Curiosity killed the cat...question for DVC MEMBERS

[your friend]

After looking at DVC for awhile now a question has come to mind. How many of you have never bought direct from Disney and are members strictly through resale?

 

[chalee94]

i'm a resale only guy. (before the restrictions, but it wouldn't have made a difference.)

i know several posters here bought in the early 90s when resales weren't much of an option.

 

[dangeron]

Our first contract is in ROFR right now, so only resale here. Honestly, I am a little nervous about the whole process and any unknown implications from not buying direct. However, when I think about the price difference, it's a decision I can live with.

 

[mjc2003]

We only bought resale, but in fairness we bought before the April 20th deadline last year that put the restrictions on resale contracts. So we bought a resale contract with all the same benefits of a direct purchase.

We are toying with an add-on contract and want to buy resale but might end up going direct b/c we only want a small amount of points (50-75) and probably want to keep the same UY, and at our home resort of BCV that is very hard if not impossible to find.

I have read most of your posts, and I can tell you are a bit worried about the best way to proceed. I can tell you I was in the same boat, and ultimately I did a lot of research into the point usage outside of WDW visits and it doesn't really make sense unless you are buying a lot of points. If you only buy a 150 point contract, for example, you would basically need 3 years worth of points to go on a 4 day cruise. I would advise you to keep it simple: What is your intention with buying DVC? If it's to go to WDW repeatedly over the next 10+ years, then buy resale. Remember, you can always rent out your points and put that cash towards another vacation. Point rentals and transfers are a hot commodity, I find it very hard to even get my hands on extra points. People who rent out their points seem to get a lot of responses.

There have been concerns over the restrictions on resale contracts, but I can tell you that nobody has posted in the last year saying they had problems with resale reservations since the restrictions were put in place. I don't recall one single post where somebody said they had any issues. Any further restrictions, which I strongly doubt are coming, would be announced and given ample warning (like they gave about 4 months notice for the changes last April). So if they announced today that resale contracts bought after 8/1/2012 would be restricted to only home resort usage, for example, then you would have until 8/1 to get a contract that is usable at every resort. I cannot see them ever going back and making restrictions retroactive, meaning they would not announce today that contracts bought from Jan 1, 2012 now have restrictions. There would be a mutiny.

My point is that what you can get right now is pretty simple: Full access to the best DVC memberships have to offer on a strictly cost basis. DVC is best used at DVC resorts. While the other benefits are nice, they are somewhat tangential and I doubt you will miss them. Like I said, if you want to cruise just rent out your points and use the cash.

Good luck, this is all just my opinion. You sound a lot like I did a year ago when I was trying to decide what to do. We bought 200 BCV points and have never looked back, we've taken 2 trips already and love every minute of it.

 

[mjc2003]

Our first contract is in ROFR right now, so only resale here. Honestly, I am a little nervous about the whole process and any unknown implications from not buying direct. However, when I think about the price difference, it's a decision I can live with.

I would suggest that there are no unknown implications from not buying direct. All implications are well spelled out. You can't cruise, can't use points for ABD or the Concierge Collection. Big whoop. Nice perks if you have lots of points to burn, but hardly a good deal when you evaluate the cost. 3 nights at the GF (Disney Collection) would run about 225 points when we travel. That's a week in a 1BR (Bigger than the regular garden view room we'd be getting at GF).

Adventures by Disney trips start around 550 points PER PERSON. Do you envision having an extra 1100 points to burn?

You can still trade into RCI.
You can still rent out your points for a nice return and use that money towards any vacation you want.
You still have the same 11 months booking window at your home resort and 7 month window elsewhere as does anybody who bought direct.

I think there is a fear that DVC is going to come out and retroactively restrict resales, like I said in my previous post. Like they might come out today and announce all resale contracts bought so far in 2012 have further restrictions. While theoretically they could do this I guess, they would not (I strongly believe) because there would be a mutiny. They have already devalued points to the extent that if you buy direct they are worth 50% of what you paid for them as soon as they hit your account. I would bet that any further restrictions (which we have no reason to believe are in the works) would be given ample notice. I also doubt they would add further restrictions b/c this would add a 3rd type of membership (direct, original resale, restricted resale?), and the logistics of managing this would lead to constant headaches as many members co-mingle resale and direct purchases already.

So just my opinion, but don't be nervous--you are getting what is spelled out and should have no concerns otherwise. The process itself can be a bit unnerving, but as you said you should just take solace in the savings.

Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

 

[kstorms27]

I just completed my first contract purchase thru resale and I bought into OKW which you can not get direct. I was sceptical at first but wouldnt hesitate to go resale again. The money you save is ridiculous. The waiting process is the hardest part and if WDW is the only place your planning on vacationing, its a no brainer. Resale is the way to go!!

 

[chalee94]

I just completed my first contract purchase thru resale and I bought into OKW which you can not get direct.

just to clarify for newbies reading this, you actually CAN get OKW direct (along with all the other so-called "sold out" resorts.)

 

[kstorms27]

No. I said you can not get it direct. Resale is the only way you can get any of the "Sold Out" resorts.

 

[chalee94]

No. I said you can not get it direct. Resale is the only way you can get any of the "Sold Out" resorts.

suit yourself.

but there's probably a reason why the link i posted lists direct pricing for OKW and BCV...

 

[ELMC]

After looking at DVC for awhile now a question has come to mind. How many of you have never bought direct from Disney and are members strictly through resale?

I never bought direct. Own one contract through resale and am waiting for ROFR on three more. I have no fears or worries about restrictions or anything else like that as I only plan on using my points at DVC resorts (and more specifically my home resorts).

Good luck making your decision.

 

[princesscinderella]

No. I said you can not get it direct. Resale is the only way you can get any of the "Sold Out" resorts.

You can most definitely buy any of the resorts directly through Disney including the sold out ones. I just last week spoke to a guide about buying direct at BWV. Disney wanted $115 a point. They resell to willing buyers all the contracts they ROFR at all the resorts. If they don't have it in their inventory you get on a waiting list and they will ROFR the contracts that match the point and UYs on the list.

 

[xstitches]

I have 3 contracts all resale, I am considering another at BWV. I purchased where I want to stay so if there are any other restrictions I'll be happy staying there.

 

[kstorms27]

just to clarify for newbies reading this, you actually CAN get OKW direct (along with all the other so-called "sold out" resorts.)

That is very interesting. I did not know that. Thx for sharing!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Our first contract was purchased resale. We've done add on's both direct and thru resale since that time and one of the resales was after the changes done last March. I have a special affinity for my resale purchases. (could be the money saved).

 

[dsneygirl]

We have 2 contracts at VWL, both resale. bought in '05 and '09.

 

[funantiques]

Our first contract was direct. We have one that is closing soon resale. Looking direct for the next one!

 

[ELMC]

Our first contract was direct. We have one that is closing soon resale. Looking direct for the next one!

Out of curiosity, why are you thinking of going direct for your third purchase?

 

[OldGrizzly57]

Resale only for me. Some contracts before the restrictions and some after.

Griz

 

[Dean]

After looking at DVC for awhile now a question has come to mind. How many of you have never bought direct from Disney and are members strictly through resale?

For DVC I've owned a total of 5 separate contracts and all were resale except the last one. That was actually 4 X 25 points at AKV. I've owned maybe 40 to 50 other timeshares/contracts and of those, I have one other retail purchase and two conversion fees. I knew exactly what I was getting retail and I got benefits that I could not have gotten otherwise including additional options for my resale contracts at the time. I converted my 9 Marriott weeks to the Destinations program and my fixed weeks in Aruba to Bluegreen points. In that order the second best and single best timeshare moves I've made over the years it would seem thus far.

There is no reasonable benefit for DVC for resale over retail though there are special circumstances like new resorts and smaller add ons. One loses nothing of importance resale with DVC.

 

[disneynutz]

I think there is a fear that DVC is going to come out and retroactively restrict resales, like I said in my previous post. Like they might come out today and announce all resale contracts bought so far in 2012 have further restrictions. While theoretically they could do this I guess, they would not (I strongly believe) because there would be a mutiny.

Based on what Disney has done over the last couple of years, nothing would surprise me.

Disney is holding all of the cards and in reality, a mutiny is imposable.

Bill