Lot of questions regarding the real $ value of loss of DVC member benefits.

[DebbieB]

Is the discount on AP only for gold or does platinum get the discount too?

There are discounts on Platinum and Platinum Plus.

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/ticket-tour/walt-disney-world-pass/

 

[Ben E N]

Is the discount on AP only for gold or does platinum get the discount too?

Platinum and Platinum Plus also get them. You can see the exact discounts by looking them up on MouseSavers under the annual pass section.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I did state it includes alcohol, but most lounges at the resorts do not accept TIW. The Gurgling Suitcase at OKW does. AP get usually 10% off for most things, there are a couple that give 15% and a few that give 20% off. TIW costs $150. You save 10% with TIW compared to AP. To make up the cost of TIW you have to spend $1,500. If you spent $1,400 your AP savings would be $140, TIW savings would be $280. Subtract out what the AP savings would be. $280-$140= $140. TIW cost $150. You are $10 short. $1500 is the break even point over AP. If you don’t have an AP $750 is the break even point. The good thing about TIW is that it’s good for 13 months. We get 3 trips out of it.

Interesting. I have found all resort lounges do take TIW. Pool bars on the other hand, do not.
i break even at $750. We drink more than that in a year at Disney.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Honestly, the biggest benefit is the AP discount, which is now closer to $500 less for the Gold AP.

Depending on how many would be getting that discount from your household, it could help cover the price difference going direct over a shorter vs ,longer time.

if AKV is $186 vs. resale around $105..could get a little less...that $81/pt...or $8100 more to go direct on 100 points, Since you always get the AP now, the foods and merchandise is pretty much a wash. With one person, it would take about 16 years to break even. For a family of 4, it takes only 4 years to do that.

The only other aspect of going direct is the ability to stay at RIV and future resorts.
I
Remember, you only need to have 100 points direct so if you are looking at more than that, you can buy the rest resale so you hsve the direct benefits, but still save.

Actually wouldn’t it be double that time to break even if she is getting two years out of one pass?

 

[Wakey]

Up until this year when I just happen to have 3 trips in a year and for the first time an annual pass is worthwhile over UK tickets, my ‘savings’ stretched to some 10% offs on table service, 20% off a few pieces of merch (I don’t buy it) and a few trips into the DVC lounge. Never there for a Moonlight Magic.
For me until this year, blue card membership has minimal dollar value. Now the difference is between what I could have bought tickets for and what the discount annual passes have cost me- probably around $400.
Many people with white card only get TiW and nowhere on the TiW web page (last time I looked) did it say you need a blue card. TiW is no use for us, as we only maybe eat at 3-4 table service per 10 night trip.

 

[hcortesis]

Members can also get Tables in Wonderland. It is 20% off mostly sit down meals and drinks (alcohol included), but includes a 18% tip. So unless you tip extra you saved 2% from the original cost of the meal.

Tip being included has zero to do with the discount. You receive 20% discount off food and beverages. If you would have tipped 18% without TIW, then TIW saved you 20%. If you would have tipped only 15%, then TIW would have saved you 17%. If you would have tipped 0%, then yes, TIW would have only saved you 2%

 

[Sandisw]

Actually wouldn’t it be double that time to break even if she is getting two years out of one pass?

Yup! Missed that part!

 

[Sandisw]

Interesting. I have found all resort lounges do take TIW. Pool bars on the other hand, do not.
i break even at $750. We drink more than that in a year at Disney.

For food, though, it is a break even at $1500. But, for those that will drink, when you add the discount for alcohol, then it will bring that down, depending how much ones party will drink,

I stopped getting it when my travel groups became smaller, and a few of the people I went with weren’t drinkers, or we weren’t spending time at enough lounges to make it worth it,

 

[bobbiwoz]

So far, we’ve saved $25 over the cost Of TIW. We have about 10 table services to go before card expires. This includes savings for our friends, so not all ours.

 

[bumbershoot]

I did state it includes alcohol, but most lounges at the resorts do not accept TIW

What lounges do you feel aren’t included? I'm looking at the list of included places and it seems like there’s a ton of lounges that accept TIW.

 

[justadreamaway77]

I did state it includes alcohol, but most lounges at the resorts do not accept TIW. The Gurgling Suitcase at OKW does. AP get usually 10% off for most things, there are a couple that give 15% and a few that give 20% off. TIW costs $150. You save 10% with TIW compared to AP. To make up the cost of TIW you have to spend $1,500. If you spent $1,400 your AP savings would be $140, TIW savings would be $280. Subtract out what the AP savings would be. $280-$140= $140. TIW cost $150. You are $10 short. $1500 is the break even point over AP. If you don’t have an AP $750 is the break even point. The good thing about TIW is that it’s good for 13 months. We get 3 trips out of it.

A lot of lounges accept the TIW.
AKL- Cape Town Lounge and Wine Bar and Victoria Falls Louge
BCV- Martha's Vineyard
BWV- Belle Vue Lounge
BLT- The Outer Rim
Coronado- Barcelona Lounge, Dahlia Lounge, and the Three Bridges Bar
VGF- Enchanted Rose
OKW- Gurgling Suitcase
Poly- Tambu Lounge
POFQ- Scat Cat Club
POR- River Roost
SSR- Turf Club Lounge
WL- Territory Lounge
Yacht Club- Ale&Compass Lounge and Crew's Cup Lounge

 

[justadreamaway77]

That's exactly why I've been crunching the numbers every which way I can, trying to get the break even point of that $9000 or so. I know I'm going to need more points than just 100, so I was trying to see if the "other" savings justified buying 100 direct or 200 resale (obviously that varies depended on resort).

Remember that even if you buy 100 points direct, if you buy any resales after that those points would not be able to be used at RIV....only the 100 points you bought directly from Disney.

 

[MaMudduck]

I’m thinking along the lines, that my direct gets me a 50year contract at Wdw, (to use at any DVC) and blue card membership, and then any others I buy would be “original DVC’s” points to use not really to be use at RIV- does that make sense?
Anyone know where to find some good spreadsheets for comparing all these factors?

 

[justadreamaway77]

I’m thinking along the lines, that my direct gets me a 50year contract at Wdw, (to use at any DVC) and blue card membership, and then any others I buy would be “original DVC’s” points to use not really to be use at RIV- does that make sense?
Anyone know where to find some good spreadsheets for comparing all these factors?

You only get 50 years if you buy at RIV, otherwise your length is the length of that resort's contract. So if you bought SSR direct, your contract would end in 2054....regardless of whether you bought direct or resale. Also, don't forget a BUNCH of DVC resorts are ending in 2042. Their future is still up in the air. Will Disney offer extensions? Will those rooms just be turned into cash rooms? Will they just sell brand new 50 year contracts? Nobody knows. If those rooms/resorts turn into just cash/regular rooms, then DVC points would not be used there so your pool of resorts to use will decrease. Even if they decide to keep them DVC and restart new contracts, the existing point chart is off the table and they can create a new chart with new point amounts. At least that is my understanding.

 

[MaMudduck]

Yes, I get that, but the 100 points at RIV for 50 years @ $195 vs 100points direct for Akl for 37 yrs @ $186, making RIV the better “value” (maintenance fees not included)
Which loops me back to the original question, is the blue card worth the $9000 difference in other stuff. And the ability to use those direct points at any future DVC resorts.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, I get that, but the 100 points at RIV for 50 years @ $195 vs 100points direct for Akl for 37 yrs @ $186, making RIV the better “value” (maintenance fees not included)
Which loops me back to the original question, is the blue card worth the $9000 difference in other stuff. And the ability to use those direct points at any future DVC resorts.

Really, only you can answer whether or not thst will be worth it. But, the AP is about a $500 per person discount right now, Depending on how large your family is and if you can make that work, it doesn’t take that long to recoup the extra you spent.

You can’t really put a price on using the points at RIV or new resorts. If you think you want to stay at those places,, then you really have to own direct points, I will say I do think that one needs to own at RIV to have a better chance at SV rooms. Since the point charts are more, if you aren’t an owner, it will most likely be preferred rooms you would be booking,

Points will go farther at AKV vs, RIV if you like both resorts equally, but studios are bigger at RIV, sleep 5, and have the double shower situation.