Is it smarter to add on pts to an existing dvc or buy into new dvc?

[tink4ever]

Well I have been reading everyones info on dis and I am trying to figure out which would be more helpful to add on to our existing dvc in VWL or buy into SSR? I am very confused as to how it would actually work when I need to use my existing pts & the new pts. Can you just combine pts to use at home resort or can you only use for each individual resort. Also how do you actually add on pts? Do you do this thru member services? And how long does this usually take? Sorry I am so confused.
1997: Dixie Landings
1998: All Sports
1998: Fort Wilderness Cabins
2001: DVC in VWL
2003: DVC in VWL
2004: DVC in VWL
2005: All Music
2005: Grand California in DL
2006: BCV
2006: DVC in VWL

 

[ATCMickey]

Well I have been reading everyones info on dis and I am trying to figure out which would be more helpful to add on to our existing dvc in VWL or buy into SSR? I am very confused as to how it would actually work when I need to use my existing pts & the new pts. Can you just combine pts to use at home resort or can you only use for each individual resort.

Tink,

IMHO...it really depends on where you want to stay. Many people on this board will advise you to buy where you want to stay. I think that's excellent advise. If you add on at VWL, from the owner's perspective everything operates the same except you have more point to use (e.g. you can book 11 mos in advance for home resort and 7 for non-home resorts). The previous statement assumes you have added on points that have the same use year as your current contract. If your add-on is for a different use year, you'll have more coordination to do.

If you purchase a contract at SSR, there are several things to consider. If you stay at VWL, your VWL points can be used to book 11 months in advance but if you want to use some of your SSR points for a VWL stay you'll need to wait until 7 months in advance to use those. Your VWL points and SSR points will always be distinctly separate and bound by those rules. If your intent is to use your SSR points for SSR stays and your VWL points for VWL stays, then it's not an issue.

Having said all that, we own at 2 different resorts and have gotten along just fine. The biggest caveat I'd offer is to ensure that whether you add on at VWL or purchase at SSR, whatever contract you get make sure they all have the same use year. Managing contracts at multiple resorts is workable...but it becomes exceedingly cumbersome to manage if you also infuse multiple use years.

Add-ons can be purchased directly from DVC (provided they can access points through ROFR) or they can be purchased from an outside entity (such as the Timeshare Store). DVC sets a uniform price for all add on points. Outside entities have price set by the seller/negotiations. Whether purchasing from an outside entity is a good deal depends on the price and whether your offer can clear DVC ROFR (right of first refusal).

Hope it helps,

ATCMickey

 

[tink4ever]

Thank you for explaining the add on thing. My DH and I are still deciding what to do but at least I finally understand it a little better.

 

[senecabeach]

tink4ever....

IMHO... I would add on to my existing contract, especially those @ VWL & BCV. They are the smallest DVC's and in high demand. Yes...the price through Disney is high..maybe pick up a resale in your same UY??

As an example:
TODAY....I got a call from my guide and my BCV "ADD ON" FINALLY came through after waiting 11 mos. and 11 days. YA HOO !!

Now....I have 2 contracts, same UY, same resort, tons of pts, no more borrowing....and when I make ressies its treated as 1 total pt. contract.

I'm a "Keep it Simple Stupid" kind of a person and this works for me!!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy for you!!!

Tammy-

 

[dvc-NE]

Well I have been reading everyones info on dis and I am trying to figure out which would be more helpful to add on to our existing dvc in VWL or buy into SSR?

Sue: I think the factors you should consider are how many points do you have and how many do you want to add, do you want the longer contract to pass on to a child, and most importantly what do you see yourself doing for future vacations? Some have stated on this board, go with the lowest maintenace fees if you're not concerned about priority. Right now SSR's MF are lower but I'm not sure what the future will bring, since right now DVD is subsidising that cost. When SSR goes to capacity, I'm not sure what the need for increased buses will do to the MF.

 

[debbie in Seattle]

Do you love where your original points are now? I'd advise adding on if you're happy where you are or buying elsewhere is you're going to use the points elsewhere. The reason? Have you seen the megatropolis urban sprall of Saratoga Springs? The villas are beautiful, but think DVC is shooting themselves in the foot over this one, it's sooooo large. I drove in and it reminded me of an apartment complex anywhere across the country. I'm starting to think that's why DTD has become so unbearibly crowded too. Used to enjoy shopping there, now it's a trip for the fittest to survive those crowds. I think down the road, it's going to be harder and harder to get ressies at the other resorts with soooo many people at SS. Just my opinion.

 

[CarolA]

Do you love where your original points are now? I'd advise adding on if you're happy where you are or buying elsewhere is you're going to use the points elsewhere. The reason? Have you seen the megatropolis urban sprall of Saratoga Springs? The villas are beautiful, but think DVC is shooting themselves in the foot over this one, it's sooooo large. I drove in and it reminded me of an apartment complex anywhere across the country. I'm starting to think that's why DTD has become so unbearibly crowded too. Used to enjoy shopping there, now it's a trip for the fittest to survive those crowds. I think down the road, it's going to be harder and harder to get ressies at the other resorts with soooo many people at SS. Just my opinion.

Well, just to give a different view.

I find SSR great.... and really don't like VWL. I don't know about where you live, but trust me apartments here aren't near this nicely done!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

That is something I wish I had thought of. I always "forget" that my 470 points come from 2 resorts. 170 at BCV and 300 at OKW.

It does screw me up if I want to make a 282 point reservation at BCV at the 11 month window. It can't happen. Also, when you get into borrowing, you need to tell them what points to borrow from, that can be tricky also, because you don't want to leave yourself short anywhere at the 11 month window.

Though, the reason we got OKW was because we loved it there, and wanted the 11 month window, it does make things a little trickier than if we had all of our points coming out of the same pot.

 

[goofymax]

How many points did you add on Senecabeach? 11 months seems like a long time. I waited seven days for DVC to get back to me with 100 BCV points that matched my use year.

 

[Caskbill]

Keep in mind there is a difference between an 'Add-On' contract and a new 'Master Contract'.

Your very first purchase, no matter whether thru Disney or via Resale, will always be a Master Contract. You will have a Use Year month and home resort, and a single blue Membership Card with unique membership number.

Subsequent contracts can be either add-on's or new master contracts. If it's a different use year month then it's a brand new master contract, and gets a brand new blue membership card with it's own unique membership number.

Points between two master contracts are not combined in any way, either for reservations, or for banking. If you own two master contracts, they're just as different from each other as my contract is to your contract.

Now, Add-On's are new contracts that are attached to an existing Master Contract and are under the same 'unbrella', (membership number) as the original contract, and will be the same use year month, but they can be different resorts. It will share the same basic contract number but will have a different extension. For example a master contract might be number 12345.000, and an Add-on contract will be number 12345.001

On your annual dues statement, they will show as contract number 12345.000/001

If you purchase your 2nd contract thru Disney, it will be an Add-on. However if you purchase thru Resale, it might not be. To even be eligible, it must have the same use year month as your existing contract. If it does, it can be treated as an Add-on, but that may not happen automatically. You would need to work with your resale broker and make sure they work with Disney to ensure it becomes an Add-on Contract and not a new Master contract.

Once a contract becomes an add-on, points may be combined in any way to make a reservation, with the only distinction being the 11/7 month priority windows. Points are also combined for banking purposes. Suppose you own 200 OKW points and 100 BWV points (add-on). This is considered a 300 point contract, and so for example, at the 50% banking window you could bank 150 points. You could bank all 100BWV points plus 50 OKW points, or any combination you wanted.

If instead they were two separate master contracts, the 50% banking percentages apply to each contract separately. Thus if you still had all 100 BWV points intact, you could only bank 50 of them.

Hope this helps.