New direct membership- welcome home visit and back dating 2018 points

[Polynesian_2019]

Hi! So we currently own 100 points at the Polynesian (resale), and are looking to add 75 AKL points direct through Disney. My guide (Doug) told me they only having a February use year available which is different from our current use year with our Polynesian contract. When I mentioned a “welcome home trip” to my guide, he told me that is only for “new direct members”. He also told me they couldn’t give me any 2018 points since I am getting a February 2019 contract. I didn’t want to argue for fear of sounding dumb (I’m new at this) but if we are buying a direct contract with a different use year, won’t that count as a completely different membership? And I thought they could back date points to give the 2018 points. My question is- should I try to ask him about these questions again or am I wrong in my assumptions? Again, I’m new at this, so please don’t judge me if I have all of this totally wrong.

 

[Brianstl]

Hi! So we currently own 100 points at the Polynesian (resale), and are looking to add 75 AKL points direct through Disney. My guide (Doug) told me they only having a February use year available which is different from our current use year with our Polynesian contract. When I mentioned a “welcome home trip” to my guide, he told me that is only for “new direct members”. He also told me they couldn’t give me any 2018 points since I am getting a February 2019 contract. I didn’t want to argue for fear of sounding dumb (I’m new at this) but if we are buying a direct contract with a different use year, won’t that count as a completely different membership? And I thought they could back date points to give the 2018 points. My question is- should I try to ask him about these questions again or am I wrong in my assumptions? Again, I’m new at this, so please don’t judge me if I have all of this totally wrong.

Tell Doug you will be a new direct member when you buy points for the first time and that you need a new guide.

 

[CarolynFH]

Doug is right about the points. If you buy February UY points now, you’ll be in your 2019 UY. They can’t give you February 2018 points. If you were buying December UY points now, you would be in the 2018 UY for them and would get 2018 points now and then 2019 points on December 1.

I’d think long and hard about a different UY. That would mean you’d have 2 memberships, which is fine if you’re going to use the points separately always. But combining them at 7 months would be complicated.

As far as the “welcome home” visit, that’s really pixie dust, a favor they sometimes do for completely new members, and this is not the first time I’ve heard of people being turned down for it when they’re already members via resale.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Another thing to have in mind is that as of Tuesday(17th of sept) next week you need to buy 100 points direct to get the membership perks. If you start the process now you should be able to make it.

The “welcome home stay” is normally only for totally new members, which you are not as you have a membership already.

As for having multiple UY’s I wouldn’t sweat it, just have the additional banking deadline in mind and remember it’s not as easy to combine points when they are two different UY’s. If you are only gonna book separate stays with each UY I also wouldn’t think twice.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You are already an owner. This is an add on even if it is a separate member number, for the purposes of welcome home.

And since you are in the February 2019 UY you don't get 2018 points. You would need an October or December UY to get 2018 points. While Disney can change UY on points, if that unit's prior year points were used they cannot change the UY to October or December.

 

[The Jackal]

Hi! So we currently own 100 points at the Polynesian (resale), and are looking to add 75 AKL points direct through Disney. My guide (Doug) told me they only having a February use year available which is different from our current use year with our Polynesian contract. When I mentioned a “welcome home trip” to my guide, he told me that is only for “new direct members”. He also told me they couldn’t give me any 2018 points since I am getting a February 2019 contract. I didn’t want to argue for fear of sounding dumb (I’m new at this) but if we are buying a direct contract with a different use year, won’t that count as a completely different membership? And I thought they could back date points to give the 2018 points. My question is- should I try to ask him about these questions again or am I wrong in my assumptions? Again, I’m new at this, so please don’t judge me if I have all of this totally wrong.

What use year do you have. DVC can change use years now. It sounds like that they do not have many 2018 points. But you should be able to get any use year up to September since it has already started. Your guide is mis informed.

 

[Matty B13]

I would insist on the same UY as your current contract, having to combine different UY contracts at the 7 month mark to trade into other resorts is a huge pain in the butt. With the way they can change the UY on contracts they ROFR, they really isn't any excuse to not give you the same UY as your current contract. I would try to talk to his manager, and see if those points don't show up!

 

[SG131]

With resale it’s a bit harder to match use years, but when you’re buying direct there’s no reason to not be able to get the same use year. Unfortunately you are on a time deadline of the 17th. My recommendation is to take a look at this list and talk to another guide to see if you have better luck.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/dvc-direct-guide.3769295/

Keep in mind with a welcome home visit is also depends on the time of year you want to go. They can pull back some of their own cash dvc inventory if it’s available. However if you’re looking to go during the holiday season this year the availability is very limited so they may have no inventory to give you.

 

[Sandisw]

I would not buy a different UY with a small amount of points, unless you know you want those points for specific trips and don't have plans very often to combine with your other ones at the 7 month mark. As already indicated, a different UY is a different membership...it functions like you are a different member. To combine points for a single night, you would need to transfer points from one to the other. Once transferred, those points can only be booked by calling MS...you wouldn't be able to use them online as they won't show up in the account you transferred them into.

The guide is correct about points. When you buy direct, Disney gives you current UY points. So, right now, we are in the 2019 UY for all months but Oct and Dec. Those would be the only UY's eligible for 2018 points (if Disney has them to give).

Since the minumum is going up to 100, starting Tuesday, I might ask if you would be eligible at 75 if you wait to get a UY to match by agreeing to purchase now. Good luck!

 

[Polynesian_2019]

What use year do you have. DVC can change use years now. It sounds like that they do not have many 2018 points. But you should be able to get any use year up to September since it has already started. Your guide is mis informed.

We have an October use year with our Polynesian contract. He told me there were only 3 resorts that had an October use year available, and Animal Kingdom Lodge wasn’t one of them. So you’re saying my guide should be able to change the use year on the AKL contract from february to October?

 

[Polynesian_2019]

I would not buy a different UY with a small amount of points, unless you know you want those points for specific trips and don't have plans very often to combine with your other ones at the 7 month mark. As already indicated, a different UY is a different membership...it functions like you are a different member. To combine points for a single night, you would need to transfer points from one to the other. Once transferred, those points can only be booked by calling MS...you wouldn't be able to use them online as they won't show up in the account you transferred them into.

The guide is correct about points. When you buy direct, Disney gives you current UY points. So, right now, we are in the 2019 UY for all months but Oct and Dec. Those would be the only UY's eligible for 2018 points (if Disney has them to give).

Since the minumum is going up to 100, starting Tuesday, I might ask if you would be eligible at 75 if you wait to get a UY to match by agreeing to purchase now. Good luck!

Thanks for the great advice! Im going to call today and try to speak someone today.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We have an October use year with our Polynesian contract. He told me there were only 3 resorts that had an October use year available, and Animal Kingdom Lodge wasn’t one of them. So you’re saying my guide should be able to change the use year on the AKL contract from february to October?

As mentioned already the guide did provide you correct information on both the Welcome Home booking and what points you would receive with a Feb UY.

DVC has established a new thing for themselves that allows them to change the UY and it wouldn't hurt to call and ask a question about that but they haven't shared the in's and out's of what allows them to do it - ie point availability etc.

Regarding asking them to grandfather you in on 75 points if you agree to purchase your UY now but have to wait for the points? I would expect that answer to be a quick no so be prepared for that athough again, no harm in asking. They have not done price honor or anything like that for several years.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We have an October use year with our Polynesian contract. He told me there were only 3 resorts that had an October use year available, and Animal Kingdom Lodge wasn’t one of them. So you’re saying my guide should be able to change the use year on the AKL contract from february to October?

Only if the 2018 points are available for the portion of the real estate represented. Cannot change UY to a current UY unless the underlying points exist.

 

[ELMC]

As far as the “welcome home” visit, that’s really pixie dust, a favor they sometimes do for completely new members, and this is not the first time I’ve heard of people being turned down for it when they’re already members via resale.

I don't dispute that this is true, but c'mon already. Here they have a resale buyer that they have successfully converted to direct...which after all is their main goal for all of us. It seems punitive and petty to not offer the courtesy of a welcome home booking. Disney needs to be better than that.

 

[Yinn]

I don't dispute that this is true, but c'mon already. Here they have a resale buyer that they have successfully converted to direct...which after all is their main goal for all of us. It seems punitive and petty to not offer the courtesy of a welcome home booking. Disney needs to be better than that.

What is that exactly? I just bought and have no idea what the welcome home trip is.

 

[ELMC]

What is that exactly? I just bought and have no idea what the welcome home trip is.

When you first buy your contract, they help you get a reservation for a resort that might not otherwise be available. It's not guaranteed but it's a nice courtesy that they extend. In the case of the OP, the salesperson refused to extend it seemingly based on the fact that they originally bought resale prior to buying direct.

 

[Yinn]

When you first buy your contract, they help you get a reservation for a resort that might not otherwise be available. It's not guaranteed but it's a nice courtesy that they extend. In the case of the OP, the salesperson refused to extend it seemingly based on the fact that they originally bought resale prior to buying direct.

Ah ok. So if I’m not going for another year; it really won’t matter by the time I make my first booking huh?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Ah ok. So if I’m not going for another year; it really won’t matter by the time I make my first booking huh?

Correct.

And Disney don't really care about the conversion to buying direct. If you bought resale first, you are unclean. The direct contract does not get you the welcome home, just a blue card.

 

[SG131]

What is that exactly? I just bought and have no idea what the welcome home trip is.

Say you just bought copper creek. You would like to use your points toward a studio for a week in February. But by now they are all booked on the dvc website. However you search the regular Disney website and see that someone could pay cash to reserve the room you want. Disney owns a small portion of every resort and that’s part of where these cash reservations for non-dvc members comes from. Occasionally for brand new dvc members Disney will pull a room from their cash inventory and allow the member to book that room with their new points as a one time courtesy. Keep in mind I didn’t actually check availability with this example.

However, if you told them you wanted a studio this Christmas, the answer would be no because there are no extra rooms they can pull back for you. It’s pretty booked up already so it depends on availability.

 

[Brianstl]

When you first buy your contract, they help you get a reservation for a resort that might not otherwise be available. It's not guaranteed but it's a nice courtesy that they extend. In the case of the OP, the salesperson refused to extend it seemingly based on the fact that they originally bought resale prior to buying direct.

I would demand the courtesy to complete the sale. The whole reason they are doing this is to artificially increase revenue before what is going to be a rough fiscal year. If you demand it, they will probably cave.