To buy or not to buy... A home resort dilemma

[indyannamom]

How many points are you looking for total?

We bought a resale contract and then, partially because we wanted 2 hoe resorts anyway, a second contract direct. We bank and rotate which points we use so we can take advantage of the 11 month booking at both resorts. We did also like being blue card members...the second contract was smaller, and the cost difference between resale and retail at that resort was minimal.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

Probably 135-150 points total

 

[4luv2cdisney]

How many points are you looking for total?

We bought a resale contract and then, partially because we wanted 2 hoe resorts anyway, a second contract direct. We bank and rotate which points we use so we can take advantage of the 11 month booking at both resorts. We did also like being blue card members...the second contract was smaller, and the cost difference between resale and retail at that resort was minimal.

We also have found great value in the direct benefits in only 1 years time of owning. 4 APs saved us $1400 in tix. We did Moonlight Magic at MK and the DVC discounts will be especially nice in years we don't have APs. I bought right before the 75 minimum, but I still bought 60 points direct. I paid a "premium" for those points but immediately got about 1/2 of that back with my AP purchase.

Now that I know I'd like to add on at BLT, I feel like it would have been better to buy the BLT points direct and the BWV resale. (Although, BLT is hard to get direct anyway, so I'm not beating myself up too badly.)

 

[JenniferYoung44]

We also have found great value in the direct benefits in only 1 years time of owning. 4 APs saved us $1400 in tix. We did Moonlight Magic at MK and the DVC discounts will be especially nice in years we don't have APs. I bought right before the 75 minimum, but I still bought 60 points direct. I paid a "premium" for those points but immediately got about 1/2 of that back with my AP purchase.

Now that I know I'd like to add on at BLT, I feel like it would have been better to buy the BLT points direct and the BWV resale. (Although, BLT is hard to get direct anyway, so I'm not beating myself up too badly.)

By “premium” do you mean the difference you paid buying direct vs resale? Or do they actually charge you a premium to buy a resort that is not one of the new unsold ones?

Also does anyone know if it’s even possible to buy BCV direct? And if so how long i might have to wait for Disney to have one.

 

[lovin'fl]

The older resorts may have a waitlist to buy. And also depends what use year you get. We, when we added our 80 BWV, went on June and Aug UY waitlist and June came through in like 2 weeks. Aug came through a month later. We have both UY. We bought 55 June and 25 Aug at BWV (dumb...shouldn't have done the Aug but we couldn't resist when they called us and a year or so later we added another 25 Aug direct and didn't have to wait as they had them when we called...then a year or so after that we added 150 June BWV resale...careful of addonitis). At any rate, you may go on waitlist for a couple weeks to a few months typically (some resorts like VGC might have a year or so wait). You'd have to call a guide and see. If you are buying as a new member, you can get any UY. It's when you add on that it's best to try to match UY and that limits you. ALso...pricing direct...all resorts have different prices and there is no negotiating. Here is a link to current prices (and new resorts sometimes offer some sort of incentive to buy there).

https://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/financial/pricing-a-promotions

 

[indyannamom]

Probably 135-150 points total

You could look to do 75 each and do one resale (cost savings per point but ROFR is a pain and closing costs are higher) and one direct to get the blue card (full membership status).

Unless you are in a hurry to book your first trip, I would do resale first to allow more flexibility in what contracts you could consider . Then add direct to match your use year.

We are a family of 5 as well, so I totally get the limitations on which studios you can do!

 

[JenniferYoung44]

So if I bought a resale contract and then bought direct to match the use year would Disney also put that together under one member number? If so that definitely seems the way to go. We’re not in a hurry because our May trip is already booked and we are planning to go in Jan. 2020 to BC renting points so I’m going to go ahead and try to get that booked probably through David’s right at the 11 month mark which is next month. We definitely won’t have bought by then because we’re buying with some of the proceeds of a house sale that won’t close until probably March. And I really want a crescent lake resort for that trip bc of SWGE.

 

[lovin'fl]

If you have same use year and deed them the same with exact same names (spelling same and any middle name or initial the same) on contracts then they will be one membership
We have these and bought in this order:
200 June OKW (bought in 2006)
50, 50 and 25 Aug HHI
55 June BWV
25 and 25 Aug BWV
150 June BWV
70 Aug CCV (bought in 2018)

If I could go back I would have gotten all same use year, June since that was our first contract. We now go Oct, Dec/Jan and March so maybe a Sept UY would be best but we really have had no issues with our June or Aug UY. UY really matters most if you tend to cancel a lot and need to still be in banking window. We cancel and modify a lot but can always use points without losing them. We even had some holding points once due to cancelling last minute (less than 30 days before arrival). And I used them just fine. But having the 2 UY, especially at BWV, has been a pain. Long story how but if I transfer the Aug over to the June then I have to call MS to use them (they won't show up online) and therefore wait until 9am on 11 month window and that is bad when booking standard view studio for F&W at BWV (have to book that online right at 8am). So I book separate as a split and link it but that can be a pain because you have to have the right number of points...ie: if I am booking 5 weeknights at 10 a night and I have 35 June and 15 Aug it won't work and could only do 4 nights even though total points are there you can't book half a night with each.

I like buying many small contracts because we pay cash and that's how we can do it. And if we need to downsize, it is easier to resell same smaller contracts (I have the two 50 HHI listed now). But be aware that you pay closing costs each time you buy. Direct closing costs are less than resale but there are still closing costs.

Also, like your plan of buy where you want to stay. We initially bought the OKW because it was the cheapest resale at WDW at the time. And we have been able to use them to book every east coast DVC at 7 months out (except VGF but never tried for that). However, it is getting harder to get things at 7 months and pretty impossible if looking at studios. They go first. OKW is not our fave (at bottom with SSR) so I kind of regret that we didn't buy BWV from the jump. My ideal DVC would be 250 BWV and 250 CCV with a small 50 at HHI. Like the CCV for the later expiration and for Dec stays where any VWL is tough to get. Or 250 BLT and 250 BCV for walking ability to 3 parks (and we like BCV a tad better than BWV though we can sometimes save points with standard view at BWV, especially if we get a 1BR, so it's a wash).

 

[4luv2cdisney]

By “premium” do you mean the difference you paid buying direct vs resale? Or do they actually charge you a premium to buy a resort that is not one of the new unsold ones?

Also does anyone know if it’s even possible to buy BCV direct? And if so how long i might have to wait for Disney to have one.

Yes, by premium I meant direct vs resale.

It looks like someone provided you a link for pricing above.

Other thoughts to consider:

Which contract you want direct.... consider the direct vs resale price difference but also the end date. When your direct contract ends, so will your direct benefits.

In all reality, you would be able to get a 150 point contract for less than you will get a 75 on resale (per point). So, what numbers you choose to use for your calculations are your decision. Again, you have to decide how much value there is in having 2 home resorts.

Do you have a Disney Chase Visa? You can charge your direct purchase and get 0% for 6 months. They will let you put down a deposit and pay the balance quite a bit later, so you end up with about 7 months or so depending on how your cycle falls. Also, you will earn up to 2% back (depending on which card you have).

 

[4luv2cdisney]

If you have same use year and deed them the same with exact same names (spelling same and any middle name or initial the same) on contracts then they will be one membership
We have these and bought in this order:
200 June OKW (bought in 2006)
50, 50 and 25 Aug HHI
55 June BWV
25 and 25 Aug BWV
150 June BWV
70 Aug CCV (bought in 2018)

If I could go back I would have gotten all same use year, June since that was our first contract. We now go Oct, Dec/Jan and March so maybe a Sept UY would be best but we really have had no issues with our June or Aug UY. UY really matters most if you tend to cancel a lot and need to still be in banking window. We cancel and modify a lot but can always use points without losing them. We even had some holding points once due to cancelling last minute (less than 30 days before arrival). And I used them just fine. But having the 2 UY, especially at BWV, has been a pain. Long story how but if I transfer the Aug over to the June then I have to call MS to use them (they won't show up online) and therefore wait until 9am on 11 month window and that is bad when booking standard view studio for F&W at BWV (have to book that online right at 8am). So I book separate as a split and link it but that can be a pain because you have to have the right number of points...ie: if I am booking 5 weeknights at 10 a night and I have 35 June and 15 Aug it won't work and could only do 4 nights even though total points are there you can't book half a night with each.

I like buying many small contracts because we pay cash and that's how we can do it. And if we need to downsize, it is easier to resell same smaller contracts (I have the two 50 HHI listed now). But be aware that you pay closing costs each time you buy. Direct closing costs are less than resale but there are still closing costs.

Also, like your plan of buy where you want to stay. We initially bought the OKW because it was the cheapest resale at WDW at the time. And we have been able to use them to book every east coast DVC at 7 months out (except VGF but never tried for that). However, it is getting harder to get things at 7 months and pretty impossible if looking at studios. They go first. OKW is not our fave (at bottom with SSR) so I kind of regret that we didn't buy BWV from the jump. My ideal DVC would be 250 BWV and 250 CCV with a small 50 at HHI. Like the CCV for the later expiration and for Dec stays where any VWL is tough to get. Or 250 BLT and 250 BCV for walking ability to 3 parks (and we like BCV a tad better than BWV though we can sometimes save points with standard view at BWV, especially if we get a 1BR, so it's a wash).

Same on the small contracts. Needs change.

You pay a little more, but if you need to sell, you should also get that higher price point when you sell and you will likely be able to sell very fast.

We have 60 BWV right now. Would like to make that 90-100 to not have to fight for standard view all the time and because of 2020 point chart changes.

We now want BLT as well. Would like two 40-60 point contracts there.

And, while I'd love to say that at this point in our lives we often have an extra 40K or so just laying around the house, we don't. lol But, we can buy 40-60 points with some extra cash DH has earned or a bonus or whatever. It's like "do we buy a new couch and get some new carpet or buy some more points?". It's just a small decision that doesn't require hours spent on spreadsheets trying to determine lost investment returns, breakeven dates, etc. It is our spending money and we don't do those calculations when we buy furniture or take other vacations. I have a good handle on what we can afford month to month. If the dues become a burden, we sell.

 

[Jack_Sparrow_NJ]

Same on the small contracts. Needs change.

You pay a little more, but if you need to sell, you should also get that higher price point when you sell and you will likely be able to sell very fast.

We have 60 BWV right now. Would like to make that 90-100 to not have to fight for standard view all the time and because of 2020 point chart changes.

We now want BLT as well. Would like two 40-60 point contracts there.

And, while I'd love to say that at this point in our lives we often have an extra 40K or so just laying around the house, we don't. lol But, we can buy 40-60 points with some extra cash DH has earned or a bonus or whatever. It's like "do we buy a new couch and get some new carpet or buy some more points?". It's just a small decision that doesn't require hours spent on spreadsheets trying to determine lost investment returns, breakeven dates, etc. It is our spending money and we don't do those calculations when we buy furniture or take other vacations. I have a good handle on what we can afford month to month. If the dues become a burden, we sell.

If I had 40-60K laying around the house, I would be in the wrong house. Just bought my first contract and already trying to buy some small additions.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

You could look to do 75 each and do one resale (cost savings per point but ROFR is a pain and closing costs are higher) and one direct to get the blue card (full membership status).

Unless you are in a hurry to book your first trip, I would do resale first to allow more flexibility in what contracts you could consider . Then add direct to match your use year.

We are a family of 5 as well, so I totally get the limitations on which studios you can do!

Is it still the case that they will match your use year if the direct contract you’re trying to buy is not the current resort for sale? I’d be looking to buy boardwalk or beach club and I thought with those you had to get whatever contracts they have come available through foreclosure and ROFR buy backs.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Is it still the case that they will match your use year if the direct contract you’re trying to buy is not the current resort for sale? I’d be looking to buy boardwalk or beach club and I thought with those you had to get whatever contracts they have come available through foreclosure and ROFR buy backs.

You tell them the UY you want.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Is it still the case that they will match your use year if the direct contract you’re trying to buy is not the current resort for sale? I’d be looking to buy boardwalk or beach club and I thought with those you had to get whatever contracts they have come available through foreclosure and ROFR buy backs.

They do prefer to math your UY. You may or may not convince them to sell you points from a different UY if it doesn’t meet the minimum of a new purchaser.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

So, if on ROFR they buy back a contract with a December use year, they can turn around and sell it to me with a February use year? That seems like adding points to the pot for feb through December.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So, if on ROFR they buy back a contract with a December use year, they can turn around and sell it to me with a February use year? That seems like adding points to the pot for feb through December.

No, the UY that a unit is declared with stays with it so if they buy back December points they will have Dec points to sell. They need to recover Feb points to sell Feb points to someone.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So, if on ROFR they buy back a contract with a December use year, they can turn around and sell it to me with a February use year? That seems like adding points to the pot for feb through December.

No. Once declared, UY is forever and cannot be changed on any given point. They would have to sell points acquired via ROFR with the UY they were declared to.

UY really has nothing to do with demand cycle for booking, and points at each resort are not evenly distributed amongst available UYs.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

No. Once declared, UY is forever and cannot be changed on any given point. They would have to sell points acquired via ROFR with the UY they were declared to.

UY really has nothing to do with demand cycle for booking, and points at each resort are not evenly distributed amongst available UYs.

Right so since I plan on buying an older contract direct (boardwalk or beachclub) they would have to sell at whatever use year the contract already has, right.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Right so since I plan on buying an older contract direct (boardwalk or beachclub) they would have to sell at whatever use year the contract already has, right.

Yes, or make you wait on a waitlist until they get the points you need to match your current points.

 

[JenniferYoung44]

Yes, or make you wait on a waitlist until they get the points you need to match your current points.

Don’t have any points yet, so nothing to match. That why I was thinking of doing direct first so I can avoid a long wait on the waitlist. I’d rather try to match the UY myself on the resale market than be at the mercy of a guide to find something. Ive heard some waitlist horror stories.