rental price that covers the cost of these taxes they’ve paid.

Interestingly though, California Disney hotels aren’t the only ones subject to this kind of tax. Stays booked at Aulani: A Disney Resort & Spa also see a transient accommodations tax, but that’s a story for another Disney trip!

Stay tuned with us at AllEars as we bring you the latest Disney news, updates, and more!

It Feels Illegal to Bring This Essential to Disney World, But It Isn’t

Have you ever used DVC points for a Disney hotel stay? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!