A couple of Q's

[AB'sDad]

{new poster }

We are getting ready to join DVC. I think there are a lot of people who struggle between buying a resale or direct - we sure did go back and forth. But we decided to go directly through disney for a couple of reasons:
1. A few weeks ago, there were quite a few VWL resales, but they seem to have dried up - we just couldn't find the right resale. Many of the non-OKW resales were just not that good of a deal. But there are a lot of OKW steals out there if someone wants that resort.
2. The ability to sell points back that we won't use in our 1st year
3. Buying now gets us a June use year, so getting another batch of points in just 6 months is nice

But I do have a few questions (our sales rep is on vacation this week)
1. Are there any per day charges when staying? such as taxes, local calls, etc.. I know housekeeping costs extra, but what else?
I just know from experience you get a room rate of $98 and you think hey that's not bad, but you loook at your bill and %2 here, %11 there and you're paying for some new stadium to be built!

2. How long can you bank points for? Do they ever expire?


Thanks Much!

 

[Caskbill]

AB's Dad, hey, your first post! Welcome to the boards, and especially welcome to DVC.

As a DVC member, you will not find any extra charges on your bill. There are no taxes, or other daily fees of any kind.

There are charges for only two things that I can think of. The optional daily maid service, if you elect to use it. (Most do not). And local telephone calls are 35 cents. (They're 75 cents for non-members).

You can of course also use your room card to charge Disney merchandise, restaurants, or admissions, etc. These of course would be on your bill.

But to answer your original question, if you check-in and do not request daily maid service (You still get the free trash-and-tidy service at specific times for stays of 4-days or longer), and don't make any phone calls, then you would have absolutely no 'resort' charges of any kind.

You can bank points from one use year into the next year. They would expire at the end of that year if not used. For example, suppose your use year is June, and June 1, 2001 you received 200 points. (These points are meant to be used between 6-1-01 and 5-31-02.) You could bank them into your 2002 use year which would be 6-1-02 through 5-31-03. If not used, they would expire on 5-31-03. They could not be banked again into your 2003 use year. (However, your regular 2002 use year points could be banked into 2003). Hope this helps.

Welcome Home.

 

[Granny]

AB's Dad....first of all, welcome to the DIS boards. You've come to a great group of dedicated (okay, fanatical) fans of WDW and all that comes with it.

Second of all, if you have spent any time reading these boards, you will see the axiom of "buy where you want to stay". The decision of buying from Disney or through re-sale is often driven by this simple premise.

If VWL is where you really want to stay the most often, then I agree that buying through Disney is the way to go. In addition to the advantages you have listed, you also get to choose exactly how many points you want to buy.

But if you really prefer BWV or that area, then you are better off buying a BWV resale or waiting until next year when the BCV start selling.

Your reasons for buying through Disney are great....I just want to make sure you are aware of the importance of buying for the place you want to stay the most. It has to do with the 11 month/7 month reservation advantages that you get at your home resort.

Again, WELCOME.

 

[AB'sDad]

Thanks for the helpful responses...this board has been a big help in our planning and decision making

After much deliberation- we decided that we did want VWL to be our home resort.
We just put down our deposit and are very excited.

Just booked our 1st vacation at VWL for Jan! Pleasantly surprised there was availability in a 1BR.

Found out that Novemeber contracts have a June use year while December contracts will most likely have an August use year.
I don't think it makes much of a difference for folks as summer is summer.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by AB'sDad
Found out that Novemeber contracts have a June use year while December contracts will most likely have an August use year.
I don't think it makes much of a difference for folks as summer is summer.

I'm not exactly sure what "summer is summer" means, but use year can actually be fairly important.

Let's say you have an August use year and usually vacation in June or July. If you have to cancel a reservation less than 30 days before your trip, the points go into a holding account and must be used by the end of your use year. At that point, it is too late to bank the points into the next year.

Under the same scenario but a May use year, you would have nearly a year to re-use the points.

I'm not an expert on this, and ask any veterans to correct or clarify any part of my explanation.

Not a major deal, but use year month can be important if you have set vacationing timing each year.