Effective 2/25/2018, you need at least 75 direct points to qualify for Membership Extras

[southerngirl528]

What's next, club 33?

I've heard rumors WDW may be getting a Club 33 or something like it, actually.

 

[Ben E N]

While the EPCOT member lounge is nothing fancy, it's a great place to get out of the (oppressive) heat, have a free beverage and sit for a bit. Lots of folks need to recharge their devices, and one can surely do that there as well. It's kind of a nice little respite from the crowds and heat IMHO.

Yes, I am not at all saying that it is a bad place. I am just usually out of Epcot by 11:30 or so, so a break is not really needed. I am an early morning, then power nap sort of park goer. The point of mentioning that lounge is that it is used as a big beacon to show all that you could have if you are a direct member, even if it is something that you really don't need, such as in my case.

 

[disneynutz]

That one does sound like it is coming, but it priced out of our range. Isn't it $25,000 a year after the initial buy in? I don't blame them for taking money from people if they were willing to shell it out.

From all of us because we are willing to shell it out, just not above our personal limits.

Bill

 

[jimim]

So I am reading this long thread. what is the concensus for us resale people who bought after 11 but before 16? We get the needed discounts and perks I feel. i don't need my points for cruises or to stay in another property hotel. Do I need to start worrinign they might pull everything out from under us and should buy a 25 pt add on? I plan on adding at least 100-120 pts down the road and would like that to be another property to have another 11 mths window for a week stay.

Do I just wait it out and if things totally change then buy a larger direct contract?

jim

PS here is another question with regards to point useage on cruises. are only direct points avaialable to use or can the resale also be used once u have a direct contract?

 

[Ben E N]

So I am reading this long thread. what is the concensus for us resale people who bought after 11 but before 16? We get the needed discounts and perks I feel. i don't need my points for cruises or to stay in another property hotel. Do I need to start worrinign they might pull everything out from under us and should buy a 25 pt add on? I plan on adding at least 100-120 pts down the road and would like that to be another property to have another 11 mths window for a week stay.

Do I just wait it out and if things totally change then buy a larger direct contract?

jim

PS here is another question with regards to point useage on cruises. are only direct points avaialable to use or can the resale also be used once u have a direct contract?

I wouldn't buy any more direct just for perks you already own. If you think you can make use of the extra 25 points, then sure, go for it. They can take away any perks from anybody that they want at any time, so 25 will not save you from any cuts that they want to implement.

As for cruises, only before '11 or direct points can be used to book them, but it is a poor trade off anyway, especially for those who bought recently.

 

[disneynutz]

Most of the "great" perks came after a change in DVD/DVC management a couple of years ago. We didn't expect President Lewis to leave and we didn't expect his replacement Bilby to leave but they did. Question is how long will the current SVP Potrock keep paying for these perks and/or will he leave and what will the next executive come up with?

Bill

 

[Unit3875]

Not that I think its a great way to burn points, but I saw a reference to Disney Cruises on Dave's Vacation Rental site, allegedly charging less than Disney in points for the same Disney Cruise, but going through them at much less cost in points.

https://www.dvcrequest.com/dvc-cruise.asp

If this is for real, you can use direct or resale points. (I think you can do Disney Adventure reservations through them also)

 

[Ben E N]

Not that I think its a great way to burn points, but I saw a reference to Disney Cruises on Dave's Vacation Rental site, allegedly charging less than Disney in points for the same Disney Cruise, but going through them at much less cost in points.

https://www.dvcrequest.com/dvc-cruise.asp

If this is for real, you can use direct or resale points. (I think you can do Disney Adventure reservations through them also)

Yes. All those services can be paid for with cash. You could also rent the points out yourself and use the cash gained to get those services, or just pay out of pocket and use the points to add a bonus trip to WDW.

 

[ScubaCat]

Not that I think its a great way to burn points, but I saw a reference to Disney Cruises on Dave's Vacation Rental site, allegedly charging less than Disney in points for the same Disney Cruise, but going through them at much less cost in points.

https://www.dvcrequest.com/dvc-cruise.asp

If this is for real, you can use direct or resale points. (I think you can do Disney Adventure reservations through them also)

Sure it's for real, but it's simply renting out the points for cash and then immediately turning the cash into a cruise reservation. You typically get much more bang for your point (so to speak) that way vs. booking a cruise through member services. The Disney Collection exchange rates are atrocious.

 

[kniquy]

Disney has certainly analyzed this - and decided that the most likely occurance is one of the first two, not the second. People want to be part of the club. It's in our nature, and Disney is relying on it.

and you also figure for every one person that buys the 75 point contract it covers those other 2 people who decided not to -- so if anything with this tactic they will remain stable if not ahead of where they were allowing the 25 point add on -- less hassle with the same return.

 

[Dan C]

Has anyone had any experience in guide 'shopping'? When I called on Sunday, I was told it looked like there were points available for the resort and UY I was looking for, but she would have to get back to me, probably the next day. I know it is only 2 days later now, but would calling a different guide possibly result in an immediate sale or would it refer back to original guide or what? My followup email to her just said she was watching it and she would be in touch. Any experience/input? Maybe get someone more motivated to close the deal immediately?

 

[disneynutz]

Has anyone had any experience in guide 'shopping'? When I called on Sunday, I was told it looked like there were points available for the resort and UY I was looking for, but she would have to get back to me, probably the next day. I know it is only 2 days later now, but would calling a different guide possibly result in an immediate sale or would it refer back to original guide or what? My followup email to her just said she was watching it and she would be in touch. Any experience/input? Maybe get someone more motivated to close the deal immediately?

All guides are motivated to make as much money as they can the quickest they can. Which would you spend time on, searching for points your older resort or closing easy contracts at CCV with panicked owners wanting to buy prior to the increase? Plus they make their bosses happy selling the new resorts, not so much the older resorts. IMO DVD pushes the minimum increase and buying the new resorts to justify to the higher ups that DVD is selling like hot cakes and that they need the green light to keep expanding. Disney has to decide what makes them the most money, expanding Epcot or giving the land to DVD for another DVC resort.

Bill

 

[Ben E N]

All guides are motivated to make as much money as they can the quickest they can. Which would you spend time on, searching for points your older resort or closing easy contracts at CCV with panicked owners wanting to buy prior to the increase? Plus they make their bosses happy selling the new resorts, not so much the older resorts. IMO DVD pushes the minimum increase and buying the new resorts to justify to the higher ups that DVD is selling like hot cakes and that they need the green light to keep expanding. Disney has to decide what makes them the most money, expanding Epcot or giving the land to DVD for another DVC resort.

Bill

Yes, but so many people on this thread have praised Bill the guide. Can that person call to request to speak to him, or are they stuck with the guide they're assigned?

 

[Kim Gillihan]

So, my guide just put me on the wait list for akv, but said alunai is available now....

 

[disneynutz]

Yes, but so many people on this thread have praised Bill the guide. Can that person call to request to speak to him, or are they stuck with the guide they're assigned?

Usually if your guide isn't available, another can step in. They have some kind of commission sharing process even though they say that they don't receive commissions. Guides will not step on each others toes or steal prospects.

Bill

 

[iheartglaciers]

Wow, I definitely didn't expect this, but my 25pt Poly WL came through (I was added on Sunday afternoon). But I love CCV so I'm not sure if I want to switch the CCV 50pts for the Poly 25pts now My Poly contract is still in ROFR (it's been there for a week... I hope they didn't take it to fulfill my WL haha).

Since a few people have been mentioning Bill, I'll mention that the guide that called me about the WL being fulfilled, Roderick Evens, has been really helpful. My assigned guide is on vacation, but Roderick is the one they routed me to when I called on Sunday.

 

[CraigInPA]

So I am reading this long thread. what is the concensus for us resale people who bought after 11 but before 16?

You need to do nothing. Your blue card status is grandfathered. This change affects those resale-only buyers who purchased post 4/16.

 

[Sherrkel]

DH and I were wait listed yesterday morning for choice of 6 different resorts (I'm not greedy much). Miraculously (or not) 3 of those choices became available this AM (Oct UY btw). We decided to add on the 25 points to our existing BRV@WL resale contract (other choices were AKL or Poly). BRV has a closer expiration date, but we're not getting younger, so by the time it expires we should be 1. tired of Disney world (does that ever happen) or 2. our ashes floating over the castle .

Good luck to those of you who are waiting to hear or trying to make a decision .

P.S. Our guide is Bernard 800.827.7196 and he was great to work with.

 

[iheartglaciers]

DH and I were wait listed yesterday morning for choice of 6 different resorts (I'm not greedy much). Miraculously (or not) 3 of those choices became available this AM (Oct UY btw). We decided to add on the 25 points to our existing BRV@WL resale contract (other choices were AKL or Poly). BRV has a closer expiration date, but we're not getting younger, so by the time it expires we should be 1. tired of Disney world (does that ever happen) or 2. our ashes floating over the castle .

Good luck to those of you who are waiting to hear or trying to make a decision .

P.S. Our guide is Bernard 800.827.7196 and he was great to work with.

I was also on the Poly WL for Oct UY (from Sunday) and we were able to buy this afternoon. I really didn't think it would come up before the deadline. However, my Poly contract has been in ROFR for a week now, with all 2017 points!

 

[skier_pete]

From all of us because we are willing to shell it out, just not above our personal limits.

Bill

So are we going to get a group together to join club 33. Split 25 ways it's only $1000 a piece and $750 a year. I'm in for that! Family membership right? Just got a ton of brothers and sisters! (Pretty sure it doesn't work this way - else I would be more than joking.)