DVC question of point usage

[DisneyDictator]

We live in California. It would be nice to hop over to Oahu and stay one year and then drive down to Disneyland and stay at the Grand Californian the next year. I am looking at DVC points at Aulani and have a few questions:

1. Is there any benefit to buying direct vs. resale? The way I see it, resale is almost half the price. By purchasing resale, do I miss out on exchange services or special member savings?

2. Can I buy points at Aulani but use them at the Grand Californian? If so, what restrictions come into play when trying to reserve?

3. Can I swap my points at Aulani with another member who has points somewhere at WDW? Is there a fee for such a swap/exchange?

4. Can I rent my points? Let's say I don't use all 500 points and have 75 points left. Can I rent those 75 points?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We live in California. It would be nice to hop over to Oahu and stay one year and then drive down to Disneyland and stay at the Grand Californian the next year. I am looking at DVC points at Aulani and have a few questions:

1. Is there any benefit to buying direct vs. resale? The way I see it, resale is almost half the price. By purchasing resale, do I miss out on exchange services or special member savings?

2. Can I buy points at Aulani but use them at the Grand Californian? If so, what restrictions come into play when trying to reserve?

3. Can I swap my points at Aulani with another member who has points somewhere at WDW? Is there a fee for such a swap/exchange?

4. Can I rent my points? Let's say I don't use all 500 points and have 75 points left. Can I rent those 75 points?

Thanks for the advice.

GCV is pretty small. So getting a villa there at seven months out can be tough. You might make it easier for yourself to buy GCV points and use them at Aulani. You will pay a premium for them though since they are hard to come by and DVC doesn't have a waitlist for them any more because they don't buy them back very often. When you buy resale you get just what every DVC owner is promised, the ability to book at DVC resort if available. All the perks and specials they offer direct buyers can go away overnight (just like free valet parking at WDW did a few years ago). Whenever you book a non-home resort (meaning not the resort your points are linked to), you can only book it seven months out. That can make it more difficult since the home resort owners were already booking up the resort for the time you wanted eleven months out (a four month head start). You can't swap point, but you can transfer points from one member to another (and you pay the member for the points you transferred in). You are limited to one transfer in or out a year. So you could not transfer Aulani points to someone and they transfer GCV points to you. But, you could rent out your points and pay cash or pay for a reservation from another member who has the points you need at eleven months out.

 

[erionm]

1. Is there any benefit to buying direct vs. resale? The way I see it, resale is almost half the price. By purchasing resale, do I miss out on exchange services or special member savings?

A direct purchase would make you eligible for any discounts (dining/merchandise/admission/etc).

If you purchase resale, you are limited to where you can use those resale points. The current resale restrictions limit point usage to DVC Resorts and RCI Exchanges.

2. Can I buy points at Aulani but use them at the Grand Californian? If so, what restrictions come into play when trying to reserve?

Yes. Those Aulani points can't be used to make a reservation at other DVC resorts until you are 7 months or less from check-in. VGF is very small (max 71 rooms), so it can be quite difficult to reserve there if you don't own there.

4. Can I rent my points? Let's say I don't use all 500 points and have 75 points left. Can I rent those 75 points?

Yes.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would not buy Aulani in hopes of booking VGC with any regularity.

 

[disneynutz]

Currently, how often do you vacation in Hawaii, how often do you vacation at DL, how often do you vacation at wdw?

If you owned DVC how would those numbers change?

Bill

 

[DisneyDictator]

Thank you all for the insight. Although we did back East for a few years and visited WDW twice a year, we're now back in California and don't anticipate visiting WDW that much...once every 5 years or so. We love Disneyland and used to be annual pass holders. The kids are about out of college and we're thinking more long term (perhaps grand kids someday). Aulani points on the resale market are just much more affordable. One more question concerning the 7 month thing...what is the last day you can make a cancellation? My thinking is that might be the time to snag the Californian....is that even a plausible strategy?

 

[disneynutz]

Thank you all for the insight. Although we did back East for a few years and visited WDW twice a year, we're now back in California and don't anticipate visiting WDW that much...once every 5 years or so. We love Disneyland and used to be annual pass holders. The kids are about out of college and we're thinking more long term (perhaps grand kids someday). Aulani points on the resale market are just much more affordable. One more question concerning the 7 month thing...what is the last day you can make a cancellation? My thinking is that might be the time to snag the Californian....is that even a plausible strategy?

Aulani is affordable for a reason, it isn't as popular as Disney would like, the dues and daily extra tax to stay there doesn't help. If you are set on buying DVC, I would buy at VGC based on your above posts.

Bill

 

[Dean]

Thank you all for the insight. Although we did back East for a few years and visited WDW twice a year, we're now back in California and don't anticipate visiting WDW that much...once every 5 years or so. We love Disneyland and used to be annual pass holders. The kids are about out of college and we're thinking more long term (perhaps grand kids someday). Aulani points on the resale market are just much more affordable. One more question concerning the 7 month thing...what is the last day you can make a cancellation? My thinking is that might be the time to snag the Californian....is that even a plausible strategy?

I'd do VGC in this situation or both if your volume is sufficient to justify two contracts. I'd either do resale or resale + 25 retail add on depending on volume and the size you find for VGC. HI isn't cheap but it's fairly easy to get into for Aulani or other timeshares with reasonable planning. VGC will be difficult to impossible at times, esp for a studio if that's the plan. Another option is to do HI either DVC or other timeshare and figure off property for DL since there are a ton of options close by. You'll have better HI options and won't be giving up much for DL.

 

[bwvBound]

We are SoCal and visit the Grand Cal periodically using SSR points booking inside the 7-month window. Sometimes we'll use up to 3 reservations in a given 12-month window ... either using the waitlist or booking at the "last minute" (at or near the 31-day reservation cancellation turnover). What we've found:

• Grand Cal 1BR units are more available than studio or 2BR units. So, budget for Grand Cal 1BR units ... not studio units.
• Getting a short stay (1-3 nights) isn't impossible ... but it can be tedious. I use the waitlist AND stalk the inventory online for days and weeks at a stretch to find the nights we need/want. I'll often find 1st and 3rd night without the middle night and have to piece the reservation together over time.
• Booking Aulani hasn't been difficult. We've gone twice and toyed with reservations now and again. Each time I've looked I've been offered a variety of unit sizes (studio, 1BR, etc) and views. Aulani is mostly easy if you have some flexibility on dates, unit size and views.

For your scenario, I'd echo thoughts above: buy Grand Cal. Your home resort advantage will give you peace of mind if you are willing to book the Grand Cal in the earlier window (7-11 months from travel).

FWIW, we also own Worldmark and are OK booking either of two WM properties located near Disneyland. We enjoy the Grand Cal ... but are almost equally happy staying nearby off-site as long as I have a kitchen and adequate living space.