Benefits to two smaller contracts?

[anonymousegirl]

Hi all,

I am thinking of doing DVC and was wondering about the benefits/negatives to owning two smaller contracts at two different resorts but having the same UY. I was planning on doing resale since I have zero interest in AKV.

I have rented points to stay at BCV in Jan 2009 in a 1 Bedroom just to show my DH how nice DVC will be.

I have read over and over to buy where you want to stay so it seems like resale is the way to go.

The properties peaked my interest are:
Beach Club Villas (location, location, location)
Wilderness Lodge Villas (want to be able to book Dec vacations)
OKW (the rooms are huge and points low, plus close to golf)

any opinions or advice?

 

[rthutchens]

I am also interested in finding out the pros and cons of owning 2 small contracts. I would like to own 100 points at each AKV and VWL.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

The only benefit of having two small contracts is that it might be easier to sell one or both down the road if you decide you no longer want it.

 

[anonymousegirl]

So I couldn't combine my points? Meaning if I had 100pts at WLV and 100pts at BCV I couldn't use my 200pts to book WLV at 11 months?

 

[bgraham34]

So I couldn't combine my points? Meaning if I had 100pts at WLV and 100pts at BCV I couldn't use my 200pts to book WLV at 11 months?

Thats correct. You can use your 100 points from VWL to book at VWL at 11 months but you have to wait to the 7 month window to use your BCV points.

 

[chalee94]

So I couldn't combine my points? Meaning if I had 100pts at WLV and 100pts at BCV I couldn't use my 200pts to book WLV at 11 months?

at 11 months? no, not ever. you get the 11 month home resort advantage only for the pts owned at that resort.

(it would be more than a little unfair to the owners at that resort if owners at other resorts were allowed to use other resorts' pts to book in the owners-only window...)

BUT you can combine at 7 months (if they are under one master contract...have the same UY month...and so forth.)

AND in the case you mentioned, you can bank/borrow to book WLV for 200 pts at 11 months for one year, and 200 pts at BCV at 11 months the next year.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Pros:
* Easier to sell longer term and price per point usually is higher.
* Two home resort advantages
* If same UY, can combine points at 7 month mark without doing transfers (if you buy resale, make sure the contracts are submitted together and that the broker tells Disney that you want these under the same member number).
* You can bank/use points every other year at different resorts and use the 8 - 11 month booking window.

Cons:
* Can only book at one resort at the 8 - 11 month window (important for certain resorts during certain times of the year such as Food and Wine Festival and Christmas)
* Using the 2-100 pt contracts scenario above, the most that would be available to you at a given time at 8 - 11 months is 300 pts (one contract where you bank, use and borrow). With 200 points at one resort, you would have 600 pts available (bank, use and borrow).
* May be more difficult to sell and may take longer than a smaller contract.

 

[robbs49]

So, that I am straight. In theory if you could own VWL and BCV at 100 points each, you could borrow 100 pts for 2009 VWL and use 2008 point to have 200 points total and use the 11 month window and use that for a 2008 trip. Then you would bank the 2008 BCV points and use the 2008 points with the 2009 points for a 2009 trip. Then you would do VWL 2010-BCV 2011 etc... That is if you wanted to use the 11 month window always.

For me that would sound better because we will always go one week at the end of May so I would plan 11 month out, but having the choice of two different places would be nice, but I really only need about 250 points annually.(So really I should have used 125 point contracts in my example). I know that finding perfect contracts on a resell would be tough, but still knowing the "rules" helps in deciding.

 

[chalee94]

So, that I am straight. In theory if you could own VWL and BCV at 100 points each, you could borrow 100 pts for 2009 VWL and use 2008 point to have 200 points total and use the 11 month window and use that for a 2008 trip. Then you would bank the 2008 BCV points and use the 2008 points with the 2009 points for a 2009 trip. Then you would do VWL 2010-BCV 2011 etc... That is if you wanted to use the 11 month window always.

yes, you'd be able to use the home resort advantage at VWL and BCV in alternating years to book at 11 months.

 

[bookswin]

Yes, as noted the price per point upon resale for smaller contracts is usually higher, sometimes quite a bit. If you watch the resale sites over time, you will see this.

 

[cseca]

And another possible pro:
If you have (or will have) a couple kids (nieces or nephews, or complete strangers... ) you are planning to pass on the membership towards, you will already have 2 separate contracts...

a possible con:
Paying double closing costs?

 

[dianeschlicht]

You should be aware that you CAN still buy direct from Disney too, and get the exact number of points you want. You can always buy at "sold out" resorts direct from Disney. If you are firm on BCV, you might have to be on a waitlist, but you CAN buy direct.

 

[mgilmer]

If you have (or will have) a couple kids (nieces or nephews, or complete strangers... ) you are planning to pass on the membership towards, you will already have 2 separate contracts...

This is the reason for us accumulating our points in small contracts. My DW and I are not that young and we will be leaving or gifting our points to our heirs someday (hopefully not soon) and it is so easy to parcel out the points to multiple heirs when you have smaller contracts.