Membership Questions-one more

[summerw]

Hi, we're considering buying a small contract either at the Polynesian or BCV. We've stayed in the Polynesian on rented points and in the Beach Club hotel. I feel like I've been reading for weeks and am still confused on a few things...

1) If we buy resale, are we still considered actual "Members"? Do we still get a membership card and ID # etc? I realize we wouldn't get the discount perks and would be restricted to the 14, but what about free parking, Top of the World lounge (I thought that was still ok for resale but Disney's DVC FAQ page has a chart where it's not checked as a benefit)? Maybe I am remembering reading an old thread.

2) When considering the Use Year, we would probably typically vacation in spring, so I was thinking a February or even December Use Year would be best for us? Is it better to have it a month or two before we typically travel or is 3-4 months better? I'd love to hear situations of where this came up for people.

3) I feel a little overwhelmed by the reservation process in terms of points and use years. It seems like we'd have to make a reservation at our home resort at the 11-month mark and then switch to another resort we might want to try at the 7-month mark, especially if we would mostly want studios. How do people handing this when you are banking and borrowing multiple years for a trip? How tricky is this in the reservation system? If something comes up at the 7-month mark, do you have to have everything borrowed or whatever before you select it or will it hold the reservation while you adjust your points? I hope that made sense.

 

[zapple]

1) You are a member, but you have a white card instead of a blue one, a blue one gets you the perks. You still get free parking and TOWL access with a white card.

2) A December use year would be good for spring trips. February would not be good if you might sometimes travel in January, but if you always go in spring, it would be fine.

3) When you make a reservation, the website walks you through borrowing if needed while you're making the reservation.

 

[summerw]

1) You are a member, but you have a white card instead of a blue one, a blue one gets you the perks. You still get free parking and TOWL access with a white card.

2) A December use year would be good for spring trips. February would not be good if you might sometimes travel in January, but if you always go in spring, it would be fine.

3) When you make a reservation, the website walks you through borrowing if needed while you're making the reservation.

Thanks so much for responding. That puts my mind at ease a lot. Here's the link on Disney where it says no access to TOWL. It's strange it says that.

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/faq/reselling/what-is-included/

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

FYI - free parking is not a DVC perk. It is a perk of staying onsite or being an AP holder. Just owning DVC does not get you free parking though no matter how you purchase. You would get an online "card" which would be white vs the blue for being a qualified member with perks. Qualified members also have an online card they can use. And yes, all owners still have access to TOTWL. You get that and also pool hopping. Seems like there's 1 more thing but I'm drawing a blank right now what that is.

As mentioned as long as you wouldn't travel in January then a Feb UY would be fine or December.

Borrowing is something that is done at the time you make a reservation. Banking can be done before hand or whenever you wish to and now there is also an option to bank while you are making a reservation. If you were to use banked or borrowed points when booking at your home resort and then wanted to switch at 7 months there's a couple of scenarios. If the point requirements were less for the room you were switching to the system would automatically used the borrowed points first, then any banked points and the it would use whatever current points were required to complete the reservation and leave current points that you could then bank if you weren't planning another trip in that UY. If the new 7 month reservation required more points than the home resort reservation then it would use whatever was already banked and borrowed and the current points and then ask you to confirm borrowing more points (assuming you had more). The system has certain point usage rules written into it and asks you about other things before doing them.

 

[summerw]

FYI - free parking is not a DVC perk. It is a perk of staying onsite or being an AP holder. Just owning DVC does not get you free parking though no matter how you purchase. You would get an online "card" which would be white vs the blue for being a qualified member with perks. Qualified members also have an online card they can use. And yes, all owners still have access to TOTWL. You get that and also pool hopping. Seems like there's 1 more thing but I'm drawing a blank right now what that is.

As mentioned as long as you wouldn't travel in January then a Feb UY would be fine or December.

Borrowing is something that is done at the time you make a reservation. Banking can be done before hand or whenever you wish to and now there is also an option to bank while you are making a reservation. If you were to use banked or borrowed points when booking at your home resort and then wanted to switch at 7 months there's a couple of scenarios. If the point requirements were less for the room you were switching to the system would automatically used the borrowed points first, then any banked points and the it would use whatever current points were required to complete the reservation and leave current points that you could then bank if you weren't planning another trip in that UY. If the new 7 month reservation required more points than the home resort reservation then it would use whatever was already banked and borrowed and the current points and then ask you to confirm borrowing more points (assuming you had more). The system has certain point usage rules written into it and asks you about other things before doing them.

Thanks that makes sense about the reservation process. I think we'd probably eventually add enough direct points to get the perks, but not this year since the Polynesian is a 100-point buy in for $235 pp. Not this year.

 

[PrincessDuck]

FYI - free parking is not a DVC perk. It is a perk of staying onsite or being an AP holder. Just owning DVC does not get you free parking though no matter how you purchase. You would get an online "card" which would be white vs the blue for being a qualified member with perks. Qualified members also have an online card they can use. And yes, all owners still have access to TOTWL. You get that and also pool hopping. Seems like there's 1 more thing but I'm drawing a blank right now what that is.

As mentioned as long as you wouldn't travel in January then a Feb UY would be fine or December.

Borrowing is something that is done at the time you make a reservation. Banking can be done before hand or whenever you wish to and now there is also an option to bank while you are making a reservation. If you were to use banked or borrowed points when booking at your home resort and then wanted to switch at 7 months there's a couple of scenarios. If the point requirements were less for the room you were switching to the system would automatically used the borrowed points first, then any banked points and the it would use whatever current points were required to complete the reservation and leave current points that you could then bank if you weren't planning another trip in that UY. If the new 7 month reservation required more points than the home resort reservation then it would use whatever was already banked and borrowed and the current points and then ask you to confirm borrowing more points (assuming you had more). The system has certain point usage rules written into it and asks you about other things before doing them.

You are describing free parking at the parks. Free parking at the resorts is a DVC thing.

 

[CarolMN]

You are describing free parking at the parks. Free parking at the resorts is a DVC thing.

Yes, if you book a stay with points (or call Member Services to book a DVC resort for cash or a non-DVC resort for points), you are not charged for overnight parking at the resorts. Note that "day guests" are not charged to park at the WDW resorts. (Swan/Dolphin do charge).

As KAT postet, free parking at a park is NOT a DVC perk - never has been. That's a perk for those staying on site (which includes the WDW DVC resorts).

 

[summerw]

So if you buy 75 points direct to become a member and want to take advantage of the perks, I know Disney can change the perks, but can they ever ever change how many points you need once you've bought? So although they could change that number from 75 to whatever for new purchases, once I'm considered member with access to the perks, they can't change that for me, can they? So if the new threshold becomes 100, they can't make that affect members who bought previously, right? Hopefully?

 

[Deb & Bill]

So if you buy 75 points direct to become a member and want to take advantage of the perks, I know Disney can change the perks, but can they ever ever change how many points you need once you've bought? So although they could change that number from 75 to whatever for new purchases, once I'm considered member with access to the perks, they can't change that for me, can they? So if the new threshold becomes 100, they can't make that affect members who bought previously, right? Hopefully?

Usually, when changes are made, members who met the previous set of requirements are grandfathered in. But perks change all the time. Some are changed or eliminated overnight.

 

[summerw]

Usually, when changes are made, members who met the previous set of requirements are grandfathered in. But perks change all the time. Some are changed or eliminated overnight.

Thanks! Yes, it's frustrating about the perks, but if I wouldn't be grandfathered in, I might feel differently about buying direct over resale. The access to the new resorts is probably bigger for me though.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks! Yes, it's frustrating about the perks, but if I wouldn't be grandfathered in, I might feel differently about buying direct over resale. The access to the new resorts is probably bigger for me though.

They can choose to eliminate perks entirely, or not to grandfather existing members to anything new.

 

[bwvBound]

Thanks! Yes, it's frustrating about the perks, but if I wouldn't be grandfathered in, I might feel differently about buying direct over resale. The access to the new resorts is probably bigger for me though.

If the intention of the bolded section is to say that you feel strongly about having and maintaining access to booking the new resorts then be aware that it is the points that are qualified not the member. That is, if you purchase sufficient points to meet the minimum requirement for Blue Card status, only the points you purchased direct can be used to book the new resorts (Riviera, Refletions and beyond). You won't be able to mix "resale-post-January-2019 and direct" points together to book the new resorts. 75 direct points might not get you far in the new resorts ...??

Hope that made sense ....

 

[summerw]

If the intention of the bolded section is to say that you feel strongly about having and maintaining access to booking the new resorts then be aware that it is the points that are qualified not the member. That is, if you purchase sufficient points to meet the minimum requirement for Blue Card status, only the points you purchased direct can be used to book the new resorts (Riviera, Refletions and beyond). You won't be able to mix "resale-post-January-2019 and direct" points together to book the new resorts. 75 direct points might not get you far in the new resorts ...??

Hope that made sense ....

It totally does. Thanks! I’d probably only want to try a night or two at a new resort and then buy more if we like it. The poly direct is just so expensive and it’s the only resort besides BVC that I’d want to buy at until I’ve tried staying at some more.

Also, we are in CA and are spoiled by Disneyland so we’d use 2-3 years of points per trip since wdw is not a yearly thing for us.

 

[bwvBound]

Also, we are in CA

Howdy from San Diego!

 

[summerw]

Howdy from San Diego!

Hi, from OC!

 

[Frederic Civish]

For the 'White Card' if you are a member, but purchased at Resale, I don't believe they actually ever send you a card. I have requested white cards on some of my resale accounts several times, and never received them, yet I have received multiple Blue Cards on my Direct account, whenever I ask.

So, for your White Card, you might need to print it yourself, or, even better and easier, go online to your DVC Member account, to your Dashboard. Towards the top of your 'plans' screen, it has a little place you can click, to bring up your membership. Which will be white. I SUGGEST YOU TAKE A SCREEN SHOT OF IT. Do this every time, before you take your Disney Vacation, since the old card will expire after a month or two. Keep a copy of the screen shot on your phone, and show that to anyone who needs to see it.

As for Top of the World Lounge, it is my understanding that ALL DVC Members can use it. But you have to buy Direct, to use the Pyramid Lounge in
EPCOT.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It totally does. Thanks! I’d probably only want to try a night or two at a new resort and then buy more if we like it. The poly direct is just so expensive and it’s the only resort besides BVC that I’d want to buy at until I’ve tried staying at some more.

Also, we are in CA and are spoiled by Disneyland so we’d use 2-3 years of points per trip since wdw is not a yearly thing for us.

There are other ways to stay at a resort you only want a couple of nights at. Rent a reservation. Transfer points if you are an owner. Pay cash. Then decide if it's something that is important. There's also a lot of others resorts to try with resale points.

 

[LAX]

Thanks! Yes, it's frustrating about the perks, but if I wouldn't be grandfathered in, I might feel differently about buying direct over resale. The access to the new resorts is probably bigger for me though.

I honestly think this is a marketing gimmick because of the resale restrictions (look at how it plays out now at the L14 even without any restriction). Depending on how much turnover there will be at these new DVC resort(s) and how much DVD wants to ROFR the contracts once they hit the resale market, there will likely be limited availability at these resort(s). Think about it. If the owners at these resort(s) can't trade out, how will other owners trade in? It really doesn't matter if you buy with the intention of trading into them. I think the 11-month window is going to be fierce if turnover is high, so forget about availability at 7 months unless you are really flexible, IMHO.

LAX

 

[summerw]

There are other ways to stay at a resort you only want a couple of nights at. Rent a reservation. Transfer points if you are an owner. Pay cash. Then decide if it's something that is important. There's also a lot of others resorts to try with resale points.

For sure. I just feel excited about Riviera and Reflections in a way I don’t feel about a lot of other resorts. Purely emotional.

I honestly think this is a marketing gimmick because of the resale restrictions (look at how it plays out now at the L14 even without any restriction). Depending on how much turnover there will be at these new DVC resort(s) and how much DVD wants to ROFR the contracts once they hit the resale market, there will likely be limited availability at these resort(s). Think about it. If the owners at these resort(s) can't trade out, how will other owners trade in? It really doesn't matter if you buy with the intention of trading into them. I think the 11-month window is going to be fierce if turnover is high, so forget about availability at 7 months unless you are really flexible, IMHO.

LAX

I can definitely see that being the case in a few years when the resales start to rise. Seems like that how people talk about studios everywhere at 7 months already.

 

[bwvBound]

For sure. I just feel excited about Riviera and Reflections in a way I don’t feel about a lot of other resorts. Purely emotional.

Check yourself on this one: are you, perhaps, more influenced by the "unknown"? Is part of that emotional allure the newness, the undiscovered, the fact that nobody has yet stayed and reported its short comings?

Be careful following an emotional pull towards something not yet open.