Please help me decide between direct or resale.

[cdnjason]

Right now, DVC is offering 100% match on points for the first year. For example, if I buy 125 point with a use year of June, DVC will give me another 125 points for a total of 250 points in 2016. Of course, this is only for Poly at a rate of $165 per point.

My point need is about 153 points each year. So, if I bank points properly, the bonus points offered by DVC should last me until year 5. At that point, I would consider buying another 25-30 points.

Is this a good deal? Or should I look for a resale at GF or BLT?

 

[ell13]

If you have the money for $165, then you should really be looking at where you want to stay rather than trying to justify buying in at a certain resort due to an incentive.

Also, remember that the 125 won't last you beyond your 2017 use year (June 2018) no matter what you do.

 

[tasha99]

Right now, DVC is offering 100% match on points for the first year. For example, if I buy 125 point with a use year of June, DVC will give me another 125 points for a total of 250 points in 2016. Of course, this is only for Poly at a rate of $165 per point.

My point need is about 153 points each year. So, if I bank points properly, the bonus points offered by DVC should last me until year 5. At that point, I would consider buying another 25-30 points.

Is this a good deal? Or should I look for a resale at GF or BLT?

I'm thinking not a special deal. It's the 2015 use year, so you SHOULD have double use of points by 2016. Sounds to me like they're giving the points you buy, and trying to make it sound like a deal.

 

[coastalhh]

That's not a special and it just gives you current use year. They are already lieng to you so why trust them?

They also offer that at every resort..it's not only for poly

You can only bank 1 year of points.


The biggest reason to buy direct is it loses a lot of its value right after you purchase
If you purchase resale it's worth what you paid for it.

125 points would cost you 20k+ for poly. You could get 125 points at AKV or SSR for a little more than 10k resale or buy 250 points for around 20k. Plus then own at a place with studios, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and grand villas!

 

[supersnoop]

Right now, DVC is offering 100% match on points for the first year. For example, if I buy 125 point with a use year of June, DVC will give me another 125 points for a total of 250 points in 2016. Of course, this is only for Poly at a rate of $165 per point.

My point need is about 153 points each year. So, if I bank points properly, the bonus points offered by DVC should last me until year 5. At that point, I would consider buying another 25-30 points.

Is this a good deal? Or should I look for a resale at GF or BLT?

Salespeople have a habit of making it sound like you're getting something special when you're really getting exactly what you're paying for.

Where do you want to stay most of the time? If you want to stay at Poly, then buy Poly direct. Otherwise, buy resale. That's really how simple the decision should be. You could rent those "bonus" points from someone for $15 each. So, if you'd pay less than $150/point resale, you'd be better off renting an extra 125 point if you actually needed them.

 

[cdnjason]

Thanks for the responses. It sounds like I should look at resale.

Ideally, I'd like to stay on the monorail. Preferably at GF or Poly. I haven't looked at BLT, but it looks great from what I've seen online.

Btw, the way the bonus points were explained to me by the DVC rep, I could bank the extra points and use the "oldest" points first in future years to make them last. Under his hypothetical, it would play out like this:

June 2016: 125 points, plus 125 bonus points = 250 points total. Using 153, with 97 banked to 2017.
June 2017: 97 from 2016, plus 125 for 2017 = 222 total. Use 153 (97 from 2016 and 56 from 2017) and bank 69 from 2017 to 2018.
June 2018: 69 from 2017, plus 125 for 2018 = 194 total. Use 153 (69 from 2017 and 84 from 2018) and bank 41 from 2018 to 2019.
June 2019: 41 from 2018, plus 125 for 2019 = 166 total. Use 153 (41 from 2018 and 112 from 2019) and bank 13 from 2019 to 2020.
June 2020: 13 from 2019, plus 125 for 2020 = 138 total. Use all 138 and buy more points.

This is exactly how he mapped it out for me. I can't imagine a DVC rep would be incorrect about use of points. Am I mistaken?

Anyway, given that I would like to buy/stay at GF, Poly and/or possibly BLT, what do you recommend? If resale is the way to go, which site do you recommend? Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[lovin'fl]

Only buy direct for 2 reasons:
1- if you REALLY want the new selling resort (PBV...all the other resorts are in the resale market for less than direct)
2- if you want to add on a smaller contract in same UY you already have (trying to find smaller contracts for a specific resort and a specif UY can be tough).

Otherwise go resale. (I guess if you were really set on using your points for concierge or cruises and all that that's restricted from resales, then that's another reason but those things are not a good use of points so most folks can live without).

 

[lovin'fl]

June 2016: 125 points, plus 125 bonus points = 250 points total. Using 153, with 97 banked to 2017.
June 2017: 97 from 2016, plus 125 for 2017 = 222 total. Use 153 (97 from 2016 and 56 from 2017) and bank 69 from 2017 to 2018.
June 2018: 69 from 2017, plus 125 for 2018 = 194 total. Use 153 (69 from 2017 and 84 from 2018) and bank 41 from 2018 to 2019.
June 2019: 41 from 2018, plus 125 for 2019 = 166 total. Use 153 (41 from 2018 and 112 from 2019) and bank 13 from 2019 to 2020.
June 2020: 13 from 2019, plus 125 for 2020 = 138 total. Use all 138 and buy more points.
This is exactly how he mapped it out for me. Am I mistaken? No, that's how it works except a June UY would give you 125 points for 2015 which then can be banked to 2016 (that is what the rep is calling bonus points???). If you get Sept-Dec UY, you will get 2014, 2015 and 2016 points.

Honestly, if I were wanting a monorail DVC resort I'd buy BLT via resale. You can get more points for your money and the standard view takes less points than other monorail resorts so your points would go farther. Plus you can walk to the MK. This is just what I would do. In full disclosure we have not stayed at VGF or PBV. VGF looks lovely but PBV is not appealing to us because we do DVC for a 1 or 2 bedroom (with door to master to separate from kids) villa with a washer and dryer. And we keep hearing about the boat horns and other issues...no thanks. Good luck in your decision.

 

[supersnoop]

June 2016: 125 points, plus 125 banked points from 2015 = 250 points total. Using 153, with 97 banked to 2017.
June 2017: 97 from 2016, plus 125 for 2017 = 222 total. Use 153 (97 from 2016 and 56 from 2017) and bank 69 from 2017 to 2018.
June 2018: 69 from 2017, plus 125 for 2018 = 194 total. Use 153 (69 from 2017 and 84 from 2018) and bank 41 from 2018 to 2019.
June 2019: 41 from 2018, plus 125 for 2019 = 166 total. Use 153 (41 from 2018 and 112 from 2019) and bank 13 from 2019 to 2020.
June 2020: 13 from 2019, plus 125 for 2020 = 138 total. Use all 138 and buy more points.

Yes, that's exactly how it works, with the one minor correction I made in red. The "extra" points are not bonus points; they the 2015 points that you're purchasing.

Personally, I much prefer BLT. Mainly for the lower dues and walking access to the Magic Kingdom. I have stayed at VGF and PVB, though only for a couple of days. I got quite frustrated waiting for the boat, and the monorail is a long way around when returning to your resort. But each has it's pros and cons.

 

[freediverdude]

Also whether you want to stay in studios could make a difference. BLT studios might not be large enough depending what you're planning. Poly and VGF resales are going for almost direct pricing, so might as well go ahead and buy Poly direct unless you you really want to stay at VGF a lot.

From what you're saying, Disney is not offering 2015 points with direct, meaning you have no points available to you right now if you purchase today unless you start borrowing?? That seems odd.

 

[supersnoop]

From what you're saying, Disney is not offering 2015 points with direct, meaning you have no points available to you right now if you purchase today unless you start borrowing?? That seems odd.

They have to pitch the home-resort advantage, and people want to book the resort they purchase. So the standard sales tactic would be to help someone book a vacation 11 months out, which would already be in the next use year. That's how they get to call the current year points "bonus points." I know some new owners will pay the premium for a direct purchase at PVB and then book SSR two months out, but the vast majority of purchasers are on a vacation and want to book a trip for next year. At least that's my opinion.

 

[cdnjason]

Also whether you want to stay in studios could make a difference. BLT studios might not be large enough depending what you're planning. Poly and VGF resales are going for almost direct pricing, so might as well go ahead and buy Poly direct unless you you really want to stay at VGF a lot.

From what you're saying, Disney is not offering 2015 points with direct, meaning you have no points available to you right now if you purchase today unless you start borrowing?? That seems odd.

Yeah, I'm not sure what the rep meant. I need to follow up with him. I'm really interested in Poly for many reasons. It just seems like a smarter choice to buy resale. Such a tough decision. LOL

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

...

From what you're saying, Disney is not offering 2015 points with direct, meaning you have no points available to you right now if you purchase today unless you start borrowing?? That seems odd.

The "bonus" points are the 2015 points which when banked would make up the double points available for 2016.

Yeah, I'm not sure what the rep meant. I need to follow up with him. I'm really interested in Poly for many reasons. It just seems like a smarter choice to buy resale. Such a tough decision. LOL

What the sales person was trying to do was to word what you should get to sound special. They may work for Disney but make no mistake that they are timeshare sales people. If they hadn't been using timeshare speak they would have said - "If you purchase now you will receive your 2015 points if you get a June UY. Those points can be banked by Jan 31, 2016 and then you will have double the points to use starting on June 1, 2016." Some would have actually told you this but you seem to have gotten one that will put a spin on things. The question back is why would anyone buy something direct that did not come with current points and if banked would give you double the points for 2016?

It's no bonus. It would be given with direct sales at any of their resorts if you were to buy a June UY.

It is possible, although not real common anymore, to buy a loaded contract thru resale. Keeping the June UY as the example a loaded contract would come with banked 2014 points that would need to be used by May 31, 2016, current 2015 points and all points going forward.

If Poly is the resort you have to have and studios and high point requirement Bungalows is where you want to have your home resort then that's one thing but resale will offer better financial deals.

 

[luvdisneyland]

Only buy direct for 2 reasons:
1- if you REALLY want the new selling resort (PBV...all the other resorts are in the resale market for less than direct)
2- if you want to add on a smaller contract in same UY you already have (trying to find smaller contracts for a specific resort and a specif UY can be tough).

Otherwise go resale. (I guess if you were really set on using your points for concierge or cruises and all that that's restricted from resales, then that's another reason but those things are not a good use of points so most folks can live without).

Totally agree! Great advice

 

[bwvBound]

I don't think it is inconceivable that the rep was honest in offering "bonus, 100% match on points in the first year." We received similar in our final direct add-on of Sept 30, 2007 (key date for our Oct UY!). We purchased 160 points ... and received on that day 160 bonus points (banked into Oct 2007 UY) + 160 2006 UY points (banked into Oct 2007 UY) plus received our full allotment of 2007 points the very next day. We were rich in points ... and received 2 AP vouchers. It was a good incentive.

OP: Yes, the strategy mapped out of sipping those extra points a little each year works exactly as outlined. We did the same for first few years of ownership. We needed 200 annual but purchased only 150 to start.

• 1st year: banked the first year's points
• 2nd year: Spent 200 (150 banked + 50 current) and banked the 100 remaining.
• 3rd year: Spent 200 (100 banked + 100 current). Banked the 50 remaining.
• 4th year: Spent 200 (50 banked + 150 current).

 

[Gryhndmom]

We have bought direct and resale. With resale you lose the ability to book cruises and adventure by Disney. We are okay with that but didn't see anybody else posting this info which may or may not be important to you.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney only makes money if you buy direct and the salespeople only get paid if you buy direct so of course they are going to convince you that direct is the way to go. They will show you pictures, feed you lemonade and a cookie and let you dream of all of the magical vacations that you can only have if you buy direct. Issue is they did the same thing when selling all of the resorts. They have a sales quota to sell the new construction because they need to pay off their construction loan.

IMO the most important issue is where to buy? Would you buy a car without seeing it first and maybe taking a test drive? Each resort is different with different rooms, views, amenities, food options, theming, location, and level of service. I suggest that you stay at the resorts first before spending $20,000 hoping that you love the resort.

Bill

 

[MsTessP]

We have bought direct and resale. With resale you lose the ability to book cruises and adventure by Disney. We are okay with that but didn't see anybody else posting this info which may or may not be important to you.

Technically resale points CAN be used for these options. You just have to take the extra step of renting those points needed, and then you can use that cash for those options. As points are currently renting for $11-$14/pt, many members - resale and direct alike - are doing this as it is a much better deal financially (often significantly).

 

[Gryhndmom]

Technically resale points CAN be used for these options. You just have to take the extra step of renting those points needed, and then you can use that cash for those options. As points are currently renting for $11-$14/pt, many members - resale and direct alike - are doing this as it is a much better deal financially (often significantly).

True...there is a work around for buying resale and then doing what you described above if a person wants to take the time to find a buyer for the points, get the money and then book the vacation. IF someone is going to use Points for cruises or adventure by Disney it is generally easier and less time consuming to not have multiple steps. Just wanted the OP to know all the pros and cons on direct vs resale to make the best informed decision. I have read other threads where folks buying resale weren't told they couldn't use resale points for these other items directly. Glad we have these threads to let people know options !

 

[MsTessP]

Actually, there are agencies out there that appear to considerably streamline the rental process, and there are many threads on this board which talk about renting points. I have not used these services, but I'm sure others can chime in. I just wanted to let people know that there is a process in which their resale points can be used for these options and, in most cases, taking the time for this extra step can put sometimes save them considerable money. It just depends on the usual tradeoff - money versus time. In the case of resale purchases, it certainly takes more time. However, this extra time can translate into saving thousands of dollars. In the case of renting points, it does indeed take a bit more time and effort. For some, potentially saving hundreds of dollars on an upcoming vacation will make the extra step well worth it. Others may not care about saving money at all. Others may have just gotten information from their "guides" and may not know the poor value of using their points for anything other than non-DVC resort reservations.
I certainly agree with you about letting people know their options. Knowledge is power!