Buying DVC directly at WDW: Question about Purchasing and Payment Process on Property

[DisneyLifeBalance]

Hi everybody,
my husband and I are both long time readers from Germany. We love this forum so much and finally decided to join the Disboards today due to a rather urgent DVC question:

After years of research and consideration we finally decided that we will become direct DVC members at the VGF during our upcoming stay at WDW in early May this year. Nevertheless, we are not 100% sure how the process on property will look like, especially the payment process for non US residents.
External financing (e.g. through a loan from Disney) is not needed, but we are unsure how the actual payment conditions will be after signing the contract. We understand that a 10% downpayment is needed for a start, but could not figure out through research how and when the remaining amount needs to be paid to Disney.

It would be fantastic to get your insights/help on that matter!
Many thanks!

 

[ocdb8r1]

Welcome!

Disney will give you wire transfer details. They can be flexible on closing timeline, but the quicker you can get a wire processed, the sooner you'll get access to your points. I would suggest you look at Wise (formerly Transferwise) who typically has some of the most competitive exchange rates and low fees (almost certainly lower than any European bank will charge - I say this based on my experience here in Amsterdam).

Note that anything over $7500 in value will typically trigger some additional anti money laundering checks so be prepared to provide some documentation as to the source of the funds in your bank account ahead of the transfer (usually a few months of bank statements showing where income has come from along with identification documents for the account holders).

 

[Best Aunt]

Not sure what your goal is. Do you want to pay more than the minimum while you are there? Do you want to know how much you can put on a credit card?

 

[Royal Consort]

Congratulations!!! I am an Australian member and as the previous poster stated, Wise has been a godsend. I paid off the contract with it, although I did it an odd way. Took out financing with Disney in the US and then when I got home moved money around and paid it off.

 

[Her Dotness]

We're in the US but wanted Disney Rewards points when buying into VGF direct.

Our guide worked out halving the total price, paying the first immediately and the second the following month so that we wouldn't exceed our credit limit. The bank agreed to increase our limit by a few thousand dollars once we explained why we were asking for an increase.

That way, we kept up our practice of paying off charges in full each month, too.

If using a credit card is something you're considering, it may be possible for you to do that.

 

[DisneyLifeBalance]

Welcome!

Disney will give you wire transfer details. They can be flexible on closing timeline, but the quicker you can get a wire processed, the sooner you'll get access to your points. I would suggest you look at Wise (formerly Transferwise) who typically has some of the most competitive exchange rates and low fees (almost certainly lower than any European bank will charge - I say this based on my experience here in Amsterdam).

Note that anything over $7500 in value will typically trigger some additional anti money laundering checks so be prepared to provide some documentation as to the source of the funds in your bank account ahead of the transfer (usually a few months of bank statements showing where income has come from along with identification documents for the account holders).

Thank you so much! Great to hear from a European DVC member that Disney shows some flexibility on the closing timeline. We will definitely look at Wise for the transaction.

 

[DisneyLifeBalance]

Not sure what your goal is. Do you want to pay more than the minimum while you are there? Do you want to know how much you can put on a credit card?

Thanks for your reply.

Our goal is to get feedback on how the overall contract signing and payment process on property works. There is just not much information through Disney's official communication channels except for the 10% downpayment (at least what we found). We are especially interested whether there is a time limit until you have to transfer the full amount.

Looking at the first couple of responses we understand that it is negotiable with the respective DVC sales person at DWD.

 

[ocdb8r1]

Since you have no need for financing and are looking at VGF, why are you not considering resale?

 

[DisneyLifeBalance]

Since you have no need for financing and are looking at VGF, why are you not considering resale?

At the end of the day we just want the blue card coming with all its advantages of being official members by acquiring 150 points directly.
Be assured, we both know that the effect of addinitis will kick in rather sooner than later

 

[accm]

When we bought direct at the end of 2021, we payed the 10% deposit, and the remaining 90% was split into 3 payments, at 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. I believe we made all the payments with two credit cards

 

[DisneyLifeBalance]

When we bought direct at the end of 2021, we payed the 10% deposit, and the remaining 90% was split into 3 payments, at 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. I believe we made all the payments with two credit cards

thanks for the information, accm! It’s good to hear that there is some room of flexibility from Disney concerning the payment.

 

[accm]

thanks for the information, accm! It’s good to hear that there is some room of flexibility from Disney concerning the payment.

We had to ask our guide about it, it was not something he brought up.

 

[intamin]

At the end of the day we just want the blue card coming with all its advantages of being official members by acquiring 150 points directly.
Be assured, we both know that the effect of addinitis will kick in rather sooner than later

If you know you're going to have addonitis, I would consider buying the resale contract first and then purchasing the direct contract. This will allow you to get current member incentives and be able to choose your UY because they will be forced to match your resale UY (or you could tell them you're currently in the process of buying a resale contract of a particular UY to force their hand). The downside is you wouldn't be able to buy your direct points until your next trip I imagine so I suppose if you're planning to buy a pass then that might make it more worthwhile to purchase direct now but if you had time the other way would be the better route to go.

 

[DisneyLifeBalance]

If you know you're going to have addonitis, I would consider buying the resale contract first and then purchasing the direct contract. This will allow you to get current member incentives and be able to choose your UY because they will be forced to match your resale UY (or you could tell them you're currently in the process of buying a resale contract of a particular UY to force their hand). The downside is you wouldn't be able to buy your direct points until your next trip I imagine so I suppose if you're planning to buy a pass then that might make it more worthwhile to purchase direct now but if you had time the other way would be the better route to go.

Thanks for the advice! Coming from Germany the next trip might not be for another year and who knows how long direct points at VGF are available... So we do not want to take the risk.

Regarding UY we are actually hoping to choose our UY by buying into VGF direct as well. Any insights on availability?

 

[intamin]

Thanks for the advice! Coming from Germany the next trip might not be for another year and who knows how long direct points at VGF are available... So we do not want to take the risk.

Regarding UY we are actually hoping to choose our UY by buying into VGF direct as well. Any insights on availability?

Understandable, plus who knows if VGF will still be in active sales during your next trip.

Anyways the only people who know which UY are available are the guides. I’m still not entirely sure why my guide didn’t really want me to have a March or Feb UY but she made it seem like they weren’t an option so I ended up getting an April UY.

 

[Samfar]

Hi. We are in same situation - travelling from Bermuda end of April for 3 nights to purchase VGF direct membership .. we already have resale contracts and now want to purchase a direct one for blue card and annual pass. Hoping we can get the Aug UY as that would be a new use year for us .. but most ideal for our travelling purposes. Thank you for asking this question. We were in same dilemma about payment process. We have a wise account so before travelling if we transfer the funds to wise- would that suffice? I mean would it be easier to transfer at the Disney property for the payment?
Also would we be able to purchase the annual passes (I know the uncertainty but considering it they are still available) once we make the full payment or first down payment? How long is the process?
Thanks.

 

[D-Trick]

Hi. We are in same situation - travelling from Bermuda end of April for 3 nights to purchase VGF direct membership .. we already have resale contracts and now want to purchase a direct one for blue card and annual pass. Hoping we can get the Aug UY as that would be a new use year for us .. but most ideal for our travelling purposes.

Reminder that since you'd be asking for a new UY, you would not be eligible for current member pricing and you'd get the normal off the street new member incentives.

//edit: this post is incorrect. see rest of thread.

 

[Samfar]

Reminder that since you'd be asking for a new UY, you would not be eligible for current member pricing and you'd get the normal off the street new member incentives.

oh so they will count it as a completely new membership?

 

[LittleBitGoofy]

oh so they will count it as a completely new membership?

Correct. Different UY, different membership.

 

[Sandisw]

Reminder that since you'd be asking for a new UY, you would not be eligible for current member pricing and you'd get the normal off the street new member incentives.

You still get membership pricing for a new UY..yoy just have to buy the minimum as it’s a new membership.

Currently, that is 100 points..which doesn’t make you eligible for membership extras..but can be used to get the new UY.

When I bought VGF last year, I did get the 300 point incentive for doing