Fall Direct Incentives

[Genie+]

Another question for the group…

So I put in for a RIV contact last week for 160….I have 40 pts resale VGF. Also have another 100 pt resale contract at BLT. I think I’d like to be at 300 points for now.

Should I sell the VFG and get 40 more RIV points to gets me to that next discount at 200 points? The money to sell the VFG and acquire the additional RIV would be a wash.

Pros or Cons … besides the resale restrictions.

That’s a tough one. This isn’t an exhaustive list, just some of the things I’d consider first:

How will you most likely want to keep using your points? Does the VGF work for you - do you want home priority to use it say for 4 or 5 days every other year, or some other way that makes these specific points more valuable to you?

What about selling some of your points down the line? Would that smaller chunk come in handy for downsizing? Even if you cut RIV purchase into 2 pieces for the potential of selling a similar size chunk later, it’s possible the difference in salvage value is considerable.

^I’d weigh that against how important ease of use with all 200pts at RIV? How frequently would you want to use all those points on restricted resorts? Do you like RIV much better than VGF. Is that more important than keeping a foot in the door with 40pt VGF?

 

[supercarrie]

Another question for the group…

So I put in for a RIV contact last week for 160….I have 40 pts resale VGF. Also have another 100 pt resale contract at BLT. I think I’d like to be at 300 points for now.

Should I sell the VFG and get 40 more RIV points to gets me to that next discount at 200 points? The money to sell the VFG and acquire the additional RIV would be a wash.

Pros or Cons … besides the resale restrictions.

I think it depends on how you plan to use the points. Are you planning on one trip a year? If so, I'd keep to Riviera and BLT and alternate years with banking/borrowing to maximize how many points you have available each year at the 11 month window.

If you are planning on an additional weekend trip a year, then you could keep the VGF points to use for that trip.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Another question for the group…

So I put in for a RIV contact last week for 160….I have 40 pts resale VGF. Also have another 100 pt resale contract at BLT. I think I’d like to be at 300 points for now.

Should I sell the VFG and get 40 more RIV points to gets me to that next discount at 200 points? The money to sell the VFG and acquire the additional RIV would be a wash.

Pros or Cons … besides the resale restrictions.

For me I wouldn't be able to get past that I would have to pay more today for 200 points than I would have 10 days ago.

 

[Sandisw]

Another question for the group…

So I put in for a RIV contact last week for 160….I have 40 pts resale VGF. Also have another 100 pt resale contract at BLT. I think I’d like to be at 300 points for now.

Should I sell the VFG and get 40 more RIV points to gets me to that next discount at 200 points? The money to sell the VFG and acquire the additional RIV would be a wash.

Pros or Cons … besides the resale restrictions.

I would probably jump to 200…and sell the small VGF.

I think, since you locked in the price at 160, you should be able to get the 200 price from before?

 

[Genie+]

For me I wouldn't be able to get past that I would have to pay more today for 200 points than I would have 10 days ago.

Yeah that would bother me too. Maybe they’d extend the same offer from 160pts to 200pts?

 

[VGCgroupie]

I would probably jump to 200…and sell the small VGF.

I think, since you locked in the price at 160, you should be able to get the 200 price from before?

Yeah that would bother me too. Maybe they’d extend the same offer from 160pts to 200pts?

Im pretty sure they wont do that. I will actually call my guide and ask, if they would I may add more VDH, but Im pretty confident the only way to change the contract is if you are changing to current incentives.

EDIT: I emailed him and will report back.
Confirmed you can keep the old incentives if you haven’t closed.

 

[Chili327]

Yeah that would bother me too. Maybe they’d extend the same offer from 160pts to 200pts?

That's the wrong way to look at it. lol
Tell them you'd be willing to add 40 more if they can keep them at the lower price. Definitely break that into 2x100 though.

 

[Sandisw]

Im pretty sure they wont do that. I will actually call my guide and ask, if they would I may add more VDH, but Im pretty confident the only way to change the contract is if you are changing to current incentives.

Well, I’d ask. Because they let you change when incentives are better, so not sure why they wouldn’t in this case.

 

[njcoach24]

How will you most likely want to keep using your points? Does the VGF work for you - do you want home priority to use it say for 4 or 5 days every other year, or some other way that makes these specific points more valuable to you?

I usually go for a weekend in Jan or March, a weekend in April, and a week in the summer. I bought the VGF at like $130 a point because it was a steal and we love it there. The only thing swaying me is not having restrictions on the points.

If you are planning on an additional weekend trip a year, then you could keep the VGF points to use for that trip.

Yes, I could keep it as a VGF only trip.

For me I wouldn't be able to get past that I would have to pay more today for 200 points than I would have 10 days ago.

I think, since you locked in the price at 160, you should be able to get the 200 price from before?

Guide told me today I can make any changes and old deal will be what’s reflected in the pricing. So if I jump to 200 I think it brings the cost per point to something like $171 instead of $178 at 160

 

[VGCgroupie]

Guide told me today I can make any changes and old deal will be what’s reflected in the pricing. So if I jump to $200 I think it brings the cost per point to something like $171 instead of $178 at 160

That is really great then! I would do it especially since you bought 160 and not 150

 

[sarahlord]

Another question for the group…

So I put in for a RIV contact last week for 160….I have 40 pts resale VGF. Also have another 100 pt resale contract at BLT. I think I’d like to be at 300 points for now.

Should I sell the VFG and get 40 more RIV points to gets me to that next discount at 200 points? The money to sell the VFG and acquire the additional RIV would be a wash.

Pros or Cons … besides the resale restrictions.

You should definitely do it, I bought 150 in July and last minute wanted to increase to 200 to get to the next level of incentives but I was a day too late and my contract had closed already

 

[sarahlord]

Well with these incentives I guess I’m not itching to buy anything….

I think we’re going to stay in a studio a few times and see how it feels and maybe not add more.

I think I remember @CastAStone saying the 1 bedroom isn’t really a great use of points compared to a cash room and studio’s value is much better compared to cash rooms.

 

[CastAStone]

I think I remember @CastAStone saying the 1 bedroom isn’t really a great use of points compared to a cash room and studio’s value is much better compared to cash rooms

Yes, Disney generally charges a 50% markup in cash and a 100% markup in points for a 1BR vs a studio.

We exclusively stay in 1BRs which is why a direct purchase isn’t a consideration for us currently; I don’t think the savings are worth the long lead times and cancellation penalties. If we ever get to where we want to stay mainly/exclusively in 2BRs I would start to think about it again.

With 3 kids, that day may still come…

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Yes, Disney generally charges a 50% markup in cash and a 100% markup in points for a 1BR vs a studio.

We exclusively stay in 1BRs which is why a direct purchase isn’t a consideration for us currently; I don’t think the savings are worth the long lead times and cancellation penalties. If we ever get to where we want to stay mainly/exclusively in 2BRs I would start to think about it again.

With 3 kids, that day may still come…

How is it for 2BRs, relative to studios? Fairly comparable?

 

[supercarrie]

If you can get the old incentives, I'd do it. We only bought a 153 point FW contract and I'm already kicking myself for not adding on another 50 as a second contract at the time.

 

[CastAStone]

How is it for 2BRs, relative to studios? Fairly comparable?

*Working from memory*, studios are the best deal, but 2BRs are a pretty solid deal vs cash as well, while not as good as studios, much closer to studios than 1BRs.

But the savings relative to rack rate of course do vary by resort, season, etc., especially after DVC redid the point charts from ~2019-2022. They had to force fit a lot of points into various categories and every chart has distinct sweet and sour spots now.

 

[ehh]

*Working from memory*, studios are the best deal, but 2BRs are a pretty solid deal vs cash as well, while not as good as studios, much closer to studios than 1BRs.

But the savings relative to rack rate of course do vary by resort, season, etc., especially after DVC redid the point charts from ~2019-2022. They had to force fit a lot of points into various categories and every chart has distinct sweet and sour spots now.

My memory agrees with your memory. And so does my analysis from the "Most Economical Resort" thread somewhere around here.

• Average View+Season Studio discount range in Year 1 was 50-67% (including Riviera Direct purchases)
• Average View+Season 1BR discount range was 21-54% (30-54% for just resale)
• Average View+Season 2BR discount rage was 38-60% (44-60% for just resale)
• Average View+Season Grand Villa discount range was 30-55% (40-55% for just resale)
• Average View+Season Canbungahouse discount range was 32-52%

I suppose it's a good time to update that thread, with latest resale prices and Poly Island Tower in the loop now.

 

[VGCgroupie]

My guide called me back rather than emailing. I answered on speaker while driving and when my husband heard “so I understand you want to bump up from 200 to 300 points”. If looks could kill I’d be dead right now

Guide confirmed since I’m not closed I can still get the old incentives I originally purchased at, including the Visa promo. Dangerous.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

*Working from memory*, studios are the best deal, but 2BRs are a pretty solid deal vs cash as well, while not as good as studios, much closer to studios than 1BRs.

But the savings relative to rack rate of course do vary by resort, season, etc., especially after DVC redid the point charts from ~2019-2022. They had to force fit a lot of points into various categories and every chart has distinct sweet and sour spots now.

Thank you!!

 

[njcoach24]

My guide called me back rather than emailing. I answered on speaker while driving and when my husband heard “so I understand you want to bump up from 200 to 300 points”. If looks could kill I’d be dead right now

Guide confirmed since I’m not closed I can still get the old incentives I originally purchased at, including the Visa promo. Dangerous.

Mine also just called me and said no problem.

Question now is do I split it in 2 100 point contracts and pay an extra $250?

I would probably jump to 200…and sell the small VGF.

Just wondering what’s your reasoning?