Considering DVC

[Jbradburry]

My husband and I are considering purchasing a DVC membership through a broker. I have a few questions:

1. When you purchase your timeshare with one resort say Grand Floridian, you don't actually have to stay at that resort, right? You can stay at any DVC resort.

2. Also I heard someone mention a UH? I think that's what they called it. Referred to when they purchased the membership and when they could bank their points. We always go in January or February. So when should I try to get ours?

3. Besides staying at resorts off property, what are the benefits of buying direct that we will miss if we buy through a broker?

4. If we buy from a broker are we treated the same as if we buy direct? I don't want to be treated like "oh they bought a resale so they aren't as cool as us".

 

[graychef]

1. When you purchase your timeshare with one resort say Grand Floridian, you don't actually have to stay at that resort, right? You can stay at any DVC resort.

-You can book your home resort 11 months out, the other resorts 7 months out, all depending on availability. So there is a ton of flexibility on where you can stay.


2. Also I heard someone mention a UH? I think that's what they called it. Referred to when they purchased the membership and when they could bank their points. We always go in January or February. So when should I try to get ours?

-UY (Use Year); Your vacation travel times would suggest a UY later in the calendar year - December is a nice fit.


3. Besides staying at resorts off property, what are the benefits of buying direct that we will miss if we buy through a broker?

-There is a statement out there regarding resales after March 2011 not being eligible for other Disney perks. Many members indicate those perks aren't worth the cost difference in direct vs resale.


4. If we buy from a broker are we treated the same as if we buy direct? I don't want to be treated like "oh they bought a resale so they aren't as cool as us".

-I am a resale buyer and they treat me just fine. No differentiation.

 

[chalee94]

2. Also I heard someone mention a UH? I think that's what they called it. Referred to when they purchased the membership and when they could bank their points. We always go in January or February. So when should I try to get ours?

dec sounds like a good UY for you. UY is mostly an issue if you need to cancel. traveling early in your UY (a jan stay for a dec UY) gives you more options if you have to cancel. traveling late in your UY (oct/nov with a dec UY) increases the risk that you will lose pts if you have to cancel.

3. Besides staying at resorts off property, what are the benefits of buying direct that we will miss if we buy through a broker?

there are a few small perks of direct purchases that only apply right when you buy (they might help you make your first reservation, for example.)

you cannot book disney cruises, ABD or disney hotels (or a few fancy hotels like the hotel del coronado) with (a high number of) DVC pts if you buy resale. you lose nothing of value.

4. If we buy from a broker are we treated the same as if we buy direct? I don't want to be treated like "oh they bought a resale so they aren't as cool as us". ��

yes.

the main reason to buy DVC is for good value for accommodations - they treat you the same as a resale buyer and the value is better.

currently perks like AP discounts and dining discounts are the same for both resale and direct. perks can change at any time for both resale and direct...

 

[CarolMN]

Here are a few threads that will help you make your decision:

Understanding Use Year
(A tutorial-like explanation of the ins and outs of Use Years).

Using Points for the DVC "Collections"
(More info on the "benefits" you miss by buying direct - but don't buy for the perks. They are not guaranteed by contract and could disappear at at Disney's sole discretion).

In addition, take a look at the info in all of the "STICKY THREADS" found at the top of each DVC Forum. There is lots of helpful information there that may be of interest to you.

Have fun with your research and take your time. It's a big decision!

 

[paults]

My husband and I are considering purchasing a DVC membership through a broker. I have a few questions:

1. When you purchase your timeshare with one resort say Grand Floridian, you don't actually have to stay at that resort, right? You can stay at any DVC resort.
If you don't plan on staying at the VGF I wouldn't buy there the cost and points use are to high..2.

Also I heard someone mention a UH? I think that's what they called it. Referred to when they purchased the membership and when they could bank their points. We always go in January or February. So when should I try to get ours?

3. Besides staying at resorts off property, what are the benefits of buying direct that we will miss if we buy through a broker?

4. If we buy from a broker are we treated the same as if we buy direct? I don't want to be treated like "oh they bought a resale so they aren't as cool as us". ��
you will be treated the same

I appreciate any advice, tips. This is my first post so I hope I did it right. We love Disney and go at least once a year. Thanks again for any help![/QUOTE

Hope this goes through . Dis keeps telling me the message is to short

 

[ncurley]

I agree Dec seems the best use year for you.

Be sure to read the ROFR thread and understand what that means. We just put in an offer on BLT and are waiting to hear from Disney whether we passed ROFR.

 

[crisi]

Subject to availability can be important words.

There are lots of DVC members and lots of points. Points are sold so that the resort functionally reach capacity every night of the year - they don't always - sometimes people don't use their points - but that's the idea. A small resort that is popular with its owners at a peak time of year for that resort may not have any availability at seven months at all - or it may all be snapped up during the first hour of the first day that its available to book. Take Hilton Head Island in the Summer - its a very difficult vacation to book if you don't take advantage of an ownership window. (Epcot resorts during Food and Wine, BLT Standard View rooms anytime).

So while there is a ton of flexibility on where you can stay, depending on what you are actually looking for, cash or renting points can be far more flexible.

 

[CarolMN]

Here's an excellent thread on availability - especially the post by drusba, who has traced such things for the past several years.

Any resource to see historical availability for days 7/11 months out

I agree with crisi - it's important to know this going in so that you don't have unrealistic assumptions about what you can get at 7 months.

 

[jerseyduke]

My husband and I are considering purchasing a DVC membership through a broker. I have a few questions:

1. When you purchase your timeshare with one resort say Grand Floridian, you don't actually have to stay at that resort, right? You can stay at any DVC resort.

You can stay anywhere in the system SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY!!!!! You will have an 11 month "home field" advantage at the property you buy. 7 at the others.

2. Also I heard someone mention a UH? I think that's what they called it. Referred to when they purchased the membership and when they could bank their points. We always go in January or February. So when should I try to get ours?

It is advantageous for a few reasons to travel early in your UY. If you have the predictable travel times you state, at least to a large degree, a Dec. UY would be very good for you. March, April, June would be horrible.

3. Besides staying at resorts off property, what are the benefits of buying direct that we will miss if we buy through a broker?

Do a little research here. On the web you can find a chart for how many DVC points it would take to go on a Disney cruise. Then see how much it would be for the same thing in cash. You can rent points out thru a broker and get about 12$ per point. It may actually be cheaper for you to rent your points out that way, and use the cash to pay for the cruise. It might even be less!
I only bought direct because I wanted VGF when it opened. I LOVE the Polynesian, but I am probably going to wait until contracts hit the resale market before doing anything. (That and I want an idea as to 7 month availability)

This is an example as to why most people say that the benefits you lose by not buying direct were worthless to begin with.


4. If we buy from a broker are we treated the same as if we buy direct? I don't want to be treated like "oh they bought a resale so they aren't as cool as us".