A couple questions about DVC

[tinkerlisa]

I am considering purchasing DVC in the future but have a few questions:

1) Do you have to be married to buy? I ask this because a few years ago we looked into a timeshare and they said that in order to buy into it, you have to be married(which my fiance and I were not at the time).


2) Buy going DVC are you able to have the Disney "perks"? What i mean is magical Express at the airport and Disney Dining Plan?



3) What are your thoughts on going resale through The Timeshare Store? Would I be better off purchasing straight from Disney?


I went to The Timeshare Store's website and now I understand how DVC works a little better. I was a little confused about it. TIA!!!

 

[chalee94]

1) Do you have to be married to buy?

no.

2) Buy going DVC are you able to have the Disney "perks"? What i mean is magical Express at the airport and Disney Dining Plan?

yes, you get all of the onsite perks when staying at a DVC resort on points - ME, parking at the resorts and you can pay to add the DDP without having to buy tickets. you also get a few extra dining discounts, free internet, pool hopping and AP discounts ($100 off).

you will never get "free" dining when staying on points, though. nor any other discount programs offered to cash customers.

3) What are your thoughts on going resale through The Timeshare Store? Would I be better off purchasing straight from Disney?

i had a great experience buying from the timeshare store. i wanted a small contract so i got on their email list and called them when i saw a contract i liked.

in general, resale will be cheaper but take longer. (you also have to make sure the resale contract is not stripped of points until 2010 or 2011). BLT is mostly only available directly.

here is more info, stolen from DVCMike:

Initial Purchase from DVC

• You can get the exact number of points that you want (although you must buy a minimum of 160)
• Faster than resale (you will be in the system and have your points and be able to make reservations much faster than resale)
• No worries about the purchase if Disney executes ROFR, since that only applies to resale purchases
• More expensive cost per point than the resale market
• You can finance through DVC, and Disney doesn’t report the loan to credit reporting agencies
• You can pay with a Rewards credit card and get points/cash back
• The full set of points you buy will be available immediately, versus a resale contract which may be “stripped” of points.
• If you don’t want the resorts they are currently selling (AKV/SSR/BLT), you may have to do some firm talking to a guide to convince them you really want an older resort.

Initial Purchase via Resale

• You may not get the exact number of points you want
• You can purchase less than 160 points for your initial buy-in to DVC (Disney won’t let you buy less than 160 points).
• It will take much longer to get into the DVC system and have your points (resales typically take 6-8 weeks)
• Disney may exercise ROFR and you may lose the resale and have to start all over (When buying resale, one of the potential pitfalls to try to avoid is making an offer that will cause Disney to exercise it’s Right of First Refusal)
• Resale is typically less expensive than buying from DVC
• You can’t finance through DVC, although most resale brokers will recommend a finance company
• A resale contract may be “stripped” of points where the user has used many of the current year’s points, and may have borrowed some or all of next year’s points. Just be aware of “stripped” contracts on the resale market.
• Easier to pickup large point packages at any of the older DVC resorts.

 

[disneynutz]

There is a lot to learn.

You do not have to be married. DVC members get the DDP, DME, and a few other perks including $100 of on the price of an AP. Buying resale can save you money but do your math.

 

[tinkerlisa]

Thanks a bunch! I would love to buy into BLT! It looks gorgeous from the 360 on the Disney website! But would go for something a little cheaper...

 

[chalee94]

be aware that many of the resorts expire in 2042, so if you're young enough to care, that may be a factor in your purchase decision.

definitely feel free to take your time and read some threads here in the DVC forums to get a feel for how the program works and whether it is right for you. (i.e. do you plan to use DVC points primarily at DVC resorts? can you book your vacation 10-11 months in advance? do you understand how your use year month can make a difference if you have to cancel?)

don't feel rushed. it is an expensive commitment. it works well for some people and not as well for others.

 

[tinkerlisa]

Two more questions:

Is there a list of how much the points cost through Disney?

What are developer Points?

Thanks!

 

[calgarygary]

Thanks a bunch! I would love to buy into BLT! It looks gorgeous from the 360 on the Disney website! But would go for something a little cheaper...

How about something a lot cheaper? If you are happy visiting WDW more often but are willing to stay offsite, then there are many systems that will save you thousands upfront and hundreds per stay over DVC. More importantly though, are you really wanting to make such a large long term financial commitment before you are married? Take your time, educate yourself here and at TUG and make a well informed not emotional decision.

 

[Anal Annie]

Note that the perks listed in the other posts are what we currently have. They are not guaranteed and they are subject to change and could be removed at any time without much notice. DVC has made a lot of changes recently so I would not be surprised to see them revoke some of the current perks at some point.

Also note that DVC recently re-allocated the point charts for all of the resorts for 2010 so just make sure you study the charts for 2010 before deciding how many points you want to buy.

 

[tinkerlisa]

Also note that DVC recently re-allocated the point charts for all of the resorts for 2010 so just make sure you study the charts for 2010 before deciding how many points you want to buy.

Where can I find the 2010 charts?

 

[wdwnut]

Just another bit of advice- buy where you want to stay. the 11 month priority window is great if you can plan that far ahead. Some areas are hard to get within the 7 month window - BWV/BCV during the Food and Wine Festival, VWL during the holiday season, etc. Also, grand villas may be important to you if you want to bring extended family on vacation. Next year, we'll be needing 3 grand villas for vacation.

 

[Sandisw]

I really wanted BLT as well but wasn't sure about the big upfront cost (especially since they were saying that the minimum was going to 200--didn't happen).

Anyway, VWL was my 2nd choice resort so I bought a small contract through resale there, with the plan of adding on to BLT in the near future. As a member, I could now do only 100 pts.

Just finished the process and of course, couldn't wait for BLT (with the hype of it opening) and adding on those 100 points only days after closing the resale.

But getting in with a few points to start was what helped me take the plunge!

 

[tinkerlisa]

Thanks! you have all been such a great help!!
I talked to my fiance last night and explained how it all works and he says that it sounds better than a regular timeshare and that it is definitly a purchase to consider!!!!

 

[chalee94]

Is there a list of how much the points cost through Disney?

this is usually up-to-date.

What are developer Points?

one time bonus points given out for purchasing. they are often restricted in how they can be used (only at SSR...only at the 7 month window...)

Where can I find the 2010 charts?

link to 2010 pt charts.

 

[tinkerlisa]

Thanks a bunch! I will check out those link!
I am happy that I am one step closer to convincing my fiance to do this without him putting me in the loony bin for being a total Disney Fanatic! he syas I am obssesed. Thats why I come to the Dis Boards!

 

[spiceycat]

developer point are what Disney gives you until your points will work now - so you can vacation now. (and hopefully spend more money at WDW)

they use to be great.

now at WDW you can only use them at SSR. now you can use them at DL and RCI.

if you are going to buy at BLT - then would buy something at Epcot - BWV or BCV - yes they are more expensive than OKW or ssr - but you can walk to Epcot and Studios (or take a boat) - if you have to sell them - that is a good selling point.

 

[disneynutz]

Developer points are also used as an enticement to get you to buy points at a resort now, that you can't stay at yet. They cost Disney nothing.

Most new members find using the DPs difficult. Often there isn't room availability for their preferred dates so they have to settle for anything.

DPs don't appear in your account so they are hard to keep track of.

MS takes several weeks to process a DP reservation, I think that's a crime.

Any unused points are forfeited.