Adding On Questions

[las3888]

Sorry if this is common knowledge out there, we actually more recently SOLD points so buying more points hasn't been on our radar for a LONG time, but we are thinking about a small contract. I have questions about a number of things, hoping for a little clarification. I find the 'new' rules that Disney has implemented for resale restrictions a little confusing, sorry!

1 - We are considered members with full benefits, on our most recent trip this past summer we had a blue card for ID purposes. I am assuming this means we have full benefits, correct?

2 - We bought SOME points over the course of time direct through Disney, but we have since sold those points. I believe what makes us blue card members is that we bought the current points in our 'stable' during a grandfather stage where we are grandfathered into full membership (the resale contracts were roughly purchased say 2008, 2010, etc.). Does this sound right?

3 - Are there rumors that at some point even though we are likely grandfathered into full membership, they would take that away from us?

4 - If we bought a resale contract, let's say 50, 75 points at VB, would that contract have any limitations, or is your membership 'all' or 'nothing' meaning you're a member with benefits or not?

5 - Is there a place where I can see what Disney's prices are per point for sold out resorts, such as VB but others as well?

6 - If we buy direct from Disney are there closing costs or anything, or is it pretty much the price is what it is per point?

Thanks all, ultimately our goal is to add on at VB, but looking at SSR and others as well. We would like to be able to use those points to stay at those places but also at other resorts and are completely familiar with the 11 month versus 7 month window.

 

[NVDISFamily]

A somewhat new member here but I stalk and read this site too much (as well as a few other areas of DVC info/news) so I'll do my best to help:

3 - Are there rumors that at some point even though we are likely grandfathered into full membership, they would take that away from us?

I could see some concern with DVC doing this but I haven't heard any significant rumors that they will take membership magic away from members who are grandfathered into the program. With that said, I do believe if you sold the interest that qualifies for the benefits then you would be required to quality for the current program which is a minimum of 150 points direct. Be careful with what you sale.

4 - If we bought a resale contract, let's say 50, 75 points at VB, would that contract have any limitations, or is your membership 'all' or 'nothing' meaning you're a member with benefits or not?

These resale points would not add to your "pile" of points that qualify for membership magic benefits and they would be restricted from any of the new resorts that have restrictions. Right now that is only Riviera, but it could be more in the future. Perhaps VDH (Disneyland) will be restricted, and the debate is out there for Poly2.

5 - Is there a place where I can see what Disney's prices are per point for sold out resorts, such as VB but others as well?

Hope this isn't blocked. I like this site - https://dvcnews.com/ - Click on the "Current Direct Pricing" link on the left.

6 - If we buy direct from Disney are there closing costs or anything, or is it pretty much the price is what it is per point?

There are closing, doc fees, title insurance, etc. Many would recommend splitting any larger purchases up which adds more doc fees, but adds more flexibility to sell in the future at usually higher prices per point.

 

[RoseGold]

. I am assuming this means we have full benefits, correct?

This is a really complicated question for grandfathered resale. I think the argument is much better for the points themselves to have no restrictions, based on how DVC was sold at the time.

Now, the Blue Card is a different issue. They could just take it away from everyone, which is pretty much happened when it was close to worthless after Covid. No one knows if they could just take it away from legacy resale.

The way future resorts interact with legacy products is also interesting. There's no reason a future DVC resort has to play by the old DVC rules at all. And there's no reason they couldn't add another DVC "tier" or "wash" the points or something, like plenty of timeshares do.

 

[las3888]

Thanks guys for taking the time to post! So it sounds like I AM a blue card member because some or all or my resale contracts were purchased before a certain time period which grandfathered me in. And noted, that we probably need to confirm what dates we purchased these and be careful what we sell. Do you know what the cut-off purchase date that qualifies full member vs. not?

We did have a blue card (digital) which did give us the discount in the stores as well as food this past summer. If I bought a resale, I would imagine I would still have our blue card since we ARE grandfathered into the program with contracts we own, would they seriously issue a different card for the other contract? We have multiple contracts as it is (different UY's) but when they changed to the online card format, we just have ONE card (versus several for each contract we used to own).

So if I bought a new RESALE contract now I would not be able to use those points to stay at Riviera and future places. Can I still use them to do an exchange for non Disney resorts or use them for a Disney cruise?

I get that Disney can probably do just about whatever it wants to with this blue card business, it's hard to predict and probably was a stupid question to ask, just wondering if rumors were high about more changes coming down the pike for the grandfathered folk.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks guys for taking the time to post! So it sounds like I AM a blue card member because some or all or my resale contracts were purchased before a certain time period which grandfathered me in. And noted, that we probably need to confirm what dates we purchased these and be careful what we sell. Do you know what the cut-off purchase date that qualifies full member vs. not?

Per the DVC member website, April 4, 2016 was the date when DVC members were required to buy points directly from DVD in order to qualify for Membership Extras (to have a blue card, when those were still in use). So hang on to any of your resale contracts that were puchased before that date, because they qualify you for Membership Extras.

We did have a blue card (digital) which did give us the discount in the stores as well as food this past summer. If I bought a resale, I would imagine I would still have our blue card since we ARE grandfathered into the program with contracts we own, would they seriously issue a different card for the other contract? We have multiple contracts as it is (different UY's) but when they changed to the online card format, we just have ONE card (versus several for each contract we used to own).

As long as you keep your resale contracts that you bought before April 4, 2016, you will still qualify for discounts on food and merchandise as well as to attend events such as Moonlight Magic and the TOTWL. As you noted, they don't issue cards anymore. On your MagicMobile pass, you will have DVC Y, and that will be used to prove your eligibility.

So if I bought a new RESALE contract now I would not be able to use those points to stay at Riviera and future places. Can I still use them to do an exchange for non Disney resorts or use them for a Disney cruise?

If you bought a new resale contract now, those points could not be used for Riviera and future places. However, you could still deposit them to Interval International and use them to exchange through II to non-Disney resorts. You could not use them for a Disney cruise, and any of your existing resale points that you bought after March 21, 2011 can not be used for a Disney cruise, either.

I get that Disney can probably do just about whatever it wants to with this blue card business, it's hard to predict and probably was a stupid question to ask, just wondering if rumors were high about more changes coming down the pike for the grandfathered folk.

There's always speculation and rumor, and anything is possible! Here is the relevant statement from the member website:

Important Information about Membership Extras:
Membership Extras, such as exchange options in the Disney Collection and all of the Concierge Collection, certain discounts, offers, and special events are incidental benefits. These incidental benefits are subject to change or termination without notice, may require the payment of a fee and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Membership Extras are also subject to availability and block-out dates may apply, including high periods of demand such as Christmas and New Year’s Day. To receive any Membership Extras, purchasers must present a valid digital Disney Vacation Club Membership Card along with a corresponding valid photo ID. Effective June 3, 2021, to obtain a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card, Members must accumulate a total of at least 150 Vacation Points purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. Exchange options in the Disney Collection and all Concierge Collection options are not available for ownership interests not purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. after March 21, 2011, and, effective April 4, 2016, Members who have not purchased an ownership interest directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. will not have access to Membership Extras.

 

[sndral]

…
So if I bought a new RESALE contract now I would not be able to use those points to stay at Riviera and future places. Can I still use them to do an exchange for non Disney resorts or use them for a Disney cruise?

I get that Disney can probably do just about whatever it wants to with this blue card business, it's hard to predict and probably was a stupid question to ask, just wondering if rumors were high about more changes coming down the pike for the grandfathered folk.

The points in a resale contract purchased now could not be used to book a Disney cruise. They could be deposited into the interval timeshare exchange program for use in other timeshares.
Disney has restricted resale contract owner’s access to benefits 3 times & each time they’ve done so they have maintained existing resale owners by ‘grandfathering’ those contracts purchased or in ROFR before the effective date of the resale restriction.
3/21/2011 - resale contracts purchased after this date no longer eligible for the Disney Collection (hotels, cruise line, adventures by Disney) & the Concierge Collection resorts.
4/4/2016 - resale contracts purchased after this date no longer eligible for membership extras (blue card benefits - eg discounts, lounge entry, special events.)
3/21/2019 - resale contracts purchased after this date limited to booking at the ‘original 14’. Riviera contracts include a provision that Riviera resale points can only be used to book Riviera.
https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program/pol...32-dvc-reverses-course-on-perk-grandfathering
https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program/pol...ntroducing-location-based-resale-restrictions

 

[pks_domer]

The points in a resale contract purchased now could not be used to book a Disney cruise. They could be deposited into the interval timeshare exchange program for use in other timeshares.

I think the board sponsor recently started an exchange program; seems like you could still book a cruise via points that way, regardless of when the resale points were purchased?

 

[CarolynFH]

I think the board sponsor recently started an exchange program; seems like you could still book a cruise via points that way, regardless of when the resale points were purchased?

Correct because you’re actually renting out your points and using that revenue to pay for the cruise (which you could do yourself).