Question for those who have added on.

[DisneyKidds]

Thanks to all the wonderful info I have learned from you guys we went into the DVC open house last week well ahead of the curve on our knowledge of DVC - Thanks! We still need help though.

We are considering a DVC purchase. A 150 point contract would work short term, but long term we probably need 270 or so.

If we purchased a 150 point VWL contract now and want to add on in a few years when VWL is sold out, will it be possible to get a VWL add on?

What has been your experience with small add ons at your sold out home resort? How hard are they to get?

When we took the tour the DVC person who gave us the speil indicated that DVC was finding somewhat of a market in selling additional points to existing members of particular resorts when DVC gets points back thru foreclosure or other reasons. Is this the only way they can offer existing members more points?

I suppose one solution would be to buy the 270 points now and rent out what we don't use, but that would involve some risk (if we couldn't rent the points) and a bigger outlay now. Thanks for your help .

 

[RobDoc]

Once a resort is sold out, Disney will not have any add-on availability unless there is a forfeiture or a "first refusal" buy back. These are sometimes available, but not dependable.

Another option would be to try to find a resale add-on, but that is also a challenge at times and sometimes more costly. Many others have found that an add-on at another resort works well for them.

If you can find a way to do it, I'd suggest buying as many as you think you will need, as VWL will definitely NOT be available thru DVC directly too much longer.

Good Luck!

 

[Granny]

DK....Doc gave you the straight scoop on the availability of VWL down the line. However, there is one way you might go about achieving your goal of buying 150 points and ending up with 270-300 points.

This assumes that your long term goal is to have 270-300 points available every year.

You could buy 150 points now at VWL. In a couple of years, you could buy 120 - 150 points from Disney (for whatever home they are selling then) or via a resale. This may or may not be at VWL.

You could alternate banking and borrowing each contract to give you the 270-300 points you need each year at one resort with one use year.

Example: Buy VWL now for 150 points. Use the 150 points every year until you need more. Then buy a re-sale at OKW (or wherever) for another 150 points. On the first year, you bank your OKW points and borrow the VWL points from the next year, giving you 300 VWL points to use that year (all with the VWL use year). The following year, you will have 300 OKW points to use (all with the OKW use year).

Of course, if you can buy an add-on at the same resort and use year as your original contract, then you don't have to go through the banking/borrowing thing. However, the odds of finding a resale for EXACTLY the amount of points you want, AND your original home resort, AND your use year, WHEN you are ready to add on....well, that's kind of wishful thinking.

This assumes also that you are flexible in where you want to stay.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[stlrod]

Doc, I had talked to my guide (Marc T.) a couple of months ago about adding-on. Marc said that there even when a resort is sold-out, there is add-on availbiltity for members for about a year (we were discussing the expected sell-out of WLV in January at the time.) Marc said that it more troublesome is the availabilty of certain use years. WHile he would expect add-on availabilty to be there for a year, it may be difficult to find the identical use year.

 

[travelbug]

I was one of the lucky ones who managed an add-on through Disney after my home resort (BWV) was sold out. It had been sold out for several months. But I called my guide and asked him to put my name on a waiting list and to let me know if any points came up for my use year. Sure enough, only 3 weeks later he called to say that points had become available for my same use year.

As I look back, I wish I had gritted my teeth and bought all the points in the first place. But fortunately things worked out.

I think that Granny had great suggestions to offer. Sounds like a good plan all the way around.

Good luck as you make your decisions!

 

[RobDoc]

...even when a resort is sold-out, there is add-on availbiltity for members for about a year

That is correct. With most timeshares, there is a % of buyers who discover a short while later that they allowed their emotions to make the decision to buy and they will back out or renege on their purchase within a few months.

DVC then is able to repackage these failed contracts. In some cases the contracts may even be repossessed a few years later.
It sure can't hurt to let your guide know that you are in the market if such an acquisition becomes available, but don't depend on availability at a sold out resort to make your add-on purchase. The points may materialize, but it may not happen in a timely fashion.

We purchased 2 weeks at a timeshare here in IN (it's on the DVC/II exchange list) which had been abandoned by the previous owners. Many timeshares have owners who just stop paying the annual fees after a number of years. The resort repo's the week, but has no maintenance fee to support the time (and renting these weeks is not easy for most timeshares). The resort decided to "sell" these weeks for $500- including closing costs. The annual fees are $335 per year. The resort wins by getting the maintenance fees again- the buyer wins by getting a dirt cheap timeshare week. We use these for exchanges thru RCI.

IMHO, even DVC will occasionally get these abandoned contracts- as early owners feel that they have gotten their $$ worth and now are unable/unwilling to use the points (In some cases, contracts may be willed to family who find it a burden to use) and just stop paying the annual fees. These contracts will likely become more frequently available as the years go by.

Stay Tuned!

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
IMHO, even DVC will occasionally get these abandoned contracts- as early owners feel that they have gotten their $$ worth and now are unable/unwilling to use the points (In some cases, contracts may be willed to family who find it a burden to use) and just stop paying the annual fees. These contracts will likely become more frequently available as the years go by.

Doc....I agree with your opinion on this. I've thought before about somebody who inherits the DVC contract with only about 8 years left on it. In 30 years, the dues could be really substantial and someone might be willing to just let the membership lapse. On the other hand, an 8 year membership wouldn't be worth much, I wouldn't think.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

One option would be to buy your 270 and rent the 120 out as soon as you get them (i.e. early in the use year), I don't think you would have any problem renting them, as people could use them for an 11 month booking at VWL. I think people have trouble renting points when it gets too late in the use year and the points are good only to someone who has very flexible or last minute travel plans. Check out the rent trade board and see how fast points go. You could also buy 150 at VWL and wait to add-on (in a year or so) at the beach club, and rent those points out. Good luck with your decision.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just another vote here for buying what you think you will need right away. The cost will always go up in the future, so why not get your moneysworth right away? You might even consider buying two seperate contracts so you have a smaller one to sell years down the road.