Purchase Timing

[brandonw91]

We are going to purchase 150 direct points. That much has been decided .

Our favorite resort is Poly, and tentative plan is for that to be our home.

Here’s where I’m looking for thoughts/opinions:

We have a cash stay booked for September. It is a split stay at Poly Tower and Riviera. I love playing the credit card and gift card discount game so I have gift cards to cover the cash value of that stay already…

Our guide approached us (Since Mickey let him know that we were heading back down ) to tell us that we should essentially use the cash for our cash stay as a down payment. He claims that he can reserve both rooms we have now with points. If it matters, I would likely price on credit card for points and pay off… so the “down payment” argument is more of a psychological benefit than practical.

I know promotions come and go and that I should never try to time the market. We missed the Visa promo from last month and I’m not sure if any others are qualifiable right now. I also just wonder if the recession turns if they will offer more aggressive options in the coming months or year…

Since I have the gift cards he also threw out options such as having Disney buy back the first year and paying cash and some others too.

Long story short, what would the much more qualified members here do? I’m just trying to crowdsource some opinions. Buy know and accept current price or hope and pray for better promos to come. Open to all perspectives!

 

[ShaneDJ]

Don't try to time the market (or the incentives). They will ebb and flow.

Buy when your finances and circumstances permit.

 

[WeIcomeHome]

Personally, I think incentives will only get better than they are right now. Whether that happens before the next increase in base price is yet to be seen.

With your stay coming up, though, it would be a decent chunk towards your point purchase. You could likely wait until the end of this current incentive cycle and still get your upcoming stay converted to points as a welcome home stay for your first stay after buying direct. By waiting you could have the option to switch over to the next incentive cycle promotions if they are better than the current incentives.

Is there a preferred use year based on when you like to travel?

 

[Hubalorian]

If this is your first contract, check out the Referral thread to pick someone who could refer you to save an additional $500

 

[AstroBlasters]

We are going to purchase 150 direct points. That much has been decided .

Our favorite resort is Poly, and tentative plan is for that to be our home.

Here’s where I’m looking for thoughts/opinions:

We have a cash stay booked for September. It is a split stay at Poly Tower and Riviera. I love playing the credit card and gift card discount game so I have gift cards to cover the cash value of that stay already…

Our guide approached us (Since Mickey let him know that we were heading back down ) to tell us that we should essentially use the cash for our cash stay as a down payment. He claims that he can reserve both rooms we have now with points. If it matters, I would likely price on credit card for points and pay off… so the “down payment” argument is more of a psychological benefit than practical.

I know promotions come and go and that I should never try to time the market. We missed the Visa promo from last month and I’m not sure if any others are qualifiable right now. I also just wonder if the recession turns if they will offer more aggressive options in the coming months or year…

Since I have the gift cards he also threw out options such as having Disney buy back the first year and paying cash and some others too.

Long story short, what would the much more qualified members here do? I’m just trying to crowdsource some opinions. Buy know and accept current price or hope and pray for better promos to come. Open to all perspectives!

I would absolutely apply the money you are going to use for a cash stay to a DVC contract if they can get you the same room with points for a planned trip….

 

[Tatebeck]

A few things. September has pretty low point charts so if they can get you the same stay at a fairly low point cost that would be pretty nice. And I know the cash rates for Poly and Riviera are typically quite high. So if it would be a large amount of the purchase price of the contract I would highly consider it.

One possible negative ... If you cancel the package and buy the contract, you will have to rebuy tickets or annual passes for that stay so there will be a bit of an extra cost there as well.

I would also check what use year they are trying to sell and try to get one that still has the 2024 points (so something June through September if any of those work for you long term) Then you could sell back the 2024 points as Magical Beginnings and still have 2025 points they could use in September for your trip.

And one last small note, The later you buy in the year, the less you pay for 2025 dues, so you can actually save by waiting. Either way if you want to purchase soon I would consider waiting until towards the end of the current promotion, lock in the purchase within 10 days of the next round of incentives so you can see if the next round is even better and have an option to use that price instead. And it will save you a tiny bit in dues to wait as well.

 

[NVDISFamily]

A few thoughts.

• Not sure if I saw this said by you or someone else but you should also consider if the UY you pick will, can net you 2024 points for "free".
  • I'm not sure what UY were allowed to get 2024 points for Poly Tower but I'd ask.
  • Just be careful with those free points. It's a good way to get used to having a lot more points and will make you likely need more points.
• I'd also fight for the UY best for your travel patterns long term. I'd make this a higher priority than getting the 2024 points but both would be better.
• Be careful that you aren't buying enough points for this trip but for the trip you are likely to take X years, year after year, in the future.
  • If this trip is a lower point season but most trips will be in a higher points season?
  • Are you using a one time benefit (welcome home booking) to help you book a very hard to get room that may be hard to get every year in the future? Consider buying points to get that more expensive view, larger room, etc.
• If you can, buy more points than you think you need.

Seems like you have a good plan. I'll also add that more experienced guides are happy to "push" on the edges of the rules and give you a few months to get all things in line to get you locked into a contract. I've done something similar a few times with my guide. Wish you the best as you go on this journey.