Direct DVC September Sales

[TheThousandthSoul]

Maybe. There is a pretty good argument that we are in a "K-shaped" economy: the uppper income households are gaining ground quickly, while lower income households are really struggling. Guess which of those two is more willing to drop $20K+ on a timeshare?

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/23/k-shaped-spending-sectors-showing-bifurcation.html

Times are tough, no doubt about it. The rich get richer. The poor get poorer.
Rents are up.
Cost of living is up.

For the record, I like my local Six Flags (neé Cedar Fair) park very much. Cedar Point is great. It's not a Disney park, but it is not trying to be. It's a different thing. And, the setting on Lake Erie is just fabulous. This is an older shot--the park looks quite a bit different now--but gives you an idea.

View attachment 1019202

Cedar Point, the new roller coaster capital.
This is so far from what we have here. Think about Michigan’s Adventure, but worst.
And to think our site was an inspiration for Epcot…

 

[atthebeachclub]

And to think our site was an inspiration for Epcot…

It took me multiple WDW visits until I recognized that just maybe the countries in Epcot were based around the concept of the World's Fair (sometimes aka Expo). And I'd actually been to Expo (at a very young age, but still).

Was your site a previous World's Fair location possibly?

 

[Mouseforward]

WDW seemed an EXTRA good deal to me after I visited the Wisconsin Dells a few months after a WDW trip. I actually felt like I got my money’s worth at WDW.

I lived in Wisconsin for years and as a cruel joke we would always recommend visiting the Dells when people asked for something to do while they were in town especially if they were from ND or Michigan.

 

[atthebeachclub]

The Dells is a very popular getaway locally at least three states away, I believe. We had to go for the experience. Great place to be separated from your money forcibly in order to eat terrible food. lol.

 

[Brian Noble]

There are days when I feel like a fake DISer, because I don't properly dislike the things I am supposed to dislike.

I *liked* the Dells when we went. The kids were tween/teens, and that age was perfect for the water parks, go karts, etc. Granted, we've not been back since, but it was a fun week.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Oh, I liked it well enough, and as a midwinter getaway, it sure beats staying home....I just felt like it was incredibly overpriced compared with WDW (bad beds, no kitchen), and I had to dodge the hard sell timeshare people at the hotel. Also, at least where we stayed, the food was terrible (and expensive). We eventually discovered there is a normal priced Cracker Barrel and ate there the rest of the trip. It really made me miss having a kitchen.

The Dells is a place I wouldn't mind renting someone else's timeshare occasionally.

 

[Mouseforward]

The Dells is a very popular getaway locally at least three states away, I believe. We had to go for the experience. Great place to be separated from your money forcibly in order to eat terrible food. lol.

Any place that you have to specify not to put a fried egg on top of your hamburger ( this is a real thing in the Dells/Wisconsin) is suspect. Then you order an Old Fashioned and the default is to make it with Brandy

 

[Girlstar30]

This is a good point, @Girlstar30. And the DVCnews.com article said PIT's current sales pace puts in on track to sell out in Summer of 2028. So, you do have time. Poly's got a 2066 expiration date. LSL will presumably have a 2076 or 2077 expiration date. That's 10 more years. I know a lot of people prefer Poly because it doesn't have the resale restrictions, but as time goes on, that is going to affect whatever residual value these contracts have less and less.

And, even if you love Poly, I have a feeling preferred view rooms there are going to be easy to book once it is fully declared the same way BLT preferred view rooms are pretty easy to book - that's one reason I've gone with CCV for my resale contracts instead of BLT. Eight more years on the contract, but cheaper upfront cost than BLT, and preferred view at BLT is pretty easy to book at the 7-month mark. I have a feeling when I stay at BLT, I'm actually going to want preferred view rooms anyways for the views of the lake - maybe you'll feel the same way about Poly. Just some thoughts for you.

The resale restrictions on a direct dont bother me as much when really thinking about it because my direct contract would be the last to go.

Id have to be in a really bad position to want to let it go (health or economically) and in that case id have to let them go no matter where I own. I didnt like CCV rooms when I stayed in them which is why I didnt buy there, BUT i loved the refresh esp the one bedrooms. Not that im shopping for resale again or anything, but just random thoughts that it would be a great resort to own there during Xmas I feel that way about vgf too and both with low dues.

Anyways the LSL trust does have me intrigued. On the one hand I dont like it because I dont know what its about and Disney is obviously doing it for more control.

On the other, it could be to my benefit if they decide to give these trust resort priorities in some way. Perhaps this new ultra premium room would be the room for us, it certainly sounds like something great for a couple!

The resort being huge makes me nervous as an internal bus loop sounds awful and the transportation isn't the greatest but that doesnt bother me with AKV at all because we love the resort so much and I seriously dont mind being in a bus for 15 more minutes, I can't believe thats such a big deal to people but maybe with tired kids I would feel differently

Ofc I love new resorts. I didnt experience Poly during the crazy, but I believe multiple people when they say its not fun during the busy season which im sure we will be going during more than once. All things to think about. An awesome pool area is a gamechanger, obviously its why bcv is so popular.

My wife would be happy waiting, but we need another contract to go to aulani next year and shes not going to be happy about delaying that I wish they would open it for viewing during the summer next year, since were planning the Aulani trip for Sept/october, but im thinking thats not going to happen. I would totally be happy not going to Aulani and trying Disney world for Christmas, but I think my wife would be pissed

Oh and some of thise blt preferred views have firework views! I wonder if pit is the same? I need to see the LSL point charts, everyone thinks its going to be sky high but I feel like pit is going to be higher. Its a big resort it better be great to sell that thing out

 

[pzw90]

The Dells is a very popular getaway locally at least three states away, I believe. We had to go for the experience. Great place to be separated from your money forcibly in order to eat terrible food. lol.

Dells are the Midwest equivalent of "We have Disney at home"

 

[TheThousandthSoul]

It took me multiple WDW visits until I recognized that just maybe the countries in Epcot were based around the concept of the World's Fair (sometimes aka Expo). And I'd actually been to Expo (at a very young age, but still).

Was your site a previous World's Fair location possibly?

That is exactly the case for World Showcase.
Take a look at the Gyrotron in 1967, and compare it with the Imagination Pavillon.

And of course, the US pavillon in 1967 with Spaceship Earth...

 

[Girlstar30]

We live near 6FNE, like really close, and it's hit or miss with the rides. I go more for the water park, but they're taking away more and more lounge chairs and are understaffed to run all the water attractions. Food is meh to gross, at best, with very little variety. We do APs there since it's so convenient, but our son and DH are over it, so it will be just our daughter and I. If we didn't have the AP and dining plan (which sucks, but we can still make it work better than OOP every trip with lots of strategizing,) it's a semi reasonable outing, but if we just drove in from OOS for the day, a family of four would be $250 to walk in the gate, another $20 to park, and then another $200 at least in food/sodas, and that's before you spring for their version of a lightning lane. The water park is considered an add-on, so that's another $100, so $570-$700 for one day.

We also are near our regional state fair, which we also have APs, thank God, but that's another $120 just to enter/park, and then AT LEAST another $200 in food/drink for the day, probably more.

Movies, family of four, about $80 per movie.

For decades our family has rented a cottage near the beach in MA/ME/NJ, and that's at least $5k a week -- and I'm doing sheets and linens and groceries and cooking. No thank you! I love the Eastern seaboard and history and beaches and things to do, but it's just too expensive. I feel like I'm dying death by a thousand cuts with parking, snacks, ice cream, candy, mini golf, trinkets, hoodies, boardwalk attractions, arcades, and yet more food.

Disney/DVC are fixed costs at this point. I know the prices go up every year, but they're posted and I can budget for it. I really DO feel like DVC saves us money, and we love the rooms and resorts. The parks we love for more than the rides. We enjoy the ambiance, cleanliness, and spaciousness. We have never had anything but wonderful service from CMs, and we really notice the difference when we go other places. I am not saying that no-one has ever had a bad CM interaction, but I get a little offended on their behalf when I read on boards complaining about them. I have SEEN the abuse they get, and it's not right.

Not to mention all the gift card deals throughout the year that help us pay for it. And what other theme park offers kids to eat free?

Next year is going to be a great trip and my blt dues will be covered with this upcoming sams club sale with the gift cards im buying.

Disney throws in water parks in the summer too and some fun perks like the lounges and MM for direct and discounts. Were not going to get all that going to six flags.

The six flags in california isn't bad at all, but im past the crazy big roller coaster phase.

The aps are actually really cheap and you can get a cheap all year dining plan with free parking and souvenier refill bottle. The value is there for us in terms of price, but I just feel like there is not much for me in these places. The food isn't good and there are no fine dining restaurants like at WDW. Also its not fun for the whole family, just the teenagers. Those rides appeal to teenagers and thats it and there's no shows that I know of. With Disney, we all do everything together and have fun!

 

[atthebeachclub]

Mini Epcot ball and Skyliner at Expo 86 (Vancouver)!