DVC Vets - what would you do?

[cjholda]

Hi All. This is my first post here and I hope I don't sound incredibly stupid. My dh and I experienced the DVC tour at SSR in December. We had an OK guide who kept asking us if we knew anyone already a member of DVC. We didn't, but I found out when I got home why she was asking (The promo for $86 a point!). UGH. Well, we are in the process of inheriting some money and we really want to invest in DVC.

We have four kids (7-13yo) and we love Disney. We also pastor full time and this will force us to take vacations. I really don't care which resort we stay at (SSR was nice) but with AKV now opening up I'm not too sure if we should try to purcahse there or at SSR. My only stipulation is that we are able to vacation during value seasons because we are homeschoolers. We don't have the same restrictions on time off as others. I don't mind doing WDW in January or other value times. So I'd like to make sure I have as many points available during those time periods as possible. Did I miss it? Should I wait until next January to buy?

We want to go for about 300 points and we'd LOVE to get them cheaper than $101 a point. Is this even possible? Should we just buy through SSR and add-on points elsewhere later? (I didn't even think you could do that until I was reading the boards today - it never dawned on me to hold more than one contract.) We will need the full 300 points because of the size of our family and the time/accomodations that we'll need (at least that's my understanding of the program). Would it be better to buy through TTS instead? We would really like to have the points for as long as possible so that our kids/grandkids could benefit from it in the future. I just don't want to buy into SSR or AKV and find out that I missed a good deal along the way. Also, is there still a Member promo going on or will there be another one coming along soon?

Sorry if these are repeat questions. I've tried to make heads and tails over this by reading the boards the past few weeks, but we're getting close to being able to buy and I want to do the right thing. I think I'm rambling and my head is spinning.....

Thanks and blessings!

 

[Chuck S]

The $15 Friends & Family discount is over. There is no way to know if it will ever be offered again. While there is usually some type of promotion available, the $15 Friends & Family offer has only been offered twice in the history of DVC, and was probably one of the best promotions ever offered, except for the free park passes given those that purchased before 1996.

Most promotions have been in the $8 to $10 per point range.

 

[cjholda]

a day late and a buck short, I guess!

 

[JimC]

Welcome to the DIS!

Before you make the purchase look at the annual dues and be sure you can carry the cost. Expect the dues to increase annually at about the rate of inflation, although in the recent past those numbers have increased faster, primarily due to insurance, health care and compensation costs. The dues at SSR are much lower than the projected AKV dues.

SSR and OKW have the lowest point requirements of the onsite resorts. Therefore you can get more bang for your dollar at those resorts.

You should also consider a resale contract. Best advice is to call the Timeshare Store. They are a sponsor of this forum and have been used by many of us for purchases and sales. I have used them three times. They will patiently answer your questions and guide you in selecting an appropriate contract for your needs.

Also read this forum and ask lots of questions.

Good luck.

 

[DVC Grammy]

A few thoughts that I hope will help..............
If you use your DVC only during value seasons, the resorts with the most "point-stretching" are OKW, standard rooms at BWV, and AKV. If you want to pay less than $101, then resale is the way to go. If the extra years are also important to you, 2054 vs. 2042, then SSR falls into the second and third categories.
Other than BW standard villas, the need for the 11-month booking window at your home resort probably wouldn't be as great. Of course, that could change in the future. Right now, OKW is usually available at 7 months, and when AKV is finished, 7 months may be enough for booking during value seasons; it's going to be big!
I'm sure there'll be folks with more specific answers than me. The Disboard is a great place for info.
If and when you do join the "Club", may all your trips "home" be magical!

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

check into a resale from our sponsor The Timeshare Store Many on these boards myself included have purchased through Tom and crew and have been very satisfied with the experience. Good SSR contracts can be had resale for much less than the $101. i would also recommend buying two smaller contracts to get the total points you mentioned. this allows for easier resales in the future. Also in those travel dates you mention if you can plan at the 7-month window you should be able get rooms into other resorts without much hassle.

good luck

 

[edk35]

Hello. Okay my 2 cents...or maybe I should say 1 cent...since I just joined. LOL Okay....we just purchased 300 pts. for Saratoga on Jan. 31st. We had a wonderful guide. We chose SSR because we loved it and we wanted the 47 years vs. a shorter time. We have three kids ages 8,13 and 16. We purchased three 100 pt. contracts that will be given to our kids down the road so to speak. Plus by doing this we didn't have to pay all of the 200 closing cost. It was a savings of 50 bucks. LOL We had a choice of taking 91 per pt. or they matched what pts. we bought and we purchased for 101....and those were called Developer's pts. We took the Developer's pts. So we got 300 pts. the day we bought, the 300 extra pts. aka developer's pts and our use year is Oct. 1st. and we will get another 300 this year on Oct.
1st. So....we have until March 31st to bank all or some of our 600 and then they have to be used by Oct. 1st 2008. We will probably have to bank pts. each year at least for a few years because we started out without a lot of points and we will more than likely only go at off times of year and less than 2 times a year. Our guide told us that the price is going up March 5th......so you might want to consider that as well. PM me if you have any other questions. Good Luck.

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

I just wanted you to know that when most think of value season they think of low crowds and easy to get into your resort of choice.

DVC is different in this respect in that a lot of people travel off season to get the low point rates ESPECIALY in the first two weeks of December! January this past year became difficult at most if not all of the resorts also.

Just wanted to warn you to plan ahead for value season to avoid dissapointment!

 

[littlestar]

Whatever you do, don't buy a 300 point contract with all the points in one contract. Here's an idea, you could buy 150 (direct from Disney) with the $10.00 off at $91.00 a point at SSR. You could bank and borrow to combine and make it 300 every other year. And then maybe buy some smaller increment packages at either SSR or Animal Kingdom Lodge. Just study the point charts for the various resorts that you want to stay at and figure out what you might need.

By having some smaller add-on type packages, this would allow you to easily downsize your points if when the kids get older you don't go to Disney as much. Once you own one contract of DVC points, there are no closing costs on add-ons bought directly through Disney.

Good luck.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Make sure you get enough points to stay during the time of year you want to go at the resort you want to stay at in a two bedroom villa. With six, you'll need the two bedroom at least. You can check the points charts at the top of this page to see how many you would probably need.

 

[kdzgon]

...We had a choice of taking 91 per pt. or they matched what pts. we bought and we purchased for 101....and those were called Developer's pts. We took the Developer's pts. So we got 300 pts. the day we bought, the 300 extra pts. aka developer's pts and our use year is Oct. 1st. and we will get another 300 this year on Oct.
1st. So....we have until March 31st to bank all or some of our 600 and then they have to be used by Oct. 1st 2008. We will probably have to bank pts. each year at least for a few years because we started out without a lot of points and we will more than likely only go at off times of year and less than 2 times a year. Our guide told us that the price is going up March 5th......so you might want to consider that as well. PM me if you have any other questions. Good Luck.

​

Are you sure about banking those developer points? It is my understanding that developer points are not bankable - is it different for SSR?

 

[paults]

with 4 children if you buy through Disney I would get 4 contracts to total the pts you need. Then in the future you can give each child (adult) a contract. or if you need to sell some off you can sell a smaller contract easier.

 

[castleri]

Hi All. This is my first post here and I hope I don't sound incredibly stupid. My dh and I experienced the DVC tour at SSR in December. We had an OK guide who kept asking us if we knew anyone already a member of DVC. We didn't, but I found out when I got home why she was asking (The promo for $86 a point!). UGH. Well, we are in the process of inheriting some money and we really want to invest in DVC.

We have four kids (7-13yo) and we love Disney. We also pastor full time and this will force us to take vacations. I really don't care which resort we stay at (SSR was nice) but with AKV now opening up I'm not too sure if we should try to purcahse there or at SSR. My only stipulation is that we are able to vacation during value seasons because we are homeschoolers. We don't have the same restrictions on time off as others. I don't mind doing WDW in January or other value times. So I'd like to make sure I have as many points available during those time periods as possible. Did I miss it? Should I wait until next January to buy?

We want to go for about 300 points and we'd LOVE to get them cheaper than $101 a point. Is this even possible? Should we just buy through SSR and add-on points elsewhere later? (I didn't even think you could do that until I was reading the boards today - it never dawned on me to hold more than one contract.) We will need the full 300 points because of the size of our family and the time/accomodations that we'll need (at least that's my understanding of the program). Would it be better to buy through TTS instead? We would really like to have the points for as long as possible so that our kids/grandkids could benefit from it in the future. I just don't want to buy into SSR or AKV and find out that I missed a good deal along the way. Also, is there still a Member promo going on or will there be another one coming along soon?

Sorry if these are repeat questions. I've tried to make heads and tails over this by reading the boards the past few weeks, but we're getting close to being able to buy and I want to do the right thing. I think I'm rambling and my head is spinning.....

Thanks and blessings!

There are a lot of great suggestions here - I think there are some good contracts out there with the TTS that would get you SSR points for less or about the same as you would have gotten with the F&F program. The buy several smaller contracts is excellent advice. If you started with a 100 or 150 one from there you can add to it through Disney if you wish since you will then be a member with all the perks. I wish I had added on to my OKW contract in smaller pieces rather than buying a new 150 point contract at SSR. I would now be able to sell one or two 50 point contracts to help with son's college expenses and not have to sell all of the SSR ones. I bought my first contract with inherited money and it is the best thing I could have done with it. I probably would not have bought that first contract if I had had to finance it. If I sell it tomorrow the original money will still be there and I have some of the most wonderful family memories from the fantastic trips we have shared. I know that soon I may not be able to get the full amount back but never expected to when I bought. I know you shouldn't purchase with the idea of it being a monetary investment and I didn't - it just seems to have worked out that way. I will be 99 when that contract expires and hope I will be on an OKW balcony with the beverage of my choice enjoying the sunset over the golf course saying boy has it been fun and worth every penny. Since you do not seem to be in hurry to buy now that you missed the f&F program take your time, do your research and when you decide I hope you have many wonderful triips with your family.

 

[Starr W.]

​

Are you sure about banking those developer points? It is my understanding that developer points are not bankable - is it different for SSR?

When we mulled over that offer, you could bank the "regular" point allocation for the yr, but not the developer points they had to be used in that yr. At least that is what our guide told us.

 

[edk35]

​

Are you sure about banking those developer points? It is my understanding that developer points are not bankable - is it different for SSR?

Our guide told us that at the presentation and then when we bought the next day...he mentioned it again. Then I came home after purchasing and read on here that we couldn't...so I put a call into him and he told me YES. So we have til March 31st to bank. Maybe this was just for SSR. Not sure.



Denise

 

[edk35]

When we mulled over that offer, you could bank the "regular" point allocation for the yr, but not the developer points they had to be used in that yr. At least that is what our guide told us.

Hey there..one more thing. When did you take the tour/presentation. We did the end of the Jan. Our guide said to us...not too many guides offer this becasue it is too hard to explain. He said most just offer the 10 buck off discount. .

 

[Starr W.]

Hey there..one more thing. When did you take the tour/presentation. We did the end of the Jan. Our guide said to us...not too many guides offer this becasue it is too hard to explain. He said most just offer the 10 buck off discount. .

8am Thanksgiving Day!

 

[Nicoal13]

I took the tour on 2/2/07 and was only offered the $10 off per point. What are these developer's points? Our guide never mentioned them. Thanks!

 

[edk35]

8am Thanksgiving Day!

Well maybe this is a special deal going on. I will probably verify again...he is supposed to call me when he gets back off of his vacation.