Small add-on contract options

[karen4546]

The Blue Card could go away tomorrow.

maybe the some of the benefits but why would it go "away"? As far as the benefits, if they go away for the Blue card then they definitely will for the White or whatever color resale cards are.

IMO, they should start offering much more for direct buyers to "sweeten the Pot". Members' lounge in each park, Complimentary MCO to resort transportation, continued Gold AP, continued dining discount (at least 20%), merchandise discount (minimum 20%), and some type of "welcome home" trinket for each visit would be nice (like the DCL gifts).

However, they could change the colors of the card to White for resale, Blue for Direct up to 199pts, Silver for up to 299pts, Gold for up to 499 pts and Black for over 500pts?

 

[Marionnette]

maybe the some of the benefits but why would it go "away"? As far as the benefits, if they go away for the Blue card then they definitely will for the White or whatever color resale cards are.

IMO, they should start offering much more for direct buyers to "sweeten the Pot". Members' lounge in each park, Complimentary MCO to resort transportation, continued Gold AP, continued dining discount (at least 20%), merchandise discount (minimum 20%), and some type of "welcome home" trinket for each visit would be nice (like the DCL gifts).

However, they could change the colors of the card to White for resale, Blue for Direct up to 199pts, Silver for up to 299pts, Gold for up to 499 pts and Black for over 500pts?

With this latest resale restriction, DVC has demonstrated that they will be taking more of a stick approach vs dangling any carrots. I very much doubt that we will see any ongoing perks like welcome home gifts or additional lounges. They're certainly not going to pay to give direct purchasers free ground transportation from the airport. You might get a car magnet in the mail if they're feeling generous.

I'm not sure where you're going with color coded cards for those who own larger and larger numbers of direct points. What would be the point in doing that?

 

[Bearval]

maybe the some of the benefits but why would it go "away"? As far as the benefits, if they go away for the Blue card then they definitely will for the White or whatever color resale cards are.

IMO, they should start offering much more for direct buyers to "sweeten the Pot". Members' lounge in each park, Complimentary MCO to resort transportation, continued Gold AP, continued dining discount (at least 20%), merchandise discount (minimum 20%), and some type of "welcome home" trinket for each visit would be nice (like the DCL gifts).

However, they could change the colors of the card to White for resale, Blue for Direct up to 199pts, Silver for up to 299pts, Gold for up to 499 pts and Black for over 500pts?

I have a Blue card only because I wanted it and I bought the minimum amount that was required at the time (25). I would never buy direct again unless it was the only way to get that particular resort. I just recently added resale back in December 2020 and paid $105.00 per point for a 100 point AKL contract and direct at the time I believe was $171.00. There are not enough " blue card " benefits to make up the difference in price IMHO.

 

[KeithSS]

Are you certain your 25 point expires in 2042? All the OKW direct sold since 2007 have been extended to 2057. I think in your case I would pick RIV but know you will probably need more points as resale buyers flood the market and can only use their points there. I question if RIV with have the issues as CCV but for different reasons. RIV makes the most sense from a cost and emotional perspective. I like all resorts listed and would probably do with 125 instead of 75 direct if your 25 does expire in 2042.

Yes my 25 points were purchased in early 2007. I do know I will eventually need more points to maintain my status, which is a good point because that is something I hadn't thought of before. I just can't swing the extra $$ right now for more points without putting myself in an uncomfortable position so I will have to deal with that down the road a little bit after these are paid off. I do feel like RIV could have the same studio issue but my goal isn't to necessarily stay there every year, but to use them as SAP sometimes and use them at RIV sometimes when we want to. But I do believe that if we want to use them at RIV for studios, we will have to own there because at 7mo in the future I think that will be close to an impossible thing for all sorts of reasons. Thanks for the perspective on it!

 

[KeithSS]

As has been pointed out, you will lose your blue card membership when your OKW contracts expire. The blue card is probably the biggest reason to purchase direct right now, followed by the resale restrictions which only exclude use at one resort at the present time. You would have to purchase additional direct points to maintain your blue card and who knows what amount that will be given how DVC continues to raise the bar.

75 points at RIV or 80 points at CCV will not get you a full week at either of those resorts in Nov./Dec. You will not be able to combine those points with your OKW points at 11 months to make a reservation. Which means split stays between OKW and your new resort, traveling every other year to RIV or CCV or shorter trips.The occasional week in 1BR villas will be out of reach with banking and 50% borrowing.

You are correct in your thinking that if you want a standard view studio at RIV or any studio at CCV during that period, you will need to own there. With the exceptions of Poly, OKW, AKV and SSR that could be said for pretty much all resorts during the time you want to visit. When the 2042 resorts expire you are going to see that pool of available studios dwindle further as more resale owners will have fewer options to switch to at 7 months.

I think that the resale restrictions will affect you more at RIV than you think. Anyone buying RIV resale is only going to be able to book at RIV. That will increase competition for rooms and unlike direct owners, there's not going to be a big shift to other resorts at 7 months so that your wait list can pick up any nights you were unable to book. It's not just the next guy's problem.

But after having played the devil's advocate, I will add that both CCV and RIV are beautiful resorts in their own ways. I don't think either is a bad choice. But a happy wife means a happy life. If she loves RIV, you buy RIV.

All are great points that I really can appreciate. The restrictions certainly could have an impact more than I'm thinking, but in the same token I also think that if we are going to want to stay at RIV in a studio, doing that at the time of year we usually go, doing that at 7mo will be just about impossible for the reasons you outlined. I think that getting an AKL studio at 7 mo will be much easier using RIV points, than the other way around and with the cost difference not being all that much as well as getting the extra years, thats what is pushing my train of though towards RIV over AKL. I do appreciate you taking the time to expand on your thoughts from you previous post. I really do appreciate all of the different perspectives, which is why I posted about what i was thinking in the first place

 

[karen4546]

With this latest resale restriction, DVC has demonstrated that they will be taking more of a stick approach vs dangling any carrots. I very much doubt that we will see any ongoing perks like welcome home gifts or additional lounges. They're certainly not going to pay to give direct purchasers free ground transportation from the airport. You might get a car magnet in the mail if they're feeling generous.

I'm not sure where you're going with color coded cards for those who own larger and larger numbers of direct points. What would be the point in doing that?

Not going anywhere with the card colors. And, I know that they can take away benefits at any time. I am just happy being a part of the DVC family. We did buy direct for the Blue card benefits. Initially only for the minimum (100) but needed a few more so we added on an additional 25 pts direct. Our future purchase of point will be resale. I would like to match my UY but it it not a deal breaker. Because, as of now 125 pts is not enough.

 

[Sandisw]

maybe the some of the benefits but why would it go "away"? As far as the benefits, if they go away for the Blue card then they definitely will for the White or whatever color resale cards are.

IMO, they should start offering much more for direct buyers to "sweeten the Pot". Members' lounge in each park, Complimentary MCO to resort transportation, continued Gold AP, continued dining discount (at least 20%), merchandise discount (minimum 20%), and some type of "welcome home" trinket for each visit would be nice (like the DCL gifts).

However, they could change the colors of the card to White for resale, Blue for Direct up to 199pts, Silver for up to 299pts, Gold for up to 499 pts and Black for over 500pts?

Membership perks will never go away. What perks there are will come and go but they will always be there because they play a big role in sales direct.

 

[RoseGold]

IMO, they should start offering much more for direct buyers to "sweeten the Pot".

All they'd have to do is offer a couple rooms at the Star Wars hotel, and I'd be in. But that is the opposite of recent DVC.

They can't even get the website and the phone working. What makes you think they're going to spend money on Blue Card perks like gifts when they don't even have another resort under construction to sell? They are in no hurry to sell RIV.

At least buying resale, I know exactly what non-benefits I have. There's nothing left to take away that I care about.

 

[supersnoop]

any opinions you do have that aren't about how I shouldn't finance it or that i should buy resale are welcomed.

Honestly, that's the challenge. If you've already decided on buying direct, your choice is RIV. The others don't make any sense to buy direct.

 

[princessophiali]

I vote for RR as well. We bought the minimum of 75 points the day before the minimum went to 100. I am so glad we did! I love that resort....like you, my hubby loves CC, but studios are small and only sleep 4, we need 5. We don't mind studios, but I'd love to do split stays with 4 or 5 days at RR and then 3 days in a 1 BR on the monorail loop. So, we will probably add on (direct) 50 at SSR. (We have to bank/borrow, but I am ok with that too ) I've done my research, too, and ease of financing direct is what seals the deal for me. Last time, we would pay chunks of balance with our Disney Visa, got interest free for 6 months and got the reward points, which pays for our annual dues. Makes complete sense to me lol!