Should I buy a small contract direct?

[RoboBear]

My family will be going on the Fantasy in January, and are planning to stay 3 nights on property. Initially I was just going to do a value resort like Pop or AS, but saw that someone just recently purchased a 50pt contract direct. I had always thought the minimum was 160.

I was planning to buy a 200 pt resale contract at BCV in the near future ( my goal is to pay off my house first). But now I am wondering if it makes more sense to get a small contract now for my January trip. I know there is no comparison between a value resort and BCV ( we've stayed at both).

Am I dumb to buy a small contract direct now for the January cruise?

 

[Sandisw]

I think it really depends and you have to look at all the pieces and then weigh the pros and cons and decide which works best for your situation.

There is no question that buying direct will cost you more than buying resale, when comparing the same size contract. The fact that you are going to do 3 days as a cash guest, regardless, does start to muddy the waters as that money can directly put towards a DVC purchase.

Here's how I might look at it, since your plan is to end up with a total of 200 BCV points in the near future.

50 BCV points direct from DVC will about $5800. Take away about $400 for your cash stay in January and that brings you to $5400. Purchasing the other 150 resale down the road when you originally planned--assume $75/pt (with closing) for a total of $11,250. Total cost this way about $16,650.

Now, wait, and just purchase all 200 BCV points resale. Assume same $75/pt and it will cost you a total of $15,000. Add in the cost of the cash stay and you get a total of $15, 400.

So, buying 50 now direct and buying the rest resale when you pay off your house or just waiting, doing a cash trip in January, and then buying all 200 points resale when you are ready, will cost you, IMO, around $1200 more.

There are some benefits to being a DVC member by that January trip--the ability to buy TIW card--if doing TS meals. It would also allow you to buy a discounted DVC AP if you are planning to make it back to WDW within a year of the January trip.

So, I don't think its dumb to consider starting small through Disney, given your plan to purchase DVC anyway. Remember, you can also purchase with a Disney Visa and get 6 months, 0% interest on the purchase.

Good luck!

 

[Dean]

My family will be going on the Fantasy in January, and are planning to stay 3 nights on property. Initially I was just going to do a value resort like Pop or AS, but saw that someone just recently purchased a 50pt contract direct. I had always thought the minimum was 160.

I was planning to buy a 200 pt resale contract at BCV in the near future ( my goal is to pay off my house first). But now I am wondering if it makes more sense to get a small contract now for my January trip. I know there is no comparison between a value resort and BCV ( we've stayed at both).

Am I dumb to buy a small contract direct now for the January cruise?

I think you're still better off waiting and either paying cash or renting this trip. If you buy direct, you'll limit yourself to less resale contracts that will tend to be a higher price (smaller). On a 200 pt contract total (200 resale or 150 resale plus 50 retail), the difference in price is likely to be somewhere in the $1500-2000 range. Your cost on a 3 night rental for a studio or a moderate through CRO is likely to be in the $400-500 range.

 

[Caren90]

I would agree with the suggestion of renting for this upcoming trip. This will give you an opportunity to try DVc accommodations without the commitment of purchasing.

Remember, the longer you wait to purchase a DVC contract (resale) the lower the price will (probably) be. Waiting a little while may save you even more money than purchasing now.

Stephen

 

[Deb & Bill]

But depending on when in January, you may or may not be able to get what you want.

 

[zavandor]

If you buy direct, your guide can probably find you a reservation for your first stay for the night you want in the resort you want. I don't know your specific dates, but even if BCV is completely sold our for DVC members, your guide an an incentive to buy direct may be able to get a room back from the cash inventory for your first stay. However it's not guaranteed.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you buy direct, your guide can probably find you a reservation for your first stay for the night you want in the resort you want. I don't know your specific dates, but even if BCV is completely sold our for DVC members, your guide an an incentive to buy direct may be able to get a room back from the cash inventory for your first stay. However it's not guaranteed.

That's a lot easier to do with new resorts that are not yet sold out, where they have builder's inventory to use. But with BCV, there might not be any availability even if the OP buys direct. Their salesperson, ala guide, might be able to get them into AKV, though, if there is still inventory to be sold.

 

[belias21]

...50 BCV points direct from DVC will about $5800. Take away about $400 for your cash stay in January and that brings you to $5400...

Minor hijack alert (somewhat)... but I've seen similar mentions like this before. Does Disney allow you to use funds spent on cash reservations to pay for DVC? Can someone help clarify this?

Thanks!

 

[chalee94]

Minor hijack alert (somewhat)... but I've seen similar mentions like this before. Does Disney allow you to use funds spent on cash reservations to pay for DVC?

no.

they are just saying that if you buy pts and use pts for the reservation, you would not need to pay cash for that reservation.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Minor hijack alert (somewhat)... but I've seen similar mentions like this before. Does Disney allow you to use funds spent on cash reservations to pay for DVC? Can someone help clarify this?

Thanks!

Years ago, this was an offer that DVC had when purchasing. But I haven't seen the offer since I bought in 1997. We were able to use our Polynesian stay towards our down payment.

 

[Sandisw]

Minor hijack alert (somewhat)... but I've seen similar mentions like this before. Does Disney allow you to use funds spent on cash reservations to pay for DVC? Can someone help clarify this?

Thanks!

As mentioned, its about using the cash you were going to spend and put it toward your purchase.

We did this when we bought. We had a cash stay planned and it was going to cost about $1800 for the room. Instead, we bought DVC, used that $1800 and put it toward the purchase, and then rebooked the trip using our points.

In our case, had we not bought DVC when we did, we would have still gone to Disney and that $1800 would have been spent on a cash stay...

Since we were buying 130 points, it was like getting an additional $13/pt, bringing our net cost to around $83/pt. Of course, BLT was not yet available on the resale market so we didn't have a choice but to buy through Disney.

 

[belias21]

Years ago, this was an offer that DVC had when purchasing. But I haven't seen the offer since I bought in 1997. We were able to use our Polynesian stay towards our down payment.

Nice promo! If only I could get the cash I've spent over the last three years on reservations and roll that in to a purchase... They'd be paying ME to buy points!