The Great DVC Purchase Debate...

[McMonsters]

Hello! We are a family of two adults, 35 and 3 kids 6,4 and almost 2. We've been considering DVC for the last 3 years. We have been hesitant for a couple of reasons and wanted to get your opinions, one we are military and two we have a camper. Since August 2013 we average 3 trips per year but plan on cutting back to one big trip per year or two week long. We have camped at Fort Wilderness, stayed at Coronado, Port Orleans , Saratoga, Kidani, Beach Club Villas, & Shades of Green. Our last 4 trips have been at villas because our camper does not fit our extended family traveling with us. Our oldest has severe food allergies and Disney is the only place we can safely dine without worry so we will be going back regularly. We have rented points twice and stayed on discount. We are not big fans of Shades, food isn't as safe and we are in the price bracket that allows us to stay at a moderate level with a discount cheaper. The campsites are great but the prices are almost never discounted and run $130 per night once the taxes and fees are accounted for. We have Annual Passes currently and plan to renew since we have planned two trips over the next year. We can/have also purchased the military discounted tickets if we decide to let our APs go. We just got back from a split stay at Coronado/Kidani and we loved Kidani. We stayed Saratoga last August and loved it! We stayed Beach Club last January and loved the Epcot access but didn't get the relaxed feel we have gotten at Kidani or Saratoga. So we are obviously ok with getting the "less desirable" resorts during our stays. We also homeschool so taking trips during the off time is also doable. We'd like for my husband to go but will not cancel a trip if he can't make it, I've taken the kids solo 3/4 of the time and we have a blast. He will be retiring in 6 years so he'll be around to enjoy it once we make it to that point. I've considered both direct and resale. I'm not very interested in Poly, I'd love to stay there once but don't see us being there much since we will likely outgrow a studio in the future. I do like the idea of being a "true" member since Disney is limiting the perks but I'm unsure if it is truly worth it when browsing resale contracts. I'm very tempted by the discount price despite the shorter contracts and lack of perks. I've even considered Hilton Head since we are in NC and love our beach time. After researching it looks like we would be good to start with a 100-150 point contract and add points on later when we grow out of the studios and retire from the military. Our favorite time to go is early September and late April. Any insight on our situation?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The thing about buying direct vs. resale to remember is that it's not all or nothing.

Right now, your youngest doesn't count on occupancy, but you will need to sleep 5 in about a year and a half. So, the units that work for that:

• Studios at BCV, BWV, Poly, VGF, VWL
• 1BRs at Animal Kingdom (Standard, Savannah), Bay Lake Tower, Grand Floridian, Old Key West, as well as Saratoga, BWV and BCV if you BYO air mattress/linens for guest #5.
• 2BRs anywhere

So if you look at Animal Kingdom (you've stayed, you love it, a 1BR will fit you for some time), a 1BR standard is 136 points mid-September.

Resale contracts for ~100 points run about $92/per point. 150 point range contracts are around $86. Disney direct is $160 per point.

So, here are three scenarios:

1. Buy 150 points resale at $86pp for $12,900.
2. Buy 150 points direct at $160pp for $24,000.
3. Buy 125 points resale at $90pp (estimate) for $11,250. Buy 25 points as an add on direct for $4000 for a total cost of $15,250.

Closing will be slightly higher in scenario 3. The question becomes if you believe AP discounts will save you more than $3000 in ~10 years.

The numbers are similar for outlay with Saratoga, although the annual dues are less, and that's worth considering.

 

[McMonsters]

Looks like our renewal for APs is going to be $676 per pass which comes out to be a total of $2704 for this year. The DVC AP is $584, total $2336. We would be adding another AP ones little guy is of age but without him it looks like our discount would be better with DVC and obviously with him addd as well.
Savings over 10 years with just 4 of us is $3680 so it would be a savings even when little guy gets one as well.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Looks like our renewal for APs is going to be $676 per pass which comes out to be a total of $2704 for this year. The DVC AP is $584, total $2336. We would be adding another AP ones little guy is of age but without him it looks like our discount would be better with DVC and obviously with him addd as well.
Savings over 10 years with just 4 of us is $3680 so it would be a savings even when little guy gets one as well.

The hybrid model has some ins and outs that need to be studied and considered, particularly in regards to Use Year alignment, but the reality is that a 25-point direct contract gets you direct benefits. The direct benefits are absolutely subject to change over time, but the ones that are most likely to matter for you is AP discount, and dining discounts. They are probably pretty safe.

It's a real stretch to find a scenario in which you save $8-10k over 5-10 years buying all points direct. So it becomes a matter of balancing if the likely ongoing benefits balance out trying a hybrid, making sure your UY works out across contracts, and the slightly higher closing fees.

 

[TXWAC]

Money wise it is hard to beat pulling the trailer to the fort. That's a lot of extra coin to drop just to say you are in DVC. Maintenance fees along will probably be more than campground cost.

You already own the camper. Yes, it is not going to have the resale value in 10 years like DVC is supposed to have. But it's yours and you can go anywhere you want and eat what you like.

6,4, and 2. Great ages. So much trouble to get into. We love Disney, but have had a blast dragging the kids around the country.

Guess I am jonesing for a road trip. Planning for Yellowstone. Then the World is coming back up in the rotation. Whatever you do I hope you have a great time.

 

[Lynne M]

Looks like our renewal for APs is going to be $676 per pass which comes out to be a total of $2704 for this year. The DVC AP is $584, total $2336. We would be adding another AP ones little guy is of age but without him it looks like our discount would be better with DVC and obviously with him addd as well.
Savings over 10 years with just 4 of us is $3680 so it would be a savings even when little guy gets one as well.

Even if you buy direct from Disney, that AP discount is not guaranteed. Perks are not part of your vacation ownership, and you will get documentation from DVC that states that when you purchase. The AP discount has only been available for the last several years, and we only get it because Disney Parks currently thinks it benefits them to offer it to DVC members. On the day when they can no longer justify it financially, it will be gone, just like the previous ticket discounts.

 

[MountainMouse]

You sound like prime candidates for SSR to me. You said you loved your stay there, the annual dues are very reasonable, you seem like you like to try different places, you are flexible on exactly when you can go, and your other favorite (Kidani) is one of the more easily book able resorts at 7 months. I would absolutely buy resale and then explore your options for discounts on tickets and/or passes. At most, I would suggest a 25 point direct SSR add on to get the AP discount. Since you have several to buy, the extra $2000 or so for direct on 25 pts may be worth it in the long run. Don't let a guide talk you into Poly and make sure they load up your contact with current and last Ulysses points. Good luck.

 

[disneynutz]

I would buy SSR and later after being an owner for awhile and staying at other resorts, adjust your holdings if necessary.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I would buy SSR and later after being an owner for awhile and staying at other resorts, adjust your holdings if necessary.

Bill

IMO this is the best option for most new buyers though the OP has more experience than some such that if they had a preference they might have been an exception. Then if the perks offer sufficient benefit, do a small add on of some type. I'd like underbuy in number of points as well. Not sure how many nights or if you're looking at studios or 1 BR but assuming 1 BR for a week a year I'd buy maybe 150 to 200 and see how it goes. One can always add later once they better know their preferences.

 

[ColonialMouse]

Just to throw a wrench in, you say you're military. What happens if you get stationed in San Diego or Germany? You might find yourself trying to get in at VGC (many points and hard to get at 7 months) or Aulani (nice but not a theme park, hard at 7 months at peak) or worse needing international travel to get to Orlando.
We're not military, but in tech and needed to have a long conversation about what happens if we relo to the west coast. We think we're OK with the tradeoffs and have to hope that resale value holds if we're not.

But given the uncertainty of military life, I wonder if the commitment is right/too much risk?

Bruce

 

[McMonsters]

Just to throw a wrench in, you say you're military. What happens if you get stationed in San Diego or Germany? You might find yourself trying to get in at VGC (many points and hard to get at 7 months) or Aulani (nice but not a theme park, hard at 7 months at peak) or worse needing international travel to get to Orlando.
We're not military, but in tech and needed to have a long conversation about what happens if we relo to the west coast. We think we're OK with the tradeoffs and have to hope that resale value holds if we're not.

But given the uncertainty of military life, I wonder if the commitment is right/too much risk?

Bruce

We have actually waited to see where we will be for the next few years until retirement hits. He just received orders that keep us here (NC) until then.

 

[McMonsters]

So we made a decision....we bought 50 pts direct through Disney! Use year is March and we are at SSR! I'm already stalking the resale market for add on points

 

[ziravan]

So we made a decision....we bought 50 pts direct through Disney! Use year is March and we are at SSR! I'm already stalking the resale market for add on points

Good choice for you.

Remember, as a member you can transfer in points once per UY. So. Instead of renting points, you transfer them into your account and then YOU completely control their use.

Transferred points retain their home resort and UY and can be banked (but not borrowed). So. For example, if you transferred in 300 AKV points with a Dec 2016 UY (for trip in 2017) and then you can bank half of them into next UY (for use in 2018). That would give you 2 trips to AKV with home resort advantage.

 

[Dean]

So we made a decision....we bought 50 pts direct through Disney! Use year is March and we are at SSR! I'm already stalking the resale market for add on points

You may want to reconsider the order of your plans since it's much easier to buy a resale purchase first than second.

 

[supersnoop]

So we made a decision....we bought 50 pts direct through Disney! Use year is March and we are at SSR! I'm already stalking the resale market for add on points

You may want to reconsider the order of your plans since it's much easier to buy a resale purchase first than second.

I have to agree with Dean. It's easier to specify the use year with Disney. You have to take what you can find on the resale market. If you want to match use years, it may be easier to start with the resale contract.

 

[MountainMouse]

Congratulations!

 

[Dean]

I have to agree with Dean. It's easier to specify the use year with Disney. You have to take what you can find on the resale market. If you want to match use years, it may be easier to start with the resale contract.

It opens one up to more than one UY as well as to more contract sizes as well as possible more home resorts. It can easily save months on the resale purchase and $5 a point or more. But the biggest issue is it can make the resale process so much more complicated and stressful.

 

[davidl81]

I like the SSR idea, but I do agree with Dean. I would look at resale first (maybe find a 150pt contract or so) then buy a direct add on for the benefits. But with SSR there are always a good amount of resale listings so finding a resale with use year that matches yours will not be that hard compared to say BWV or BCV.

Just curious what is Disney selling direct SSR points for?

 

[CarolMN]

.....

..........Just curious what is Disney selling direct SSR points for?

Believe it is $140 per point if you buy direct.

 

[MountainMouse]

Believe it is $140 per point if you buy direct.

The DVC info site says 140 for SSR...and 180 for BLT...geesh.