Adding on but should it be resale or direct?

[nlenguyen]

My family is really thinking about getting an add-on contract. We currently have a 130 point resale contract at SSR. We are just 3 people, but would like our greater family to come every couple years with us for family gatherings, etc. After our first trip a week ago to BLT and OKW, we decided that we should add-on.
I know that the benefits are not looking good for direct purchase, but we are from Arizona and are not AP's, but being able to use our points at the new DLT would be a big selling point to do direct, but we really like the set up with WDW and the ability to have transportation to and from the parks from the resort. We really like DS much better than DTD. If we were to buy direct we would want to do the 150 minimum. If we did resale we probably would add on 100-150 points just so we have enough when we do big family trips. Out of the resorts we toured, I personally liked BLT, SSR, RIV and AKL, but realistically would skip RIV due to the point charts. That is down to BLT, SSR and AKL. We loved in our last trip that we could just walk from our room to MK in just 5 minutes. We got a lake view 1 bedroom with partial MK view. If we got direct, we have a chance with standard view as we most likely would want to save points there than getting a view of the MK. We liked SSR because DS would be the place for us to walk around in the evening. Both BLT and AKL have the extra bathroom for the villas which we preferred. At 150 points the difference between resale and direct for most contracts was about $7000 from what we calculated. Would you say at that point resale is better or should the ability of getting a potential reservation at DLT or RIV overtime be better?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just a few thoughts based on what you say: First - $245/pt direct for BLT just makes me choke a bit. If BLT I'd do resale and tuck the rest of the money away to book a cash room at DL if/when you wanted to go there or remember that resale points can be used to book VGC rooms. They aren't necessarily easy to get but it can be done.
You mention you wouldn't get Riv for the point chart so would you really stay there with any direct points? Several of your points indicate wanting to get the best value by booking the lower point category rooms.

I think I'd lean towards BLT resale although the time that you plan to go can make a difference and standard view can be difficult at times to book there even when you own there. And depending on the timing of your visits both BLT and AKV can be booked at 7 months - just not the cheapest rooms. So SSR might be an ok option.

You mention a $7K difference of resale vs direct but if 100 points could cover your point needs but you have to go up to 150 points for direct then the additional 50 points is also adding to the cost and may not be one you could recoup by adding on direct.

 

[kanerf]

Well at the moment AKL is $186 per point direct while BLT is $245 which is a pretty large difference. You can buy at AKL and still trade into BLT. I own at AKL (just purchased another 50 direct) as well as small point package at BLT. I own at several other resorts as well and I have traded into BLT on several occasions.

 

[Sandisw]

It’s hard to recommend BLT direct. But, in terms of other direct points I think it really depends on whether you will regret saving now and being disappointed when DLT opens and you are locked out. Or a RIV room opens up and you can’t book there.

$7K is a lot of money but over 10 years, it means you spent an extra $700/yr to own direct and know the options are available to you.

Since your like OKW, SSR, and AKV, I’d think about adding those direct because your can then try for all the others, including RIV and DLT.

We realized that having unrestricted points was really important and worth the extra they cost because for us, it is about the long term and not the short term.

 

[Cleeevus]

Since you’re west coast (I’m in AZ too!) and want to possibly use your points at DLT, my recommendation would be to wait and buy DLT direct. Who knows what future restrictions could come out with DLT and the chances of being able to snag a room without home resort advantage will be difficult.

 

[nlenguyen]

Since you’re west coast (I’m in AZ too!) and want to possibly use your points at DLT, my recommendation would be to wait and buy DLT direct. Who knows what future restrictions could come out with DLT and the chances of being able to snag a room without home resort advantage will be difficult.

I am just thinking that DLT will be priced higher than BLT from the popularity. I will be surprised if they market it with the others around $200

 

[nlenguyen]

Well at the moment AKL is $186 per point direct while BLT is $245 which is a pretty large difference. You can buy at AKL and still trade into BLT. I own at AKL (just purchased another 50 direct) as well as small point package at BLT. I own at several other resorts as well and I have traded into BLT on several occasions.

Sorry, could you explain to me what trading in means? You mean like just using AKL points at BLT at the 7 month mark?

 

[kanerf]

Sorry, could you explain to me what trading in means? You mean like just using AKL points at BLT at the 7 month mark?

Exactly.

 

[RoseGold]

Why not buy DLT? That seems like a good fit for all the things you actually want.

 

[nlenguyen]

Why not buy DLT? That seems like a good fit for all the things you actually want.

That can make sense. Are we expecting them to start selling this year?

 

[nlenguyen]

What I am worried about with DLT is that there are few 1 and 2 bedroom units from the places I have seen

 

[RoseGold]

That can make sense. Are we expecting them to start selling this year?

They broke ground I think this summer. Original timetable was 2023, and that was pre-Covid.

 

[smmora]

Do they start doing pre-sales to current owners before the resort is done?

 

[bakerworld]

I don't have very good memories of DL. I was only there once on '72 at 15y. It was crowded and dinky, as was the DL hotel. My brother convinced me to visit WDW in '77 and I was stunned at the difference. The hotel was opulent with a huge lobby, large room and the park (there was only MK) was spacious, the castle sored and the tile work was extraordinary. We returned again and again. Finally, after the kids were grown and gone, we were able to afford joining DVC. We bought direct with a loan, just like we bought houses and cars with loans. For us it was the same. We didn't go crazy and we always paid the loans off early but I wouldn't have cared if we went the whole loan length (we just tend to pay everything off early).

IMO, buy where you want to stay via resale and then who cares if you can't transfer elsewhere. As you're stranded in AZ with no hopes of visiting for a long while then the fast & easy direct buy doesn't perk.