Minimum points to book at non-home resort?

[MyKindOfDisney]

Is anyone aware of a minimum direct point purchase in order to use points at non-home resorts?

I own resale points and would like to buy direct points at Poly in order to use those points to access the newer resorts (Riviera, eventually Lakeshore Lodge, etc.)
I understand my resale points will never be able to do this.
But if I direct purchase from Disney a small contract (say 25 or 50 points), am I able to bank and borrow and book with those points every few years at the new resorts?

I asked my Disney guide who said she didn't think I could, so call member services. The first person I talked to said they can't be used outside of my home resort, I need a minimum of 100 points to do that. She referred me to a chart on the DVC website. I couldn't find that chart when I looked later, so I called member services again and spoke with someone else who said I CAN use those direct points at any DVC resort at the 7 month mark.

I'm just very confused and wonder if anyone here can offer their experience or show me where this is spelled out on the DVC site.

Thanks in advance!

 

[intamin]

You can use direct points anywhere and you can bank and borrow them. There is no minimum to book other than what the room costs and of course the smallest contract size you can purchase direct is 25 points

Long story short yes, you can buy a direct 25 or a 50 pointer contract and use those every other or every few years as needed for longer stays.

 

[Wedgeout]

If already a member with resale, you are not required to buy a minimum 100 direct as long as buy into your same membership (UY & deed). Can buy that minimums for that resort. Points will have direct point power. Home resort at 11, others at 7. Being direct points, yes, you get access to RIV, VDH, CFW & beyond.

 

[Wedgeout]

I’d get a more qualified guide too while you are at it.

 

[Steelers0854]

Just remember price increases go in affect in a few days so you don’t have long before your costs will go up.

 

[MyKindOfDisney]

I’d get a more qualified guide too while you are at it.

I'm thinking I need to ask for a new one! The second MS person I talked to said I should have just asked my guide

 

[Genie+]

Once you are a member (via direct or resale) the minimum direct purchase add-on is 25 points.

^This change happened July 2025:

Thread 'Direct Add On Now 25 pt Min on all Resorts!'

Jul 17, 2025

Just wanted to start a new thread to talk about the new minimum add on is 25 points for all resorts! Buying and using credit card bonus sign ups and/or 0% offers makes this a pretty sweet option for direct points.

I had to head over and do the calculations and was shocked to see CCV base is more than RIV, VDH, and CFW!

Thanks @Tatebeck for the idea on a new thread.

• VGCgroupie
• Replies: 252
• Forum: Purchasing DVC

• 
• 

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/faq/add-on-one-time-use-points/definition
(Though the minimum is 50pts if financing)

These points are exactly like any others - you get 11 month home priority, 7 month trading, and ability to bank/borrow.

From experience though, I found using both bank/borrow from a small contract complicated and more open to risk. If you’re using 2 or 3 years of points and then need to reschedule or cancel, things go sideways much easier. Say you have 125pt booking at PVB with a 50pt contract, and you need to change dates or move it to next year. With changing dates, your point totals may change too, and the points that can be moved at that time are current year only, which also means they will expire in the next year so now you cannot skip that year. If you move to the next year, you’ll still need to find use for the banked and borrowed in this UY. We have a 50pt BWV and now I try to keep from using more than 2 years of points on one trip. Optimally, current UY points leave you the most flexibility especially if you keep trips before banking deadline.

 

[byurick]

It seems member services is about as reliable with information as chatgpt.

 

[byurick]

Just remember price increases go in affect in a few days so you don’t have long before your costs will go up.

Good news is with small 25 pointers the price increase doesn't feel as painful.

 

[Genie+]

It might also be helpful to point out to guides/MS who seem to have incorrect details that 24 One Time Use points and 25 point minimum add-on are 2 different things. Possible they’re causing confusion because DVC lumps them together sometimes (like in the FAQ I previously posted).

Guides and Member Services occasionally get confused on the finer details and I could see them accidentally mixing up terms on these 2 very different things.

 

[intamin]

I'm thinking I need to ask for a new one! The second MS person I talked to said I should have just asked my guide

Definitely get a new one.

 

[airjay75]

The only thing I would note in your shoes since you're contemplating buying direct Poly points to use at RIV/CFW/VDH/LSL is that means you'll be competing at the 7-month mark with those points. CFW is a pretty low-point resort, but it is also a bit difficult to get into at the 7-month mark. I'm not a VDH expert, but I believe 7-month availability at that resort is difficult, although not impossible to find some dates for studios here and there. RIV resort view studios are very difficult to get into at the 7-month mark. Preferred view studios are a bit easier, but also require more points.

So, I would just think through buying a small point contract at Poly for use at other resorts and just how far those points will go, even with banking and borrowing. If you're planning to combine those Poly points with your resale points most of the time at the O14 resorts, but you just want the option to once in awhile pick up a few days here or there at a restricted resort, probably makes sense. If you're planning to take 50 direct Poly points and turn that into a 1-week stay in a RIV resort view studio, that isn't going to work very well.

 

[juliebee]

You mentioned Riviera and Lakeshore Lodge as a reason to buy the Poly points. Would buying at Riviera make better sense so you can get the home resort advantage at least?

 

[Chili327]

Is anyone aware of a minimum direct point purchase in order to use points at non-home resorts?

I own resale points and would like to buy direct points at Poly in order to use those points to access the newer resorts (Riviera, eventually Lakeshore Lodge, etc.)
I understand my resale points will never be able to do this.
But if I direct purchase from Disney a small contract (say 25 or 50 points), am I able to bank and borrow and book with those points every few years at the new resorts?

I asked my Disney guide who said she didn't think I could, so call member services. The first person I talked to said they can't be used outside of my home resort, I need a minimum of 100 points to do that. She referred me to a chart on the DVC website. I couldn't find that chart when I looked later, so I called member services again and spoke with someone else who said I CAN use those direct points at any DVC resort at the 7 month mark.

I'm just very confused and wonder if anyone here can offer their experience or show me where this is spelled out on the DVC site.

Thanks in advance!

They are lying salesman. Period, no excuse to be that vague or dumb about it.

You can use direct points anywhere and you can bank and borrow them. There is no minimum to book other than what the room costs and of course the smallest contract size you can purchase direct is 25 points

Long story short yes, you can buy a direct 25 or a 50 pointer contract and use those every other or every few years as needed for longer stays.

This!!

And very much this…

I’d get a more qualified guide too while you are at it.

 

[intamin]

They are lying salesman. Period, no excuse to be that vague or dumb about it.



This!!

And very much this…

Best case scenario they're oblivious, worst case scenario they're trying to pressure you into buying more than you need. Neither are things you want in your guide.

 

[VGCgroupie]

100% get a new guide. Plenty of guide recommendations here on the boards.

 

[VGCgroupie]

100% get a new guide. Plenty of guide recommendations here on the boards.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/dvc-direct-sales-rep-recommendation.3968811/#post-66196741

 

[MyKindOfDisney]

The only thing I would note in your shoes since you're contemplating buying direct Poly points to use at RIV/CFW/VDH/LSL is that means you'll be competing at the 7-month mark with those points. CFW is a pretty low-point resort, but it is also a bit difficult to get into at the 7-month mark. I'm not a VDH expert, but I believe 7-month availability at that resort is difficult, although not impossible to find some dates for studios here and there. RIV resort view studios are very difficult to get into at the 7-month mark. Preferred view studios are a bit easier, but also require more points.

So, I would just think through buying a small point contract at Poly for use at other resorts and just how far those points will go, even with banking and borrowing. If you're planning to combine those Poly points with your resale points most of the time at the O14 resorts, but you just want the option to once in awhile pick up a few days here or there at a restricted resort, probably makes sense. If you're planning to take 50 direct Poly points and turn that into a 1-week stay in a RIV resort view studio, that isn't going to work very well.

That's good food for thought. Definitely not looking for a weeklong stay with these points, I was hoping to get 3 nights or so every 2-3 years. Long term, I plan to pick up more direct contracts that will make the points more useful as a whole.

 

[MyKindOfDisney]

You mentioned Riviera and Lakeshore Lodge as a reason to buy the Poly points. Would buying at Riviera make better sense so you can get the home resort advantage at least?

Good question, my thought was to get a studio at Poly at 11 months and if I see something available at Riv, CFW, or LSL at 7 months to cancel and book that instead. Hard to beat the MF at Poly (historically at least) and its a great resort where we enjoy staying.

 

[Sandisw]

Keep in mind the price increase coming. So, if you want some direct points to use at RIV, and beyond, it might be a good time to do that now.