Decided to buy DVC, and have questions

[Rabbit_Fan]

I have been lurking for awhile and still have questions I was hoping someone would have the patience to help me with

DH and I have been looking into DVC for awhile. After crunching the numbers and going bonkers over spreadsheet after spreadsheet, we decided that DVC is something that we want, and have elected to stop driving ourselves nuts trying to figure out if it is the most cost effective route to yearly WDW vacations -- silly as it may sound, we have given up on running each and every financial scenerio and decided that after determining that we can afford it, to let out hearts rather than letting the excel spreadsheets make the decision. Our hearts said to buy DVC and since our bank account can support that decision, we're good with it

Now on to driving myself batty with the next step

1.) To buy through Disney or resale.

DH and I both feel better buying through Disney. I have scanned the resale sites, and though some of the deals sound appealing, I would just feel more at ease buying from Disney directly. Plus, waiting during the ROFR period would have me stir crazy.

Can I call Disney and as a non-DVC member ask to be put on a waiting list for a 160+ point WL or OKW contract? When DH and I took the DVC tour a month ago, the guide giving us the tour didn't answer the question when I asked him. he instead just said "Oh, you'd never want to do that." Umm, yeah, I would that's why I asked, lol. I know the other contracts are longer, but I would rather having WL or OKW as our home resort (again, I know, an emotional response as opposed to 'practical').

2.) If we cannot buy WL or OKW from Disney, and have SSR or AKV to choose from, would developer's points or the $ off points be the wiser option?

I have been trying to see all angles, and if we do have choose either SSR or AKV (both sound lovely, I don't mean that wording to be negative in any way) to buy through Disney directly, I am not sure if we'd be better off with the $ savings or the bonus points. If I understood the guide correctly, the developer's points must be used within 7 months, and are in a sub-account. That sounds great, but I am thinking that perhaps we wouldn't be able to book anything with them, esp. with December being so busy for DVC-ers. I think the bonus would be more "valuable" but if we cannot use them, the $ off would be the better option ...... I think anyway

3.) How difficult would it be getting a room other than 7 or 11 months out?

I would be fine booking our main vacation well in advance, but there are times when we decide last minute to go to WDW. If we had points available, how tough would it be to get a room (anywhere DVC) say, a month (or less) out from the trip? Trying to decide if I should just get enough points for our main trip, or for the smaller ones as well


I am sorry if you all have answered similar questions a zillion and three times. I hate to be a pain, but was hoping someone could help me think through this before I find myself in a situation similar to the spreadsheet gehenna I created for myself up to this point, lol.

 

[ScottakaMickey]

1.) To buy through Disney or resale.

DH and I both feel better buying through Disney. I have scanned the resale sites, and though some of the deals sound appealing, I would just feel more at ease buying from Disney directly. Plus, waiting during the ROFR period would have me stir crazy.

Can I call Disney and as a non-DVC member ask to be put on a waiting list for a 160+ point WL or OKW contract? When DH and I took the DVC tour a month ago, the guide giving us the tour didn't answer the question when I asked him. he instead just said "Oh, you'd never want to do that." Umm, yeah, I would that's why I asked, lol. I know the other contracts are longer, but I would rather having WL or OKW as our home resort (again, I know, an emotional response as opposed to 'practical').

Disney has OKW and VLW points available now, so you can call your guide from your tour and they can give you prices. I know that OKW is $92 a point and you can get a Oct 06 UY, which gets you points now and then more points on Oct 1. There are a few other months that will also give you the same, your guide can assist. If you don't like your guide, just call and ask for a different one. There are posts on here to get names. Mine was OK, but it sounds like there are better. What he said to you was bad tactics, IMHO.

2.) If we cannot buy WL or OKW from Disney, and have SSR or AKV to choose from, would developer's points or the $ off points be the wiser option?

I have been trying to see all angles, and if we do have choose either SSR or AKV (both sound lovely, I don't mean that wording to be negative in any way) to buy through Disney directly, I am not sure if we'd be better off with the $ savings or the bonus points. If I understood the guide correctly, the developer's points must be used within 7 months, and are in a sub-account. That sounds great, but I am thinking that perhaps we wouldn't be able to book anything with them, esp. with December being so busy for DVC-ers. I think the bonus would be more "valuable" but if we cannot use them, the $ off would be the better option ...... I think anyway

We looked at resale, but chose AKV as the cost difference wasn't that much. I got points right away and an early UY. I also got the 15 years more for AKV which had value to me.

3.) How difficult would it be getting a room other than 7 or 11 months out?

I would be fine booking our main vacation well in advance, but there are times when we decide last minute to go to WDW. If we had points available, how tough would it be to get a room (anywhere DVC) say, a month (or less) out from the trip? Trying to decide if I should just get enough points for our main trip, or for the smaller ones as well

It all depends on when you plan on traveling.

 

[Anthony1971]

You need to buy from who you feel most comfortable with and the resort you feel most comfortable at period.
There is no wrong choices all of the resorts are nice. However if you feel that you need to stay at one year after year than that is where you should buy.
as far as the $ or Dpts I always take the cash that is personal. I buy the amount of points I need and I have no need to feel that I have to use these points by.......
Some will say you can rent the points and make out on the deal which is true but that is risk and hassle invoved.
When I bought I was aware of resale but I bought through Disney and took the cash back. As far as the resort I am not stuck on any one an dlike to try different resorts and I am not displeased with any... However I have always got what I wanted..

 

[VTNuke]

The ROFR time didn't take that long. They lets us know in two weeks on the contract Disney exercised their right and 10 days on the contract we ended up with.

Resale is the better deal if you have the funds available or know how you are going to finance it. If you need to pay with a credit card or need Disney's help with the finace parts, they're the better way to go.

Timing was very important as well. It takes a few months to get everything done with a resale. We just made it through ROFR and should close sometime in August. Our next trip won't be until September of 2008, so we had plenty of time to plan everything at the 11 month window. That was important to us. You may want to go back sooner than that and Disney will get you to the "planning your vacation" phase than a resale will.

 

[chalee94]

If we had points available, how tough would it be to get a room (anywhere DVC) say, a month (or less) out from the trip? Trying to decide if I should just get enough points for our main trip, or for the smaller ones as well

it gets a little complicated since DVC turns over unbooked rooms to CRO at 60 days out. booking at the last minute can be done if you are flexible (and not traveling on new year's or something) - people have done it. but it can get confusing in cases where there are rooms available at SSR on expedia but MS says SSR is booked solid...

(i wouldn't recommend counting on being able to book at the last minute unless you're talking about sept trips or something...but YMMV.)

recent thread discussing this issue...

 

[dunkie7557]

Will disney let you come in and just buy points wherever without first buying the minimum amount of 160 first?

Let's say i want to just purchase 50 points at wherever and then add to it as i get more money. if i have to buy the 160 package first and then add, it ain't going to happen.

Can i do this with my tour guide?

by the way do the phone reps do guides or do you just og down and go to resort and go with someone else?

 

[chalee94]

Will disney let you come in and just buy points wherever without first buying the minimum amount of 160 first?

Let's say i want to just purchase 50 points at wherever and then add to it as i get more money. if i have to buy the 160 package first and then add, it ain't going to happen.

no - you have to go resale if you want fewer than 160 points to start.

after you buy a 50 pt (or whatever) contract resale, you should have no problem adding on through disney (i.e. with no closing costs) from there. (i.e. you would NOT be required to add 110 pts to get to a total of 160 pts for disney to talk to you.)