Developer points, where do they come from?

[tubtruck]

There seems to be a lot of threads on here about developer points that have been handed out to new buyers as part of their deal for buying at which ever resort.
My question is where do these points come from ?.
The majority of these points seem to be only available for use at SSR.
I own at SSR and thought it was sold out some time ago with the exception of this new tree house bit. Is there not only the 2% owned by Disney and used for maintenance etc available at SSR.

 

[DVC Mike]

They are points owned by DVD (the developer). Since they can only be used 7 months out, the points can come from any DVC resort.

 

[DebbieB]

My question is why can they only be used at SSR, DL or World Passport? Why would there be a restriction at 7 months?

 

[RobDoc]

That is the way DVD decided to offer the incentive. I suspect that those limitations are easier to administer than the way it was done previously. By limiting use of the points to SSR , which often has the most availability just because of it's size, they can still rent their unused inventory at other resorts thru CRO.

They could have placed any number of other restrictions on their use, but settled on this as the most workable. Just think if they had made them only for use on weekends, 4 months ahead of travel for non-DVC resorts.

 

[tjkraz]

I think the restriction has been a nice benefit to members, too. If memory serves when they first started offering DPs for AKV purchases (summer '07) they could be used at all resorts. That seemed to have a very obvious negative impact on availability/customer satisfaction for current members. Well into 2008 there were still a lot of complaints over difficulty in getting reservations. While things may never return to the good 'ole days some remember, the ability to use Developer's Points at all DVC resorts certainly didn't help.

So limiting DP usage to SSR only has certainly helped members who want to use their points at other resorts 7 mos out. Not just SSR owners but anyone who wanted to book a location other than their Home.

And it's giving new members an early taste of SSR which is also a good thing. Given the volume of people who have posted things along the lines of "I liked SSR much more than I thought I would", it's good to see new owners sampling the resort early in their DVC experiences.

 

[ACDSNY]

Who determines the expiration date on the developer points? Do they guides have a choice on this? When I purchased AKV last June, DP expired 5/31/09 so I thought they lasted a year. The unoffical word on VGC is the DP will expire in Oct 09.

 

[disneynutz]

The program terms and dates are determined by DVD Marketing and Management. The Guides are at the bottom of the pile and do not have a say on anything. We often know more about the programs than they do.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I think the restriction has been a nice benefit to members, too. If memory serves when they first started offering DPs for AKV purchases (summer '07) they could be used at all resorts. That seemed to have a very obvious negative impact on availability/customer satisfaction for current members. Well into 2008 there were still a lot of complaints over difficulty in getting reservations. While things may never return to the good 'ole days some remember, the ability to use Developer's Points at all DVC resorts certainly didn't help.

With all due respect, let's be carefula and not get to uppedy about current members and their feelings.

Once a DVC member pays their hard-earned money, they become current members, instantaneously; just as much as you or me. The fact that they are given incentive points because their home resort isn't ready for occupancy yet is not their fault. It's DVD's decision. They deserve those points and they deserve them in the current use year. Would it upset you if they took your points away this year? You paid for'em!

I could easily substantiate an argument that incentive points should be able to be used anywhere in the system. DVD's making life easy on themselves by keeping the choices for their use very limited. My bet would be if someone really wanted to press the issue (read: $$ and lawyers), they could use them anywhere they wanted to (as they should be able to IMHO). To be honest with you, it ticks me off that they are limited in any way. I just don't have the inclination to fight it (which is what DVD counts on).

 

[tjkraz]

Once a DVC member pays their hard-earned money, they become current members, instantaneously; just as much as you or me.

I was simply using the term "current members" to refer to those booking on their deeded points as opposed to Developer's Points.

The fact that they are given incentive points because their home resort isn't ready for occupancy yet is not their fault. It's DVD's decision.

The purchase would be made by mutual agreement. DVD is not hiding the fact that the units are not ready for occupancy. If the buyer chooses to purchase under those terms, that is his/her prerogative.

They deserve those points and they deserve them in the current use year. Would it upset you if they took your points away this year? You paid for'em!

In order for something to be taken away, it must exist in the first place. Kidani Village does not exist until May 1, 2009, therefore nothing was taken away.

Additionally, the Developer's Points incentives are not mandated by the fact that some units are not immediately ready for occupancy. There were periods where DVC was selling Jambo units that were readily available to owners and still offered Developer's Points as an added incentive. The same was true of Saratoga Springs.

Offering the DPs may be a way of softening the blow since DVC is selling many products which cannot be immediately used. But they are free to set the usage terms for those incentive points however they wish.

Prior to this recent wave of Developer's Points incentives buyers would regularly purchase ownership in units that were not ready for occupancy. In those cases the member would simply be unable to use their points until their unit was added to the Condo Association. It is pretty straightforward.

I could easily substantiate an argument that incentive points should be able to be used anywhere in the system. DVD's making life easy on themselves by keeping the choices for their use very limited. My bet would be if someone really wanted to press the issue (read: $$ and lawyers), they could use them anywhere they wanted to (as they should be able to IMHO). To be honest with you, it ticks me off that they are limited in any way. I just don't have the inclination to fight it (which is what DVD counts on).

Doubt it. Your deed lists exactly what you are buying--deeded ownership in a specific facility which runs from X to Y. The Developer's Points are not listed on your deed. You do not own them. The fact that the Estimated Occupancy Date of the deeded unit is a future date is neither here nor there. It's certainly not unheard of for individuals to buy property--real or otherwise--that they cannot use / take possession of until a future date.

Developer's Points are a sales incentive, pure and simple. DVD is not bound by any Disney Vacation Club terms and conditions in administering the use of those points.

 

[RobDoc]

...
I could easily substantiate an argument that incentive points should be able to be used anywhere in the system. DVD's making life easy on themselves by keeping the choices for their use very limited. My bet would be if someone really wanted to press the issue (read: $$ and lawyers), they could use them anywhere they wanted to (as they should be able to IMHO). To be honest with you, it ticks me off that they are limited in any way. I just don't have the inclination to fight it (which is what DVD counts on).

Nope - the terms of use for DPs are clearly spelled out in the closing documents - including where and for how long they may be used. Also included in the same documents is the date the actual points purchased may be used (occupancy date for the unit being purchased) in the case of resorts yet-to-open. The time to negotiate different terms that those offered would be before agreeing to them at closing - not afterwards.

 

[rodserry]

I do think it is a bummer that most DPs are offered at SSR. That basically "cheapens" the ownership for people who actually purchased there since these points seem to be up for grabs and free to almost everyone. I am noticing SSR is renting for $8 a point!

Rod

 

[kikiq]

I do think it is a bummer that most DPs are offered at SSR. That basically "cheapens" the ownership for people who actually purchased there since these points seem to be up for grabs and free to almost everyone. I am noticing SSR is renting for $8 a point!

Rod

I don't know that I'm going to say what I want to say but here goes:

As a SSR owner, I don't feel that it cheapens my ownership at all. Remember DPs can only be booked 7 months out, so in that case it's like any other DVC member using their points at SSR, not SSR points in particular. SSR is a beautiful resort that some love to call home. Others don't care for it at all. As for the $8/point, did you happen to notice when those points expiring or if they are DP?!

 

[wildernessDad]

It could be worse.

You could have bought in at AKV as a 'founding member.' My unit did not open until September, 2007 and I was not given developer's points. I just had to wait until my unit was ready. Because my unit did not exist until then, I had no AKV points to use at other places before the September opening date.

At least those with developer's points can use them at SSR before their unit opens. From my vantage point, it seems like a gift.

 

[Moeluv4u7]

Did BLT purchasers get developer points? Are they still available if so?

We got DP w/ our AKV purchase (Kidani)- I saw it as a gift as well- Not deserving- and was pleasantly surprised when our guide told us we got them- Since we had a 7 mos booking window I don't feel we "pushed" any SSR owners out of a reservation- As a pp said, they have the 11 mos window and just as if we were reserving w/ our AKV points to stay at any other resort- 7 mos is the window-
I DO know that the developer point ressie's are done through a different system- and that could be how they determine what is available-
Maybe say, if people were calling to book Easter week-
the Developer "overflow" points were kept ina seperate type of reserving system so as to NOT take away from members who own there or who have had membership for a longer amount of time-
Once, say, 100 reservationa are taken for Easter week on developer points the next developer point ressie would have been told- "Sorry, that time frame is booked" even if an SSR owner was still able to make ressies- Maybe it is a set amount they plan to be used on that system...

Just a thought...

 

[rkwier]

Originally posted by Moeluv4u7
I saw it as a gift as well- Not deserving- and was pleasantly surprised when our guide told us we got them

This is how we view our DP as well. We did not expect them, but were so grateful that they were offered to us. We purchased at BLT knowing full well that we could not use the points until the resort opened. The DP were an extra treat that will allow us 1) an earlier visit to WDW and 2) a extra getaway that we did not expect to have in 2009. Having restrictions on where they can be used does not bother me, I am just thankful to have them.

 

[anna08]

I also agree that it is just good marketing. My DPs will bring me for an extra trip to WDW this year (therefore more park tickets, meals, $$ etc...) and my family who are coming with us get an opportunity to stay and experience DVC. And if we like SSR we'll add on points...