Rumor: Direct Minimum for DVC Purchase Increasing to 150 Points

[Nabas]

What are the minimum points an existing DVC member has to purchase at a DVC resort that is not their Home Resort?

We are DVC members but do not currently own at the Riviera. What's the minimum number of points we can purchase at the Riviera?

 

[Sandisw]

What are the minimum points an existing DVC member has to purchase at a DVC resort that is not their Home Resort?

We are DVC members but do not currently own at the Riviera. What's the minimum number of points we can purchase at the Riviera?

50 points for RIV.

 

[igrsod]

They really are making it not worth it to get the blue card. I had always debated getting direct points, but every time I do the math, at least for us, the benefits do not have enough value for the extra dollars.
Not having a blue card hasn't dampened our vacations.

 

[Sandisw]

They really are making it not worth it to get the blue card. I had always debated getting direct points, but every time I do the math, at least for us, the benefits do not have enough value for the extra dollars.
Not having a blue card hasn't dampened our vacations.

IMO, it is really more a target for new buyers vs those who are resale owners who don’t have it.

But direct also gives you points to use at RIV and all future resorts which is not tied to the blue card. So, for anyone who wants that it’s direct or resale RIV.

And resale RIV only works for those of us who know we are going to stay there often and have other points to trade into L14.

 

[igrsod]

IMO, it is really more a target for new buyers vs those who are resale owners who don’t have it.

But direct also gives you points to use at RIV abs all future resorts which is not tied to the blue card. So, for anyone who wants that it’s direct or resale RIV.

And resale RIV only works for those of us who know we are going to stay there often and have other points to trade into L14.

You are right on that. I'm happy that I have resale points that allow me to book at RIV and newer resorts. I could see that possibly being a draw for new direct sales, especially down the road.

 

[thegash35]

You do still get discounts on food and merchandise.

It's debatable whether all food and merchandise discounts are "membership extras" and require a blue card. I suspect white-card holders can get most of those discounts by showing their membership card.

You can also get the same discounts at most places with a Disney Rewards Visa card.

 

[Sandisw]

You can also get the same discounts at most places with a Disney Rewards Visa card.

For me, it is not the same as I have tried. I don’t always spend $50 at a time to get the 10% merchandise discount. DVC gives me 20% even if I am spend $10.

Also, the last time I was here in March I asked and the places we ate did not offer a discount for Disney Visa

In my experience my Disney Visa discounts do not match my DVC for the way we spend.

 

[DonMacGregor]

The thing about the discounts is that they overlap the food and merch discounts offered with an AP. Now, not everyone has or needs an AP (I don’t as we have family who are Disney Cast Members and a large bi-coastal network of CM friends), but it’s my perception, at least, that a significant majority of direct purchasers who identify "perks" as a tangible benefit, list the ability to purchase AP's at a discount as the single most significant perk. Figuring out how to utilize those AP's to their maximum benefit is something of an artform on here . After the 11-month booking window, discounts on AP’s seems to be the biggest perceived benefit to Blue Card ownership.

If the majority of owners who list perks as important are buying discounted AP’s (or hope to when they return), then the separate discounts offered with the Blue Card are redundant (and moot). Certainly not for some (such as yourself), but for a significant portion of owners they are (redundant).

 

[sethschroeder]

You can also get the same discounts at most places with a Disney Rewards Visa card.

There is a bit more in DVC. It won't make up the direct purchase price but there is a pretty good gap there imo.

http://mouseperks.com/

 

[Sunnyore]

For me, it is not the same as I have tried. I don’t always spend $50 at a time to get the 10% merchandise discount. DVC gives me 20% even if I am spend $10.

Also, the last time I was here in March I asked and the places we ate did not offer a discount for Disney Visa

In my experience my Disney Visa discounts do not match my DVC for the way we spend.

I either didn’t pay close attention before because of all the overlap with Visa cc, AP and DVC but I did just eat at Raglan Road on Saturday and AP discount is only good for M-Th! So I whipped out my blue card to get my discount. I don’t think I’ve eaten at a place yet where only visa discount applies.

 

[Sandisw]

I either didn’t pay close attention before because of all the overlap with Visa cc, AP and DVC but I did just eat at Raglan Road on Saturday and AP discount is only good for M-Th! So I whipped out my blue card to get my discount. I don’t think I’ve eaten at a place yet where only visa discount applies.

Me too. DVC always works every where we go. Disney Visa does not. Now, it’s certainly better than nothing but definitely not the same level as my DVC!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

There is a bit more in DVC. It won't make up the direct purchase price but there is a pretty good gap there imo.

http://mouseperks.com/

Yes, I always thought of those discounts as just a nice little perk that was given to DVC. A thank you for belonging to the "club". And I think that's what they were to start just like the discounts they give for AP holders. They were a step up from what you get for just having a credit card with Disney and very similar if you were an AP holder. Then DVC decided to use it as a reason to buy direct. It always failed in that area for me. Only the discounted AP is enough to really consider as a perks driver towards direct and even that isn't going to make up for it for many. A large family who goes often gets back the value much faster than a couple who goes every other year or even every year depending on where they are looking at buying.

 

[mustinjourney]

You do still get discounts on food and merchandise.

so I guess we should be happy they keep raising food & merchandise prices? Spend more -- SAVE more!

 

[Sandisw]

so I guess we should be happy they keep raising food & merchandise prices? Spend more -- SAVE more!

Im fine with how they do things because if the prices become something I am not comfortable with I will adjust.

But for us, the discounts help us to continue enjoy certain things that are must do’s. JMO

 

[D&B]

Not having a blue card hasn't dampened our vacations.

Really disappointed by a CM in Old Key West tell us we couldn't buy DVC merchandise with our white card today - at first I thought she meant the discount!

We told her all DVC members should be able to buy the merchandise and the blue card got a discount, and she said that wasn't the case but agreed to sell us the item "this one time".

Not a great experience for new owners on our first trip!

 

[CarolynFH]

Really disappointed by a CM in Old Key West tell us we couldn't buy DVC merchandise with our white card today - at first I thought she meant the discount!

We told her all DVC members should be able to buy the merchandise and the blue card got a discount, and she said that wasn't the case but agreed to sell us the item "this one time".

Not a great experience for new owners on our first trip!

I'd email MS to let them know - sounds like she needs some retraining!

 

[Sandisw]

Really disappointed by a CM in Old Key West tell us we couldn't buy DVC merchandise with our white card today - at first I thought she meant the discount!

We told her all DVC members should be able to buy the merchandise and the blue card got a discount, and she said that wasn't the case but agreed to sell us the item "this one time".

Not a great experience for new owners on our first trip!

On occasion, there have been a few items that required the blue card. But, not the every day stuff we see all the time.

Unfortunately, they don’t all know the rules. I did notice a new notice on the website about the need to show card and ID, I wonder if they have tried to impart the message of blue card for discounts and some have not understood.

 

[DonMacGregor]

That makes no sense. I bought DVC merch at OKW before I was a member. The only card they needed was my AmEx. Also, the ShopDisney website allows anyone to buy DVC merch too.

 

[D&B]

That makes no sense. I bought DVC merch at OKW before I was a member. The only card they needed was my AmEx. Also, the ShopDisney website allows anyone to buy DVC merch too.

I know! And when I bought something from ShopDisney's website we got the DVC discount that we're NOT supposed to get!

 

[Yinn]

On occasion, there have been a few items that required the blue card. But, not the every day stuff we see all the time.

Unfortunately, they don’t all know the rules. I did notice a new notice on the website about the need to show card and ID, I wonder if they have tried to impart the message of blue card for discounts and some have not understood.

I never knew this. Do you know what merch is exclusive to DVC blue card members? I see a lot of DVC stuff available on shopdisney.