Benefits not available to resale owners

[pudinhd]

Happy Sunday!! We are doing research on buying resale at Grand Californian Villas. I am wondering about the DVC benefits that are not available to resale owners. For example, I know we cannot book the Adventures Collection and I have been told we would not be able to book a members cruise. I recently saw posts about a DVC member party at Typhoon Lagoon. This made me wonder if this is something we would be allowed to attend and what other benefits we may not be able to enjoy.

I am thinking about whether or not it would be worth it to add a small (25 points?) contract direct to make sure we aren't missing out on anything. I look forward to any thoughts and information you have to share. Thank you very much!

 

[freediverdude]

I'm sure other posters can give a more detailed answer, but just a quick answer, no, you cannot book cruises with points from a resale contract (I would assume you could pay cash for a member cruise though). You can be included in things like the Typhoon Lagoon party and the lounge on top of Bay Lake Tower- they don't check if you're a resale owner for member activities like that.

 

[JimMIA]

Someone will post a more complete list, but you can't use points for DCL (and you CAN'T go on the Member Cruise for cash or points). You also can't use points at non-DVC Disney hotels, or for Adventures by Disney.

Most think all of those options are pretty poor uses of points that don't begin to equal the vast increase in cost buying direct.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

With resale points you can still book the World collection which includes RCI, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest. You cannot book the Disney Collection (DCL, ABD or any of the Disney resort hotels) or Concierge Collection. And no member cruise whether cash or points. All other benefits and perks are the same.

The Disney collection takes a pretty hefty amount of points anyway and is subject to availability. There's been times they have prevented everyone from booking DCL and any of it could be taken away from anyone. Probably not likely for that to happen but there are no guarantees to have it.

 

[bethifoody]

The language on the Member Cruise "Things to Know" blurb no longer includes any mention of resale purchasers not being able to purchase passage with a cash reservation. (It does say we can't use our resale points to go on the cruise, however...) I've yet to see/hear of anyone (resale purchaser) being able (or willing? lol) to pay cash for that, but I'm curious to know whether or not that has really changed.

 

[disneynutz]

You will quickly find out that DVC is nothing like the Disney that you thought you knew. They will place restrictions, add perks, remove perks, as they see fit to benefit Disney with some member benefit tossed in. Using your points for anything other than booking a DVC room is not guaranteed, Disney offers discounts and deals to the world then to DVC. If DCL has trouble filling cabins, they will open additional inventory for DVC. A couple of years ago before the two new ships came online, DCL blacked out availability to DVC for almost a year.

Buy to stay in a DVC room at your favorite resort, with the correct UY, and you won't be disappointed if they change the rules.

Bill

 

[chris springer]

Here's a quick question. What if you own resale and also buy/bought direct? Only direct points can be used for the DVC benefits not included in resale?

 

[disneynutz]

Here's a quick question. What if you own resale and also buy/bought direct? Only direct points can be used for the DVC benefits not included in resale?

Correct, they know what points are direct and which are resale. MS may make a mistake and let resale use their points as if they were direct but I wouldn't count on it.

Bill

 

[chris springer]

Kinda figured

 

[JimMIA]

The language on the Member Cruise "Things to Know" blurb no longer includes any mention of resale purchasers not being able to purchase passage with a cash reservation. (It does say we can't use our resale points to go on the cruise, however...) I've yet to see/hear of anyone (resale purchaser) being able (or willing? lol) to pay cash for that, but I'm curious to know whether or not that has really changed.

There have been reports here on the DIS that resale owners have called to book the Member Cruise for cash and have been told no. Whether it changed to "no" and then changed back, I can't tell you. But I have seen posts from folks who were denied the Member cruise because they purchased resale.

I personally don't consider that a loss, but I'm sure some do.

 

[JimMIA]

A couple of years ago before the two new ships came online, DCL blacked out availability to DVC for almost a year.

Yep...TWICE, for about 10 months at a time.

Buy to stay in a DVC room at your favorite resort, with the correct UY, and you won't be disappointed if they change the rules.

If you don't heed anything else about "perks" when considering a DVC purchase, pay close attention to this very sound advice.

 

[coastalhh]

The cruise perk is no perk at all. For example. A cruise for 4 nights on the disney magic to the Bahama's next march we are going on costs us 685 each for 2 adults and 560 for our child.

If we used points for one of us it would be 118 points.(and we still have to buy cash the for the other two of us) Which with our annual fees to animal kingdom would equal 743.40. SO if using DVC points it costs me more to cruise than without.

If you used Grand Californian points with their annual fees of only 5.15 a year per point you would still be paying 118 x 5.15= $607.77. So you would only save $77 + have to buy spots for everyone else in your party. (The DVC cruise point chart is per person not per room like in regular DVC)

Grand Californian runs out in 2060. If you cruised every year with your points every single year until it ran out you would save $3,465 total. Would you buy a contract for 20,000 that would guarantee you lose 17,000 of it? Cruising never ever makes since on points..not even once

On cash reservations for cruise you also get a $50 on board credit with many travel agents and $100 on board credit if you book another cruise on the ship.

If you rent your resale points for $15 per point that year. That same 118 points could generate $1,770 that you could then cruise on and keep a profit.

 

[JimMIA]

The cruise perk is no perk at all. For example. A cruise for 4 nights on the disney magic to the Bahama's next march we are going on costs us 685 each for 2 adults and 560 for our child.

For which, you probably could have gotten a 7-day cruise to either the Eastern Caribbean or Western Caribbean/Mexico on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, or others.

 

[pudinhd]

Thank you so much for all of your replies!! We would not be interested in using points for ABD or DVC, we just want to know if we are able to pay cash for member-cruises or other trips they may have. Plus, it's helpful to know if there are other perks we are not able to enjoy. I really appreciate the information!

 

[Dean]

Most think all of those options are pretty poor uses of points that don't begin to equal the vast increase in cost buying direct.

Not only at a higher price but dramatically more points all else being equal. As much as double to triple or more the number of points at retail to use for periodic cruises depending on specifics of course.

If one truly wants to book the member cruise, the best option is to buy resale, do a 25 pt retail purchase and pay cash for the cruise. Still expensive but far less so than buying more points at a higher price to use them for the cruise.

 

[dsnydaddy]

The cruise perk is no perk at all. For example. A cruise for 4 nights on the disney magic to the Bahama's next march we are going on costs us 685 each for 2 adults and 560 for our child.

If we used points for one of us it would be 118 points.(and we still have to buy cash the for the other two of us) Which with our annual fees to animal kingdom would equal 743.40. SO if using DVC points it costs me more to cruise than without.

If you used Grand Californian points with their annual fees of only 5.15 a year per point you would still be paying 118 x 5.15= $607.77. So you would only save $77 + have to buy spots for everyone else in your party. (The DVC cruise point chart is per person not per room like in regular DVC)

Grand Californian runs out in 2060. If you cruised every year with your points every single year until it ran out you would save $3,465 total. Would you buy a contract for 20,000 that would guarantee you lose 17,000 of it? Cruising never ever makes since on points..not even once

On cash reservations for cruise you also get a $50 on board credit with many travel agents and $100 on board credit if you book another cruise on the ship.

If you rent your resale points for $15 per point that year. That same 118 points could generate $1,770 that you could then cruise on and keep a profit.

NOTHING says it better than cold hard math.

 

[MsTessP]

I would also like to point out that the member cruise has typically been more expensive than the typical cruise.

Except for that specific sailing, even some direct members are renting their points (right now on average $11-$15/pt) and then using that cash to pay for options like cruising, ABD, Concierge Collection, etc. They are finding that this makes much more sense. Keep in mind also that these options when using points involve a $95 fee along with more restrictions if a cancellation is involved.

 

[disneynutz]

The cruise perk is no perk at all. For example. A cruise for 4 nights on the disney magic to the Bahama's next march we are going on costs us 685 each for 2 adults and 560 for our child.

If we used points for one of us it would be 118 points.(and we still have to buy cash the for the other two of us) Which with our annual fees to animal kingdom would equal 743.40. SO if using DVC points it costs me more to cruise than without.

If you used Grand Californian points with their annual fees of only 5.15 a year per point you would still be paying 118 x 5.15= $607.77. So you would only save $77 + have to buy spots for everyone else in your party. (The DVC cruise point chart is per person not per room like in regular DVC)

Grand Californian runs out in 2060. If you cruised every year with your points every single year until it ran out you would save $3,465 total. Would you buy a contract for 20,000 that would guarantee you lose 17,000 of it? Cruising never ever makes since on points..not even once

On cash reservations for cruise you also get a $50 on board credit with many travel agents and $100 on board credit if you book another cruise on the ship.

If you rent your resale points for $15 per point that year. That same 118 points could generate $1,770 that you could then cruise on and keep a profit.

Plus the $95 booking fee that they added a few years ago.

Bill

 

[Dean]

NOTHING says it better than cold hard math.

Generally a cruise has historically worked out to be between $6 and $7.50 per point assuming no other special discounts. I know the one time we cruised on DCL, it would have been $4.50 pp because of the FL resident discount. There are zero situations currently where it's reasonable to buy retail for the cash type exchanges (really all exchanges) but if one owns already and has the opportunity to use points, it's reasonable to look at the specifics of the situation. I know there have been occassional but rare situations where the return was reasonable though generally this is because one has missed the early booking discounts rather than a true return though. Higher cabins tend to be a better value $$ wise because there are less discounts otherwise. My view is that the negatives and risks of using points for cash type exchanges are actually the bigger negative than simply the return but as a rule, they are a double whammy.

Plus the $95 booking fee that they added a few years ago.

Bill

IIRC, DCL has always had the $95 fee, it was the Disney hotels where they didn't have the fee then added it I believe. IMO this is the least of the issue but it should be accounted for when looking a a return.

 

[disneynutz]

Generally a cruise has historically worked out to be between $6 and $7.50 per point assuming no other special discounts. I know the one time we cruised on DCL, it would have been $4.50 pp because of the FL resident discount. There are zero situations currently where it's reasonable to buy retail for the cash type exchanges (really all exchanges) but if one owns already and has the opportunity to use points, it's reasonable to look at the specifics of the situation. I know there have been occassional but rare situations where the return was reasonable though generally this is because one has missed the early booking discounts rather than a true return though. Higher cabins tend to be a better value $$ wise because there are less discounts otherwise. My view is that the negatives and risks of using points for cash type exchanges are actually the bigger negative than simply the return but as a rule, they are a double whammy.

IIRC, DCL has always had the $95 fee, it was the Disney hotels where they didn't have the fee then added it I believe. IMO this is the least of the issue but it should be accounted for when looking a a return.

What's with the Buena Vista Trading Company dues budget item that we all pay for every year?

Bill