Stoopid Newbie Tricks

[Greg K.]

My wife and I bought our little "starter" kit -- 150 pts -- two years ago, with BCV as our home resort. And now we want more! We'd like to buy another 150 in the next couple of months, for use in summer '05.

My questions: how big a hassle is buying a resale via the Timeshare Store? Do you really save that much money? We're interested in getting the additional points at either BCV or BWV -- not SSR -- so we're a bit leery of going back to Disney directly (though, I gotta say, we adore our guide ) How hard is it to try and get additional points through Disney at someplace other than SSR??

Inquiring minds want to know!

Thanks for any advice!

 

[justloveit]

I recommend talking to your guide about it. They do have points at the other resorts available. We just added on at VWL and our guide said they had points available at OKW and BWV. Good Luck!

 

[elfbo]

Just bought 50 points at BWV though disney today. So I suggest calling your guide first, and if there arent any points availible direct though disney then go the resale route.

 

[Sbacer]

I called our guide this week and wanted about 50 BWV points and he would not even discuss it. Said that I would be on the waiting list so long that it would not be worth it. But offered me OKW and SSR. I said I would have to think about it first. We have OKW and VWL points, but I want a few at BWV.

Humm
Sandy

 

[tjkraz]

Just bear in mind that going directly through DVC for the sold out resorts carries a high price tag. IMO, 49 years of ownership at SSR for $85 makes some sense. (And you could "save" even more if the free AP promotion is still ongoing.)

37-38 years of ownership at the other properties for $89 per point is exhorbitant.

If you want less than 150, it's more difficult to go resale. But, since you're looking for a full 150 points, I'd strongly consider a resale. You can probably get a resale contract for about $80 per point, which would save you nearly $1500 over DVC's prices. And, if you find a contract with a year's worth of points banked, you'll get some immediate return on your purchase.

 

[JudyS]

I second tjkraz's comments.

I bought a BWV resale from a private seller (no realtor involved), and even that wasn't too bad. Buying from the Timeshare Store should be even easier. The only real hassle is waiting for a contract with the points value and use year that you want, but you'd have to wait even if you went through Disney.

 

[NMW]

We used the Timeshare store and were very happy with the whole thing. Everything went quickly and smoothly and the people in that office are great. You can even tell them how many points you are looking for and at what resort and they will call you when a contract like that becomes available. I would not hesitate to reccomend them to anyone.

 

[Safari Queen]

I bought 165 pts at SSR through Disney and then 150 at BWV (with 89 banked points) through The Timeshare Store about a month later. Both experiences were excellent, though the resale took a great deal longer and I had to wait to pass ROFR. I got good service and communication was outstanding. The big advantage to buying through Disney is the financing and no closing costs. If you can swing the financing, you can probably get the resort you want at a decent price at The Timeshare Store.

 

[Skip Wiley]

We added on twice this year, at BWV and BCV. Both times our Guide encouraged us to look at SSR becuase it would take a long time to find a BWV or BCV add on. It took less than a month for each, so for us at least the wait was pretty short. They were small add-ons, so Disney worked out best for us, but we did buy our original contract through The Timeshare Store, and had no problems with the process.

 

[5infam]

Earlier this year I had called into my guide and asked for more BWV points and was told no way as well. When we went on our trip in April, before hand, my guide said the same thing again. When we got there and made an appointment to see him, he offered us SSR, and after telling him no several times, he left and magically came back with the 50 BWV points, April UY we were looking for. He even said we could buy as much as 500 if we needed it. I like to only pay cash for my points, so I just took the 50. Next year when I go again, I expect I will want to add another 50, and will probably get the same run around again, but hopefully not. The point is, keep trying. You never know what they will come up with if they are motivated. If you want to buy from Disney direct, I would just keep bugging your guide until he/she is sick of you. I bought resale for my first set of points and that went fine as well, although it took about 2 months before I could make a ressie. You can probably find a good deal on 150 points on the resale market, probably even with banked points. Just make sure you factor in all closing costs when comparing it to Disney direct. Good luck!!!

 

[Greg K.]

Thanks for all your insight! My wife and I are planning to pay cash up front, no financing. Do you think that could help me negotiate a better price on a resale?? (I know that happens sometimes with buying houses...dunno about timeshares tho...!)

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for all your insight! My wife and I are planning to pay cash up front, no financing. Do you think that could help me negotiate a better price on a resale?? (I know that happens sometimes with buying houses...dunno about timeshares tho...!)

Someone selling their points via resale will not care about your financing, you are not financing through them.

 

[tjkraz]

Whenever you buy a resale you need to provide the cash at closing. As Debbie said, the seller really won't care where the money came from--whether you're pulling cash out of the bank or otherwise financing on your own.

Also, just realize that there really aren't any great deals on DVC contracts. If you should happen to find a stressed seller willing to take less than the current market price, the contract will probably get snatched by DVC via ROFR. Talk to a broker and he/she can probably give you an idea of the current market prices. Personally, I wouldn't even bother haggling over $1-2 per point as DVC may just take it from you.