Blue card benefits?

[bookbabe626]

Quick question as DH and I debate direct vs resale…

Can you only access your blue card benefits when staying DVC with the points bought direct, or do you get those benefits all year? How about when not staying DVC on points but at a regular resort booked via cash on the main disney website, not through DVC member services?

By benefits I mean things like discounts, accessing TotWL, in-park lounges, special DVC nights…whatever happens to be available, but especially the discounts and lounges.

We will likely need (want?) multiple contracts, so I’m trying to figure out if it’s best to buy all the points direct or whether to buy the minimum direct just to get the blue card and then top up with resale points.

 

[tjkraz]

TOTWL is only available when you're staying at WDW using DVC membership.

Moonlight Magic nights are open to all qualifying members, but heavy priority is given to people with resort reservations.

Other things like dining discounts, shopping discounts, EPCOT lounge access are available any time, regardless of whether you're staying on points.

Edit: Worth noting that resale points carry whatever use restrictions are imposed. Even if you own 150 direct points and qualify for "blue card" status, you cannot use resale points to book Riviera. That will presumably be true of any future resorts (Disneyland Hotel, maybe new Poly.) Resale points also cannot be used for Disney Cruise Line bookings (including DVC member cruise) and most other non-DVC destinations. Though those non-DVC locations are typically a poor value.

And if you someday drop below 150 direct points by selling specific contracts, you lose the "blue card" status.

 

[bookbabe626]

Thanks.

I wouldn’t be getting or booking Riviera with direct or resale points, so that’s not a big deal. If new Poly has the restrictions, we might end up with some extra direct points there. I wish Poly would open up for sales soon, I’d just get our initial points there maybe.

So the webpage for TotWL says ”eligible members“ which I assume means blue card, and then adds the part about only during a stay, but seems to hint it could be a cash or points stay. So am I interpreting this right to mean that I could book a cash stay via membership services (as opposed to just booking online on the WDW webpage) and still visit the lounge?

Good to know the other benefits are every visit, no matter how you booked. Our currnet plan is to get direct points to cover our August stay at OKW each year, and then maybe some resale points for BCV or Poly to use at other points in the year. We visit monthly, or close to it, and did the math that the discounts on merch, food and APs are almost enough to cover the annual dues. Add in lounge access and special events, and the Disney Math works out in our favor, or at least that’s how we are looking at it. The big negative would have been if you only got the discounts during your points stay, so I’m glad to hear that’s not the case.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So am I interpreting this right to mean that I could book a cash stay via membership services (as opposed to just booking online on the WDW webpage) and still visit the lounge?

They have been interpreting this as a points stay.

 

[CarolynFH]

I could book a cash stay via membership services

This means paying cash to stay in a DVC villa booked via MS. MS doesn't book stays in other Disney resorts except points reservations for non-DVC Disney hotels (most commonly the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier in Anaheim, when there are no DVC villas available in VGC).

 

[sethschroeder]

Basically there are fringe things that will come and go over time. Even TOWL could be removed at some random point in the future (there used to be a lounge at BWV that was removed).

Your biggest benefit is going to be the AP discount when its offered. If you have an active AP of a different level possibly they will let you renew in to the DVC one but not clue.

Next up will be your access to moonlight magic events but you need to be staying at WDW typically to have a good shot at getting access.

Finally its all the fringe stuff that isn't worth much but you might find nice. Something like a food discount you likely will never use as the AP would be better and if you didn't have an AP you could get a Disney Credit Card for a discount lots of places.

The AP will be the only piece that "makes your money back" but thats only if you end up being able to get it and keep getting it in the future.

 

[kes601]

nally its all the fringe stuff that isn't worth much but you might find nice. Something like a food discount you likely will never use as the AP would be better and if you didn't have an AP you could get a Disney Credit Card for a discount lots of places.

In terms of food I’ve found the AP and DVC discount to be the same everywhere we have been. The only exception was Space 220 last Christmas when the DVC discount was actually more than the AP. Also most servers tell me if I pay with my Disney visa the discount would also be the same as the AP and DVC so they prefer that as it comes off automatically. They don’t have to modify the bill.

 

[sethschroeder]

In terms of food I’ve found the AP and DVC discount to be the same everywhere we have been. The only exception was Space 220 last Christmas when the DVC discount was actually more than the AP. Also most servers tell me if I pay with my Disney visa the discount would also be the same as the AP and DVC so they prefer that as it comes off automatically. They don’t have to modify the bill.

Here is the issues with the Disney Visa:

• It is more limited than AP/DVC (it changes over time but places won't have a discount or have it on lunch only)
• You need to carry the card with you (for me this is a no go and more likely to be lost/stolen when I don't carry a wallet at WDW)
• You need to charge to the card meaning you can not charge to the room and then apply a gift card to your room charge (Target gives us an extra 5% off and I can buy the gift cards online while at WDW for the balance I need)

 

[kes601]

Here is the issues with the Disney Visa:

• It is more limited than AP/DVC (it changes over time but places won't have a discount or have it on lunch only)
• You need to carry the card with you (for me this is a no go and more likely to be lost/stolen when I don't carry a wallet at WDW)
• You need to charge to the card meaning you can not charge to the room and then apply a gift card to your room charge (Target gives us an extra 5% off and I can buy the gift cards online while at WDW for the balance I need)

You are listing items that are problems for you (other than the first one).

I have no issue carrying my card and charge NOTHING to my room. Once had somebody’s Be Our Guest charged to our room somehow (this was back when they did quick serve breakfast).

For the record I always tell them I have AP and DVC. They just offer the information up when I pay with the Disney visa.

 

[bookbabe626]

Here is the issues with the Disney Visa:

• It is more limited than AP/DVC (it changes over time but places won't have a discount or have it on lunch only)
• You need to carry the card with you (for me this is a no go and more likely to be lost/stolen when I don't carry a wallet at WDW)
• You need to charge to the card meaning you can not charge to the room and then apply a gift card to your room charge (Target gives us an extra 5% off and I can buy the gift cards online while at WDW for the balance I need)

And there’s the even bigger issue for some of us, that they won’t issue it to non-US residents…doesn’t matter how big the discounts are if they won’t give you a card to access them. :-(

 

[Sandisw]

In terms of food I’ve found the AP and DVC discount to be the same everywhere we have been. The only exception was Space 220 last Christmas when the DVC discount was actually more than the AP. Also most servers tell me if I pay with my Disney visa the discount would also be the same as the AP and DVC so they prefer that as it comes off automatically. They don’t have to modify the bill.

Via Napoli is one where the DVC discount is better..it’s a must do for us.

There are also a few places at DS where DVC was a bit better than AP…Basin comes to mind.

The nice thing about the DVC one is that if you can benefit from the Sorcerer pass, you are already over $400 in savings compared to having to get the Incredi Pass to start.

But, there are definitely ways to get discounts outside of DVC membership extras.

 

[kes601]

Via Napoli is one where the DVC discount is better..it’s a must do for us.

There are also a few places at DS where DVC was a bit better than AP…Basin comes to mind.

The nice thing about the DVC one is that if you can benefit from the Sorcerer pass, you are already over $400 in savings compared to having to get the Incredi Pass to start.

But, there are definitely ways to get discounts outside of DVC membership extras.

In our case the Sorcerer Pass is not an option. I miss the discount on the previous version of the incredi-pass (we only got that for one year). Because we both work at schools we will always go at either Thanksgiving or Christmas as those or summer are the only times we can get longer trips.

ETA: Thanks for the Via Napoli tip. We are going to try it for the first time in December.

 

[sethschroeder]

You are listing items that are problems for you (other than the first one).

I have no issue carrying my card and charge NOTHING to my room. Once had somebody’s Be Our Guest charged to our room somehow (this was back when they did quick serve breakfast).

For the record I always tell them I have AP and DVC. They just offer the information up when I pay with the Disney visa.

Not really you simply overlook them.

1) It actually is more limited... you can look at Mouseperks and other locations and you will see a plethora of locations missing or with a lower discount (so this doesn't matter to you specifically but the DVC community as a whole will visit a wide variety of locations)
2) carry your card with you leaves you susceptible to: losing your card, having your card stolen, have someone steal your CC number, having someone clone your card (all of these things are prevalent in high tourist locations)
3) Not being able to charge to the room in addition to taking a discount means that you miss out on additional discount regardless if you buy Disney Gift Cards at Target, Costco, Sams Club, Kroger, Amazon, Resale site, ect so you essentially are missing out on the largest discount

So no is not a me problem you simply are choosing to ignore it which is fine for you.

Personally I don't know why someone wouldn't set up a target red card (tied to your bank not a credit card so its not even on your credit repot) and get the extra 5% discount on everything while at Disney and even for you dues.

 

[kes601]

Not really you simply overlook them.

1) It actually is more limited... you can look at Mouseperks and other locations and you will see a plethora of locations missing or with a lower discount (so this doesn't matter to you specifically but the DVC community as a whole will visit a wide variety of locations)
2) carry your card with you leaves you susceptible to: losing your card, having your card stolen, have someone steal your CC number, having someone clone your card (all of these things are prevalent in high tourist locations)
3) Not being able to charge to the room in addition to taking a discount means that you miss out on additional discount regardless if you buy Disney Gift Cards at Target, Costco, Sams Club, Kroger, Amazon, Resale site, ect so you essentially are missing out on the largest discount

So no is not a me problem you simply are choosing to ignore it which is fine for you.

Personally I don't know why someone wouldn't set up a target red card (tied to your bank not a credit card so its not even on your credit repot) and get the extra 5% discount on everything while at Disney and even for you dues.

Thanks for telling me that I’m doing things wrong. Your post was very enlightening.

 

[sethschroeder]

Thanks for telling me that I’m doing things wrong. Your post was very enlightening.

You can do whatever you want. YOU tried to say it was a ME issue. I am telling you this impacts a wide variety of people and why.

 

[CarolMN]

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No more arguing, please.

 

[Nursemanit]

Mouseperks is pretty outdated as far as dining discounts.

The 20% dvc restaurants are all gone, no DVC or Visa dining discount at all at Swan and Dolphin now.
The Visa has lost many locations and has blackout dates ( Xmas/ TH, SB, July 4, MD, LD).
For the Visa - F. Fish, Jiko , Wis Can Cafe, Le Cellier, Cítricos, and Kona are the only quality ones left.