Help me decide what makes most sense

[Dizjunkieee]

I like the way you think. I could soooo see that happening with us too.
It's only 24 hours drive to WDW... that's totally doable multiple times a year. I see the justification happening now.

24 hours is "totally doable" You are brave and strong. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE WDW and am fortunate enough to visit 3-4 times a year, but I wouldn't do that drive (and I am probably more like 30 hours drive - not sure though exactly - I'm in Southern Maine). Having JUST said that, if it were the ONLY way I could get there, I would do it lol. Do you just hate to fly, or is it about saving the money you'd pay for flights? I have a Southwest card that I simply use instead of a debit card (and pay it in full each month) so I haven't paid for flights in years!

 

[Dizjunkieee]

The correct UY is free insurance should you have to cancel a vacation and it will happen. Your UY should cover the 8 months that you would normally vacation. Many vacation by season, we enjoy the cooler months and Christmas holidays at WDW and hate the heat, especially with the growing crowds.

Points need to be banked during the first 8 months of your UY. Your UY is not a calendar year. Points need to be available during the dates of your stay, not when you make the reservation. Banking moves points one UY forward, borrowing moves points one UY back. Banking and borrowing are final transactions and can not be reversed.

Bill

Ahhh...that makes sense and is very helpful. Thanks again!

 

[Dizjunkieee]

You get locked into more trips, and hooked on the good times. I got a 'great deal' on annual passes I probably would not have otherwise bought, and am now taking am extra trip this summer because it is "free". In reality, I paid for those passes and will be buying meals and many, many dole whips.

Ha! Yep! I have had an AP since 2014 & that is often how I justify shorter trips. I usually have two long trips (8-9 nights in a DVC) then a couple "Quick hit" trips where I stay for 4-5 days in a value - typically do that in May and early Dec. with my adult daughter who also has an AP. We split the room cost which is relatively nominal as we are at a value and on an AP rate at that. We both have AP's as well as Southwest points and she is my "companion" so we don't even need to use points for her flight as she flys as my guest. Then it's just food, which we often just share snacks and light meals so its super reasonable. Since the AP pays for itself in two trips, these little trips make it an even better value. Yeah, I'm hooked pretty hard! lol.

 

[igrsod]

24 hours is "totally doable" You are brave and strong. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE WDW and am fortunate enough to visit 3-4 times a year, but I wouldn't do that drive (and I am probably more like 30 hours drive - not sure though exactly - I'm in Southern Maine). Having JUST said that, if it were the ONLY way I could get there, I would do it lol. Do you just hate to fly, or is it about saving the money you'd pay for flights? I have a Southwest card that I simply use instead of a debit card (and pay it in full each month) so I haven't paid for flights in years!

We always fly... I'm just trying to figure out how I might justify multiple trips in the future... to "save" money.

 

[rer1972]

Up to you but if you want to be happy, save up enough money to buy a few more points at your favorite resort.

Select the best UY for your vacation patterns.
Buy where you love to stay.
Book at 11 months.
Buy resale if you can.
If you buy additional contracts, keep the same UY and names on deeds.
If you intend to buy a small direct contract for the perks, buy now before the minimum increases.
DVD/DVC marketing can change the perks at any time.
Perks and policies tend to change when management changes.
Expect to spend more on Disney vacations after you buy DVC.

Bill

All of this!!

It sounds to me that you are almost on the same path as me. I purchased 60 points about 10 years ago at WLV (now BRV) because that was my favorite resort (still is). Didn't need to buy the 25 direct due to perks still being available to resale at that time (and getting grandfathered over). Just bought 50 points at AKV last year since the kids love that resort (we do to). We feel that this number of points works out perfect for our family now. We like Studios and 1BR rooms, so we are able book stays around 7-9 nights. That is the sweet spot for our family; enjoyment and budget wise.

 

[disneynutz]

I think that there is a pattern for many. In the beginning you are all excited about owning, you take your vacation and get more excited, you borrow to go again because you bought an AP. You are short points the next year so you add on another contract. You may have difficulty booking a resort that you want at 7 months so you might buy another contract. Now you are going a couple of times per year, longer stays, you buy a bunch of club stuff because you are in the club. As time goes on the parks tend to lose some of their attraction, same rides, crowds, still nice but different than before DVC. You begin to notice DVC issues now that you have dealt with the system and learned how it works, room cleaning and maintenance issues my seem to happen more often as you stay more often, phone hold times, IT issues, wrong info from MS, the more you are exposed to anything, the greater the change of something happening. Later you may reduce your park time and spend more resort time relaxing, you may reduce vacations to once per year or skip a year. Later you may sell and move on to a different vacation destination.

Your buyer starts at the top line and so it goes.

Bill

 

[Shellyred8]

Some people recommend getting all of your contracts with the same use year. If your trips are occurring during different times of the year, you might want to consider getting different use years to cover those different travel times. We started with an April use year and have added on with an August use year. So far, it's working out great. It is a little more to manage, but having the additional flexibility has out weighed that from my perspective.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Dizjunkieee]

We always fly... I'm just trying to figure out how I might justify multiple trips in the future... to "save" money.

Ahh gotcha...sorry I missed that you were kidding

 

[GMG_3]

How old are you? Sure you only want a 25 year contract?

You are going to spend over $100 a point for a small contract.


Why not buy direct? For $3750 ($75x50points) more you can get a contract that has 25 more years then OKW and all the perks you want anyways.

 

[Dizjunkieee]

How old are you? Sure you only want a 25 year contract?

You are going to spend over $100 a point for a small contract.


Why not buy direct? For $3750 ($75x50points) more you can get a contract that has 25 more years then OKW and all the perks you want anyways.

Yes - this is a definite consideration that I have bounced around. I am 47 so will want a longer contract (at least at some point). Although I assume there aren't any direct contracts available somewhere like OKW, but am also considering some points at BLT as well. It is worth considering for sure.

 

[Dizjunkieee]

Some people recommend getting all of your contracts with the same use year. If your trips are occurring during different times of the year, you might want to consider getting different use years to cover those different travel times. We started with an April use year and have added on with an August use year. So far, it's working out great. It is a little more to manage, but having the additional flexibility has out weighed that from my perspective.

Good luck with your decision!

Thank you! Yes - the more I read/learn about UY info - I may look to have two contracts with different UY for the same reason.

 

[kboo]

You get locked into more trips, and hooked on the good times. I got a 'great deal' on annual passes I probably would not have otherwise bought, and am now taking am extra trip this summer because it is "free". In reality, I paid for those passes and will be buying meals and many, many dole whips.

We went in May 2015, Feb 2016 and April 2016 all on 1 AP. And we weren't DVC owners yet! (But I see now this is how it happens...)

May 2015: I had a work conference in Orlando (not at WDW), and we would have had to pay $$$$ for child care while I was gone. So, if we paid "a little more" DH and DD1 could go to WDW instead, and I joined them for a few days after my conference. Not coincidentally, this was our first stay in DVC (BWV), on a cash reservation (happened to find a great deal), on which we got upgraded from a studio to a 1Br. I was about 7 weeks pregnant, too. We bought APs and TiW because we already knew about trip #2...

Feb 2016: DH had a work conference in Orlando (not at WDW), I was on maternity leave, I did not want to be home alone with 2 kids (and paying $$$ for childcare) while DH was in FL, so, for "a little more" (2 airfares) we went to WDW. Also, turned it into a family reunion trip with my sister, her partner, their 7 mo old, our 3 month old, our 4 yo, and my parents. We rented points for a BLT 2br. "Saved" a ton of money on park tickets and meals thanks to TiW...

April 2016: I was near the end of my maternity leave and wanted to go on a fun trip before going back to work. Found a good deal on GF. Priced out other options (for beach vacation; baby did not have a passport yet so we had to stay in US). Park tickets are "paid for" and we get a 20% discount on meals, Disney is easy with a baby .... we're off to Disney again!

We did not go again until August 2017, 16 months later, and it felt like a really long time after the 3 trips in a year. This trip was on points rented before we had bought DVC, by by the time we took the trip, we already had our BLT contract. So... once we banked 2017 into 2018, we had points we "had" to use in 2018, and DD2 is turning 3 in 2018, so ... now we have 2 trips booked in 2018.

That's how it happens...

 

[disneynutz]

Thank you! Yes - the more I read/learn about UY info - I may look to have two contracts with different UY for the same reason.

Two different UY's means two separate memberships. Better read up on that subject prior to going ahead.

Bill

 

[116EV]

Hi all,
I am considering purchasing a small allotment of points (50-75) on the resale market as my initial DVC purchase and wonder if there would be any reasons I might not know or think of as to why this might not be the best idea. My reasons for going about it this way are as follows:

• Want to pay cash so I avoid the additional financing fees I would pay if getting a loan to do so. Thus, I don't have a huge amount of cash available to do so.
• I also plan to then make a purchase of a 25 point allotment directly through Disney in order to be eligible for all the "perks" that are currently available to members - Moonlight madness, lounges, discounted AP,etc. (I am fully aware these are not guaranteed benefits that could go away at any time). Hopefully I am correct in that once I have an initial allotment I can buy as little as 25 points directly?

Considering making my first purchase at OKW as we do really enjoy that resort, as well as the points required for a room there are lower than most others. That said, I see myself adding more and more points at other resorts in the coming few years. Likely BWV, BLT, BRV

So generally speaking, is my thought process reasonable here, or is this all craziness on my part. I've done a decent amount of research, but have tons more to learn when it comes to DVC ownership. I have rented points for a few years now and have spent time in most of the DVC resorts at this point (all but Poly, GF and SSR) so it is time to take the leap into ownership.

TIA for any thoughts you have to share that can help me move forward.

So you sound a lot like where I was. We recently purchased through Disney a month ago. I rented a few times and loved the DVC resorts. Now we got in at 50 points to get started. Would have loved more to start but the option to add on is always there. Besides we came at the end and banked our points immediately which gave us 100 for 2018. 3 trips planned already for the year. 2 of which at Poly. We financed to start but like any loan pay it off early. A word of caution to you. I mentioned the resale market to a close friend who knows way more Disney than me. He said that Disney may stop issuing member cards for purchases made through resale. I can’t confirm that rumor myself. But if that’s the case the DVC member card is your golden ticket to all things DVC. So maybe this would effect your decision.

 

[Ben E N]

But if that’s the case the DVC member card is your golden ticket to all things DVC. So maybe this would effect your decision.

Not sure what you mean by this. "all things DVC". Resale buyers still get all things they bought - stays at any DVC resort, with 11 month home booking and 7 month non-home booking, as well as admittance into TOTWL and trades into RCI. What they do not get, and what you may consider "all things" is 10% off on dining, reduced annual pass prices, membership magic events, etc. This is true as of 4/2016, though, not upcoming. It can also be worked around by buying resale and then buying a 25 point contract add on direct through Disney.

 

[116EV]

Not sure what you mean by this. "all things DVC". Resale buyers still get all things they bought - stays at any DVC resort, with 11 month home booking and 7 month non-home booking, as well as admittance into TOTWL and trades into RCI. What they do not get, and what you may consider "all things" is 10% off on dining, reduced annual pass prices, membership magic events, etc. This is true as of 4/2016, though, not upcoming. It can also be worked around by buying resale and then buying a 25 point contract add on direct through Disney.

That’s good to know. Again we are newer DVC members so obviously I defer to the more experienced. Clearly it sounds as though buying resale with an immediate Direct add on is a wise move to take full advantage of the membership right away. We plan on shopping resale for our future add on’s. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Dizjunkieee]

Not sure what you mean by this. "all things DVC". Resale buyers still get all things they bought - stays at any DVC resort, with 11 month home booking and 7 month non-home booking, as well as admittance into TOTWL and trades into RCI. What they do not get, and what you may consider "all things" is 10% off on dining, reduced annual pass prices, membership magic events, etc. This is true as of 4/2016, though, not upcoming. It can also be worked around by buying resale and then buying a 25 point contract add on direct through Disney.

Yes. this! That is what I hope to do - buy the bulk of my points resale, then do a small 25 point add on direct. Interesting to know though that even without having a "Direct" purchase I can access TOTWL. Really? How cool! Does the same apply for the lounge at Epcot?

 

[Dizjunkieee]

Two different UY's means two separate memberships. Better read up on that subject prior to going ahead.

Bill

Will do. Thanks.

 

[Dizjunkieee]

So you sound a lot like where I was. We recently purchased through Disney a month ago. I rented a few times and loved the DVC resorts. Now we got in at 50 points to get started. Would have loved more to start but the option to add on is always there. Besides we came at the end and banked our points immediately which gave us 100 for 2018. 3 trips planned already for the year. 2 of which at Poly. We financed to start but like any loan pay it off early. A word of caution to you. I mentioned the resale market to a close friend who knows way more Disney than me. He said that Disney may stop issuing member cards for purchases made through resale. I can’t confirm that rumor myself. But if that’s the case the DVC member card is your golden ticket to all things DVC. So maybe this would effect your decision.

Thanks for the info!

Interesting! I know they changed things in 2016 so that if you ONLY have points purchased on the resale market, you won't have access to perks like discounted AP's, the after hours events they are currently doing, etc. Those who had purchased only resale prior to that date though were grandfathered in I believe. My plan is to buy the lion share of my points on resale, then get a small 25 point allotment direct through Disney in order to gain those benefits. Also worth noting - these so called perks can go away at any time - they are not a guaranteed benefit, unfortunately.

 

[Ben E N]

Yes. this! That is what I hope to do - buy the bulk of my points resale, then do a small 25 point add on direct. Interesting to know though that even without having a "Direct" purchase I can access TOTWL. Really? How cool! Does the same apply for the lounge at Epcot?

Sadly no. That is paid for by marketing. TOTW is paid for partially by dues (rooftop) and sales (drinks and food). They like the customers. Epcot stuff is all free so making it exclusive benefits them.