Couple of DVC questions..

[crisi]

Thank you all again for all the help and food for thought. I really appreciate it.

Resale does seem like a much better deal and we will be looking into it more. I've looked into two companies so far. I will say this whole process has been a huge learning experience. I know having the ability to stay elsewhere is not a huge draw for us at this time. In the past ten years we've taken all our vacations (seven of them) at WDW. So in that sense resales makes more sense for the type of vacationers we are.

It has been a lot to take in and I'm learning everyday.. We are normally POLY guests while we have tried AKL and WL (once for both) and POR twice. My mom got me hooked on the POLY in the 90's and it's definitely our favorite. And while I'm sure it will be very different at first it also seems like in the long run it should be a good fit for us. Since we prefer MK resorts the VWL seems like the most logical choice. I know BLT is closer, but for the price and for the decor of the overall resort VWL seems like the better fit. The pictures of VWL during the holidays are amazing.

I never even thought to buy two contracts at once.. Is that a common thing? Is it generally easy to purchase two contracts with the same UY? I'm thinking you would need to have them both on the same UY, right? I'm also assuming that also means twice the closing costs - which is fine, I'm just wanting to make sure I fully understand. Other than the potential to sell one part of your contract are there any other benefits to this? And you would want them at the same resort, right?

Again, thank you so much for the help! Okay, I'm stepping away from the computer to give my brain a chance to rest.

It would be two closing costs and you wouldn't need to buy them at once. You can buy one this year, borrow points from next year, and use it for this vacation, next year buy the next contract and do the same. Its EASIER if its the same use year as you only make one phone call to bank points, but a lot of people manage two or more use years.

 

[HunnyJar]

Important point -- don't ever forget who you are talking to. Those folks are not there to "guide" you, and they're not your "friend." They're timeshare salesmen.

Many DVC timeshare salespersons would have given you a much more honest answer regarding "sold-out" resorts. Unfortunately, this one did not -- he was trying to "guide" you to what made him the larger commission.

Personally, if I were in your shoes and decided to purchase direct (I wouldn't), I would call and request a different, more honest, salesperson. "Lie to me once, shame on you; lie to me twice, shame on me."

Thanks for your post. I totally understand and agree with you. I knew when we met with him he just didn't get it nor was he listening to what we were saying or what we wanted. He kept bringing up the fact that we could travel to Europe on our points. Well, that's great and all but we have no plans to travel to Europe any time soon and if we did more than likely we would be staying with my husband's relatives.

I guess what frustrates me so much is that the title/name "Guide" leads me to believe that they know what they are talking about and that they are able to answer questions fully and completely. Oh and honesty, but hey I guess I'm asking for too much.

After so much misinformation and a 6:30 a.m. (!!) call, I think we are officially finished speaking with this person and quite possibly going Direct as well.

 

[BestDadEver]

Thanks for your post. I totally understand and agree with you. I knew when we met with him he just didn't get it nor was he listening to what we were saying or what we wanted. He kept bringing up the fact that we could travel to Europe on our points. Well, that's great and all but we have no plans to travel to Europe any time soon and if we did more than likely we would be staying with my husband's relatives.

I guess what frustrates me so much is that the title/name "Guide" leads me to believe that they know what they are talking about and that they are able to answer questions fully and completely. Oh and honesty, but hey I guess I'm asking for too much.

After so much misinformation and a 6:30 a.m. (!!) call, I think we are officially finished speaking with this person and quite possibly going Direct as well.

Oh boy . I am sorry to hear about your experience . All the dvc cm or guide , was always very nice and never pushy . Actualy I bit over friendly, cause I dont like a lot of attention . But I can't fault someone for being to nice .

 

[DizBub]

I never even thought to buy two contracts at once.. Is that a common thing? Is it generally easy to purchase two contracts with the same UY? I'm thinking you would need to have them both on the same UY, right? I'm also assuming that also means twice the closing costs - which is fine, I'm just wanting to make sure I fully understand. Other than the potential to sell one part of your contract are there any other benefits to this? And you would want them at the same resort, right?

.

If you do buy 2 contracts at once there has been a report or two of getting them both with 1 closing cost. Not sure which agency but it couldn't hurt to ask when you choose a resale. Smaller contracts are easier to sell later if the need arises. Larger contracts can be less expensive because they are harder to sell. Personally, I keep the same UY, only 1 banking deadline, just easier for me to manage. You wouldn't have to have the same resort but this might be the way to go especially if you are buying multiple smaller contracts. You cannot combine points from different resorts before the 7 month booking window.

 

[JimMIA]

Thanks for your post. I totally understand and agree with you. I knew when we met with him he just didn't get it nor was he listening to what we were saying or what we wanted. He kept bringing up the fact that we could travel to Europe on our points. Well, that's great and all but we have no plans to travel to Europe any time soon and if we did more than likely we would be staying with my husband's relatives.

I guess what frustrates me so much is that the title/name "Guide" leads me to believe that they know what they are talking about and that they are able to answer questions fully and completely. Oh and honesty, but hey I guess I'm asking for too much.

After so much misinformation and a 6:30 a.m. (!!) call, I think we are officially finished speaking with this person and quite possibly going Direct as well.

In fairness, timeshare sales organizations seem to be split into two camps. One group tends to present a low-key, low pressure, professional approach which both represents and complements the quality of their company. DVC is one of several companies who use that approach.

The other school of thought is exemplified by Wyndham, Westgate, and some others. High pressure, blatant lies and misrepresentations -- all the bad things you've heard about timeshares. Some of them will basically kidnap their prey and hold them hostage until they get a sale. In one recent case at Westgate in Orlando, they actually made a non-purchasing family make their own way back to their hotel across town. They had provided transportation to the sales presentation, but made the family take a cab back.

These companies' basic premise seems to be that they only get one shot at a "mark" so they'd better do whatever is necessary to get the sale. In some cases the sales staff are perfect representatives for a substandard company and product, but in the case of Wyndham the company and resorts are so much better than the sales operation they seem like two different companies.

However, whichever type of company you are dealing with, NO sales person selling anything has any obligation to tell you "the full story," or to answer questions which might make their product look less attractive. They might stop short of directly lying, but they will go to great lengths to present their product in the best possible light and minimize any objections the prospective buyer might have.

They are timeshare salespersons, not informational resources...and definitely not your friend!

 

[JimMIA]

I never even thought to buy two contracts at once.. Is that a common thing? Is it generally easy to purchase two contracts with the same UY? I'm thinking you would need to have them both on the same UY, right?

You are not required to have the UYs the same, but there is an important reason why it's a good idea...and it's NOT the ease of keeping up with just one banking deadline.

In order to hold multiple contracts in one DVC account, the contracts have to be titled identically (same ownership) and they must have the same UY. With a single account, you can simply take whatever points you need from any contract, subject to the home resort booking limitations others have mentioned.

But if you have separate UYs, you will have separate accounts.

The importance of separate accounts is that you can't simply move points back and forth. You have to transfer points from one account to the other -- and you can only do one such transfer (in or out) per account each year. So if you're a little short of points for a reservation and you transfer 30 points from one account to the other -- you are done for that year. No more transfers in either direction. That can create real heartburn (or heartache).

 

[DizBub]

You are not required to have the UYs the same, but there is an important reason why it's a good idea...and it's NOT the ease of keeping up with just one banking deadline.

In order to hold multiple contracts in one DVC account, the contracts have to be titled identically (same ownership) and they must have the same UY. With a single account, you can simply take whatever points you need from any contract, subject to the home resort booking limitations others have mentioned.

But if you have separate UYs, you will have separate accounts.

The importance of separate accounts is that you can't simply move points back and forth. You have to transfer points from one account to the other -- and you can only do one such transfer (in or out) per account each year. So if you're a little short of points for a reservation and you transfer 30 points from one account to the other -- you are done for that year. No more transfers in either direction. That can create real heartburn (or heartache).

This is the single best reason for having the same UY and having all your contracts titled the same. I wish I had said that.

 

[CliftonParkGMan]

Important point -- don't ever forget who you are talking to. Those folks are not there to "guide" you, and they're not your "friend." They're timeshare salesmen.

Many DVC timeshare salespersons would have given you a much more honest answer regarding "sold-out" resorts. Unfortunately, this one did not -- he was trying to "guide" you to what made him the larger commission.

Personally, if I were in your shoes and decided to purchase direct (I wouldn't), I would call and request a different, more honest, salesperson. "Lie to me once, shame on you; lie to me twice, shame on me."

JimMIA has it right on both points

>> On buying resale - it is the way to go.

You are a DVC member when you close on a resale purchase. You will get a membership card, mailings and communication just like any direct member. The only difference is with the ability to access the Concierge Collection, the Disney Collection or the Adventurer Collection.

With all of the opportunities to rent points you can generate enough cash to book anyone's timeshare regardless of exchanged on the open market. With cash you can even get better prices on Disney Cruise Lines versus DVC points. The CC, DC & AC really are not a good value for points exchanges.

>> If your husband doesn't want to forgo Direct - get a new "guide"

Your current guide is only looking out for their own income.

>> Buy enough for the 2 Bedroom points. As your children get older they will want their own space. Buy at the resort you want to stay at the most and if it is VWL then get VWL.

 

[CliftonParkGMan]

we did the tour in early June and just signed our closing docs to purchase Beach Club direct from Disney! Wilderness Lodge is only $102 pp through Disney direct....I would push the guide on that one since you like it there. We went into the tour telling the guide we wanted Beach Club and he said he would check to see which use year, if any, was available....and he came back with good news. That being said, just last week he told me that I took the last points from the Feb Use Year availability...was this true? who knows....

LOL - Of course the guide was able to deliver the "good news" because DVC likes to FROR the most popular "sold out" resorts. Although I passed FROR when I purchased 2 additional BCV contracts. The key is to monitor on the DISboards what price DVC executes FROR. HunnyJar's Guide is making the biggest mistake in sales of any kind - not listening to the needs of the buyer. Obviously your guide was listening to you.

- Welcome Home!

 

[dangeron]

Thank you all again for all the help and food for thought. I really appreciate it.

Resale does seem like a much better deal and we will be looking into it more. I've looked into two companies so far. I will say this whole process has been a huge learning experience. I know having the ability to stay elsewhere is not a huge draw for us at this time. In the past ten years we've taken all our vacations (seven of them) at WDW. So in that sense resales makes more sense for the type of vacationers we are.

It has been a lot to take in and I'm learning everyday.. We are normally POLY guests while we have tried AKL and WL (once for both) and POR twice. My mom got me hooked on the POLY in the 90's and it's definitely our favorite. And while I'm sure it will be very different at first it also seems like in the long run it should be a good fit for us. Since we prefer MK resorts the VWL seems like the most logical choice. I know BLT is closer, but for the price and for the decor of the overall resort VWL seems like the better fit. The pictures of VWL during the holidays are amazing.

I never even thought to buy two contracts at once.. Is that a common thing? Is it generally easy to purchase two contracts with the same UY? I'm thinking you would need to have them both on the same UY, right? I'm also assuming that also means twice the closing costs - which is fine, I'm just wanting to make sure I fully understand. Other than the potential to sell one part of your contract are there any other benefits to this? And you would want them at the same resort, right?

Again, thank you so much for the help! Okay, I'm stepping away from the computer to give my brain a chance to rest.

We bought 3 separate 50 pt contracts at BLTs, we have 3 kids and this way, each child can inheret one account. Also, if we ever have to sell, 50 pt contracts sell pretty easily relatively speaking.
ALso, just food for thought, there are some very reliable rumors circulating that a DVC Poly project is in the works. Its sure to be a fortune and a few yrs down the road, but you may want to consider buying 150 WVL pts and planning to add at the Poly. Thats my plan anyway.

 

[ELMC]

Thanks for your post. I totally understand and agree with you. I knew when we met with him he just didn't get it nor was he listening to what we were saying or what we wanted. He kept bringing up the fact that we could travel to Europe on our points. Well, that's great and all but we have no plans to travel to Europe any time soon and if we did more than likely we would be staying with my husband's relatives.

I guess what frustrates me so much is that the title/name "Guide" leads me to believe that they know what they are talking about and that they are able to answer questions fully and completely. Oh and honesty, but hey I guess I'm asking for too much.

After so much misinformation and a 6:30 a.m. (!!) call, I think we are officially finished speaking with this person and quite possibly going Direct as well.

Sorry you had such a bad experience with your salesperson. I don't know what's worse, the fact that he took two weeks to return your phone call or that when he did it was at 6:30 in the morning.

I've written about this before, and I'll say it again, I have a big problem with DVC referring to their salespeople as "guides". They might as well call them "counselors" or "advisers" or any other word intended to convince you that they are there to help you. That's simply not the case. They are there to sell you DVC, plain and simple. Some salespeople are nicer than others, some more honest than others, and some will stretch the truth more than others.

Yes, VWL is sold out. But that doesn't mean that you can't buy it. Saying a resort is sold out is not a lie, because technically once the resort sells all of its initial inventory it is classified as sold out. What your guide isn't telling you is that they are constantly getting new inventory through foreclosures and ROFR, and that inventory is available for sale.

Your best bet for information is reading the posts here on the DIS, because nobody here has a vested interest in what you do. Personally, I am a big resale fan and would not ever consider buying direct. Others on here would not ever consider buying resale. Whatever the opinion, you know that it is a true representation of how we feel about purchasing DVC without any ulterior motives. Read as many as you can, and then you can decide which argument resonates with you the most.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Deb & Bill]

But if nothing bothers you about resale vs direct, just read this thread and think about leaving these points to your now minor kids.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2951732

 

[ercrbc]

We bought resale in 2010. We had rented points the previous Fall to stay in a villa at an affordable rate. We were taking our then 4yo and 1yo. No way could we handle two little ones without a 'home base' to come back and recoup each afternoon. I needed the kitchen and w/d and can't imagine doing Disney any other way with small kids. After that trip I became kind of obsessed with learning all about DVC. We bought our first resale contract a few months later. (and another small one a year later when we found out about baby #3 )

retail vs resale: I had no interest in taking time out of my vacation to take the tour, and I had no need to talk to a DVC guide about any questions. THIS board is a far better GUIDE to DVC if you are looking for straight answers about the system. The DVC Guides job is to sell pts. I don't think they 'lie' necessarily, but they certainly don't understand the system the way the helpful posters here on the DIS do. From what I have seen from other posters, they notoriously sugar coat the 'perks' and 'flexibility' of the system. I didn't feel the need to pay almost twice for our contracts just to have the pleasure of having a 'Guide' sell them to me.

Bottom line: If your goal buying into DVC is to stay in villa accommodations at a specific DVC resort, look at the pt charts for that resort, size of room and travel time to figure out how many pts you need. Find a resale contract for that many pts (and a UY just before your probable travel time), bid on it, negotiate if necessary, cross your fingers as it goes through ROFR and get SUPER excited when it passes and closes and you become a member! Feel AWESOME that you now have the home resort YOU want (not what your Guide wants to sell you) and that you got a GREAT deal.

If you haven't figured it out yet, Disney's REAL best kept secret is DVC resale

Good luck and enjoy! DVC is awesome and one of the best decisions we have made for our young family.

 

[AlwaysDreamofDisney]

Keep in mind that those BLT standard views that you are looking t will mot likely be long gone at 7 months! If you think you would like to stay at BLT then compare the points you will need for a 2Br lake view. This will help you better decide ow many points you will need.

And just so you know your contracts do NOT need to be all in the same UY. I own 3 (VGC, VWL, SSR) each with different UY for several reasons.

VGC has a December UY as that was what was available direct at the time, it came with a "bonus" of extra points so our 250 pt contract had 500 points to start. This is another "scam" that DVC likes to play! The points that were a bonus were in fact out own points because we bought in June and they were the points we would have received with the December contract. Our guide wouldn't even discuss VWL with us. They were "sold out" don't bother me was the attitude we got. Live and learn!!!

Our first resale was for VWL and it has a September UY. We bought this with the intention of Christmas trips every other year!

Our 2nd resale was for SSR and it has a February UY. No special intention there but it was a loaded contract at a great price! This purchase enabled us to combine points from ALL 3 contracts so that we could book a GV for a split stay at SSR & BLT this August!

All 3 contracts are titled identically and I can sign onto 1 membership login to access all of the points.

 

[HunnyJar]

Thank you all again for all the advice and help! Lots for us to think about. I'm glad we are not in a time crunch to decide right away. I now feel like I know a lot more than I did last week, so thank you!

 

[Mtnman44]

Grab a couple of 150 pt resale contracts with the same UY and don't look back. You could save $18,000 dollars or more on the purchase of 300 points by going resale vs. direct. Purchasing direct is more convienient absolutely, but not $18k more convienient.

 

[Sandisw]

Keep in mind that those BLT standard views that you are looking t will mot likely be long gone at 7 months! If you think you would like to stay at BLT then compare the points you will need for a 2Br lake view. This will help you better decide ow many points you will need.

And just so you know your contracts do NOT need to be all in the same UY. I own 3 (VGC, VWL, SSR) each with different UY for several reasons.

VGC has a December UY as that was what was available direct at the time, it came with a "bonus" of extra points so our 250 pt contract had 500 points to start. This is another "scam" that DVC likes to play! The points that were a bonus were in fact out own points because we bought in June and they were the points we would have received with the December contract. Our guide wouldn't even discuss VWL with us. They were "sold out" don't bother me was the attitude we got. Live and learn!!!

Our first resale was for VWL and it has a September UY. We bought this with the intention of Christmas trips every other year!

Our 2nd resale was for SSR and it has a February UY. No special intention there but it was a loaded contract at a great price! This purchase enabled us to combine points from ALL 3 contracts so that we could book a GV for a split stay at SSR & BLT this August!

All 3 contracts are titled identically and I can sign onto 1 membership login to access all of the points.

Just to clarify for others. While you can log in to DVC and see all of your memberships, the fact that they are different UY's makes them different memberships and therefore, the rules of what you can do with points between contracts is different if the UY is the same.

We also own two UY's so I know that it is something that can be manageable. But, I also think that people doing this understand this requires some planning as using points for a single night can only be done if transfers happen and while MS may currently give a lot of latitude for the same owner, the technical rule is one transfer in/out of your membership each UY.

 

[ELMC]

Just to clarify for others. While you can log in to DVC and see all of your memberships, the fact that they are different UY's makes them different memberships and therefore, the rules of what you can do with points between contracts is different if the UY is the same.

We also own two UY's so I know that it is something that can be manageable. But, I also think that people doing this understand this requires some planning as using points for a single night can only be done if transfers happen and while MS may currently give a lot of latitude for the same owner, the technical rule is one transfer in/out of your membership each UY.

Unless you are always maxed out on your future points, I don't see this as being a big deal. In many cases, you could just borrow points from a future year to round out the reservation if you need to.

 

[matthew517]

There is a major issue with resale. They now are only good for DVC properties.

They offer the other resorts. They just want to close out BLT, AKV and Hawaii.

I have a family of 6 and a 2 bedroom does us fine. We have 330 points.

The prices are going up fast so if your gonna buy dont hesitate. In the past year the have gone up 30 and I believe their increasing on the 15th another 5.

 

[ELMC]

There is a major issue with resale. They now are only good for DVC properties.

I wouldn't say that this is a major issue at all. Resales can still book any of the DVC properties with the same booking windows as direct purchasers. They can also be used for exchanges through the RCI network. The fact that they restricted some fringe benefits (DCL, CC, ABD) that are not always an economical use of points (and can be taken away from direct purchasers as well) is a minor issue at best.