Pondering the whole DVC thing....

[molly2004]

...that's why we're looking to try before we buy next year. A couple of questions. What are the fewest number of points people around here own. I hear you can buy as few as 25 points on resale, but does anyone ever do this as a first-time purchase? Would Disney exercise ROFR on a purchase like this?

The way I figure it, 40 points would give me about 4 nights' stay in a studio, which is what we'd get if we got a hotel room anyway. If I really wanted more, I could bank or borrow points. If I really really wanted more, I could rent more. Renting once you already own is easier for everyone, right?

Will we be treated any differently because we own so few points? Also, can you tour DVC resorts other than SSR if you're considering purchasing? I think that Disney is only selling SSR now, right? SSR would probably be a better buy, since the expiration is further out than the other resorts. However, I imagine I'd like to be in the Epcot area more.

As always, thanks for your help!

 

[unixadm]

Molly,

Going through Disney, the minimum buy in is 150 points.

If you go through resale, you are correct that you could get as little as 25 points.

You wouldn't be treated any differently.....no one you deal with at resorts would know how many points you have, and the CM's at MS don't care how many points you have....they just make your reservations and answer your questions.

I would remember one thing though....25 points won't even get you a Friday or Saturday night at any of the resorts for anything but a Studio. Even Sun-Thurs can run above 25 points in anything but off-season.

Buying SSR will get you an additional 12 years. That may be important if
1. You are young and will still be young enough to enjoy it for the next 47 years verse 35 years of the other resorts.
2. You are a bit older and plan on giving the points to your kids when they have their own families.
3. You plan on reselling in 15 or so years.

I fall into the #2 or #3 category. I'm nearly 40. In 15 years, there will only be 10 use years left on the other resorts, but 22 years left on SSR. I would expect that the resale of SSR at that point would be higher than the other resorts. My boys would be in college at that point. If they are all Disney'ed out, and aren't interested in inheriting the points, and my wife and I decided we would rather sell and use the money for different type vacations, we could do that and most likely, make more than we paid back (having 15 years of vacations in there as well). As you can see from the current market the used prices keep going up with the new prices....hopefully, that trend continues, at least with SSR.


We bought 200 points at SSR starting in April 2005. In the Summer of 2005, we added another 120 due to the special add-on incentive they had. And I wish I added on last month, when the price was cheaper.

Unless you live close by, having such a small contract is really not economical unless you get it just to try out the villas. If that is what you want, I would suggest renting points first so that you can get a feel for the resorts. It would make no sense to fly down, spend 1 night using points, then have to pay $400-500/night to stay longer....or move to another resort that is not a villa.

 

[CarolMN]

Keep in mind that the points only take care of lodging. You'll still have to find the $$ for transportation, park admission, food & souvenirs. As unixadm said, 40 points isn't going to get you very many nights, unless you bank and borrow and go every third year.

You may want to rent a few times until you are absolutely sure that DVC is right for you.

Best wishes -

 

[LisaS]

In 15 years, there will only be 10 use years left on the other resorts, but 22 years left on SSR. I would expect that the resale of SSR at that point would be higher than the other resorts.

Contracts at resorts other than SSR end in January 2042 so in 15 years (2021) there will still be 21 years left on those resorts and 33 years left on SSR.

Also, can you tour DVC resorts other than SSR if you're considering purchasing?

BWV still has a room open for touring. It's right on the Boardwalk. It is sometimes possible to tour rooms at other resorts. Just ask at the front desk. We did this at VB in January. Others have done this at other resorts, too. And of course you are always welcome to go and walk around the grounds, tour the common areas, check out the fitness centers and restaurants at the other DVC resorts.

SSR would probably be a better buy, since the expiration is further out than the other resorts. However, I imagine I'd like to be in the Epcot area more.

It's hard for me to offer an unbiased opinion on this. We knew we would prefer to stay in the Epcot area so we bought a BWV resale. I want to be able to book my vacation as soon as possible and be done with it rather than changing my reservations at 7 months to try to get what I really want and possibly end up on a waiting list, but that's me. Also, DH and I are in our early 50s and don't have kids so the extra 12 years didn't matter to us.

Good luck!

 

[spiceycat]

SSR January, 2054

all other January, 2042...

those are the dates at DVC will expiry...

dvc doesn't hold against you that will have so few points...

they just find ways to make you want more points.....

most people want more points....

for me it is worth it - but everyone is different.

I would say rent first. if renting works for you - then that might be the way to go....

If you are going in the summer or spring break - even OKW required 11 points per nights.... so I would go for 55 points....

 

[Daitcher]

Honestly I'm not trying to be rude here but if you can only afford 40 points then DVC is not for you. Airfare, park tickets, food, beverage, and spending money on a yearly basis really add up. Also small contracts like that are really hard to come by with resales. They get snatched up pretty quickly by people looking to add on. Value resorts would be the way to go for you or off site until you can save up more money. Studios are no different than hotel rooms really so why have annual dues for a short studio stay? Annual dues also increase on average 3% a year. You will have this payment for the next 30+ years. This is just one mans opinion so take it for what it is worth, not much. Really think this through, I can think of better ways to utilize that buy in money for someone who can only afford 40 points.


DAVE

 

[corinnak]

There is also the ROFR trouble with smaller contracts, it seems. There is a page where DIS members have been keeping track of what's gotten through and who has had their points reclaimed by Disney recently. (I can't post the URL because apparently I have not been around long enough) If you look at the list of stuff that has gotten through, it's bigger contracts. Nothing much under 100.

If you look at the ROFRed list, that's where you find the 50 pointers. I'm not sure how much you'd have to offer to pay per point before Disney would find it less attractive. They seem to be reclaiming those smaller contracts at the moment. ROFR sometimes seems to be kind of random, but there seems to be a trend when it comes to those little contracts.

Good luck deciding, and have fun renting if you decide to give DVC a whirl that way!

 

[molly2004]

Thank you all for the information. I had been dreaming about DVC for a long time. I'm really all too practical for my own good (and did I say cheap? ). Disney World is really the only thing I'd splurge on for myself. Considering our vacationing style, we both like to travel and want to expose the kids to many other parts of the world. (blasphemy!) We were looking at perhaps a short trip to WDW every year and a long vacation to other places. That's why I thought about exploring the option of owning a small contract.

Again, thanks for your input. It was really helpful! Maybe after our first visit to a DVC, we'll try to keep our eyes peeled for a resale and keep our fingers crossed that Disney doesn't exercise their ROFR.