Direct buy questions

[kenchilada]

The guide assigned to us is not answering my questions well at all. Hoping someone here can help.

We are looking at buying 150 OKW direct. There is currently a $165/pt promotion.

1) Does anyone know when this $165 promotion ends?
2) When we are ready to buy, does the sale happen instantly or do they need to locate points first? Wondering if there’s a few months wait or what...
3) If I buy direct at 150 today, and they change perk minimum to 200 next year, do I keep my blue card perks?
4) Can I get a different guide somehow?

We are a family of six, so I want direct hoping AP discount comes back. They are trying to shove us towards RR but I’m not interested due to the new restrictions.

 

[kenchilada]

By the way, when my wife asked our guide some of these questions, he sent us a blurb on use year and a link to pictures of the rooms.

 

[Wedgeout]

1. $165 is the resort’s current price. It’s not a promotion price. Haven’t heard of any upcoming increase. (They happen without much warning like it did for Saratoga Springs).
2. They need to have points available or they put on a waitlist. Usually they have points. As a new buyer they might act like they don’t trying to sell you something else. (Be firm on want you want. Use Year as well). Have them call you when they find what you want.
3. When you purchase the current amount to become the blue card member, you remain at that status when the minimum increases as long as you retain that contract.
4. If the guide isn’t giving you good vibes. Sure, contact & ask for another.
(Many people they sell to haven’t done their DVC research prior to buying. Riviera is their current push. Good luck & soon we will be welcoming you home to OKW!).

 

[KTownRaider]

I'm sorry you're not getting good service with your guide. I'll try to help with your questions:

1) Does anyone know when this $165 promotion ends?
I'm not aware of an ongoing promotion for OKW. $165 is the current ongoing direct price for OKW. That said, there is a lot of speculation that Disney may raise the direct price soon since a neighboring DVC property- Saratoga Springs- had it's direct price increased from Disney from $165 to $180 a just few weeks ago.

2) When we are ready to buy, does the sale happen instantly or do they need to locate points first? Wondering if there’s a few months wait or what...
You'll get the points within a day, and it'll have a 2057 exp date (vs 2042 which is common in resale). Speed is probably the biggest advantage of going direct vs resale (which does take months)

3) If I buy direct at 150 today, and they change perk minimum to 200 next year, do I keep my blue card perks?
Yes- you'll be be grandfathered in and maintain blue card status as long as you hold this 150 point OKW contract.

4) Can I get a different guide somehow?
I would just call in the main DVC sales line and explain your situation. Shouldn't have any issue getting someone new. You're paying a premium when going direct, and you should get exactly the property, amount of points, # of contracts (if you want to break up the points into smaller amounts for flexibility later to manage dues/possible resale), and Use Year you desire.

They may be pushing your towards RIV (Disney is pushing that and Aulani right now), but almost all properties (possibly Grand Cal excepted) are available via direct. Good luck!

 

[princesscinderella]

The guide assigned to us is not answering my questions well at all. Hoping someone here can help.

We are looking at buying 150 OKW direct. There is currently a $165/pt promotion.

1) Does anyone know when this $165 promotion ends?
2) When we are ready to buy, does the sale happen instantly or do they need to locate points first? Wondering if there’s a few months wait or what...
3) If I buy direct at 150 today, and they change perk minimum to 200 next year, do I keep my blue card perks?
4) Can I get a different guide somehow?

We are a family of six, so I want direct hoping AP discount comes back. They are trying to shove us towards RR but I’m not interested due to the new restrictions.

You can call the DVC 800 number and get whichever guide answers the phone and have them be assigned as your guide instead of who it is currently. You will be grandfathered in if you buy 150 minimum now and it later goes up. If they have points available in the UY that you currently have if you are an existing owner they will sell them to you instantly and you could be booking with those points in 12 hours or less depending on the time of day you buy. Prices can change at any time they just raised SSR with 24 hours notice $15.

 

[kenchilada]

Wow thanks for all the great fast answers!

The guide sent a sales sheet but this site won’t let me link to it. At the bottom the fine print has this, which is I think what confused us.

Incentives require new purchasers to participate in a Resort sales tour, either telephonically, online, or in person (“Tour”), and buy an ownership interest with at least 150 Vacation Points in Disney's Old Key West Resort. Incentive expires and all Tours must be completed by September 8, 2021. Please note, if Tour occurs on or after September 2, 2021, incentive expires 7 days after Tour.

Sounds like despite the September mention, the price can raise any time then?

 

[dvc lover 1970]

The guide assigned to us is not answering my questions well at all. Hoping someone here can help.

We are looking at buying 150 OKW direct. There is currently a $165/pt promotion.

1) Does anyone know when this $165 promotion ends?
This is not a promotion this is the price. They can up the price at any time like they did with SSR.
2) When we are ready to buy, does the sale happen instantly or do they need to locate points first? Wondering if there’s a few months wait or what...
Sale happens pretty much instantly. They have purchased a lot of OKW contracts back via resale so I tend to think it is instantaneous. As soon as you sign the papers DVC should have your account and points up and running
3) If I buy direct at 150 today, and they change perk minimum to 200 next year, do I keep my blue card perks?
That contract will be grandfathered into the 150 points.
4) Can I get a different guide somehow?
Yes. Call and ask for a specific guide or different guide.

We are a family of six, so I want direct hoping AP discount comes back. They are trying to shove us towards RR but I’m not interested due to the new restrictions.

 

[Spinster Travel]

Without seeing the sales sheet, I cannot be certain, but sometimes the sold out resorts, like OKW, do have some incentives if you buy a certain amount of points. They vary by resort - so some resorts will not have any incentives where another resort might have a $2/point discount (or similar) if you buy at least 150 points. As the other posters have already stated, the current Direct Sales Price is $165/point for Old Key West, so any "incentives" might be for the purchase of at least 150 or more points. I do know when I called a few weeks ago to inquire about adding on at OKW, the guide I talked to said there were not any incentives at OKW at that time. I agree with the others and call the 800 number and talk to a new guide and I'd specifically ask him/her what the Current Price Per Point is vs "Incentives" and see what they say. I've had a great experience with my Guide, but sometimes the verbiage that DVD uses on the sales materials is confusing. I own at OKW and think its a great place to buy your Direct Points. Good Luck!

 

[kmorlock]

Request a new guide. You must feel comfortable during this process! You need someone who is on your side even if the goal is to land a sale. $165 Is the price and has been for a good while. I think an increase might be coming and there will be little to no warning.

We have 3 OKW contracts w/2057 exp. Smaller contracts are kind of hard to find in resale but, not impossible. However, the 100+ contract are slightly easier. Going direct has pros & cons. Pro = get points faster, closing is less, you can use Disney Visa for 6 mos interest free, choose the UY you want as it’s available, plus blue card. Resale prices are still lower than direct but rising, hard to find/rare contracts = premium, the extended time for ROFR and closing, you cannot use Disney Visa but financing is available if needed, biggest pro is saving of $$$. If I knew then what I know now, I would probably have bought AKV first. I love OKW and can usually get a place there at 7 months. I cannot say the same for all room types at AKV. OKW mf’s are much higher now than when we bought putting them closer to those @AKV. Lastly, AKV is a better set-up for families with infants and toddlers IMO. OKW has limited elevator access building and first floor room requests are not always accommodated. Plus, in Florida weather with a stroller, navigating the resort, while staying under cover and in AC is a big plus, and let’s not forget the zero entry pools and vast number of restaurants at AKV. Another plus point is Kidani has 2 bathrooms in a 1 bedroom! Biggest plus is the animals! No other resort is even close to what AKV is. It’s not for everyone but, those who know, just know. So, when we bought, OKW was perfect for us but, our lives changed a little unexpectedly which makes your needs for certain resort amenities change.

 

[Samita]

RIV, AUL, OKW, AKV and PVB all have incentives. SSR had too but I believe someone said after price increase they removed it.

There’s a thread about this summer direct incentives and there you can find a table with current price per point for those resorts.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/new-summer-direct-incentives.3836975/

 

[softballmom3]

I have been talking to DVC guide Nick Tamberrino and he has been wonderful. We owned DVC years ago and had a different guide and I didn't care for him at all. He wasn't very personable and pretty snarky since I ended up buying resale. This time we would probably go direct just because I don't want any of the hassle and the prices are getting pretty steep now. Good luck to you!!!

 

[kenchilada]

Thanks everyone for all your insights, it has been super helpful!

RIV, AUL, OKW, AKV and PVB all have incentives. SSR had too but I believe someone said after price increase they removed it.

There’s a thread about this summer direct incentives and there you can find a table with current price per point for those resorts.

This must be what we were seeing, thanks for posting it.

I have been talking to DVC guide Nick Tamberrino and he has been wonderful. We owned DVC years ago and had a different guide and I didn't care for him at all. He wasn't very personable and pretty snarky since I ended up buying resale. This time we would probably go direct just because I don't want any of the hassle and the prices are getting pretty steep now. Good luck to you!!!

Thanks I’ll see if we can get in touch with him, much appreciated.