Just Getting Started...Lots of Questions

[baggsfamily]

Hi Everyone:
This is a great site and one that I've been checking out a lot over the past week. Just got back from WDW stayed in the AKL hotel side and took a DVC tour on our last day. We saw SSR as well as the preview center featuring Aulani, VGF, & AKL. Our guide was promoting SSR and VGF.

As we decide which option is best for us, we have a few questions.

1.) Resale vs. Direct
During our week, we talked with various people on our buses about their experiences with DVC. About 1/2 bought resale and 1/2 direct. We got (of course) both sides...resale is great and resale is a hassle due to troubles (not specific) with booking. Generally speaking do members here have any horror stories about booking and availability? I know there's always some good and some bad for every situation.

2.) VGF vs. SSR
These were the only 2 options our guide gave us. We like the extra years in the lifespan of the contract with VGF, but for a $15000 investment, we know we can get more points with the SSR and they will go further at other resorts. It would be nice to have the option to stay at VGF if we wanted to later on.

3.) Transportation
After staying at AKL and having only the bus to work with, and then taking the boat and monorail to other resorts to explore them, we really love the additional options available. On our next visit, we will most likely book a resort based on additional transportation options. Beach Club and Boardwalk would be prime contenders.

4.) Direct Perks
We definitely want to do a Disney cruise and we plan to be in Europe in 2 summers, so having the other exchange privileges would be nice, but with renting and banking points, this might not matter to us anytime soon.

Thanks for your input!

 

[iluvthsgam]

1. There is absolutely no difference between resale and direct when you are talking about booking directly at the DVC resorts. Resale restricts you from doing things like the Cruise or Adventures by Disney. Anyone who told you there is a hassle or difficulty with using points bought resale to book is lying (assuming the hassle mentioned was after the purchase has been completed and your points are in your account - there can be a hassle to get to this point, but after that, no). Depending on the resort you select, resale can offer you a significant savings over direct pricing. VGF doesn't have direct yet, so if you want that as your home resort, you need to buy direct or wait. But the almost 40-50% savings could be worth it to buy resale, considering what you are giving up (IMHO, not much). Investigate the resale options! Yes, it is more "difficult" to buy than direct, but how much is that difficulty worth to you?

2. You can be put on a wait list to buy any resort that you want direct, not just those two. So weigh your options and if you want to buy direct, know that you can buy direct at any resort, some just takes a wait list. Your points at VGF will go the same distance at every other resort as your points from SSR. All points are equal. The only difference is how many points each resort charges for each booking category. The rooms require more points at VGF than at SSR, but that doesn't mean the SSR points will "go farther" at other resorts because other resorts will cost the same regardless of whether you use SSR or VGF points.

3. Not sure what your question is here. Can you elaborate?

4. There are many threads here discussing using your points for a cruise. Search around and read the opposing points of view. Some will say the convenience of using points for the cruise is worth it. Others will say never use your points for a cruise. I fall into the latter category. You buy DVC for a certain value - that is greatly discounted rooms at WDW (and VB, HHI, DL, Aulani). When you use your points for a cruise you do not get the same value - and in fact most times you get a real bad value. It is much better (for me at least, everyone is different) to rent my points out to somebody and then pay cash for the cruise. Paying cash for a cruise also gives you much more flexibility whereas using points for a cruise you don't have that flexibility. I have not evaluated the Adventures by Disney with points options that closely but from first glance it looked like it took a LOT of points so probably would not give a great value, but I didn't look close enough to say for sure.

 

[JimMIA]

WELCOME TO THE DIS!!!

1.) Resale vs. Direct
During our week, we talked with various people on our buses about their experiences with DVC. About 1/2 bought resale and 1/2 direct. We got (of course) both sides...resale is great and resale is a hassle due to troubles (not specific) with booking. Generally speaking do members here have any horror stories about booking and availability? I know there's always some good and some bad for every situation.

For Disney Vacation Club resorts, there is NO difference whatever between resale and direct points. Some direct buyers may have been able to make instant reservations for their FIRST trip immediately -- but after that, everything is the same for DVC reservations. Everyone is in the same pool of inventory for reservations.

Those who have difficulties making reservations usually haven't taken the time to understand the system and use it to their advantage. It has nothing to do with direct/resale.

2.) VGF vs. SSR
These were the only 2 options our guide gave us. We like the extra years in the lifespan of the contract with VGF, but for a $15000 investment, we know we can get more points with the SSR and they will go further at other resorts. It would be nice to have the option to stay at VGF if we wanted to later on.

SSR is currently selling for about $130 direct. It's listing for $70 or a little less resale...so you can get SSR resale for a little more than HALF what you would pay for direct, and LESS THAN HALF of what you would pay for VGF.

Your DVC timeshare salesperson "promoted" SSR and VGF because that was what they had to sell. They also have AKV.

(Do yourself a favor...lose the terms "guide" and "club." It's a timeshare, and the person you are talking to is a timeshare salesman.)

For the other resorts, DVC has created an artificial shortage by creating waitlists, but contracts are available on the resale market.

3.) Transportation
After staying at AKL and having only the bus to work with, and then taking the boat and monorail to other resorts to explore them, we really love the additional options available. On our next visit, we will most likely book a resort based on additional transportation options. Beach Club and Boardwalk would be prime contenders.

Disney transportation is what it is. From some resorts, you can walk to some parks. From others, you bus. From others, you bus or boat or monorail. No matter where you stay, the quickest way to get anywhere is to drive...which is what we do.

4.) Direct Perks
We definitely want to do a Disney cruise and we plan to be in Europe in 2 summers, so having the other exchange privileges would be nice, but with renting and banking points, this might not matter to us anytime soon.

Before you get too enthralled with cruising on points, check out the points costs of cruising. You'll find DCL cruises: a) ridiculously overpriced to begin with compared to traditional cruise companies, and b) outrageously priced when purchased with DVC points. Incidentally, twice in the last 3 years, DCL has suspended the opportunity to cruise on points for periods of almost a year at a time. Like most "perks," cruising is not guaranteed and can be limited, restricted, suspended, or eliminated entirely at any time.

Europe Exchange Options: Two points:

1. You get the same RCI exchange option with resale
2. There aren't any European exchange options that you will be able to get. May be a (very) few listed, but inquire about who has actually gotten any of them.