New member buy in minimum?

[hhisc16]

125 is quoted as the minimum buy in to receive perks and discounts (blue card). They will always push this hard because it is their belief that it is truly the minimum a member should have.

They will HOWEVER sell you less if you keep up the fight but emphasize that you will receive no perks.

I think they just need to make these numbers the same to cut the confusion.

I wish the 3 guides I spoke with would have complied.
I even asked to speak with a manager about the situation and explained that others have been allowed to buy less than 125 pts to begin their DVC.
Disney still said no after 3 attempts with 3 different guides on 3 different days.
(And that is why I bought a 50 pt resale contract after Disney refused!)

 

[Sandisw]

It was frustrating since I had the cash to pay for 25-50 points direct through Disney for HHI.
After getting the same response of NO from 3 different cast members, I just decided on purchasing resale since Disney would not work with me.
This was all the week of 2/14/21. I tried three different days with three different cast members.

Be aware that new members have never been allowed to purchase less than 50 since I became a DVC member in 2009.

That minimum has always been in flux and people have gotten them to bend below. But not always abs it’s hit or miss.

 

[rick1zoo2]

We bought 117 points at Jambo House in July 2020 because that is all that were available. It was also prior to the 125 minimum rule for perks. So it might be based somewhat on availability?

 

[RyanJW]

We fell into the same trap whilst here in Aulani this week. I got an email this morning with the Online Add-On tool and when I followed through the link, it was showing Aulani as a 25 point minimum which got us both excited about a 25 point direct add on for Blue Card status as we both thought it was 125 minimum. The wording and 'pitch' was definitely a lure.

My initial excitement tampered with level headedness meant I came straight here to see what the catches were and sure enough, the DISboards DVC community was on it and I was able to then do a quick calc and still feel massively better off with our Resale purchase.

It is our first time here and using our new DVC membership and there is definitely an inconsistency with Blue Card discount benefits being applied at the Resort here (like one day I got some push back on getting a DVC wristband even though we got one the day before! The same with the current 30% march discount) which both lead my wife and I to place some value into getting a Blue Card.

However noting the difference from our purchase price of $92 per point last march, and $201 direct price, a back of the envelope calculation of even a 25 point add on means we save ~$2K. We wouldn't get that much in discounts and the blue card FOMO/2nd Class feeling has dissipated pretty darn quick.

We might jump on the Blue Card train again when the Disneyland DVC tower is available (we are NorCal people) but sorry for the long ramble, I just wanted to show some appreciation for you all!

 

[TonyCnLV]

Well I have the answer!! I chatted with Adarsh on the Disney DVC site and was told 125 is minimum for perks, but you can buy less than 125 direct from Disney. I also screen shot it for my records lol.
Edit: this applies only to certain resorts- some require different minimums for new member buy in.
[/QUOTE
You can buy as low as 50 points as a new member. I called several times before buying resale and was told that. 125 is not the minimum and I see a ton of blogs out there of people who say you can’t buy less than that now and it simply isn’t true. I only own 50 points to start Becusse I travel alone and my guide had said if that’s all I wanted they would have happily sold me 50 points wherever was available at the time. Saying “125” is the minimum is totally a sales tactic, and pushing FOMO I work in sales so I know haha.

 

[Sandisw]

When did you buy 50 and which resort? A year ago, people could get some resorts as new members less than the 100 point minimum that was advertised. But, since the change in October to 125 for perks, things are not the same and I do indeed know of a few who have been turned away because they didn’t want 100.

 

[Sunnyore]

We fell into the same trap whilst here in Aulani this week. I got an email this morning with the Online Add-On tool and when I followed through the link, it was showing Aulani as a 25 point minimum which got us both excited about a 25 point direct add on for Blue Card status as we both thought it was 125 minimum. The wording and 'pitch' was definitely a lure.

My initial excitement tampered with level headedness meant I came straight here to see what the catches were and sure enough, the DISboards DVC community was on it and I was able to then do a quick calc and still feel massively better off with our Resale purchase.

It is our first time here and using our new DVC membership and there is definitely an inconsistency with Blue Card discount benefits being applied at the Resort here (like one day I got some push back on getting a DVC wristband even though we got one the day before! The same with the current 30% march discount) which both lead my wife and I to place some value into getting a Blue Card.

However noting the difference from our purchase price of $92 per point last march, and $201 direct price, a back of the envelope calculation of even a 25 point add on means we save ~$2K. We wouldn't get that much in discounts and the blue card FOMO/2nd Class feeling has dissipated pretty darn quick.

We might jump on the Blue Card train again when the Disneyland DVC tower is available (we are NorCal people) but sorry for the long ramble, I just wanted to show some appreciation for you all!

It sounds like you may have figured it out but I believe it's has been min of 25 add on direct points for cash and 50 if financing at most resorts for DVC members (both white and blue cards). It doesn't change the qualification for a blue card of accumulated 125 points since Oct 2020. After purchasing my initial resale, I sucked it up and bought 125 direct to lock in my blue card because I did want access to Riviera and the future Disneyland Towers and whatever else they build in the future. I feel like the prices are just going to continue to increase and min for blue card might continue to go up too.

Sorry for your experience in Aulani. I haven't been there myself yet but I did read somewhere about the sparkly bands for blue card members versus regular ones. It's tied to membership perks like free popcorn or something so that's how the staff can tell people apart. I know it's just little things compared to the amount of money you saved on resale but I know I'll want the little things.

 

[eandt]

When did you buy 50 and which resort? A year ago, people could get some resorts as new members less than the 100 point minimum that was advertised. But, since the change in October to 125 for perks, things are not the same and I do indeed know of a few who have been turned away because they didn’t want 100.

I am one that has been turned away albeit via email and chat. I have asked my guide (and chat) at least weekly for the past 3 months or so and have been told each and every time that 125 is the minimum. I am a cash buyer and ready to get this done when/if AP status becomes more clear, but they won't take my money. Sooner or later I will lose interest in direct and move back to considering resale OR lose interest in DVC altogether. Frankly in the current times and uncertainty I would think they would take any sale they could get whether it be 25 points or 525 points.

 

[Tattylou]

Frankly in the current times and uncertainty I would think they would take any sale they could get whether it be 25 points or 525 points.

This is so true!

 

[Sandisw]

I am one that has been turned away albeit via email and chat. I have asked my guide (and chat) at least weekly for the past 3 months or so and have been told each and every time that 125 is the minimum. I am a cash buyer and ready to get this done when/if AP status becomes more clear, but they won't take my money. Sooner or later I will lose interest in direct and move back to considering resale OR lose interest in DVC altogether. Frankly in the current times and uncertainty I would think they would take any sale they could get whether it be 25 points or 525 points.

Here is the one drawback to the system for them selling too many small contracts. People are buying for studios and there are not enough of them to support that.

You have a bunch of new owners with only enough for that. Think that is the reason in the past 5 years studio bookings have gotten so difficult They lowered the minimums.

So, I get why they may want to hold to that 100 or 125 minimum...hearing different things but you might get it down to 100 if you call as published is 125.

 

[eandt]

Here is the one drawback to the system for them selling too many small contracts. People are buying for studios and there are not enough of them to support that.

You have a bunch of new owners with only enough for that. Think that is the reason in the past 5 years studio bookings have gotten so difficult They lowered the minimums.

So, I get why they may want to hold to that 100 or 125 minimum...hearing different things but you might get it down to 100 if you call as published is 125.

I get that to an extent but we are studio people for most trips whether we have 50 points or 125, we don't cook or do laundry on vacation nor do we have small kids (or grandkids) that we need to get time away from in our own bedroom. Maybe I will take your advice and call as much as it pains me to have to beg them to take my money. They must be killing it in sales I guess.

 

[hhisc16]

When did you buy 50 and which resort? A year ago, people could get some resorts as new members less than the 100 point minimum that was advertised. But, since the change in October to 125 for perks, things are not the same and I do indeed know of a few who have been turned away because they didn’t want 100.

I am one of the those people.
I would have gladly bought 50 points as a new member if I was allowed.

 

[hhisc16]

I am one that has been turned away albeit via email and chat. I have asked my guide (and chat) at least weekly for the past 3 months or so and have been told each and every time that 125 is the minimum. I am a cash buyer and ready to get this done when/if AP status becomes more clear, but they won't take my money. Sooner or later I will lose interest in direct and move back to considering resale OR lose interest in DVC altogether. Frankly in the current times and uncertainty I would think they would take any sale they could get whether it be 25 points or 525 points.

I am in the same situation.
I was trying to buy 50 points and 3 different guides told me no on 3 different occasions in Feb.
After Disney lost their sale, I went and bought the 50 points on a resale contract.

 

[eandt]

We made some offers on resale but none accepted, after reading about all of the apprehension, worry, nail biting that seems to come along with resale we being impatient people have decided we think we want our fiist contract to be direct then go resale from there if we need more points. Only thing holding us back is Disney ..... AP and borrowing return to normal we buy even the 125 although we would rather start out with 75-100