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[Momee]

As of Friday, 2/2, the cost was $182 pp at CCV.
We have seriously considered purchasing in the past, but still not 100% sold on the idea that we will utilize the points to their fullest for the 50 yrs.
Now we are going to explore our options for purchasing resale, but I would like to know everyone's opinions on contract lengths. We know that our family would get at least 5-10 yrs of good use, but the downside is that we are FL residents and usually travel to WDW spontaneously.
The idea of having to always plan our WDW stays makes me uneasy, but we would love to have the option of staying on property for a great value.

Totally all over the place here- I'm looking for some input from anyone that wants to give it.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you won't be using home resort advantages, buy Saratoga resale in sufficient quantity to book 1BRs.

 

[DizBub]

If you won't be using home resort advantages, buy Saratoga resale in sufficient quantity to book 1BRs.

This is excellent advice. Lowest dues and decent resale price.

Get enough for a 1 bedroom and at least 10 to 20% more to adjust for seasonal requirements.

 

[Momee]

Do you know what the competitive price per point is on Saratoga resale?

 

[DizBub]

The prices I see from the Board sponsor at the top of this page range from $85 to $115. Anything under $100 would be good IMHO.

 

[Momee]

Thank you!!

Any other input and advice is always welcomed!

 

[kboo]

If you won't be using home resort advantages, buy Saratoga resale in sufficient quantity to book 1BRs.

Another +1 for this!

 

[CraigInPA]

I'm concerned where you say that you "usually travel to WDW spontaneously". Spontaneity and DVC aren't usually compatible. Check out the frequent postings on the Member Services and Resorts boards about attempting to book a room with under 3 months notice, and you'll see the recurring theme of frustration. DVC works best for people who can plan 7-11 months ahead of time.

 

[BillPA]

I would only buy where I would not mind staying. Don't count on switching at 7 month. Does it really save you anything if you just hate where you have to stay?

 

[SPLzero]

depending on your definition of spontaneous. If you are like us where if a weekend opens up at a resort we want to stay at we grab it. Some times this is a month or 2 out. If you have enough time to stalk the availability and don't mind where you can usually can get something.

 

[Wakey]

Another one for buy enough points for a 1 bed at SSR and add on 20% more. In fact this is what I did and I've not been disappointed. I'd highly recommend this tactic, which I call the SSR 1 bed sleep arounder tactic.

1. Jan to Sept, avoiding holidays you'll have no issues getting any resort (only BLT standard, AK concierge and sometimes but by all means not always AKV value) are gone in 1 beds at 7. Everything else is wide open at 7 months.
2. I don't mind staying in SSR at very peak times such as Xmas if I ever went then. However, Oct to first week Jan there's still a decent chance of getting some other one bed.
3. If you want a studio and secure one, the rest of your points can be rented to cover all dues.

As a SSR 1 bed sleep arounder, it's quite possible to book a VGF 1 bed at 7 months out, having paid substantially less than the VGF owner paid for the points that get them a studio, the VGF owner cannot even book at 7 months because all studios gone.

The downside is more dues but SSR dues are the lowest, and the dues are well worth it for the advantage of sleeping around everywhere not to mention the much superior experience of the 1 bed.

I just hope this tactic doesn't become too popular. It's recently becoming recommended much more regularly. I'm happy with people not working it out, and leaving all those lovely 1 beds for me.

So having thought about it, definitely listen to those who say buy where you want to stay. The above is a terrible idea.

 

[Momee]

When speaking with multiple guides, we have always said that we don't always plan our Disney trips 7-11 months out. We most likely wouldn't be using our points for weeklong stays, but rather a day or two at a time. (We don't use DisneyWorld as our "large vacations" because we are FL residents.) The guides have told us that we shouldn't have any issues finding somewhere to stay, but I'm beginning to believe otherwise based on what I've read here on the Dis.
We are not particular on where we stay, but enjoy the accommodations that Disney properties offer.
I have been researching and just want to make sure that DVC would be a smart investment for us or if for convenience sake, we should just continue to pay OOP when making our Disney trips.

 

[Momee]

I would only buy where I would not mind staying. Don't count on switching at 7 month. Does it really save you anything if you just hate where you have to stay?

We really aren't particular with where we stay. We always have our own vehicle and our kids are well beyond stroller age. We don't have anything to pack in and out of the parks and are super laid back when it comes to the location of properties.

 

[SPLzero]

Availability pops up all the time from canceled trips. The hardest part is the availability that does pop up usually gets booked within 30 min of them becoming available.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The guides have told us that we shouldn't have any issues finding somewhere to stay, but I'm beginning to believe otherwise based on what I've read here on the Dis.

The guides are less and less honest these days. Aside from a possible "welcome home" visit, the guide never has to deal with your inability to book again.

In general:

• If you want a studio under 7 months, October-marathon, you're looking at split stays, possibly punctuated with some cash booking, and waitlist bingo.
• If you want a 1BR at 7 months, October-marathon, it's generally been possible, but those dates are actually getting harder, and even with a 1BR I'd expect splitting the stay and time at SSR/OKW.
• If you want a studio balance of year, it depends on the studio and the timing. Long weekends, runDisney and the like have some impacts. Some studios will almost never be available at 7.
• If you want a 1BR balance of year, some categories will not be available but you can likely get one.

Generally speaking, 2BRs will follow availability of studios, although not in lock-step. Enough of the inventory is tied up in lock-off units to make it drift similarly.

And I will say it again, and again, and again: Paying Disney's premium for a full contract (100+ points) and NOT be planning to book in home resort is not a fiscally prudent decision. If you truly feel the member events and the (current) AP Gold promo might be of value, the 25 point add on gets you both at a huge savings.

 

[Momee]

Y'all are a wealth of information. I seriously appreciate all of the insight.

I think we truly LOVE the idea of being members of DVC and want to experience it, but it's just not looking like it's beneficial for us to be financially committed to something that doesn't yield much of an investment return in the long run.
What's the absolute lowest amount of points that one can purchase?

 

[BillPA]

Well, if you buy from Disney it's unclear. It's suppose to be 150 points, but often the sales team will sell less if their sales have been low.
Resale it would be 25, as that is the least DVD will sell direct as an add-on to a master contract.
And FYI I paid $57 a point for my contract, 25 years ago and now they are getting over $120 on the resale market. Not a bad return to go with the 65 trips we have had as members.

 

[SPLzero]

Don't forget you can rent unused points really easy for 13-14 dollars a point.

 

[Momee]

The guide that we spoke to this past weekend was pushing 175 because once you hit the 175 mark, you received a $2500 discount.
When he saw that we were still discussing our options, he did say that we could do 75 points, but that was only mentioned briefly and definitely not discussed by him.
I get it, it's a sale that they try (sometimes desperately) to make so that people buy direct.
We are not their optimal customer because we like to know as much as possible before making a major purchase. We are also not a family that is on a "Disney vacation high" that will sign blindly.
Apparently our guide knew this already because he had ALL kinds of notes about us and what we have discussed in the past with other guides.

 

[Momee]

Well, if you buy from Disney it's unclear. It's suppose to be 150 points, but often the sales team will sell less if their sales have been low.
Resale it would be 25, as that is the least DVD will sell direct as an add-on to a master contract.
And FYI I paid $57 a point for my contract, 25 years ago and now they are getting over $120 on the resale market. Not a bad return to go with the 65 trips we have had as members.

So buying resale, the 25 points you mentioned can only be an add-on?