Developer Points?

[wdfan1977]

What are they .

 

[kim_d]

They are points given to you to use when you purchase doing the current incentives through Disney for AKL. Essentially you get "developer points" for the amount of your points purchase which must be used within one year. At WDW developed points can only be used at SSR. I think the logic behind developer points is to give you points to use this year since with Kidini you don't actually get points until 2009.

 

[disneyistheone]

Developer points are points owned by DVC that are "given" as an incentive to buyers. They generally are very restrictive in nature, for example they can only be used at a certain resort, and also they are non-bankable and have a set time in which to use them.
For example, the current incentive for purchasing at AKV awards developer points equal to the number of AKV points that you buy. The developer points can only be used at Saratoga Springs or Disneyland Hotel. They must be used within one year of your purchase date and can not be banked. The reservation can only be made at the 7 month window and you can't wait list a reservation using developer points.

 

[Caskbill]

Developer points are special points that have no home resort and no use year. Think of them more as a certificate that can be used to make a reservation, or maybe like frequent flyer miles that you 'cash' in to make a reservation.

Developer points have an expiration, again like a certificate might expire or airline miles expire. They do not belong to your contract and all the rules regarding contract points are not applicable to developer points.

For the current DVC promotion developer points can only be used at SSR.

 

[wdfan1977]

Thanks for the info. Doesn't sound like a great incentive.

 

[Robert H]

Thanks for the info. Doesn't sound like a great incentive.

Why does this not sound like a great incentive? It is free points that you can use yourself and/or rent to someone else.

 

[OvertheRainbow]

Just to clarify. Do the developer points have to be used within a year or booked within a year? So if the developer points were given in Sept '08 could they be booked within a year to be used in say May 2010? Or do you have to have them used between Sept '08 & Sept '09? If they do have to be used within a year when does that "year" start? The day you buy into DVC/sign papers or whenever the final paperwork is done? How long does it take once signing the initial paperwork before the points are usually available?

Sorry for all the questions

 

[khomer504]

Just to clarify. Do the developer points have to be used within a year or booked within a year? So if the developer points were given in Sept '08 could they be booked within a year to be used in say May 2010? Or do you have to have them used between Sept '08 & Sept '09? If they do have to be used within a year when does that "year" start? The day you buy into DVC/sign papers or whenever the final paperwork is done? How long does it take once signing the initial paperwork before the points are usually available?

Sorry for all the questions

I believe they have to be used within one year. However, you might be able to get them to extend that a month or two if you push. I wouldn't think you would be able to extend them all the way out to May 2010.

 

[Robert H]

Just to clarify. Do the developer points have to be used within a year or booked within a year? So if the developer points were given in Sept '08 could they be booked within a year to be used in say May 2010? Or do you have to have them used between Sept '08 & Sept '09? If they do have to be used within a year when does that "year" start? The day you buy into DVC/sign papers or whenever the final paperwork is done? How long does it take once signing the initial paperwork before the points are usually available?

Sorry for all the questions

Developer points must be used within 12 months from the date of purchase. I just bought in on Aug. 16, so I have until Aug. 15, 2009 to use my developer points. I am not sure about when the points are available for use, but I want to say just a few days. I would imagine you would have to close before you can use them, but you would be able to make ressies before that time. HTH Robert

 

[OvertheRainbow]

Developer points must be used within 12 months from the date of purchase. I just bought in on Aug. 16, so I have until Aug. 15, 2009 to use my developer points. I am not sure about when the points are available for use, but I want to say just a few days. I would imagine you would have to close before you can use them, but you would be able to make ressies before that time. HTH Robert

THANKS!!

 

[wdfan1977]

Why does this not sound like a great incentive? It is free points that you can use yourself and/or rent to someone else.

Because of the restrictions. Also, I can buy a DVC resale with more points for cheaper.

 

[jerseygal]

As soon as a contract is entered, the member will be given a member #, a day after the contract is entered..A trip with the Developer Points must be used 1 yr from date of contract and can be booked as soon as you get your member #....

We would be interested in using our Developer Points through Interval, II..

My guide told us as soon as we got member #, we should give II list of resorts in order of 3 preferences as you would normally booking through II...

 

[square pond]

So with Developer points for SSR if you bought into AKV you have to wait until 7 months from your trip to book??? Or can you book as soon as you have a member number??

 

[cogero]

7 months from your trip

 

[Caskbill]

Because of the restrictions. Also, I can buy a DVC resale with more points for cheaper.

If you buy resale you'll have to pay closing costs. Figure $450 on 100 points so that's another $4.50/point.

With DVC there's no maintenance fees on the AKV points until May '09. There are no maintenance fees at all on the Developer Points.

If you buy resale, the seller will want you to pay, or reimburse, payments for the maintenance fees. And, come January, you will have to pay all the 2009 fees.

To be sure it's apples to apples, you'd have to only look at AKV resales. Comparing the AKV incentive, with a 2057 expiration date, to something like an OKW resale with a 2042 expiration date, can make a difference, but it's apples to oranges.

Can you get DVC cheaper resale? Sure. Can you beat the current incentive? Doubtful.

 

[heaven2dc]

So with Developer points for SSR if you bought into AKV you have to wait until 7 months from your trip to book??? Or can you book as soon as you have a member number??

This is a good question and the reply was 7 months from your trip. Not sure what that means?

If your contract date is Sept 1, then do you have 12 months from Sept 1, 2008 to use your developer points (i.e., your trip must be taken by Sept 1, 2009?) What does the 7 month window mean then? If you want to take your vacation lets say July 1, 2009, then you have to wait til December 1, 2009 to book it?

Sorry folks but I get easily confused with all the DVC terms!!

 

[Robert H]

This is a good question and the reply was 7 months from your trip. Not sure what that means?

If your contract date is Sept 1, then do you have 12 months from Sept 1, 2008 to use your developer points (i.e., your trip must be taken by Sept 1, 2009?) What does the 7 month window mean then? If you want to take your vacation lets say July 1, 2009, then you have to wait til December 1, 2009 to book it?

Sorry folks but I get easily confused with all the DVC terms!!

Since your home resort is AKV, then you will have to wait until 7 months before you arrive to make ressies. i.e. Dec. 1 in your case. Robert

 

[wdfan1977]

If you buy resale you'll have to pay closing costs. Figure $450 on 100 points so that's another $4.50/point.

With DVC there's no maintenance fees on the AKV points until May '09. There are no maintenance fees at all on the Developer Points.

If you buy resale, the seller will want you to pay, or reimburse, payments for the maintenance fees. And, come January, you will have to pay all the 2009 fees.

To be sure it's apples to apples, you'd have to only look at AKV resales. Comparing the AKV incentive, with a 2057 expiration date, to something like an OKW resale with a 2042 expiration date, can make a difference, but it's apples to oranges.

Can you get DVC cheaper resale? Sure. Can you beat the current incentive? Doubtful.

That's cool. I feel for the number of points I bought at VWL I received a great deal. If others feel that the current incentives received when purchasing AKV through Disney is the better, that's up to them.

 

[brandylouwho]

I have a related question (sort of) as we have friends at WDW now that are planning to buy at AKV this week (and get the developer points for use at SSR).

So, they can make the reservation at SSR 7 months out, what if the reservation they want is a few more points than they have in developer points? Can they combine a few of their AKV points to make up the difference? (Yes, their reservation will be after May 1, 2009 so their AKV points will be "good").

We have planned a trip with them next August at AKV but since they are buying, we'll now likely do a split stay between SSR & AKV, so that they get their developer points used up within the time frame.

We didn't get any devleoper points when we bought , so I am pretty cluelss as to how they work.

 

[heaven2dc]

Since your home resort is AKV, then you will have to wait until 7 months before you arrive to make ressies. i.e. Dec. 1 in your case. Robert

Thanks for making that clear, Robert! I actually was hoping I could wait until to use them for a surprise trip for my family in December 2009. I was afraid I would have to use them up by September 1st or the date my contract starts. Now next question - to make that reservation in December, do I have to wait until May 2009 (for the 7 month window)?