New to DVC purchase, how to get multiple home resorts

[Sandisw]

My confusion is why the OP intends to buy direct and then promptly sell a third of the points to buy a small resale at another resort.

Now, if the OP had said they wanted to buy 150 direct for the blue card perks and then add 50pts resale soon thereafter, I'd heartily applaud. Terrific idea when you've enough money to do that.

But, buying in only to sell a portion soon thereafter to fund buying a small resale makes no financial sense at all to me. You're actually losing money at the start by doing that.

We bought in at the 100 minimum, adding a 25 direct a couple years later. We'll sell any of the resales before letting that initial direct contract go as long as it's still grandfathered. No question. My Basin White addiction (when DVC discounted) virtually demands it.

Seriously, I can understand merely wanting the discounts and other perks like the new TOTWL special events if that's your bent.

It's an emotional "value" for me. I know I'm not truly saving money buying bunches of Basin White stuff with the discount or getting a discount on my latest Dooney & Bourke. It just feels so satisfyingly indulgent. Yeah, completely irrational.

It's a longterm commitment, though, to recoup any meaningful financial value given the additional costs of buying and selling--closing costs, broker's commission, potential changes in your tax status...

Buying more points than you really need, forcing you to rent out those you can't use, simply to get the direct benefits? That's exploding your bucks to start with, IMO.

I do get that but I was more responding to wanting direct points and not feeling though therre is anything wrong with wanting what direct offers.

Now, she can’t buy 150 direct as a new owner in anything but one contract so yo keep benefits she will need to keep that unless she ends up adding on smaller direct contracts later on that add to 150. Then sell the 150.

 

[Sunnyore]

Comments like this are causing more confusion than they are helping. She CANNOT "sell  some" of her direct points. She can sell them all, or sell none.

I was merely pointing out what she thinks she can do. And I know people that succeeded buying say 2 -75 point Riviera direct contracts as their initial buy in. I thought people were doing that so they can gift it to multiple kids in the future. Can’t think of why one would then be restricted to sell one, other than it being a bad mistake.

Edited to add if this is no longer true or never true, then gosh, the best thing is to add on a small resale contract anywhere and then add on direct points to fulfill the 150 pts requirements in smaller contract size, perhaps in resorts of her choice. It would still be more than 150 pts unless she sells the resale contract then. Maybe this is what OP is asking strategy about to fulfill her wants of direct benefits and multi-resorts.

 

[Her Dotness]

And I know people that succeeded buying say 2 -75 point Riviera direct contracts as their initial buy in. I thought people were doing that so they can gift it to multiple kids in the future.

Here's what the fine print at the bottom of the Member Benefits page says: Effective June 3, 2021, to obtain a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card, Members must accumulate a total of at least 150 Vacation Points purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc.

It notably does not say you can't buy smaller contracts--only that your direct buy for the "blue card" must TOTAL 150 points.

Can’t think of why one would then be restricted to sell one, other than it being a bad mistake.

The thinking was that you had to buy a bloc of 150 direct points to qualify for member benefits, a single contract, in which case you would have to sell all 150 or none.

I would want a guide to confirm that it can actually be done in small segments and how small each can be.

I think eticketplease is correct based on how I understand the benefits page fine print.

New Buyers can still split the contracts they just have to be buying the current minimum which is 150.
You can split it into what ever the minimum is at the resort ie Saratoga could be split into 6, 25 point contracts (not that one would want to buy Saratoga direct....) or Riviera into 3, 50 point contracts.

You could also combine and buy 2, 50 Point VGF and 1 50 Point RIV contract as long as it adds up to the new minimum.

The new buyer would have to pay more closing costs as it is based on each contract but it would be easier to off load the smaller contracts than the full 150 if that was needed later down the road.

Edited to add if this is no longer true or never true, then gosh, the best thing is to add on a small resale contract anywhere and then add on direct points to fulfill the 150 pts requirements in smaller contract size, perhaps in resorts of her choice. It would still be more than 150 pts unless she sells the resale contract then. Maybe this is what OP is asking strategy about to fulfill her wants of direct benefits and multi-resorts.

She'd still have to add a total of 150 direct points to get the benefits.

It wouldn't count at all that she has X-number of resale points other than being able to buy as an existing member. So, she buys 50 resale points now. She's an existing member so could add a 25pt contract at resorts where that's the member add-on minimum, 50pts at others. She could then add until she's acquired a total of 150 direct points and be entitled to member benefits. She could not add just 100 direct points and qualify.

 

[Sunnyore]

Here's what the fine print at the bottom of the Member Benefits page says: Effective June 3, 2021, to obtain a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card, Members must accumulate a total of at least 150 Vacation Points purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc.

It notably does not say you can't buy smaller contracts--only that your direct buy for the "blue card" must TOTAL 150 points.


The thinking was that you had to buy a bloc of 150 direct points to qualify for member benefits, a single contract, in which case you would have to sell all 150 or none.

I would want a guide to confirm that it can actually be done in small segments and how small each can be.

I think eticketplease is correct based on how I understand the benefits page fine print.


She'd still have to add a total of 150 direct points to get the benefits.

It wouldn't count at all that she has X-number of resale points other than being able to buy as an existing member. So, she buys 50 resale points now. She's an existing member so could add a 25pt contract at resorts where that's the member add-on minimum, 50pts at others. She could then add until she's acquired a total of 150 direct points and be entitled to member benefits. She could not add just 100 direct points and qualify.

I can confirm I qualify for the blue card with accumulated direct points (I have 75 at SSR and 50 at BLT - when 125 was the requirement). But I did buy a resale first so I was allowed to buy add ons direct. This wasn't planned but it worked out in my favor. I didn't buy the direct points at the same time either.

 

[EYL]

Here's what the fine print at the bottom of the Member Benefits page says: Effective June 3, 2021, to obtain a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card, Members must accumulate a total of at least 150 Vacation Points purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc.

It notably does not say you can't buy smaller contracts--only that your direct buy for the "blue card" must TOTAL 150 points.

You are absolutely right on what the fine print says. However, unless things have changed yet again, as of last November, to start a new membership, your initial DIRECT master contract must be at least 150 points. I had Poly points in a Feb UY, but when buying RIV in a June UY (aka, "a new membership"), I was required to put 150 DIRECT points into my master contract. The remainder can be broken up into as many contracts you would like. As much as I tried to break up the initial 150 points to 2x 75 point contracts, DVC would not allow me to do it.

Therefore, what OP is proposing (50 direct points from XYZ resort + 100 direct points from ABC resort) would not be allowed. However, a loophole can be to buy a 50 point RESALE contract first to start the membership, then buy the 50+100 direct points.

 

[Sandisw]

You are absolutely right on what the fine print says. However, unless things have changed yet again, as of last November, to start a new membership, your initial DIRECT master contract must be at least 150 points. I had Poly points in a Feb UY, but when buying RIV in a June UY (aka, "a new membership"), I was required to put 150 DIRECT points into my master contract. The remainder can be broken up into as many contracts you would like. As much as I tried to break up the initial 150 points to 2x 75 point contracts, DVC would not allow me to do it.

Therefore, what OP is proposing (50 direct points from XYZ resort + 100 direct points from ABC resort) would not be allowed. However, a loophole can be to buy a 50 point RESALE contract first to start the membership, then buy the 50+100 direct points.

This is the way it still is. So, buy resale first, then split direct, then sell resale and you end up with it all.

But, those small direct point contracts will always need to be kept. If one of them is ever sold, and one falls below the 150 that qualified them for membership extras, they now need to add more to whatever the new minimum is.

 

[Her Dotness]

I wonder though as DH speculated when we discussed this if MS would let a person split the 150 if buying both VGF and RIV since they're the same price.

Wouldn't hurt to ask and say you'll wait to buy if told it can't be done. Wiggle room might suddenly appear to make the sale?

Then again, this 150-only requirement may have been imposed due to short staffing. Lots simpler to process a single chunk of a contract to ensure the buyer is in earnest before agreeing to split any added smaller contracts.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I'm guessing that it's a moot point now, as OP appears to have ghosted the thread.

 

[Straulin]

I can say there is a lot of benefits to using points everywhere which is different then membership extra which is the blue card

While the discounts are not guaranteed, going direct does make you eligible for whatever is there and resale closed the door.

For us, it’s why we do direct and find it’s with the extra. We love RIV and don’t want to be shut out of any future resorts.

We do take advantage of the AP and do when it comes back.I do think it will, we are at least positioned to take advantage of whatever special offers they do!

It’s good to know the pros and cons of resale and direct but in the end, there are some of us who do, like toy, feel direct is the best bang for our buck.

What is most important is you make the decision best for you!

We bought resale first to get in the door with ‘enough’ points where we wanted them, BCV. We closed earlier this year and are at WDW currently. We couldn’t book our home resort and had to manage a split stay (AKV and VGF) for this trip due to the timing. So we are obviously wanting to add on…. Add-on-itis is real.

I think we will add direct if we do. The Disney Visa discounts have been severely reduced (only about half of our full service meals). The benefits are not as good as they have been but over the years it would add up. Plus there are some non-ministry perks which are nice. Fiscally, resale is the best option, but still…

To the original poster, please be aware you can still buy at other resorts direct. The price per point is different and usually higher, but you can go direct for almost any resort. Some have a waiting list.

 

[eticketplease]

We bought resale first to get in the door with ‘enough’ points where we wanted them, BCV. We closed earlier this year and are at WDW currently. We couldn’t book our home resort and had to manage a split stay (AKV and VGF) for this trip due to the timing. So we are obviously wanting to add on…. Add-on-itis is real.

I think we will add direct if we do. The Disney Visa discounts have been severely reduced (only about half of our full service meals). The benefits are not as good as they have been but over the years it would add up. Plus there are some non-ministry perks which are nice. Fiscally, resale is the best option, but still…

To the original poster, please be aware you can still buy at other resorts direct. The price per point is different and usually higher, but you can go direct for almost any resort. Some have a waiting list.

Disney Visa has always been lacking in terms of discounts imho. AP and DVC have always seemed to be accepted at more places.

You mention adding on and I would say you will save a lot more on the resale than the 10% can ever make up esp if you are wanting to add on at your current home of BCV.

 

[Craho]

Like others, I think you are a bit confused on how the direct membership works so they are all trying to just offer advice on rethinking your strategy. If I understand your post correctly, you do want the direct point benefits. I think you do understand you need to buy in at 150 direct points to get said benefits, but I don't think you understand you have to KEEP those 150 direct points to keep the benefits. If you buy resale and sell some of the direct points to keep your total at 150, but you have less than 150 direct points, you won't qualify. Also people are reminding you at such a high direct price, it would never be worth it to sell it so soon when resale prices are 30% cheaper. I hear you about wanting 11 month resort advantages at hard to book resorts. That is why I bought in resale at both BWV and BCV. But I also bought and kept my direct points (I was grandfathered in at 125 points) in order to retain my direct benefits.

If you don't think you need more than 150 points, then I think you need to decide what's more important to you. Direct benefits or having 11 month advantage to different resorts. If benefits are important then your best bet is to buy in at 150 points and definitely choose a resort you would love to stay at. Most people seem to be able to book at other resorts when 7 month opens up with some luck and maybe off season timing.

If resort advantage is more important to you, then consider just buying resale because then you can buy small contracts like me so I have 11 month advantage for both BWV and BCV for those high seasons. You won't qualify for benefits anyway without 150 total direct points so why not save a bit of money and going resale from the start.

I hope this clarifies some of the confusion a bit for you.

Also just to add, if she gets “bored” at a resort, she can switch at 7 months. I’m confused.

 

[brazzledazzler]

@RoseGold stated the policy had changed and has to be a single 150.

I would still ask a guide if it was possible to split the contract.

If they can not split the contract then buy a resale contract and then buy the 3 50 point contracts

I agree with this. In 2021 we bought 200 at RIV. We could only break it up to 150/50. The first contract was required to be minimum (150).

 

[eticketplease]

I agree with this. In 2021 we bought 200 at RIV. We could only break it up to 150/50. The first contract was required to be minimum (150).

When you state first contract, was that your first overall contract or first direct after owning resale?

You should be able to buy direct and split it into contracts that meet the minimum for the resort (ie OKW 25, RIV 50) if you already own a resale contract and are not changing use year.

 

[davidhr]

When you state first contract, was that your first overall contract or first direct after owning resale?

You should be able to buy direct and split it into contracts that meet the minimum for the resort (ie OKW 25, RIV 50) if you already own a resale contract and are not changing use year.

If you already own (resale/direct), they’ll allow you to add the minimum per resort for add ons, so you can split and add multiple resorts. I did this and own small direct 75 point contracts at two resorts now.

 

[eticketplease]

If you already own (resale/direct), they’ll allow you to add the minimum per resort for add ons, so you can split and add multiple resorts. I did this and own small direct 75 point contracts at two resorts now.

Yes that is correct as long as you don't try and buy a use year that you don't already have then you would have to buy the current new member minimum. I was trying to get clarification from the OP if it was their first contract or if they happened to purchase a different use year since they could only break it up as 150/50 and it appears they own multiple resorts if you look the pictures in the signature.

 

[davidhr]

Yes that is correct as long as you don't try and buy a use year that you don't already have then you would have to buy the current new member minimum. I was trying to get clarification from the OP if it was their first contract or if they happened to purchase a different use year since they could only break it up as 150/50 and it appears they own multiple resorts if you look the pictures in the signature.

I see. And yes, in that case it counts like a new buyer and you have to get the 150 minimum from what I’ve seen.

 

[Sandisw]

I see. And yes, in that case it counts like a new buyer and you have to get the 150 minimum from what I’ve seen.

Yes, new membership requires 150 in a single contract. When I added on 300 points at VGF in March, 150 was for my Dec UY...which already existed...and 150 was for a June UY, which was going to be new.

I could split the 150 I was buying in my Dec UY down smaller, but for the June UY, I could not since it was going to be a brand new membership.