DVC Member New Annual Pass Discount—Buying Direct Vs. Resale

[sethschroeder]

I haveto ask. At what point does AP make sense for out-of-staters?

Do the math on ticket price vs AP price. If you did two weeks that would be cheaper on AP.

https://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-world/ticket-prices.htm

 

[RoseGold]

Except DVC has always had ticket discounts of some capacity. Sure maybe not the same but likely something.

Until they don't. They couldn't be bothered to throw $50 on the Platinum anymore.

 

[Sparky984]

Except one year you go June 20th and the next year you go June 10th. Buy a single AP for $900 and avoid the $650 each year's trip (well $650 now and likely $700 after another price increase next year).

This is the way.

 

[havoc315]

Except DVC has always had ticket discounts of some capacity. Sure maybe not the same but likely something. Also unless they are canning the locals pass just seems plausible they keep DVC attached to FL residents.

If you are stuck always going over 4th of July maybe you are at risk though if they start blacking out more and more days.

Some capacity being key.
Look at Boo Bash — only $10 off, and only on the early dates. When Pre-pandemic, DVC could count on $30 off a ticket.

Discounts are being whittled away. At least for now.

 

[FSUSammy]

Thing is EVERYTHING goes up. So AP going up doesn't matter when it still keeps it distance from the "anyone" AP.

Although for me I want to breakeven in 10 years and its good enough for me. Sure things change but there is also other benefits of direct and not having to worry if you qualify or not for things moving forward.

I've had APs for over 10 years. Usually the Silver pass was sufficient for my family because it didn't block out Thanksgiving or Labor Day. Now the equivalent to that pass (with the ability to travel when I want) is WAY more expensive than it was 10 years ago and definitely even more than it was just a year ago when I renewed. It's not so much as the cost alone going up is that the perks and how you can use the pass has gone down dramatically forcing people in a different AP bucket than they used to be. I don't even want to begin to know what it might look like 10 years from now.

 

[FSUSammy]

I haveto ask. At what point does AP make sense for out-of-staters? 10 park days? 15? 20? I just finished a 2 week trip to WDW in August. It was our first trip both as visitors and as DVC members. We got 10 day passes for four of us that cost about $2400 total. With the new passes, getting 4 passes would equate to about $3k. I'm thinking maybe 15 park days is the break even point?

I think the math that existed before may change because I wouldn't be surprised if they are getting ready to up the prices on regular tickets as well since they are a bit overdue on that. So if you can buy your tickets now before that happens.

 

[skippytx]

Except one year you go June 20th and the next year you go June 10th. Buy a single AP for $900 and avoid the $650 each year's trip (well $650 now and likely $700 after another price increase next year).

Sure if that works for you, and can commit to making that work you come out ahead. 1300 for 2 x 9 day park hoppers at todays pricing, vs what, 980 after tax for the pass. 320 dollar gamble on making it back next year

It doesn't make sense for me personally, since we're going every other year lately. We're choosing to do a 2 bedroom every other year instead of an annual visit. Kids are getting older and we're vacationing other places on the off years.

There's infinite ways to skew the numbers so one scenario comes out ahead of the other.

 

[Paul Stupin]

we bought our first contract last summer. Resale at SSR, 100 points. $102 per point. We planned to buy Direct but held off because AP discount was most important to us and I wanted to see how they would return. I still get the shopping discounts and restaurant discounts that direct members get. I show them my digital DVC card and they give it to me. Never once been denied. We don't really care about new DVC resorts. If We want to stay at RIV or and future resorts that bad Ill just rent points. With that said, I AM SO HAPPY we did not buy direct because I would be sick today. That AP discount could never add up to the savings of buying resale. We have zero plans to buy direct now between the APs announced today, the minimum point increase and price increase on buying in.

Depending upon how often you go, and how long you stay, and how long you keep the points, and how many you buy, and how big a family you have, yes, the AP discount can indeed add up to the savings of buying resale. But there are so many variables it’s certainly not a blanket statement. And of course resale is a great deal! But, honestly, I’m kinda glad I have some direct points too.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Sure if that works for you, and can commit to making that work you come out ahead. 1300 for 2 x 9 day park hoppers at todays pricing, vs what, 980 after tax for the pass. 320 dollar gamble on making it back next year

It doesn't make sense for me personally, since we're going every other year lately. We're choosing to do a 2 bedroom every other year instead of an annual visit. Kids are getting older and we're vacationing other places on the off years.

There's infinite ways to skew the numbers so one scenario comes out ahead of the other.

Exactly!

 

[HIRyeDVC]

I think the math that existed before may change because I wouldn't be surprised if they are getting ready to up the prices on regular tickets as well since they are a bit overdue on that. So if you can buy your tickets now before that happens.

Yeah, the math could get a little tricky. After our last trip, we were pretty exhausted from the parks and thought going forward, we want to do more resort days and less park days. But getting less park day tickets makes each day more expensive. And if we get the APs, we'll become park commandos again. Hard to find that balance. But I agree with you that Disney will also increase regular tickets as well. I won't be getting WDW APs anytime soon, since our next visit won't be until 2023. (That sounds so sad.) Our next year and a half will be focused on DL since I will be buying the Magic Keys over there. But when 2023 comes around, the WDW APs might make more sense. We'll see.

 

[Sandisw]

Depending upon how often you go, and how long you stay, and how long you keep the points, and how many you buy, and how big a family you have, yes, the AP discount can indeed add up to the savings of buying resale. But there are so many variables it’s certainly not a blanket statement. And of course resale is a great deal! But, honestly, I’m kinda glad I have some direct points too.

Me too. This is also why we added our adult children as owners, Right now, we have a total of 9 people who are eligible for the passes.

Since most of us travel for shorter trips, but more often every year, it will work since the cost for tickets is front heavy and we never get more than 4 or 5 day passes.

We also don’t need to travel during black out and are excited Easter weeks seem to be excluded from black out dates.

Again, one still has to do the math, but someone who is buying say BLT resale vs RIV direct…and is comfortable with having RIV as a home resort, it won’t take long to make up the difference if the Sorcerer pass works For ones travel dates.

 

[sethschroeder]

320 dollar gamble on making it back next year

What gamble? You fully control going or not likely. Your DVC points are worth way more than that. Additonally most book DVC rooms 9/10/11 months out as well.

There's infinite ways to skew the numbers so one scenario comes out ahead of the other.

Skew what? Its simply how to use DVC in your favor. So I am not understanding your comments except to purposely try and make it seem like way more.

You said you go once a year so I outlined how to easily save yourself a bunch of money.

 

[Lee Matthews]

For me the perks are so thin now that I am so glad I bought my contracts resale.

 

[starfrenzy]

.

If you just look at the $16000 savings for a family of four over just 10 years, its seems to me that buying direct is a potentially better option.

Please keep in mind:

1) To get that hypothetical $16000 (or $14,000) savings over the next 10 years means you spent $36,000 on annual passes to get into theme parks. Are you going to buy annual passes every single year, for every person?

2) At today’s 150 point minimums, a new member pays an estimated $5550-8550 more for the contract than they would by buying resale, which brings the $16,000 savings down quite a bit.


Direct Purchasing Math:
RIV direct: 150 pts at $197 = $29,550
OKWe direct: 150 pts at $167 = $25,050

RIV resale: 150 pts at $140 = $21,000 (saves $8550 but can’t use anywhere but RIV)
OKWe resale: 150 pts at $130 = $19,500 (saves $5550)

Note: Existing members pay a few dollars less per point when buying direct than new members. At Riviera, that currently brings down the direct contract by $750.

 

[happythoughts & pixiedust]

There will be people who see large savings by buying direct if they plan to regularly buy annual passes - especially if they share the contract with extended family (Parents with adult children/grandchildren). There are easily cases where three families could be buying discounted passes. A single family of four would have to buy annual passes for just four years to make up the difference in buying direct. I would venture to guess that there are many out there who will go direct because it's far easier than buying resale, offers some additional perks, and allows access to future resorts, especially if they can see themselves buying passes for a few years that will ultimately bring the cost difference to a negligible difference.

On the other hand, there will be plenty more people who never buy annual passes, or travel during black out dates, for whom direct purchases won't ever make sense.

 

[DisWeaver]

There is a big reason for the new re-sale restrictions put in place at Riviera and likely all future resorts: They are counting on these restrictions to drive people to Direct over resale, without the need to rely on perks.

So I certainly wouldn't rely on significant AP discounts still being available in 10 years or further.
Before you know it, we will get to a point where a direct buyer has access to 15-20 resorts, while a re-sale buyer has access to only 1 resort (if a Riviera or later resort), or a limited portion of older available DVC properties. (By 2042, wouldn't be surprising if a resale buyer is limited to about 10 out of 20 possible DVC resorts).
Over time, I expect reduction in directperks that actually cost Disney anything significant, when they will rely on the resale restrictions instead.

This right here. Just imagine when there are 20 resorts that direct buyers can stay at, but only 10 if you buy resale. Not only will we compete with with everyone for room availability, but only have half the resort options that direct buyers have.

 

[RoseGold]

This right here. Just imagine when there are 20 resorts that direct buyers can stay at, but only 10 if you buy resale. Not only will we compete with with everyone for room availability, but only have half the resort options that direct buyers have.

I'll still be VGF, and they won't be able to get in our chart. This is like feeling sorry for the guy who bought Beach Club when you just paid a mortgage payment on RIV.

Besides, I'm sure Disney will be thrilled to take your money three resorts from now as well.

 

[DisWeaver]

I'll still be VGF, and they won't be able to get in our chart. This is like feeling sorry for the guy who bought Beach Club when you just paid a mortgage payment on RIV.

Besides, I'm sure Disney will be thrilled to take your money three resorts from now as well.

When prices are $400/pt? Indeed.

As you mentioned, you’ll always be able to stay at your home base, as long as you know what your plans are 7+ months ahead of time.

 

[Ssplashhmtn]

Sure if that works for you, and can commit to making that work you come out ahead. 1300 for 2 x 9 day park hoppers at todays pricing, vs what, 980 after tax for the pass. 320 dollar gamble on making it back next year

It doesn't make sense for me personally, since we're going every other year lately. We're choosing to do a 2 bedroom every other year instead of an annual visit. Kids are getting older and we're vacationing other places on the off years.

There's infinite ways to skew the numbers so one scenario comes out ahead of the other.

If you are saying that an annual pass is probably not financially beneficial for people that travel from out of state once every 2 years, I agree that’s not what it’s meant for.

 

[CaoilinnsMom]

The only black out dates for the DVC member pass are Thanksgiving and around Christmas, neither of which are times we would ever go because we like to avoid the massive crowds.

Not sure about your logic regarding it being a slap in the face for blue card owners. If you own DVC resale exclusively, your only option is the $1299 pass, vs. the $899 option for florida residents and DVC owners. Thats a $400 per person savings every year. If you just look at the $16000 savings for a family of four over just 10 years, its seems to me that buying direct is a potentially better option.

it doesn't work for those of us who must travel on school breaks. We go for Christmas...