Negotiating Your DVC membership

[Marshay]

First, a HUGE thank you for all of your wonderful comments on DVC. I've spent days reading hundreds of posts to learn more about DVC from you, the owners and weeks reviewing the "official" Disney materials.

Now my DH and I are soooo close to taking the plunge but it seems there is a huge discrepancy among contracts. I hear $86, $91, $93, $101 and even $104/point plus free Annual passes, developer points, 2006 points, etc.

Any advice on how to negotiate? Are you offered a better plan if you tour the facility than if you try to do everything over the phone?

We still don't know which is the best option for us and are considering:

1) wait for AKV to be offered to general public since we LOVE this resort
2) buy resale at the cheapest price (VB or HH) for our points since we'll want to visit all the resorts anyway and won't be 'loyal' to home resort
3) buy SSR but unsure the difference between Disney SSR and Resale SSR (except price)

Lastly, any advice for determining the above choices? There seems to be (at least) two different camps -- 1) buy in the resort you will spend the most vacations in and 2) buy cheaper since you can always stay at any of the resorts, given availability. I feel like I'm missing something in the Disney vs. Resale dilemma.

Many thanks for all your help!

Marsha

 

[Chuck S]

her is no difference whether you buy SSR through resale or Disney, except:

1) Your resale offer will need to clear Disney Right of First Refusal.
2) It will probably take longer to close resale.
3) Disney financing is pretty easy to get.
4) It will take longer for you to get into the DVC computer system, usually a week or so after closing. If you buy from Disney you are in the computer right away.

But you can usually save some $$ going the resale route, it just takes longer.

Everything about AKV at the moment is still rumor, nothing "official" from Disney, except the announcement that it will be built.

Pricing and minimum buy in is still, at his point, rumor and speculation. That may change tomorrow, next week, or next month.

One thing about VB, it is a lovely resort, but the dues are higher there...so the less expensive purchase price through resale may not be such a great deal with higher dues.

 

[BroganMc]

Now my DH and I are soooo close to taking the plunge but it seems there is a huge discrepancy among contracts. I hear $86, $91, $93, $101 and even $104/point plus free Annual passes, developer points, 2006 points, etc.

First, take a deep breath. It sounds like you are experiencing the usual newbie information overload. I did that too, at first.

The prices your quoting seem to have to do with the various offers Disney has extended recently or are rumored to be offering existing DVC members now. Either way, since you aren't a DVC member it doesn't impact you.

Any advice on how to negotiate? Are you offered a better plan if you tour the facility than if you try to do everything over the phone?

No. All offers are the same. What touring does is give you a chance for a face-to-face sitdown with a DVC sales person and a chance to see a DVC in person. Oh and you get a free ice cream at the end of the tour.

Best thing you can do is get hold of resort point charts and work out when, where and how long you'd like to travel. There are various seasons, accommodation sizes, and resorts. Knowing how many points I wanted was the most crucial thing to me.

Resale contracts on the newer resorts tend not to give you a better deal than Disney. Older resorts, I suspect, are snapped up because people really want to stay there and tire of the 7-month frenzy for reservations.

Believe it or not, that extra 4 months of reservations at your home resort matters when you: need special accommodations (handicap rooms, cheaper studios, grand villas) or are going at high travel times (summer, spring break, Christmas, etc.). There are quirks to DVC you may not expect as well. For instance, when the Food & Wine Festival happens in October/November, it's hard to get a ressie for Beach Club and Boardwalk. And the first two weeks of December are high traffic for DisneyWorld DVCs because of the low point use and Christmas festivities.

If I were you, I'd bide my time and read the news here on Thursday. Feb 1 is when the scuttlebutt about AKV gets officially confirmed. I love the place too, but I'm comfortable owning at Saratoga and staying there repeatedly. It looks like I'll be able to trade into AKV at 7 months but may not get my pick of the litter in ressies.

 

[starbox]

We still don't know which is the best option for us and are considering:

1) wait for AKV to be offered to general public since we LOVE this resort

You know you love the resort. I think this is your best option. From what we have seen, AKV will likely have four room categories - and the most desireable rooms may very well fill up before the 7-month window opens.

With AKV as a home, you KNOW you'll always be able to stay in a place you love, plus you'll get the longer contract. There will likely be some sort of incentive offered to the general public - I don't know that DVC is ever incentive-less. I'd just hold on and wait if I were you.

 

[JimMIA]

Here's a thread that may help. It starts off with a discussion of home resort, but it's a long thread sprinkled with a lot of good ideas from a variety of posters. Note the disclaimers up front -- the thread was started more than a year ago and a lot has changed in the interim.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Disney Doc]

The only negotiating that takes place is trying to talk your spouse/S.O. into more points...

 

[DisDaydreamer]

If you don't have any other resorts that you LOVE, then go with AKV.

VB and HH are cheapest to buy in at, but more expensive in the long run because of maintenance fees.

If you love the beach and are getting 160+ points I would split between a WDW resort and beach resort. REALLY wish we had.

Good luck on your decision

 

[RobDoc]

...
Now my DH and I are soooo close to taking the plunge but it seems there is a huge discrepancy among contracts. I hear $86, $91, $93, $101 and even $104/point plus free Annual passes, developer points, 2006 points, etc.

Any advice on how to negotiate? Are you offered a better plan if you tour the facility than if you try to do everything over the phone?

...

The price variations you mention are a composite of a number of incentives offered in the past couple of years. They were not all in existence at the same time and thus were never a topic for negotiation with DVC.

The $86 pricing was for an incentive that just ended on January 20 where new buyers needed a referral from an existing member. $91 is the pricing currently available for a new purchase. $93 is the reported pricing for existing members at AKV once sales begin there. $101 is the current price for SSR points without any incentives (existing members wanting a 25 point add-on would pay that price). $104 is the reported price as of March, 2007. Annual Passes have been given, in the past, as purchase incentives (but are not currently in any promotion). Developer Points will reportedly be offered for some AKV purchases in lieu of a lower price. Developer Points may be used for reservations, but may have other restrictions (banking). 2006 points will come with add-on purchases and for new purchases since, right now, everyone is still within their 2006 Use Year. On Thursday, those with a February Use Year will not get 2006 points with a purchase - they would get 2007 points.

Just keep reading this forum, ask any questions you think of and enjoy the process!

 

[Marshay]

Thank you everyone for your posts. I'm learning more and more.

I think we will wait to see what's happening with AKV and 'wish upon a star' that a new F&F referral incentive will come to non-members at AKV. If not, then we'll just go with fewer points and have to bank/borrow until we can add on in the future.

Marsha

 

[Connor' Dad]

The only negotiating that takes place is trying to talk your spouse/S.O. into more points...

Is my phone tapped??

 

[Marshay]

One thing about VB, it is a lovely resort, but the dues are higher there...so the less expensive purchase price through resale may not be such a great deal with higher dues.

A ha! I knew there was something I was missing. Thanks for this info.

 

[Marshay]

Here's a thread that may help. It starts off with a discussion of home resort, but it's a long thread sprinkled with a lot of good ideas from a variety of posters. Note the disclaimers up front -- the thread was started more than a year ago and a lot has changed in the interim.
Good luck with your decision.

Thank you so much JimMIA for this thread. I am sorry I didn't find it earlier, as it answered many of my questions and provided lots of background.

 

[wisbucky]

Another issue to keep in mind is if you buy from Disney you will have to purchase 150 points minimum. Resale you can purchase any amount of points. However as many have found out here you will become addicted after you buy your first rounds of points and most likely add on.

The best advice I have ever heard or actually listen to was buy where you want to stay. Sounds like you have a love for AK. If I were you I would wait for it to be open to the general public. There is nothing stopping you from buying resale at another resort after that if you fall in love with another location.

Good luck to you and your hubby!