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

[Girlstar30]

Yes you do which can really add up. But in the end it can be way less than paying interest

Really good point!

 

[cruisehopeful]

My only issue with this is, dont you have to pay closing costs every time? This could be a viable option for me if there's a firesale before im comfortable with the price of a full 150

It does and I was just going to look at it as the long view where it wouldn't really matter 10 years from now.

Of course, there's always the option of taking that same money, putting it in a dedicated savings account and making one large purchase later - which I also considered. Since the sales prices go up often, that might negate the savings from not having several closing costs. There's just no way to know. Another potential benefit of doing the savings account way is that if Disney had a fire sale or something extraordinary come up, I would have already had a nice pile of money available, depending on the special.

 

[Girlstar30]

It does and I was just going to look at it as the long view where it wouldn't really matter 10 years from now.

Of course, there's always the option of taking that same money, putting it in a dedicated savings account and making one large purchase later - which I also considered. Since the sales prices go up often, that might negate the savings from not having several closing costs. There's just no way to know. Another potential benefit of doing the savings account way is that if Disney had a fire sale or something extraordinary come up, I would have already had a nice pile of money available, depending on the special.

Do you know what approx closing costs would be on a 25 point or 50 pt contract direct from Disney? Im really liking this idea and dont know why it wasnt suggested to me by our guide. I will have to figure that out and run the numbers vs financing at 8.99% i keep telling myself im going to go with the sell blt plan and buy direct, but I really dont want to sell anything

 

[cruisehopeful]

Do you know what approx closing costs would be on a 25 point or 50 pt contract direct from Disney? Im really liking this idea and dont know why it wasnt suggested to me by our guide. I will have to figure that out and run the numbers vs financing at 8.99% i keep telling myself im going to go with the sell blt plan and buy direct, but I really dont want to sell anything

It's around $400 for closing the Florida resorts. I don't think contract size changes that.

If you are doing it to get direct benefits, keep in mind that they can change the 150 point minimum anytime. You might be halfway to 150 and they decide to change it to 200. That said, you will probably have some warning and be able to buy a contract for the remaining points to reach 150. Even though we don't plan to sell, smaller contracts sell faster and at a higher per point price than a 150 point contract.

 

[Steelers0854]

Lounge access, great the first year, last summer Epcot closed theirs and no alternate offered,

Huh? The Epcot lounge is open.

 

[Girlstar30]

It's around $400 for closing the Florida resorts. I don't think contract size changes that.

If you are doing it to get direct benefits, keep in mind that they can change the 150 point minimum anytime. You might be halfway to 150 and they decide to change it to 200. That said, you will probably have some warning and be able to buy a contract for the remaining points to reach 150. Even though we don't plan to sell, smaller contracts sell faster and at a higher per point price than a 150 point contract.

Does that includes the title insurance, so if we waived that it would be even less? That's not bad at all!

For some reason i was thinking it would be a lot more, probably bcuz I was thinking about resale closing costs which doesnt apply here.

I have thought about them changing the number of direct benefits buy-in because, yes it would be mainly purchased for the direct benefits.

Since sales are slowing I dont foresee them raising the min but as the points chart for new resorts climbs higher and higher I Def foresee this minimum raised in the future. Either way it is a risk I need to consider!

Im Def thinking to save at least a third of the cost initially before pulling the trigger, which I guess by the time I do that they could raise the min too. Decisions, decisions!

 

[Sandisw]

The ability to use points everywhere.

For membership extras…it’s the Sorcerer AP and discounts.

 

[Sandisw]

1) Sorcerer Pass has been fantastic. That adds up for a family of four.
2) Moonlight Magic was a blast.
3) Flexibility on our points for new/future resorts.

We already got the Disney Visa discount, but maybe the DVC discount is better?

We started with resale and then when APs came back just before VGF went on a deep discount it was too tempting to pass up. But of course once we had more points we had more use for the APs, once we had APs we started going even more so we needed more points... around and around we go! It's a delightful but vicious cycle.

Unless it has changed, the Visa discount requires you to use it at the time you are purchasing things.

There used to be a minimum too. With DVC, I can pay any way I want and get it, including on a bottle of water in the stores.

 

[Sandisw]

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

I aril get a D23 magazine every quarter. I am gold though.

 

[Steelers0854]

Do you know what approx closing costs would be on a 25 point or 50 pt contract direct from Disney? Im really liking this idea and dont know why it wasnt suggested to me by our guide. I will have to figure that out and run the numbers vs financing at 8.99% i keep telling myself im going to go with the sell blt plan and buy direct, but I really dont want to sell anything

We closed 3x 50 point Poly contracts in December. Total closing was $458 per contract and that included $65 in title insurance. I know I could waive it. I’m risk adverse and just decided to keep it on.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

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.

I agree that after we hit breakeven we might be a little less particular about best use of points, but even still some of these trade values are less than my AUL dues, I think.

Those moonlight magic events, if sold thru Disney would be $189 a pop per person for sure and then you get free treats too, if I was direct and doing a spreadsheet I would factor that in, Disney fans would def be paying for that

Yes, I agree, particularly because we have done them in lieu of paying for other after hours events we would ordinarily buy—but I wouldn’t factor it into purchase value because they are infrequent, hard to get and could go away. So we have already secured a couple thousand of value, but wouldn’t assume it going forward.

Bought RIV direct for $155/point and seems its value is around $120/point. Not to bad for being the only Epcot resort that doesn't expire before retirement.

I think non-stripped contracts are sitting around below that price now.

We joined last summer...almost at our 1 year anniversary, ha. I'd say (1) ability to stay at other resorts and (2) for us, we purchased a FW, so we don't have to worry about planning anything through 2070, unless we want to deviate from our FW.

FW is another great point here. My big regret is not knowing I could get a FW at Aulani and not bothering to pick a Fixed week at VGF.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Really good point!

Oh and also in the end 25 point contracts always sell for more per point than larger so there is that benefit too

 

[Ruttangel]

Huh? The Epcot lounge is open.

I was referring to Last summer

 

[achinforsomebacon]

i keep telling myself im going to go with the sell blt plan and buy direct, but I really dont want to sell anything

This is dangerous...I highly recommend selling first or go in knowing that there's a very good chance you won't end up selling at all. We took advantage of the VGF deal in 2023. We got more than we needed with the intentions of selling our resale contracts. The plan was to sell once we weren't in a stripped position but we just keep using all of the points. It's really hard to cut back once you get used to having the extra points!

 

[cruisehopeful]

Does that includes the title insurance, so if we waived that it would be even less? That's not bad at all!

Yes I paid for the title insurance. I considered asking for it to be removed, but it was such a small amount that it wasn't worth the added time for me.

This is dangerous...I highly recommend selling first or go in knowing that there's a very good chance you won't end up selling at all.

Such a good point. I told my husband that I *might* sell my 50 point Polynesian in a few years. The reality is, as long as we want to pay for a good view, we won't be able to let go of any of our points.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I'd rate it as:
1 - AP
2 - Moonlight Magic (but only because I'd get the discount through my AP if not offered by DVC)
3 - Discount

We’ve also enjoyed all three. For us, #1 is diminished a bit lately IMO due to all the ticket sales.

#2… I didn’t realize I have a Mickey bar problem until they were free at Moonlight Magic …

 

[RuntheMouse]

We’ve also enjoyed all three. For us, #1 is diminished a bit lately IMO due to all the ticket sales.

#2… I didn’t realize I have a Mickey bar problem until they were free at Moonlight Magic …

DH had his first Mickey Bar at a MM event. It was like I was with a toddler

 

[atthebeachclub]

DH had his first Mickey Bar at a MM event. It was like I was with a toddler

We buy the ones that Target sells and they are crazy good. I think they differ from the park version, but I REALLY love them!

 

[EPCOT Terran]

We buy the ones that Target sells and they are crazy good. I think they differ from the park version, but I REALLY love them!

Why'd you have to go and tell me that? Ignorance was truly bliss. Alas, no more!

 

[Girlstar30]

We closed 3x 50 point Poly contracts in December. Total closing was $458 per contract and that included $65 in title insurance. I know I could waive it. I’m risk adverse and just decided to keep it on.

Seriously better than financing. I am tempted to get started