Help with choice of home resort

[hamilkm]

Thanks for all the responses. The main reason the thought of buying 50 points direct occurred to me was I could go ahead and do that now, then use those points for a quick spring trip we have planned before AP expire. I will hopefully be expecting by this time and after that it will be well into 2018 before we make any more trips, so I will have some time to look for a resale contract to add. I just hated the though of paying for a room for my March trip when I will be buying DVC, but I really won't need any points til 2018, so won't buy a big contract til next year. If I do buy direct I will be sure to put my mom on the deed with me so she can get the benefits (thanks for the heads up!). I am going to keep number crunching and talk things over with my family before I make any decisions. You guys have been so helpful!

 

[Dean]

Thanks for all the responses. The main reason the thought of buying 50 points direct occurred to me was I could go ahead and do that now, then use those points for a quick spring trip we have planned before AP expire. I will hopefully be expecting by this time and after that it will be well into 2018 before we make any more trips, so I will have some time to look for a resale contract to add. I just hated the though of paying for a room for my March trip when I will be buying DVC, but I really won't need any points til 2018, so won't buy a big contract til next year. If I do buy direct I will be sure to put my mom on the deed with me so she can get the benefits (thanks for the heads up!). I am going to keep number crunching and talk things over with my family before I make any decisions. You guys have been so helpful!

The patience will be rewarded, the difference on one rental trip is minimal .

 

[DVCcurious]

We bought our 2 resorts before we stayed at them. In fact the only wdw property we stayed at before our first dvc resale purchase was all star sports.

I think "try before you buy" is bad advice. Why? Because you are wasting money. Suppose you want BCV because you love Epcot and you want a giant pool complex. You can buy now and pay $100 per point, then use your points for your vacation, or you can spend $15 per point on renting points. You'll go to BCV and find out that......BCV is next to Epcot and it has a giant pool complex! Shocking, I know. Then you'll come home and buy BCV for $100 per point for a total Rent + Buy expense of $115. On a 200 point contract you basically pissed away $3,000.


There are dozens of youtube videos of DVC properties. There are limited options depending on your desire (only 2 next to Epcot, only 3 on the monorail, only 1 with animals, only 2 similar to condos without an attached hotel, only 1 with a northwest woodsy theme, etc). Once you decide what you like: I want to walk to Epcot, I want parking right in front of my villa, etc you have so few options I think you can easily decide based on youtube videos alone.

Suppose walking to Epcot is your main desire. The only question is whether you'd like a hotel with a cool pool complex or a hotel with a pool featuring a scary, pedo clown. It's not like seeing that clown in person is so much different than on your computer screen.

 

[VAMickeyFan]

Why not 50 direct at Poly? Then you can go for a week plus every three years and its very close to the resale price. Plus, that's your first choice resort. The difference between that direct and SSR direct is $1,500 or so.

 

[Sammie]

We bought our 2 resorts before we stayed at them. In fact the only wdw property we stayed at before our first dvc resale purchase was all star sports.

I think "try before you buy" is bad advice. Why? Because you are wasting money. Suppose you want BCV because you love Epcot and you want a giant pool complex. You can buy now and pay $100 per point, then use your points for your vacation, or you can spend $15 per point on renting points. You'll go to BCV and find out that......BCV is next to Epcot and it has a giant pool complex! Shocking, I know. Then you'll come home and buy BCV for $100 per point for a total Rent + Buy expense of $115. On a 200 point contract you basically pissed away $3,000.


There are dozens of youtube videos of DVC properties. There are limited options depending on your desire (only 2 next to Epcot, only 3 on the monorail, only 1 with animals, only 2 similar to condos without an attached hotel, only 1 with a northwest woodsy theme, etc). Once you decide what you like: I want to walk to Epcot, I want parking right in front of my villa, etc you have so few options I think you can easily decide based on youtube videos alone.

Suppose walking to Epcot is your main desire. The only question is whether you'd like a hotel with a cool pool complex or a hotel with a pool featuring a scary, pedo clown. It's not like seeing that clown in person is so much different than on your computer screen.

Certainly you can explore the theme of a resort without staying there. However you can not experience the time transportation takes to the parks. How far is the main building to transportation. How far is from the rooms to where you can eat and shop, go to the pool. There is only so much you can see on videos and to me that is not a complete experience.

Yes you spend the money staying at the resorts prior to buying but it is a small amount compared to what you will spend during the life of the contract. I think it is money well invested. Nothing worse than buying a property and having regrets.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think the "it just cost $3000 more to rent once!" is a false math.

While, certainly, you can re-sell a timeshare, a timeshare is a 25-50 year contract, and $3000 in that context is a rounding error.

I'd argue against making the long-term commitment before having the baby. Babies can be unexpectedly expensive and unpredictable. When planning a pregnancy, most people would recommend stockpiling cash. DVC will still be there later.

 

[hamilkm]

Why not 50 direct at Poly? Then you can go for a week plus every three years and its very close to the resale price. Plus, that's your first choice resort. The difference between that direct and SSR direct is $1,500 or so.

The minimum Disney will sell for the Poly is 100 points unless you are already a member or that is exactly what I would do! I would have to buy my larger resale contract before I can buy the Poly direct because I can't afford 100 points there if my ultimate goal is to have 300 points.

 

[suebeelin]

The minimum Disney will sell for the Poly is 100 points unless you are already a member or that is exactly what I would do! I would have to buy my larger resale contract before I can buy the Poly direct because I can't afford 100 points there if my ultimate goal is to have 300 points.

Hmm. Your next trip is March of next year?

You could buy resale now (look for a stripped contract and offer LOW), then after closing (appx 3 mo average) turn around and buy 25-50 poly points.

Let's say you close by August 1, you'll squeak by the 7 mo mark, buy poly and book. If your SSR is stripped, then no worries. If it isn't, rent your points out for extra cash.

Just a thought.

 

[Dean]

I think the "it just cost $3000 more to rent once!" is a false math.

While, certainly, you can re-sell a timeshare, a timeshare is a 25-50 year contract, and $3000 in that context is a rounding error.

I'd argue against making the long-term commitment before having the baby. Babies can be unexpectedly expensive and unpredictable. When planning a pregnancy, most people would recommend stockpiling cash. DVC will still be there later.

If you bought either SSR retail 50 its or 150 resale and resold then the cost is roughly $3K and that was certainly my reference. That ignores any usage or other benefits but also ignores any dues or lost points.

 

[hamilkm]

Hmm. Your next trip is March of next year?

You could buy resale now (look for a stripped contract and offer LOW), then after closing (appx 3 mo average) turn around and buy 25-50 poly points.

Let's say you close by August 1, you'll squeak by the 7 mo mark, buy poly and book. If your SSR is stripped, then no worries. If it isn't, rent your points out for extra cash.

Just a thought.

This is a good idea too! If I buy a contract with a use year later in the year that isn't getting points til 2017, this would work. If everything works out the baby will be due by September next year and my mom wants to take it for its first trip around six months. She wants baby pictures with Mickey, lol! It would be nice to have a few points at the Poly. We are staying in a studio there in July, so that will help me decide on Poly points. Disney gave an AP rate for the studios that was actually cheaper than renting points when I priced it on the point renting sites, so we are excited!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you bought either SSR retail 50 its or 150 resale and resold then the cost is roughly $3K and that was certainly my reference. That ignores any usage or other benefits but also ignores any dues or lost points.

Wasn't referring to your use of the $3k, but to another reference:

hen you'll come home and buy BCV for $100 per point for a total Rent + Buy expense of $115. On a 200 point contract you basically pissed away $3,000.

I think that's a false math. It doesn't take a lot of things into account.

 

[VAMickeyFan]

You can definitely buy 50 Poly points direct right now as a new member.

 

[suebeelin]

You can definitely buy 50 Poly points direct right now as a new member.

Are you sure? The official docs say 100pt min...

If so, then I recommend op buy, use year after March, get member ID and perks for July trip....

 

[hamilkm]

Are you sure? The official docs say 100pt min...

If so, then I recommend op buy, use year after March, get member ID and perks for July trip....

I might give the DVC people a call. If I could buy 50 points at the Poly now I would probably do that.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

The minimum Disney will sell for the Poly is 100 points unless you are already a member or that is exactly what I would do! I would have to buy my larger resale contract before I can buy the Poly direct because I can't afford 100 points there if my ultimate goal is to have 300 points.

Just an fyi, we just bought 70 points direct from Disney for Poly so 100 is definitely not a set minimum. We are new to DVC.

 

[hamilkm]

Just an fyi, we just bought 70 points direct from Disney for Poly so 100 is definitely not a set minimum. We are new to DVC.

Thanks! All of the information online says 100. I just need to call and talk to them. I would love a small contract at the Poly then a larger one at SSR (which I will buy resale).

 

[supersnoop]

Thanks! All of the information online says 100. I just need to call and talk to them. I would love a small contract at the Poly then a larger one at SSR (which I will buy resale).

Seems like it changed a year ago. They'll sell 50 direct to a new member. I believe you have to pay cause. I don't think they'll finance anything less than 100 points.

 

[Missyrose]

Seems like it changed a year ago. They'll sell 50 direct to a new member. I believe you have to pay cause. I don't think they'll finance anything less than 100 points.

50 points is the minimum to finance, 25-point contracts are all-cash transactions.

 

[suebeelin]

I think Op stated her transactions will all be in cash.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney changes their purchase minimums like the wind. If people want to buy smaller contracts and finance, you can bet that they will modify their policy. Often if you tell your guide what you want, they will get "special" permission to accommodate your request.

Bill