Fall Direct Incentives

[njcoach24]

DVC is a money pit, it makes you return more. Flights, uber/lyft, food, and vacations you would probably not make so often. Before DVC I went to Disney maybe 4-6 times in 30+ years. Now I go 2-3 times a year. Its a quick flight and the flights are generally on the cheaper side. Straight money pit and Disney wins more than the Vegas casinos.

Just got off phone with a guide...$33,750 for 150 points at RIV - $4,050 in incentives - $3,000 Rebate for buying back my first years points. $26,700 plus closing costs. Math works out to what everyone is charting out.

There are some really good resale contracts but I want the option to stay in the forbidden resorts lol. I could also buy RIV resale but I don't like being cornered into that situation. Should I just forget about the forbidden resorts and stick to the great deals on the resale market? I like the direct option in the event 2042 comes around and more than 1/2 of the properties are now all forbidden.

 

[VGCgroupie]

DVC is a money pit, it makes you return more. Flights, uber/lyft, food, and vacations you would probably not make so often. Before DVC I went to Disney maybe 4-6 times in 30+ years. Now I go 2-3 times a year. Its a quick flight and the flights are generally on the cheaper side. Straight money pit and Disney wins more than the Vegas casinos.

Just got off phone with a guide...$33,750 for 150 points at RIV - $4,050 in incentives - $3,000 Rebate for buying back my first years points. $26,700 plus closing costs. Math works out to what everyone is charting out.

There are some really good resale contracts but I want the option to stay in the forbidden resorts lol. I could also buy RIV resale but I don't like being cornered into that situation. Should I just forget about the forbidden resorts and stick to the great deals on the resale market? I like the direct option in the event 2042 comes around and more than 1/2 of the properties are now all forbidden.

I don’t think the delta between direct and resale is large enough right now for me to buy RIV resale.

You can save a minimum of 2% off this price as well by paying with the right credit card. Disney visa is 2%. Chase codes DVC as travel so you can earn 3% if you have the right chase card. You can also open a new credit card that has a bonus for spending then use those bonus points or cash for your future flights.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...dvc-contract-credit-card-rewards-etc.3946321/

 

[Brian Noble]

but I always say if we’re going to compare anything about DVC

The question isn’t DVC vs investing. The question is whether you should use your first year’s points or sell them back to Disney.

The math says use them.

 

[VGCgroupie]

The question isn’t DVC vs investing. The question is whether you should use your first year’s points or sell them back to Disney.

The math says use them.

Yeah I just had an oh crap should I not have done MB.

 

[Mikey15]

I don’t think the delta between direct and resale is large enough right now for me to buy RIV resale.

You can save a minimum of 2% off this price as well by paying with the right credit card. Disney visa is 2%. Chase codes DVC as travel so you can earn 3% if you have the right chase card. You can also open a new credit card that has a bonus for spending then use those bonus points or cash for your future flights.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...dvc-contract-credit-card-rewards-etc.3946321/

I’m still impressed by some of the baller moves identified in this thread. IIRC if you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, that “3% travel” can be redeemed through their travel portal (so flights, rentals, hotel on the way down) at 4.5%. And while the CSR has a steep annual fee, you can redeem the $300(?) annual travel credit that mitigates that against your dues payment.

 

[supercarrie]

DVC is a money pit, it makes you return more. Flights, uber/lyft, food, and vacations you would probably not make so often. Before DVC I went to Disney maybe 4-6 times in 30+ years. Now I go 2-3 times a year. Its a quick flight and the flights are generally on the cheaper side. Straight money pit and Disney wins more than the Vegas casinos.

Just got off phone with a guide...$33,750 for 150 points at RIV - $4,050 in incentives - $3,000 Rebate for buying back my first years points. $26,700 plus closing costs. Math works out to what everyone is charting out.

There are some really good resale contracts but I want the option to stay in the forbidden resorts lol. I could also buy RIV resale but I don't like being cornered into that situation. Should I just forget about the forbidden resorts and stick to the great deals on the resale market? I like the direct option in the event 2042 comes around and more than 1/2 of the properties are now all forbidden.

This round of incentives is very competitive. Assuming you definitely want Riviera, I would sign and see what happens on Oct. 1. You can get the contract reissued if needed.

Thinking ahead to post 2042, I am very happy to have a hybrid set up in my membership.

Part of me wishes I had added on another 50 points at Riviera when I bought my 153 point FW contract, as it would have been far cheaper than adding on direct now. We live close to VDH and my son really wanted to try the Cabins so it is already annoying to carve out our precious Riv points for potential stays there.

I have my eye on resale for our next contract but I do keep going back to just taking the hit and buying a small add on direct, knowing I will get minimal to no incentives.

 

[supercarrie]

I’m still impressed by some of the baller moves identified in this thread. IIRC if you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve, that “3% travel” can be redeemed through their travel portal (so flights, rentals, hotel on the way down) at 4.5%. And while the CSR has a steep annual fee, you can redeem the $300(?) annual travel credit that mitigates that against your dues payment.

Yep! I put my entire direct contract on the CSR and received nearly 90,000 points, and that’s without the sign up bonus. If you don’t want to open a new card for the bonus, the CSR is the best option imo for points collected through spend. You can use them at 1.5 cents per point through the Chase travel portal or transfer them to partners and get even more value out of them, if done strategically.

 

[CastAStone]

The problem is not that it is a bad deal relative to point rentals--it's not bad, and in fact pretty good. The problem is that point rentals are often not a good deal for the owner, and are particularly not a good deal for new direct purchasers.

You nailed it.

There are situations where it makes sense. Certainly that OKW deal where it lowered your cost basis by like 17% for 500+ points. Or if you are at the tail end of your UY and you would probably rent the points anyway.

But that’s not how they pitch it.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yeah I just had an oh crap should I not have done MB.

I mean, the good news is that it is not a bad idea. It's just not an awesome one.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I mean, the good news is that it is not a bad idea. It's just not an awesome one.

There is also a different risk factor. The risk free rate of return is around 4-5% at the moment. So 7.7% risk free has a pretty good sharpe ratio.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yeah, but then you have to start having the conversation of the risk profile behind making a long-term obligation to regularly traveling to Disney destinations, come what may.

Looking back on my past 25 years or so, there have been a good five or six "life changes" that completely changed the way I vacation. Some of those were predictable, but others not so much.

 

[davidhr]

Or if you are at the tail end of your UY and you would probably rent the points anyway.

I do agree with this part. Definitely not great if it’s at the beginning of the UY. I personally only do it at the end of the UY with those “free” points.

*I used free on purpose. Those points are not free.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you can use the "late banking exception" then that might tilt the playing field back again.

 

[VGCgroupie]

This round of incentives is very competitive. Assuming you definitely want Riviera, I would sign and see what happens on Oct. 1. You can get the contract reissued if needed.

Thinking ahead to post 2042, I am very happy to have a hybrid set up in my membership.

Part of me wishes I had added on another 50 points at Riviera when I bought my 153 point FW contract, as it would have been far cheaper than adding on direct now. We live close to VDH and my son really wanted to try the Cabins so it is already annoying to carve out our precious Riv points for potential stays there.

I have my eye on resale for our next contract but I do keep going back to just taking the hit and buying a small add on direct, knowing I will get minimal to no incentives.

We were wanting the Cabins but I couldn't use my precious VDH points there, so I will likely never stay at RIV either. Disney really knew how to benefit themselves from adding the restrictions.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I mean, the good news is that it is not a bad idea. It's just not an awesome one.

We havent closed yet so I can still change it to no MB. Time to do some math and thinking. This could also stop me from having to add on

 

[Brian Noble]

For me, the biggest value of a timeshare is it forces me to go on vacation. Selling back points is contrary to that goal.

Keep 'em, use 'em.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I have a DEC UY as one of my memberships and my guide said I could get the 2023 points still loaded and used for MB to bring a VDH 203 point purchase (spread over 2 contracts) down to about $180pp (including closing costs).

I look at it as a reasonable (not amazing) proposition.

 

[njcoach24]

I have a DEC UY as one of my memberships and my guide said I could get the 2023 points still loaded and used for MB to bring a VDH 203 point purchase (spread over 2 contracts) down to about $180pp (including closing costs).

I look at it as a reasonable (not amazing) proposition.

I have a March & June UY. Guide is telling me because 2024 already started I can't get the 2023 points loaded on anymore. If they said yes to the 2023 I would sign today.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I have a DEC UY as one of my memberships and my guide said I could get the 2023 points still loaded and used for MB to bring a VDH 203 point purchase (spread over 2 contracts) down to about $180pp (including closing costs).

I look at it as a reasonable (not amazing) proposition.

Thats where the tough part lies for me. I used MB to lower my price per point. If I dont sell back then I raise my price per point and even though the value is there to keep the points mentally I like knowing I got a better deal PP up front . Also a Dec UY so I would be banking those forward. But then I can also use money saved with MB to add on resale (the check I will get from MB almost pays fully for my new 50 point Aul resale) rock meet hard spot.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Thats where the tough part lies for me. I used MB to lower my price per point. If I dont sell back then I raise my price per point and even though the value is there to keep the points mentally I like knowing I got a better deal PP up front . Also a Dec UY so I would be banking those forward. But then I can also use money saved with MB to add on resale (the check I will get from MB almost pays fully for my new 50 point Aul resale) rock meet hard spot.

Or…. I could just add on more Grand Cal resale…..