New SSR Incentive - $5/pt OR Complimentary Disney Vacation

[poohstx]

Just read on the Member website that with a minimum add-on of 100 points you can choose between $5/pt discount or a complimentary Disney vacation. Current purchase price is $89/pt. The details on the vacation aren't detailed. I also received an e-mail last night offering $750 off ($5/pt X minimum 150 point purchase) or a complimentary vacation. This was obviously intended for non-members.

 

[Niagara2]

I got the mailing too. I have done cash ressie s on weekends to save points so we must be one the regular list too. Imagine how many mailings went out if they sent them to all the people who have stayed on cash at WDW!!!

 

[lenshanem]

So this must mean sales are going well for them to end the $10 discount and start this offer instead for $5?

I bought last spring at BCV with the $10 MB. Did BCV always have the $10 MB or were there different offers?

 

[Terry S]

The first offer that BCV had was the $5 off or a complimentary disney vacation. The $5 off was not Magical Beginnings, it was just $5 off. The complimentary vacation depending on the the number of points you bought, but it was something like 5 nights free for 200 points and you could use the nights almost anywhere on property (non-dvc).

 

[tjkraz]

I think that decrease was planned all along. The sales materials for SSR clearly indicated that the $10 pp discount was valid through 10/31/03.

The "free vacation" was also offered from day one, but wasn't as beneficial as the $10 discount. If memory serves, buyers would pay the full $89 pp cost, and receive 100 developer's points for a 150 point purchase.

The $10 discount would save you $1500 on a 150 point purchase, and you could rent 100 points for $1000 or less. So the $10 discount was clearly the way to go.

 

[FredS]

It might be interesting to find out the specifics. If they are simply decreasing the amount from $10 to $5 per point then that is obviously less of an incentive. If the $10 was a MB type of "give up the first year's points" but the $5 is not, then the second offer would seem better.

On second thought, I do not need to know the specifics. I do not need the temptation!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by FredS
It might be interesting to find out the specifics. If they are simply decreasing the amount from $10 to $5 per point then that is obviously less of an incentive. If the $10 was a MB type of "give up the first year's points" but the $5 is not, then the second offer would seem better.

Neither promotion required surrendering first year's points. The net cost for purchases prior to 10/31 was $79 per point. Currently, with the $5 promotion, it is $84 per point. Contracts are for 50 years--ending in 2054. If financed through DVC, there are no payments or interest until the resort opens in May '04.

 

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by FredS
It might be interesting to find out the specifics. If they are simply decreasing the amount from $10 to $5 per point then that is obviously less of an incentive. If the $10 was a MB type of "give up the first year's points" but the $5 is not, then the second offer would seem better.

On second thought, I do not need to know the specifics. I do not need the temptation!

FredS,
...And to further tempt you: in addition to not having to surrender your first years' points, if you have a Dec UY for SSR, you get 51 sets of points..... (first set of points for Dec 2003)...


-DC

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by tjkraz
Neither promotion required surrendering first year's points. The net cost for purchases prior to 10/31 was $79 per point. Currently, with the $5 promotion, it is $84 per point. Contracts are for 50 years--ending in 2054. If financed through DVC, there are no payments or interest until the resort opens in May '04.

While there was no mention of surrendering points, when you are buying a year before points are available it seems the same difference to me. In my mind it was the same as the $10 MB ($10 off price per point, but none this year.) I can't help but think that in the near future they might do something else just as inviting, without having to wait so long to actually stay there!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by FredS
While there was no mention of surrendering points, when you are buying a year before points are available it seems the same difference to me.

That's not entirely true. While SSR owners cannot USE their points until sometime after May 17, 2004, they still RECEIVE their points if the Use Year is prior to May. In fact, the first Use Year they sold was December, and those owners will receive their first points December 2003.

Dues are not charged until May '04, and there are no payments or accrued interest on a DVC-financed purchase until the resort opens.

The only negative, if you want to call it that, is that you lose any potential interest earned on a down payment made 8-10 months before the resort opens.

 

[FredS]

For instance, we bought a BCV contract, June use year, in late November of 2002. We received 2002 points immediately (as in use or bank what you can in a hurry!) and then of course received the 2003 points a few months later. We could have given up the 2002 points and gotten the $ discount per point if we had so desired.

To me the latter option is the same as the $10 off per point incentive at SSR for sales prior to 10/31/03, in I would have paid less per point, but not have any points to use at SSR until June, 2004.

 

[tjkraz]

I still think you're comparing apples to oranges. In your situation, I understand that you received one allotment of points in November and then again in June when you hit your Use Year. However, if you had wanted the $10 MB discount you would have had to SURRENDER your first year's points.

With SSR, owners get the $10 discount, and they still get to keep their first year points. No, they cannot actually USE the points until May, but they still receive the value associated with those points in a stay sometime after May 17th.

It's kind of a moot point to even be comparing the pricing in this regard anyway. I'm certain that BCV was cheaper than SSR on a per-point basis, contract lengths are different, etc.

 

[WDWDaisy]

Does anyone know how long the $5 incentive is going to last?

Could not get DW to go for a add-on at 10, but she did not see what the rooms were going to look like. How with up coming trip she will go for it.

 

[RobDoc]

There has been no suggestion of an end date for the current $5 incentive.

I would expect it to last until the resort officially opens, at which time there could be a price increase followed by a return to an incentive like MB.

Stay Tuned!

 

[tjkraz]

One other comment. If you're planning to tour the SSR model rooms during an upcoming stay, be aware that the Guides will typically tell you at the end of the tour that the $5 discount is only good for 3 days following the tour. They've been very consistent in holding people to this 72 hour window.

However, if you speak to a Guide on the phone (assuming they can do phone sales in your state), you can take advantage of the discount as long as it is available.

I'd suggest either getting in touch with a Guide before you are at WDW, and clarify that you will not lose eligibility for the discount immediately after the tour. Alternatively, make sure your your wife understands that you only have a few days after the tour in which to commit and save several hundred dollars.