For those who bought Direct in the last 4 years, which benefits were worthwhile?

[Girlstar30]

Is the Disney files magazine for direct only?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Is the Disney files magazine for direct only?

If it is and you want me to send you mine when I get another, let me know. I don't save them and they often send us 2.

 

[Girlstar30]

If it is and you want me to send you mine when I get another, let me know. I don't save them and they often send us 2.

Awesome thanks, that is very kind of you! I enjoy them! They gave us a copy of the spring edition at our vdh tour, we never got one, but we also dont seem to be getting any mail from dvc.

We didnt get the condo update or whatever it was that everyone was receiving so Im not sure if its our mail, that resale doesnt get it, that were still too new or what

 

[atthebeachclub]

Is the Disney files magazine for direct only?

No. It’s for everyone. You’ll eventually start receiving it too.

 

[Girlstar30]

No. It’s for everyone. You’ll eventually start receiving it too.

Yay, I get something!

 

[atthebeachclub]

Yay, I get something!

You pay the dues, you get the Files!

 

[Girlstar30]

You pay the dues, you get the Files!

I am honestly surprised they still even do this, even d23 mag went electronic

 

[atthebeachclub]

I am honestly surprised they still even do this, even d23 mag went electronic

I suspect there is a large group of DVC owners who are older and would prefer the physical copy. I bet D23 trends younger and cares less about that.

 

[Girlstar30]

I suspect there is a large group of DVC owners who are older and would prefer the physical copy. I bet D23 trends younger and cares less about that.

This makes sense. I thought i wouldnt like the electronic version of d23 but I actually loved the way it looked

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Go to the lounge in DL. That bathroom is a breathe of fresh cool air

lol, I’m not sure I’d praise the bathroom specifically but it’s 100x cleaner than the ones outside space mountain, which are almost always the most disgusting in the park! We love the lounge and have definitely drank the equivalent of $1000 of soda and coffee there by now, but also I doubt we would have spent more than half of that much if we were paying out of pocket.

1) Sorcerer Pass has been fantastic. That adds up for a family of four.

We liked this perk but it did pull us into the vicious circle of more points for more trips— the SP is also not great for years that you will travel at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

2) Moonlight Magic was a blast.

I think MM is probably the very best part of owning direct for us, way better than savings or lounges. If we can make it to one every other year, I will be satisfied with my direct decision (we’ve already made it to 3… with a family of 4, it’s the equivalent of spending about $750 for an after hours event).

3) Flexibility on our points for new/future resorts.

I would never buy direct for access to VDH or RIV if there was a material price difference, but I do like that my direct points should give me the opportunity to try out whatever comes down the road … telling myself that knowing I can use my direct points at new crescent lake properties might reduce temptation to buy them at $400/pt direct.

I am honestly surprised they still even do this, even d23 mag went electronic

::whispers:: it’s because it’s marketing materials and they want to get you to come spend more money at WDW (and sometimes DLR).

 

[VGCgroupie]

lol, I’m not sure I’d praise the bathroom specifically but it’s 100x cleaner than the ones outside space mountain, which are almost always the most disgusting in the park! We love the lounge and have definitely drank the equivalent of $1000 of soda and coffee there by now, but also I doubt we would have spent more than half of that much if we were paying out of pocket.

We liked this perk but it did pull us into the vicious circle of more points for more trips— the SP is also not great for years that you will travel at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I think MM is probably the very best part of owning direct for us, way better than savings or lounges. If we can make it to one every other year, I will be satisfied with my direct decision (we’ve already made it to 3… with a family of 4, it’s the equivalent of spending about $750 for an after hours event).

I would never buy direct for access to VDH or RIV if there was a material price difference, but I do like that my direct points should give me the opportunity to try out whatever comes down the road … telling myself that knowing I can use my direct points at new crescent lake properties might reduce temptation to buy them at $400/pt direct.

::whispers:: it’s because it’s marketing materials and they want to get you to come spend more money at WDW (and sometimes DLR).

I am a bathroom nut If I walk in a bathroom and there’s a smell or it appears unsanitary I walk out and will suffer and not go. Being in DL bathrooms our whole trip then going to the lounge, it was amazing.. it’s like in the movies when you open a door and you hear magical sounds. Clean, empty and powerful AC.

But I do like other lounges too in Florida since in the summer I want as much ac as I can possibly get.

 

[MagicalDaze]

We were resale only before becoming direct owners during the VGF fire sale. We immediately got Sorcerer passes and have upped our visits to 2-3x per year (used to do just 1 annual trip) which has definitely fueled addonitis -- it can be a bit of a slippery slope to a full blown addiction so proceed with caution. We love Moonlight Magic events and really appreciate any and all discounts but discounts help you to rationalize buying more so it takes discipline to actually save. The best thing about direct points is being able to use them anywhere we want, even a cruise if that ever makes sense for us. We're hoping/planning to use our membership well beyond 2042 so we're happy to have points that can be used at future properties.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

We were resale only before becoming direct owners during the VGF fire sale. We immediately got Sorcerer passes and have upped our visits to 2-3x per year (used to do just 1 annual trip) which has definitely fueled addonitis -- it can be a bit of a slippery slope to a full blown addiction so proceed with caution. We love Moonlight Magic events and really appreciate any and all discounts but discounts help you to rationalize buying more so it takes discipline to actually save. The best thing about direct points is being able to use them anywhere we want, even a cruise if that ever makes sense for us. We're hoping/planning to use our membership well beyond 2042 so we're happy to have points that can be used at future properties.

Admittedly, I've mostly considered member cruises and first sail cruises, but when I look at the point charts for cruises it's almost always less than $10/pt, which is painful, especially for someone who bought direct over $160/pt. I think at even $12-14/pt, I would be exchanging points for cruises with some regularity.

 

[MagicalDaze]

Admittedly, I've mostly considered member cruises and first sail cruises, but when I look at the point charts for cruises it's almost always less than $10/pt, which is painful, especially for someone who bought direct over $160/pt. I think at even $12-14/pt, I would be exchanging points for cruises with some regularity.

Agreed, the current point charts for cruises are painful and so far we've only paid cash for cruising. I suspect the older we get and after we break even on our DVC contracts (perhaps in our grandparent era?) we'll be more inclined to use points for cruising but only time will tell. Hopefully DCL will offer more varied and interesting itineraries to make that option more appealing by then.

 

[Brian Noble]

For those who purchased their first Direct contract in the past 4 years, which of the extra benefits have proven in practice to be the most valuable to you personally?

I probably can't make the argument that any of them are worth the cost. But, I also am not above a warm fuzzy feeling when the tapstyles turn purple and say "Welcome Home!"

The discounts are nice, but not world-changing---I make use of the restaurant discounts much more often than merchandise. The Sorcerer pass is probably the most (financially) meaningful, but I am a household of one, so it does not add up particularly quickly.

For me, the reason to buy direct is that I wanted RIV as my home resort, but did not want to restrict myself to only RIV.

 

[Steelers0854]

I treat buying DVC direct like buying a car. I’m not here to financially justify it or to game the system to make it “worthwhile”. I mean to say I’m obviously going to maximize all my benefits and points but I’m not obsessing over making this break even or profitable. I bought it because we love Disney, we support the company and the experience we get from going and I don’t want to have to think about anything. What do we qualify for, what are we boxed out from. I wanted none of that when it became obvious this was a long term vacation plan for us (we owned resale first for a year before buying). What was most important to us:

1) Lounge Access
2) Sorcerer Pass
3) Unrestricted point use

Icing on the cake:
Members only events
Merch and Dining discounts.

 

[The Jackal]

If you purchased direct in the last 4 years I would say no. Disney and DVC have axed a lot of the benefits of being a DVC member. They have brought some back, but I doubt all will return. For a lot the biggest savings is being able to purchase the Sorcerer’s pass instead of the Incredi pass and this takes years to make up the direct resale difference. Disney for almost 2 years didn’t sell any new AP’s only allowed renewals.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I also am not above a warm fuzzy feeling when the tapstyles turn purple and say "Welcome Home!"

I also love this, but I get it too as a resale member (and yes, I was happy I did!).

 

[Brian Noble]

Well, heck, if I knew that....

 

[AwfulWaffle]

Not sure we'll ever get there but I am slowing working towards 150 direct. 25 point contracts via the Disney Visa, pay it off in six months, then rinse and repeat. On contract 2 now so only 4 more to go then I'll let you know haha