Direct Perks VS Resale Perks - NEEDS LOTS OF DETAILS PLEASE!

[Can_Dannn]

Torn on buying Direct VS Resale. I love the idea of being a direct member, but it seems not worth that extra cost.
I know the general perk different for resale and direct (most for direct members), but my question is what about the little things?

• Member Card Color
• Merchandise
• Pin options
• Dining Discounts (including dining plan)
• Green light vs purple light when scanning magic band
• Resort check in process

Are any of these things not included or different in Resale VS Direct?!

 

[suemom2kay]

Double post

 

[suemom2kay]

Torn on buying Direct VS Resale. I love the idea of being a direct member, but it seems not worth that extra cost.
I know the general perk different for resale and direct (most for direct members), but my question is what about the little things?

• Member Card Color
• Merchandise
• Pin options
• Dining Discounts (including dining plan)
• Green light vs purple light when scanning magic band
• Resort check in process

Are any of these things not included or different in Resale VS Direct?!

No card for resale. Just a white digital member number
No discounts on merch.
What do you mean by pin options?
No dining discounts but you can buy the dining plan. No difference in booking reservations (other than can’t book future resorts). No difference in checkin process.
Purple light when it feels like working. Inconsistent for both direct and resale members.

 

[Marionnette]

Torn on buying Direct VS Resale. I love the idea of being a direct member, but it seems not worth that extra cost.
I know the general perk different for resale and direct (most for direct members), but my question is what about the little things?

• Member Card Color
• Merchandise
• Pin options
• Dining Discounts (including dining plan)
• Green light vs purple light when scanning magic band
• Resort check in process

Are any of these things not included or different in Resale VS Direct?!

Member card - direct purchasers get a blue, physical or digital card. Resale buyers get a white digital card.

Merchandise - anyone can buy most DVC merchandise with the exception of festival merchandise that is exclusive to DVC members where you have to show your blue card and picture ID to make the purchase. TBH, it’s not a lot of exclusive merchandise,

Pin Options - I don’t know of any. If there are DVC pins, they can be purchased by anyone

Dining Discounts - no discounts on the dining plans. Table Service discounts vary from one place to another. DVC members can purchase a TiW card without needing to be a FL resident or having an AP

Green Light vs Purple - Is that really important? Certainly not worth spending $$$ in order to get

Resort check in - no different regardless how you bought

 

[Can_Dannn]

What do you mean by pin options?

Are there any specific pins that only DVC members can buy, or are offered?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Are there any specific pins that only DVC members can buy, or are offered?

No

 

[jlb727]

To each his own, but at this point in time the only thing worth spending thousands of dollars more to buy direct for is the AP discount. The little things like the color of a card or a light aren't worth it, in my opinion. If you don't need the AP discount, don't buy direct unless you absolutely love Riviera or something.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Are there any specific pins that only DVC members can buy, or are offered?

I believe VGC had a pin when it opened that was for DVC members. Not certain if any other resorts have. But that's about it. 100% certain you'd be able to pick them up on ebay for far less than you'd pay to be able to have the right to buy them directly yourself. And you'd have to be there at resort openings. If they even do them.

Some of the special Magic Bands have had far more interesting entry lights than the purple we sometimes get as DVC however the light is for both resale and direct buyers. Personally I don't really care what color it is as long as it's not blue.

And as mentioned there's no check to prevent non-members from purchasing DVC merchandise online.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

And as mentioned there's no check to prevent non-members from purchasing DVC merchandise online

Or trading for a DVC pin.
Or getting a blue card to buy 3 and letting you have one.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wouldn't buy direct to get access to the Member Lounge at Epcot. That could disappear this year with all the changes to what will soon be formerly Future World.

 

[zavandor]

I wouldn't buy direct to get access to the Member Lounge at Epcot. That could disappear this year with all the changes to what will soon be formerly Future World.

Nothing has been announced for the Imagination pavilion at the D23. It may be because they won't do anything to it for a few years, in this case there's a chance the DVC lounge will stay for a while. Or maybe they'll just raze the building soon, in that case goodbye DVC lounge.
Membership Magic has been introduced under the previous DVC Boss, there is a good chance it'll be phased out with the current Boss, who introduced/greenlighted the new restrictions. Why use marketing money to pay for extra free benefits for all members if the resale restrictions are enough to sway people away from resale?

 

[Can_Dannn]

GREAT INFO!
I'm not a DVC member (yet) - but this is my silly prediction - Disney will keep giving members more benefits in coming years (since the resale restrictions and resale member perks have changed so much in past 5 years or so). I predict park ticket discounts will be seen soon, and more direct member appreciation... that's my prediction - member perks will get better in hopes to steer people towards direct and away from resale.

To be honest, yes you buy DVC for economical reasons (so much savings over life of contract), but you also buy it for the magic... the blue card, the 'welcome home' greetings, the purple lights, etc... my gut keeps telling me buy direct over resale for that extra magic that you *might* lose with resale.

 

[Can_Dannn]

I believe VGC had a pin when it opened that was for DVC members. Not certain if any other resorts have. But that's about it. 100% certain you'd be able to pick them up on ebay for far less than you'd pay to be able to have the right to buy them directly yourself. And you'd have to be there at resort openings. If they even do them.

Some of the special Magic Bands have had far more interesting entry lights than the purple we sometimes get as DVC however the light is for both resale and direct buyers. Personally I don't really care what color it is as long as it's not blue.

And as mentioned there's no check to prevent non-members from purchasing DVC merchandise online.

what does blue light mean?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

GREAT INFO!
I'm not a DVC member (yet) - but this is my silly prediction - Disney will keep giving members more benefits in coming years (since the resale restrictions and resale member perks have changed so much in past 5 years or so). I predict park ticket discounts will be seen soon, and more direct member appreciation... that's my prediction - member perks will get better in hopes to steer people towards direct and away from resale.

To be honest, yes you buy DVC for economical reasons (so much savings over life of contract), but you also buy it for the magic... the blue card, the 'welcome home' greetings, the purple lights, etc... my gut keeps telling me buy direct over resale for that extra magic that you *might* lose with resale.

We've gotten park ticket discounts and very nice AP discounts in the past decade depending on which you're looking at. They were especially offered when WDW was feeling a crunch on attendance - like they are now. And this time? Nothing special for DVC. It's all been for the general public. I think it's going to take a management change for us to get the positive benefits vs the negative restrictions. Or a change in this managements thinking which will be more likely if sales are down. The Moonlight Magic was already in the works prior to the change this past time so we'll see what is announced for next year.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

what does blue light mean?

That your entry is denied for some reason. A CM usually needs to sort out why. It's the one light that will slow you down.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I predict park ticket discounts will be seen soon, and more direct member appreciation... that's my prediction - member perks will get better in hopes to steer people towards direct and away from resale.

I think you're an optimist. DVC has to cut a deal with Parks to offer discounts, for instance, on tickets. DVC has very few levers they can pull on their own that are perks, not restrictions, and the way Disney measure P&L by division does not encourage a lot of cooperation among teams.

 

[rg35]

There are definitely DVC, D23 and Disney Visa pins, and I have been asked to show my cards when buying them (at Pin Traders in Disney Springs, at least.)

 

[Deb & Bill]

GREAT INFO!
I'm not a DVC member (yet) - but this is my silly prediction - Disney will keep giving members more benefits in coming years (since the resale restrictions and resale member perks have changed so much in past 5 years or so). I predict park ticket discounts will be seen soon, and more direct member appreciation... that's my prediction - member perks will get better in hopes to steer people towards direct and away from resale.

To be honest, yes you buy DVC for economical reasons (so much savings over life of contract), but you also buy it for the magic... the blue card, the 'welcome home' greetings, the purple lights, etc... my gut keeps telling me buy direct over resale for that extra magic that you *might* lose with resale.

The best DVC can do is offer a discount for a specific minimum purchase of direct points at a specific resort (like the new ones still for sale, Aulani and Riviera).

 

[Can_Dannn]

Is there any direct member perks for dining plan... I know there are for individuals meals, but anything if you add dining plan?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Is there any direct member perks for dining plan... I know there are for individuals meals, but anything if you add dining plan?

No.