The Worst DVC Contract Ever

[ehh]

No, I haven't found the worst DVC contract.

Actually, I do have a plan, but might need the power of all of us to actually refine it and, hopefully, actually find the worst contract.

I think there's two parts to this:

1. The worst theortical contract
2. Actually finding the worst contract ever sold
   • occompt wizards will probably be needed for this

So what makes a contract bad? Roughly:

• A particularly bad value
  • Especially paying extra to get the same (or less!)
• Cannot be used as intended

Some example characteristics of bad contracts:

• Very large contract that could/should have been split into smaller contracts
• Fixed Week for an easy-to-book category+week combo
• Fixed Week for a category+week combo that has since dropped in points
• Fixed Week for either of the above during a time when Fixed Week meant you were excluded from incentives
• It was bought during a particularly bad pricing period
• A contract bought for a specific room type that is not easy to book and the contract is only 'good' with booking success

One real example, to get the conversation started: a 1,250pt contract sold at Villas at Disneyland Hotel.

• 1,250 happens to be the exact number of points needed for a week in a Grand Villa between Christmas/NYE.
  • FW are not sold for VDH GVs, because there are too few to satisfy the 35% rule.
• If the buyer of this is intending to use as a manually-booked FW for a GV during this week, they might be sorely disappointed as there's only 2 Grand Villas, one of which hasn't even been declared yet!, and this contract has no FW privileges, so they'll probably need to walk to have success.
  • Considering the contract they purchased, they might not even know they need to do this
• Even if they were intending to use it in other ways, it still has some notable issues:
  • It probably should have been split into smaller contracts regardless
  • It was bought at almost-peak pricing (July 2023)

Now one theoretical example: a Week 23 FW for Copper Creek Cabin, 959pts, bought circa 2017-2018

• This stay is now 759pts
• It's easy to book, even at 7 months
• It's a very large contract
• If I remember correctly, early days CCV FW were excluded from incentives

Was this contract ever purchased? Probably not!

So now I open it up: what are the worst contracts you've ever seen or thought of?

 

[CarolynFH]

Hmm, I seem to remember some huge Aulani contract a few years ago, might have been for Christmas week? But I can’t remember details, and it might not meet your other criteria.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I saw somebody post on Facebook about their 1000 point undivided VDH contract, which seemed potentially a very risky buy if resale ever becomes necessary.

I also saw on dvcrofr.com (on the deeds section) that somebody recently bought 160 points BLT resale for $256 per point, which seemed very high and I still wonder why they would do that.

 

[DisTravels]

No, I haven't found the worst DVC contract.

Since Hilton Head and Vero Beach DVC properties soured Disney on building timeshares off-property for decades, some of those owners may feel they have some of the worse DVC contracts.

 

[CWTC]

I also saw on dvcrofr.com (on the deeds section) that somebody recently bought 160 points BLT resale for $256 per point, which seemed very high and I still wonder why they would do that.

I really really hope that was a typo. But even 156$ is high for BLT.

 

[atthebeachclub]

I really really hope that was a typo. But even 156$ is high for BLT.

It isn’t a typo. I pulled the occompt record.

 

[CWTC]

It isn’t a typo. I pulled the occompt record.

Dang. That’s bananas.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Dang. That’s bananas.

The weirder part is that the couple who bought it have numerous other contracts and appear to be running a rental business per the contracts listed as LLCs. Hard to believe it is all that profitable, especially with the accompanying mortgages. I cannot fathom why they would have chosen to pay so much. The only possible thing I can think of is that Orange County accidentally overcharged their deed tax, which extrapolates to looking like a huge purchase price per point. But I really doubt that, since Cammy did the docs.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I saw somebody post on Facebook about their 1000 point undivided VDH contract, which seemed potentially a very risky buy if resale ever becomes necessary.

I also saw on dvcrofr.com (on the deeds section) that somebody recently bought 160 points BLT resale for $256 per point, which seemed very high and I still wonder why they would do that.

Misprint perhaps.

 

[sethschroeder]

Fixed weeks are not a bad deal though as you can book the room normally and rent or bank the points.

 

[VGCgroupie]

One real example, to get the conversation started: a 1,250pt contract sold at Villas at Disneyland Hotel.

• 1,250 happens to be the exact number of points needed for a week in a Grand Villa between Christmas/NYE.
  • FW are not sold for VDH GVs, because there are too few to satisfy the 35% rule.
• If the buyer of this is intending to use as a manually-booked FW for a GV during this week, they might be sorely disappointed as there's only 2 Grand Villas, one of which hasn't even been declared yet!, and this contract has no FW privileges, so they'll probably need to walk to have success.
  • Considering the contract they purchased, they might not even know they need to do thi

Id be willing to bet they have no idea what walking is. Id also bet that the guide didn't educate them on anything regarding the grand villa.

 

[zavandor]

Any VGF contract sold before they announced the BPK expansion.

 

[walt34]

Any VGF contract sold before they announced the BPK expansion.

Why do you believe that?

 

[zavandor]

Why do you believe that?

Because VGF was a very small resort and really sought after. It was selling for crazy prices on the resale market before they announced the expansion and then the price went down by a lot.

 

[cdirazonian]

There’s a 700pt BWV contract listed for $117.
I’d LOVE to have all those BWV pts but I’m not spending $70,000 (or anything close to it) to have it ALL go puff in 17/18 years. I guess you could rent some, but I can’t be bothered with that much rental..plus I don’t have 70k sitting around

 

[walt34]

Because VGF was a very small resort and really sought after. It was selling for crazy prices on the resale market before they announced the expansion and then the price went down by a lot.

So, not everyone but everyone who bought resale above 170ish. I see.

 

[Anthony1971]

I know I will get flamed but any contract at RIV. The resales restrictions are tough to swallow. I know resale cannot stay at RIV either so a bit of a redemption if you have small contracts here.
We bought a little more than 20 years ago direct.... Still have another 30 left we will be in our 80s. Things can change a lot for any number of reasons. While leaving it to my kids is great in theory.... from the financial burden to ? can change that idea.

With that
The worst contract of all is one that is not used.

 

[DVCanadian]

Anyone buying SSR direct in last few years.
Can’t wrap my head around that.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Hmm, I seem to remember some huge Aulani contract a few years ago, might have been for Christmas week? But I can’t remember details, and it might not meet your other criteria.

That was the Week 52 Grand Villa contract. It was insane.

 

[teamsamant]

I know I will get flamed but any contract at RIV. The resales restrictions are tough to swallow. I know resale cannot stay at RIV either so a bit of a redemption if you have small contracts here.
We bought a little more than 20 years ago direct.... Still have another 30 left we will be in our 80s. Things can change a lot for any number of reasons. While leaving it to my kids is great in theory.... from the financial burden to ? can change that idea.

With that
The worst contract of all is one that is not used.

I'll go one further, the cabins and their $12 dues are restricted and that makes it even worse. Those are $49 resale contracts going for $225 direct.