Getting started

[disneyworldaddict]

Would someone please explain in vacation club for dummies language, how this works. What's the minimum amount of points you must buy, how many days does it get you and how much is it? Do you pay upfront or by installments? And do you pay any other additional fees?

 

[jerseyduke]

It is a point based system.

There are different types of rooms, at different resorts, each requiring different point values for a stay, and those point values differ on the times of year. Friday and Saturday nights are more points than week nights.

Easiest way is to go to dvcrequest.com and use the points calculator to get an idea.

However many points you buy, you get that many every year (on your use year date)...you can bank 1 year, and borrow one year, so in technically you can have up to 3 times the amount of points you purchased available to you.

For Example, I just bought 150 points at Grand Floridian with an April Use year.
I have 150 points from this year available to me, and I can borrow against next years. If I do not use any between now and next april, I can then borrow my 2015 points, giving me 150 from 2013(banked-unused), 150 from 2014(current) and 150 from 2015(borrowed) giving me access to 450.

I am planning on going in December, and I need more than 150 for what I want, so I will use all this years, and I will be borrowing some from 2014.

You can pay up front, or disney does offer financing options (at a not so friendly interest rate)

 

[chalee94]

Would someone please explain in vacation club for dummies language, how this works. What's the minimum amount of points you must buy

25 pts for a resale (that won't get you very far, though.)

i think the minimum for direct purchases is either 100 pts or 160 pts.

how many days does it get you

there are point charts linked in the top right-hand corner of the screen. points needed for a reservation vary by time of year, size and type/view of accommodation and resort. take a minute to look at those.

and how much is it?

depends on how many pts it takes to vacation the way you like. also depends on whether you buy direct or resale.

i started with a small resale contract for less than $4000 upfront and only $17 or so per month in maintenance fees (also called annual dues).

others have spent tens of thousands very quickly and easily.

Do you pay upfront or by installments?

disney's interest rates are pretty high (over 10%), so you'd be smart to pay upfront or stick to renting or otherwise paying cash for your vacations.

And do you pay any other additional fees?

there's a sticky - "DVC resource thread" - that you should read. it lists annual dues per pt for each resort (along with the historical numbers for reference).

other than the upfront cost and the annual dues, there are no additional fees (unless you want to trade out of the system for non-DVC timeshares, cruises, resorts, which is not a very good value.)

 

[jerseyduke]

minimum for direct purchase is 100 at the Grand Floridian for new DVC members, existing DVC members were allowed to buy 50.

 

[lovin'fl]

New member buying direct is a 100 point minimum. Here is a link to current direct pricing; http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/financial/pricing-a-promotions

Resale will save you a ton of money. You will need to pay in full (deposit when your contract goes to right of first refusal and then final payment of balance when contract closes...takes about 60-75 days to buy resale, from offer to access of points) or secure your own loan. With direct, Disney has financing available. For the annual dues, we pay them all in January but I think there is a payment plan you can opt for with those (I don't know much about it).

 

[lovin'fl]

minimum for direct purchase is 100 at the Grand Floridian for new DVC members, existing DVC members were allowed to buy 50.

Can still buy new direct at BLT and Aulani...and can buy direct at all other resorts too (they call them 'classics' now)...100 minimum. Existing members can buy 25 points direct at any resort.

 

[jerseyduke]

Can still buy new direct at BLT and Aulani...and can buy direct at all other resorts too (they call them 'classics' now)...100 minimum. Existing members can buy 25 points direct at any resort.

I was unaware of this, I thought others were sold out. So I can buy points at Fort. Wilderness? Is that true of new members? Is that for existing DVC members?

Fort Wilderness is next on my list, i assumed I would have to go through the resale market

 

[chalee94]

I was unaware of this, I thought others were sold out.

thanks to a steady stream of foreclosures and ROFRs, nothing is ever really "sold out."

So I can buy points at Fort. Wilderness? Is that true of new members? Is that for existing DVC members?

there is no DVC at fort wilderness. do you mean the villas at wilderness lodge (VWL)? that is still an option for both new and exisiting DVC members - it expires in 2042 whether you buy direct or resale, though.

 

[RebelSoul]

I was unaware of this, I thought others were sold out. So I can buy points at Fort. Wilderness? Is that true of new members? Is that for existing DVC members?

Fort Wilderness is next on my list, i assumed I would have to go through the resale market

Fort Wilderness is not a DVC resort. I assume you might have meant the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge.

You can buy points at the sold out resorts as Disney is always scooping points up when they exercise ROFR. You can call your guide and be put on the waitlist to buy points from any of the resorts. It's cheaper to buy resale, however.

 

[Deb & Bill]

In dummie language, it's a timeshare. You have initial costs and annual costs. It just provides lodging.

 

[disneyworldaddict]

In dummie language, it's a timeshare. You have initial costs and annual costs. It just provides lodging.

Yeah thanks.

 

[jerseyduke]

yes i meant wilderness lodge, not fort wilderness