Looking to maybe join Disney Vacation Club

[CarolynFH]

You may have found the very important UY thread already, but if not, here it is: https://www.disboards.com/threads/understanding-use-year-updated-february-10-2021.1942668/

 

[rubybutt]

Also, CCV gives you the option of purchasing a Fixed / Guaranteed Week for one of the weeks you enjoy traveling, if guaranteeing a reservation is important to you. And you can always cancel and rebook a different week if you don’t want to travel then. Presidents Day week is also a runDisney week, so you’d get the option of buying one of the runDisney special fixed weeks that allow you to change the check-in / check-out date.

I came in here to say this! Buy the runDisney apecial events week with Dec use year if you do CCV!

 

[Spivey378]

No, August, September, or October would work just as well. The main thing is that you want your usual months of travel to be within the first 8 months of your UY so that if you had to cancel a trip (at least 31 days before checkin), you’d have plenty of time left in your UY to reschedule or to bank your points before the banking deadline. Our UY is September, in recent years we most frequently travel January-March, and if we had to cancel a March trip, for example, we’d have time to bank those points before our April 30 banking deadline.

Thanks! This makes sense!

 

[SG131]

Thank you so much everyone! You all are fantastic and so helpful! I feel like I will be joining a great community if we join (but let's face it, we will join).

The voting has confirmed my choice of Go Blue or Go Home option. I'm concerned that there won't be any December Use Years at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. My plan is to see what kind of resorts for a December Use Year they do have. Is December a must for January-March travel? I would either select my favorite resort with a December Use Year or see what Use Years they have for Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. I'll know more once I talk to my guide.

Finally, it looks like we will mostly book one bedrooms because my kids are older. I could see us using studios sometimes if we want to stretch points.

As of right now more than half said no to the blue card and selected one of the other options, so if those results were enough to sway you you were dead set on the blue card already. just make sure you know what you are getting into availability wise. I have been trying to move the date of my February trip a couple weeks earlier for months now with zero luck. I know this year is unusual because there iI know this year is unusual because there are still a lot of points in the system from the closure and international guests not being able to travel so it’s a little worse than usual. I am notorious for trying to tweak trips slightly and it can be pretty hard to do sometimes.

 

[Spivey378]

I came in here to say this! Buy the runDisney apecial events week with Dec use year if you do CCV!

This is great! I'm a runner as well and have always wanted to do a runDisney race.

 

[rubybutt]

Thank you so much everyone! You all are fantastic and so helpful! I feel like I will be joining a great community if we join (but let's face it, we will join).

The voting has confirmed my choice of Go Blue or Go Home option. I'm concerned that there won't be any December Use Years at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. My plan is to see what kind of resorts for a December Use Year they do have. Is December a must for January-March travel? I would either select my favorite resort with a December Use Year or see what Use Years they have for Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. I'll know more once I talk to my guide.

Finally, it looks like we will mostly book one bedrooms because my kids are older. I could see us using studios sometimes if we want to stretch points.

I really think if you get the fixed week option they can make your use year anything.... At least that was the feeling I got when I bought my direct at RIV.

 

[RanDIZ]

I don’t ever recommend buying direct if you’re only doing WDW once a year. AP discount isn’t worth it. 7 day pass full price is cheaper. The 10% restaurant discount, again not worth it. Rewards cards, discounted gift cards, etc. can cover that.

I hear over and over again on these boards about feeling left out or having blue card status is all that matters. That’s definitely not a valid reason IMO. Unless you have money to throw away, resale is the way to go. Disney is on the path of taking things away, not giving back to the loyal guests who support their business. So I wouldn’t rely on any direct discounts to be honest.

As far as ability to stay at future resorts, that’s most likely only gonna stretch your points even thinner. Example using Dec weekly charts: 1BR CCV is 218. RIV is 243.

CCV $220 direct v $160-170 resale.
$8-10k savings.

Being spontaneous travelers, SSR resale would work best if you’ll be booking under 7mths.

 

[RoseGold]

As of right now more than half said no to the blue card and selected one of the other options, so if those results were enough to sway you you were dead set on the blue card already. just make sure you know what you are getting into availability wise. I have been trying to move the date of my February trip a couple weeks earlier for months now with zero luck.

I've been trying to get a particular night in January -- anywhere -- for months, without luck.

 

[RoseGold]

I came in here to say this! Buy the runDisney apecial events week with Dec use year if you do CCV!

There's an owner here who has a RunDisney week, and it looks like it isn't contracted as transferable. If I were going to do this, I'd buy as an LLC -- or buy a normal, numbered holiday fixed week. I'd probably even take that contract to a lawyer.

I agree if you're buying direct there no downside to a fixed week.

 

[rubybutt]

Spivey, Also make sure to get a referral code from a member. You will save $500 if you buy direct!

 

[rubybutt]

There's an owner here who has a RunDisney week, and it looks like it isn't contracted as transferable. If I were going to do this, I'd buy as an LLC -- or buy a normal, numbered holiday fixed week. I'd probably even take that contract to a lawyer.

I agree if you're buying direct there no downside to a fixed week.

One of the big plusses with this is if they ever decide to take a year off this week will be EASY to rent at a premium. Even if they weren't runners it can help you out.

 

[crisi]

Another thing worth considering is the age of your kids. When they are locked into college finals or get three days vacation at their first job, Disney might work for them at all. You have to decide whether Disney will work for your family as your kids get older.

13 was near the end of the road for vacationing with our kids with planning. If they made the team/got cast in the play - then they had practice/rehearsal through Winter or Spring Break. We couldn't pull them from school any longer because the workload was that much more intense. Summers had camps/practice/Summer sports and then jobs.

Then the college years - my youngest is a first year Senior (out of two years - Covid was hell), my oldest finished last year. At two different schools their schedules never aligned, except for the Christmas week. And Summer has been jobs and internships.

It isn't a great age to start DVCing.

 

[StacyLovesDisney]

Spivey, Also make sure to get a referral code from a member. You will save $500 if you buy direct!

question about this: I believe if you've already spoken to a guide this discount cannot be applied. can anyone confirm if that is true? I was hoping to try this as well if I decided to go direct but I have had a couple of conversations with the same guide so I'm under the impression it would not work in my case.

 

[rubybutt]

question about this: I believe if you've already spoken to a guide this discount cannot be applied. can anyone confirm if that is true? I was hoping to try this as well if I decided to go direct but I have had a couple of conversations with the same guide so I'm under the impression it would not work in my case.

I think only your guide would know. I can not imagine that your guide would care.

Here are some of the terms:

• Members must use the Dream It Forward online tool to submit information for their Introduced Guest. In order to qualify for the Dream It Forward program, the Introduced Guest must not currently be a Disney Vacation Club Member, they must be at least 18 years of age, and they must be a United States resident living in one of the 50 states.
• Introduced Guests cannot be entered retroactively. Credit for introductions may only be obtained by using the Dream It Forward online tool prior to the Introduced Guest completing the sales consultation
• Due to state laws, not all Members are eligible to receive a Disney Experience as a reward. If a Member lives in an ineligible state, they may still introduce friends and family through the Dream It Forward online tool. They will not be eligible for the reward however.
• For Members who live in an eligible state, it may take up to 60 days to receive notification of your Disney Experience reward once your Introduced Guest's real estate purchase has closed.
• In order to use the Dream It Forward online tool, a Member must live in the United States and their Membership must be in good standing. If these requirements are met and you are having challenges with the online tool, please contact Member Services for assistance at (800) 800-9800.†
• The Disney Experiences are subject to change and based on availability.

For additional details, please refer to the program Terms & Conditions.

The question is what is a completed sales consultation? I wouldn't think it is complete until you have bought, but I don't know.

 

[crisi]

I think only your guide would know. I can not imagine that your guide would care.

Here are some of the terms:

• Members must use the Dream It Forward online tool to submit information for their Introduced Guest. In order to qualify for the Dream It Forward program, the Introduced Guest must not currently be a Disney Vacation Club Member, they must be at least 18 years of age, and they must be a United States resident living in one of the 50 states.
• Introduced Guests cannot be entered retroactively. Credit for introductions may only be obtained by using the Dream It Forward online tool prior to the Introduced Guest completing the sales consultation
• Due to state laws, not all Members are eligible to receive a Disney Experience as a reward. If a Member lives in an ineligible state, they may still introduce friends and family through the Dream It Forward online tool. They will not be eligible for the reward however.
• For Members who live in an eligible state, it may take up to 60 days to receive notification of your Disney Experience reward once your Introduced Guest's real estate purchase has closed.
• In order to use the Dream It Forward online tool, a Member must live in the United States and their Membership must be in good standing. If these requirements are met and you are having challenges with the online tool, please contact Member Services for assistance at (800) 800-9800.†
• The Disney Experiences are subject to change and based on availability.

For additional details, please refer to the program Terms & Conditions.

The question is what is a completed sales consultation? I wouldn't think it is complete until you have bought, but I don't know.

If they have contacted a guide, they are complete. That's part of the sales consultation and they don't need to be "introduced." The $500 is a reward for marketing DVC to your friends, if you are already interested in it, you don't need to be marketed to, and Disney has never been in the business of giving away money they don't need to. The guide may not care, but their customer contact tool knows all.

 

[Spivey378]

Looks like I my posting availability is limited because I am a new member. I'll jot my thoughts down here in response to some of the comments above which I really, really appreciate.

Regarding Blue Card, I know it is not a smart option but an emotional one. I don't understand why I want to buy direct either. From perusing the boards, it appears that this is an age-old debate that won't get resolved here. I've given in to the fact that I will buy at least 150 direct points.

My kid's ages - I'm not that concerned with them getting older or not being able to go. My wife and I are actually looking forward to going alone sometimes. We used to go before they were born. Additionally, I think they will always love the parks, As I mentioned, we are theme park and coaster enthusiasts. Me and my girls are each American Coaster Enthusiast card holders! Knowing my kids, they will always love Disney!

For this year we wouldn't be traveling during our normal times because we already have two other trips planned in the spring. Maybe a December trip if by some miracle we could get a room.

I'm intrigued by the fixed week option so I will look into that further.

rubybutt (great name) dropped some knowledge above and I don't think my brain can handle it at the moment.

 

[StacyLovesDisney]

Looks like I my posting availability is limited because I am a new member. I'll jot my thoughts down here in response to some of the comments above which I really, really appreciate.

Regarding Blue Card, I know it is not a smart option but an emotional one. I don't understand why I want to buy direct either. From perusing the boards, it appears that this is an age-old debate that won't get resolved here. I've given in to the fact that I will buy at least 150 direct points.

My kid's ages - I'm not that concerned with them getting older or not being able to go. My wife and I are actually looking forward to going alone sometimes. We used to go before they were born. Additionally, I think they will always love the parks, As I mentioned, we are theme park and coaster enthusiasts. Me and my girls are each American Coaster Enthusiast card holders! Knowing my kids, they will always love Disney!

For this year we wouldn't be traveling during our normal times because we already have two other trips planned in the spring. Maybe a December trip if by some miracle we could get a room.

I'm intrigued by the fixed week option so I will look into that further.

rubybutt (great name) dropped some knowledge above and I don't think my brain can handle it at the moment.

you are not alone in wanting the blue card direct option and not knowing why... I'm sure its a common feeling as I am in the same boat! good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Carol_]

Direct CCV, then start saving for your next contract at SSR. I swear I’m not saying that because it’s exactly what we did.


I’m totally saying that because it’s what we did.

We’re very happy with our purchase and you will be too. Once you visit CCV during the holidays, it’s over.

 

[eandt]

This is a giant red flag with DVC. This product requires planning ahead, it's not flexible, and it's not good last minute. It's not even good a few months out, which is last minute by DVC standards. Planning to last minute book holiday weekends and spring break is setting yourself up to fail.

I have trouble understanding why you value the Blue Card at several thousand dollars. It's not likely to be worth much to you mathematically.

There are a lot of other options here. Rent points. You have a car. Stay at Bonnet Creek. Stay at Swolphin. Stay at Margaritaville. Stay at a nice Airbnb. Heck, stay at Universal, which is a lot cheaper and gives more perks than Disney. You don't have to stay at All Stars to go to WDW.

Another thing worth considering is the age of your kids. When they are locked into college finals or get three days vacation at their first job, Disney might work for them at all. You have to decide whether Disney will work for your family as your kids get older.

If you are willing to do some split stays it's certainly possible to do well inside 7 months. We have done it on our last 3 trips with DVC, 2x's as renters, and finally a couple weeks ago as owners. On our most recent trip we had our Welcome Home call in August and were able to get 2 studios at Riviera for December, over the weeks/months we ended up canceling those and got 5 nights at SSR in a 1BR in early/mid November. Kept stalking and when it was all said and done we had 2 nights at BW and 4 at BCV for those same nights so we could walk to F&W ..... to top it off on our drive down about an hour out of disney we snagged an AKL value studio for that night. Granted you might not have your choice of resorts inside 7 months but in many cases even during popular DVC months you will most likely be able to cobble something together.

 

[eandt]

you are not alone in wanting the blue card direct option and not knowing why... I'm sure its a common feeling as I am in the same boat! good luck and keep us posted!

We bought 125 direct before the increase to get the blue card, we are very happy we did.