Add-on incentives for current members?

[nickandlarisa]

Hi everyone! Tried to search for this with no luck. Just wondering if historically DVC offers any incentives to current members to add on points? Say, when a new resort opens? Just curious. We are new members and happy with our current points, but maybe would be interested in new GF points! Wondering if we would have to pay top dollar when the time comes. TIA!!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

There's usually a period during which current members can purchase before a resort is offered to the general public. Current members also have a lower minimum point purchase for add-on contracts. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember there being special member pricing, though.

The only "true" special pricing I'm aware of are the special deals that are sometimes offered on cruises or for members who participate in a webcast or other special event.

 

[tjkraz]

With the last several resort openings, DVC created a "Founding Members" program in which the first several hundred families to add-on would get some form of permanent recognition at the resort. Animal Kingdom Villas owners have their names on a tapestry hung near the lobby. Bay Lake Tower Founding Members have nameplates on a fountain at the rear of the resort. There was also a perk for Aulani buyers.

The Founding Member status was available only to existing DVC members (couldn't make your first purchase and get "Founding Member" status). There was also a minimum number of points which had to be added and only several hundred buyers would qualify. They cut it off after something like 500-600.

The interesting thing is that prices often fell after the initial sales push. The resort would debut at one price and several hundred members would add-on for the Founding Member perks and/or to be among the first to own. Then a few months later incentives would be updated and the net price was lower.

With Aulani--the most recent resort--DVC claimed that the initial pricing would be the lowest ever offered. At least some salespeople were saying that. Honestly I don't know if it ended up being true or not.

DVC has a new VP these days so hard telling what will happen when she kicks-off sales for her first resort (Grand Floridian.) Things may play out differently going forward.