Buying Direct But How Long a Member?

[_auroraborealis_]

If you save $6000, 5 years from now, you can buy a 50-point Reflections contract and have most of the cost covered, if you really decide you must stay at Reflections.

7 months at the new resorts may be rather difficult as resale buyers in 10-15 years have to use home resort or lose out entirely.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

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!

If BLT is hands down your favorite and you only do 1 trip a year so the perks really aren't a monetary benefit then buy BLT resale and stay where you want to stay saving some $$$$'s over booking a cash room thru Disney.

Otherwise there are other ways to stay at any DVC including renting points. And that same thing can be done to stay at any other new resorts that DVC might build. You're betting on increasing perks to encourging direct purchase. Is that worthy of a $6000 or more bet? If it turns out to be true you can always add on or sell your BLT and buy in direct. By that point they may not even be grandfathering people in on new perks or they may decided they need to go with a DVC II and no existing resorts will have a definite in or who knows what. I'd keep the money in my own bank account and if there really were something that DVC does down the line that was of importance I'd reevaluate at that time. And in the mean time I'd have several years of staying at my favorite resort plus if nothing ever came along I'd have even more total years of staying at my favorite resort plus the $6k + growth on that money. Win!

 

[countrypilot]

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.

I love the Boardwalk studio and location as my kids can sleep separately. Looking at a small point there to go every other year. I want to add another though beyond 2042. But if you were going to buy for the price at a 1BR Villa that sleep 5 where would you buy? OKW looks to be the obvious choice for price and size, but I hate only having one bathroom especially when it is in the master. AK's Value only sleeps 4 and BLT costs a ton of points.

 

[quandrea]

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.

Why OKW? You said yourself—cheapest and lengthiest route. It’s actually a decent deal through Disney direct.

Besides, OKW is lovely. A one bedroom sleeps five (on two sleeping surfaces), the villas are huge.

I also think it’s better to have the 100 all at one resort. Just easier and more power at the eleven month mark.

 

[MICKIMINI]

We've been OKW since 1996. The 1 BR is huge with open space including kitchen/dining/living room and we've stayed in the studio, 2 BR and 3 BR over the years - you can't go wrong. The outside space is great for dining and resort vibe beautiful...I love something about all the resorts but I would say OKW still feels like home with BRV coming in second and AKL third. Everyone has a different opinion and I think generally, books at 11 months at home with no guarantee of changing at 7 months. Owning what you love now and in the future is crucial. Additionally, you will regret not buying enough points and will be back buying again if you don't.

 

[countrypilot]

We've been OKW since 1996. The 1 BR is huge with open space including kitchen/dining/living room and we've stayed in the studio, 2 BR and 3 BR over the years - you can't go wrong. The outside space is great for dining and resort vibe beautiful...I love something about all the resorts but I would say OKW still feels like home with BRV coming in second and AKL third. Everyone has a different opinion and I think generally, books at 11 months at home with no guarantee of changing at 7 months. Owning what you love now and in the future is crucial. Additionally, you will regret not buying enough points and will be back buying again if you don't.

Does the 1 bathroom at OKW bother you or create problems?

 

[MICKIMINI]

It's just DH and I at this point. We get a separate studio for our son and DIL in the same building so we all have privacy but can have meals together. The open area with the soaking tub is weird but DH uses that sink and I put all my stuff at the other sink. The 1 BR's at OKW have a door into laundry and then a door into the bathroom with ANOTHER door into the tub/sink area in the MB...lots of doors. We stayed when our son was young (1996 - until high school) and it never bothered us. I think the HH units have less privacy but haven't stayed in that area since there WAS a Hospitality House!

 

[countrypilot]

Why OKW? You said yourself—cheapest and lengthiest route. It’s actually a decent deal through Disney direct.

Besides, OKW is lovely. A one bedroom sleeps five (on two sleeping surfaces), the villas are huge.

I also think it’s better to have the 100 all at one resort. Just easier and more power at the eleven month mark.

I've seen different layouts. Is there a pullout sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair? Some pics make it look like the sofa isn't a pullout. I like everything about it minus the one bathroom.

I'm glad to hear you think $165 isn't bad direct. $16,500 is about my max direct. The other option is that many points from BLT resale, but I just don't think that many points gets me far enough. I love BLT as I'm a rope drop person, but staying a week would likely offer more reason to relax and enjoy a "little" time away from the middle of everything.

 

[quandrea]

I've seen different layouts. Is there a pullout sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair? Some pics make it look like the sofa isn't a pullout. I like everything about it minus the one bathroom.

I'm glad to hear you think $165 isn't bad direct. $16,500 is about my max direct. The other option is that many points from BLT resale, but I just don't think that many points gets me far enough. I love BLT as I'm a rope drop person, but staying a week would likely offer more reason to relax and enjoy a "little" time away from the middle of everything.

It’s a sleeper chair and a queen pullout. With the recent refurb, they purchased quality Ethan Allen pullouts that are very comfortable.

We are a family of five. The one bath nearly functions like two. You have two sinks, a tub in one room, a shower in another. Just missing a second toilet, which isn’t perfect, but it really doesn’t cause a problem. If you get a room with a building number higher than thirty, I believe, you’ll have access through the laundry to the washroom. No need to go through the master.

You can always look for 2057 OKW in the resale market. Just need to be patient. I think they are selling around $100.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

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.

I have a question about this. So which is it--whatever the minimum is at the time you purchase is what you must maintain to keep the blue card benefits, or whatever the minimum is when one contract expires? So for example, I have a 100-point AKV contract and two 50-point HHI contracts, all bought direct. At the time I purchased them in 2008 (AKV) and 2009 (HHI), there were no direct benefits versus resale restrictions, but to purchase direct, you had to buy 100 points. So in 2042 when my HHI contracts expire, I will still have 100 points, so will I still be able to keep the benefits? Or does that mean that if the requirements are say 150 points, I will lose all my benefits since I will only have 100 left. I hope this makes sense.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Your 100 pt AKV will cover you as you are grandfathered for your blue card when the HH's fall off in 2042. If you sell your AKV you are also grandfathered with your HH 50 and 50 pt contracts combined for 100 pts until 2042...unless you sell one 50 pt and then you will loose your blue card. I hope that makes sense!

New purchasers are required to buy 100 points direct to get a blue card.

PS Congrats on retirement!!

EDIT I may have had a brain cramp - I reread your post and you bought in 2009...I don't think there were any restrictions at that time? We bought in 1996, 2000, 2007, 2017 and 2018 and my memory is failing - sorry!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Your 100 pt AKV will cover you as you are grandfathered for your blue card when the HH's fall off in 2042. If you sell your AKV you are also grandfathered with your HH 50 and 50 pt contracts combined for 100 pts until 2042...unless you sell one 50 pt and then you will loose your blue card. I hope that makes sense!

New purchasers are required to buy 100 points direct to get a blue card.

PS Congrats on retirement!!

EDIT I may have had a brain cramp - I reread your post and you bought in 2009...I don't think there were any restrictions at that time? We bought in 1996, 2000, 2007, 2017 and 2018 and my memory is failing - sorry!

Thanks for the reply. No, there were no restrictions when we bought in 2009. Ok, so I'm grandfathered in at 100 points, so whatever the requirements are in 2042 when my HHI contract expires, I won't be affected (as long as I keep the AKV contract), correct?

 

[lovin'fl]

I'd do 100 SSR. Longer contract and great location next to DS. Best overall buy in and dues deal as well.

 

[crvetter]

Thanks for the reply. No, there were no restrictions when we bought in 2009. Ok, so I'm grandfathered in at 100 points, so whatever the requirements are in 2042 when my HHI contract expires, I won't be affected (as long as I keep the AKV contract), correct?

You are grandfathered in no matter which of the 3 contracts you mention you keep. Since when you bought there was no requirements on size or direct ownership, so all your contracts individually got you blue card benefits. So you could scale down to the 50 point contract at HHI and still keep the blue card. But you have to keep one of three contracts if you get rid of all 3 (or they expire) you need to meet whatever minimum is at the time to get the blue card.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for the reply. No, there were no restrictions when we bought in 2009. Ok, so I'm grandfathered in at 100 points, so whatever the requirements are in 2042 when my HHI contract expires, I won't be affected (as long as I keep the AKV contract), correct?

You're just plain old grandfathered in as long as you keep a contract that you had bought back in 2009 even it's just 25 points you would own after 2042.

If you happened to sell them all then decided to re-purchased you'd have to buy enough direct points as were required at the time you were buying back in again.

 

[Sandisw]

I have a question about this. So which is it--whatever the minimum is at the time you purchase is what you must maintain to keep the blue card benefits, or whatever the minimum is when one contract expires? So for example, I have a 100-point AKV contract and two 50-point HHI contracts, all bought direct. At the time I purchased them in 2008 (AKV) and 2009 (HHI), there were no direct benefits versus resale restrictions, but to purchase direct, you had to buy 100 points. So in 2042 when my HHI contracts expire, I will still have 100 points, so will I still be able to keep the benefits? Or does that mean that if the requirements are say 150 points, I will lose all my benefits since I will only have 100 left. I hope this makes sense.

That information would only apply to people who bought contracts after 2016 when 5e restrictions went in to place.

For you, you’d be fine as you bought in 2009. OP wanted to buy two 50 points now to get to 100 minimum but wondered what would happen if they sold one of the contracts, That would drop them below the 100 and they would lose benefits.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

You're just plain old grandfathered in as long as you keep a contract that you had bought back in 2009 even it's just 25 points you would own after 2042.

If you happened to sell them all then decided to re-purchased you'd have to buy enough direct points as were required at the time you were buying back in again.

That information would only apply to people who bought contracts after 2016 when 5e restrictions went in to place.

For you, you’d be fine as you bought in 2009. OP wanted to buy two 50 points now to get to 100 minimum but wondered what would happen if they sold one of the contracts, That would drop them below the 100 and they would lose benefits.

Thank you both. Makes total sense. The OP's question just got me thinking about how all that works. I had never thought of it.

To the OP, good luck deciding what you want to do!

 

[sethschroeder]

Personally, I think Disney is likely to sweeten the perks in future years to promote direct.

What perks do you see? I look at the resale restriction as them "adding" perks to direct. Any perks they add have to be taken out of the sale of direct contracts not MFs so I can't see them adding much of actual value.

If anything I think the resale restrictions allow them in the next 20 years to take away other perks completely unless the event itself makes money (example: option to DVC Cruise where you pay more than a normal cruise). Right now to get you to buy direct they need to lure you with things like cheaper APs, special events, limited access. In the future buying direct will simply be the only way to stay anywhere you want on site.

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.

I don't see how its of value, can you answer my questions then and "sell" me on it.

• There are pretty much zero prime locations left at WDW (I am buying DVC for prime location + "deluxe" accommodations)
• We have an idea of the next 8 years of development (8 of 42 years, with "value" being front end loaded in most peoples minds) and these 3 resorts are either equal or lesser versions of existing resorts (RIV subpar location compared to BCV/BWV, REF is extension of CCV, DL is subpar location and not even permitted vs VGC)
• Any new exciting location likely would be impossible to get at 7 months (Land, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong) as people buying there would be doing it to get access to "their" home park that they visit yearly

 

[Sandisw]

What perks do you see? I look at the resale restriction as them "adding" perks to direct. Any perks they add have to be taken out of the sale of direct contracts not MFs so I can't see them adding much of actual value.

If anything I think the resale restrictions allow them in the next 20 years to take away other perks completely unless the event itself makes money (example: option to DVC Cruise where you pay more than a normal cruise). Right now to get you to buy direct they need to lure you with things like cheaper APs, special events, limited access. In the future buying direct will simply be the only way to stay anywhere you want on site.



I don't see how its of value, can you answer my questions then and "sell" me on it.

• There are pretty much zero prime locations left at WDW (I am buying DVC for prime location + "deluxe" accommodations)
• We have an idea of the next 8 years of development (8 of 42 years, with "value" being front end loaded in most peoples minds) and these 3 resorts are either equal or lesser versions of existing resorts (RIV subpar location compared to BCV/BWV, REF is extension of CCV, DL is subpar location and not even permitted vs VGC)
• Any new exciting location likely would be impossible to get at 7 months (Land, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong) as people buying there would be doing it to get access to "their" home park that they visit yearly

My understanding is that many of the perks like MM come out of a marketing budget. The shopping and ticket discounts come from deals made with parks and resorts, so we Certainly could see some additional perks added like special ticket discounts in addition to AP, special merchandise discounts above and beyond like they do for CMs..my DD 27 gets 40% during the fall..

In terms of future resorts, while you may believe those locations as subpar, many will not and will decide they offer a benefit to own there. I know my times in the parks has drastically changed in 11 years as an owner and I spend a lot more time at resorts. Some of the new resorts could have aspects that make spending time at at the resort a plus.

Plus, while a long time from now, BCV and BWV will be new resorts in 22 years. Those buying now may want to own with points that allow the, to continue stays there down the road.

 

[countrypilot]

Why do you think BWV will be new? They’ll extend contracts with an option or tear down and build new?