Took SSR DVC tour - questions!

[ChesapeakeTechie]

We went to the Magic Kingdom last Thursday, and took a DVC tour of SSR on Friday morning. The tour went well, they picked us up at Pop Century for a carseat for our son (18 months). SSR seems very nice to us and a LOT less packed in than Pop Century was
A few questions, since we have until tomorrow to buy 'direct'.

They are currently offering SSR @ $94pp with 160 Dec 2006 points. Our next allotment of points will come Dec 2007. Closing costs were $235.
I'm seeing SSR resales for $82 - $85pp, and after going over the points with members on the board, and with the rep, I can't see us using the full 160 pts since we're only planning on coming to WDW every 2 years or so. I think we may be better off with a resale contract of 100-120 pts to start with.
Initially we'd be ok with the 1BR but then would most likely do 5 days at a 2 BR every 2 years.
Using points for the cruise doesn't seem too economical and trading with II seems not so flexible...?

If I want to add on to a small resale contract, what are my options? Can I buy another small resale contract (does it have to be the same UY and resort to combine the points)? I can also add on direct through DVC right, does anyone know the current rates for that and how that would work once SSR is sold out?

Thanks for the responses, we love the resort and do believe DVC will offer us quite a few benefits over the value / mid resorts, especially with twins on the way!

Thanks!!!!

 

[4Pluto]

Buying resale will allow you to start with a smaller contract than the 160 point minimum offered by Disney. Generally speaking, the smaller the contract, the higher the price per point. Be careful to take into account whether the owner has already used this year's allotment (or already borrowed next year's allotment) of points (a stripped contract), since that should affect value. Closing costs are higher with a resale contract but that may be negotiable between Buyer and Seller.

Once you have a contract you can add on either another resale or direct from Disney. If you add on direct from Disney, you can take advantage of whatever member pricing is available (and no closing costs). The use year will be the same as your original resale contract. I believe (or at least my guide believed) that you need to wait until the original resale contract has closed before doing an add on directly from Disney.

If you add on a resale, the use year will remain whatever the resale contract's use year is (in other words, it remains a separate contract). It is more challenging to keep tract of points with two different use years but there are plenty of members on this site who do so successfully.

Hope that helps.

 

[tomandrobin]

They are currently offering SSR @ $94pp with 160 Dec 2006 points. Our next allotment of points will come Dec 2007. Closing costs were $235.

I'm seeing SSR resales for $82 - $85pp, and after going over the points with members on the board, and with the rep, I can't see us using the full 160 pts since we're only planning on coming to WDW every 2 years or so. I think we may be better off with a resale contract of 100-120 pts to start with.
Initially we'd be ok with the 1BR but then would most likely do 5 days at a 2 BR every 2 years.

After reading below about the twins, 160 points won't go far with three kids and the need for larger accomadations. But you can add points later. I would suggest you play around with the different points options for stays to see what you will really need. We found that once we bought DVC we go more often to Disney. Make sure if you buy resale that the contract is not stripped out and has points available for use.

Using points for the cruise doesn't seem too economical and trading with II seems not so flexible...?

You are correct.

If I want to add on to a small resale contract, what are my options? Can I buy another small resale contract (does it have to be the same UY and resort to combine the points)? I can also add on direct through DVC right, does anyone know the current rates for that and how that would work once SSR is sold out?

You can add-on with a 25 point contract, if paid in cash. You can add-on a 50 point contract is financed. Your add-on will be the same use year. Your add-on can be at any of the DVC resorts.

Thanks for the responses, we love the resort and do believe DVC will offer us quite a few benefits over the value / mid resorts, especially with twins on the way!

You will really appriciate the extra room and spce of the larger units, especially later with three kids. Having the full kitchen, washer & dryer, multiple bathrooms, and the extra beds all in one unit is great!

 

[ChesapeakeTechie]

After reading below about the twins, 160 points won't go far with three kids and the need for larger accomadations. But you can add points later. I would suggest you play around with the different points options for stays to see what you will really need. We found that once we bought DVC we go more often to Disney. Make sure if you buy resale that the contract is not stripped out and has points available for use.

I'm thinking we'll stay @ WDW for around 5 days every 2 years, as we have other family in FL to visit. According to my calculations, 200 pts should get us more than 5 days in a 2BR at the DVC resorts with some left over to bank / rent / trade?

I'm initially thinking of a 120 - 130 pt contract to have some xtra...

Thoughts?? Thanks!

 

[tomandrobin]

It sounds like you have been doing so good research. I would buy the 100 point resale, at the resort you want to stay. Bank your points every other year for your required 200 points needed for your two bedroom stays. Once a member, you can add-on to your contract with no closing costs. As your kids get older, five days may not be enough time.

Since we became members, we have discovered that Disney is so much more then just 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and Downtown Disney. The DW and I go to WDW for short getaways from the kids. We have discoverd the Food and Wine Festival, Flower and Garden Festival, Chirtmas/New Years events, etc.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Some things to consider...

Yes, you can purchase resale. We just did for $84 per point. Since we purchased 2 contracts, we paid MFs and negotiated for the seller to pay all closing costs. If you end up paying closing costs via resale, you'll end up spending more than going through Dis at $94 per point. Closing costs on a resale (I just priced a SSR contract yesterday) was approx. $400.

The benefit through resale...you can purchase less than the 160 points (as few as 25), you can look for the use year of your choice, and if you look long enough, possibly more points coming with the contract (banked). One of our contracts (120 point) had all 05, all 06 and all 07 points coming. That beat Dis by 120 points on the same contract!

Lastly, with Dis, you don't have to worry about passing ROFR on your offer. When we purchased, we made the offer on the contracts in mid-January and didn't access to our points until the 3rd week of March. If you're in no hurry, do your homework and what makes most sense to you. For what it's worth, DH and I purchased from GMAC International, SIL/BIL purchased from disneyvactionclubresale.com and a friend through the TTS. All of us had excellent experiences.

I'm not disappointed that I purchased resale, however, I'm not so sure that if I had it to do over, I wouldn't have gone ahead purchased through Dis. I don't necessarily feel that I got that much better of a deal.

Good luck on your purchase!!!

 

[oreilly76]

I am a little confused... We took a tour today (April 1st, 2007) and it appears the author of this first post took one a week ago. They were quoted $94 a point and today we were told $104 a point. Have they gone up $10 in one week?
I am perusing through here to get some information about joining. They made it sound fantastic, but I am sure there are some drawbacks! I just have to figure them all out!! LOL!!
Hope we get to be members as well!

 

[mikeandkarla]

Akv - $104 Pt - $8 With 160 Or More Pts =$96
Ssr - $104pt - $10 Pt Credit = $94
Okw -$92
Hh - $87
Vb - $87
Bwv - $98
Vwl - $98
Bc - $101

 

[oreilly76]

That makes sense. But you only get that incentive if you decide in 72 hours is what they told me...
I LOVED the resort and really am considering joining, but I didn't think the tour was that great. We didn't get anything they promised us, the fastpasses and ice cream (not that it was a big deal... but still...) and our guide just sort of left us... I found it weird.
Anyway, I asked about being able to buy other resorts like OKW and she said that you can only buy SSR and AKL. I kept saying that I Thought Disney sold their other resorts too and she said nope, only this one... Why don't they mention that they do resales? At the booth when I signed up for the tour they said they had OKW for sale. How do I find what what Disney currently has for resale?
Thanks!!
I really appreciate your time in answering!

 

[tomandrobin]

That makes sense. But you only get that incentive if you decide in 72 hours is what they told me...
I LOVED the resort and really am considering joining, but I didn't think the tour was that great. We didn't get anything they promised us, the fastpasses and ice cream (not that it was a big deal... but still...) and our guide just sort of left us... I found it weird.
Anyway, I asked about being able to buy other resorts like OKW and she said that you can only buy SSR and AKL. I kept saying that I Thought Disney sold their other resorts too and she said nope, only this one... Why don't they mention that they do resales? At the booth when I signed up for the tour they said they had OKW for sale. How do I find what what Disney currently has for resale?
Thanks!!
I really appreciate your time in answering!

Look at the bright side, at least it wasn't one of those high pressure timeshare tours. You know, the one where the sales guy leaves and a "manager" comes over and torques up the pressure, then when you are leaving they throw one last attempt with another closer to pressure you some more.

Back on topic....Disney has points for sale at all of the resorts. They will only want to sell you Animal Kingdom and Saratoga Sprins. If you want another resort you have to push them hard or buy resale.

 

[Amy5000]

That makes sense. But you only get that incentive if you decide in 72 hours is what they told me...
I LOVED the resort and really am considering joining, but I didn't think the tour was that great. We didn't get anything they promised us, the fastpasses and ice cream (not that it was a big deal... but still...) and our guide just sort of left us... I found it weird.
Anyway, I asked about being able to buy other resorts like OKW and she said that you can only buy SSR and AKL. I kept saying that I Thought Disney sold their other resorts too and she said nope, only this one... Why don't they mention that they do resales? At the booth when I signed up for the tour they said they had OKW for sale. How do I find what what Disney currently has for resale?
Thanks!!
I really appreciate your time in answering!

Hi OReilly:

First of all, you can buy the other sold out resorts from Disney, but you may have to wait until they have the points in inventory. Sometimes the wait isn't as long as you think. Buying a sold-out resort vs. SSR or AKL is something you can get a lot of info on by reading these boards. Also, you can get the scoop on resale vs direct.

Also, I think your tour experience would really sour me on using your guide. My friend did the tour and her experience described was almost magical...including the fact that they entertained her kids, gave everyone ice cream at the end, and dropped them off in the middle of the park with a bunch of fast passes.

I would call Disney and ask to speak to a manager. Don't be shy about asking for a new guide. It's not a big deal and I'm sure the manager would be interested in why you are switching. Don't feel the reason that your tour was less than magical isn't a good reason. (You can even feel that it sounds petty but it didn't leave you with a good feeling). You can also say you were reading the DIS Boards and that the boards contra-dict what the guide was saying regarding the sold out resorts. You basically feel your guide will just do what's expedient, so you'd like to switch.

Sorry and good luck. Amy

 

[Gren]

But you only get that incentive if you decide in 72 hours is what they told me...

I have never taken a tour and was offered the same incentives. This is just a guess, but maybe that 72 hour window is how long they guarantee the incentive in case they stop offering it just after you tour ... ?

For me, this is a huge purchase, and it's not so much the monetary factor as the length of commitment. I require a little more than 3 days to decide on something that will have an effect on my family for the next 35-50 years. The incentives will come and go (when this one is gone, there will probably be another just around the corner), but when it comes down to it, only I know when it's the right time for me to make a purchase. I personally think it's worth spending $1600 more (160 points x $10 incentive) if I have the piece of mind knowing that the decision was based on "the facts" instead of the feeling I get from the presentation/DVD.

 

[ChesapeakeTechie]

We took the tour on Friday morning, and were told the regular price was $104/pp but they are offering an incentive for $94/pp if we decided within 72 hours. It was pretty funny since I knew almost as much as the guide when we sat down to go over everything. I told her I had some help from my frirends online who were very knowledgeable


As of now I'm slanting towards the 130 - 150 pts resale for the following reasons:

1) If I don't use the extra points I can always rent or trade them (assuming this would be pretty do-able).
2) Buying more points later would probably end up being more expensive in the long run
3) My DW would be pretty pissed off if I told her we couldn't go on the vacation we plan because I bought the smaller resale and saved a relatively small amount up front.

Thoughts?

 

[spaddy]

I was there Friday morning in the pool. It was a little chilly that morning so the pool was not as crowded. I was also there Thursday until about noon and it was not too crowded then either.

This was my first trip home and I bought there sight unseen. I have to tell you it was the most terrifying thing I have ever done in my life. I was very please with my 3 day vacation.

I purchased everything over the phone and they never told me I had 72 hours to decide. I was given the March 5th deadline because of them increasing the min. points and the price. I don't know if you can do this in your state.

I would suggest you not buy anything you can't afford. I bought direct from Disney because I had the money in hand. I ended up getting a new credit card so I don't have to pay anything until Feb 08.

I know after spending 3 days at SSR I definitely want to go back and spend more time at the resort. I was almost dissappointed to have to leave for the parks. I have to admit I already want more points. DH will never let that happen.