Buying Pre-Owned DVC Points

[halldm]

I am in Disneyland, and the sales pitch for DVC is compelling. However, the costs associated with buying pre-owned DVC points is much, much lower. I raised this during my meeting there. She acknowledged this but said that if I buy them pre-owned from an individual or another agency, then I can only use them for Disney vacations and cannot trade via RCI for non-Disney destination vacations.

Can anyone shed light on this? Are there any other differences between buying direct or used DVC points?

Thank you.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from Resort Reservation Availability Board to DVC - Operations Board.

 

[Chuck S]

Actually, I think you can use them for RCI, but you can not use points purchased via resale for Adventures by Disney, non-DVC Disney resorts, Cruises and the Concierge Collection. RCI is the only non-DVC option for points purchased on the resale market.

 

[disneynutz]

Probably 75% of DVC owners don't use their points for trades away from WDW or DL. Disney just changed that rule a few months ago to get more people who don't know any better to buy direct at a much higher price.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That information was incorrect. Below is the info from the member website. I have highlighted what the points can be used for. There are still 3 options outside of DVC that you can use the points towards:

"Under the new policy, Members who purchase from anyone other than Disney Vacation Development, Inc., on or after March 21, 2011, will not be eligible to use those Vacation Points to make reservations within the Concierge Collection, the Disney Collection or the Adventurer Collection. Those Vacation Points will instead be valid only for reservations at Disney Vacation Club resorts, as well as for RCI® exchanges, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest."

 

[Magnod]

That information was incorrect. Below is the info from the member website. I have highlighted what the points can be used for. There are still 3 options outside of DVC that you can use the points towards:

"Under the new policy, Members who purchase from anyone other than Disney Vacation Development, Inc., on or after March 21, 2011, will not be eligible to use those Vacation Points to make reservations within the Concierge Collection, the Disney Collection or the Adventurer Collection. Those Vacation Points will instead be valid only for reservations at Disney Vacation Club resorts, as well as for RCI® exchanges, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest."

The resale points sound like a good idea. Especially if I can continue to use the for DGC, WDW, and RCI.

Is there any specific location I need to buy from?

Does it work like buying from Disney? Like I need to choose a base/home location?

Thanks

 

[Breyean]

The resale points sound like a good idea. Especially if I can continue to use the for DGC, WDW, and RCI.

Is there any specific location I need to buy from?

Does it work like buying from Disney? Like I need to choose a base/home location?

Thanks

You said you're in DLR, right? If you go there more than WDW something to consider is resale points can't be used at the PP or DLH. So, as opposed to WDW where there are a lot of options within the DVC resorts, if you can't get into VCG using your resale points you won't have the option to use points to stay at the other 2 hotels.

So, if you go DLR a lot, and want to maximize your chances to stay at a Disney hotel, direct sales might make sense for you. In fact, depending on the cost, if you like VGC you can get on a wait list for points there ($130/point) to also give you the 11 month booking advantage at VGC.

Also, Disney does sell points at all it's "closed" DVC resorts. Some, like VGC might require going on a wait list for a while, while others are readily available. I don't know the prices Disney is asking for the others, but you could ask your guide if you really like a "closed" resort.

 

[disneynutz]

The resale points sound like a good idea. Especially if I can continue to use the for DGC, WDW, and RCI.

Is there any specific location I need to buy from?

Does it work like buying from Disney? Like I need to choose a base/home location?

Thanks

As a prospective owner I suggest that you spend some time reading the DVC threads here on the DIS. Buying only makes sense if you meet a certain criteria.

You should also understand that Disney can and has changed the benefits, rules and policies and I expect that they will continue to do so in the future. You need to know what can change and what can't and how it may affect you down the road.

Bill

 

[worm761]

As a prospective owner I suggest that you spend some time reading the DVC threads here on the DIS. Buying only makes sense if you meet a certain criteria.

You should also understand that Disney can and has changed the benefits, rules and policies and I expect that they will continue to do so in the future. You need to know what can change and what can't and how it may affect you down the road.

Bill

What is the criteria that makes sense for one to buy into DVC?
And what rules will change in the future that makes buying resale a bad idea? We are looking into DVC at DW in the next few years. I am just studying right now. Thanks!

 

[frank808]

I would buy disney if you go at least once every other year and like to stay on site for the price of moderate off site rooms.

 

[Breyean]

What is the criteria that makes sense for one to buy into DVC?
And what rules will change in the future that makes buying resale a bad idea? We are looking into DVC at DW in the next few years. I am just studying right now. Thanks!

I think what others are getting at is you should look at the cost to own, which includes buy in plus annual dues and how often you will be vacationing, what types of rooms you usually book (size and type of resort). There have been some very in depth analysis done of this on other threads.

As far as the possible restrictions, it seems the only thing a DVC ownership at a specific resort guarantees you is the ability to get a reservation at THAT resort. Since the initial restrictions on resales went into effect earlier this year, while current owners of resales points were impacted, the concern is there could be further restrictions, and maybe even retroactively.

There are a LOT of really smart people who have posted about these issues, so in the course of your research hopefully you can find their ideas helpful.

 

[Brian Noble]

said that if I buy them pre-owned from an individual or another agency, then I can only use them for Disney vacations and cannot trade via RCI for non-Disney destination vacations.

As mentioned, you *can* use them for RCI. You can also rent (the use of) your points to someone else, and use the proceeds to book any vacation you desire. In general, that's much more efficient (i.e. costs fewer points) than using points to directly book a DCL cruise, ABD guided tour, or Disney-owned but non-DVC hotel. In fact, that's true of most RCI exchanges as well. In other words: buy DVC *for stays at DVC resorts*. That's it.

More importantly, take your time. There are new resale contracts coming on the market every day. There is no particular hurry. Learn about the program, and make an informed decision---and that decision may end up being "it won't really help me much." Only you can say, and only after due diligence.

 

[JimMIA]

She acknowledged this but said that if I buy them pre-owned from an individual or another agency, then I can only use them for Disney vacations and cannot trade via RCI for non-Disney destination vacations.

There is no nice way to say this. Either you misunderstood what she said, or she just flat LIED to you. That is simply not true, as others have noted.

Bill's advice of learning what is guaranteed and what is not is crucial.

For example, being able to exchange through RCI, or any other exchange system, is NOT guaranteed. To ANYONE. Not guaranteed to a resale buyer, and not guaranteed to people who pay $140 per point to purchase direct either. That benefit can be taken away in the blink of an eye by one swipe of the Mouse's pen.

DO YOUR RESEARCH CAREFULLY.

 

[moepanz]

I can share my experience with resale:

You are entitled to use you resale points with RCI, now that being said (and the reason we pulled out of our contract) From the research I did it turns out it is almost impossible to use DVC with RCI. I was very disappointed and "I" felt that DVC plays up the use of RCI way too much. My father wanted to buy in to DVC for my brother and I to share (my brother loathes Disney) so I thought this would be a win win, I could stay at Disney and he can go where ever he wants. I went to Door Way To Dreams did my research (tons, like college thesis type here and here on the DIS) found out about resale found a great BLT contract through the Time Share Store put in a bid it was accepted. I got to talking about RCI with my TTS sales guy and he told me about the RCI transfer process, if you want to use your DVC points for RCI you need to transfer them in to RCI and if your request is not met you lose your points for that year, and he said he did not realize that was what we were going to do with the points, he came out and told me (fully knowing he was going to lose a solid sale) that this was not the right fit for our situation and quickly pulled the contract. I will always be grateful for his honesty he saved me a big headache.

 

[Chuck S]

...I got to talking about RCI with my TTS sales guy and he told me about the RCI transfer process, if you want to use your DVC points for RCI you need to transfer them in to RCI and if your request is not met you lose your points for that year, and he said he did not realize that was what we were going to do with the points,....

I always assumed, though, that this is the way all RCI trades worked, even if it isn't DVC. Wouldn't you deposit points, or a week, into RCI and try to find a match. If nothing shows up to meet your needs, you wouldn't get those points (or week) back at other timeshares, would you?

That said, DVC has a much more limited selection of RCI resorts to pick from as a trade option than other timeshares. And you have to do the transaction through DVC rather than being an individual member of RCI, as many other timeshares allow.

But once you've committed those points (or weeks) to RCI, I'd be very surprised if you could elect to simply pull them back out.

 

[Brian Noble]

I always assumed, though, that this is the way all RCI trades worked, even if it isn't DVC.

Yes, that's correct. DVC owners can also do "search first" without a deposit on file, and if there is something currently in the space bank, exchange for it on the spot. Some other mini-system owners can also do this (Wyndham Gold and higher VIP, WorldMark, and maybe Bluegreen), but you can't start an ongoing search without a deposit, and most of the "good stuff" goes to ongoing searches.

Ultimately, timeshare exchange is nothing like making a hotel reservation, or even using a point-based mini-system to make bookings. Just as DVC bookings are different from calling CRO, exchange is different from a DVC booking---and possibly even more so---without regard to where you own. This is one of the biggest sources of frustration for *any* new timeshare owner who hasn't done due diligence, and was IMO one of the big motivations for the creation of point-based mini-systems to facilitate internal exchange.

 

[JimMIA]

I got to talking about RCI with my TTS sales guy and he told me about the RCI transfer process, if you want to use your DVC points for RCI you need to transfer them in to RCI and if your request is not met you lose your points for that year, and he said he did not realize that was what we were going to do with the points, he came out and told me (fully knowing he was going to lose a solid sale) that this was not the right fit for our situation and quickly pulled the contract. I will always be grateful for his honesty he saved me a big headache.

It's that kind of integrity and professionalism that really sets TTS apart from the other resellers.

 

[Magnod]

Where do you buy resale memberships?

I'd rather get referrals here, than just go to the first place google sends me.

 

[moepanz]

Where do you buy resale memberships?

I'd rather get referrals here, than just go to the first place google sends me.

Feel free to PM me and I will gladly give you the name if the salesman I dealt with.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Where do you buy resale memberships?

I'd rather get referrals here, than just go to the first place google sends me.

Actually a google search often brings up the top resellers but here's a few:

The Timeshare Store (DIS sponsors)
A Timeshare Broker
Fidelity
DVC by Resale
And another that cannot be named here although that has nothing to do with their business which many here have used (including me) and I can't recall a complaint.