Buying Direct But How Long a Member?

[countrypilot]

I’m considering buying direct with two small 50 point contracts at two different resorts just to get the blue card for the perks. Personally, I think Disney is likely to sweeten the perks in future years to promote direct. My question is if one contract expires in 2042 and the other one in 2060, then do I keep my official membership status until 2060? I’m hoping the answer is yes as I plan on adding more future year contracts via resale.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

No. As you will have purchased when 100 points were required, when you drop to 50 you will no longer be a member

 

[BillPA]

I would not assume today's restrictions will be the same in 2042.

 

[countrypilot]

I would not assume today's restrictions will be the same in 2042.

Can you please explain further what you mean? I wouldn’t buy direct at a property that expires in 2042 if my membership expired then too.

 

[countrypilot]

Thank you for the replies! I love BLT but the direct at 100 points is steep.

 

[countrypilot]

Well that certainly changes my calculation and plans if losing membership when half expires.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Well that certainly changes my calculation and plans if losing membership when half expires.

What you do not own cannot qualify you for membership. When a resort expires, you no longer own it.

 

[Sandisw]

I will add that right now, as a new member, they may not let you buy 50 and 50 at two resorts. I think it would depend on resorts,

But, as mentioned, you’d lose benefits and to get them back, you’d be required to meet whatever minimum is in place then.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Why not buy 100 points at one resort so you maintain the 2060 expiration OR have DVC split it into two 50 point contracts at the same resort (closing costs will increase) which will fetch a premium should you ever need to sell. At some point you can purchase resale at the 2042 resort you are considering. Perks aren't valuable to many people considering the premium you pay for direct and DVC can change them at any time. DVC just went from 75 to 100 minimum and my personal suspicion is that is more likely to go up again so IMHO just get it over with if you really need the blue card!

 

[AKNOTTS66]

If you are worried about cost and contract length to get the 100 points direct then I'd choose either Riviera ($195 direct)(exp 2070) or Animal Kingdom Lodge ($186 direct) (exp 2057). Also keep in mind if you buy 2 50 point contracts you will be looking at double the closing costs since you will be closing 2 separate contracts now. I would just but 100 points at 1 resort.

 

[countrypilot]

If you are worried about cost and contract length to get the 100 points direct then I'd choose either Riviera ($195 direct)(exp 2070) or Animal Kingdom Lodge ($186 direct) (exp 2057). Also keep in mind if you buy 2 50 point contracts you will be looking at double the closing costs since you will be closing 2 separate contracts now. I would just but 100 points at 1 resort.

I like Animal Kingdom from what I've read about it. 100 points there probably makes the most sense although as my family grows I like Old Key West (2057) and its cheaper. Bay Lake Tower is our favorite but the direct price is so steep now!

 

[quandrea]

I’d go for OKW direct. 100 Pts.

 

[countrypilot]

Why not buy 100 points at one resort so you maintain the 2060 expiration OR have DVC split it into two 50 point contracts at the same resort (closing costs will increase) which will fetch a premium should you ever need to sell. At some point you can purchase resale at the 2042 resort you are considering. Perks aren't valuable to many people considering the premium you pay for direct and DVC can change them at any time. DVC just went from 75 to 100 minimum and my personal suspicion is that is more likely to go up again so IMHO just get it over with if you really need the blue card!

I don't really need the blue card as we only visit every year or every other year. I just like the idea of being a full member. I know its just for emotional reasons. BLT at 100 points direct is just plain ridiculous. If I did buy direct and spend that much money then I would split it into 2x50. I'm thinking the buy direct at Old Key West or Animal Kingdom might make the most sense.

 

[countrypilot]

I’d go for OKW direct. 100 Pts.

Why OKW @ 100? Definitely the cheapest and lengthiest route. My kids are 9 & 6, so I think for at least the next 10 years we can grow as a family there. Both will soon require there own separate sleeping spots. Then on occasion I can see pooling 300 points for a two bedroom villas.

 

[MICKIMINI]

"I don't really need the blue card as we only visit every year or every other year. I just like the idea of being a full member."

Trust me, NO ONE asks to see your blue or white card...in 1996 at OKW we had to show our cards as we didn't have computers or magic bands, however there wasn't a secondary market that I know of either so everyone paid full price. Now people have the opportunity to get a huge discount by buying on the secondary market which I think is the biggest perk of all!

 

[mustinjourney]

I don't really need the blue card as we only visit every year or every other year. I just like the idea of being a full member. I know its just for emotional reasons. BLT at 100 points direct is just plain ridiculous. If I did buy direct and spend that much money then I would split it into 2x50. I'm thinking the buy direct at Old Key West or Animal Kingdom might make the most sense.

The average difference between resale and direct pricing for the resorts is around $60 per point...so you're willing to drop an extra $6000 for warm fuzzies? If the answer is yes, that's fine. Everyone has differing thoughts on what is important -- but if it were me -- I'd rather have another 25-50 points every year going forward for that $6000.

I can tell you right now that the moonlight magic things aren't worth more than maybe $100 a person (if you can even attend one), and the epcot lounge is not all that great. I've only gone in three times over the course of 12 trips.

 

[countrypilot]

The average difference between resale and direct pricing for the resorts is around $60 per point...so you're willing to drop an extra $6000 for warm fuzzies? If the answer is yes, that's fine. Everyone has differing thoughts on what is important -- but if it were me -- I'd rather have another 25-50 points every year going forward for that $6000.

I can tell you right now that the moonlight magic things aren't worth more than maybe $100 a person (if you can even attend one), and the epcot lounge is not all that great. I've only gone in three times over the course of 12 trips.

The biggest perk that no one seems to mention is being able to have 100 points at future built resorts for the next 42 years if buying BLT direct. I do get that the points at these newer resorts are likely to be very high, one could always rent there and the best real estate is already take by current DVC resorts. Your $6,000 point is well taken.

 

[mustinjourney]

The biggest perk that no one seems to mention is being able to have 100 points at future built resorts for the next 42 years if buying BLT direct. I do get that the points at these newer resorts are likely to be very high, one could always rent there and the best real estate is already take by current DVC resorts. Your $6,000 point is well taken.

this is true -- but as you noted, the workaround for that is to rent your points out and maybe transfer in points from someone else. yes -- a slight pain in the *** -- but I'm guessing it's not something you'd be doing a whole lot (especially with only 100 points -- you're talking less than a week at newer (high point cost) resorts)...so it's not that big of a PITA.

Additionally -- if in 3 or 4 years you decide that Reflections or whatever else is new (new DL hotel?) is somewhere you'll want to stay more often, you could always add-on direct points there.

Perhaps sell your resale contract to help fund the new purchase. Hopefully your resale contract will have gained at least 10% in value during that time, meaning that your 3 or 4 years of usage would only cost you the yearly MFs (10% is approximate cost of commission and closing costs for selling resale contracts).

 

[MICKIMINI]

There is no guarantee you can book that new resort at 7 months or even have enough points (based on 100/yr) to get the villa your family needs for more than a couple nights...lots of ifs I honestly would not pay that much for. Since 1996 we have stayed at or toured every single resort (except Riviera) plus HH and VB and while there are nice things about each resort there are equally as many things we don't like about each resort, but we know each resort.
You can always rent out your points and pay the difference for a rental at that new resort which is about $4.50 per point (based on a broker's price of $15.50 you get paid pp and $20.00 you pay to rent). At $450 per 100 points rental it would take you 13 times to get that 6K back at todays prices.

 

[rg35]

The biggest perk that no one seems to mention is being able to have 100 points at future built resorts for the next 42 years if buying BLT direct. I do get that the points at these newer resorts are likely to be very high, one could always rent there and the best real estate is already take by current DVC resorts. Your $6,000 point is well taken.

This is really just FOMO though. We have owned DVC (resale) since 2012 and have only stayed at AKV and OKW. Of course when we purchased, there were fewer resale restrictions than there are now. However, I would still buy resale today. It wouldn't bother me not being able to stay at Reflections or Riviera or whatever resort might be built in 20 years since even now we aren't particularly interested in trying out the other resorts. Checking out other resorts when we make dining reservations at resort restaurants is really enough to satisfy our curiosity. The main reason we purchased DVC was to enjoy vacations today and not be worrying about what might come tomorrow, so my buying philosophy would always be to buy maximum points rather than worrying about ancillary resale benefits and perks that can change at any time. Since buying we have never gone to the Epcot lounge, bought AP's only once, and gone to only one membership magic event.