Purchasing DVC while on a Disney Cruise vs Current Incentives

[Cfabar1]

I would argue in general don't buy DVC counting on resale value, and that should especially be a thought when considering purchasing at any of the DVC resorts they are currently marketing as "active".... All of those will lose money in my view....

Even when you look through some recent ROFR trends it is clear that many direct owners at resorts built from around 2007 and later are possibly losing money when they sell - as in they aren't receiving their initial "investment" back when they divest from the property. They are still receiving massively discounted vacations by having had to just pay dues for those years, but it is a myth that you'll "triple your money" in DVC in many cases...

So, what that leads me to say is buy the points you want, in the increments you want to/need to. If you want to split them up because you think you won't need all those points down the road, or want to make sure the kids get an equal portion all their own or whatever, that makes sense to me.

 

[EPCOT Terran]

I would argue in general don't buy DVC counting on resale value, and that should especially be a thought when considering purchasing at any of the DVC resorts they are currently marketing as "active".... All of those will lose money in my view....

Even when you look through some recent ROFR trends it is clear that many direct owners at resorts built from around 2007 and later are possibly losing money when they sell - as in they aren't receiving their initial "investment" back when they divest from the property. They are still receiving massively discounted vacations by having had to just pay dues for those years, but it is a myth that you'll "triple your money" in DVC in many cases...

So, what that leads me to say is buy the points you want, in the increments you want to/need to. If you want to split them up because you think you won't need all those points down the road, or want to make sure the kids get an equal portion all their own or whatever, that makes sense to me.

Oh, I’m not planning to sell but the expiration of Riviera points means I will either not be around when the contract ends or I will be making the rounds of talk shows revealing my longevity secrets (preview: it’s the Diet Coke). So, the points will go to my kids and they’ll either love them (and pay the dues) or list them. Buying smaller point contracts is a hedge against the latter.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I have done a few cruises since Jan 2023, but we only purchased on our Jan 2023 Wonder cruise (first time buyers) so I paid most attention then. We did get all prevailing shore incentives AND a flat $1000 cruise incentive (I assume there was a minimum purchase for that $1000 and I don’t think it was available at the sold out resorts).

At subsequent onboard DVC member events, they would occasionally say things like “flash sale on AKV/SSR” but by that time I had blue card status and would not have considered buying either resort direct. I don’t remember ANY mention of incentives on our (only) 2024 cruise. You could try posting the question on the DCL forum to get more recent experiences.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

I've heard people discuss getting a discount on points while taking a Disney cruise. I'm currently considering buying direct at Riviera under the current incentives but also somewhat considering waiting until later in the year. I'm currently booked on a Labor Day cruise later this year on the Fantasy and was just wondering if there's any value to deciding to make the DVC purchase on the cruise as opposed to now (other than whether incentives will be better or worse in general later in the year).

Can anyone with recent experience discuss how good the incentive to buy while on the cruise is?

I have recent experience. I was on a DCL cruise a couple months ago when I stopped by the DVC desk to ask one specific question - what are the unique incentives available to a new owner like me (at the time, I was not an owner of any DVC points of any kind) if I enter into contracts while on the cruise. The long answer included notes about welcome home incentives that were enhanced if I signed contracts before the cruise ended, but the incentive that had all my attention was the OKW extended options and the incremental credits for large purchases - and that incentive was not unique to the cruise and could be had anywhere by anyone as long as the promotion was still running with available point inventory to sell. So, that took the pressure off to make decisions because I knew I could wait and be really sure.

I hear you! We're debating 200 vs 250- for us, it's such a substantial chunk of change no matter what, but the higher incentives at the 250+ mark are soooo tempting lol

Yes.... yes they are. Those higher incentives will make you do incredible things.

 

[EPCOT Terran]

I have recent experience. I was on a DCL cruise a couple months ago when I stopped by the DVC desk to ask one specific question - what are the unique incentives available to a new owner like me (at the time, I was not an owner of any DVC points of any kind) if I enter into contracts while on the cruise. The long answer included notes about welcome home incentives that were enhanced if I signed contracts before the cruise ended, but the incentive that had all my attention was the OKW extended options and the incremental credits for large purchases - and that incentive was not unique to the cruise and could be had anywhere by anyone as long as the promotion was still running with available point inventory to sell. So, that took the pressure off to make decisions because I knew I could wait and be really sure.

I got off the phone with my guide earlier today and he said there is no incentive available on the cruise that is not also available on land. It sounds like you might have heard something similar on your recent cruise, though I'm interested in the part about "welcome home incentives that were enhanced if I signed contracts before the cruise ended". Were they pitching a higher welcome home incentive? That's what my guide says isn't available.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

I got off the phone with my guide earlier today and he said there is no incentive available on the cruise that is not also available on land. It sounds like you might have heard something similar on your recent cruise, though I'm interested in the part about "welcome home incentives that were enhanced if I signed contracts before the cruise ended". Were they pitching a higher welcome home incentive? That's what my guide says isn't available.

Yes - the guide on the ship said they had a cruise passenger only promotion on some resorts (RIV, CFW and VDH) to improve on the Welcome Home promotion and that such enhancement would end at port. I didn’t press for more details because I was focused on the OKW deal at the time. The guide said the ship incentives are unique and subject to change - I guess they get approved on a per cruise basis?

 

[CastAStone]

I guess they get approved on a per cruise basis?

It’s hard to believe it’s cruise to cruise but as I noted up thread they seem extremely inconsistent.

I also wouldn’t be sure your land based guide would even know, and he has more or less zero incentive to tell you the truth.

 

[longboard55]

We bought on a cruise ship, no special deals but a nice relaxed environment. We had all our questions answered.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

It’s hard to believe it’s cruise to cruise but as I noted up thread they seem extremely inconsistent.

I also wouldn’t be sure your land based guide would even know, and he has more or less zero incentive to tell you the truth.

Makes sense to me that land based guides will say whatever encourages anyone to buy from them on land, and a guide on a cruise ship will say whatever it takes to sell points on a boat.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Makes sense to me that land based guides will say whatever encourages anyone to buy from them on land, and a guide on a cruise ship will say whatever it takes to sell points on a boat.

I seriously doubt that either can lie outright (Disney doesn’t want to get sued to make an extra few bucks per point) BUT if I was a land based guide I’d have no reason to try and seek out reasons it might be better to wait until my client is on cruise.

Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me at all for them to do special “flash sales” on cruises (as they have claimed on cruises) because they are very narrowly tailored and take advantage of FOMO, might also be a good way to move points where resale value is much lower than direct.

 

[Cfabar1]

I am actually surprised - just how successful the DVC cruise pitch must be... Clearly it is more successful than the Chicago Doorway to Dreams location was or they would have stopped doing it years ago....

Especially since DVC isn't really the product on the cruise - and in this age of the internet people have to know what a terrible points swap it is to use the points on a cruise (though to be fair, there are worse ones in my view).

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I am actually surprised - just how successful the DVC cruise pitch must be... Clearly it is more successful than the Chicago Doorway to Dreams location was or they would have stopped doing it years ago....

Especially since DVC isn't really the product on the cruise - and in this age of the internet people have to know what a terrible points swap it is to use the points on a cruise (though to be fair, there are worse ones in my view).

I booked next year’s member cruise and the cash price made me sad so I asked how many points I would be looking at…the exchange rate was downright offensive, I think it was comparable to my dues, if not lower.

 

[longboard55]

The cruise sales people are just the regular DVC sales stationed in Florida and rotate a couple weeks at a time. Never had any high pressure with a DVC purchase. If anything they seemed more relaxed on the cruise

 

[Kingkonig]

I wouldn't, and depending on the length of your cruise, do you really want to spend that time with the DVC folks signing documents?

On RCCL they have a station called "NEXTCruise" where you can meet with travel agents while on your current cruise to help you plan your next voyage with RCCL... Every time I would walk past it, I'd find myself thinking how sad It is that folks can't even enjoy their current cruise... I like the DCL placeholder approach, pay $250 and figure it out later.

I like the DCL approach too, but I am curious about the RCCL "NEXTCruise" approach. Is it similar to the Norwegian "Cruise Next" certificates where you put $X down on a cruise and they'll match up to 50% on current OBC? That might be enough of an incentive - basically selling a half hour of your time for $250-500 in onboard credit isn't a terrible tradeoff.