Double Developer points update

[izzy]

I just bought into DVC today at the AKV (160 points with April UY), and I went with the double developer points. I thought I'd let anyone who is interested know that my guide told me that DVC has changed their mind about having to use these points in 7 months, and they have extended the deadline to 12 months!! I think they were getting a lot of feedback from people that the resorts were so booked up in the next few months that they couldn't use all of those points in the 7 month timeframe. My guide did tell me that you still can only make reservations 7 months in advance, so that shouldn't affect people's home resort advantage.

I ended up using my points for a 7 day cruise in January in a verandah cabin. It cost me all of my double developer points as well as 56 points from the initial allottment of points that I received, but I'll still have 104 points left over that I'm going to bank into 2008. Color me happy!!!!

 

[flechette]

LOL - beat me to it


I spoke to my guide to get some more firm numbers - we want OKW and it looks like we'll need to finance it so going the Disney makes more sense right now. He did give AKV a good push and said 12 months to use the 320 points hmm ok really tempting I admit

I'll rerun my spreadsheet some but some things you can't factor in - hubby LOVES OKW, hubby actively disliked SSR on the tour, and hubby is ambivient about AKV - As I pointed out to Gibb - hubby will buy OKW no problem, AKV will take a lot of talking into and possibly arguing... umm not worth it to me IMHO (and I already talked him up point wise from 80 to 160 so...)

Still a nice deal for those wanted AKV

 

[veenstra56]

That is interesting. We just did a 100 points add-on at SSR last week and got the 200 Developer points. I wonder if we too can use them during the next 12 months, since we bought before the rule change.

?????????????

 

[annhad4]

Is the 12 month extention for contracts already written? We have Double developer points and can't use them all in 7 months, but could easily use them in 12. Would love to know!

 

[IndianaMouseLover]

Sorry to be asking this question. I guess I haven't picked up on this. What are developer points?

When we bought in Feb. at SSR I don't think we got these.

Thanks!

 

[ScottakaMickey]

I ended up using my points for a 7 day cruise in January in a verandah cabin. It cost me all of my double developer points as well as 56 points from the initial allottment of points that I received, but I'll still have 104 points left over that I'm going to bank into 2008. Color me happy!!!!

Izzy, curious question. Did you decide to use the points on the cruise and not rent due to your tax question? I only ask as using points for a cruise isn't always the best use of points and you were talking about renting, which would've yielded more cash for you to pay for the cruise and some extra spending money.

Also, Congrats and Welcome Home Neighbor!!!

I spoke to my guide to get some more firm numbers - we want OKW and it looks like we'll need to finance it so going the Disney makes more sense right now. He did give AKV a good push and said 12 months to use the 320 points hmm ok really tempting I admit

I'll rerun my spreadsheet some but some things you can't factor in - hubby LOVES OKW, hubby actively disliked SSR on the tour, and hubby is ambivient about AKV - As I pointed out to Gibb - hubby will buy OKW no problem, AKV will take a lot of talking into and possibly arguing... umm not worth it to me IMHO (and I already talked him up point wise from 80 to 160 so...)

Still a nice deal for those wanted AKV

Don't forget another advantage to AKV over OKW is the extra 15 years you will have with your purchase. We just went through the same exact scenario, where we were going with OKW as the cost was much lower at $92 a point from Disney. But when Disney threw up Feb UY and the double developer points, I couldn't pass on it.

 

[Ooba]

UGGHHHH! We just signed our add on paperwork last week! We wanted to get the developer points, but wouldn't be able to use them within 7 months. We already had plans to go in March, at Easter (using MEGA points!), so we had to go with the discount instead. Now I wish we had waited even a couple of weeks!!

 

[fletch1027]

That is awesome! We were going to pull the trigger last Friday. Glad I put it off till this week! I am planning to rent about 150-200 points of the developer allotment to pay for my golf fees the the next year. Be on the lookout soon over on the rental board in the next few days for a post from me...

 

[izzy]

Izzy, curious question. Did you decide to use the points on the cruise and not rent due to your tax question? I only ask as using points for a cruise isn't always the best use of points and you were talking about renting, which would've yielded more cash for you to pay for the cruise and some extra spending money.

Yes, the tax implications definitely changed my mind, as well as I just really didn't want to go through the hassle of renting them out and worry about contracts, people trying to cancel or change dates, etc. I would have had to report the income to the IRS, and in my tax bracket, I wouldn't have saved near as much money as it initially appeared. I've always wanted to go on a Disney Cruise, but I thought it was too expensive when I compared them with other cruiselines. I priced out this cruise on their website, and for my date and cabin, it would have cost me $3,200. So, I feel like these extra points went a long way to helping me pay for this cruise even though I know I could have made some money off renting them. (At least that's the way I'm justifying it in my mind! )


My guide did say something about DVC looking at making this change retroactive, but he didn't say how far back they were going to go. For any of you who recently bought, you might want to call your guide and ask. It certainly can't hurt!

 

[Luv2trav]

Oh know... the 7 month window was the only thing holding me back from buying.. We are definately in now....)

 

[sjdisneywedding]

anyone know what the minimum point purchase is to get the double developer points?

 

[Luv2trav]

160 if it's your first purchase.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

160 if it's your first purchase.

what about as an add on? is it 100? or will they give the double for even a 50 point add on?

 

[dianeschlicht]

what about as an add on? is it 100? or will they give the double for even a 50 point add on?

I think it's 100, but that too could have changed.

 

[nderh2o]

2 days ago, we told our guide we wanted 185 AKL points with the discount. We too could not use the developer points within 7 months. Now with the 12 month window, we could certainly use them for our trip in June 2008.

We still haven't received or signed any paperwork. Do you think it is possible to get the points instead of the discount?

 

[flechette]

Don't forget another advantage to AKV over OKW is the extra 15 years you will have with your purchase. We just went through the same exact scenario, where we were going with OKW as the cost was much lower at $92 a point from Disney. But when Disney threw up Feb UY and the double developer points, I couldn't pass on it.

Hubby and I are closer to 40 so the extra 15 years didn't really add much value to us - no kids either. Annual dues started out higher at AKL than at OKW and with the animals to take care of we're curious as to whether that trend will continue - OTOH hand OKW is older and will probably need more maintence so it may balance out.

Also we'd only be interested in SV rooms, and the GV prices are ungodly at AKV- basically 160 will go further at OKW.

And a slightly odd personality quirk of mine: I want my annual dues to go the resort I expect to stay in the most. Yes I could do SSR or AKV and stay at OKW most of the time, but if I'm staying at OKW and using the resources there I think I should be paying dues there like I said - a quirk

anyways - back to the original point of the thread

The new offer was announced Monday 7/23 to the sales team - I was under the impression it was only for contracts that had not yet been signed. However - it never hurts to ask your guide, does it?

-----
edit too funny.... saw a resale for 145 OKW $80 right after I posted this and put in an offer, our credit union has given an unofficial OK, the owner has banked this years points so we're about set except for ROFR....

LOL! I guess we decided

 

[zalansky]

This is awfully tempting folks, isn't it? We toured the new rooms a few months ago and really liked them but the darker theme wasn't really our thing. I have been thinking of a 100 point add on for months now and then they throw this at us!

I have a stupid question. It looks like you can take a credit in lieu of the developer points, but it also looks like the developer points would be the best way to go. What would the credit be, just in case we wouldn't want all those points.

I am putting a call into our guide today. Are they offering double points on SSR as well?

 

[ScottakaMickey]

2 days ago, we told our guide we wanted 185 AKL points with the discount. We too could not use the developer points within 7 months. Now with the 12 month window, we could certainly use them for our trip in June 2008.

We still haven't received or signed any paperwork. Do you think it is possible to get the points instead of the discount?

When I was speaking with the paperwork QA people last week, he mentioned that changes like this happen all the time. You can call your guide or the QA department to request a change.

 

[ScottakaMickey]

This is awfully tempting folks, isn't it? We toured the new rooms a few months ago and really liked them but the darker theme wasn't really our thing. I have been thinking of a 100 point add on for months now and then they throw this at us!

I have a stupid question. It looks like you can take a credit in lieu of the developer points, but it also looks like the developer points would be the best way to go. What would the credit be, just in case we wouldn't want all those points.

I am putting a call into our guide today. Are they offering double points on SSR as well?

The point credit from $104 is a $10 discount per point at SSR or $8 discount at AKV in lieu of the double developer points, or vice versa depending on your perspective.

Yes, you can get the double developer point option at SSR.

 

[zalansky]

Ok - I have more silly questions. We have a 200 point contract at SSR with an August UY. If we add on AKV and have a different use year, is it difficult to juggle the 2 contracts and make sure the points all get used? I just see it getting tricky with 2 different resorts and 2 different use years. But I may be complicating it in my head without good reason. So to those who have this arrangement, is it hard?