Rookie mistakes

[Marionnette]

Biggest rookie mistake: Buying a little 25-point resale contract at AKV back in 2012 thinking that we could use it as a couple for a Value Studio every 2-3 years. HA! We were so naive!

It's not a regrettable mistake. We paid $78 per point and it got us a blue card membership which has more than covered the initial cost of the contract in AP, merchandise and dining savings over the years. And I could sell it for almost double what I paid for it.

 

[Ashlotte]

I booked our first DVC stay by myself, then found out about the Welcome Home strings they can sometimes pull to get you a better reservation on that first stay. I called to ask and was told no dice.

Okay, I am a rookie... what is this about?

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

Okay, I am a rookie... what is this about?

The thought is that DVC wants to help out new owners with a whole bunch of points burning a hole in their pocket. Knowing that it's advisable to book 11 months out when you can, they can sometimes help you get a good first reservation that's sooner than that. I don't know exactly how they do it, I suspect they swap with some rooms that are available for cash. You have to call Member Services to do it and only for your first reservation. It's called the Welcome Home reservation.

 

[CarolynFH]

Okay, I am a rookie... what is this about?

The thought is that DVC wants to help out new owners with a whole bunch of points burning a hole in their pocket. Knowing that it's advisable to book 11 months out when you can, they can sometimes help you get a good first reservation that's sooner than that. I don't know exactly how they do it, I suspect they swap with some rooms that are available for cash. You have to call Member Services to do it and only for your first reservation. It's called the Welcome Home reservation.

And you have to buy direct.

 

[CarolMN]

And it only applies to your very first booking. If you already made a reservation yourself, they don't help you get another one.

 

[Ashlotte]

And it only applies to your very first booking. If you already made a reservation yourself, they don't help you get another one.

So it is a one time perk only for people who have just bought direct on their first booking?

 

[CarolMN]

So it is a one time perk only for people who have just bought direct on their first booking?

Yes, for brand new members who have not yet booked a stay.

 

[TinkerTay]

I booked our first DVC stay by myself, then found out about the Welcome Home strings they can sometimes pull to get you a better reservation on that first stay. I called to ask and was told no dice.

Yeah, we never got use of that either. Due to Covid, and not being able to use our loaded points, I had to bank and rent them out. Someone else essentially got our Welcome Home reservation, lol… but I guess we made out ok with the rental, even going through a broker. I’ve since been able to get 3 more VGC reservations at 7 months, by some miracle…

 

[npatellye]

Yeah, we never got use of that either. Due to Covid, and not being able to use our loaded points, I had to bank and rent them out. Someone else essentially got our Welcome Home reservation, lol… but I guess we made out ok with the rental, even going through a broker. I’ve since been able to get 3 more VGC reservations at 7 months, by some miracle…

We never got to use ours because WDW was shut down during our welcome home stay. They wouldn’t schedule another one. It all worked out because we booked BLT for Thanksgiving for that year by stalking the website.

Rookie mistake: I wish we hadn’t stayed in 1 and 2 bedrooms before trying a studio! That extra space and full kitchen spoiled us and my original plans of a studio over Thanksgiving as the kids enter upper elementary school quickly went out the window.

 

[CarolynFH]

Rookie mistake: I wish we hadn’t stayed in 1 and 2 bedrooms before trying a studio! That extra space and full kitchen spoiled us and my original plans of a studio over Thanksgiving as the kids enter upper elementary school quickly went out the window.

And that is the most serious rookie mistake of all - buy for a studio, get spoiled by a 1+ BR!

 

[Her Dotness]

And that is the most serious rookie mistake of all - buy for a studio, get spoiled by a 1+ BR!

Serious, slightly. Catastrophic is more accurate, IMO.

Can you tell I speak from experience?

 

[npatellye]

And that is the most serious rookie mistake of all - buy for a studio, get spoiled by a 1+ BR!

It all worked out. We added 150 more direct and that should allow us a 1 bedroom easily through our Thanksgiving trips.