Resale vs. Buying outright...

[ParkHoppers]

If I was buying enough points I would probably buy a resale contract then buy a small direct contract at the same resort to get all the perks. That is if I could get the same UY with my small direct contract as my resale contract.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Looks like resale is the winner, thank you all

 

[gharter]

I think you have a LOT of research to do before thinking about any purchase. I spent a LOT of time reading through the threads here about DVC and how it works before even considering a purchase. Then I asked a lot of questions. I thank a lot of people on this forum for being patient with my questions.
Today, I agree with the opinion that DVC is an option for a cheaper deluxe room. Everything else is a perk that may or may not be there in the future. For you, unless you buy a small point bundle, the perks may not be there. Each person needs to decide how important those perks are. For some with large families, cheaper AP's are a huge savings, for others, it's not important.
It also really comes down to where you want to stay. If you want to stay at a home resort that is "closed" per Disney, then resale is about the only route.
As others have posted, a lot of questions to answer before you know what is the best option for you.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

I agree that you need to do a lot of research before you even consider purchasing, even if you've been to Disney multiple times. Sit and read about how the points work, what they can be used for, the timelines for usage and booking, resale restrictions, how many points you need for a typical vacation you might want to take (do some sample vacations to see how many points you would need to book), and learn about the dues and possible payments if you're financing and whether you can really afford that. And then sit some more and look at all the resorts individually and what they offer and what room types they offer, where they are located, what transportation each has, amenities, point charts compared to the others, etc., with a map of Disney World as reference. There is a lot to learn unless you're an old hat at Disney vacations, and even then it's different than the cash rooms. After doing a lot of research, pick a couple resorts to visit to see if you would really want to stay there consistently, and then go from there.

I've been researching like this for over 3 years now (on and off) and I'm still not 100% ready to jump in. Maybe 90% at this point. I need another year or two or four! Haha!

 

[Dean]

I've been researching like this for over 3 years now (on and off) and I'm still not 100% ready to jump in. Maybe 90% at this point. I need another year or two or four! Haha!

Not saying this is you but there comes a time for many when they have the info they need to move forward but they still hesitate. Basically it's time to fish or cut bait. I've seen many people who buy 10 yrs later than they should and missed the savings and other benefits over that time. IMO it's better to have 100 people in that position than one to make a bad decision buying in.

 

[supersnoop]

I've been researching like this for over 3 years now (on and off) and I'm still not 100% ready to jump in. Maybe 90% at this point. I need another year or two or four! Haha!

Adding to Dean's point, sometimes you just need to evaluate the worst case scenario from the other perspective. What happens if you buy and it doesn't work out for you? Then you sell. How much will you lose? It might make sense to buy a smaller SSR contract just to get started and see if it works for you. Worst case, you're out closing costs from buying, commission from selling, maybe a year of maintenance fees, and any change in market value. We're probably talking a $1,500 to $2,000 hit if you sell a year later. You might save that much on one trip. It might be worth the risk and effort just to find out if DVC will work for you.

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

Basically it's time to fish or cut bait.

Adding to Dean's point, sometimes you just need to evaluate the worst case scenario from the other perspective.

Dean, for the most part you nailed it right on the head.

I am financially and mentally ready to make the move, I just haven't pulled the trigger yet. The reason it has been three years of non-commitment is because of small bumps in the road such as job uncertainty (and then lay off), becoming unexpectedly pregnant so postponement for a year, but my biggest hurdle is 100% myself at this point. I feel like I'm more emotional than logical about it so I'm trying my best to do due diligence (knowing full well when I join I'll be the happiest person in the world).

But you're right... it's all in my head. I need to do it.

 

[Dean]

Dean, for the most part you nailed it right on the head.

I am financially and mentally ready to make the move, I just haven't pulled the trigger yet. The reason it has been three years of non-commitment is because of small bumps in the road such as job uncertainty (and then lay off), becoming unexpectedly pregnant so postponement for a year, but my biggest hurdle is 100% myself at this point. I feel like I'm more emotional than logical about it so I'm trying my best to do due diligence (knowing full well when I join I'll be the happiest person in the world).

But you're right... it's all in my head. I need to do it.

Whether DVC is right for a given person is a continuum from clearly yes to clearly no with a roughly break even point in between. For those on the ends of the spectrum, they really shouldn't have much issue making a yes or no decision once they have a clear understanding of the system. To me that includes being able to pay cash, plan well ahead and use the points at DVC resorts only. We've seen quite a few posts over the years from people who had looked at DVC then didn't buy for like 10 yrs when DVC clearly made sense even at the start of their journey. Unfortunately we also see people who can't afford it or who are clearly making less than good choices and those are painful to watch. I saw one person who said they bought just to be a member of the club when DVC clearly wouldn't save them and likely would cost the money. To me those are a lot more concerning than one who missed out on the benefits of DVC. But waiting too long to join also reduces the inherent value of the system as well.