Can anyone help a german guy buying points?

[captain_munich]

First a big thank to this community - this board gave me so many good tips over the last years

After my first WDW visit (1997) I felt in love with the DVC idea.
I mailed DVC last week if I can buy 50 % of the points and finance the rest through disney. The big problem is, that I live in germany, and so I don`t know if they still can finance the 50 %. But I guess they have my 50 % as safety deposit, so the risk for the bank should be zero.
DVC wrote back that they can`t give me any information through mail or telephone. I should visit them in Florida.
Then I also tried to contact the timeshare store (jerry sydow) to ask him about financing options for europeans (germans) - but never got an answer

I know that most of you have a DVC contact person. Can anyone ask their contact person if a german guy can buy with a 50 % financing option?
And if I only can buy during my visit?

I really appreciate your help! Thank you very much!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think the problem might be that DVC is not legally able to be sold in Germany because of trade laws etc about timeshare sales. That is why they told you the transaction must take place when you are at Disney World. I'm pretty sure resales agencies would have the same issue. My thought is that you should try to take a trip to Florida and purchase while you are there. I suspect that a Disney guide can't even talk to or communicate in any other way (email etc) unless you make that first initial contact in person. The problem is THEY can't solicit you, and even with you contacting them first, it has to be face to face the first time. I hope that didn't confuse you further, but that seems to be the issue here.

 

[chalee94]

here is a link to the UK DVC board dealing with "unique aspects of overseas DVC ownership".

not sure if they'd have a better understanding of your issues or not, but you may want to ask there...

 

[RobDoc]

Sounds like a great reason for a trip to WDW!

I'm not sure that a resale purchase will have the same restriction as a direct purchase thru Disney. I'd write to TTS again and see if they can shed some more light on the situation for you - realizing they may not have the same financing options available thru Disney. Regardless, there should be some option for a 1 year finance package - even if it means a longer timeframe just paid off earlier.

Good luck with your purchase!

 

[vetteguy]

Hello,

as you can see, I'm from Brussels and I can share with you my experience.
I bought first a resale at OKW from Belgium, no need to go to Florida, that one, I paid cash because you don't have many option for financing a timeshare as european. You have to be prepared to go to the US embassy to notarize the documents.
Two years later, I did an add-on at BWV through Disney. I paid 50% cash and financed the other 50% in one year. I gave my cc info and they took automatically from my cc every month. No credit check, very easy process. And yes dianeschlicht is correct, CVD can't speak with us through the phone or by email about a purchase, it's a legal matter, you have to be there in person if you wan't to buy directly through Disney.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Daniel

 

[disneynutz]

Disney has a stricter set of rules to follow than the resellers because they are the developer. Florida State laws have been made tougher on developers due to the time share developer fraud that they experienced in years past.

 

[captain_munich]

Thank you very much everybody!

I knew that they can`t contact me because of this timeshare laws here in germany - but isn`t this law ridiculous when I`ll contact them

The easiest thing would be to buy it directly in my next holiday, that`s for sure. But my idea was to buy the points before to use them for the next holiday. A 50 % cash / 50 % one year financing contract would be pretty fine!

@vetteguy
Daniel thank you very much for the information.
Where did you buy your first resale? From the timeshare store? And how did the paper and money transfer worked? And can I buy points and add-ons as a german DVC member directly frome home or do I have to buy them also in person at WDW?

Thanks so much!

 

[vetteguy]

You're welcome Captain Munich.
I bought the resale privately, I saw it on ebay but negociated with the seller directly, then we used a closing company for the papers and money. I made a wire transfer to the closing company, they kept the monies in escrow untill every thing was done.
When you buy directly from disney, that rules for an add-on also, you have to be there in person, they can't send you any papers. As someone said, it gives you a reason to do a quick trip to WDW
For the moment, we have here in Belgium pretty good fares to Orlando(I couldn't resist, I just booked a one week trip in February for 310 euro pp).

 

[captain_munich]

Thanks again.

It is always hard to resist a good WDW vacation
Seriously, I think I will try to contact the timeshare store again and buy a smaller amount of points with cash and buy some more points directly with disney in october (my next visit) with half cash/half credit.

The last thing I`ll would like to know is:
Does Disney offer the same things to europeans (like the member cruises, special add-ons...) and will they send your membership card and other stuff (like brochures) also to europe or can`t they do that either?

 

[RobDoc]

Thanks again.

It is always hard to resist a good WDW vacation
Seriously, I think I will try to contact the timeshare store again and buy a smaller amount of points with cash and buy some more points directly with disney in october (my next visit) with half cash/half credit.

The last thing I`ll would like to know is:
Does Disney offer the same things to europeans (like the member cruises, special add-ons...) and will they send your membership card and other stuff (like brochures) also to europe or can`t they do that either?

Yes, once you are a member, you will get all offers available to any other DVC member (unless something is not allowed by your own government). Opportunity to reserve for the Member Cruise and any other member benefits will be offered to all members. You should also receive membership information and brochures as any other member.

They may not be able to send any sales information - for the same reason they cannot contact you at this time - but you would still be able to participate in special add-ons while on site. A lot of this information is also available via member email announcements and on the member website.

Good luck with your purchase!

 

[DVCconvert]

Wie gehts Captain Munich !

I just wanted to add that now is a pretty good time to buy, especially thru the resales market due to macroeconomic conditions.