Help - ready to buy, but feel like it's "too good to be true"

[Disney Dad ADL]

Many new buyers let the emotions of their presumed preference or the new and exciting option sway them into spending more than they have to. Or they let the retail benefits or the direct and easy but expensive option cloud their judgement. I'd rent and explore if you don't have considerable DVC or Disney AND timeshare experience.

Yeah, that's definitely true. The other thing that is often overlooked is the maintenance fees, which will be way more than the initial buy-in cost over the life of the timeshare.

 

[nluvwithdisney]

say what you want, I do not have any vested interest, nor do I work for Disney or any affiliates or resale companies, I love my membership and as do my parents, but I have had several friends that have looked into membership and found this page as I did and have read through it and seems to be a bunch of mis information that eventually spoils it for us members that pay a premium to allow Disney to make our membership more magical and build more resorts, the biggest issue I have is people renting points out to others for short periods of time which in turn blocks out members from obtaining long concurrent stays.

I don't understand your reasoning. I am going down at the end of the month for less than a week stay. Where in the rules does it state you have to rent / book a full week? You have your 11 month home resort booking which should get you a week at your home resort and 7 months anyplace else. What is the effect if I am going for several short trips or renting them out to someone else?

 

[Dean]

Yeah, that's definitely true. The other thing that is often overlooked is the maintenance fees, which dwarfs the initial timeshare cost over time.

What's the ultimate risk buying the Poly making reasonable assumptions, $5K on 150 points or roughly 20% of the buy-in? IMO those reasonable assumptions would include that first and foremost that DVC in general makes sense including being able to afford it, being able to plan at least 7 months or more in advance, are OK with the compromises of a timeshare, are OK with the realization that Disney isn't what it used to be, that DVC is to a degree the "red headed stepchild) and ONLY plan to use the points at for DVC resort stays. Then that they realize the compromises of home resort. In this case it's the realization that to get the resort they think they want much of the time comes with significant added cost and that it may not end up being where they prefer. Of course there are counter issues to buying something else be it SSR or AKV such as possibly not being able to get the Poly consistently though I personally think one can though the wait list may be needed for some times and the standard view options are far less likely. One also has to be OK with the inherent challenges of the Poly with only studios as a reasonable room type option. I'd further add that all points are equal at 7 months out other than their cost (up front and ongoing). What's best depends and is a personal decision. Ideally would be someone that needed a significant number of points and they could buy more than one home resort.

 

[Meandnevaeh]

To OP, here is the notification we received, I've pasted it below. Looks like exclusive Member experiences and discounts may be restricted for resale (although anyone who has already purchased retains the perk). These perks are probably not worth $8000 to me, but of course everyone is different.

___________________________________________________

Dear Disney Vacation Club Member,

Our goal at Disney Vacation Club has always been to create magical experiences for you and your families – experiences you simply can’t find anywhere else but Disney.

As our Member community continues to grow, we want to make sure we can continue to deliver the Membership Extras that add value to your overall experience – offerings that are provided as a premium advantage to our Members who purchase directly from Disney Vacation Club.

With that in mind, please be aware of a policy change regarding the availability of Membership Extras to our membership. As previously communicated (effective March 21, 2011), Getaways included within the Disney Collection (e.g., Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney) and the Concierge Collection, which are now part of Membership Extras, have not been available for ownership interests not purchased directly from Disney Vacation Club. Now, effective April 4, 2016, Members who do not purchase their ownership interest directly from Disney Vacation Club will not have access to other Membership Extras, such as exclusive Member experiences and discounts. Please know that as a current Disney Vacation Club Member (regardless of when or where you bought your membership), your access to Disney Differences and these additional Membership Extras will not be affected by this policy change. For more details about our Membership Extras program, please refer to our Membership Extras Acknowledgment and Disclosure Statement available online at disneyvacationclub.com.

We see this policy change as a very positive step to ensure that, going forward, our Members who purchase directly from Disney Vacation Club receive a premium advantage – in addition to all the magic that Disney has to offer.

Speaking of membership advantages, you’ve probably heard about the exciting Membership Extras introduced as part of the Disney Vacation Club 25th Anniversary. With this celebration, we’ve created unprecedented and exclusive Disney experiences for you and your family. In fact, just weeks ago, nearly 16,000 of you were able to enjoy the Disney Vacation Club 25 and Beyond Bash at Magic Kingdom Park. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 Members have entered our Disney Vacation Club Silver Anniversary Sweepstakes, and thousands of you have booked the Member Cruise sailing from New York later this year.

In the coming months we’ll be bringing you even more spectacular Membership Extras as part of the anniversary, from exclusive merchandise and one-of-a-kind events (including exciting plans for the West Coast) to an all-new Member Lounge opening later this spring in the Imagination! Pavilion at Epcot. And there’s so much more Disney Vacation Club fun on the horizon! Thank you, as always, for being part of the Disney Vacation Club family – a family we are proud to serve. We look forward to welcoming you home again soon!

So, I passed ROFR and was supposed to close by 3/31, but still waiting in the sellers to return documents-so does this mean I will fall into the group that will not get the extras, or since my contract has been in place and monies in escrow, will I be considered before the date of 4/4/2016

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

So, I passed ROFR and was supposed to close by 3/31, but still waiting in the sellers to return documents-so does this mean I will fall into the group that will not get the extras, or since my contract has been in place and monies in escrow, will I be considered before the date of 4/4/2016

I believe you're good. I've heard that as long as Disney received the the contract for ROFR review prior to 4/4 that you are fine and will receive the benefits. If you've passed ROFR then you are way ahead of that.

 

[Meandnevaeh]

I believe you're good. I've heard that as long as Disney received the the contract for ROFR review prior to 4/4 that you are fine and will receive the benefits. If you've passed ROFR then you are way ahead of that.

I hope so, even though I didn't buy for the benefits, it will be nice to know that if there are discounts on AP, or any other extras, to miss out on them because my sellers did not return their paper work in a timely fashion to close on our scheduled date( and I mean literally miss out on them by like 5-7 days) would just make me sad

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks everyone. We are still deciding, and have been considering the options and frustrated because we decided poly is where we want to stay, and looking at the availability 7 months put we see that some dates are already full.....so the 11 months would be nice.

I think now it boils down to if we want to be able to have poly every time, or if we are ok staying at animal or other locations of poly is booked 7 months out.

I'm not certain how you are looking at availability but be aware that you are looking at the busy DVC time so much depends on when you want to visit. For a good part of the year it was relatively easy to get PVB at 7 months and for some of it even after 7 months.

I also agree that if you don't intend to stay at PVB almost 100% of the time then there are less expensive options to buy and then just book PVB at 7 months when you can. Again, there's little to be lost and possibly a lot to be gained by cancelling and doing more investigation. PVB will be there to purchase both next week and 12 months from now if you do decide that is the way to go.

 

[Franzenel]

BUY Direct!!! Would you buy a new tire from a used tire dealer and expect a warranty on that tire? This is your family's future vacations you are talking about, why buy resale and save $200 dollars a year at most??? Makes no sense.

I know this was awhile ago but your logic here is very poor. A tire is something that has wear and a limited amount of life. You would be better to use referburbished electronics. Most of the time you do get the full warranty with that and it is cheaper. Buying direct or resale you are still buying the same contract and same room. And what most people are forgetting is Disney can remove these "Extras" at any time from people that buy direct or resale.

For being someone that works for GOOGLE your logic and math isn't very good. Are you sure you can pass the interview test? Just asking.

 

[pmaurer74]

BUY Direct!!! Would you buy a new tire from a used tire dealer and expect a warranty on that tire? This is your family's future vacations you are talking about, why buy resale and save $200 dollars a year at most??? Makes no sense.

I would save $650 per year.

 

[suebeelin]

I'm ambivalent about poly, myself. I love it there, but I already have my "buy where I don't mind staying" resorts. I want the option to stay near Epcot during F&W, so I have a pre 3/11 resale at bwv. I want to stay next to MK while the kids are little, so we have BLT (and a guaranteed room during prime dvc season, aka first two weeks of December).

So for us, poly would be redundant. If we didn't have 400 pts at locations we prefer, I would seriously consider poly... IF I EXPECT TO STAY AT POLY MOST OF THE TIME.

As things stand, however, I have only not stayed at my home twice in 6 years... Once at poly and once at AKL. I can safely say I'm a poly fan but not an AKL fan. Transportation and ease of access to the parks are our priority. Everyone is different !!

 

[Tinkerdreams]

This didn't come from a guide, it came from someone that works in legal for DVD, so dont what what to tell ya, it is in three phases over next two years

Wow, if this is true, Phase 1 seems to be complete. Further changes could possibly be a resale buyer can only stay at the resort they bought into OR the booking window could be different - 10 months/6 months instead of 11/7.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Further changes could possibly be a resale buyer can only stay at the resort they bought into

This can't happen. Not legally.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

This can't happen. Not legally.

Then I'd probably guess it's the booking window.

 

[Dean]

Then I'd probably guess it's the booking window.

That's not possible legally unless they institute a VIP program that would also include other qualifiers like # of points.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That's not possible legally unless they institute a VIP program that would also include other qualifiers like # of points.

What verbage would make it not possible as long as they provide at least the 1 month priority? So 11 months for owners on record now but anyone who buys after xx date gets to book at 8 months. If a VIP program would allow it then it would seem like route of purchase would too?

 

[supersnoop]

What verbage would make it not possible as long as they provide at least the 1 month priority? So 11 months for owners on record now but anyone who buys after xx date gets to book at 8 months. If a VIP program would allow it then it would seem like route of purchase would too?

The booking window applies to all owners. There's no differentiation.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

What verbage would make it not possible as long as they provide at least the 1 month priority? So 11 months for owners on record now but anyone who buys after xx date gets to book at 8 months. If a VIP program would allow it then it would seem like route of purchase would too?

A user on a different board posted a link to the Condominium Declaration for BLT and picked out some notable segments. It states (bold added by me):

"Notwithstanding the specific Unit in which an Owner owns an Ownership Interest, it is the express intent of this Declaration, which intent is consented to by each Owner through acceptance of a conveyance her eunder,that all Units committed to the Vacation Ownership Plan will be available for use by all Owners of Ownership Interests in Units committed to the Vacation Ownership Plan at all times on a first come, first served reservation basis,through the Home Resort Reservation Component and in accordance with the provisions of this Declaration and the Membership Agreement,an initial copy of which is attached as Exhibit G."

Whether you buy direct or resale, you are an Owner with Ownership Interest. This cannot change. Making separate booking windows for different people would not qualify as "first come, first served" IMO.

Edit:

Same applies when you are booking at other DVC resorts:

" An Owner will be able to reserve the use of accommodations at other DVC Resorts on the same first come,first served basis subject to the same priority restrictions in favor of the owners in those DVC Resorts,although such priority restrictions may be of different durations for each DVC Resort."

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The booking window applies to all owners. There's no differentiation.

A user on a different board posted a link to the Condominium Declaration for BLT and picked out some notable segments. It states (bold added by me):

"Notwithstanding the specific Unit in which an Owner owns an Ownership Interest, it is the express intent of this Declaration, which intent is consented to by each Owner through acceptance of a conveyance her eunder,that all Units committed to the Vacation Ownership Plan will be available for use by all Owners of Ownership Interests in Units committed to the Vacation Ownership Plan at all times on a first come, first served reservation basis,through the Home Resort Reservation Component and in accordance with the provisions of this Declaration and the Membership Agreement,an initial copy of which is attached as Exhibit G."

Whether you buy direct or resale, you are an Owner with Ownership Interest. This cannot change. Making separate booking windows for different people would not qualify as "first come, first served" IMO.

Edit:

Same applies when you are booking at other DVC resorts:

" An Owner will be able to reserve the use of accommodations at other DVC Resorts on the same first come,first served basis subject to the same priority restrictions in favor of the owners in those DVC Resorts,although such priority restrictions may be of different durations for each DVC Resort."

Then how could a VIP program like Dean mentioned allow a distinction? Just requiring payment or some other distinguishing ownership should be no different than designating a type of purchaser if you see what I mean?

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

Then how could a VIP program like Dean mentioned allow a distinction? Just requiring payment or some other distinguishing ownership should be no different than designating a type of purchaser if you see what I mean?

I'm not sure. I don't think it would be possible given the wording. By definition, anyone who owns DVC has "Ownership Interest" and therefore is subject to "first come, first served", but maybe there are some lawyer acrobatics that could be done.

 

[supersnoop]

Then how could a VIP program like Dean mentioned allow a distinction?

I don't agree with Dean's position that they could create a VIP program; at least not one that circumvents the home resort booking period.