Adding on points

Girlstar30

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Joined
Feb 1, 2025
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We have a DVC guide that showed us around several different resorts when we visited Disney World this month and has been very kind in answering many questions. We did originally tell him we were leaning heavily towards purchasing direct during that trip because thats where we were at when he asked. Since then, we decided to put an offer on resale BLT and still plan on purchasing direct Riviera once that closes. He did email us today to see where we're at on purchasing from Disney. I did tell him that we still wanted Riviera direct because that is the truth, but I haven't told him we are in the process of purchasing resale first. Would it be rude to tell him that's what we decided to do and then we will contact him when we're ready to add Riviera after it closes? Can we use a guide to add on points once we are members or is it just a matter of calling member services and thats it? And if we do need a guide, will he still get a commission for us adding direct later? Because he very much deserves it. I don't want to lie to him about buying resale because he has been very kind to our family and we'd like to continue working with him for future points if he gets something out of it, but it feels kind of awkward 😅
 
We have a DVC guide that showed us around several different resorts when we visited Disney World this month and has been very kind in answering many questions. We did originally tell him we were leaning heavily towards purchasing direct during that trip because thats where we were at when he asked. Since then, we decided to put an offer on resale BLT and still plan on purchasing direct Riviera once that closes. He did email us today to see where we're at on purchasing from Disney. I did tell him that we still wanted Riviera direct because that is the truth, but I haven't told him we are in the process of purchasing resale first. Would it be rude to tell him that's what we decided to do and then we will contact him when we're ready to add Riviera after it closes? Can we use a guide to add on points once we are members or is it just a matter of calling member services and thats it? And if we do need a guide, will he still get a commission for us adding direct later? Because he very much deserves it. I don't want to lie to him about buying resale because he has been very kind to our family and we'd like to continue working with him for future points if he gets something out of it, but it feels kind of awkward 😅
We joined in 2023 - went with resale first, and then added on direct two months or so after we closed on the resale purchase.

If it were me, I would let your guide know that you are under contract for a resale purchase at BLT, still intend to purchase at RIV, and ask that he keep you in the loop about member pricing/incentives for RIV. Maybe give him an ETA on when you think you'll be ready to add on. You can still use this same guide if/when you are ready to add on.

No need to feel awkward! I'm sure this happens often and they won't take it personally. It's a great idea to get your foot in the door with resale first and then lock in a direct contract down the road :)
 
We have a DVC guide that showed us around several different resorts when we visited Disney World this month and has been very kind in answering many questions. We did originally tell him we were leaning heavily towards purchasing direct during that trip because thats where we were at when he asked. Since then, we decided to put an offer on resale BLT and still plan on purchasing direct Riviera once that closes. He did email us today to see where we're at on purchasing from Disney. I did tell him that we still wanted Riviera direct because that is the truth, but I haven't told him we are in the process of purchasing resale first. Would it be rude to tell him that's what we decided to do and then we will contact him when we're ready to add Riviera after it closes? Can we use a guide to add on points once we are members or is it just a matter of calling member services and thats it? And if we do need a guide, will he still get a commission for us adding direct later? Because he very much deserves it. I don't want to lie to him about buying resale because he has been very kind to our family and we'd like to continue working with him for future points if he gets something out of it, but it feels kind of awkward 😅
It just makes you look like an educated buyer and then they can put in the notes to draw up any future contracts as a member add on with corresponding incentives and not a new member.
 
We joined in 2023 - went with resale first, and then added on direct two months or so after we closed on the resale purchase.

If it were me, I would let your guide know that you are under contract for a resale purchase at BLT, still intend to purchase at RIV, and ask that he keep you in the loop about member pricing/incentives for RIV. Maybe give him an ETA on when you think you'll be ready to add on. You can still use this same guide if/when you are ready to add on.

No need to feel awkward! I'm sure this happens often and they won't take it personally. It's a great idea to get your foot in the door with resale first and then lock in a direct contract down the road :)
Thank you so much for this, I know i am an overthinker and really appreciate the reassurance!
 

Thank you so much for this, I know i am an overthinker and really appreciate the reassurance!
Of course! It's really considerate that you're thinking about this. And I agree with @AstroBlasters above that this just makes you look like a savvy buyer.

And congratulations btw!! You got a great price on BLT and the refurb looks awesome. Welcome home!
 
Thank you!!! We loveddd the refurb when we stayed. Loved the restaurants and the monorail and the size of the stores with merchandise offered next door, pretty much everything about it ❤️ we are so excited!
 
Thank you!!! We loveddd the refurb when we stayed. Loved the restaurants and the monorail and the size of the stores with merchandise offered next door, pretty much everything about it ❤️ we are so excited!
oh that's awesome!! I didn't realize you had seen it in IRL. I love the castle artwork on the Murphy bed and then general look overall looks great. Considering trying to swap into BLT at 7 months for our November trip!
 
Yes we got to stay in the refurbished room and it had just been opened that week they told us, smelled like fresh paint 😀 It was such a fun vibe, big for a deluxe studio, had it's own little kitchen area, not just a counter. We didn't even get to use the walkway or see the other side of the hotel as it was under construction and we loved it so I can only imagine when we get to enjoy the whole thing! I'm glad we got the new room because I heard the other ones were looking a bit rough these days so glad that didn't sway our opinion. You should swap if it works with your plans i don't think you'd regret it!
 
Yes we got to stay in the refurbished room and it had just been opened that week they told us, smelled like fresh paint 😀 It was such a fun vibe, big for a deluxe studio, had it's own little kitchen area, not just a counter. We didn't even get to use the walkway or see the other side of the hotel as it was under construction and we loved it so I can only imagine when we get to enjoy the whole thing! I'm glad we got the new room because I heard the other ones were looking a bit rough these days so glad that didn't sway our opinion. You should swap if it works with your plans i don't think you'd regret it!
that's awesome! MK is our favorite park and the quick walk over would be a huge selling point for us!
 
Your Guide will not be surprised. They may want to know when you'll close since Riviera seems to be headed to a price increase 2/11 and you can only "add on" (less than the minimum required for a new buyer, usually a minimum of 25-50 points depending on the resort) once your resale closes. Any add-on must be the same Owners and Use Year you already own, although you can do different resorts as long as Disney is actively selling them. They are actively selling everything but Grand Floridian right now (although they show Grand Californian is available on the DVC owner's website - someone recently said they are not selling those points or adding to its current waitlist).
 
that's awesome! MK is our favorite park and the quick walk over would be a huge selling point for us!
Same here, MK is the favorite! Watched their fireworks show for the first time this month and I was SOLD 😀
 
Your Guide will not be surprised. They may want to know when you'll close since Riviera seems to be headed to a price increase 2/11 and you can only "add on" (less than the minimum required for a new buyer, usually a minimum of 25-50 points depending on the resort) once your resale closes. Any add-on must be the same Owners and Use Year you already own, although you can do different resorts as long as Disney is actively selling them. They are actively selling everything but Grand Floridian right now (although they show Grand Californian is available on the DVC owner's website - someone recently said they are not selling those points or adding to its current waitlist).
People do tell me that existing members get a discount on add on points, but i can't seem to find out how much that is and I doubt he will volunteer that info 🤣
 
We met our guide at the RIV when we asked to tour the rooms there. We were resale owners already and didn’t have a guide, he took us on. He never treated us poorly for not owning direct. He checked in on us once a month via email, very casual. We ended up adding on direct RIV but only 50 points. No problem, no pressure. Within the year, we added on 100 more direct. He’s been great to work with and as I assume with most guides, is very aware of the resale market. Have the conversation with him!
 
We did exactly that. Resale BLT followed by an almost immediate purchase of direct Riviera, once the BLT purchase closed.

I believe my guide's exact words were "Nice! Let me know when you are ready to buy direct." At no point did I feel any negative vibes from him. He is a long term DVC guide though, so I'm sure it wasn't his first rodeo.

In terms of member incentives, here are the current non-member and member incentives, so you can compare for yourself. The difference is typically a few dollars a point, but I think the discount differences are pretty decent this time around. Obviously they will change come 2/11.

https://dvcexplorer.com/fin/m/Riviera_Member_DeveloperCredit.pdf
https://dvcexplorer.com/fin/g/Riviera_Prospect_DeveloperCredit.pdf
 
This is exactly what i was looking for! Because we were debating if it would just be better to buy Riviera direct now before the resale goes thru and get direct incentives, but these incentives to own resale first are better! Hopefully they are still better the next couple of months, thank you so much!
 
People do tell me that existing members get a discount on add on points, but i can't seem to find out how much that is and I doubt he will volunteer that info 🤣
The discounts usually start at around 100 points, so not the "small" add on points, and change often. You can check this thread as members sometimes update the current discounts in the posts. They sometimes do decent discounts for "new" resorts or let existing owners buy there first (which allows access to booking points sooner). https://www.disboards.com/threads/dvc-direct-add-on-points-thread.3947161/
 

















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