Looking into buying DVC. Need help!!

[Woody and Buzz]

Hi,

My name is Paul and I am looking into buying into DVC. Is there a major differences buying direct or a resale? I have read pros and cons for both, but it seems like there is no big differences. Does it matter which resort I buy it for? I live in northern California, so I am looking into buy a used DVC for the GC. When you buy a DVC at a certain resort, does that mean that resort is your "home base"? I have been trying to figure that one out. Is there a benefit to buy at a certain resort?

Right now we make at least 1-2 trips a year to DL but we have never stayed at any of the resorts. I was thinking buying a DVC, sounds like a good idea for my wife and my 5 yr. twins. We all love spending time at DL and looking into a trip to WDW maybe 2014 or 2015. Also we are making a bucket list to travel with kids. Please any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!!

 

[rosanab1031]

Hi,

My name is Paul and I am looking into buying into DVC. Is there a major differences buying direct or a resale? I have read pros and cons for both, but it seems like there is no big differences. Does it matter which resort I buy it for? I live in northern California, so I am looking into buy a used DVC for the GC. When you buy a DVC at a certain resort, does that mean that resort is your "home base"? I have been trying to figure that one out. Is there a benefit to buy at a certain resort?

Right now we make at least 1-2 trips a year to DL but we have never stayed at any of the resorts. I was thinking buying a DVC, sounds like a good idea for my wife and my 5 yr. twins. We all love spending time at DL and looking into a trip to WDW maybe 2014 or 2015. Also we are making a bucket list to travel with kids. Please any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!!

Hi Paul!

I cannot speak to the resale part of your question as I have only bought direct.

One of the benefits of buying direct is that you can use the Disney collection which includes Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier at the Disneyland resort as well as the other Disney locations around the world such as Hong Kong, Tokoyo, and Paris.

When you buy at a resort that is your home resort. For example, I have two deeds for two different resorts. The benefit of a home resort is that you can book up to 11 months in advance for your home resort. All other resorts you can book up to 7 months in advance.

I love my DVC membership and have put it to good use since I became a member last year. I actually just added to my membership today so that I have another home resort

Hope that helps! I am sure there are other more veteran DVC members that can provide more information for ya!

 

[Missyrose]

Hi,

My name is Paul and I am looking into buying into DVC. Is there a major differences buying direct or a resale? I have read pros and cons for both, but it seems like there is no big differences. Does it matter which resort I buy it for? I live in northern California, so I am looking into buy a used DVC for the GC. When you buy a DVC at a certain resort, does that mean that resort is your "home base"? I have been trying to figure that one out. Is there a benefit to buy at a certain resort?

Right now we make at least 1-2 trips a year to DL but we have never stayed at any of the resorts. I was thinking buying a DVC, sounds like a good idea for my wife and my 5 yr. twins. We all love spending time at DL and looking into a trip to WDW maybe 2014 or 2015. Also we are making a bucket list to travel with kids. Please any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!!

How far out do you book your trips to DL? VGC is a very small resort so it's very difficult to get in unless you book 9-11 months in advance.

 

[JustTinking]

Missy is right, GC is difficult to book, small and always full. So you want to buy GC points rather than any other resort, which will give you an 11 month window to book reservations, rather than the 7 month window where it is open to everyone with points. You can then also use your points to book at any other resort, for those times you don't want to go to DL. But sounds like with 5yr old twins, you will be busy at DL for a while.

 

[chalee94]

My name is Paul and I am looking into buying into DVC. Is there a major differences buying direct or a resale?

direct is faster. direct also gives you the option to trade out of DVC for (expensive) ABD trips, disney hotels and cruises.

resale is much, much cheaper. resale only gives you the option to trade out for (relatively expensive) other timeshares through RCI.

I have read pros and cons for both, but it seems like there is no big differences. Does it matter which resort I buy it for? I live in northern California, so I am looking into buy a used DVC for the GC. When you buy a DVC at a certain resort, does that mean that resort is your "home base"? I have been trying to figure that one out. Is there a benefit to buy at a certain resort?

home resort tells you:

1) booking window - booking 11 months out is important due to the small size of the california resort. at 7 months, availability is usually pretty tough. closer than that, it's hard to find anything.

2) annual dues - your annual dues rate is based on the resort you own. (see the DVC resource thread stickied in the forums for details.)

3) expiration date - DVC resorts expire from 2042 to 2060 and later. for some people, that makes a difference. for others, 2042 is a great guaranteed cutoff date to stop annual dues.

 

[Woody and Buzz]

Thank you everyone for all information. It has been really helpful.

 

[Woody and Buzz]

I am really looking all over the internet for a used DVC for GC. I found 240 points to GC. Fidelity is the seller and is asking $24,000. Has anyone had any good or bad luck with Fidelity? Also does anyone think I could get the price lower than $24,000? I also know that Disney has ROFR, so I know you can't go to low on the price because Disney will just reject the offer.

Also is there any other perks that come with a DVC? Is there any deals on tickets to DL or WDW?

 

[dmunsil]

I am really looking all over the internet for a used DVC for GC. I found 240 points to GC. Fidelity is the seller and is asking $24,000. Has anyone had any good or bad luck with Fidelity?

A lot of people have had trouble getting timely responses from them, though they're nice people and a reputable company. They're just small and slammed. They don't actually move that many contracts; many of the ones listed are actually pending sales. You have to call them to see if the one you want is still available.

Also does anyone think I could get the price lower than $24,000?

I really wouldn't try unless you're really bargain-hunting. The ones that were taken by Disney under ROFR in the thread where people are posting their experiences are all just under $100, and the ones that are passing are $104+. I just started to buy a 160-point VGC contract and I offered 106 because I'd really like it to pass ROFR. There's no guarantee, of course. Disney can and does occasionally snag fairly high-valued offers.

Just keep in mind that VGC is a very small resort, so points don't come up as often. When they do, you need to jump on them. And keep in mind that Disney sells points at VGC for $165 (and has a long waiting list), so even if you pay $115, you're still getting a massive discount. Check all four of the major resellers regularly, and when you see something you like, make an offer tout de suite. The Timeshare Store moves the most contracts, so even if they don't have anything now, they might have something any day now. And when you're getting your first contract, it's a lot less important which use year you get, so all of their listings will be worth considering.

Get on the Timeshare Store's update email list. They send it out every few days after they put up new listings.

Also is there any other perks that come with a DVC? Is there any deals on tickets to DL or WDW?

Yes, there are discounts on a variety of restaurants at WDW and DL, usually 10%, there is a discount on pretty much every Disney-owned merchandise outlet at the parks (also 10%), and some other miscellaneous discounts. There's a discount on a WDW annual pass as well, but not other tickets.

Also, being a DVC member allows you to get a membership to Tables In Wonderland, which is a dining discount program that gets you 20% pretty much everywhere in WDW.

Here's a link to the "portable perks" guides that cover most of this stuff:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/member-benefits/2168-2013-portable-perks-available

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am really looking all over the internet for a used DVC for GC. I found 240 points to GC. Fidelity is the seller and is asking $24,000. Has anyone had any good or bad luck with Fidelity? Also does anyone think I could get the price lower than $24,000? I also know that Disney has ROFR, so I know you can't go to low on the price because Disney will just reject the offer.

Also is there any other perks that come with a DVC? Is there any deals on tickets to DL or WDW?

Perks come and go all the time. Last year there was a great deal on premium annual passes from Oct 1 through Dec 31. They had to be purchased during that time and activated before Dec 31, 2013. Who knows if that deal will come again. But deals for DL park admission aren't as great.

GCV are small, so points there are a hot commodity. You could offer less than $100 a point, but be prepared for a counter offer from the seller.

 

[Woody and Buzz]

So I finally have a plan. I going to start looking for a used DVC to GC in the next 3-6 months. I would like to buy 180-240 points. I am looking through TTS and other sites. Then maybe 2-3 years later buy a direct DVC to AKV if they still have them available and make sure that I can afford it.

The reason I am buying points to GC is because we have taken 4 trips in the last 3 1/2 years to DL. We spend most of the time at DL. Then if I buy a direct DVC, I can add the points together for any of the Disney resorts.

In total I would like 350-400 points total in maybe 4-5 years from now.

Let me know what anyone thinks. Is this a good idea or am I crazy? I really think it is a feasible plan for my family and I to spend some great vacations in DL and WDW.

 

[Breyean]

So I finally have a plan. I going to start looking for a used DVC to GC in the next 3-6 months. I would like to buy 180-240 points. I am looking through TTS and other sites. Then maybe 2-3 years later buy a direct DVC to AKV if they still have them available and make sure that I can afford it.

The reason I am buying points to GC is because we have taken 4 trips in the last 3 1/2 years to DL. We spend most of the time at DL. Then if I buy a direct DVC, I can add the points together for any of the Disney resorts.

In total I would like 350-400 points total in maybe 4-5 years from now.

Let me know what anyone thinks. Is this a good idea or am I crazy? I really think it is a feasible plan for my family and I to spend some great vacations in DL and WDW.

I don't understand what this means. You can buy another resale contract at any other resort and still have the same ability to use all your points at the 7 month mark for any resort (and 11 months at your home resort).

While there's always talk about restrictions coming, nothing has been announced, and it's just a great discussion point for people here on slow days. So far.

 

[Woody and Buzz]

You are right, buying two used DVC is better than 1 used and 1 direct. I was thinking of some other idea and got the 2 mixed up. It has been a long day at work and looking back at my last post doesn't make a lot since.

 

[dmunsil]

I think buying VGC first is the right choice. It's the toughest "get" and if you want the same use year (which you probably do), you want to get the harder resort first. Then finding a contract that fits your needs for AKV is going to be relatively trivial. It's a huge resort with a robust resale market; you can find anything you want (except maybe tiny contracts) pretty easily.

So yes, keep an eye on VGC listings. I'm sure you can find something in your desired point range without too much trouble. There's a reasonable flow of contracts. And then when you find something jump on it and don't lowball if you want to avoid ROFR. I mean, don't deliberately overpay, I guess. It really depends on how much you want that specific contract.

 

[Breyean]

I think buying VGC first is the right choice. It's the toughest "get" and if you want the same use year (which you probably do), you want to get the harder resort first. Then finding a contract that fits your needs for AKV is going to be relatively trivial. It's a huge resort with a robust resale market; you can find anything you want (except maybe tiny contracts) pretty easily.

So yes, keep an eye on VGC listings. I'm sure you can find something in your desired point range without too much trouble. There's a reasonable flow of contracts. And then when you find something jump on it and don't lowball if you want to avoid ROFR. I mean, don't deliberately overpay, I guess. It really depends on how much you want that specific contract.

This is good advice.

I'd like to add it took me about 18 months to accumulate the number of points I wanted for VGC. I wound up with three contracts - two of which were 125 each and the third 75 points.

While you might find a big contract you like, and once you buy you'll be locked in (probably) to a UY, but don't rule out smaller contracts if they are withing your price range.

 

[Woody and Buzz]

That is FUNNY . My wife and I just talked about that, buying 3 contracts over time to build up to our desired point total. I want to buy VCG first since they are the hardest to get(around 100-125 points). That would get me in at the VCG. Then we talked about buy at AKV,SSR, or BLT. I figure if I can buy VCG and then something over in WDW, that would make easier on planning trips to both parks and easier on saving money to get towards our point total.

Thank you everyone for all the input. I just started to research and all of have helped me out a lot . I even got my wife to give in put and we are on the same page. Now I just have to work out all little details.

 

[Woody and Buzz]

If I buy direct I can use points at any of the Disney resorts or hotels. But if I buy a resale for the GC, I can only stay at Disney's resorts.

So my question is what happens if I buy points for the GC but can't get the dates I want? I know that I will have to change my dates but with buying direct I could stay at Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier. So would the money I save with resale do me any good (I know money saved is great) or would it be good to buy direct and have the other hotels in my back pocket?

I also think it would be easier if I lived in Florida and go to WDW more times than DL because I could have a choice of 8 different resorts than having 1 resort in DL. I am just trying to weight my options with direct or resale. For every point for direct, I can come up with a point for resale mainly saving money.

 

[Msmithmd]

You will financially come out ahead by renting your vgc points, and booking dlh or paradise pier on cash, whether you get the points direct or resale. In other words the value of the points will pay you more in rental than the cash cost of booking the regular hotel room.

So speaking economically, resale is the obvious choice. Even if you were to buy direct, renting your points and paying cash for the standard hotel room would be the correct choice.

This is something a DVC salesperson is never going to tell you. And why it was a huge favor to resale DVC members when Disney limited the resale point use parameters. They took away most of the uneconomic options. Make sure you understand this fully before you decide which way to buy your membership points.

 

[DaveInCali]

If I buy direct I can use points at any of the Disney resorts or hotels. But if I buy a resale for the GC, I can only stay at Disney's resorts.

So my question is what happens if I buy points for the GC but can't get the dates I want? I know that I will have to change my dates but with buying direct I could stay at Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier. So would the money I save with resale do me any good (I know money saved is great) or would it be good to buy direct and have the other hotels in my back pocket?

I also think it would be easier if I lived in Florida and go to WDW more times than DL because I could have a choice of 8 different resorts than having 1 resort in DL. I am just trying to weight my options with direct or resale. For every point for direct, I can come up with a point for resale mainly saving money.

I don't own at VGC but I know that it is VERY difficult to get in at the 7 month window. I can tell you that by owning at VGC, as many have said, you will be able to book at 11 months out. So if your family traditionally travels at certain times of the year, this 11 month window will work to your advantage and you should be able to get what you are looking for. You can always cancel the reservation 30 days before your reservation and get all your points back (there's an exception to this.... If your reservation falls in the last four months of your use year) so reserve as far out as you can to make sure you get what you want and change your mind later.

You are right... If you bought direct, you could reserve at Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier or Grand Californian (aka Disney Collection Hotels). However, there's a few things to consider...

1) points to stay through the Disney Collection hotels are traditionally higher, sometimes double than if you went through the DVC side of a property. .
2) there's a $95 reservation cost to book through the collection and cancellations work differently.
3) doesn't matter where your home resort is and you could us Saratoga points for example to cover a Collection reservation.

I've been reading your posts and as you continue to add on, I'd consider buying points at resorts with cheaper annual dues per point. Stay away from Vero Beach and Aulani as their dues are pretty high. I've only bought direct but am looking to offload a contract I got so I can purchase an add on for a property I want to get priority reservations at. I'll be on the sellers end of your equation soon do I'd be interested to hear how your experience goes.

Good luck.

 

[nyck]

I don't own at VGC but I know that it is VERY difficult to get in at the 7 month window. I can tell you that by owning at VGC, as many have said, you will be able to book at 11 months out. So if your family traditionally travels at certain times of the year, this 11 month window will work to your advantage and you should be able to get what you are looking for. You can always cancel the reservation 30 days before your reservation and get all your points back (there's an exception to this.... If your reservation falls in the last four months of your use year) so reserve as far out as you can to make sure you get what you want and change your mind later.

You are right... If you bought direct, you could reserve at Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier or Grand Californian (aka Disney Collection Hotels). However, there's a few things to consider...

1) points to stay through the Disney Collection hotels are traditionally higher, sometimes double than if you went through the DVC side of a property. .
2) there's a $95 reservation cost to book through the collection and cancellations work differently.
3) doesn't matter where your home resort is and you could us Saratoga points for example to cover a Collection reservation.

I've been reading your posts and as you continue to add on, I'd consider buying points at resorts with cheaper annual dues per point. Stay away from Vero Beach and Aulani as their dues are pretty high. I've only bought direct but am looking to offload a contract I got so I can purchase an add on for a property I want to get priority reservations at. I'll be on the sellers end of your equation soon do I'd be interested to hear how your experience goes.

Good luck.

There is no $95 fee for using your points at the Disneyland hotels. The starting waiving that fee years ago.

 

[BestDadEver]

If I buy direct I can use points at any of the Disney resorts or hotels. But if I buy a resale for the GC, I can only stay at Disney's resorts.

So my question is what happens if I buy points for the GC but can't get the dates I want? I know that I will have to change my dates but with buying direct I could stay at Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier. So would the money I save with resale do me any good (I know money saved is great) or would it be good to buy direct and have the other hotels in my back pocket?

I also think it would be easier if I lived in Florida and go to WDW more times than DL because I could have a choice of 8 different resorts than having 1 resort in DL. I am just trying to weight my options with direct or resale. For every point for direct, I can come up with a point for resale mainly saving money.

Here is how I would look at it . This is especially true for people that want VGC
cause one its hard to get into two people that buy there tend to want to be there more then WDW . But IMO the point price direct over resale with VGC is not enough difference to not buy direct .

What happens when down the road disney decides to restrict resale buyer again . Things I think could happen , maybe they will lower the 11/7 book window for resales , maybe they will only allow you to to stay at your home resort .

Being in cali and not really near WDW buying GCF makes sense. It also makes sense that if in a jam you could use those points to stay in DL . Instead of being forced to rent or plan a much bigger trip to WDW . Plus buying direct you may get some sort of incentive . And you will be able to use the direct points on DCL if you wish too another option leaving from cali .

IDK that just my opinion . If you only planned on WDW resorts you could save a lot more with resale with the WDW resorts , that would make it worthwhile to take the risk . But thats not for me .