Questions about selling one home resort to buy at another(s)

[vnovabri]

This might be a complicated question or and odd way of looking at things, but here we go. We bought AKL resale before a lot of the resale restrictions were in place and while we love AKL, but with it being difficult to get into some of the other park resorts at the 7-month window we have considered adding on at other resorts(GF or RIV for example). We are starting a family and likely will be spending a lot more time at MK than we do now, so it would be nice to be within walking distance of MK. We also love the access to Epcot and HS that the BW/BC/RIV have without having to rely on buses. We have more than enough points currently so ideally we would "swap" our current contract for another resort. However, there doesn't seem to be a clean way to do this without having to pay a lot more to maintain our blue card. We currently have 160 points but have discussed adding two contracts of like 50-80 points each at different resorts to give us more flexibility.

First question. If we bought direct for direct to maintain our blue card I believe we would have to buy the current minimum of 125 (I think this is the current amount) points? I assume that this would be the case even if we bought like 50 direct points then sold our AKL contract? I was not sure if there is a loop hole there or not. I already understand the debate on whether direct is worth it but we do enjoy some of the benefits like magic nights and it would be nice to be able to book the member cruises (with cash of course), which we cannot currently do because of restrictions, so we dont need to get into that debate.

Second question. Has anyone had a similar situation where they shuffled contracts after owning at a particular resort after awhile? If so how did you approach it, would you do it differently, or would you just add on another contract. I havent done a lot of math on this, but it seems like if we sell our AKL contract to buy at resale or direct at other resorts, we will be investing a lot more than we get from our current contract (especially if we would like to maintain the blue card status). We are open to suggestions on what people have done in the past in this position.

We might just stay put with our current contract and live with trying to jump on off season time to visit other resorts (like GF and RIV) when we get the chance, but figured it may be a good conversation.

 

[Sandisw]

If you sell what you currently own that qualifies you for the blue card, then you have to add on direct the current minimum which is 125.

I have bought and sold many contracts over the years to get resorts I wanted. Most recently, sold one BWV to get RIV...then sold another BWV to buy BLT.
Since I made a really high profit on BWV sale, it made a lot of sense. It cost me more, but worth it to have the longer contract and resorts I like better..BWV was for my DH and he doesn’t go much right now so I got what I wanted! Lol

Over the years, I owned BRV, VGF, and BLT too and sold those to get different ones, BLT and VGF were sold in 2017 to buy 500 SSR points to use in retirement. I did Take a slight loss on one of my BLT contracts, but since I was replacing it with cheaper SSR points, it worked out...but it did cost more money but well worth it.

Ultimately, we did it to have home resort advantage for certain trips, and the SSR for more trips.

I don’t regret a move I made and am pretty happy having what I have. I will most likely add on more points in a few years...when I use up all the extra from having only 2 trips in 2020 vs 7 that were planned.

IMO, nothing worse than having spent all the money and feeling disappointed.

 

[poofyo101]

Keep what you have.

 

[kelsey2020]

I haven't sold a contract (yet) to purchase a new one, but I've done a TON of research around this and this is what I've come to understand...

If you're really wanting to keep your "Blue Card Status," you are correct that your new contract needs to be purchased directly from Disney, with a min. of 125 points. If you currently own a contract at AKL, you could sell this contract on the resale market, then take the cash from the sale to purchase 125 points directly from Disney with a home resort that's not Riviera. And, here's why...After you've purchased 125 points directly from Disney if you want to add on points, purchase Resale. As long as you don't buy Riviera and you purchase a second Resale contract with the same UY, you can combine these points for future trips.

I hope that makes sense!

 

[princesscinderella]

If you are starting a family definitely keep AKL. My kids have loved growing up watching the animals from their balcony. And the second bathroom in the one bedroom is the best. So sad that they didn’t keep that going forward in all the one bedrooms besides BLT.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You've gotten the info that if you sell AKV then you will have to accumulate 125 new direct points to have the blue card benefits.

I have sold to purchase another but at the time I made money from the transaction. What I actually should have done was just added on though. And if it had been going to cost me more to do so I would not have made the switch especially at the large difference you are looking at. When you sell you have a commission to pay as well as a fee or two so you'll be looking at an additional cost of $80-$90/pt to have a different home resort. Now if you absolutely hate AKV and never ever want to stay there and have to stay at your new resort then you might still feel it's worth the cost. However once you start a consideration like that then everything should be back on the table even if DVC is an appropriate product for you family, if you should rent instead of own etc.

Are you never able to trade into a different resort around MK at 7 months? Do you waitlist? How about renting your AKV points out and transferring in Riv or VGF for a stay periodically if you do still like AKV for some stays and other locations as well?

 

[Girouard7]

Following, I have been thinking the same thing.

 

[poofyo101]

If you have a resale contract that does not have restrictions on it. You should not sell it unless you plan on exiting DVC. My 2 cents.

 

[vnovabri]

Thanks everyone, a lot of great feedback and perspectives. That is why these boards are so helpful!

I haven't done the math but it does seem like I have more value in holding onto my current contract and making it work or adding on a small resale contract at another resort.

I have considered renting out points to effetely exchange reservations but I had a not so great experience with renting my points out this past spring. Obviously this was a rare instance but still left a bitter taste in my mouth. So we shall see!

 

[heynowirv]

We originally bought a 190 point resale of OKW in 2009. Besides it still being our favorite resort I would never sell it because we are grandfathered Blue Card and all the other perks that they may or may not give. We have bought and sold 3 SSR contracts and another OKW . Recently we decided to buy BWV and sold off all the other contracts albeit they were small 25-75 points to buy our 150 point BWV ,and we ain't looking back .Those are my 2 cents.

 

[Eric Smith]

Thanks everyone, a lot of great feedback and perspectives. That is why these boards are so helpful!

I haven't done the math but it does seem like I have more value in holding onto my current contract and making it work or adding on a small resale contract at another resort.

I have considered renting out points to effetely exchange reservations but I had a not so great experience with renting my points out this past spring. Obviously this was a rare instance but still left a bitter taste in my mouth. So we shall see!

I wouldn't recommend holding on to a contract just to rent the points out. That seems like a lot of headache for not a whole lot of benefit.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I wouldn't recommend holding on to a contract just to rent the points out. That seems like a lot of headache for not a whole lot of benefit.

The renting being discussed is occasional and is suggested to "pay" for periodic stays at new resorts if you can't get a reservation at 7 months (or if an original 14 resale to stay at any future resorts) instead of selling and buying again.

 

[vnovabri]

The renting being discussed is occasional and is suggested to "pay" for periodic stays at new resorts if you can't get a reservation at 7 months (or if an original 14 resale to stay at any future resorts) instead of selling and buying again.

Yeah I know what you mean, if you are doing it every year then it's probably worth changing things up, although this would be cheaper than adding on, just more work and potential aggravation.

 

[vnovabri]

Here's another question. It looks like you can still buy 50 point contracts from Disney direct. Could you add on like 3 50 point contracts over 5 years then sell the resale and have your blue card? Assuming minimum increases to 150 points then you would have a total of 150 but you didn't buy them at once as like the single 125 contract.

 

[Sandisw]

Here's another question. It looks like you can still buy 50 point contracts from Disney direct. Could you add on like 3 50 point contracts over 5 years then sell the resale and have your blue card? Assuming minimum increases to 150 points then you would have a total of 150 but you didn't buy them at once as like the single 125 contract.

Yes. All points bought direct in the same membership count toward the blue card benefits, They do not have to be bought at the same time,

As long as you always hold what the minimum is at the time you bought or reached the minimum, you are grandfathered at that amount,

If you sell any contract that is eligible and drops you below, you have to add to the new minimum.

For example, it is 125 right now, Someone can add on the 3 50s and be eligible, If they ever sell one, it drops it below the 125 and it would no longer count. However, if they did 4 instead...2 50s and 2 25s, then they could sell a 25 later and still count!

 

[vnovabri]

Yes. All points bought direct in the same membership count toward the blue card benefits, They do not have to be bought at the same time,

As long as you always hold what the minimum is at the time you bought or reached the minimum, you are grandfathered at that amount,

If you sell any contract that is eligible and drops you below, you have to add to the new minimum.

For example, it is 125 right now, Someone can add on the 3 50s and be eligible, If they ever sell one, it drops it below the 125 and it would no longer count. However, if they did 4 instead...2 50s and 2 25s, then they could sell a 25 later and still count!

Cool thanks, that's good to know!

 

[RoseGold]

So, sounds like you want to keep your Blue Card and be able to sleep around and try some resorts. I would keep what you have and add on 150-200 SSR points. That's enough to be able to get at least some 1BRs here and there, and you can get into RIV with the legacy points. The other choice I think would fit well here is BLT, with its excellent 1BR set up and good resale value. VGF is expensive to buy as SAP, IMO, but if you love VGF, also a great choice for add on to stay there.

Then, when your kids are bigger and you want to scale Disney back in a few years, sell one or the other or both. The Blue Card might be worth even less to you then, or maybe more. You can decide then.

It's not like this is a permanent decision. Especially resale SSR, I view as low commitment. I plan to hold mine less than 10 years.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Don’t sell. As your kids get older, you will really regret selling. As others have said just add on. And with kids you will probably need more points than you have anyway. You can get magic kingdom resorts without home resort advantage but you just have to be on top of booking right at 7 months and waitlist right away. We are in a similar situation. We recently bought more points and we have an “extra” contract of 100 points I have thought of selling. Dh says don’t do it. It is resale but has benefits and he says we will probably buy more resale down the road anyway. And Disney will build more resorts that you will want to try. Your resale with benefits will give you access to those resorts.

 

[vnovabri]

Don’t sell. As your kids get older, you will really regret selling. As others have said just add on. And with kids you will probably need more points than you have anyway. You can get magic kingdom resorts without home resort advantage but you just have to be on top of booking right at 7 months and waitlist right away. We are in a similar situation. We recently bought more points and we have an “extra” contract of 100 points I have thought of selling. Dh says don’t do it. It is resale but has benefits and he says we will probably buy more resale down the road anyway. And Disney will build more resorts that you will want to try. Your resale with benefits will give you access to those resorts.

That makes sense, it is hard to gauges how many points we may need as our family grows, currently we get away with short trips in studios while banking previous years points. I guess now the question I will have to ask myself, is it worth adding resale or direct lol.