Question about purchasing

[Chazz22]

Just got back from WDW...looked at BLV..considering a vacation club purchase...my sales guy was pretty pushy though...do they offer incentives frequently? How are sales going at BLV? He made it sound like they'd all be gone by tomorrow!

 

[Sandisw]

Disney does usually offer incentives. The question is whether or not the new incentives will be better or worse for you. No one knows when they will come or how long they will last. Sales are moving but I personally do not think that it will be gone anytime this year (JMO).

In January, they came out with the cruise incentive which did not work for me in anyway. These newest incentives, the straight per point discount, are pretty good so I added on. But I really only want DVC for BLT. I am not really interested in any of the other resorts so paying the higher price is worth it to me.

The first thing to decide is whether or not DVC is for you. If it is, then do some research and investigate the resale market as well. That is how I became a member. I bought a small contract to start at my 2nd choice resort and then added on at BLT.

There are some great deals on the resale market. However, the bottom line for many is to buy where you want to stay. You have a home resort advantage and are able to book reservations there 11 months out. If, at 7 months, you want to switch to another resort, you can but only if there is availability. Many times there is but some times there is not (it depends on when you travel--ie VWL is hard to get at 7 months in December unless you own your points there). You want to be happy if the only place you can stay that trip is your home resort.

Good luck!!!

 

[DVC Mike]

However, the bottom line for many is to buy where you want to stay. You have a home resort advantage and are able to book reservations there 11 months out.

For help with choosing your home resort, take a look at the Choosing Your Home Resort - What to Consider? thread.

 

[Crystal_27]

Well, the incentives that were just released in April were actually much better than those that had been in place since late 2008. I would definitely say that you should buy when you are ready and not let your Guide push you into it. That said, there is a bit of a grace period (about a month) from the time you sign your contract until the time that it actually closes so, if new incentives come out during that time period, it is very easy to amend your contract if it hasn't yet closed. Also, we started to see rumors of changing incentives about 15 days before they actually changed, and I haven't heard a peep about new incentives any where.

Either way, happy DVC shopping and please feel free to ask anything along the way - these Boards are a wealth of information.

 

[pumpkinfish]

I agree with PP. DH and I have been looking into DVC for about 9 years. We knew it was a good thing for us but never "our time". After our 13th visit in 8 years we have finally figured out that our resort taste has changed and know we would only want to stay delux from here on out.
The incentives now are great for first time buyers (as well for add ons I imagine). Sure, we would have saved a lot 9 yrs ago if we bought but are able to now financially back our purchase (don't forget about those MFs!)

Good luck on your decision. Also remember if you didn't like your guide or thought they were too "pushy" you could always call and request another one.

 

[dmoore22]

It's unusual that the DVC guide would be "pushy." That's not the "Disney" way. In the past the DVC pretty much sold itself. The guide was just that -- a guide. he'd take you on the tour and then guide you through the paperwork. There was no hard sell. Times are tough and Disney has been letting employees, including DVC folks, go. I detect a bit of job preservation in play here.

I agree with the comments of all the previous posters. We knew we wanted to join but had trouble taking that first step. We watched the incentives that DVC offered periodically and also kept an eye on the resale market. We ended up going with a resale. We found one at a reasonable price including a year's worth of banked points which allowed us to create a yearly cycle that left us with points to bank from year to year and have a nice family getaway. We discovered that we were staying at WDW twice as long for a third of what we paid out of pocket prior to joining DVC. We have 6 children so you can imagine the challenges of coming up with a nice and economical vacation.

On the other hand you should consider that when you buy through Disney it is painless. There are no closing costs to come up with like there are with a resale. So if you go with a resale check out what the closing costs will be. Some of the recent incentives are very appealing and may not be that much more than some of the resales that I've seen recently. Good luck!

 

[Crystal_27]

It's unusual that the DVC guide would be "pushy." That's not the "Disney" way. In the past the DVC pretty much sold itself. The guide was just that -- a guide. he'd take you on the tour and then guide you through the paperwork. There was no hard sell. Times are tough and Disney has been letting employees, including DVC folks, go. I detect a bit of job preservation in play here.

Perhaps, but our Guide too was a bit pushy, and even told us that the incentives were completely going away on March 15th. We were vacationing in Disney and had taken the tour with the intent to buy when we returned from vacation, so him saying that made us go ahead and sign the paperwork that day since we wouldn't have returned from vacation until after the March 15th day. Still, we were able to take advantage of the new incentives released on April 1st so it was "no harm, no foul."

 

[lark]

On the other hand you should consider that when you buy through Disney it is painless. There are no closing costs to come up with like there are with a resale.

I thought there were closing costs -- like $300 or something. (Just not for add ons.)

 

[lookingforward]

We are thinking about BLT but our guide was VERY pushy. For instance, she took us on the tour and when we sat down she said, first thing, "how is your credit?". I wanted to say "none of your bees wax" because we had not even discussed making a purchase yet. She wanted us to sign contracts right then and there. We NEVER sign immediately for anything, we always take a day or more to think. Thats just our way. As soon as she heard we were going to leave without a contract she was very cold. I was shocked, really. She never followed up either, other than a postcard.

If we buy (and I hope its soon) we will ask for another guide, if possible.

 

[Sandisw]

We are thinking about BLT but our guide was VERY pushy. For instance, she took us on the tour and when we sat down she said, first thing, "how is your credit?". I wanted to say "none of your bees wax" because we had not even discussed making a purchase yet. She wanted us to sign contracts right then and there. We NEVER sign immediately for anything, we always take a day or more to think. Thats just our way. As soon as she heard we were going to leave without a contract she was very cold. I was shocked, really. She never followed up either, other than a postcard.

If we buy (and I hope its soon) we will ask for another guide, if possible.

I think that you are very smart to take your time and think things through. DVC is a big purchase and not something that should be rushed in to. I do think that having a guide who you like and who you feel is attentive to your needs is important.

I bought throught resale but then adding on a week later. When I called, they put me through to a guide and I was very lucky because he was wonderful. It made the whole add on experience great. He was not pushy at all, which I liked.

When you decide to buy, be sure to check out the referral thread where many have shared the names of guides. That might be helpful if you are hoping to get a new one when you call!

Good luck

 

[Crystal_27]

For instance, she took us on the tour and when we sat down she said, first thing, "how is your credit?".

That's got to give you warm fuzzies, right? WOW!!

 

[CarolAnnC]

We are thinking about BLT but our guide was VERY pushy. For instance, she took us on the tour and when we sat down she said, first thing, "how is your credit?". I wanted to say "none of your bees wax" because we had not even discussed making a purchase yet. She wanted us to sign contracts right then and there. We NEVER sign immediately for anything, we always take a day or more to think. Thats just our way. As soon as she heard we were going to leave without a contract she was very cold. I was shocked, really. She never followed up either, other than a postcard.

If we buy (and I hope its soon) we will ask for another guide, if possible.

After touring DVC a postcard is about all the followup you will receive. Unlike other timeshare sellers (which are extremely aggressive) DVC is not going to go after you to keep pushing. If you are interested in purchasing, you will need to contact them. There are certain incentives that will only be available to you for 48-72 hours after you tour. Perhaps she was over zealous in trying to convey that to you?

They are sales folks, and they are expected to close as many deals as they can, of course.

 

[5forDiz]

I thought there were closing costs -- like $300 or something. (Just not for add ons.)

Yes you are right lark; when directly purchasing through Disney as first-time buyer there may be closing costs/fees depending upon which resort you pick for your Home Resort & number of pts purchased; iirc 160pt at BLT is somewhere around $250 ? hopefully another poster will be along soon to tell more about this on their recent purchase.