25pt add now with promo?

[PSUDinsey]

so I've been pondering the 25pt perk purchase but never found it to be worth it. However now with the 200 dollars off an annual pass maybe the arrow is pointing in that direction? What are the thoughts here?

 

[ELMC]

so I've been pondering the 25pt perk purchase but never found it to be worth it. However now with the 200 dollars off an annual pass maybe the arrow is pointing in that direction? What are the thoughts here?

The prevailing opinion on these boards is to purchase resale and then purchase a 25 point direct add on, provided you can make use of the $200 annual pass discount. That is the major perk that can help you recoup the costs of a direct purchase. Just know that perks can change or go away at any time. But for a family of four it will only take a few years to break even on the direct purchase, and it seems to be a pretty safe bet.

 

[AzGoofyDad]

Actually its a $310 savings vs full retail price, a family of 4 will make that up this year now, plus access to food and merchandise discounts.

 

[disneynutz]

Lets see, discount the DVC AP, get people to buy direct, get people to vacation more often, get people to spend more money. Pretty smart mouse.

Now if you would spend the same amount of money without the discounted AP and the AP is truly a discount then great.

Bill

 

[beweller6306]

If I own resale and buy direct just 25 pts and purchase annual gold pass does each member of my household save on the annual passes or is it just me. For example my household is my wife, son, and I. Because it looks like the Gold (only available to DVC and Florida Residents) is $220 less than the Platinum Annual Pass that anyone can buy. So would my savings be just me or my whole household? Me = $220/yr, household = $660/yr.

Thank you,
Brad

 

[disneynutz]

If I own resale and buy direct just 25 pts and purchase annual gold pass does each member of my household save on the annual passes or is it just me. For example my household is my wife, son, and I. Because it looks like the Gold (only available to DVC and Florida Residents) is $220 less than the Platinum Annual Pass that anyone can buy. So would my savings be just me or my whole household? Me = $220/yr, household = $660/yr.

Thank you,
Brad

Household.

Bill

 

[Dean]

so I've been pondering the 25pt perk purchase but never found it to be worth it. However now with the 200 dollars off an annual pass maybe the arrow is pointing in that direction? What are the thoughts here?

My thought is that most should get qualified even if they don't see the value in it now. This is likely to be a moving target and the gap is likely to widen between qualified and non qualified.

 

[kboo]

also right now if you're a direct DVC owner the Platinum Plus pass costs the same as a Gold AP - until 1/3/18. Waterparks and golf, no blockout dates.

 

[ktmo]

I would if I was you. If you already have a Disney Visa, you get 6 months at zero percent interest on direct purchases. I would do it. But I am addicted to adding on. So, I am probably not the right person to ask. I just bought a small add-on at BLT and I already get the perks. I just was tired of waiting around for a small contract to come up and I needed the points to book our trip next week.

 

[ELMC]

Actually its a $310 savings vs full retail price, a family of 4 will make that up this year now, plus access to food and merchandise discounts.

Typically the base comparison that is used to calculate savings from the DVC perk is the minimum pass you can purchase. In this case it's the Gold Pass as a DVC member for $559+ tax vs. a Platinum Pass for a non-DVC member for $779 + tax. That's about a $220 savings. So while you are correct that there is a special going on right now for the Platinum Plus for the price of a Gold Pass, which is a $310+ tax savings, this is temporary and I would be wary of projecting this number over time in order to determine the break even calculation.

EDITED: I incorrectly listed the price for non discounted Platinum and Platinum Plus Passes.

 

[ELMC]

My thought is that most should get qualified even if they don't see the value in it now. This is likely to be a moving target and the gap is likely to widen between qualified and non qualified.

Dean, for the purposes of this conversation how are you defining qualified points? There's direct, resale prior to March of 2011, resale between March 2011 and April of 2016, and resale after April 2016. Which of these four groups do you consider to be qualified?

 

[PSUDinsey]

Let me take this a step further. I own at Aulani and will travel there more often than not however we are taking two trips to World this year. I have already purchased but not activated 3 AP's. I am having a hard time paying full price even for 25 more Aulani points when the are resale for less than half. I would do 25 Poly points because of comparable resale prices. So I guess my question would those points be a hinderance? Even using them every three years only gets me a few nights at Poly

 

[ELMC]

Let me take this a step further. I own at Aulani and will travel there more often than not however we are taking two trips to World this year. I have already purchased but not activated 3 AP's. I am having a hard time paying full price even for 25 more Aulani points when the are resale for less than half. I would do 25 Poly points because of comparable resale prices. So I guess my question would those points be a hinderance? Even using them every three years only gets me a few nights at Poly

I completely understand your issue with paying retail for AUL given the resale prices. To that end, I think Poly or VGF are better bets for your direct purchase given the narrower gap between resale and retail pricing. If the 2042 expiration date does not bother you, BWV might also be a good choice given the fact that you can get Standard View studios for as low as 10 points a night, and Preferred View for as low as 15. Your 25 points will go much farther there than at the Poly.

That being said, yes, only having 25 points at a resort may be an issue if you plan on using them at the 11 month window. In addition, the strategy of using points once every three years is difficult because you will almost assuredly be short or extra by a few, which could lead to wasted points. However, you can mitigate this by buying the same UY as your existing contract so at the very least you can combine points at the 7 month mark. In addition, you can do split stays that may allow you a few nights at the Poly/VGF plus more nights at another resort booked at the 7 month window. That other resort could possibly end up being the Poly and you can combine the reservations, provided you put both memberships under the same member number.

ETA: The math works out great on a BWV 25 point purchase for travel every three years. Five nights at 15 points per night = 75 points, which is exactly three year's worth of points.

 

[PSUDinsey]

My thought is that most should get qualified even if they don't see the value in it now. This is likely to be a moving target and the gap is likely to widen between qualified and non qualified.

Dean will you will expound on this this

 

[PSUDinsey]

I completely understand your issue with paying retail for AUL given the resale prices. To that end, I think Poly or VGF are better bets for your direct purchase given the narrower gap between resale and retail pricing. If the 2042 expiration date does not bother you, BWV might also be a good choice given the fact that you can get Standard View studios for as low as 10 points a night, and Preferred View for as low as 15. Your 25 points will go much farther there than at the Poly.

That being said, yes, only having 25 points at a resort may be an issue if you plan on using them at the 11 month window. In addition, the strategy of using points once every three years is difficult because you will almost assuredly be short or extra by a few, which could lead to wasted points. However, you can mitigate this by buying the same UY as your existing contract so at the very least you can combine points at the 7 month mark. In addition, you can do split stays that may allow you a few nights at the Poly/VGF plus more nights at another resort booked at the 7 month window. That other resort could possibly end up being the Poly and you can combine the reservations, provided you put both memberships under the same member number.

ETA: The math works out great on a BWV 25 point purchase for travel every three years. Five nights at 15 points per night = 75 points, which is exactly three year's worth of points.[/QUOT

I completely understand your issue with paying retail for AUL given the resale prices. To that end, I think Poly or VGF are better bets for your direct purchase given the narrower gap between resale and retail pricing. If the 2042 expiration date does not bother you, BWV might also be a good choice given the fact that you can get Standard View studios for as low as 10 points a night, and Preferred View for as low as 15. Your 25 points will go much farther there than at the Poly.

That being said, yes, only having 25 points at a resort may be an issue if you plan on using them at the 11 month window. In addition, the strategy of using points once every three years is difficult because you will almost assuredly be short or extra by a few, which could lead to wasted points. However, you can mitigate this by buying the same UY as your existing contract so at the very least you can combine points at the 7 month mark. In addition, you can do split stays that may allow you a few nights at the Poly/VGF plus more nights at another resort booked at the 7 month window. That other resort could possibly end up being the Poly and you can combine the reservations, provided you put both memberships under the same member number.

ETA: The math works out great on a BWV 25 point purchase for travel every three years. Five nights at 15 points per night = 75 points, which is exactly three year's worth of points.

So I just called my rep and told him what I was thinking - he said 25 more AUL points would be the easiest best thing to do but besides that - he had AKL, OKW, Poly, and SSR to sell me.

 

[Dean]

Dean, for the purposes of this conversation how are you defining qualified points? There's direct, resale prior to March of 2011, resale between March 2011 and April of 2016, and resale after April 2016. Which of these four groups do you consider to be qualified?

IMO it only matters for perks, not for the exchange options. So effectively we're talking the 2016 cutoff date.

Dean will you will expound on this this

Currently the difference is the discounts and perks but one never knows what will happen in the future either as perks that might be better for a given person plus one might not be able to get there with 25 points in the future. It's essentially insurance. But the best situation for one who doesn't have the option but might want it would be a new buyer so they can plan the add on as part of their overall purchase.

So I just called my rep and told him what I was thinking - he said 25 more AUL points would be the easiest best thing to do but besides that - he had AKL, OKW, Poly, and SSR to sell me.

Something that works seamlessly with what you have already is likely best. Either the same home resort as one you own, one you intend to do an add on at or one you can make work as a stand alone such as a studio for a few nights with banking/borrowing.

 

[ELMC]

So I just called my rep and told him what I was thinking - he said 25 more AUL points would be the easiest best thing to do but besides that - he had AKL, OKW, Poly, and SSR to sell me.

Technically he is correct, 25 direct AUL points would be easiest, but I don't necessarily agree that it would be best. Easiest and best are two different things. While he has points at those other resorts available now, if you want a different resort you should stick to that and ask to be placed on a wait list. With the exception of VGC your request should be filled relatively soon.

 

[AzGoofyDad]

Typically the base comparison that is used to calculate savings from the DVC perk is the minimum pass you can purchase. In this case it's the Gold Pass as a DVC member for $559+ tax vs. a Platinum Pass for a non-DVC member for $749 + tax. That's about a $200 savings. So while you are correct that there is a special going on right now for the Platinum Plus for the price of a Gold Pass, which is a $270+ tax savings, this is temporary and I would be wary of projecting this number over time in order to determine the break even calculation.

Actually the point of adding on direct is to get the membership extras. You have to use full retail for the comparison since a only resale purchaser wouldn't have access to the discount in the first place.

Also a 25 point contract is less than $1000 more when compared to resale. At $310 per pass savings you make that up with four passes. Also you can not buy a gold pass unless you have direct points, so its another comparison that can't be used.

 

[ELMC]

Actually the point of adding on direct is to get the membership extras. You have to use full retail for the comparison since a only resale purchaser wouldn't have access to the discount in the first place.

Please go back and reread my posts, we are saying the same thing. Although my price was out of date for the non discounted passes and I made the correction in my post above. The difference between DVC Gold and non-DVC Platinum is $220. The difference between DVC Platinum Plus and non-DVC Platinum Plus is $310, but that's a false comparison unless you were actually going to buy the Platinum Plus Pass, which most people don't.

Also a 25 point contract is less than $1000 more when compared to resale. At $310 per pass savings you make that up with four passes. Also you can not buy a gold pass unless you have direct points, so its another comparison that can't be used.

I apologize for the confusion, but I thought I was pretty clear in saying that you needed to be a DVC member to buy the Gold Pass.

That being said, I would again caution against using the Platinum Plus Pass as your basis of comparison for the $310 savings. It is a short term offer and shouldn't be counted on for long term projections. Also, most guests will not take advantage of the "Plus" options, so it is difficult to assign a value to something that you receive essentially for free and do not use. In my opinion, to use the $310 number as a motivation to buy direct (as opposed to the $220 difference mentioned by many in this thread) is an example of using the "best case scenario" math justification that we have seen on these boards over the years. It's tainted analysis, IMO.

Speaking of best case scenario math, I think your assertion that a 25 point contract being less than $1,000 is incorrect. Using average sales data for the past several months, the difference between a 25 point direct contract and a 25 point resale contract (points only, not closing costs, which only add to the delta) are as follows:

AKV $2025
AUL $2150
BLT $1650
BCV $1025
BWV $1600
BRV $2000
HHI $1275
OKW $1825
PVB $775
SSR $1575
VB $1400
VGF $1025
*(I did not include CCV because there are no resale options yet, and I did not include VGC because there is no direct purchase option currently.)

These gaps are even larger if you use 6 month historical pricing data, given the recent spike in resale prices.

As you can see, in most cases it's above the $1,000 difference, not below. We're still in agreement that the difference in price is quickly made up by the AP discount, and therefore 25 point add ons should be considered to supplement a resale purchase for the most optimal ownership scenario, financially speaking. But for clarity's sake I think it's important to be precise with the numbers (as you correctly pointed out with my outdated AP prices). In the case of the OP and his family of three, at $660 savings per year would lead to a break even point anywhere between 1.17 years and 3.26 years, depending on the home resort purchased. It's important to note that the worst case scenario, 3.26 years is for AUL, the resort he is considering buying direct. As you mentioned, these numbers would come down a bit when you factor in dining and merchandise discounts.

 

[PSUDinsey]

So taking into account possibly resale value (something that maybe can't be predicted a decade down the road) i am assuming Poly will retain value well so i what i lose selling will be minimized instead of buying say SSR which is only half the value resale. These points are in reality only going to be used at the 7 month mark so it really doesn't matter what home resort it is- i doubt we would purchase more Poly points - just trying to minimize potential future losses in my head.