tell me why my husband is right...

[ClosetDisMom]

I have addonitis... I REALLY want to buy 25 points direct (I've wrote about my struggle on a few threads already...). Now that the direct points are increasing in February, my resolve to wait is fading. My husband is pretty adament against adding on until we "know what we bought" by completing our first DVC trip scheduled for July.

So, we bought 145 SSR resale, paid cash. We will go every other year for 6 nights in a 1 bedroom. We will go for smaller trips on the off years. Right now, we have enough points to do studios for off year short trips. We will not be APs and the dining discount won’t matter to us, as we like QS just as much as TS restaurants and the DP is a nice convenience. So, the “perks” aren’t financially a selling point. However, the off years we would go during DVC busy season for weekends. If I bought 25 points direct, we could do 1 bedrooms instead of studios on off years. If so, the availability opens up for us and we don’t have to just stay at our home resort then.

So... tell me why my husband’s side of the argument is right. Why should we wait until July to decide whether an add on is for us.

 

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

I have addonitis... I REALLY want to buy 25 points direct (I've wrote about my struggle on a few threads already...). Now that the direct points are increasing in February, my resolve to wait is fading. My husband is pretty adament against adding on until we "know what we bought" by completing our first DVC trip scheduled for July.

So, we bought 145 SSR resale, paid cash. We will go every other year for 6 nights in a 1 bedroom. We will go for smaller trips on the off years. Right now, we have enough points to do studios for off year short trips. We will not be APs and the dining discount won’t matter to us, as we like QS just as much as TS restaurants and the DP is a nice convenience. So, the “perks” aren’t financially a selling point. However, the off years we would go during DVC busy season for weekends. If I bought 25 points direct, we could do 1 bedrooms instead of studios on off years. If so, the availability opens up for us and we don’t have to just stay at our home resort then.

So... tell me why my husband’s side of the argument is right. Why should we wait until July to decide whether an add on is for us.

If you don’t want the perks, why buy direct? And if you wanted 170 pts, why did you buy 145. Why just 25 now? Why not 50 resale?

 

[keaster]

If you don't want or need the direct perks, I would just add on resale when you feel you want/need more points

 

[ClosetDisMom]

If you don’t want the perks, why buy direct? And if you wanted 170 pts, why did you buy 145. Why just 25 now? Why not 50 resale?

Good question: I would buy direct because the smaller contracts resale are not much savings over direct when you add in closing. I bought 145 because our original plan was only every other year. My husband is on board with the off year trips, but that was not part of original plan. 25 now because of the price and it would be the least amount to get us 1 bedrooms for all the trips.

Edited to add: there is something about being a “second class” owner that annoys me, too. Again, that is not a financial selling point... it is just something fueling me need to add on.

 

[ClosetDisMom]

L

If you don't want or need the direct perks, I would just add on resale when you feel you want/need more points

I haven’t seen too many small resale contracts with our use year. But, I have only been looking for a few months. Plus, ROFR was REALLY annoying. However, your perspective is a calmer view of it. Thanks!

 

[Ben E N]

The price increase at SSR would only mean you would be paying $150 more for 25 points. Not enough to drive you into a need to purchase frenzy. Now if you were considering buying at Poly, I could understand the sense of panic.

 

[ClosetDisMom]

The price increase at SSR would only mean you would be paying $150 more for 25 points. Not enough to drive you into a need to purchase frenzy. Now if you were considering buying at Poly, I could understand the sense of panic.

Thanks, Ben! Leave it to math to be the best cure for addontitus.

 

[Ben E N]

Thanks, Ben! Leave it to math to be the best cure for addontitus.

Haha my wife walked me through an almost identical scenario a few months ago, with me on your side, so I know how it can feel.

 

[Jelly563]

You go to SSR and are underwhelmed (like us) because of the bus stop distances, food distances and lack of Disney feel. You really dig the monorail resorts or the boardwalk atmosphere or maybe even the quick walk to MK from BLT. You decide on getting more points at another resort so you have two options with an 11 month advantage. You thank your husband for not having made an impulsive purchase the the instant gratification gene and you select a resort you truely enjoy because you have actually been there.

 

[cmarsh31]

The price increase at SSR would only mean you would be paying $150 more for 25 points. Not enough to drive you into a need to purchase frenzy. Now if you were considering buying at Poly, I could understand the sense of panic.

This was exactly what's holding us off. $150 difference (we'd go for OKW bc direct it's the extended contract). My bigger concern is if Disney ups it from 25 to 50 minimum... that's a LOT more $$$. We're in the same spot. First DVC trip is July, other than the points we rented last year. We bought because we want the control and not to depend on renting.

 

[Ben E N]

This was exactly what's holding us off. $150 difference (we'd go for OKW bc direct it's the extended contract). My bigger concern is if Disney ups it from 25 to 50 minimum... that's a LOT more $$$. We're in the same spot. First DVC trip is July, other than the points we rented last year. We bought because we want the control and not to depend on renting.

I bought an initial 25 direct add on for the same reason, but it was part of our total points plan.
Shortly later, I saw the resale market heating up and realized that just an extra 25 points would get us more 1 bedroom visits. I got addonitis. Luckily my wife talked me down and the extra $4700 have been spent a bit more usefully than on DVC points.

 

[JoanneDL]

I feel you in being a second class owner. We are renting points in March. We bought 150 resale for OKW but can’t close until February. I really want to take advantage of the discount ap right now but we’d have to buy 50 direct right because of the Feb closing.
I have addonitis bad right now. We normally rent a beach house so I’d like to get Vero points too.
It’s so hard

 

[cw62803]

My first contract was 160 pts at SSR. As soon as I saw my points available on the DVC website, I called and purchased 25 add-on points directly. I'm very glad I did. With such a small contract, the sickening direct prices were made considerably more tolerable by the low closing costs as compared to resale. My points were available instantly, which was great. I was able to pay with a credit card and pick up some rewards points. And I love the perks - particularly the opportunity to purchase discounted season passes. I'm not taking sides with you or your husband - but I would recommend a 25-point add on - and I suggest doing it before the prices go up.

 

[Ben E N]

My first contract was 160 pts at SSR. As soon as I saw my points available on the DVC website, I called and purchased 25 add-on points directly. I'm very glad I did. With such a small contract, the sickening direct prices were made considerably more tolerable by the low closing costs as compared to resale. My points were available instantly, which was great. I was able to pay with a credit card and pick up some rewards points. And I love the perks - particularly the opportunity to purchase discounted season passes. I'm not taking sides with you or your husband - but I would recommend a 25-point add on - and I suggest doing it before the prices go up.

I followed your exact same route, word for word except at BLT instead of SSR. The OP is in a different situation, though. We are a family of four who is planning a 2 on, 2 off trip schedule were we would but 4 annual passes to go in July and then the following June.
For someone not really planning to buy many passes, the perks may not be worth it if the points are not needed.

 

[Dean]

I have addonitis... I REALLY want to buy 25 points direct (I've wrote about my struggle on a few threads already...). Now that the direct points are increasing in February, my resolve to wait is fading. My husband is pretty adament against adding on until we "know what we bought" by completing our first DVC trip scheduled for July.

So, we bought 145 SSR resale, paid cash. We will go every other year for 6 nights in a 1 bedroom. We will go for smaller trips on the off years. Right now, we have enough points to do studios for off year short trips. We will not be APs and the dining discount won’t matter to us, as we like QS just as much as TS restaurants and the DP is a nice convenience. So, the “perks” aren’t financially a selling point. However, the off years we would go during DVC busy season for weekends. If I bought 25 points direct, we could do 1 bedrooms instead of studios on off years. If so, the availability opens up for us and we don’t have to just stay at our home resort then.

So... tell me why my husband’s side of the argument is right. Why should we wait until July to decide whether an add on is for us.

I'd do the add on, esp if you're thinking you'll need more points anyway but 25 will likely be enough. Plus, as I've said on other threads, having the retail option is insurance against other losses even if one doesn't think the passes will be a benefit.

 

[frabjous]

I have addonitis... I REALLY want to buy 25 points direct (I've wrote about my struggle on a few threads already...). Now that the direct points are increasing in February, my resolve to wait is fading.

My husband is pretty adament against adding on until we "know what we bought" by completing our first DVC trip scheduled for July.

So, we bought 145 SSR resale, paid cash. We will go every other year for 6 nights in a 1 bedroom. We will go for smaller trips on the off years. Right now, we have enough points to do studios for off year short trips. We will not be APs and the dining discount won’t matter to us, as we like QS just as much as TS restaurants and the DP is a nice convenience. So, the “perks” aren’t financially a selling point.

Perhaps not now but if you are already planning to go every year,you are likely to feel the urge to buy in again to make your short trips longer. The AP perk (once you stay long enough to benefit) is fairly significant and if you buy anything at the gift stores that discount starts to add up.

However, the off years we would go during DVC busy season for weekends. If I bought 25 points direct, we could do 1 bedrooms instead of studios on off years. If so, the availability opens up for us and we don’t have to just stay at our home resort then.

Right, in the same vein as my response above, you are likely going to miss the better accommodations, and will find yourself wanting to buy in again.

So... tell me why my husband’s side of the argument is right. Why should we wait until July to decide whether an add on is for us.

I won’t claim to know his reasons but from your description, it sounds like you will regret putting off the purchase since you will want the points and it will cost ALOT more to get them later. In the unlikely event you did regret getting them, the fact that 25 or contracts are rare and the fact that disney is pushing prices up means you can very quickly get your money back.

Of course this comment assumes there isn’t something else heavily competing for those funds.

 

[bumbershoot]

You go to SSR and are underwhelmed (like us) because of the bus stop distances, food distances and lack of Disney feel. You really dig the monorail resorts or the boardwalk atmosphere or maybe even the quick walk to MK from BLT. You decide on getting more points at another resort so you have two options with an 11 month advantage. You thank your husband for not having made an impulsive purchase the the instant gratification gene and you select a resort you truely enjoy because you have actually been there.

Orrrrrr they go to SSR and LOVE it. Like we do. OKW as well.

Which makes us feel silly for having purchased bay lake. And BL, the whole building, has an air freshener smell that takes several washes to get out of my clothes. (Please let someone drop the night I need at GF so I can have my whole princess stay there instead of moving twice...)

But then we stayed at VGF...


Anyway, if the OP loves SSR and wants the benefits, then she wishes she had bought direct earlier.

 

[kboo]

The price increase at SSR would only mean you would be paying $150 more for 25 points. Not enough to drive you into a need to purchase frenzy. Now if you were considering buying at Poly, I could understand the sense of panic.

I would keep this in mind. Where are you staying in July? studio or 1BR? For about $20/month between now and July, you can wait and get your DH on board fully. If you're in a studio, he may decide he wants a bigger space ... or he may not. Also, at the 7mo window you can buy up to 24 one time use points, so that may be another consideration to get into 1BR on your off-year weekends. In fact, I would definitely consider doing that for a bit until you know how you will want to use your DVC.

 

[kniquy]

I'd slow down -- addonitis is tough to beat, but you can do it. We bought in resale 2015 - didn't take my first DVC trip until 2017 and have wanted to add on even before our first trip. We have the perks but the thought of having more points and to have them quick is exciting to think about. We are like you and plan on every other year trips, but already for next year we have an April trip and are planning on booking a Dec trip, but then that is it until 2020.

You should step back and go back to your original plan of every other year - reason is -it is very easy to get caught up in the Disney bubble that is all you want, that is all you think about and that is what you are always planning for, but you should think about things outside of disney - what other areas of the country do you want to visit. There is so much to see in this great country and if travel/vacation time is limited then you will miss a lot when you only focus on one area of the country. Your husband is not on board and i can see why - a 25 point add on even at SSR would run you close to $4000 when you factor in closing costs. It is a lot and could actually be put towards other trips or if you even wanted to add on a smaller resale SSR contract you would get more points. There are also extra maintenance fees when you add on - is he the finacial guy in the house, do he have a better handle on what the household can afford?

Take a few trips -- you may actually change what you really want and may want to addon at a different resort -SSR is nice, but there are many better themed resorts- Riviera will be opening that might be an option too? a smaller contract elsewhere would ensure some variety of resorts. that is what is in my mind right now. I wanted to addon at AKL our home, but our upcoming trip we have a split between Poly and AKV and i am afraid that i am going to love poly and will want a small contract there.

 

[fredgrau]

If you are going on a 6 day trip one year and then a smaller trip the next year, you may want to consider getting Annual Passes. Just as long as the 2nd trip is less than 12 months from the 1st trip (It could be 11 months and 3 weeks apart). This will save $$$ rather than purchasing passes for both trips. If you can justify the Annual Passes, a 25 point add-on direct will save you $$$ on these passes. AND you will get 1 or 2 extra nights each year.