New DVC Ownership Questions

[bdphill22]

Hello Everyone,

I have been reading the board for a while and you guys provide some great info on DVC. I was hoping if I could get your guys inputs on some questions.

My wife’s family have been part of DVC since the mid-90s with points at Old Key West (OKW) and Vero Beach (VB). I have been with them on several trips the last few years. Going forward my wife and our family will be using most of the points and paying maintenance fees though the contract is still in my in-laws name. My wife is currently listed as an associate member.

Question #1: Can my in-laws contract be transferred (not a sale) to my wife and I, or us added to the title of the contract while keeping it as original with the perks and booking more than the original 14 going forward (with the OKW and VB points)?


I’d like to add another small contract since we’d like a few more points and to book some stays at Beach Club (BCV), Wilderness Lodge (BRV/CCV) or maybe Bay Lake (BLT) during some peak times (I’d only get one of those resorts). I know that only that new contracts points could be used in the 11-month window at that specific resort but I still had some other questions that I was hoping I could get some help with.

Question #2: If added to the title can my wife or I then buy a contract on the either direct or from resale market and have it added to our existing account in order to use the points together? (Will it matter if it's direct or resale in our situation?)

Question #3: When I buy a contract (direct or resale), do I need to match the use year (UY)? Does this matter for using points together?


I’d really like Wilderness Lodge, especially to be able to book at Christmas. So, I had a few questions regarding BRV/CCV .


Question #4: How different are the Boulder Ridge rooms from the Copper Creek rooms? Do you still feel like you’re staying at the Lodge at Christmas if you are in BRV?

Question #5: I know it’s really tough to book BRV or CCV during the fall/Christmas or other times of year for studios and villas at 7 months. What have people’s experiences been with booking a 3 BR grand villa at CCV during the rest of the year?

 

[crvetter]

Question #1: Can my in-laws contract be transferred (not a sale) to my wife and I, or us added to the title of the contract while keeping it as original with the perks and booking more than the original 14 going forward (with the OKW and VB points)?

When a contract is transferred as a gift all entitlements of that contract remain. So considering they were from before any restrictions when transferred into your wife and your name all benefits remain (blue card, transfer to Disney Collections--cruises, ABD, hotels--, Concierge Collections, and booking at new resorts)

Question #2: If added to the title can my wife or I then buy a contract on the either direct or from resale market and have it added to our existing account in order to use the points together? (Will it matter if it's direct or resale in our situation?)

If you do get the points from your in-laws you have two options for adding on resale or direct. Any direct points would have complete entitlements as your other points would. If you go resale those points would not qualify for transferring to the Disney or Concierge Collections or booking at new resorts. You will still have the other points, if you went resale, that could do all those things. One thing to note is qualifying for the membership extras (and blue card) will require you to maintain some level of qualifying points.

Question #3: When I buy a contract (direct or resale), do I need to match the use year (UY)? Does this matter for using points together?

Use year matching is more convenient for using at the 7 month mark and combining points from different resorts or even at the 11 month mark using points from two contracts at the same resort. If Use Year matches you can seamlessly use points when making reservations. If you have different Use Years you will need to book rooms under each and have MS link the reservations or transfer points from one Use Year contract to the other. If you go the latter route this does require you to call MS when making reservations; also they have been lax regarding the 1 transfer per use year if you own both contracts but they could enforce that at any time.

I’d really like Wilderness Lodge, especially to be able to book at Christmas. So, I had a few questions regarding BRV/CCV .


Question #4: How different are the Boulder Ridge rooms from the Copper Creek rooms? Do you still feel like you’re staying at the Lodge at Christmas if you are in BRV?

The Boulder Ridge Rooms sleep 5 and are about 15 square feet bigger than Copper Creek that sleep 4--this is for the studio and 1 beds. The 2 beds at BRV sleep 9 and CCV sleep 8. Also the 5th in a 1 bed at BRV will not have linen, towels, sleeping surface you are required to provide that. The 9th person in a dedicated 2 bedroom will not any of those items either.

The BRV rooms are showing their age but will be getting a full refurb in 2021 which will make them extremely nice if they follow through with what they are doing at SSR (adding the murphy bed for the sofa, etc).

Also just remember BRV expires in 2042 and CCV in 2068.

Question #5: I know it’s really tough to book BRV or CCV during the fall/Christmas or other times of year for studios and villas at 7 months. What have people’s experiences been with booking a 3 BR grand villa at CCV during the rest of the year?

To stay at either villa during Christmas season you likely will find availability from very little to non-existent for studios and 2 beds at both. The 1 beds are a bit more open, but spotty and completely gone for the first 2 weeks of December, for BRV during this time; however, CCV the 1 beds are likely going to be gone too. The GV at CCV during Christmas season seemed very spotty; however, outside of that it appears to be mostly available (though usually goes pretty quick during the Fall Frenzy if available at 7 months).

WL in general is one of the more popular resorts during the Christmas season.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Question #1: Can my in-laws contract be transferred (not a sale) to my wife and I, or us added to the title of the contract while keeping it as original with the perks and booking more than the original 14 going forward (with the OKW and VB points)?

A gratuitous transfer will still go through ROFR but can be done. It ( or adding names to the deed) does cost money, because it is a real estate deed filing. I would confirm with a legal professional the tax and/or estate implications of just adding names to the deed or of a gratuitous transfer, as it is a significant real estate asset in both cases.

Question #2: If added to the title can my wife or I then buy a contract on the either direct or from resale market and have it added to our existing account in order to use the points together? (Will it matter if it's direct or resale in our situation?)

The resale points will be subject to the 1/19/19 restrictions and cannot be used at a new resort, even though you would own qualified points eligible for such booking. Nor could the resale points be used for trade bookings (cruises and such).

Question #3: When I buy a contract (direct or resale), do I need to match the use year (UY)? Does this matter for using points together

Do you need to? No. But if you want to use them together at 7 months, matching UY makes things much easier and in all seriousness, you don't want two UYs with intent to merge points at 7 months. Big nuisance.

Question #4: How different are the Boulder Ridge rooms from the Copper Creek rooms? Do you still feel like you’re staying at the Lodge at Christmas if you are in BRV?

I prefer BRV. But if buying for Christmas use, you need a Fixed/Guaranteed Week at CCV. Booking studios in December, even at 11 months, many owners are getting frozen out. There are very few studios at CCV and a lot of points due to the cabins.

Question #5: I know it’s really tough to book BRV or CCV during the fall/Christmas or other times of year for studios and villas at 7 months. What have people’s experiences been with booking a 3 BR grand villa at CCV during the rest of the year?

Studios are unavailable at 7 months. In general, the GVs are often missing days at 7 months, and are long gone during Fall Frenzy. CCV is a resort demanding home resort, unless you want a cabin.

 

[FFMickey]

1. Yes, if they do a gratuitous transfer, the contract will retain all rights and perks as it currently has.
2. To use points together, the additional points must be in the same UY as the original points. Resale points will have the restrictions.
3. To us, having the same it has been a breeze trying to book at the 7 month online. There are workarounds for different UYs though, but more of a headache.
4. We love both, but we bought into CCV due to the fact it was in the main lodge building.
5. I believe all rooms were quickly booked during the 11 month window. I am not 100% sure about the GVs if it was at 8 am.

 

[bdphill22]

Thank you. I appreciate the responses.

It is more likely that we just add my wife and possibly myself to the contract while leaving my in-laws on it. Is that easier?

For BRV/CCV, if we bought there, how difficult is it to book for Christmas 11 months out?

the 3BR GV would require using points from our other resorts, so that would likely have to be at 7 months. Is that available at 7 months during the non-Christmas season?

 

[ElizabethG]

Thank you. I appreciate the responses.

It is more likely that we just add my wife and possibly myself to the contract while leaving my in-laws on it. Is that easier?

It is about the same to transfer or add people to the contract. The contract has to change either way. If you leave the in-laws on and you buy additional points, you will have to have them on that too in order for the points to be in the same member contract (also has to be the same UY). They have to be deeded exactly the same. Otherwise, you would have to transfer points between contracts to combine them.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It is more likely that we just add my wife and possibly myself to the contract while leaving my in-laws on it. Is that easier?

About the same for cost and effort. Be sure to check with an attorney what this means relative to estate planning and things like nursing home Medicaid eligibility, though.

For BRV/CCV, if we bought there, how difficult is it to book for Christmas 11 months out?

CCV studios are very hard. BRV studios will be gone quickly at 11 months as well, but not nearly so bad.

he 3BR GV would require using points from our other resorts, so that would likely have to be at 7 months. Is that available at 7 months during the non-Christmas season?

It's often missing days at 7 months, so far. CCV is new enough that the long term picture is still building out.

 

[bumbershoot]

Gratuitous Family Transfer is how to change the deed or add yourselves to theirs. I did it through LT Transfers. Easy and not too expensive.

You can do it for more (using the company DVC will tell you about) or for less (doing it all on your own), but I liked the middle ground as we added me and dropped the husband as we went through divorce.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thank you. I appreciate the responses.

It is more likely that we just add my wife and possibly myself to the contract while leaving my in-laws on it. Is that easier?

For BRV/CCV, if we bought there, how difficult is it to book for Christmas 11 months out?

the 3BR GV would require using points from our other resorts, so that would likely have to be at 7 months. Is that available at 7 months during the non-Christmas season?

CCV is having some difficulties even at the 11 month window. BRV is better for 11 month availability. The first week of December is the most popular DVC time and rooms can be touch and go even at 11 months for BRV as they are for many of the resorts but most other times of the year if you are online to book at 8am at 11 months you'll be fine.

For the CCV GV it depends on when you might be looking at. I've seen it at 7 months several times and been sorely tempted. Oct-Dec timeframe is the least likely though.