Speculation on point requirement increase for direct benefits

[juliebee]

On the 11/10/25 episode of DVCFan, Derek predicted that within a year that DVC will raise the point requirement for membership benefits. Those already meeting the requirement when they purchased are grandfathered in, so this only applies to those not currently covered by membership benefits. Thinking about this, if Derek is correct, then that would probably happen prior to the start of sales for Lakeshore Lodge. Looking at the past increases, it has been 4+ years since an increase in the points requirement. They had gone so long before starting increases, then nearly yearly increases (even during COVID era), and then a pause. Why would they do an increase now or within the year? Are the sales that numerous that Disney feels it wouldn't dent the amount of direct purchases? Do you think it would cause a direct purchase frenzy to purchase prior to the increase? It sounds like in past times there was some amount of warning before the increase. Anyone know how much warning?
I was thinking to wait to go direct until Lakeshore Lodge, but now I'm a bit concerned.

According to my research, the last few increases were:
6/3/2021- increase to 150 direct points for membership benefits
10/19/2020- increase to 125 direct points
9/17/2019- increase to 100 direct points
2/2018- increase to 75 direct points

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I’ve been expecting it for some time…especially because 150 does not get you far at Island Tower and they might get less complaints about spec renting of standard view studios if the average contract had an extra 25-35 points…but I’m not entirely sure how it impacts sales.

For example, we bought direct first and there was a big price break at 200, so we bought 200 points (basically all points from 150-200 had a per point cost less than buying many resale resorts direct)— the real question is how many people would be turned off entirely versus how many people would just add an extra 25 (or 50) points.

I could see them announcing an increase to 175 on 1/1 and hoping a lot of people decide to go direct for the holidays.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Increasing it beyond the initial recommended minimum buy-in for any single membership would be suicidal. Surely, they have enough sense to know this.

 

[kristenrice]

Increasing it beyond the initial recommended minimum buy-in for any single membership would be suicidal. Surely, they have enough sense to know this.

Agreed....sales seem a little bleak right now. I cannot imagine why they would want to increase the amount required to obtain benefits. I wonder if direct sales would see a boost from current resale owners if they lowered the minimum to 100 points? That may swing some current resale owners to pull the trigger on direct points in order to get the benefits and it may also sway some new buyers towards direct for their initial purchase. Just a thought....

 

[airjay75]

I heard Derek speculate about this too. I had not really thought about this before. My initial reaction is that it probably makes sense for them to do this. Looks like it has been awhile since they upped the requirement. Clearly, they want to continue making direct look better than resale, and this would be an additional way to do that. I wonder whether it would be paired with additional direct benefits? Buy more, get more. They're certainly thinking about that as evidenced by the recent survey that went out to some members.

Not sure I'd let the prospect of something like this drive a direct points purchase - too speculative. Buy where you want points when you're ready to do so.

 

[Brian Noble]

My money is on some sort of tiered benefits system, rather than raising the floor.

 

[airjay75]

Yeah, that may be the smarter move. Keep 150 the minimum for direct benefits, but then layer on extra benefits for different levels above that. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum levels or something like that. Encourage folks to buy direct and then to come back and keep buying more direct.