Small contrqct to dip my toes in, and buy points for trips as needed?

[emchen]

Rented a couple years ago. Planning another this or next. We go about every 2 years and stay at BLT. 3 kids under 15 so usually prefer a 2 bedroom.

I'm not sure you have a problem to solve here. Given everything you've said, I would probably just keep renting.

My wife and I have 3 girls who were also under age 15 when we started with DVC in 2019. We never rented because we didn't know about it.

We got a 75 point contract at RIV intending to do the same as you...ie. go every couple years. We live in SoCal.

Fast forward to today and we are getting close to 2000 points, planning our first couples only trip next Dec, and multiple local anaheim trips with kids and extended family of varying numbers, too many trips to count...and my youngest (16) and I are doing both DL 1/2 Marathon Weekends (5K events).

Another Aulani trip in 2025 (week before thanksgiving?). 1-night Vero Beach Inn Room x 2 with ocean view.

This is why we did what you're considering. We started with a 25 point contract sometime before 2010 and it was for: financial/commitment-phobia/control-issues/access-to-DVC-discounts reasons.

We did lots of transferring in of points but still also booked hotels through WDW because we liked staying at some of the Values/Moderates and we didn't want to miss out on the good discount vacation packages Disney used to put out on those. Then we slowly bought additional resale contracts and this year we did our first direct add-on (small contract).

It worked well for us and I wouldn't have changed anything. We're probably done buying points to own but we will still do a Value/Moderate stay and rent from other members to pad our points.

If your scenario is more like this, or mine, execute your "resale small contract" plan. Otherwise I agree with @Brian Noble's advice.

 

[Miffy]

Have already rented. She says we will "only".maybe make 4 to 6 more trips which puts us in the break even area and above.

Hmmm. Your DW's comment leads me to believe that she may not be the WDW fan that you are.

Disclaimer: This comment is brought to you by a person who can't seem to get enough WDW . . . and I do not own DVC.

 

[bk1273]

Hmmm. Your DW's comment leads me to believe that she may not be the WDW fan that you are.

Disclaimer: This comment is brought to you by a person who can't seem to get enough WDW . . . and I do not own DVC.

She is the one who starts the travel plans and always starts with WDW as the first option. She just hates the price and how much it goes up each time.

 

[Miffy]

She is the one who starts the travel plans and always starts with WDW as the first option. She just hates the price and how much it goes up each time.

In that case, I rescind my comment!

 

[Brian Noble]

Your DW's comment leads me to believe that she may not be the WDW fan that you are.

I was going to say the same thing. But, your last comment suggests to me that The Lady Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks.

In other words, she wants to do this, but she doesn't want to want to. That's not a situation I can advise you on--I am in no way competent to give relationship advice--but it seems worth noting.

 

[bk1273]

I was going to say the same thing. But, your last comment suggests to me that The Lady Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks.

In other words, she wants to do this, but she doesn't want to want to. That's not a situation I can advise you on--I am in no way competent to give relationship advice--but it seems worth noting.

She hates the bigger upfront without thinking of the longer term. Will spend but has to be spoon fed the financial aspect over time to grasp sometimes.

 

[emchen]

She hates the bigger upfront without thinking of the longer term. Will spend but has to be spoon fed the financial aspect over time to grasp sometimes.

She just hates the price and how much it goes up each time.

In that case, see my comment in another thread about hedging against what she “hates”:

What’s the phrase thrown around by DVC guides? Hedge against inflation? Sure $999 per for 1-br is close now, but in 25 years? I’m sure the delta would be quite significant.

 

[BuzzLightyr]

At 50 points, that doesn't buy you many 2 bedroom nights.

If you usually go outside of major holiday weeks, I'd recommend getting 150 points for 2 bedrooms for a 5-7 night trip every other year.

With kids near college, a lot can change in terms of how you travel. You can always sell your contract or rent out your points.

During the life of the contract, you could become grandparents, and that bay lake contract that is walking distance of magic kingdom would be truly magical.

 

[bk1273]

At 50 points, that doesn't buy you many 2 bedroom nights.

If you usually go outside of major holiday weeks, I'd recommend getting 150 points for 2 bedrooms for a 5-7 night trip every other year.

With kids near college, a lot can change in terms of how you travel. You can always sell your contract or rent out your points.

During the life of the contract, you could become grandparents, and that bay lake contract that is walking distance of magic kingdom would be truly magical.

Yes, was leaning towards somewhere between 150 to 180 point contract.

 

[emchen]

Yes, was leaning towards somewhere between 150 to 180 point contract.

If thats the case, there COULD be added value in a Favorite Week #50 at the new Island Tower at PVB for you and family.

See the FW thread.

 

[bk1273]

If thats the case, there COULD be added value in a Favorite Week #50 at the new Island Tower at PVB for you and family.

See the FW thread.

Why week 50?

 

[RichVIII]

We didn’t start out as small as 50 but DW who is the money manager (or big boss) in house has added on as she has seen the value and enjoyed larger rooms. Currently sitting at Vero (first trip here). I know it doesn’t make the best financial sense (pricing wise) to buy small but if it gets you to the end goal of points - that’s the win.

 

[matt_in_nh]

That point is most valid if you hold the contract to expiration.

But, putting closing costs aside, is there any reason to believe that if you sell a 2060s small contract in 15-20 years you wouldn't get more per point than a similar but larger contract? Perhaps the both depreciate in value, but the smaller one will still be more affordable and more desirable, so it will have greater per-point resale value. In that case, if the percentage of depreciation for a small and large contract is similar, the upfront "small contract premium" matters a lot less.

Agree they will appreciate or depreciate at the same rate on the open market. However closing costs are ~$800. So on a 25 point contract that equals an extra $32 per point just to cover the closing. If you are buying a 250 point contract the closing tax is only $3.2 per point. That is a huge difference! I do understand that less points is less cost and so that is "more affordable". But you can't do that much with just a small contract. I guess that is the nice thing about the point system is you can size if for what works for you. I don't get going through the effort for a 25 or 50 pointer though....that is a couple nights in a studio. Or maybe you bank and borrow and go every three years or something.

 

[AstroBlasters]

BLT 2BDs…. that’s what my wife used to introduce me into this whole DVC thing too….

 

[emchen]

Why week 50?

Very desirable week during a low cost (points-wise) period of the xmas season.

Also it is the week in Dec when many kids start their winter break.

A 1-BR standard view is 306 points. Probably best to start with standard view studio which is conveniently 153 points.

Finally, it is arguable that such a contract (for perhaps the highest demand DVC week in a SV Studio), would sell faster and at a better price than plain old 153 point contract.

 

[grahf1234]

if it were my money in that situation I’d probably continue to rent, specially if you’re not going that often.

One thing that might not be very obvious, at least for my naive self and my lousy research, is that just having that 11 month advantage doesn’t mean things would not be extremely competitive for popular resorts at popular times. I learned that from my first booking trying to snag a room at vgf in December. Hate to admit it, but I had to walk it seeing how tight inventory was getting even though it was a 1-bed! Was definitely a nerve wracking experience. Will have to do it again in a few days for next December’s trip and I’m already dreading the process…

Compare that to the 11 month advantage-anywhere you get with rentals, where you don’t have to sweat the details too much, no long term commitments, it’s even the better financial decision when you consider what the money could’ve been used for. Sure might need to be a tiny more flexible and not expect to nail a standard bwv studio, but most owners already can’t, and it’s still much more flexible than owning in my experience.

Of course everyone’s situation is different. Just my ¢2

 

[VandVsmama]

During the life of the contract, you could become grandparents, and that bay lake contract that is walking distance of magic kingdom would be truly magical.

This is pretty much what my 18 yr old ODD said last week! "You know, Mama, some day I'm going to get married and have kids and then we could use the points to stay at BLT and then we could all walk to MK. Or my husband & I could have a date night at a WDW park while you & Daddy babysit our kids." And then I said, "Exactly! And that's why we'll need more points."

 

[Redheadprincess]

I kind of did this, my first contract was a loaded 50 pointer. If you plan to do a studio every other year, I think it’s doable and saves over rentals.

But I warn you, contract buying is addictive. I’ve bought another loaded 75 pointer and a 25 point direct within 6 months . I have another 50 points in ROFR too. You’ve got to have restraint to not buy more. I clearly do not.

I planned to buy some Transfer points but ultimately just end up with new contracts. We decided to rent larger units and bring our parents, siblings and their kids with us and we’d like to continue to do that. When we have the expendable cash I just grab another contract. I think we’ll stop at about 250 points per year.

You hope to stop there. I went into this 3 years ago asking my hubby for 120 pt SSR contract. We now own 670 points on 4 contracts at 3 resorts.

 

[LittleBitGoofy]

You hope to stop there. I went into this 3 years ago asking my hubby for 120 pt SSR contract. We now own 670 points on 4 contracts at 3 resorts.

This is so true. "Is 150 enough or should we get 175??" So naturally we got the 200 pt contract less than two years ago... and are similarly now right around 700 pts. The slope, it is slippery but fun! "wheeeeee!"

 

[Chili327]

Has anyone bought a small contract say 50 points to dip their toes in? Then buy points from the buy/transfer forums to plan trips? It would reduce buy ins and maintenance fees.

Yes, i bought 50 to test the water, but i used 3 years of points for 1 trip, Studio for 10 nights. You would need a lot more than 50.

Have already rented. She says we will "only" maybe make 4 to 6 more trips which puts us in the break even area and above.

Also keep in mind that in 6 trips (close to 12 years), you would be able to sell the contract and get a lot of your money back if not make some (no, not an investment, but there should be plenty of value left in a BLT contract in 12 years if you decided to sell)

She is the one who starts the travel plans and always starts with WDW as the first option. She just hates the price and how much it goes up each time.

She hates the bigger upfront without thinking of the longer term. Will spend but has to be spoon fed the financial aspect over time to grasp sometimes.

See above comment about getting all that "deposit/upfront cost" back in 12 years (or whenever you're done with it). So you're only cost would be the dues over the life of the contract.