Once again, looking into buying DVC.....

[MinniesYooHoo]

I have some questions if you experts can help me?

1) If we buy a small resale, into say BLT, are we then able to add on points through Disney to increase our point amount?

2) If so, how does it work?

3) OK, theoretically, if I already have an existing contract with a DVC resort, and I want to add on a small contract at say Aulani, How does THAT work? Which is my home resort? Am I able to book Aulani at 11 months since I own an interest (Although small)? Not trying to get "around" anything just trying to understand.

4)I understand that there are now restrictions on priveledges if you buy through resale. Honestly this doesn't concern me. I don't want to buy into DVC to travel the world. I just want to go to Disney often. But my question is this: Is Aulani included in that restriction? Or is considered just another (I use the term lightly) DVC resort that we would have access to?

I know that's a lot of questions, but I don't want to get any sales pressure if I call someone over the phone. Just hoping y'all can help me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[z28wiz]

1) You can add on direct through Disney or resale. Be aware resale you cant use your points for disney collection resorts and DCL. You can still trade with RCI for the time being.

2) Call up dvc and add on, add ons start at 25 point contracts

3) Yes you can book at 11 months but only for the amount of points of that contract. You cant combine your points if two different home resorts at 11 months.

4) Its another DVC resort, but remember DVD can change restrictions to make that you can only book at your home resort. So pretty much buy where you want to stay for the next 30-50 years.

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

Oh ok! That makes sense that you can only book at your points value. I didn't think of that. We are looking into BLT to be our Home resort since I LOVE the resort, AND location! Is this how people start or do most just go for the big points right away? I just don't want to finance anything, and buying small increments will certainly allow us to do that. The number of questions is astronomical! Thanks for your quick reply!

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Most people do start small and then add on. Some finance, some don't, but it's always best to stay out of debt if you can. Best of luck with your decision. It's one of the best things we ever did!

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

OK, a question I forgot to ask:

If we buy a small resale first then add on through Disney, would we then have access to the priveledges we wouldn't if we only had a resale contract? Does adding on through Disney override that? Once again, not trying to get something for nothing, just trying to understand.

 

[dbs1228]

The points bought direct would be the points that could be used for DCL and Disney collection resale points cannot be used for those. If you are looking at BLT look at the point chart to see when you would travel and what type of accommodations you would need to determine the least amount of points you would need (every other year, every third year) BLT requires more points to stay there then most other resorts. Small purchases paying cash is a great way to start, but BLT is point expensive for stays. Good luck!

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

Ok, thanks! That clarifies alot.

 

[nunzia]

Oh ok! That makes sense that you can only book at your points value. I didn't think of that. We are looking into BLT to be our Home resort since I LOVE the resort, AND location! Is this how people start or do most just go for the big points right away? I just don't want to finance anything, and buying small increments will certainly allow us to do that. The number of questions is astronomical! Thanks for your quick reply!

I started with a 25 point resale at OKW to get into sytem without having to buy Disney's minimum, which was 160 at the time. Then I added on 4 contracts direct from Disney at VGC, which is what I wanted all along. Then I sold my resale, so all my points are small increments, at the resort I love, and all are direct through Disney in case I want to choose other options and waste points. Volia

PS..when I bought there were no closing costs through Disney, but I believe there are now. Yes..only points bought through Disney would allow you to use them outside DVC and RCI..so if you had 100 resale and 100 Disney, then you could use only the 100 from Disney for the other options (you could, of course, bank and borrow them to get 300 for a cruise or whatever)

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

I started with a 25 point reslae at OKW to get into sytem without having to buy Disney's minimum, which was 160 at the time. Then I added on 4 contracts direct from Disney at VGC, which is what I wanted all along. Then I sold my resale, so all my points are small increments, at the resort I love, and all are direct through Disney in case I want to choose other options and waste points. VoliaQUOTE]

Clever! This is exactly the type of insight I was looking for! I would desperately love to about 300 points at BLT for my entire family to be able to enjoy. This is certainly a smart way to enter without having to buy Disney's minimum or financing.

Anyone else have any experiences that they can share?

 

[Jilian]

Oops, I misread. I thought you were saying that you could add on for $25 a point through Disney! lol.

 

[disneynutz]

I seem like I am repeating myself all of the time but people don't seem to read older posts.

DVC only saves you money if you normally vacation at WDW every year or every other year in a deluxe resort. You have to consider the cost of the contract, dues with yearly increases, and the cost of travel, food, admission, and extras that also increase every year. You also need to know that you will lose money when you decide to sell your contract(s).

Many new buyers don't realize the thousands of dollars that they need to come up with every year and when the excitement of being a new owner subsides, the cost can put a real burden on a family.

That being said, DVC is a good deal for some and not for others.

Bill

 

[Sandisw]

We also bought a small resale contract at VWL--what we thought would be our 2nd favorite resort--so we could then add on direct through Disney for BLT, the resort we really wanted.

At the time, BLT was still new and not yet available via resale. We have since added on via Disney for more BLT points for three main reasons--one, to get the same UU--two, to get small contracts (50 and 30 points) and three, to pay for it using our Disney Visa and get 6 months, 0% interest.

We were having a hard time finding what we wanted resale and didn't want to wait as we wanted the points for our 2011 vacation. It worked out great but then again, the price was still only $112 via Disney--much higher now.

IMO, go for the resort you want and worry about adding more later. We no longer own VWL because we wanted just BLT and it ended up not being a favorite of mine. We also thought about getting SSR points for less but in the end, having the 11 month advantage was very important for us as we wanted to be able to book SV rooms.

As mentioned, there are rooms at other resorts that are cheaper in terms of points than BLT so you can stretch things further if you are willing to stay at some of those resorts.

For us, however, the only other resorts we are interested in are BWV, BCV, and VWL. We travel in the summer and for Magic Season, the SV rooms at BLT are the exact same or within a point or two per night to those choices so for us, we went with what we loved.

Good luck!

 

[nunzia]

I seem like I am repeating myself all of the time but people don't seem to read older posts.

DVC only saves you money if you normally vacation at WDW every year or every other year in a deluxe resort. You have to consider the cost of the contract, dues with yearly increases, and the cost of travel, food, admission, and extras that also increase every year. You also need to know that you will lose money when you decide to sell your contract(s).

Many new buyers don't realize the thousands of dollars that they need to come up with every year and when the excitement of being a new owner subsides, the cost can put a real burden on a family.

That being said, DVC is a good deal for some and not for others.

Bill

TOTALLY agree and I've even talked people out of it who were ready to jump in all excited but who I know really would not make good long time candidates. We take that 'pre-pay vacation' idea that Disney pushes seriously. Yes..there are addtional costs to going yearly, or multiple times yearly which is where we are at now, since we have a bunch of kids, grandkids and others that we treat, so it does cost us more than pre DVC, but it's worth it to us. I have an ING account where I monthly deposit what I need for MF and APs if we are are getting them renewed. When the bill comes due it's no big deal since I have it ready, same for when the APs come due. We travel to DLR by train which is under $250 RT for both of us. All we have to come up with is food costs and I also have little ways I sock away cash and gift cards for that, so really, it SEEMS like it's the cheapest vacation we can do. Our MF fees are about $850 a year..this year we will use our points for 16 nights in studios, for ourselves and others. Our trip to an AI in Mexico is the one that's causing me saving headaches as well as the cruise next year..but DVC? nope..that makes for an easy trip for us.

 

[ssawka]

...but it's always best to stay out of debt if you can.

Not Always! We bought BLT in 2009 for $92 a point and financed through Disney @ 10.75% (with the tax deduction it was more like 8.06%) We had the contract paid off in one year. One year later, those points would have been $112 (with incentives). That's an increase of nearly 22%. Would it have been better to have the $ in 2009? Sure! But, would it have been better to wait until we had the cash? Nope! Debt is not always bad and can often work to your advantage! Just ask any bussiness student.

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

I seem like I am repeating myself all of the time but people don't seem to read older posts.

DVC only saves you money if you normally vacation at WDW every year or every other year in a deluxe resort. You have to consider the cost of the contract, dues with yearly increases, and the cost of travel, food, admission, and extras that also increase every year. You also need to know that you will lose money when you decide to sell your contract(s).

Many new buyers don't realize the thousands of dollars that they need to come up with every year and when the excitement of being a new owner subsides, the cost can put a real burden on a family.

That being said, DVC is a good deal for some and not for others.

Bill

I am FULLY aware of all of the "extra" costs that go along with DVC ownership as I've been researching this topic for about 5 years. We're simply waiting for the right time for us to buy. BTW.....I have read "older posts". But thank you for your input anyway.

 

[LisaS]

If we buy a small resale first then add on through Disney, would we then have access to the priveledges we wouldn't if we only had a resale contract? Does adding on through Disney override that

The first contract you purchase will be a "master" contract with a contract number and a ".000" extension, for example: 123456789.000. If you add on more points with the same Use Year (either through Disney or via resale and at the same resort or a different resort) it will be a separate contract but tied to your master contract. It will have the same base number but a different extension: 123456789.001. Each contract has identifying information including the home resort for that contract and whether it was a direct or resale purchase. If it is a resale and was purchased after 3/20/11, Member Services will see that those points are restricted and cannot be used for cruises for example.

When booking at a DVC resort, if your master and add-on are for the same resort they function like one big contract. If you are booking in the "home resort" window (11 months to 7 months plus one day from check in) you can use points from either or both contracts to make your reservation. If your add-on is for a different resort than your master, you cannot combine the points when booking in the home resort window because they are for different home resorts. You can use points from resort A to book at A 11 months out and use points from resort B to book at B 11 months out but you cannot use points from A to book at B until 7 months from check in, even if you are an owner at resort B.

The home resort booking window should be called the "home resort points" booking window since it doesn't matter where you own, what matters is having enough points for resort X in your account if you want to book there 11 months out.

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

The first contract you purchase will be a "master" contract with a contract number and a ".000" extension, for example: 123456789.000. If you add on more points with the same Use Year (either through Disney or via resale and at the same resort or a different resort) it will be a separate contract but tied to your master contract. It will have the same base number but a different extension: 123456789.001. Each contract has identifying information including the home resort for that contract and whether it was a direct or resale purchase. If it is a resale and was purchased after 3/20/11, Member Services will see that those points are restricted and cannot be used for cruises for example.

When booking at a DVC resort, if your master and add-on are for the same resort they function like one big contract. If you are booking in the "home resort" window (11 months to 7 months plus one day from check in) you can use points from either or both contracts to make your reservation. If your add-on is for a different resort than your master, you cannot combine the points when booking in the home resort window because they are for different home resorts. You can use points from resort A to book at A 11 months out and use points from resort B to book at B 11 months out but you cannot use points from A to book at B until 7 months from check in, even if you are an owner at resort B.

The home resort booking window should be called the "home resort points" booking window since it doesn't matter where you own, what matters is having enough points for resort X in your account if you want to book there 11 months out.

OK. Thanks for clarifying. I knew it had to work somehow, just couldn't quite understand it. This makes perfect sense to me. I don't forsee us buying at multiple locations. Just a few small contracts at the same location. I am a bit interested in buying at Aulani once we are well established in our home resort (Hopefully BLT), and steadily building up points there. We used to live on Oahu and it would be a fabulous way to return since we miss it so much!

 

[chalee94]

I am a bit interested in buying at Aulani

remember that aulani has extra fees tacked on if you decide to sell - so i wouldn't recommend buying small (25-50 pts) aulani contracts...

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

remember that aulani has extra fees tacked on if you decide to sell - so i wouldn't recommend buying small (25-50 pts) aulani contracts...

Oh, ok. I didn't know that. Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

I am FULLY aware of all of the "extra" costs that go along with DVC ownership as I've been researching this topic for about 5 years. We're simply waiting for the right time for us to buy. BTW.....I have read "older posts". But thank you for your input anyway.

I am glad that you are doing your homework before you buy because many people don't and I would hate to see you go through what many of us have.

Bill