Blue Card decision for Poly, Copper Creek, or VDH?

[🍀TwinsMom]

Another possible option: Would it be a poor decision to own 50 point contracts at all 3 resorts I love so much, or maybe 100 at Poly, 50 at VDH, and 50 resale for Boulder Ridge, and just bank and borrow points alternating them each year, and using resale points to back up any extra days I need at the 7 month mark? Would love to hear feedback from anyone who buys these small point contracts direct. I would miss out on big point incentives, but it would give me more diversity in my home resort priority, and easier for me to stomach paying cash (if I spaced out buying each one over a year or two).

Personally, I would hate this.

You said in your introduction you anticipate needing larger rooms for your group, and 50 points anywhere is barely enough with banking and borrowing for a week in a studio. As well, you want to travel a peak DVC week in early December, at one of the hardest-to-book resorts (Wilderness Lodge,) but also love the Poly Island Tower (PIT) which has a very expensive point chart.

I think you're always going to be short points to do anything, and you'll always have to do split stays, possibly multiple splits during a week.

Splits can be okay with a studio of people, but we often travel with extended family now in dedicated 2Bs, and once 7+people have unpacked, bought groceries and alcohol, unpacked toiletries, medications, and the zillion chargers for all the devices that need charging, the thought of packing up all that crap and moving every two or three days is NOT appealing. And we are COO folks who are beyond anal with streamlining packing, have color-coded luggage and packing cubes, LOL, and I do laundry every night so we can pack even LESS, and I still feel like we have a lot of stuff to deal with. Multiply that times how many people are in the room, shopping for souvenirs, and eventually those grandchildren with PNP/strollers/diaper bags/bottles and all the other miscellaneous gear -- again, the firing squad is looking more appealing than packing and unpacking multiple times.

Are you okay with Kidani, OKW, and/or SS as fillers for when you're short on points for 2Bs?

BC is a super small resort with dedicated owners who book up rooms fast.
BW is the same and doesn't have dedicated 2Bs.
AKJ doesn't have dedicated 2Bs and can be hard to book during early December.
BLT, owners scoop up the lower point views, but I think there's a little bit of wiggle room for the mid-tier views.
BR/CC you need to own there to get in there from Thanksgiving to New Year's. You may get a waitlist to come through at any of these resorts, but I certainly wouldn't count on it for peak weeks.

Once you get into Rivera, PIT, VGF, those are high points charts, even for the lesser views.

 

[Makai]

Why are you doing multiple memberships?

I had trouble with my March UY for the Princess race, and wait list. A September UY for my Disney races, and also November/December trips will be much better to build upon over the years. I will view March for just my Hilton Head points and trips. My Aulani sub contract in March will need to be transferred over as needed for extra points when we don’t need it for Aulani.

The perks of having two UY for the extra wait lists, and better Moonlight Magic odds is appealing too.

 

[Makai]

Are you okay with Kidani, OKW, and/or SS as fillers for when you're short on points for 2Bs?

Yes, we love all the DVC resorts, and it’s fun to switch them up. I agree that ideally I wouldn’t want to do split stays because it’s a pain to pack up once you’ve moved in. We’ve done split stays the majority of our past cash trips, but when I finally did the same hotel for a whole week we all commented how nice it was to really move in. Split stays are just the back up plan if wait lists don’t come through for 7 month fill in days.

For Wilderness Lodge I would be buying resale points to get that full 11 month priority, and will add upon it as I get the cash. Right now I am just focusing on getting the 150 buy in direct before they change it again. I know we may need more points as our family grows, but will only pay cash for them right now. I don’t want higher annual dues until I actually need them.

 

[Brian Noble]

The perks of having two UY for the extra wait lists, and better Moonlight Magic odds is appealing too.

This is the tail wagging the dog. You are talking about a small enough total purchase that the convenience of having them all in one membership will almost certainly outweigh the benefits of the infrequent extra waitlist, and the benefit of extra waitlsits with small point holdings is dubious. For example, a waitlist is useless if you do not have the points availble to confirm it.

Right now I am just focusing on getting the 150 buy in direct before they change it again. I know we may need more points as our family grows, but will only pay cash for them right now.

I think this is reasonable. But, until you have (mostly) enough points at one resort to book a full trip at that resort in your desired unit size with at most two years' worth of points, I would not spread my buying around too thinly. It's also worth noting that a long-term buying strategy at a 2042 resort cannot be that long term.

 

[Makai]

This is the tail wagging the dog. You are talking about a small enough total purchase that the convenience of having them all in one membership will almost certainly outweigh the benefits of the infrequent extra waitlist, and the benefit of extra waitlsits with small point holdings is dubious. For example, a waitlist is useless if you do not have the points availble to confirm it.


I think this is reasonable. But, until you have (mostly) enough points at one resort to book a full trip at that resort in your desired unit size with at most two years' worth of points, I would not spread my buying around too thinly. It's also worth noting that a long-term buying strategy at a 2042 resort cannot be that long term.

My plan for Boulder Ridge is still in the unknown phase. I do want to buy direct there once 2042 hits, and hoping owners of it will get the option for a direct discount to buy the new one. I wouldn’t be going big on points there with resale though over the years. Any SAP points I buy will be with Aulani.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This is the tail wagging the dog. You are talking about a small enough total purchase that the convenience of having them all in one membership will almost certainly outweigh the benefits of the infrequent extra waitlist, and the benefit of extra waitlsits with small point holdings is dubious. For example, a waitlist is useless if you do not have the points availble to confirm it.


I think this is reasonable. But, until you have (mostly) enough points at one resort to book a full trip at that resort in your desired unit size with at most two years' worth of points, I would not spread my buying around too thinly. It's also worth noting that a long-term buying strategy at a 2042 resort cannot be that long term.

 

[Chili327]

Another possible option: Would it be a poor decision to own 50 point contracts at all 3 resorts I love so much, or maybe 100 at Poly, 50 at VDH, and 50 resale for Boulder Ridge, and just bank and borrow points alternating them each year, and using resale points to back up any extra days I need at the 7 month mark? Would love to hear feedback from anyone who buys these small point contracts direct. I would miss out on big point incentives, but it would give me more diversity in my home resort priority, and easier for me to stomach paying cash (if I spaced out buying each one over a year or two).

Not unless you plan to do split stays of 3 nights or less per resort.

Why are you doing multiple memberships?

Even if same membership it sounds like a booking nightmare.

My plan for Boulder Ridge is still in the unknown phase. I do want to buy direct there once 2042 hits, and hoping owners of it will get the option for a direct discount to buy the new one. I wouldn’t be going big on points there with resale though over the years. Any SAP points I buy will be with Aulani.

Making ANY kind of plans now based on something that may very well never happen (& is 15 years in the future) is not a sound way to go. IMO

 

[Girlstar30]

I would only say this is a smart move if you want studios for a couple nights at VDH.

Buying direct is so smooth you will have those points asap!

 

[Girlstar30]

I’m sure a guide would possibly call you today if you wanted to buy today.

 

[Makai]

I’ve been reading your thread on VDH today, & I’m back to feeling a strong emotional pull to own there. I will be staying at the Disneyland Hotel for the Dumbo Dare race, and going to give VDH another look. The rooms are really starting to grow on me after watching more video tours. After watching videos of the Disneyland Forward plans, it seems crazy for me to pass up this opportunity to buy in direct there with our history and love of the Disneyland Hotel. Those annual dues increases are the only thing holding me back with VDH. I’m tempted to buy both Poly and VDH, even though I will miss out on bigger point incentives to split between them because I visit both locations every year, even if my whole family isn’t there.

I was able to rule out CCV because DH doesn’t care about the 11mo December priority for any specific resort. His only criteria is the best direct price spread between resale, low dues, and highest resale value in the future.

 

[Girlstar30]

I’ve been reading your thread on VDH today, & I’m back to feeling a strong emotional pull to own there. I will be staying at the Disneyland Hotel for the Dumbo Dare race, and going to give VDH another look. The rooms are really starting to grow on me after watching more video tours. After watching videos of the Disneyland Forward plans, it seems crazy for me to pass up this opportunity to buy in direct there with our history and love of the Disneyland Hotel. Those annual dues increases are the only thing holding me back with VDH. I’m tempted to buy both Poly and VDH, even though I will miss out on bigger point incentives to split between them because I visit both locations every year, even if my whole family isn’t there.

I was able to rule out CCV because DH doesn’t care about the 11mo December priority for any specific resort. His only criteria is the best direct price spread between resale, low dues, and highest resale value in the future.

This brings me so much joy. I am hoping that someone buys because of that thread

We almost bought Poly but owning at the Disneyland hotel is so special! Its the original since 1955! Walt was involved in the main buildings. The room layout is beautiful, its so tropical and fun.

It is true that Poly has a lot going for it too with the low dues and highest resale value in the future, but I think vdh resale value is going to be high too. I also dont like what dvc did to the point chart at Poly, that bothered me a lot. I feel they did Poly owners dirty with the reallocating views and making the longhouses higher.

I wish we could see how "sold out" the resort is just to track it! I think you should go with what you feel the most drawn to and where you will stay the most Were already spending thousands, so not picking somewhere you love over saving a little bit more on dues is crazy to me

 

[Makai]

This brings me so much joy. I am hoping that someone buys because of that thread

We almost bought Poly but owning at the Disneyland hotel is so special! Its the original since 1955! Walt was involved in the main buildings. The room layout is beautiful, its so tropical and fun.

It is true that Poly has a lot going for it too with the low dues and highest resale value in the future, but I think vdh resale value is going to be high too. I also dont like what dvc did to the point chart at Poly, that bothered me a lot. I feel they did Poly owners dirty with the reallocating views and making the longhouses higher.

I wish we could see how "sold out" the resort is just to track it! I think you should go with what you feel the most drawn to and where you will stay the most Were already spending thousands, so not picking somewhere you love over saving a little bit more on dues is crazy to me

I agree! I thought I had ruled out VDH but my emotional connection is going to win over the higher annual dues. It doesn’t get much better than the vibe of the Disneyland Hotel, and beautiful grounds for me. Such a special historic place! Wish they had kept the Steakhouse 55 restaurant. It was our favorite, and we had dined there when it was called Granville’s. They had the best breakfast menu too! One of my earliest Disney memories as a child was on the monorail looking longingly at the Disneyland Hotel, dreaming of staying there.

I agree that VDH should remain high in resale value, even with the restrictions, with all that is coming to Disneyland with the expansion. Even though the DH wants that high resale value, I have no intention of ever selling!

 

[juliebee]

I feel they did Poly owners dirty with the reallocating views and making the longhouses higher.

What would have been worse is keeping substandard views cost the amount of Theme Park views. I think it's great they realized they screwed up on the view category for some rooms and lowered the view status and points for those rooms to make it be accurate. They did have to balance that out somewhere, but it's good they aren't putting people in a "theme park" view that clearly has zero view of a park.

 

[VGCgroupie]

What would have been worse is keeping substandard views cost the amount of Theme Park views. I think it's great they realized they screwed up on the view category for some rooms and lowered the view status and points for those rooms to make it be accurate. They did have to balance that out somewhere, but it's good they aren't putting people in a "theme park" view that clearly has zero view of a park.

Agree.

 

[intamin]

I agree! I thought I had ruled out VDH but my emotional connection is going to win over the higher annual dues. It doesn’t get much better than the vibe of the Disneyland Hotel, and beautiful grounds for me. Such a special historic place! Wish they had kept the Steakhouse 55 restaurant. It was our favorite, and we had dined there when it was called Granville’s. They had the best breakfast menu too! One of my earliest Disney memories as a child was on the monorail looking longingly at the Disneyland Hotel, dreaming of staying there.

I agree that VDH should remain high in resale value, even with the restrictions, with all that is coming to Disneyland with the expansion. Even though the DH wants that high resale value, I have no intention of ever selling!

Don't get me started on SH55. I couldn't believe they shut down that restaurant. The ribeye I had from there 10 years ago was one of the best steaks I've had on property and it makes me sad it's no longer there.

 

[Girlstar30]

I agree! I thought I had ruled out VDH but my emotional connection is going to win over the higher annual dues. It doesn’t get much better than the vibe of the Disneyland Hotel, and beautiful grounds for me. Such a special historic place! Wish they had kept the Steakhouse 55 restaurant. It was our favorite, and we had dined there when it was called Granville’s. They had the best breakfast menu too! One of my earliest Disney memories as a child was on the monorail looking longingly at the Disneyland Hotel, dreaming of staying there.

I agree that VDH should remain high in resale value, even with the restrictions, with all that is coming to Disneyland with the expansion. Even though the DH wants that high resale value, I have no intention of ever selling!

Just do what im doing and split it up that will help with that too. Im sure you read us talking about that, but the 50 pointers sell for a great amount, just as high as poly or even higher.

No one understands why they got rid of steakhouse 55. The teas were always sold out and packed. The dinner was good too!

Really is a mystery what they were thinking there, but hopefully they put another restaurant there thats just as good!

 

[Girlstar30]

What would have been worse is keeping substandard views cost the amount of Theme Park views. I think it's great they realized they screwed up on the view category for some rooms and lowered the view status and points for those rooms to make it be accurate. They did have to balance that out somewhere, but it's good they aren't putting people in a "theme park" view that clearly has zero view of a park.

True, but dumping the mistake on the owners of paying more points because they allocated them to views that never existed, some owners which may have bought just enough points for their longhouse stays, rather than selling less points, is a shady move and shouldnt be legal.

I understand that they draw up these plans before they know exactly, apparently, but just dumping the issue on the owners is wild to me, especially at a resort that already has a very high point chart

 

[Makai]

Don't get me started on SH55. I couldn't believe they shut down that restaurant. The ribeye I had from there 10 years ago was one of the best steaks I've had on property and it makes me sad it's no longer there.

It was the best ribeye we’ve ever had too! I will never understand why they shut down that amazing restaurant. The menu was divine.

 

[Brian Noble]

my emotional connection

Do not discount the emotional component of this. The Purchasing DVC board tends to do deep dives into the best financial value. And that's important! But, financial value is only part of value. If you really love Resort X, then it might be worth owning at Resort X for the 11-month window, even if it is not the smartest financial decision.

Money is for spending. If you are spending $30K+ anyway, you may as well spend a few more dollars buying the thing you really want instead of the think that is sort of okay.

 

[Chili327]

No one understands why they got rid of steakhouse 55. The teas were always sold out and packed. The dinner was good too!

Really is a mystery what they were thinking there, but hopefully they put another restaurant there thats just as good!

It was the best ribeye we’ve ever had too! I will never understand why they shut down that amazing restaurant. The menu was divine.

Agreed, I REALLY hoped they would reopen after everything settled from the shutdown.
*fingers crossed*