Buying into DVC and buying discounted APs

[Tina]

DH and I have made the decision to buy into DVC. Although we've been to Disney many, many times, he doesn't want to buy until we take the tour. He's one of those guys who likes to do everything in person. We were planning to fly down for a quickie weekend sometime next month, take the tour, and buy.

So here's the question - annual passes: We'd like to visit the parks and possibly use the AP room discount during this trip since we won't actually be staying in a DVC resort yet, but we don't have current AP's yet. Of course, we'd like to get the DVC AP discount when buying our passes -- but we don't have a DVC card yet. I think we're in a catch-22.

If we buy on our first day, will the DVC guide be able to offer us any assistance in buying our APs that day as well?

 

[Pa@okw95]

Too many ducks would have to fall in line for this for all this to happen. You need to be a member to get discounted AP and to get discounted rooms you have to have AP before checking in. I would rate these chances at about 1 million to one. Sorry!

 

[Tina]

I'm not concered about the check-in, as we could check in late in the day - after we're done with DVC. I'm just wondering if DVC could help us to offer proof of membership to the ticket agent. Perhaps our signed paperwork?

 

[DVCLiz]

If you bought on the spot, I don't see why that wouldn't work. You'd have a big stack of the paperwork you just signed, and I don't know why the guide wouldn't be able to make that happen for you. I bought on the spot once and left having already closed, so I was considered a member at that point. I already had an AP, though, so I didn't explore my ticket options! Why not call down and speak to a guide and ask this question, so you'll be sure of it before you go?

Are you planning to buy SSR or try for one of the sold out resorts? When I bought, they had HH points and that's what I wanted, so I bought them then.

 

[Tina]

Thanks for your feedback. I will definitely speak with our guide about this when we call to schedue the tour. We have a few other questions for him as well. I hope between the paperwork and maybe a phone call to the ticket office in DTD we can make it all work out.

We plan to buy SSR. I really love so many other resorts, but DH is set on getting the longer contract and that's fine with me. As long as I'm in Disney, I'm happy. We aren't real picky about vacation times (with the exception of avoiding the heat of summer and the crowded holidays) so I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunity to stay everwhere. Plus, I'm sure we'll eventually add-on some smaller contracts at some of our favorite sold-out resorts.

 

[Cruelladeville]

It's not a Catch-22. If your guide can't help, you can always buy regular APs so that you can get the cheaper room rate, and then once you buy in, you can go over to guest services to upgrade. The way this works is that you would have to buy the basic AP at the regular rate, then when you are members you upgrade to PAP for this year. The cost is about the same, and you have one year of using the extras like Pleasure Island and Dis Quest, and the water parks. I bought in December, and upgraded in March, and got the discount.

 

[GoldenOldie]

If I remember correctly, you are not a DVC member until the closing has occured. Merely signing the purchase papers and handing over a check isn't enough as you still have the time set by law to rescind the contract. That would preclude your being eligible for the DVC AP until after that period. I'm not 100% positive but that's my recollection.

 

[Tina]

You may be right! I thought about that too. What is to stop me from canceling the contract and walking away with the discounted APs. I'll speak with my guide and see if something that can be done. With this discount being so new, it may not have been done before.