Looking to purchase how do the waitlists work?

[MickeyMouseCD524]

I’m interested in purchasing a DVC membership, but want one of the properties that is already “sold out”. I’m under the impression that I can go on a waitlist to purchase that property with DVC but was curious if anyone has actually gotten off those waitlists and exactly how long did you wait?

I’ve looked into the resale market and while I know it’s reputable it’s just not for me at this point in time. And I would feel more comfortable purchasing through DVC. Any thoughts or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[meekey7197]

What are your reservations about resale? not judging, our first contract was direct as well, I just think people have misconceptions about resale. Your wait depends on how long it takes them to find a contract that meets your needs and how many people are in front of you.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

People get off the direct waitlists all the time, depending on resort and UY.

But they do pay for that privilege compared to resale. And because there are waitlists, direct may not be any faster than resale.

 

[ray3127]

And because there are waitlists, direct may not be any faster than resale.

This is some excellent advice. I went on 3 direct waitlists in July for sold out resorts. Slowly I realized they weren't coming through, and purchased resale along the way. Now I have 2 contracts closed and 1 closing in a couple weeks, all at 30-40% below current direct prices. If I waited to purchase any of those direct, I'd still be waiting.

Also not judging, but would encourage you to explain why you don't think resale is for you. I was kind of in the same boat last summer, but after consuming these boards for a few weeks I quickly changed my tune.

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

What are your reservations about resale? not judging, our first contract was direct as well, I just think people have misconceptions about resale. Your wait depends on how long it takes them to find a contract that meets your needs and how many people are in front of you.

We like the perks of being able to go to Moonlight Magic and Member Cruises, which it's my understanding that you don't get any of that if you purchase resale. We have two resorts we really like and I think if we get one directly from DVC we'll consider a second contract for the other from the resale market.

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

People get off the direct waitlists all the time, depending on resort and UY.

But they do pay for that privilege compared to resale. And because there are waitlists, direct may not be any faster than resale.

Glad to hear people get off! It's not exactly speed thing I'm fine with waiting, I just didn't want to hear that I'd be waiting 50 years or something ridiculous like that.

This is some excellent advice. I went on 3 direct waitlists in July for sold out resorts. Slowly I realized they weren't coming through, and purchased resale along the way. Now I have 2 contracts closed and 1 closing in a couple weeks, all at 30-40% below current direct prices. If I waited to purchase any of those direct, I'd still be waiting.

Also not judging, but would encourage you to explain why you don't think resale is for you. I was kind of in the same boat last summer, but after consuming these boards for a few weeks I quickly changed my tune.

Oh nothing against resale, but we like the perks that come with being a member, like the chance to go to Moonlight Magic. We've had the chance to experience those events and loved them! And it's our understanding that you can't do that with a resale contract. I think if we were to buy a second contract which will probably happen down the road we would go resale but for the first purchase we feel direct better aligns with what we're looking for.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Honestly, I would recommend buying most of your points resale, then adding on 75 direct. Far easier to match UY.

I also wouldn't count on 50 years of Moonlight Magic or similar. Benefits come and go with leadership turnover. Early members got free park tickets and valet parking, for instance.

 

[crvetter]

Honestly, I would recommend buying most of your points resale, then adding on 75 direct. Far easier to match UY.

I also wouldn't count on 50 years of Moonlight Magic or similar. Benefits come and go with leadership turnover. Early members got free park tickets and valet parking, for instance.

True I wouldn’t buy just because of member benefits. I bought direct for different reasons but the perks were just a nice side option to top it off (guaranteed week options and not being much different in cost). Also I wish I got those free park tickets, because it wasn’t even a benefit, I think, it was in their contracts. Those people got a good deal but they also took a huge gamble on DVC not tanking.

 

[The Jackal]

Waitlists length depends on the resort and size of contract. They might have some points available right now. If you are flexible on use year, it will be a faster process? We have had 2 come thru this January.

 

[Bing Showei]

We didn’t get a call to get off our waitlist until after our requested UY turned over at VGF. When we went on an SSR waitlist, we got a call the next day that the points were available. I think it depends on how proactive your guide is. There is no centralized waitlist.

Have you done the obligatory 14 page spreadsheet resale buyers tend to use to pave their way from the SSR sales center to resale? Nothing like empirical data to combat pixie dust.

I recommend doing a cost analysis between the following:

1- all points direct vs no points resale
2- 75 point direct vs balance resale
3- no points direct vs all points resale

When I was looking at direct vs resale, the $20K plus cost difference aat the time meant platinum annual passes for my family for almost 10 years.

Look at what the option 3 delta yields and calculate how many APs, After Hours events, etc. you can buy with that.

Many end up buying a direct add-on for the benefits as the whole 1st class direct buyer feeling is pretty compelling. As auroraborealis suggested, the 2nd option may serve you well.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Some resorts / UY combos will be available right now.

Seems to me SSR, OKW, AKV are available in some UY almost always or with short waits.

VGF, BCV, and BLT are going to be your hardest to get.

I've personally had BWV come thru twice. The first time (2017) was maybe 6 weeks though if I hadn't been indecisive they would have been immediately available. The 2nd time was just this year during the January "rush" before price increase (and it didn't come thru in time) but the total wait was only 2 weeks.


I was on the waitlist for SSR during the same time period, 6 day wait. And BLT - still hasn't come thru.

My UY is Oct - which is pretty low supply across the board.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Also, keep in mind that to "save money!" with the DVC discounts you must spend lots and lots and lots of additional money. Not the buy in of points, but the trying to time events (if offered), cash for dining (no using your kitchen to save) and APa (visit more often to make them "worth it.")

 

[ray3127]

I second all the advice given so far. One additional question and comment:

What resorts are you looking at? That will make a huge difference on how long you'd have to wait direct.

I, too, wanted access to the member cruises and moonlight magic. But then I realized that the dates associated with these events are totally out of my control. Many (most) buy into DVC because they are long term planners. This may work for the cruises, but even those are very limited dates/sailings. I'd rather take the cruise that fits my schedule/budget than plan around when Disney schedules the DVC one. And when it comes to MM, those dates can be impossible to plan around. Getting to those is more a matter of luck than anything, it seems. Unless you are able to drop everything and plan around them. The consensus on them seems to be that while they are nice, they are not worth planning around.

Which is all to say that if those are the 2 pieces you're after, think hard about it. As others have said, those perks can go away at any time anyway. Buying just for those? They aren't a guarantee.

 

[hcortesis]

As a new member, can you even buy the sold out resorts direct? Not sure which one(s) the OP is interested in.

 

[Matty B13]

Anyone can try to buy-in to one of the sold out resorts, but for some like BCV and VGF the waitlist are very long, it took us quiet a few emails and several months to get our direct VGF points. The minimum buy-in points are the difference between current owners and existing owners (resale or direct), you can purchase less than 75 points, but you won't have the "perks". Also, if you really want direct points at a sold out resort, I would start talking (bothering) your guide at least once a week.

Also, as has been said already the Moonlight Magic Events are hit or miss with your dates, unless you book a reservation specifically for the date of the event, but that costs a lot of money if you don't leave within driving distance from WDW. However, it seems that DVC is setting up these event more often than they have in the past, but can't be counted on to continue setting them up.

Good Luck with your purchase whether direct or resale, the resorts are all very nice.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are on a waitlist to purchase points at a sold out resort direct from DVC, you might find them magically available to purchase right after they raise the cost per point. I think it happened the last time the price of points direct went up. And some of the sold out resorts are really expensive direct, more than the new resorts they are selling.

 

[The Jackal]

If you are on a waitlist to purchase points at a sold out resort direct from DVC, you might find them magically available to purchase right after they raise the cost per point. I think it happened the last time the price of points direct went up. And some of the sold out resorts are really expensive direct, more than the new resorts they are selling.

Yes they called for 2 resorts waitlists for us after the last raise.

 

[MickeyMouseCD524]

Honestly, I would recommend buying most of your points resale, then adding on 75 direct. Far easier to match UY.

I also wouldn't count on 50 years of Moonlight Magic or similar. Benefits come and go with leadership turnover. Early members got free park tickets and valet parking, for instance.

Oh I completely understand that I was just using it as an example. I’ll look into that option. With the resale and buying direct

Waitlists length depends on the resort and size of contract. They might have some points available right now. If you are flexible on use year, it will be a faster process? We have had 2 come thru this January.

We’re extremely flexible in terms of use year! Thanks!

We didn’t get a call to get off our waitlist until after our requested UY turned over at VGF. When we went on an SSR waitlist, we got a call the next day that the points were available. I think it depends on how proactive your guide is. There is no centralized waitlist.

Have you done the obligatory 14 page spreadsheet resale buyers tend to use to pave their way from the SSR sales center to resale? Nothing like empirical data to combat pixie dust.

I recommend doing a cost analysis between the following:

1- all points direct vs no points resale
2- 75 point direct vs balance resale
3- no points direct vs all points resale

When I was looking at direct vs resale, the $20K plus cost difference aat the time meant platinum annual passes for my family for almost 10 years.

Look at what the option 3 delta yields and calculate how many APs, After Hours events, etc. you can buy with that.

Many end up buying a direct add-on for the benefits as the whole 1st class direct buyer feeling is pretty compelling. As auroraborealis suggested, the 2nd option may serve you well.

Haha oh yes we’ve done the spreadsheets! And yes there are price differences. We’ve been going back and forth for a year about buying direct vs. resale so we’re definitely not making the decision lightly. But we haven’t given the second option a good a hard look so I may have to redo that spreadsheet and see how that works out.

I second all the advice given so far. One additional question and comment:

What resorts are you looking at? That will make a huge difference on how long you'd have to wait direct.

I, too, wanted access to the member cruises and moonlight magic. But then I realized that the dates associated with these events are totally out of my control. Many (most) buy into DVC because they are long term planners. This may work for the cruises, but even those are very limited dates/sailings. I'd rather take the cruise that fits my schedule/budget than plan around when Disney schedules the DVC one. And when it comes to MM, those dates can be impossible to plan around. Getting to those is more a matter of luck than anything, it seems. Unless you are able to drop everything and plan around them. The consensus on them seems to be that while they are nice, they are not worth planning around.

Which is all to say that if those are the 2 pieces you're after, think hard about it. As others have said, those perks can go away at any time anyway. Buying just for those? They aren't a guarantee.

Oh I agree completely it was just one of the first examples that popped into my head.

We are looking at BWV and VGF. We have been told though that VGF can be a very hard contract to come by direct though.

If you are on a waitlist to purchase points at a sold out resort direct from DVC, you might find them magically available to purchase right after they raise the cost per point. I think it happened the last time the price of points direct went up. And some of the sold out resorts are really expensive direct, more than the new resorts they are selling.

I read that recently too. And it hasn’t been a big factor in the decision but it definitely should be. So thank you for pointing that out. We also looked at the current offer but I’m not a huge fan of CC and we probably won’t go out to Aluani more that two or three times in our life times.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

With BWV, I'd caution a few things:

• I've seen a fair number of 50-75 point contracts coming up resale lately. They sell quick, but there has been good volume. I think people who bought small contracts figuring "bank and borrow or a long weekend at F&W!" are discovering it not to work as well as their plan had been. Availability for BWV Standard is lightning-quick to be gone all of fall, and even some of not-fall, and most of those plans were based on the fantasy of Standard.
• Buying BWV direct in a small contract may land you in the same place.
• BWV is $190 direct for a 2042 resort. A 150 point contract at BWV resale will run ~$130pp, although I have seen some (much) higher. $60pp is a decent hunk of green for 150.