Help Buying DVC for Upcoming Purchase

[hoxplyr13]

Sorry I'm new here and I know there probably have been other threads to my current situation but want to see if I can get answers directly to my questions to my situation. So recently I started turning the wheels on purchasing DVC. My wife and I love staying at Boardwalk and were thinking about trying out PVB as well. We have one 3 year old daughter with another on the way the next week (which is why I was looking to start turning the wheels) so wanted to get everyone's thoughts on PVB which I will get in my questions below. Currently, I am listed on my parents contract and I have a blue card so here goes my questions...

1. Am I wrong in thinking about there is no need for me to buy direct since I have my own blue card already and I can use that to buy AP and DVC events? I can't seem to think of any other reason why I need to buy direct when I can pay a lot less on resale?

2. Is there a minimum I have to buy in order to book 11 months out at either BWV or PVB? So if I buy 50 points from PVB and 150 from BWV I won't run into any issues booking say for a 1 week trip in May at BWV and then a 1 week trip at PVB in December? I know BWV is a lot cheaper to stay than PVB as well. If I buy 50 PVB I would still be able to book a week no problem 11 months out right? To my knowledge there is no minimum I have to buy to book 11 months out.

3. I know there would be restrictions on me booking DRR but I would still be able to book at all the other current DVC resorts right 7 months out right? any other restrictions I should know about?

4. What are the best sites to use for DVC resale? Are there any that typically have lower prices than other or easier to deal with?

5. Is ROFR is still a thing right now with Disney's recent layoffs and cash flow problems?

6. Has anyone stood at PVB before? Is it worth buying into? My daughter loves Moana and I know they are retheming it to that so I figured she we love it.

Any other thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciative!

 

[Ruttangel]

1. The only other direct perk worth it is if you see value in staying at Riviera and future resorts. You could always rent your points and buy in to RIV if you really wanted to stay there.
2. I would look at the point charts as PVB can be 150 points per week and BWV 105 per week at the same time of year. There really is a big difference
3. Yes you can book other WDW resorts at 7 months, other perks include merch discounts, moonlight magic events, access to Epcot lounge, but these are all suspended now and may not come back.
4. I find www.fidelityresales.com to have best prices but there are lots of sites out there just google DVC resale listings
5.the pause on ROFR in April and May has not come back and Disney is taking back. But, PVB is never one they are interested in when it comes to ROFR
6. I’ve been there many times but note stayed so will let others answer that, studio rooms look spacious and sleep 5 But some complaints on dark theming

Good luck

 

[TheTrailblazers]

Expanding on 2)

50 pts to use annually at PVB to book 11-months out... For reference, the 2021 point charts says a week in a Standard view Studio at PVB during December (Dec 1-23) is 125 pts, Lake view takes you up to 153 pts. The last week of December (Christmas/New Year's) would almost double that weekly point rate.

150 pts to use annually at BWV to book 11-months out... I hear studios can be difficult to procure at times but would (in May) run 90pts per week for a standard view and 114 for Boardwalk/Preferred view.

Banking/Borrowing can push some of those points around and transferring could work but it would need to be from the same Home Resort to utilize that 11-month window. Just know that a borrowing restriction could inhibit getting those necessary points for early booking as well.

If a week at PVB (annually) in December is crucial then you'd probably want more points at PVB than 50.

 

[Cabius]

2. Is there a minimum I have to buy in order to book 11 months out at either BWV or PVB? So if I buy 50 points from PVB and 150 from BWV I won't run into any issues booking say for a 1 week trip in May at BWV and then a 1 week trip at PVB in December? I know BWV is a lot cheaper to stay than PVB as well. If I buy 50 PVB I would still be able to book a week no problem 11 months out right? To my knowledge there is no minimum I have to buy to book 11 months out.

There's not a point minimum to qualify for the 11-month window. However, my understanding is that you cannot combine points across home resorts at the 11-month window. The restriction is based on the points, not on the owner/account.

In other words, if you have 50 points at PVB you can only use those 50 points at the 11-month window. That wouldn't be enough for an entire week. You could not use BWV points to book at PVB at the 11-month window.

 

[Ssplashhmtn]

But, PVB is never one they are interested in when it comes to ROFR

I‘m sure this has been discussed elsewhere, but what’s the consensus on why DVC doesn’t take back Poly?

 

[Ruttangel]

I‘m sure this has been discussed elsewhere, but what’s the consensus on why DVC doesn’t take back Poly?

It has been rumoured that they get enough PVB via foreclosures to supplement direct purchasers, but I don’t know why that is unique to PVB

 

[Ruttangel]

Another important point is you can only combine the two contracts for one booking if they are the same use year, so keep that in mind

 

[RoseGold]

I‘m sure this has been discussed elsewhere, but what’s the consensus on why DVC doesn’t take back Poly?

They have taken back Poly a few times! I got corrected on this, I thought this too.

50 points won't get you far at Poly.

 

[Sandisw]

Since you are already a blue card owner, there is no real reason to buy direct since RIV is not the resort you are interested in right now,

As already mentioned, you can book any resort at 11 months with the points you own there, So, if you own 50, you can book as many nights as that will get you, unless you have banked points or want to borrow...then you will have more to use,

Owning 2 home resorts gives you booking at each of those, but only with what you own there, so, as people have said, 150 BWV can be used there at 11 months, but not at PvB until 7 months, regardless of whether you own PVB.

 

[EYL]

6. Has anyone stood at PVB before? Is it worth buying into? My daughter loves Moana and I know they are retheming it to that so I figured she we love it.

I own at PVB and it's worth it if you are okay staying in studios. In some DVC resorts, you have to fight for the studios at the 11th month. PVB is all studios so I rarely had that worry.

I wouldn't buy it for the planned "Moana Theme" since I don't know what it will look like. Just buy it for the Polynesian theme. As of now, it's Lilo and Stitch but it's real subtle: the characters are in Ohana for breakfast, the playhouse is named after Lilo, and DVC rooms have a mural of Lilo and Stitch by the fold-down bed. Not sure that replacing any of that would make it a "Moana Theme".

 

[hoxplyr13]

Thank you all for all the information on this! I will have to weigh my options and see what the best route to go is. Since you can only book 11 months out with the amount of points I may look to buy more with PVB

 

[Cabius]

6. Has anyone stood at PVB before? Is it worth buying into? My daughter loves Moana and I know they are retheming it to that so I figured she we love it.

I've rented points at PVB a few times, and this week became a first-time DVC owner w/ a direct contract at PVB.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE it. My wife loves it, and my girls (2 and 4) love it. Best theme, best studios, and best location at WDW. Boat/monorail to MK and walk to Epcot monorail! Amazing pools! Fireworks and Electric Water Pageant on the beach! Dole whip!!

I'm not biased though.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Your daughter might be tired of Moana in a few years. Don't buy for her, buy for you and the wife. Plus, Polynesian only has bungalows and studios. When your daughter doesn't want to sleep on the convertible bed and wants a real bed or a place to hang up her clothes, you'll want a resort with more spaces and more beds.

 

[Lorana]

I own at PVB and it's worth it if you are okay staying in studios. In some DVC resorts, you have to fight for the studios at the 11th month. PVB is all studios so I rarely had that worry.

I wouldn't buy it for the planned "Moana Theme" since I don't know what it will look like. Just buy it for the Polynesian theme. As of now, it's Lilo and Stitch but it's real subtle: the characters are in Ohana for breakfast, the playhouse is named after Lilo, and DVC rooms have a mural of Lilo and Stitch by the fold-down bed. Not sure that replacing any of that would make it a "Moana Theme".

As a side note I do hope they don’t get rid of Lilo and Stitch when they redo the theming. Especially that mural, as I love it! I’d rather they add Moana theming than replacing Lilo and Stitch.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

You are correct that you do not need to buy any direct points since you have a bluecard via your parents.
Now in terms of 11 month booking window, you cannot mix different points at different resorts. (example - if you have 100 BWV points and 50 Poly points in the 11 month window you can use the 100 points at BWV only and the 50 points at Poly only once the 7 month window opens, if rooms are available then you can use your other points. You cannot mix the points prior to the 7 month window opening up. If you like the MK side, you might want to consider either VGF for proximity to poly or BLT or CCV due to the other room choices available.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

As a side note I do hope they don’t get rid of Lilo and Stitch when they redo the theming. Especially that mural, as I love it! I’d rather they add Moana theming than replacing Lilo and Stitch.

I love the Lilo and Stitch theme there too! I hope they keep it! Stitch is our family favorite!! Hence my icon

 

[Stargazer65]

50 points won't get you far at Poly.

Oh, it's not that bad lol...the 5 of us recently stayed 8 nights for only 134 points, that's a pretty decent vacation someone could do with banking and borrowing 50 points. Now back when all 5 kids went with us, it wasn't doable. YMMV

 

[hoxplyr13]

Oh, it's not that bad lol...the 5 of us recently stayed 8 nights for only 134 points, that's a pretty decent vacation someone could do with banking and borrowing 50 points. Now back when all 5 kids went with us, it wasn't doable. YMMV

So if you borrow or bank and have enough for a week you can book 11 months out?

 

[HHISand]

Yes, if all of the borrowed or banked points are from the resort you are trying to book. Also, keep in mind that there is a 50% limit on borrowing right now and no one knows when that restriction will be lifted. So, if you have 100 points, you can only borrow 50. That limitation apparently was put in place because of all of the points that will be used booking in the next year or so because of the closure of the parks and resorts and folks hesitant to go to Disney during a pandemic.

 

[Stargazer65]

So if you borrow or bank and have enough for a week you can book 11 months out?

Yeah, as HHISand said...
That 50% limit is a pain. But if you banked 50 and borrowed 25 you could still manage a week in the Poly in September to stretch the points.