Someone talk me out of this...

[MamaBelle4]

Okay, look, I know that resale is much cheaper (although with prices rising, not that much cheaper).

Assuming I want SSR (which I do) and I can get a resale contract for $110/point for 125 points. That's $13,750. I'm not sure if that's a reasonable price right now or not, not sure what the smaller contracts are currently going for. Direct, the same contract is $20,625. That's a pretty significant difference right off the bat.

But, I also take into account the potential savings if they do not discontinue the annual pass. We are a family of 7, my oldest is 12 so we have many years yet in which all of the kids will live under our roof. The ticket savings are astronomical there when you multiply it by so many and so many years. Of course we don't know what the future holds as far as benefits are concerned.

Also, the discount on dining and possibly tables in wonderland card if that comes back would be significant for our family size.

And finally, DH is leaning towards buying direct because our initial resale contract predates the 2019 restrictions and he doesn't want us to be limited if DVC builds a new property we want to go to.

Is $110/point the going rate for SSR right now? Or am I too high or too low for that sized contract?

 

[Lumpy1106]

Did you take a look at this thread?
https://www.disboards.com/threads/r...ost-for-instructions-formatting-tool.3821777/

 

[RoseGold]

So you don’t have a grandfathered blue card?

 

[Vulnox]

In my view, as someone that is also looking to go direct despite my nearly constant browsing of resale contracts and pricing, is you aren't being unreasonable really. You CAN see an advantage if you can make good use of the APs, even those big into resale say that if you can get value out of APs, it may still work. Also there is a lot we don't know about Disney's plans for how resale restrictions will work going forward. If you buy resale SSR, you already can't get into RIV, which to many isn't a huge deal, but odds are that trend will continue for both new resorts going forward once the COVID construction halt ends, and likely when existing resorts with upcoming contract end dates are renewed and put back out like new selling resorts. You also get access to the members lounge in EPCOT, which I think isn't available to new resale buyers, and while not a guaranteed benefit (almost nothing is guaranteed regardless), is still a benefit with what we know right now.

That said, $7k is a lot of money and it will still take a number of years to bridge that gap with AP alone and even with TiW. At some point, as the super large discussion on "Does DVC Save You Money?" seemed to result in, buy what makes you happy and doesn't cause you financial hardship. For me, the extra cost for RIV Direct is worth it, both due to resale restrictions now and the likely trend for the future, as well as just an emotional want to have the full package. In the end, if you are looking at resale but can't help but glance at Direct, even with all you know, that may be your answer.

 

[MamaBelle4]

So you don’t have a grandfathered blue card?

Unfortunately, no. We bought in 2017.

 

[limace]

Do you go often enough that an annual pass would be worth it? Take a cold hard look at that before you decide.

 

[BillPA]

??? family of 7, 125 points. that will not get you 4 nights year in a 2 BR during the lowest season, the smallest unit you can fit everyone in. An AP will not do you any good, I don't see why you would even think about direct for the "perks' that have all but gone away.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Do you go often enough that an annual pass would be worth it? Take a cold hard look at that before you decide.

We typically go every other year. We would change our pattern to two years on, two years off, making sure both fall within the annual pass time frame.

??? family of 7, 125 points. that will not get you 4 nights year in a 2 BR during the lowest season, the smallest unit you can fit everyone in. An AP will not do you any good, I don't see why you would even think about direct for the "perks' that have all but gone away.

Well, this is our second contract, not our first. We currently go every other year on our 100 point contract. As I said above, DH also doesn't want to be limited on where we can stay.

 

[EM Lawrence]

I don’t think its crazy. I’m also weighing a direct SSR purchase, but I’m really hesitant until they bring back APs. If I pulled the trigger on direct, and then discounted APs came back, or they came back but with a much smaller discount, I would feel like such a sucker.

 

[limace]

I wouldn’t do it in your shoes but I think you don’t want to be talked out of it . And it’s your money-do what makes you happy! With your initial resale contract enabling you to stay anywhere you want and the ability to transfer points in if in some undetermined future time you want to stay at some yet-unbuilt resort-I don’t know that I’d get my money’s worth out of $7K more. I’d also suggest really doing the point chart math-we want to do two stays in a 12 month period to get use out of an APP-would 225 give us enough to do that in the 2 bedroom we need at the time we want to go in the resort we want to visit (and it very well might-I’d just want to know that rather than hope. Or it might at OKW but not come close at RIV).

 

[DVCsloth]

I think it would be good to go with the 125 direct, this way you can always use the points at future resorts. $7,000 is not that much when you consider the length of the contract. And if they bring back the season pass discount, it will pretty much pay for itself. I really don't want any restricted points and the convenience of buying direct is really nice. I feel that larger contracts are a better argument for resale.

 

[MamaBelle4]

With your initial resale contract enabling you to stay anywhere you want and the ability to transfer points in if in some undetermined future time you want to stay at some yet-unbuilt resort-I don’t know that I’d get my money’s worth out of $7K more.

I am really, very embarrassed to say I didn't think of this. I don't know why I didn't realize this.

That is most compelling. I think if I find the right resale contract, that's what we'll go with!! Thank you!

 

[MamaBelle4]

would 225 give us enough to do that in the 2 bedroom we need at the time we want to go in the resort we want to visit (and it very well might-I’d just want to know that rather than hope. Or it might at OKW but not come close at RIV).

Oh and I actually love SSR, so that's not an issue for us. Love the convenience of DS being right there.

 

[Sandisw]

I would buy direct. The points will be good at all resorts including future resorts, just like your current points.

In addition to APs, the blue card does come with discounts on dining and merchandise which can also add up. There is nothing to suggest APs are not coming back, especially since they are allowing people to still buy under limited circumstances.

Depending on your UY, you could end up with points you may not have a use for right now and could rent or transfer that will bring the price even closer.

If you have a Disney Visa, you can put the price on that and take 6 months to pay off with no interest...which is a nice perk, even if you have the funds to pay cash.

 

[RoseGold]

With a family of 7, a Blue Card probably makes sense.

However, I would try to talk you out of buying 7 annual passes every year. I mean, do you want to give THAT MUCH cash to the mouse??

 

[MamaBelle4]

With a family of 7, a Blue Card probably makes sense.

However, I would try to talk you out of buying 7 annual passes every year. I mean, do you want to give THAT MUCH cash to the mouse??

We would be buying them once every two trips, i.e. middle of Dec trip 2022, beginning Dec trip 2023. Then taking a year or two off between trips, then repeating. I know we'd miss the renewal price, but it would still save us money over the 2 5day passes per person.

 

[RoseGold]

We would be buying them once every two trips, i.e. middle of Dec trip 2022, beginning Dec trip 2023. Then taking a year or two off between trips, then repeating. I know we'd miss the renewal price, but it would still save us money over the 2 5day passes per person.

This math only works if Gold Pass works for what you are doing. If you're buying Platinum, I'd still go resale. I might even wait on all of this until you actually see what the passes will be. This is a big gamble on some discounts that may or may not come back, might have restrictions, who knows. Direct is not going anywhere.

he doesn't want us to be limited if DVC builds a new property we want to go to.

Well, show him the RIV point chart, and he'll change his mind. The next properties will probably just keep inflating the charts.

For a family of 7, I'd consider OKW points for that sweet spot GV, which is always taken. Good value direct also, because they extend to 2057.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

If gold passes work for you (and they come back) $7K is nothing compared to the savings you will get on the passes in a relativiely short time.

For me, the unrestricted points carry a bit of value as well. So, 2 sets of APs gets you within a $1400 price gap at which point I'd call it even.

I'd normally say "just do it" but I actually would wait until the AP situation is clear.

(Also, in your example, you are using Dec trips and nearly 1/2 of Dec is blacked out for gold pass (just FYI). Make sure your middle of Dec trip doesn't start in the middle of Dec!)

 

[MamaBelle4]

(Also, in your example, you are using Dec trips and nearly 1/2 of Dec is blacked out for gold pass (just FYI). Make sure your middle of Dec trip doesn't start in the middle of Dec!)

OH Thank you for that. I haven't had a chance to see the block out dates. I thought they were normally around the highest travelled days. I'd be travelling in the 2nd lowest DVC season. We would do December (if possible) this time around, and then in 2-3 years, move to January. We prefer January anyway but December 2022 is right before my middle child turns 10 in January, so it's more strategic.

 

[lovin'fl]

First, I don't think TIW is coming back. Second, APs may or may not and if they do, it likely won't be the same as what we had. Plus when you say family of 7...they all have to be living under DVC owners roof with same address and any adult will need to show ID as proof. Just not sure if your other 5 are your kids under 18 or adult kids or include the grandparents who also live elsewhere. But if all 7 of you qualify for the DVC pass, then it may be worth it (what it the savings on APs and how many years to catch that 7K difference?...like 10?).

I personally would not buy direct if it's a 7K difference. We bought some direct expensive points but small add ons that didn't hurt as much (25, 25, 55 and 70 pointers). We recently sold off a huge chunk of our points (650 down to 275). So you can say the pixie dust has worn off for us. But still, would not buy direct unless under 75 points where price difference isn't as bad (small resales go for more...small to me is 25-90ish points, 100 starts to be regular and above around 250 is larger). I would buy SSR though. It's a good deal and their new renos are outstanding.