Couple questions for DVC pros....

[WeWantsTheRedHeadback]

Howdy everyone, first off, TIA for checking this out. We have a few questions that I am slightly confused about after partaking in an open house at SSR this past weekend and meeting with a Disney DVC rep. Gonna set the stage here for a bit..... We have been going to Disney on a yearly basis now for the past 6 years, with 3 trips planned this year. We also have purchased AP's, and plan on continuing this pattern of a min of 3 visits per year for many, many years to come so as you can imagine, DVC is a very viable, realistic option that just makes financial sense. We are also Landry's and TIW members so as you can see, we are ALL IN! lol Our trips include one 3 night stay at a value, one 7 night stay at a deluxe, and one 4 night stay at a moderate. Being that we are both in our mid 30's, we are definitely thinking long term as well. We have been self educating for the past year now about DVC, whether it be purchasing Direct through Disney or buying resale. Obviously buying resale is extremely attractive considering the price per point vs buying direct and we are quite possibly going to buy the majority of our points through the resale market due to this. If it works out right, we would also like to buy the bare minimum number of points direct through Disney to take advantage of the DVC member perks that currently available as well as any that are introduced in the future as new attractions/lands/resorts are introduced. Sooooo.....here are a couple questions we had that seemed to generate some conflicting answers from what we already knew/understood or at least thought we did vs what the Disney DVC rep was telling us. I am going to use a number of 200 pts as this is where we want to end up, at least if not more, once we finally go through with this. I do realize that 200 pts may not cover all of our stays as they currently are, based on when we go and what type of room is available, 200 or close to is just where we want to start out at right now.

1. What is the actual bare minimum number of pts a NEW DVC member can purchase to begin a contract? 75 or 100?
2. Say for example we buy the bare min. number of pts direct from Disney DVC, whether that be 75 or 100, as in 75 for AKL, use yr of Sept, and then we buy another 125 for AKL, use yr of Sept, will we be able to use ALL 200 pts at the 11 month window to book a DVC room at AKL?
3. If we were to purchase ALL 200 pts through resale, will we be able to book at our home resort at the 11 month window?
4. If we purchase ONLY resale, will we still receive a DVC member card that we will be able to use for DVC member discounts throughout WDW?

FYI, for these examples I am assuming there will be availability of rooms, pts and contracts at our home resort, which will hopefully be AKL. All hypothetical just for discussion.
For the sake of discussion, if you do answer, pls let us know if you are a direct through Disney DVC member, a resale only purchaser or a combination of both.
Like I said earlier, I honestly couldn't tell if the DVC rep was really in the know about these answers. He kinda seemed offended when I brought them up, almost defensive and used some fairly aggressive sale tactics on us when discussing. Literally giving us the WORST possible outcome examples to scare us away from resale. Even began our initial discussion asking where we were from, "oh really, I have a cousin that lives there, works for so and so, have you ever heard of that place?" Just so happened to be that exact place where I work, total work force of 480, which for the record is a unique, specialized industry that is not common at all....almost as if some background info was gathered on us first. Shady stuff Disney....
Ok, I know this was long, I'm sorry, just wanted to be as clear as possible. Thanks again and have at it!

 

[disneynutz]

I would find out what their minimum direct is, they may change it.
Only home resort points at the resort you are booking can be used at 11 months.
Resale or direct, book your home resort at 11 months.
You need to buy direct to get discounts but sometimes CM's don't care.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

1. What is the actual bare minimum number of pts a NEW DVC member can purchase to begin a contract? 75 or 100?
2. Say for example we buy the bare min. number of pts direct from Disney DVC, whether that be 75 or 100, as in 75 for AKL, use yr of Sept, and then we buy another 125 for AKL, use yr of Sept, will we be able to use ALL 200 pts at the 11 month window to book a DVC room at AKL?
3. If we were to purchase ALL 200 pts through resale, will we be able to book at our home resort at the 11 month window?
4. If we purchase ONLY resale, will we still receive a DVC member card that we will be able to use for DVC member discounts throughout WDW?

1. That I don't know - seems to vary a bit - could be 75 or could be 100 and might depend on the resort. BUT - once you are a member you can add on as few as 25 points at a time except at CCV. I think that's still 50 point minimum although maybe it went up to 75 points. It requires 75 points purchased direct now to get all the member perks.
2. Yes. It doesn't matter how you buy in regards to using the points at 11 months. In the scenario you outlined as long as things were titled exactly the same and were the same UY they should end up under the same overall membership. When you went to book there would be 2 contracts to select from. It would use the points from the one you order to be used first and then continue with the one you placed to be used second.
3. Yes.
4. You will have an online member card that you also can print out. New resale members do not receive whatever DVC determines is incidental benefits although many report still often being given both dining and merchandise discounts. Technically though a new resale buyer should only receive access to TOTWL, pool hopping privileges and free DVD rentals at the resort. You would not have access to member cruises even paying cash, no access to moonlight magic events are likely any other new events that DVC comes up with in the future, no discounted AP's, no discounted TIW etc. Owning 75 points bought directly would give you access to all the DVC perks and discounts.

FWIW - bought first contract resale many years ago so grandfathered in. Have also bought direct and do own resale contracts that are not grandfathered in for everything. One only has restrictions against being used for trading to Disney Collection. Another has all restrictions. We receive all benefits as long as we own at least one qualified contract. If we happened to sell the qualified and only kept the last resale we bought then we'd be restricted in our perks and discounts.

Also - I'd recommend asking for a new guide should you decide to move forward on a direct purchase. There are plenty that are very forthcoming and you have zero need to have one that you don't feel is being straight with you. You just need to call and ask for someone new.

 

[Marionnette]

I'll just add that the September UY has one of the smallest number of AKV points (only April has fewer points sold). It will be difficult to find a "right size" Sept. UY contract on the resale market. You may want to purchase resale first and then add on direct if those benefits are so important to you.

https://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-p...ear-distribution-charts-updated-february-2018

 

[_auroraborealis_]

1. It is between 50 and 100 for a new contract. That said, if you're set on buying, I'd buy your resale FIRST then add bare minimum points direct with a matching Use Year.

2. Same resort, matching UY, you can use together at 11 months.

3. Oh boy you got one of the scare-tactic jerks. DVC is a timeshare. You are buying a real estate interest. It is nearly impossible for Disney to change program terms such that resale buyers cannot book their home resort at 11 months, or exchange within the DVC association at 7 months. Every change they've made to try to differentiate direct and resale has been outside the core real estate interest, for reasons.

4. To expand on one thing @KAT4DISNEY didn't mention, if you buy mostly resale points then 75 direct, only the 75 direct points will be "qualified" for use for cruises or the Disney Collection, but will qualify you for discounts, the AP Gold, and etc., which do not require the use of the points to buy them.

I would ask, given that based on 3 you got That Guide, if they talked about 11-7 month booking in a robust way? Many guides will talk up the alleged ease of booking at 7 months, or on short notice, and it is quite alleged, especially in fall months. DVC works best for planners, in general, with a few exception cases. And in those exception cases, buying mostly expensive direct points is not a fiscally prudent approach.

As far as direct/resale/etc., it's complicated for many people here. There are various dates for various restrictions on resale, and so some people may be resale and have full member perks, some may have some member perks.

 

[Dean]

Howdy everyone, first off, TIA for checking this out. We have a few questions that I am slightly confused about after partaking in an open house at SSR this past weekend and meeting with a Disney DVC rep. Gonna set the stage here for a bit..... We have been going to Disney on a yearly basis now for the past 6 years, with 3 trips planned this year. We also have purchased AP's, and plan on continuing this pattern of a min of 3 visits per year for many, many years to come so as you can imagine, DVC is a very viable, realistic option that just makes financial sense. We are also Landry's and TIW members so as you can see, we are ALL IN! lol Our trips include one 3 night stay at a value, one 7 night stay at a deluxe, and one 4 night stay at a moderate. Being that we are both in our mid 30's, we are definitely thinking long term as well. We have been self educating for the past year now about DVC, whether it be purchasing Direct through Disney or buying resale. Obviously buying resale is extremely attractive considering the price per point vs buying direct and we are quite possibly going to buy the majority of our points through the resale market due to this. If it works out right, we would also like to buy the bare minimum number of points direct through Disney to take advantage of the DVC member perks that currently available as well as any that are introduced in the future as new attractions/lands/resorts are introduced. Sooooo.....here are a couple questions we had that seemed to generate some conflicting answers from what we already knew/understood or at least thought we did vs what the Disney DVC rep was telling us. I am going to use a number of 200 pts as this is where we want to end up, at least if not more, once we finally go through with this. I do realize that 200 pts may not cover all of our stays as they currently are, based on when we go and what type of room is available, 200 or close to is just where we want to start out at right now.

1. What is the actual bare minimum number of pts a NEW DVC member can purchase to begin a contract? 75 or 100?
2. Say for example we buy the bare min. number of pts direct from Disney DVC, whether that be 75 or 100, as in 75 for AKL, use yr of Sept, and then we buy another 125 for AKL, use yr of Sept, will we be able to use ALL 200 pts at the 11 month window to book a DVC room at AKL?
3. If we were to purchase ALL 200 pts through resale, will we be able to book at our home resort at the 11 month window?
4. If we purchase ONLY resale, will we still receive a DVC member card that we will be able to use for DVC member discounts throughout WDW?

FYI, for these examples I am assuming there will be availability of rooms, pts and contracts at our home resort, which will hopefully be AKL. All hypothetical just for discussion.
For the sake of discussion, if you do answer, pls let us know if you are a direct through Disney DVC member, a resale only purchaser or a combination of both.
Like I said earlier, I honestly couldn't tell if the DVC rep was really in the know about these answers. He kinda seemed offended when I brought them up, almost defensive and used some fairly aggressive sale tactics on us when discussing. Literally giving us the WORST possible outcome examples to scare us away from resale. Even began our initial discussion asking where we were from, "oh really, I have a cousin that lives there, works for so and so, have you ever heard of that place?" Just so happened to be that exact place where I work, total work force of 480, which for the record is a unique, specialized industry that is not common at all....almost as if some background info was gathered on us first. Shady stuff Disney....
Ok, I know this was long, I'm sorry, just wanted to be as clear as possible. Thanks again and have at it!

You'll have to buy 75 points to get the perks. Resale you aren't entitled to them. You'll pay roughly an additional $5-6K by buying 75 pts retail and 125 resale compared to all resale. And you'll have less options. IF I were going to do this I'd buy resale first at AKV and then consider a high demand resort for the retail purchase. Realistically very few can make up the cost of the 75 pts retail, it'd take a boatload of pass discounts to do so.

 

[WeWantsTheRedHeadback]

Thanks for the awesome feedback and advice everyone! I just really do appreciate it and it is definitely making me rethink our strategy here!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don' know where I read it, but someone had calculated the savings of resale versus the cost of perks with direct and they still saved money with resale paying for the full price ap and other deals. The special events are hit or miss, mostly miss, if you will be there when they happen since they usually schedule them long after you booked your trip.

 

[Dean]

I don' know where I read it, but someone had calculated the savings of resale versus the cost of perks with direct and they still saved money with resale paying for the full price ap and other deals. The special events are hit or miss, mostly miss, if you will be there when they happen since they usually schedule them long after you booked your trip.

I ran rough numbers a few months ago and IIRC it was like 20 passes at the current discount to break even. That might be worth it for a family or families of 10 or more but not for most. 5-7 years to break even for this situation is not reasonable since it's not a guaranteed program.