Home Resort Options

[Chrissie86]

I finally decided to buy into the DVC! My only issue is the home resort, none of them work for my family. I know that you can still stay in a tremendous variety of places, but booking a one bedroom 11 months ahead of a trip to Walt Disney World is a huge factor for me. The only home option for new buyers right now is the Polynesian, which I love, but the room options are just the deluxe studio and the bungalows. My question is how often do the home resort options for new buyers change? If I wait until next year to purchase will there be a different Florida option?

 

[Marionnette]

I finally decided to buy into the DVC! My only issue is the home resort, none of them work for my family. I know that you can still stay in a tremendous variety of places, but booking a one bedroom 11 months ahead of a trip to Walt Disney World is a huge factor for me. The only home option for new buyers right now is the Polynesian, which I love, but the room options are just the deluxe studio and the bungalows. My question is how often do the home resort options for new buyers change? If I wait until next year to purchase will there be a different Florida option?

Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge is also available for direct purchase from Disney. If you are willing to purchase on the resale market, every resort except Copper Creek is currently up for sale.

 

[Chrissie86]

Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge is also available for direct purchase from Disney. If you are willing to purchase on the resale market, every resort except Copper Creek is currently up for sale.

I was reading that you lose a lot of the discounts when buying resale, so I was apprehensive. We'd like to eventually use the points or other trips outside of WDW.

 

[Marionnette]

I was reading that you lose a lot of the discounts when buying resale, so I was apprehensive. We'd like to eventually use the points or other trips outside of WDW.

Resale purchasers can still trade into RCI, they just cannot use their points for ABD, Disney cruises and the Disney Collection.

The discount perks of full membership can be obtained by purchasing a small addon contract directly from Disney. But TBH, the discounts are not large enough to make up for the greater cost of purchasing a full contract directly from Disney.

Since you're in the beginning stages of acquiring a DVC contract, I advise that you look at the resale market at websites like dvc-resales.com, dvcresalemarket.com, and dvcbyresale.com. Compare the prices for the resort you want to own to what it would cost to purchase from DVD directly.

 

[Chrissie86]

Resale purchasers can still trade into RCI, they just cannot use their points for ABD, Disney cruises and the Disney Collection.

The discount perks of full membership can be obtained by purchasing a small addon contract directly from Disney. But TBH, the discounts are not large enough to make up for the greater cost of purchasing a full contract directly from Disney.

Since you're in the beginning stages of acquiring a DVC contract, I advise that you look at the resale market at websites like dvc-resales.com, dvcresalemarket.com, and dvcbyresale.com. Compare the prices for the resort you want to own to what it would cost to purchase from DVD directly.

Thank you so much for the advice!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Disney will sell any DVC direct. They will focus on the new resorts -- Poly and CCV. That said, buy where you want to stay or are at least willing to stay. Do not buy direct for the "discounts," because you will spend thousands to save hundreds.

The current discount that has economic value that cannot be duplicated via a Disney Visa or other means is the Gold AP. It's a savings of ~$200 each. For a family of 6 at a single address, that's $1200 a year, assuming that an AP is of value to that family.

Having an AP assumes that multiple visits a year work out, so it's a large number of points. For an annual trip, unless it's a trip more than 10 days, it doesn't work out.

A week in the cheapest season in the cheapest 2BR DVC is 155 points (AKV Value). To book this requires that you own at AKV. Buying the minimum number of points for an annual trip (not recommended - if you can't get the Value you'd be pretty stuck) would be 160. You can get a good 160 point contract resale for $90/point or so. That's $14,400. Direct from Disney, that same contract is $165/point, for a cost of $26,400.

That's a $12,000 difference. Even if you could make the APs "worth it," you can only buy the Gold for people living in your home. You'd need to buy 6 a year for 10 years to be even in range of the difference, and that's not even mentioning that if you're only staying a week the AP won't be "worth it." To buy points for a stay of more than 10 days a year, you're piling into the expense to save the $1200/year and the math kills.

The dining discounts can largely be replicated with a Disney Visa. The merch discounts are hard to make add up, especially if you're going yearly (how much merch do you need every year?).

AKV is a somewhat extreme example, but the numbers don't work for a more common example either. Cheapest week in a BLT 2BR Lake View is 248 points. A 250 point contract from Disney will cost you $185/point. Resale, it's about $120/point. A $16k difference between the two is very hard to make up with the discounts, and it depends the valuation you put on "pixie dust." If you do put value on pixie dust, buying 50 points direct (which makes you discount-eligible) and 200 resale still saves you $13k or so, depending on the 200-point contract you buy. I'm seeing ranges there of $119-126.

 

[disneynutz]

Do what everybody else is currently doing, buy your favorite resort resale and then a 25 point direct contract for the benefits. DVC management changes and perks change, no guarantee that the perks will stay the same or that they are worth it to you, they aren't for my family.

Also no guarantee that Disney won't close the 25 point direct loop hole.

Don't buy DVC just to "belong" buy because using your current Disney vacations will be less expensive or a better quality because of DVC.

Bill

 

[crisi]

There is also no guarantee the perks will last. Disney could drop the AP perk tomorrow - or they could raise the discounted price enough for it to require many more days in the park. They could further limit them (with the levels of AP now), and only provide the lowest class AP to DVCers at a discount. They can do all sorts of things - so don't buy for the perks.

When we bought, there was no AP discount, but a length of stay pass discount (pre hoppers, when you could buy a length of stay pass). That worked great for us, but APs don't since we don't spend enough days at Disney in a year. When we bought valet parking was free - it isn't any longer. Pool hopping was unrestricted - and now many resorts don't allow it. Other perks have been added, but none of the perks are worth much to us - a dining discount here or there, the ability to buy a Tables in Wonderland card (which is quickly pricing itself out of 'good deal').

Buy for the value of the accommodations - if they have value for you. Don't buy for perks.

 

[babesboo99]

I am Planning on buying direct for 100pts at BCV one of the reasons is the perks also we plan on using the points to go elsewhere like Paris or Japan would we be able to do that if I bought resale? also is there a list of vacations spots where we can use the points?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I am Planning on buying direct for 100pts at BCV one of the reasons is the perks also we plan on using the points to go elsewhere like Paris or Japan would we be able to do that if I bought resale? also is there a list of vacations spots where we can use the points?

Using DVC points for Paris orJapan is a very poor value. While it is certainly your choice a d your money, you will find 100 points won't get you much in either location, and you will pay $40-60 per point more than you would resale. That is a lot of perk to make up, economically.

 

[Littlelulu01]

Basically if you want to purchase a larger contract or amount of points then resale will save you quite a bit if you are willing to forgo the direct benefits on the resale points. Among other restrictions, The resale points cannot be used to get a room at the Disneyland Hotel. I know people say that's a waste of points but once the contract has paid for itself the cost of those points are only what the maintenance fees are. Grand Californian villas is an extremely hard resort to get at 7 months but for about $200/night in maintenance fees I got a room at the Disneyland hotel. That's a much better deal than a cash rate of $600/night And there's no way I can book that room with resale points. The other perks are already mentioned.

You basically have to calculate the total all in costs of a resale contract and compare it to direct. Then decide if you want to go for the process of about 60-90 days to get the resale contract.

Using an example of BCV- 100 points resale at $112 per point will cost $11200. That's a sale price currently listed as pending with a broker and the contract has zero 2016 or 2017 points. The closing costs on that contract will run around $500 but can be higher depending on the broker. Total all in cost for the contract are $11700. If you value the 2016 and 2017 points at $15/point you can add another $3000.

Direct from disney the same contract is going to cost $16,500. $200 closing costs and prorated fees for 2017 of about $300. All in cost is going to be $17000 with full 2016 and 2017 points as long as you purchase for month after current month so June or later use year.

In this example the resale contract will save $5300 but with zero points until 2018. The direct contract will have 200 points available right away and all the direct purchase benefits.

Should you value the lost points on resale and decide to rent or take a transfer it's going to run you a minimum of 3k so then you are only saving $2300. For that kind of savings I'd go direct, have the points and perks and not have the hassle of resale process.

You can get different numbers for different resorts and different points on contract. Savings will typically get worse off resale with smaller contracts and better off with larger contracts. Also figure in mf's when determining what home resort to choose because some resorts have very high mf's such as vero beach so the contract buy in resale savings is eaten up in a short time and then you are stuck with those really high mf's for 25 years.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you want to go to WDW most of the time, buy a resort at WDW. If you want to go to DL/CA most of the time, you need to buy GCV. If you want a one bedroom villa, do not buy the Polynesian villas. They only have studios (glorified hotel rooms no matter what anyone says) and bungalows that eat up points like crazy. Even if you can't use resale points to book DL hotels, how many times are you going to stay in a DL hotel? The "savings" you get by using points instead of cash will not begin to meet the money you save by buying resale (and you'll use a whole lot of points booking those hotel rooms). As for valuing points you "lost" because the previous owner used them before they sold the contract, the most you should value them at is the cost of dues which you might have to pay if they were all there. You won't get $15 from a broker, maybe $13, and renting them out yourself will be a chore for a brand new owner. Just like you won't price out the extra points you get if the contract is loaded and subtract them from your cost. It just doesn't work that way.

 

[Dean]

I was reading that you lose a lot of the discounts when buying resale, so I was apprehensive. We'd like to eventually use the points or other trips outside of WDW.

You lose nothing of significant value though I think the best approach for most new buyers is to buy resale and add 25 retail to have ALL of the perks that have any value. Neither Poly or CC is likely to be a good choice for those new to DVC, too high and too much downside.

I am Planning on buying direct for 100pts at BCV one of the reasons is the perks also we plan on using the points to go elsewhere like Paris or Japan would we be able to do that if I bought resale? also is there a list of vacations spots where we can use the points?

Buying for cash exchange options is a bad idea 100% of the time, just buy less points and pay cash for the other options and you'll come out ahead, have less risk and more options.

 

[Littlelulu01]

If you want to go to WDW most of the time, buy a resort at WDW. If you want to go to DL/CA most of the time, you need to buy GCV. If you want a one bedroom villa, do not buy the Polynesian villas. They only have studios (glorified hotel rooms no matter what anyone says) and bungalows that eat up points like crazy. Even if you can't use resale points to book DL hotels, how many times are you going to stay in a DL hotel? The "savings" you get by using points instead of cash will not begin to meet the money you save by buying resale (and you'll use a whole lot of points booking those hotel rooms). As for valuing points you "lost" because the previous owner used them before they sold the contract, the most you should value them at is the cost of dues which you might have to pay if they were all there. You won't get $15 from a broker, maybe $13, and renting them out yourself will be a chore for a brand new owner. Just like you won't price out the extra points you get if the contract is loaded and subtract them from your cost. It just doesn't work that way.

I was valuing points for personal use. In the example above, the BCV contracts with no 2016 or 2017 points have a value more than just mf's if you want to use them. Nobody will rent or transfer 200 BCV points for mf's. If you need to rent or transfer from a broker or owner you will pay a minimum of $15/point. Alternatively if you don't plan on a BCV stay until points allotment in 2018 resale is a way to go to save the $5300 over direct on a 100 point contract. If you want those 2016 and 2017 points then you will probably spend at least $15/point to get them.

 

[Chrissie86]

I just wanted to know if the option of home resorts for new buyers changes every year.

 

[jarestel]

I just wanted to know if the option of home resorts for new buyers changes every year.

DVC pushes the resorts that are in active sales and these don't typically change on a yearly basis. When DVC builds a new resort, that will be added to the mix and your options may change. As others have pointed out, there are a variety of ways to acquire any of the "sold out" resorts, even through DVC if that is what you want.

 

[disneynutz]

DVD pushes what makes them the most money, new resorts. By not actively offering the older resorts, new buyers are forced to buy the new current projects. The sooner they sell out, the faster DVD recovers their construction costs and posts their profit.

Bill

 

[Chrissie86]

DVD pushes what makes them the most money, new resorts. By not actively offering the older resorts, new buyers are forced to buy the new current projects. The sooner they sell out, the faster DVD recovers their construction costs and posts their profit.

Bill

Thankyou!!

 

[DAdams419]

So here's my big DVC question. We're looking at resale as well and have noticed that the off site resorts are a lot cheaper per point. I understand that if it's not your home resort that you can only book 7 month out, but is that the only limitation of opposed to buying onsite?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So here's my big DVC question. We're looking at resale as well and have noticed that the off site resorts are a lot cheaper per point. I understand that if it's not your home resort that you can only book 7 month out, but is that the only limitation of opposed to buying onsite?

Depending on travel dates and preferred on site resort, it is a big limitation. They also have very high dues. In general if you want lowest cost of ownership on site but don't care where you stay, SSR is the best bet.