From In-Park Kiosk to Purchase: What to Expect, What to Watch Out For, What to Know

[sdlipton]

Dis'ers,

My DW and I are finally taking the plunge next week and purchasing a DVC contract of our very own. In fact, we are taking a trip to DLR next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for two reasons: A) I've never seen the holiday decorations at DLR; B) to Buy DVC.

So my question/topic is this, From walking up to a kiosk in the park to when i sign on the dotted line and write the check (paying cash, not financing), what kind of process should I expect (im looking for a detailed walkthrough here), what should my DW and I watch out for, what can do we do to get the best deal, and what else should we know about before we leave?

Additionally, if anyone has any reccomendations on SSR, BLT, or AKV that would be great too. The biggest reason we are buying at DLR is to get the priority availability for GCV.

I know this is the best place to ask these questions and before anyone asks, I did do a somewhat extensive search and was unable to find this specific information.

I appreciate everything this amazing community will have to offer me.

Thanks in advance,

S&S from Sacramento, CA

 

[JimMIA]

I think the first thing you should know is that you are not limited to buying direct from Disney, nor are you limited to the resorts their sales personnel push.

There is a very active resale marketplace that you should be aware of. The sponsor of this board, The Timeshare Store, has dozens (probably hundreds) of DVC contracts for sale. When I first got interested in DVC, I wanted to take some time and think things over. I did, I discovered the DIS, and I bought my first contract resale -- saving over $4,000 and getting 149 banked points in the bargain. (We bought through The Timeshare Store and have always been very satisfied with their knowledge, experience, and professionalism.)

In addition to the resale market, DVC itself can sell contracts at the so-called "sold-out" resorts. Many guides will imply that's not possible, but if your guide starts talking like that, it's time to speak to a manager and be reassigned to a guide who will tell you the truth. Contracts on "sold-out" resorts are subject to point availability, but if they have the points, they can put together whatever size contract you want...something that's not possible on the resale market.

Once you are a DVC member -- no matter who you buy through -- there is absolutely no difference in your status. Points is points.

There are a number of good threads on buying DVC. This is an older thread I started several years ago. Many experienced DVC DISers pitched in, and there is a lot of good information in the thread...which starts off with a discussion of home resort importance (or not). Note that the thread is several years old and the prices, promotions, etc have changed a lot -- but the basic concepts are sound.

Advice for Prospective DVC Buyers

 

[sdlipton]

Jim,

Thank you so much for your feedback. It is truly appreciated. I am very aware of the resale market and in fact may consider purchasing an add-on contract at the BWV through resale after our intial contract purchase given how excellent the cost savings can be. However, being in California our strongest reasoning for buying direct through Disney is the ability to be a founding member at GCV, something that is extremely important to both my wife and I.

Second, Our favorite resort is the Contemporary and the new BLT is extremely attractive as are some of the incentives they are currently offering.

I look forward to reading your thread that you reccomended and i am still hoping for kiosk to signature thoughts on process and pitfalls.

Thanks,

 

[backyardponder]

S&S, When you say you want priority for GCV, I assume you mean the new DVC which has been announced for California. If this is what you want, then you should wait until sales start there and buy there.

I fully agree with JimMIA's comments on buying resale. We bought BWV through TSS and couldn't be happier. We saved a ton of money.

Good Luck!

 

[dcfromva]

If you visit the Disneyland Office and purchase your master contract, you will some special incentives: 2 AP vouchers (for either DL or WDW) and you get GCV founder status. When I bought in October, they also had an additional incentive if you were staying at the Grand Californian. ($100.00 Gift Card).

 

[sdlipton]

S&S, When you say you want priority for GCV, I assume you mean the new DVC which has been announced for California. If this is what you want, then you should wait until sales start there and buy there.

Backyardponder,

MY DW and I go to WDW about once every 18 months, traveling from Central California. We also happen to go to DLR twice a year as well. (BIG DISNEY FANS!) I want to buy at a resort in Florida this year for a trip we are considering in March or Fall, 2009 as well as purchase in CA to have founding member status at GCV.

Any tips and tricks for the conversations with your guide when you purchase?

 

[sdlipton]

If you visit the Disneyland Office and purchase your master contract, you will some special incentives: 2 AP vouchers (for either DL or WDW) and you get GCV founder status. When I bought in October, they also had an additional incentive if you were staying at the Grand Californian. ($100.00 Gift Card).

DCfromVA,

This is exactly the kind of information i was looking for. This is fantastic news. Will I need to ask for these incentives during my conversation with the guide or will he bring them to my attention?

Cost is really a non-issue for me in this purchase, but i also want to get the biggest bang for my buck when it comes to Developer points, "free stuff" like AP's, and gift cards.

Thanks!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Definitely inquire about any type of perk you may have seen listed on the boards recently as they don't always automatically offer the information.

 

[dcfromva]

DCfromVA,

This is exactly the kind of information i was looking for. This is fantastic news. Will I need to ask for these incentives during my conversation with the guide or will he bring them to my attention?

Cost is really a non-issue for me in this purchase, but i also want to get the biggest bang for my buck when it comes to Developer points, "free stuff" like AP's, and gift cards.

Thanks!

The DPs are offered at all sales locations as far as I know. They will tell you what the incentives are. And you never know, they might have new or special incentives just for you.

 

[Tara]

S&S, When you say you want priority for GCV, I assume you mean the new DVC which has been announced for California. If this is what you want, then you should wait until sales start there and buy there.

I fully agree with JimMIA's comments on buying resale. We bought BWV through TSS and couldn't be happier. We saved a ton of money.

Good Luck!

The only thing I would caution about with regard to buying resale is that one reason the OP wants to buy into DVC now is to get the opportunity to buy GCV before it goes to the general public. Given the speculation that GCV may sell out to members before it goes public and the fact? possibility? that GCV might go on sale in January 2009, I think a resale would never process in time to get the OP into the system as a member.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

OK, here is how it will play out.

You go up to a kiosk and they will take you to their sales center.

You should have somewhat of a brief wait before a guide approches you.

If they have models, you should take a quick tour of them.

After all introductions are taken care of, you should go into a mid sized room to talk over the number of points you wish to buy. (Don't let them push you into more points then you need, they will try to sell you on more points so stick to what you and your DW have decided on).

Your guide will talk about financing options. (If you inform them you intend on paying cash at the beginning this step will be skipped).

They will show you on the screen the incentives and cost, and most likely a brief video on BLT, AKV, wherever you are buying.

From there they will confirm you are buying with something like "Let's Do It" or "Are you ready for the papers".

Wait for it...Wait for it....Your guide will come back in the room with your papers etc...

Sign on the dotted line, sign the check, and poof! Your DVC members!

You will receive a blue member card that looks like a credit card, that you can use for member discounts etc..

Finally your guide will tell you to "Give me a call if you need anything or when you are ready to add on at GCV".

May I be the first to give you and your DW a Pre-Welcome Home!


Hope this answered your question,

Super.

 

[Deb & Bill]

What to watch out for:

1. Take your net income after taxes.
2. Multiply that by 15%.
3. Set that aside to give directly to Disney every year from now on. It's amazing how much money you wind up sending to Disney once you buy into DVC.

 

[kikiq]

Here's a little more details to PP posts of what will happen from kiosk to signing.

Kiosk - You make an appointment. Now you might be able to go to the sales center almost immediately, but they will make an appointment. The kiosk CM will make transport arrangements.

Once you arrive at the sales center, look around the lobby area while you are waiting. Your guide will take you in a room, if you have kids, they have entertainment for them while you are getting information. Listen to the entire presentation for both BLT and AKV. Also ask about the other resorts to see what is available and what the current Disney cost is (good info for future resale purchase) The guide will ask you how you envision your DVC use, how many trips, what kind of unit you will need. I actually heard the presentation twice before purchasing. Once by myself and then again when I finally convinced my DH to come. And I was better prepared the 2nd time because I had time to think about how we would use our points. The guide puts your info into their program and it will tell you how much $$. Our guide actually left the room to let us talk. Once you put it all in motion, your guide will take your numbers and disappear to QA. We waited, looked through the blue book, had refreshments.

Someone comes in with all the papers in a box. Look at the "markers" where to sign...cute Disney touch. They will go through all the papers, signing, get your check and hopefully you will get a tote bag to carry out your box, book and papers.

Enjoy your visit and hope you love the "Welcome Home" after your purchase as much as we did

 

[DVC_Corrys]

We are buying BLT right now at the DLR DVC center. What is this GCV founder status? Do I get that automatically? DO I have to ask for it?

 

[kikiq]

We are buying BLT right now at the DLR DVC center. What is this GCV founder status? Do I get that automatically? DO I have to ask for it?

Anyone buying a new contract from DLR DVC sales is eligible for GCV Founder.
You will be able to buy GCV before it is released to the rest of the DVC members who bought outside DLR. Your contract should have wording stating this, ask specifically to see it. We bought right before they added this to new contracts but anyone who bought DVC at the DLR office is automatically "grandfathered" into the group able to buy points before the rest of the DVC members and the public. I'm sure our guide is tired of telling us that we will be able to buy GCV initially and have Founder status. I ask everytime i call to ask WHEN the points will be for sale.

 

[ILIKEWDW]

We are buying BLT right now at the DLR DVC center. What is this GCV founder status? Do I get that automatically? DO I have to ask for it?

There were 1,000 founder owners at BLT, but that has ended.

As the past poster said you could get founder status for the Grand Californian Villas, but as far as I know sales haven´t started yet for this DVC, some say it will start in January.......

and January is almost here.......... come on piggy bank!!! let us see how much you have in (after our recent BLT contract)!!

 

[The Rivers' Rats]

Like you, my wife and I live in Northern California (Sonoma County) and primarily bought our membership (Animal Kingdom) in order to get the Founding Member Status for purchasing at the new Grand Californian when it becomes available.

We just made our purchase during our last trip (Halloween Weekend) down to the park, so this information is probably about as current as you'll find.

Our purchase :The cost for Animal Kingdom is $104 a point and we bought 160 points. Closing costs were aprox. $230 - 350 (depends on what financing you qualify for) and the minimum down payment was $664. Due to the fact that the Animal Kingdom Villas that we were purchasing were not available until after May '09, we were given matching developer points since we were not going to be able to use our resort until after May. The on property offers included two free Annual Passes (the Disneyland ones are the Premium Level Passes), a Disney Gift Card with $6.25 per point purchased (in our case we received $1000 which we immediately put towards the costs of the DVC Membership), and most importantly Founding Member Status for purchasing at the Grand Californian.

We were extremely pleased with our guide and found her to be very responsive to our needs. She was very patient and willing to answer any questions that we may have had. When it came time to make the purchase, my kids were dying to go back to the park. She recognized this and offered to draft up the paperwork and sent it to our home so that we could head back to the parks. We opted to return to the office on our way home (her day off) and she had absolutely no problem meeting up with us and walking us through the process. I was pretty impressed by that. Most folks would just have you meet up with a co-worker and enjoy their time off, but she wanted to be sure that we were completely satisfied. If you are looking to purchase, I would highly recommend her as your guide. In fact, I am sure that if you call her prior to the trip, she can make the arrangements for you ahead of time so that you don't have to go to the kiosks.

Our guide is Jerre Wegner and she can be reached at the DVC office (866)460-4808 / (714) 956-6833 or through her cell phone (714) 915-5190. If you chose to use her, please let her know that you received her contact information from Scott and Danielle Rivers (so that we can be credited for the referal).

I hope that this all helps you and that you have a pleasant trip and experience with your purchase. I know that Disneyland is one of the most festive places you can be at this time of year, so it should be a great trip. Actually, our first DVC trip (using the free developer points) will be to the Grand Californian for the weekend following Christmas (it is a surprise gift for the kids). I can't wait to see the park decked out in lights!

Anyhow, if you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

- Scott Rivers

 

[DVC_Corrys]

Does anyone know how many points we have to buy for GCV to become a founding member. And... what does being a founding member actually entitle you to?

 

[sdlipton]

OK, here is how it will play out.

You go up to a kiosk and they will take you to their sales center.

You should have somewhat of a brief wait before a guide approches you.

If they have models, you should take a quick tour of them.

After all introductions are taken care of, you should go into a mid sized room to talk over the number of points you wish to buy. (Don't let them push you into more points then you need, they will try to sell you on more points so stick to what you and your DW have decided on).

Your guide will talk about financing options. (If you inform them you intend on paying cash at the beginning this step will be skipped).

They will show you on the screen the incentives and cost, and most likely a brief video on BLT, AKV, wherever you are buying.

From there they will confirm you are buying with something like "Let's Do It" or "Are you ready for the papers".

Wait for it...Wait for it....Your guide will come back in the room with your papers etc...

Sign on the dotted line, sign the check, and poof! Your DVC members!

You will receive a blue member card that looks like a credit card, that you can use for member discounts etc..

Finally your guide will tell you to "Give me a call if you need anything or when you are ready to add on at GCV".

May I be the first to give you and your DW a Pre-Welcome Home!


Hope this answered your question,

Super.

Super,

This was EXACTLY the answer i was hoping for from the fantastic people on DisBoards! Lots of folks have encouraged me to make an appt directly with the DVC Sales Center at DLR instead of going to a kiosk.. so I may do that instead, and just arrange for transportation from GCH where we are staying.

One other question for you or anyone else; Do you get anything extra or better for paying cash instead of finanacing? I realize that Disney is making far less off of me by paying cash then if they got to collect interest from me for 10 years, but with other purchases there are sometimes cash incentives.

Thanks

 

[ILIKEWDW]

Super,

Do you get anything extra or better for paying cash instead of finanacing? I realize that Disney is making far less off of me by paying cash then if they got to collect interest from me for 10 years, but with other purchases there are sometimes cash incentives.

Thanks

No, you don´t get anything extra by paying cash. Paying cash or financing is the same, the only difference is by cahs you will not pay interest