Buying on Resale and Perks

[bkfo98]

All,
Just returned from our DW trip and my wife and I sat through the DVC presentation. Our tour guide was incredible and was not pushy at all about buying from Disney. We have a young family, with an 18 month old and plans for at least 1-2 more. We both come from Disney families and with Disney in driving distance of where we live (about a 14 hour drive), we could potentially see ourselves going annually with our family.
My question is this, with the new changes to the resale (the loss of "perks" and etc), what exactly are we losing from Disney? I have the sheet of discounts and etc, but what else would be lost from doing it via resale?
My follow up would be, if the loss of perks were enough that it would hurt us on long term, why wouldn't we just buy 25-50 points via Disney to retain access to these perks and buy via resale for the rest. We are looking at Polynesian right now (which they are selling and quite frankly is where we would want to be). If we have 50 points through DVC direct and 125 points via Resale, we would be in the clear with 175 points to maybe two different resorts. It seems to good to be true, but I am a bit "green" when it comes to this.
Thanks in advance and if you have any other general insight or information about buying resale, please let me know!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you are set on Poly, there is no point to buying resale.

 

[bkfo98]

Let me rephrase it, Poly is fine with us because of access to the monorail. We would be fine elsewhere, but just want to see if we did 50 at one and resale on the other 125, how would that work?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you have two contracts at two resorts, they each can only be used at 11 months for the named resort. They cannot combine until 7 months.

 

[disneynutz]

Learn more about what you are buying, how DVC works and which DVC resort is your favorite. Understand that the company that you are buying from or associating yourself with, created the restrictions taking away the perks from many of their DVC members.

In addition even with DVC you will be spending a few hundred thousand dollars if you vacation at Disney for the term of your contract.

Bill

 

[bkfo98]

Bill,
I have noticed you in a bunch of the threads that I have been reading. You seem to have a very good understanding of the DVC and those things associated to it. Are you a member? If so, would you do it again? My wife is really pushing to do it, but I want to know everything about it, much like you.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill,
I have noticed you in a bunch of the threads that I have been reading. You seem to have a very good understanding of the DVC and those things associated to it. Are you a member? If so, would you do it again? My wife is really pushing to do it, but I want to know everything about it, much like you.

Long time owner, 6 home resorts 1000 plus points. We now consider DVC to be nothing more than a discounted room. Based on several factors, DVC can make sense for many but not for others. You need to fully understand the program to make an informed decision and remember DVC is not a life long commitment, if it isn't for you or you buy the wrong contract, sell.

Bill

 

[Missyrose]

Let me rephrase it, Poly is fine with us because of access to the monorail. We would be fine elsewhere, but just want to see if we did 50 at one and resale on the other 125, how would that work?

Let's say you bought 50 directly from Disney and 125 at BCV via resale. At 11 months out, you could use that 50 points at Poly or the 125 at BCV, but you couldn't combine the points from two resorts for one reservation until seven months out.

ETA: This wrinkle has nothing to do with resale vs. direct but is a fundamental rule about DVC you need to know if looking at buying more than one resort.

 

[Minniesgal]

The problem with the Poly is you would only have access to studios. Once you have three kids that is gone feel small.

Think about the future and whether you would want access to 1 or 2 bedrooms. We regularly did 2 bedrooms for our family of 5 if you want that BLT or VGF resale would be a better fit than Poly.

Also if I was going to buy 2 contracts the way you suggest I'd buy them at the same resort as having just 50 points at one resort is too little to do much with at 11 months.

 

[ScubaCat]

Be aware also of the types of accommodations, theming, and location. Poly only offers studios (other than the uber-expensive bungalows) and you will likely want a one or two bedroom as your family grows. It's true that you can stay at any resort, but it's significantly easier to book at your home resort >7 months out, so it's important to take that into consideration. Also, the deeds have different lengths depending on where you buy. It'd be worth your while to take a day or two and at least drive around to the different resorts and see what "feels" right to you.

The "perks" you miss out on buying resale are fairly insignificant. For example, my two resale contracts would have cost over $24,000 more buying them direct from Disney. It would take an awful lot of discounts and free nights at a park to make up that difference. And keep in mind that perks are legally referred to as "incidental benefits" which are NOT part of the ownership interest. Thus, they can be...and have been....taken away from anyone or everyone at any time at Disney's discretion.

The most important tip is what Bill said above - FULLY understand what you're buying. You've done the right thing by coming here first!

EDIT: Minniesgal said it same time as I did No 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms at Polynesian except the 2-bedroom bungalows that cost a TON of points.

 

[Dream big]

What we are currently doing is buying resale at a resort that we like (old key west) and adding on 25 points direct also at OKW with the same use year. This gives us the best of both worlds: the perks of direct, all the points we need at the same resort, major savings, and we are happy! poly is not your only option direct and some of the other resorts are a bit cheaper. OKW is $140 instead of $171!

 

[Dean]

All,
Just returned from our DW trip and my wife and I sat through the DVC presentation. Our tour guide was incredible and was not pushy at all about buying from Disney. We have a young family, with an 18 month old and plans for at least 1-2 more. We both come from Disney families and with Disney in driving distance of where we live (about a 14 hour drive), we could potentially see ourselves going annually with our family.
My question is this, with the new changes to the resale (the loss of "perks" and etc), what exactly are we losing from Disney? I have the sheet of discounts and etc, but what else would be lost from doing it via resale?
My follow up would be, if the loss of perks were enough that it would hurt us on long term, why wouldn't we just buy 25-50 points via Disney to retain access to these perks and buy via resale for the rest. We are looking at Polynesian right now (which they are selling and quite frankly is where we would want to be). If we have 50 points through DVC direct and 125 points via Resale, we would be in the clear with 175 points to maybe two different resorts. It seems to good to be true, but I am a bit "green" when it comes to this.
Thanks in advance and if you have any other general insight or information about buying resale, please let me know!

You need to spend 6 months or so learning and maybe do a trip or 2 on rented points. The minor savings you'd avoid doing so will be a blessing for you in making far better decisions whether to buy and where/how much if you do decide later to buy. But for the perk question, I'd decide what home resort and how many points I wanted then if there was a savings, buy resale and add 25 points once in the system to get qualified. There's no guarantee that'll be a long term option but neither are there guarantees there will be perks worth buying for either. With that strategy you'd effectively be paying somewhere around $1500 extra just for the perks (depending on home resort & # of points resale) if you ended up with the number of points you needed with the combo if resale + 25 points retail. So if one needed 175, just buy 150 or so resale. The issue becomes if you need want a small contract to start with, one would just have to look at the numbers but fro 100 or less total and plans for a retail add on of 25, it might be just as good to buy all retail in that single situation OR just forego the perks.

 

[PlutoFan10]

If you bought resale after owning direct already, can you have the resale contract added to your current member number or must you have a separate member number for a resale contract then transfer points to your other (first) member number?

 

[stratus]

If you bought resale after owning direct already, can you have the resale contract added to your current member number or must you have a separate member number for a resale contract then transfer points to your other (first) member number?

My understanding is this is largely based on Use Year. If you have the same UY for each contract, while the contract numbers will be different your membership number will be the same.

If they have different UY you will have two different memberships and when youmake your reservations you will need to link them together via a CM (is my understanding)

 

[Dean]

My understanding is this is largely based on Use Year. If you have the same UY for each contract, while the contract numbers will be different your membership number will be the same.

If they have different UY you will have two different memberships and when youmake your reservations you will need to link them together via a CM (is my understanding)

Historically that's true if they are titled exactly the same way, there's no guarantee it'll be true going forward and this is one way DVD could distinguish resale from retail.

 

[ScubaCat]

What we are currently doing is buying resale at a resort that we like (old key west) and adding on 25 points direct also at OKW with the same use year. This gives us the best of both worlds: the perks of direct, all the points we need at the same resort, major savings, and we are happy! poly is not your only option direct and some of the other resorts are a bit cheaper. OKW is $140 instead of $171!

You may not be able to add on direct unless you buy the 2057 extension on your resale contract (unless it was already extended.) Have you inquired about that yet? I wonder if the extension in and of itself would qualify as a direct purchase? Both would be good to know since, like everything else these days, it's unclear.

 

[stratus]

You may not be able to add on direct unless you buy the 2057 extension on your resale contract (unless it was already extended.) Have you inquired about that yet? I wonder if the extension in and of itself would qualify as a direct purchase? Both would be good to know since, like everything else these days, it's unclear.

This is what they told us when we bought direct from them. (that you could not add on to a resale contract) We bought direct first to make sure we had the perks (50 at SSR) then sought out a resale contract with the same UY. I'd be interested to know what happens with OP and whether they have to buy the extension (if that is even available on the resale contract) and if they can add on to a resale contract. I also wonder if adding on would count for the membership perks or not

 

[HD1]

If I already own 100+ points at Aulani and want to add more at same property, is it recommended I buy resale instead of direct? I want to add 100+ more points. Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Dean]

If I already own 100+ points at Aulani and want to add more at same property, is it recommended I buy resale instead of direct? I want to add 100+ more points. Thank you for your suggestions.

I would in that situation unless you want/need a fixed week that'll fit your points. You just have to compare the prices. Since you're already qualified for the perks and buying points for cash type exchanges is never a good options, it simply comes down to aggravation, time and price. In that situation you may also want to consider whether getting a different home resort is a good option and also look at selling what you have and buying larger vs doing the smaller purchase. I suspect the later now isn't the best option but just see what the numbers look like.

 

[HD1]

I would in that situation unless you want/need a fixed week that'll fit your points. You just have to compare the prices. Since you're already qualified for the perks and buying points for cash type exchanges is never a good options, it simply comes down to aggravation, time and price. In that situation you may also want to consider whether getting a different home resort is a good option and also look at selling what you have and buying larger vs doing the smaller purchase. I suspect the later now isn't the best option but just see what the numbers look like.

Can I still call 11 months out and use ALL points to book my reservation or do I have to book disney points at 11 months and resale at 7?