Direct DVC question

[RichV03]

So my wife and I are in the closing stages of a 120 BLT contract. Its enough for us right now, but I assume in the future we might want more for larger rooms(our two kids are 4 and 2 at the moment). With that being said and knowing that the Direct minimum purchase going up soon, is it worth it to buy direct and grandfather us in for the future for direct benefits. At the moment we are thinking of going every other year maybe once a year. We like the food plan when we've gone on cash but having a kitchen area I am assuming we well eat some in the room(no idea how a dining plan works for DVC, do you need to pay for your whole stay or just the days you plan on being in parks?). I am torn and wanting to see what other people think.

 

[Sandisw]

Dining plans were the same...you buy for all nights of a stay. In terms of the minimum, it really is up to you.

IMO, if you aren’t really ready for the 100 now, those extra 25 aren’t so crazy that you can’t wait..

 

[chalee94]

"At the moment we are thinking of going every other year maybe once a year."

If you were committed to once a year and planned to squeeze in 2 trips per AP (say you like to travel in May, so you go the 3rd week in May and use an AP and then return the next year for the 2nd week in May), then maybe. But the only real financial benefit to direct is the AP discount. So I think direct will be a waste of money for you.

"no idea how a dining plan works for DVC, do you need to pay for your whole stay or just the days you plan on being in parks?"

You have to add the DDP for all nights of the stay and for all people on the reservation. I would guess that most of us don't consider the DDP to be worthwhile.

 

[RoseGold]

Blue Card was worthless for me, and that was when they had Moonlight Magic and AP discount, all of which is gone right now.

If you stagger your trips to require one season pass (travel Aug one year, July the next), Blue Card might be worthless for you too. Unless you have a big family who wants season passes every year (and assuming AP discounts ever exist again) I don't see the point of a Blue Card at all. But who knows? Maybe you really like RIV? Maybe you play ten rounds of golf when you go to Disney and need the golf discount?

 

[RichV03]

Blue Card was worthless for me, and that was when they had Moonlight Magic and AP discount, all of which is gone right now.

If you stagger your trips to require one season pass (travel Aug one year, July the next), Blue Card might be worthless for you too. Unless you have a big family who wants season passes every year (and assuming AP discounts ever exist again) I don't see the point of a Blue Card at all. But who knows? Maybe you really like RIV? Maybe you play ten rounds of golf when you go to Disney and need the golf discount?

I didn't even know about a golf discount lol. I was more so thinking for the idea of use at future resorts, food and merch discount and possible AP discount if I could talk my wife into going twice a year every two years lol

 

[Sandisw]

Blue Card was worthless for me, and that was when they had Moonlight Magic and AP discount, all of which is gone right now.

If you stagger your trips to require one season pass (travel Aug one year, July the next), Blue Card might be worthless for you too. Unless you have a big family who wants season passes every year (and assuming AP discounts ever exist again) I don't see the point of a Blue Card at all. But who knows? Maybe you really like RIV? Maybe you play ten rounds of golf when you go to Disney and need the golf discount?

The AP DVC discount is not gone. AP sales for everyone are on hold right now,

I know it’s a silly distinction but once they do start back up, I’d expect the DVC Gold pass to be available again.

 

[RichV03]

The AP DVC discount is not gone. AP sales for everyone are on hold right now,

I know it’s a silly distinction but once they do start back up, I’d expect the DVC Gold pass to be available again.

Whats the difference between AP DVC discount and DVC Gold Pass? Ill admit, I may have just been excited to get dvc and didnt research EVERYTHING, but knew enough that it would be good for our family knowing we want to go at least every other year.

 

[Sandisw]

Whats the difference between AP DVC discount and DVC Gold Pass? Ill admit, I may have just been excited to get dvc and didnt research EVERYTHING, but knew enough that it would be good for our family knowing we want to go at least every other year.

There is the DVC Gold and the DVC platinum. But, many refer to it as a discount so that is what I meant,

The DVC passes that you can buy for less than regular passes are only not available now because all APs are on hold, not because Disney has taken the benefit away.

 

[RoseGold]

DVC has taken the AP discount away right now. We have no idea if the discount is "on hold" or what DVC discounts will return, if any. DVC ticket discounts can go away at any time, like right now. Heck, DVC used to come with free tickets.

A lot of these purchases assume the pre-Covid ticketing and season pass system will still exist after, and I don't think that's a great assumption. Pre-Covid was shifting to more and more to hard ticket events (Christmas/Villian/Halloween Party), which didn't have much DVC discount. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see much more hard tickets, or even something between hard tickets and an AP like a 10/20 day FL/DVC gold pass.

 

[RoseGold]

I was more so thinking for the idea of use at future resorts, food and merch discount and possible AP discount if I could talk my wife into going twice a year every two years lol

You'd be surprised the discounts you can get between TiW (can get as a FL resident/White card member) and a Disney Visa. The site Mouseperks really helped me see that.

Future resorts, yes. You have to buy direct for that.

This is a four figure discussion. Figure out if the discounts are worth it for your situation.

If you aren't even sure if you're going every two years, I'm not sure I would buy at all. Renting points is easy, and what I did before I bought.

 

[Lorana]

DVC has taken the AP discount away right now. We have no idea if the discount is "on hold" or what DVC discounts will return, if any. DVC ticket discounts can go away at any time, like right now. Heck, DVC used to come with free tickets.

A lot of these purchases assume the pre-Covid ticketing and season pass system will still exist after, and I don't think that's a great assumption. Pre-Covid was shifting to more and more to hard ticket events (Christmas/Villian/Halloween Party), which didn't have much DVC discount. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see much more hard tickets, or even something between hard tickets and an AP like a 10/20 day FL/DVC gold pass.

While you may be right about ticketing changing in the future, it is not true that DVC "has taken the AP discount." Disney is not selling APs, period. No one, whether DVC, FL Resident, or regular guest, can buy an AP right now.

DVC still shows that the discount is available: https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/ticket-tour/walt-disney-world-pass/

ANd, yes, there's been a switch to hard ticketed events, but many of those did still offer a small discount to direct DVC members. I am honestly hoping that Covid pushes Disney back into limited early and late hours for onsite guests (which would include DVC members) that don't require an extra ticket. I'm not optimistic about it, but I'm hoping. Bring back more of the benefits for onsite/DVC, please! In the years following covid, they need to create an incentive to stay onsite.

 

[sethschroeder]

DVC has taken the AP discount away right now.

I am all for saying we don't know for sure it will come back.

At the same time they have not taken it away. WDW has stopped AP sales and thus your discount applies to nothing. The listing of benefits, direct sales talking about it, and all communication still outline that it is a benefit. It is also written in to the benefits guide disclosure still which would have to be updated to remove it (last checked it earlier this week).

 

[CastAStone]

Whats the difference between AP DVC discount and DVC Gold Pass? Ill admit, I may have just been excited to get dvc and didnt research EVERYTHING, but knew enough that it would be good for our family knowing we want to go at least every other year.

2 WDW AP benefits for DVC Blue Card:

1. A discount on the Platinum or Platinum Plus passes that have no blackout dates
2. Access to the Gold pass that is otherwise only available to Florida residents. This pass has 3-4 weeks of blackouts per year. It is not discounted but is several hundred dollars cheaper than the Platinum pass. The DVC Gold renewal rate is slightly higher than the Florida resident renewal rate.

 

[shoegal9]

For us, we purchased the minimum from DVC direct for the blue card benefits, then turned to the resale market for the rest of our points.

Sure, we paid an extra $50 per point on 75 points, but that doesn’t even come close to what we will save with blue card benefits over 48 years on APs, dining & merch (for what hopefully will be a family of at least 4) assuming the benefits remain somewhat the same. And we also have TiW and the Disney Visa. Overall, I’m happy with our decision to spend the extra $4k for the minimum from Disney.

 

[RichV03]

For us, we purchased the minimum from DVC direct for the blue card benefits, then turned to the resale market for the rest of our points.

Sure, we paid an extra $50 per point on 75 points, but that doesn’t even come close to what we will save with blue card benefits over 48 years on APs, dining & merch (for what hopefully will be a family of at least 4) assuming the benefits remain somewhat the same. And we also have TiW and the Disney Visa. Overall, I’m happy with our decision to spend the extra $4k for the minimum from Disney.

What is TiW?

2 WDW AP benefits for DVC Blue Card:

1. A discount on the Platinum or Platinum Plus passes that have no blackout dates
2. Access to the Gold pass that is otherwise only available to Florida residents. This pass has 3-4 weeks of blackouts per year. It is not discounted but is several hundred dollars cheaper than the Platinum pass. The DVC Gold renewal rate is slightly higher than the Florida resident renewal rate.

Is the Gold Pass still a year long pass?

 

[shoegal9]

What is TiW?

Is the Gold Pass still a year long pass?

Tables in Wonderland. It’s $150 per membership for DVC blue card members (for one year). Otherwise, only available to Florida residents. It includes 20% off alcoholic beverages and food at most table service restaurants and lounges. The regular DVC discount varies but is usually 10-15% off food only at table service restaurants.
And yes, the gold pass is one year.

 

[Sandisw]

What is TiW?

Is the Gold Pass still a year long pass?

Gold AP is a year pass but there are block out dates around Xmas and Easter.

 

[LadybugsMum]

Does the gold pass include memory maker and food discounts as well?

 

[CastAStone]

Does the gold pass include memory maker and food discounts as well?

Yes. Technically it’s unlimited PhotoPass downloads, not memory maker, which is limited in length.

 

[RoseGold]

Tables in Wonderland. It’s $150 per membership for DVC blue card members (for one year).

You can get TiW as White Card (or FL resident). I did it right before lock down.