Need help on DVC Direct/Resale with Aulani.

[Gothemi]

I've been going back and forth on DVC for years. We are in California so we visit DL often, usually renting points for GCH when available or staying off property. We just went to Aulani this year and loved it...Mainly for Hawaii itself, but Aulani was our home base and we loved our stay.

Our financial situation recently improved and we are again looking at purchasing DVC to take more Aulani/Hawaii trips, but also some rare WDW trips as well. My wife wants enough points to stay in a 1BR for a week every year, which is about 350 points on the high end for our normal travel times in fall.

I started looking direct because we would like the blue card. I'll be honest, I know it's not really a huge benefit right now, but I don't want to not have the blue card and in 5 years or so, when direct points are even higher, have to spend more money for the blue card. So I thought about buying all 350 points (broken into smaller contracts of course) direct since DVC has that promo right now where you get a larger discount on the more points you purchase. That usual offer they have. But then I started doing the math and thought about just getting my 150 points direct (blue card) and then buying the rest on resale, but I would have to wait for the UY and amounts I need to come up, then go through the buying process possibly a few times.

Am I crazy to be looking at 350 points direct? I'll be honest, I think so. But we do want the blue card, I would like to have the 11 month booking window at Aulani, but I'm not sure I need it for the 1BR we want. If I bought 150 from Aulani, then say 200 at SSR (resale), can I use those 200 points from SSR to book 11 months out at Aulani by combining the points?

What are your thoughts and strategy on this. I'm considering a cash purchase as I will have the funds soon.

Thank you!

 

[limace]

First, I don’t think you’re a good candidate for a blue card. If your WDW trips are rare, then the AP discount won’t be valuable for you and that’s the main reason that a blue card could make sense. I’m a West Coaster too-there ain’t much for those of us on the West Coast. It’s the timeshare sales tactic of using our FOMO to get us to buy direct-try and resist!

However, if your determined, then do it the other way around. Buy your 200 points resale then Disney will match your use year direct.

And no, you can’t combine points at 11 months.

 

[DVChris]

We also live on the west coast and I have thought about this… a lot. The only reason we would buy direct is to be able to use the points at the new DLT. We are waiting to hear about the cost per point and point chart to decide.

 

[Ruttangel]

Although you can get 350 points direct for $161pp I would say that’s still about $70pp too much and you should probably register with brokers to keep an eye out for subsidized dues contracts.

 

[twincruisers]

Since you don’t need the blue card right away, buy the 150 points direct and accumulate the rest on re-sale. You get the blue card right away and you can save $ on the total points.

if you bought 2 different resorts, you can combine the points for the 7 month reservation. At 11 months you can spend the points you have with the specific home resort, not the combined value.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The blue card is as close to meaningless at Aulani as it can be, particularly when balanced against the cost difference direct vs. resale for a 300+ point contract.

I'd say if you really, really, really want points that can be used at the new Disneyland DVC, waiting to buy 150 points at the DLR Tower is the better move than 150 direct at Aulani, with a better chance of the points retaining good resale and rental value in the event you needed to downsize later. Aulani has a variety of oddities that make Aulani points best purchased for use at Aulani, and if you're buying to stay at Aulani the blue card is simply not a thing to care about; arguably, the blue card is pretty close to trash at DLR in general as well, but with the new Tower likely having Riviera-like retsirtcions there is value in the direct points there.

 

[Sandisw]

I think going direct makes sense for the use at DLT.

But, I’d wait until you can buy them to take advantage of the home resort booking. While AUL points bought direct will be eligible for booking there at 7 months, we have no idea how easy or hard that will be.

If you struggle then the direct points become of very little use over AUL resale points.

 

[Gothemi]

This is why I posted this...you are all bringing up stuff I didn't really consider.

So perhaps I should wait until the DLT project starts selling and then maybe get some AUL on resale later. As mentioned, it seems like AUL and DLR don't get much benefit from buying direct. Beside the sparkly arm bands, popcorn refills, some discounts (I already have Disney Visa) and the mixology classes? Though, I assume those are available to all direct DVC members, regardless of home resort?

Curious, I know you can add on direct with smaller amounts once you're an owner. Do you have to be a direct owner in order to purchase the smaller direct contracts (25-50 pts), or can a resell owner get those small contracts as well?

 

[limace]

Either way, buy resale first. Much easier to match use year that way. And once you own resale, you can buy direct in smaller chunks.

 

[limace]

And yes, benefits same regardless of resort purchased. If you have visa discounts you won’t see much better with DVC.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

And when you save $50pp resale or more, you can buy some popcorn at Aulani. Or pop some in your microwave and refill your own bucket. A lot. You can fill your bathtub with popcorn every visit.

 

[jbreen2010]

If you’re even guessing this question then you likely know the answer already. So I haven’t seen many (if any) Aulani contracts taken at ROFR by Disney. I would think you can probably find any use year and # of points you want across various markets. I would suggest buying just the 150 direct from Disney and the buying the rest via resale. We’ve bought 3 contracts - all resale - and the process is really not that bad. Candidly it’s also nice because it’s taking a contract off someone’s hands who needs to part with it too. Plus you can save a ton vs the direct pricing.

 

[Imkarlawithak2005]

All our points are direct because it’s easier, in my opinion. We own 330 at Aulani and 320 at Copper Creek. We plan to buy 350 direct when Disneyland Tower opens. I just don’t have the patience for resale. When we bought our Copper Creek points this year, with incentives and 2020 points, it’s pretty even with the resale contracts I see now. If you are looking To save money, go resale. If you want speed, go direct. Again, this is just my opinion.

 

[Gothemi]

So I'm sure DVC is going to apply the RIV restrictions to all new DVC properties, including DLT. But that only applies to resale buyers and future DVC properties, correct? Because that is a concern of buying DLT is that it might loose value right away because of the restrictions. Then again, I'm sure it will be more sought after than RIV or maybe even the new GF building.

If I'm understanding correctly, there isn't much of a perk to buying AUL directly at all then? Really, you can buy direct anywhere and still get all the benefits, you just don't get the 11 month booking window.

I can see DVC possibly trying to get more involved in the west coast with DLT and GCH now, but if sales are strong....maybe they won't need to add perks?

 

[plygph]

Here is my 2 cents

In the interest of transparency ALL OF MY POINTS ARE RESALE

Seem like as others have pointed out that your desire to have a BLUE card will be of little value at Aulani or the current west coast dvc options.

BUY all the Aulani points you would like RESALE. The money saved over direct can fund numerous airfare, car rentals, and overall island adventures.
For this I recommend multiple contracts as should you ever need to sell smaller contracts are easier to sell and a higher price point than one large 350 point contract that in reality how many people are truly lucky enough to have that kind of cash on hand or want to finance that large of a "time share" purchase.

Secondly if you have heirs and all of the contracts have equal points it will be easier to divide them between the people you deem worthy.

MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS TRANSACTION USE YEARS......
TRY TO GET THE SAME USE YEAR FOR EACH CONTRACT IT WILL SAVE YOU HEACHACHES ON KEEPING TRACK OF BOOKING AND BANKING DATES. I speak of experience here all my WDW DVC contracts have the same USE YEAR and my Aulani contract has a different USE YEAR.

When DLT is offered for sale and you still have a desire to purchase then go the DIRECT route to get you the coveted BLUE card.

Now get out there find your Aulani contract (hopefully loaded) and start enjoying what you have worked so hard to earn. WE LOVE AULANI

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Am I crazy to be looking at 350 points direct?

Yes.

If I were you, I'd buy 200 resale now, with the possibility of adding 150 points direct in a couple of years. I suspect you'll spend those few years not really missing the blue card.

And really, if you want to stay in 1 bedrooms anyways, you don't need the 11 month booking window. You could buy 200 points at Saratoga and shouldn't have much trouble booking Aulani stays at 7 months out.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

All our points are direct because it’s easier, in my opinion. We own 330 at Aulani and 320 at Copper Creek. We plan to buy 350 direct when Disneyland Tower opens. I just don’t have the patience for resale. When we bought our Copper Creek points this year, with incentives and 2020 points, it’s pretty even with the resale contracts I see now. If you are looking To save money, go resale. If you want speed, go direct.

I don't care how rich I am one day, I don't think a $60,000 purchase is ever one that I'll dive into prioritizing "speed."

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have 380 points at aulani. All bought direct but at opening price which was in the $110 range I think. Before Covid we went every year for 7 years I. A TIW but have t been back in 2 years. We will probably wait until next fall or even 2023 at this point. We always like to go in may and get a one bedroom ocean view f0r 10 days foe 500 points. We have points at other DW resorts so we can o my do 7 months out to get the full 10 days without making two reservations. In may it is never a problem. The only time the 11 Month reservation period seems important is during the summer months, Christmas and spring break.

 

[Gothemi]

All very, very good info. Thank you. I think we will just start seeking out those resale contracts and hope for a subsidized dues contract to pop up.

I love the comment about the popcorn because that's a great point. With the savings over direct, I can buy all the dang popcorn I want! Had no idea how much more direct vs resale was.

 

[Imkarlawithak2005]

I don't care how rich I am one day, I don't think a $60,000 purchase is ever one that I'll dive into prioritizing "speed."

To each his own. I don’t like the anxiety that goes along with resale. Once I make such a big decision, I just want it to be done. It has nothing to do with the money. You would hate to see me buy a new car.