Minimum points

[brie2776]

How many points is the minimum that you have to purchase through Disney?

 

[wnielsen1]

New member: 150
Existing member (including resale): as low as 25 to add-on to an existing membership

 

[PalmettoPath]

150 points minimum if you're buying for the first time. 50 points if you're adding on. 25 points if you're adding on and paying cash.
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/membership/costs/

 

[eticketplease]

Sorry to comment on an older thread but it appears people can now purchase with a minimum of 100 points direct. Blue card aka Membership Extras will not kick in until 150 however.

Found this in the VGF Lobby.

 

[ark101]

Oh wow, they must be lowering it to 100 before VDH sale starts! The website still says 150 minimum.

 

[take36]

Oh wow, they must be lowering it to 100 before VDH sale starts! The website still says 150 minimum.

150 pts would be a tough sale for VDH unless point charts are crazy. Nobody is staying a week at VDH especially with the other options that are closer, cheaper, and in some ways more accessible to other SoCal attractions.

 

[Sandisw]

Well, that is a great move by then and I can't help but think it will be good for VDH...many here have said that 150 is a lot for stays there!

And, for someone who wants some direct points to use at the newer resorts, but don't care about the membership extras, this is a nice option! Especially since buying direct allows you to use the Disney Visa, for 6 months 0% interest!

 

[Chili327]

So is it 100 point minimum to add-on or 100 min for new members or for benefits or… I'm confused?

 

[Sandisw]

So is it 100 point minimum to add-on or 100 min for new members or for benefits or… I'm confused?

That seems to indicate that new members can join with 100 points, but to be eligible for membership extras, you still need to get to 150..

Current owners will still be able to add on for as little as 25 points cash and many resorts, or 50 points financing at the others...except RIV and maybe CCV which could be 50 minimum regardless.

This is similar to what was in place before the membership extras went to 150 in 2021...at one time, you could be 100 points as a new member, but membership extras required you to get 125...so they are going back to allowing new owners buy in for less, but just not get the membership extras.

 

[take36]

That seems to indicate that new members can join with 100 points, but to be eligible for membership extras, you still need to get to 150..

Current owners will still be able to add on for as little as 25 points cash and many resorts, or 50 points financing at the others...except RIV and maybe CCV which could be 50 minimum regardless.

This is similar to what was in place before the membership extras went to 150 in 2021...at one time, you could be 100 points as a new member, but membership extras required you to get 125...so they are going back to allowing new owners buy in for less, but just not get the membership extras.

Seems like a hard sell for a first time DVC member buying into VDH if you are not a "full member." I think they need to inflate the point charge or lower the minimum; otherwise they are going to be get almost no Socal residents and those that prefer DL as their primary destination.

The guides are going to make a sale initially then lose it when buyers realize they are not "full members" of DVC. It would just be a timeshare like any other and with the hotels closer then VDH on Harbor Blvd as well as residents would just drive it rather then treat it as a staycation.

 

[Sandisw]

Seems like a hard sell for a first time DVC member buying into VDH if you are not a "full member." I think they need to inflate the point charge or lower the minimum; otherwise they are going to be get almost no Socal residents and those that prefer DL as their primary destination.

The guides are going to make a sale initially then lose it when buyers realize they are not "full members" of DVC. It would just be a timeshare like any other and with the hotels closer then VDH on Harbor Blvd as well as residents would just drive it rather then treat it as a staycation.

I don't know...the membership extras are much more heavily geared toward WDW anyway...but, honestly, not sure one has to be in place to support the other.

Nothing precludes someone new buying in at 150 to qualify...but, you will now capture a potential group of new buyers who found 150 just too steep at this point...and, if they get in with 100 points, they only need 50 more down the line to meet the membership extras threshold...

Membership extras are not guaranteed, and all this does is add a tier to those membership extras...which is what we saw starting in 2016 when the program changed...we have it now...we have some who bought in with 100 points (or less) when the requirement was 125.

Regardless of whether one gets the DVC Y designation, the points are still going to be valid at RIV, VDH, and other future resorts....

 

[Sandisw]

Another thought...does anyone think that the lowering of minimum points and the info that they may have Sorcerer Pass available for DVC owners for sale when other passes are paused leads into any insight on what DVD might be thinking regarding resale restrictions??

 

[take36]

I don't know...the membership extras are much more heavily geared toward WDW anyway...but, honestly, not sure one has to be in place to support the other.

Nothing precludes someone new buying in at 150 to qualify...but, you will now capture a potential group of new buyers who found 150 just too steep at this point...and, if they get in with 100 points, they only need 50 more down the line to meet the membership extras threshold...

Membership extras are not guaranteed, and all this does is add a tier to those membership extras...which is what we saw starting in 2016 when the program changed...we have it know...we have some who bought in with 100 points (or less) when the requirement was 125.

Regardless of whether one gets the DVC Y designation, the points are still going to be valid at RIV, VDH, and other future resorts....

Disney can't just bank on WDW fans filling up VDH, WDW are pretty fanatical about WDW and for good reason. VDH needs someone that wants to go there yearly or once every 2 years. While we may understand that extras are not guaranteed, there has always been something for that Disney "magic." A regular DL fan family looking to buy VDH is not going to understand the nuances and are not going to be fooled by the "Disney" name on a timeshare especially if there are not membership extras. Disney should remember Grand Cal struggled to sell early on and amongst DL fans and Aulani is still struggling due to its location (not WDW). Families going to DL for vacations are looking to do many things in the Socal area and diehard DL fans are not going to be happy being a "lesser" member.

 

[Sandisw]

Disney can't just bank on WDW fans filling up VDH, WDW are pretty fanatical about WDW and for good reason. VDH needs someone that wants to go there yearly or once every 2 years. While we may understand that extras are not guaranteed, there has always been something for that Disney "magic." A regular DL fan family looking to buy VDH is not going to understand the nuances and are not going to be fooled by the "Disney" name on a timeshare especially if there are not membership extras. Disney should remember Grand Cal struggled to sell early on and amongst DL fans and Aulani is still struggling due to its location (not WDW). Families going to DL for vacations are looking to do many things in the Socal area and diehard DL fans are not going to be happy being a "lesser" member.

Again, all true but I don’t think they are related…they are offering new buyers a chance to get in for less points in exchange for not qualifying for the extras…and my guess is that buyers who want to own VDH and can now get in for less points, won’t care as much to not have the benefits, especially if 150 is too steep.

Plenty of posts over the years of new buyers who said they would love direct points and wish their was a lower buy in, even if it meant no access to membership extras.

 

[take36]

Again, all true but I don’t think they are related…they are offering new buyers a chance to get in for less points in exchange for not qualifying for the extras…and my guess is that buyers who want to own VDH and can now get in for less points, won’t care as much to not have the benefits, especially if 150 is too steep.

Plenty of posts over the years of new buyers who said they would love direct points and wish their was a lower buy in, even if it meant no access to membership extras.

I come for a family/network full of Disneyland fans, both locals and those in surrounding states. I've been trying to get them to become DVC members for ages, this is Disney's chance to get them.

Also why not just buy resale for way lower price at any buy in. What is the point of direct points without the extras?

 

[Sandisw]

I come for a family/network full of Disneyland fans, both locals and those in surrounding states. I've been trying to get them to become DVC members for ages, this is Disney's chance to get them.

Also why not just buy resale for way lower price at any buy in. What is the point of direct points without the extras?

To use at RIV, and future resorts….assuming they stay with the current plan, resale points wont be to use at VDH and if the extras don’t matter, you can have direct points for less than you can now.

So, there is definitely a benefit if that is important to you…again, will there be buyers who wont buy direct, even for 100 points, since they don’t get the extras, but I bet plenty will.

Of course one can just go resale, and then add on less points just for stays at VDH….but, for someone who only wants 100 points right now and wants to stay at say, RIV, then this puts direct back as an option.

 

[tjkraz]

Seems like a hard sell for a first time DVC member buying into VDH if you are not a "full member." I think they need to inflate the point charge or lower the minimum; otherwise they are going to be get almost no Socal residents and those that prefer DL as their primary destination.

For the past 10 years, there has been no other reasonable path for owning DVC points at Disneyland. (Unless you consider a 50-100% markup for VGC an option.) People can still buy 150 if they wish. 100 is an option that costs ~$10,000 less. I think you're wrong if you believe "almost no Socal residents" will buy with that drawback. Way wrong.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I come for a family/network full of Disneyland fans, both locals and those in surrounding states. I've been trying to get them to become DVC members for ages, this is Disney's chance to get them.

Also why not just buy resale for way lower price at any buy in. What is the point of direct points without the extras?

There are no VDH resale contracts…..so if you want VDH you will have to buy direct for a while.

Also VDH resale probably won’t be usable at VGC and Aulani… so that may a big deal for some folks as well.

 

[take36]

There are no VDH resale contracts…..so if you want VDH you will have to buy direct for a while.

Also VDH resale probably won’t be usable at VGC and Aulani… so that may a big deal for some folks as well.

This was in reference to the post that says people want a lower buy in for direct points even with no membership benefits.

 

[take36]

For the past 10 years, there has been no other reasonable path for owning DVC points at Disneyland. (Unless you consider a 50-100% markup for VGC an option.) People can still buy 150 if they wish. 100 is an option that costs ~$10,000 less. I think you're wrong if you believe "almost no Socal residents" will buy with that drawback. Way wrong.

Looks like you are a owner so you know more then me on the ins and outs of VGC. Are you a Socal resident? What are your vacation habits? I am a Socal-ish resident and all my family and friends are in this area and we go to WDW on points for 2 weeks but when we go to DL we aren't staying more then 3-4 nights even for those from out of state. They go visit SD and Malibu, etc.

You think an avid DL goer that lives in Socal will be willing to shell out tens of thousands of dollars and not even get all the perks that he/she reads on the website because they only got 100 points? What are they paying for? Discounted hotel room? Sure we as dvc/disney fanatics knows the nuances but how are you going to convince them to do it? Maybe if they already have WDW DVC points then ok, but new Socal buyers are not going to like to be a second class for an expensive splurge that they really never needed.