Current Add On Direct Deals

[DVC Fanatic]

Hoping to close on my first resale contract in the next 45 days, just before an already planned cash trip to Disney world at the end of August. I was told there is a current promotion if you add on points at Aulani to an existing membership with money off and one time use points. Wanted to see if anyone could pass along the specifics, such as minimum amount of points needed to purchase? Thank you in advance.

 

[tjkraz]

You can find current pricing and offers summarized here:

https://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/financial/pricing-a-promotions

 

[Cyberc1978]

I would not recommend that you buy Aulani if the intention is to use the points at WDW. I would instead recommend that you buy at a resort in WDW.

The annual dues at Aulani is higher than WDW and you will only be able to book WDW 7months out. Only buy Aulani if you intend to use the points at Aulani.

 

[DVC Fanatic]

Appreciate the advice. I was basically looking for the cheapest way to become a "Full Perks Member" if our current Resale contract goes through the ROFR process. I am probably putting too much emphasis on having the perks. Our current pending contract is at one of the Monorail Resorts, as we do not live in Florida anymore (Active Military), but have Florida Resident APs and visit for at least 2 weeks a year every year. Our initial thoughts would be to visit Aulani every 3-4 years, or whenever we could accumulate a bunch of airline miles. Another hesitation I have is the massive price difference between Aulani direct prices and resale prices. My other thoughts would be to wait to see what other properties Disney develops in the next 5 years and purchase direct then. The current 200 points on our pending contract would be enough in most cases until our family grows by one more.

 

[disneynutz]

Buy where you love to stay no matter what the cost. Why buy to save a few bucks and have the disappointment of not getting the resort you love, when you want it? Aulani is also a remote resort (no parks), long flight to get there, could suffer storm damage that may affect your dues and they charge you a cash tax every time that you stay there.

Bill

 

[DVC Fanatic]

All good advice. The higher dues at Aulani are a slight concern.

 

[disneynutz]

All good advice. The higher dues at Aulani are a slight concern.

Here is another Aulani fact. If it was a good deal or made sense to purchase, it would have sold out in a couple of years. It's been for sale for 7 years and still isn't sold out. Also IMO when Atlantis is built next door, Aulani might loose customers and some of the views.

Bill

 

[keaster]

We own Aulani resale (subsidized contract), and I don't believe adding on Aulani direct makes financial sense. If you are looking for direct perks, you should add on direct at a WDW resort. You can always book Aulani at 7 Months (outside of peak/holiday times).

 

[tjkraz]

Here is another Aulani fact. If it was a good deal or made sense to purchase, it would have sold out in a couple of years.

Not really. Grand Floridian took nearly 2 years to sell (June 2013 to April/May 2015.) Aulani has more than 4.5x as many villas. Size matters.

 

[disneynutz]

Not really. Grand Floridian took nearly 2 years to sell (June 2013 to April/May 2015.) Aulani has more than 4.5x as many villas. Size matters.

Good point but it still seems to be taking a long time. If buyers were really in love with Aulani, even with it being larger, it should sell faster than it has. At the resort they are really pushing for sales, seemed no matter where we went in the resort, ASA's were hitting us up to buy. They even had them going from pool chair to pool chair looking for buyers.

Bill

 

[DVC Fanatic]

Does anyone have any thoughts if pursuing 75 points directly from Disney while I have a contract pending ROFR would hurt the chances of the resale going through?

 

[renzmari]

Does anyone have any thoughts if pursuing 75 points directly from Disney while I have a contract pending ROFR would hurt the chances of the resale going through?

I had a contract going through ROFR back in Feb and purchased 50 direct and it had no bearing. I even told my rep that I wanted to buy in before the 75 point requirement and that I was purchasing resale. I got the extra 50 points and my resale contract went through.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

Does anyone have any thoughts if pursuing 75 points directly from Disney while I have a contract pending ROFR would hurt the chances of the resale going through?

The key is to make sure that they are titled identically and are tied to the same master contract number (and the same use year). This is easier to accomplish once you have closed on the resale, but it is not impossible to do them at the same time. Just more can go wrong.

 

[tjkraz]

Good point but it still seems to be taking a long time. If buyers were really in love with Aulani, even with it being larger, it should sell faster than it has. At the resort they are really pushing for sales, seemed no matter where we went in the resort, ASA's were hitting us up to buy. They even had them going from pool chair to pool chair looking for buyers.

Bill

In my opinion, it was always at 10+ year project. At nearly 500 villas, it's a HUGE development. The Japan nuclear disaster and Aulani dues issue were both blows. I'm not sure we can even guess how much has sold at this point. Anecdotally, it's safe to say that sales haven't matched whatever lofty projections were used to get it approved in the first place.

It doesn't surprise me that DVC is trying hard to sell to guests. They certainly aren't garnering much interest from those visiting DL or WDW. Probably the death blow to future off site projects--not because Disney CAN'T sell elsewhere, but just because WDW is so much more popular and profitable for DVCs.

 

[DVC Fanatic]

Really appreciate all of the comments.

 

[CarolMN]

Appreciate the advice. I was basically looking for the cheapest way to become a "Full Perks Member" if our current Resale contract goes through the ROFR process. I am probably putting too much emphasis on having the perks. Our current pending contract is at one of the Monorail Resorts, as we do not live in Florida anymore (Active Military), but have Florida Resident APs and visit for at least 2 weeks a year every year. Our initial thoughts would be to visit Aulani every 3-4 years, or whenever we could accumulate a bunch of airline miles. Another hesitation I have is the massive price difference between Aulani direct prices and resale prices. My other thoughts would be to wait to see what other properties Disney develops in the next 5 years and purchase direct then. The current 200 points on our pending contract would be enough in most cases until our family grows by one more.

You may indeed be over-valuing the perks. The DVC annual pass is the most valuable perk. But since you have access to the Florida resident annual passes (same price as the DVC annual passes), you already have that savings over the regular annual passes. The DVC merchandise and dining discounts are comparable to those attached to the annual passes, so no value there, either. As active military, what are the odds that you would be able to attend one of the Membership Magic events (or that they will even continue)? In your position, I'd wait before spending several thousand on perks of dubious value.

Thanks for your service!

 

[DVC Fanatic]

Thank you for that. That is actually a great point and how I will probably proceed. I admit I was getting sucked into the Disney Marketing ploy of buying something direct. Resale is such a better buy though.

 

[bianca]

Aulani would be a definite add-on for us if they treated the place like a legit resort. Shutting down the pools early in the evening was the deal killer for us. If we found out tomorrow that they would COMMIT to keeping the pools/bars open until at least midnight, we would buy additional points tomorrow. We simply aren't traveling 10 hours in the air to keep kiddie hours and be inundated with children all day. Before I get flamed, I understand it's a family resort, but at least keep the place open for adults after the kiddies have been put to bed, so that I have a few hours of enjoyment!

 

[bumbershoot]

I was basically looking for the cheapest way to become a "Full Perks Member" if our current Resale contract goes through the ROFR process.

Look at the total cost, not just buyin cost.

I am probably putting too much emphasis on having the perks.

Maybe.

The higher dues at Aulani are a slight concern.

Over time "slight" will probably go higher on your list of concerns.

It's been for sale for 7 years and still isn't sold out.

Isn't that amazing?