Phasing into DVC through resales

[rvashko]

So let's say I'm interested in DVC, but I'm not "sold" on the idea enough to drop $15k-$20k at this point in time.

Suppose I buy a 25-point resale for a $2k, which I am willing to drop at this point in time. I get full DVC membership benefits, yes?

Now let's say that, a year after I buy the 25-point resale, I decide I love DVC and want to go all-in and increase my points.

My understanding is that I cannot just "add points" to my existing contract. Rather, I'd need to buy one or more additional contracts (each with another set of closing fees), and aggregate points across all contracts. Is that right?

If so, is there any way to "merge" the contracts into one membership, or will I forever be tracking two memberships, two account numbers, two sets of cards, etc.?

Thanks much.

 

[walkdmc]

You can't just add to your current points. You need to buy a new contract (resale or direct). Your DVC member number will remain the same but you will have different account numbers, one for each contract.

If you're going to do that, you should try to keep the same use year for all contracts.

I probably wouldn't only buy 25 points to start with. I don't think you'll get much of a vacation for 75 points, which is the most you could use at one time but you're stuck paying the dues on those 25 points. I think 50 points would be a good buy in amount, if you're uncertain. For 150 points, you can spend a week, off season at a DVC. (You can use up to 3 years' worth of points on any one vacation with banking and borrowing). Keep in mind, 25 and 50 point contracts are very popular and in demand.

I don't know about receiving the same benefits, like AP discount, etc. I don't see why not, you'd be a member, but I'm not sure.

 

[rvashko]

Thanks for the scoop. The dues are a good point.

I know those "add-on" contracts are in-demand, but I'm not in any huge rush. I can wait until the right opportunity comes along.

Here's another question. Suppose I buy two contracts, same use year, but at two different resorts. If I needed to use all my points for a booking, I'll never be able to book 11 months in advance, since some of my points will always be from the other non-"home" resort, right? I'll always be limited to seven months out or less?

 

[walkdmc]

Yes, that's true. You have to have enough points for the resort you're trying to book at 11 months. You cannot combine 2 resorts' points for booking at 11 months. You can combine them at 7 months.

 

[joandegennaro]

Thanks for the scoop. The dues are a good point.

I know those "add-on" contracts are in-demand, but I'm not in any huge rush. I can wait until the right opportunity comes along.

Here's another question. Suppose I buy two contracts, same use year, but at two different resorts. If I needed to use all my points for a booking, I'll never be able to book 11 months in advance, since some of my points will always be from the other non-"home" resort, right? I'll always be limited to seven months out or less?

You might be able to book a split stay so that you had say 3 days at first resort and 4 days at the second one then at the 7 month mark you could try and get the whole time at 1 resort. That way if you are limited to when you can travel and it happens to be a very busy DVC time you are covered as far as a place to stay even if you have to move.

 

[dbs1228]

Also remember if you have 2 different UY you WILL have 2 seperate contracts (regardless if it is the same property) and cannot combine those points at 7 months, you can transfer the points from 1 contract to the other to use as 1 or book 2 seperate ressie's and have them linked. If you end up with 9 points on 1 contract and 15 on the other you cannot combine them for a 1 night stay unless you use your once per year transfer. If you have same UY you can combine all contracts at 7 months and can use the 9 points and 15 points for that 1 night stay without a transfer.

 

[MommyBell08]

I believe it you add on through disney you dont pay closing cost.. so you can pick your use year and get in on promo, after you buy in in the resale market.. Good luck..I agree with one of the pp that 25 pts isnt much to work with or show you what DVC is all about. You will still get all the perks no matter how you buy or how many pts. Good luck!

 

[disneynutz]

Starting off small is very smart IMHO. Until you experience the DVC for yourself, you won't really know if it meets your expectations.

If you buy the same UY and title the deeds the same, you will have one membership and one master contract number.

Renting a reservation from an existing member is a excellent way to experience the DVC resorts before you buy.

Bill

 

[Sandisw]

I believe it you add on through disney you dont pay closing cost.. so you can pick your use year and get in on promo, after you buy in in the resale market.. Good luck..I agree with one of the pp that 25 pts isnt much to work with or show you what DVC is all about. You will still get all the perks no matter how you buy or how many pts. Good luck!

This is true... no closing costs when adding on through Disney. For those smaller contracts, depending on resort, that can make it much more feasible to go through Disney.

Buying small and adding on later is a good strategy. We did it with a 50 point contract. Once members we were able to add on at BLT with no closing and for a lower price per point than had we been new members so it worked out great.

 

[rvashko]

Just to make sure I understand:

Even though there are no closing costs when adding on through Disney, it's still another contract, right? You still have to worry about coordinating use years and home resorts and all that stuff, right?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Just to make sure I understand:

Even though there are no closing costs when adding on through Disney, it's still another contract, right? You still have to worry about coordinating use years and home resorts and all that stuff, right?

If you add on through Disney and you are just adding on less than what's being sold as a new contract, you will have to buy the same UY that you have. The first contract you have would be XXXXX.1 and the add on would be XXXXX.2 so it's all under the same membership, just the digits after the decimal point changes. We have 17 parts to our membership. We have 6 home resorts and they all are March UY. 3 "contracts" were bought via resale and the rest from Disney. When/If we sell them all, we would have to sell it as 17 contracts, but we could choose to sell only 1 or 2 of them if we want. We're in the process of buying another contract, so we'll have 18 parts to our membership soon!

Bobbi

 

[joandegennaro]

Just to make sure I understand:

Even though there are no closing costs when adding on through Disney, it's still another contract, right? You still have to worry about coordinating use years and home resorts and all that stuff, right?

I think when you do an add on after a resale purchase that Disney would most likely give you the same UY since it will be an add on to the contract you have. We purchased directly from Disney and did an add on later and just asked for an Oct UY to match our original purchase. If you ask specificly for a UY then you should have no problem matching your UY's

 

[disneynutz]

Buying resale and paying closing costs can sometimes be less expensive than buying directly from Disney.

Bill

 

[oldkey1]

Suppose I buy a 25-point resale for a $2k, which I am willing to drop at this point in time. I get full DVC membership benefits, yes?

Has anyone ever seen a 25 point contract? Once in a blue moon I do see 50 point contracts but they seem to go very quickly and get a premium over larger contracts.

 

[rvashko]

I have. Just today, actually.

 

[NewDCLGuy]

Buying small and adding on is a good strategy for many. Don't worry about the "difficulties" of managing multiple contracts. It's just not that big a deal.

But I'd be careful thinking about 25 point contracts. Between the price premium they demand and the closing costs, you end up paying a *lot* per point. Unless you buy annual passes for your family, it just doesn't make sense financially.

If you just want to dip your toe in the water, rent for a year or two. Think about buying when you are ready for somewhat larger purchase.

 

[rvashko]

Is there any benefit to buying from Disney initially? I'm looking at their prices, including incentives, and they don't seem to come close to beating (or even matching) many of the resale prices.

 

[joandegennaro]

Is there any benefit to buying from Disney initially? I'm looking at their prices, including incentives, and they don't seem to come close to beating (or even matching) many of the resale prices.

We wanted OKW with the extended contract for a specific UY. At the time (March '10) there weren't any available with the extended years via resale. So we bought direct and were in the system within 2 weeks. We didn't have to go through the process of Disney deciding if they wanted to buy the contract out from under us. I am the type of person who decides yes we want this and I don't like to wait for it. I want it all tied up with a nice bow within a very short time. Had I decided to wait...6 months I could have had more points with the UY I want for less money. I guess it all depends on your personality. Some people are able to wait it out and others are not. Do I regret not waiting... No. But thats just me. Good luck with your decision on purchasing DVC.

 

[rvashko]

So you're saying the turnaround time, including Disney deciding on their ROFR, is the big "con" to buying through resale?

 

[walkdmc]

I have 3 contracts. 2 were resales and 1 was a 50 pt. direct for BLT, just b/c they were hard to find on resale.

Waiting for the ROFR was a pain but it probably saved me about $1,000 on my first contract and $500 on my second minus the closing costs, so overall, I was ahead about $1000 buying resale. I wouldn't buy direct, unless it's a unique situation (i.e. small contract, new property).

I found the resale folks less pushy and more honest about each DVC property. Although every Disney guide is different, mine was obnoxious when she found out I bought resale, even though I was buying a 50 pt. contract from her. This brings up a point; it's best not to tell your Disney guide you're considering resale. They've been known to fabricate things when they learn that info.