We're big Disney people who visit often. We've decided we might join DVC and are looking at options. We just visited an open house and were given an offer of the Poly which has 49 years left for $160 pp. for 200 points. (basically discounted full price to get there as incentive). Also immediate 200 points with UY of October for the next 200.
SSR is only $145 but no downpayment incentive and may or may not be available. May or may not get the starting points depending on UY.
I'm sure my inexperience is obvious just from this post. And I'll be continuing my research. But doesn't it seem like a better "value" to get Poly at $160?
We'd like to be able to stay about two weeks each year and have some flexibility on scheduling visits.
Our guide was helpful but I think he's trying to capitalize on our inexperience and excitement and only telling us what he wants us to know.
I'm nervous of resale because we want the other discounts and ability to use on cruise line.
Any advice?
I'll answer the question you asked here and then I'll answer the question that you didn't ask.
To answer your question, if the choice is between buying direct at the Poly or buying direct at SSR the answer is going to be Poly. For $15 more a point you will get current UY points (which you said you may not get if you get a Feb or March UY at SSR). That alone makes up the difference in cost. But more than that, resale at SSR is about $80 a point and resale at Poly is about $140 a point. So buy buying Poly you will experience a much smaller loss in actual cash value should you decide you want to sell (or need to sell).
But the bigger question is whether you should be buying at all right now. You're saying things like "inexperience" and "excitement" and "research" which are all giant red flags that you should slam on the brakes and take the time to do your due diligence. DVC will still be there when you are ready and you will feel much, much better about your decision if it is a more informed one.
I would not let your fear of resale be a factor in your decision. Take the time to truly research resale (and many of the points that were mentioned above) and you can then make an informed choice about whether it works for you or not. There are two sets of restrictions regarding resale and whether you know it or not, you hit on both of them.
The first set deals with
DCL, Adventures by Disney and the Concierge Collection. If you buy resale you will not have access to those, and that point has been debated on here no less than seven million times. I'll save you the reading and tell you that the majority opinion (but not 100%) is that while it may be fun and convenient, those options are not a good value for your dollar.
The second set deals with the membership card and the discounts associated with it. If you are truly a discount oriented person, you will see the irony in spending twice as much for your DVC membership just to get a discount. It will take decades of discounts to make up for the additional cost. The generally accepted method is to purchase the bulk of your "needed" points resale and then afterwards buy a 25 point add on direct from Disney. This will give you the membership card and the discounts associated with it. The benefit is that you could easily be in the black with those discounts within a few years.
DVC is an emotional product and an emotional purchase. If you are an emotional person you will most likely get swept up in all of the Magic and make a direct purchase. But if you are more analytical, and your post suggests that you might be, I think you will find that the research will lead your towards resale. Trust me, the points spend the same and you'll feel just as "Welcome Home" when you are staying in your DVC room, regardless of whether or not your points were purchased resale or direct.
Good luck with the process and your decision.
Bill
