New member buy in minimum?

[Tattylou]

I know this has been asked before, but I’m confused. I thought new member buy in direct had to be minimum of 125 points. I just saw on DVC news that new member buy in minimum can be 100 or 50 for some of the sold out resorts. Is this accurate? I’ll attach the link, but mods feel free to delete if it is not allowed. Small contracts are so pricey resale that the ease of direct is appealing to me, but it would be a first contract and I want to keep it small for budget for now. When you click on the link it says updated 2/10/21- so looks like recent info that appears to imply direct can purchase less than 125.

https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program/financial/pricing-a-promotions
Thanks!

 

[CSLucas]

When we were looking at buying BLT direct in February we were still told 125 minimum by our guide (but maybe that isn't set in stone? We didn't press them on it because we decided to go resale anyways)

 

[Tattylou]

When we were looking at buying BLT direct in February we were still told 125 minimum by our guide (but maybe that isn't set in stone? We didn't press them on it because we decided to go resale anyways)

That is what I thought too and then on another thread someone told me that DVC news had different info. So now I’m curious. According to that link BLT would be 100 minimum. Maybe DVC news has inaccurate info?

 

[BayGirl22]

I was told 125 for BWV for a minimum buy in, also a new member. Could vary by resort and the inventory they have available.

 

[Ruttangel]

No, 125 is for direct perks.
I think the consistency of information is really poor by DVC atm

 

[Tattylou]

No, 125 is for direct perks.
I think the consistency of information is really poor by DVC atm

So 125 for direct perks, but isn’t a minimum to buy direct as new member? It is super unclear.

I was told 125 for BWV for a minimum buy in, also a new member. Could vary by resort and the inventory they have available.

I wonder if it does vary based on what is available....

 

[4luv2cdisney]

The buy in minimums as reported in your link used to be accurate. Lately, prospective members have been told the minimum is 125 all resorts.

Do you have a guide @Tattylou ? If yes, call and ask. If not, I recommend starting an online chat and trying to get an answer. They will probably assign you a guide to answer. My guide is really weird about answering anything in email or chat. Seems he only tells me stuff via a phone call.

ETA: I bought in late 2017 and could get in at 50 points anywhere except CCV. Posted minimum was 100 and guide went down to 75 with a little pressure. Ended up buying 60 @ BWV as a new member.

 

[Tattylou]

The buy in minimums as reported in your link used to be accurate. Lately, prospective members have been told the minimum is 125 all resorts.

Do you have a guide @Tattylou ? If yes, call and ask. If not, I recommend starting an online chat and trying to get an answer. They will probably assign you a guide to answer. My guide is really weird about answering anything in email or chat. Seems he only tells me stuff via a phone call.

I do not have a guide bc I’ve really been leaning resale - mainly bc I thought direct required 125. I want a small contract (ie 50) to begin my DVC journey with bc I want to pay cash.
Thank you!

 

[Tattylou]

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.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

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.

Great!

As of now, the 125 for perks is "accumulated" so if you decide to buy multiple small contracts as you can afford to, you get the blue card when you reach 125 total. Again, as of now! lol

Honestly, I'd anticipate the 125 possibly going to 150-160 at some point, but I think it would still be accumulated points to qualify.

 

[Sandisw]

To add, the 125 minimum for perks is membership magic and the blue card.

Points bought direct have no restrictions on where they can be used for stays. So, even if someone buys 100 points at a resort that allows it, those points can be used at RIV and future resorts, along with L14. You just don’t get the blue card to access DVC APs or other discounts.

 

[CSLucas]

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.

Wish I had known that! We wanted to buy direct, but we wanted to stick around 50-75 points (although maybe that wouldn't have been a possibility anyways at the resort we wanted (BLT or VGF)). Our plan is still to slowly purchase direct in 25 point increments until we get to the 125 direct (at which point we will sell the smaller of our resale contracts)

 

[hhisc16]

3 different cast members told me I had to buy a minimum of 125 points at any resort in February as a new DVC member.
I was trying to buy less than 125 points at HHI, but each cast member said the same thing. I was frustrated.
We purchased 50 points resale the next day after their response.

 

[Tattylou]

3 different cast members told me I had to buy a minimum of 125 points at any resort in February as a new DVC member.
I was trying to buy less than 125 points at HHI, but each cast member said the same thing. I was frustrated.
We purchased 50 points resale the next day after their response.

So strange how people seem to get different answers. I was told on Sat when I chatted with DVC that 125 was min for perks, but certain resorts you can buy less than that as new members (just with no perks). It seems like this is still unclear. I’m probably not buying just yet as my husband wants to wait til covid dies down and to see how it all pans out for Disney and travel.

 

[hhisc16]

So strange how people seem to get different answers. I was told on Sat when I chatted with DVC that 125 was min for perks, but certain resorts you can buy less than that as new members (just with no perks). It seems like this is still unclear. I’m probably not buying just yet as my husband wants to wait til covid dies down and to see how it all pans out for Disney and travel.

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.

 

[hhisc16]

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.

I was told on 2/14, 2/15, and 2/15 the minimum for new members was 125 pts for HHI.
I would have bought direct if they let me buy less than 125.
Frustrating!

 

[Tattylou]

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.

I actually screen shot the chat to have “proof” if we decided to buy now and got told no we can not do less than 125 down the line. As it stands we aren’t going to buy right now. I totally get your frustration. I also think Disney is making a mistake by not allowing people to buy in for less than 125 if that is the case. That will send a lot of potential new customers to resale for sure.

 

[hhisc16]

I actually screen shot the chat to have “proof” if we decided to buy now and got told no we can not do less than 125 down the line. As it stands we aren’t going to buy right now. I totally get your frustration. I also think Disney is making a mistake by not allowing people to buy in for less than 125 if that is the case. That will send a lot of potential new customers to resale for sure.

You are correct.
This is the only reason why we bought resale is because we want less than 125 points and Disney told us NO with 3 different cast members!

 

[pkrieger2287]

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.

 

[Tattylou]

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.

Yes, that is what the guide I chatted with said -