Trying to make it all make sense

[ktpbell]

Ok. I am really trying to figure out all the vacation club information. BUT I am wondering if there are so many listing of people selling points for $7-10 a point what is being sold for $85-101 a point? It seems that is the initial investment $. My question is why do I have to make an initial investment? Can I just buy points that someone is selling ($7-10 a point) and use them on a trip? A 3 night weekend of HH resort was going for 66 points. Can I buy someones 66 points and use them? Do I have to be "in the system" as a DVC member? I know it will be a silly question to all the experienced DVC members but I can't seem to find the answer to this.
THANKS!!!

 

[Granny]

You are confusing becoming a member by purchasing points of your own ($85-$101 per point) with buying a reservation from an existing DVC owner who is using his/her own points, making the reservation and selling it to you for $7-$10 per point used. This practice of selling a reservation goes by the misnomer of "renting points".

You don't have to be in the system to purchase a reservation by a DVC member. You won't even be able to contact Disney directly on your reservation. Keep in mind that this is a private transaction between you and the owner. Disney has absolutely nothing to do with the transaction, so there is risk on both sides of the deal.

For most people "renting" their points, they will require non-refundable deposits and full non-refundable payment of the balance a couple of months before the trip. So if you go that route, be very sure of your travel dates or you could easily lose all the money you spent on reservations.

Renting points makes a lot of sense for a lot of people. But if you plan on doing it every year, you'll find it less expensive in the long run to own DVC. And of course, you'll be in control of your own points at that time and not searching for good deals on the rent board.

Good luck, and keep asking questions if you don't understand.

 

[Chuck S]

You are not actually "buying points" at $7 to $10, you are renting a reservation from a DVC member. You have no control over those points whatsoever, the DVC member, if unscrupulous, (though admittedly very rare) could cancel the ressie at anytime. Non-members are not allowed to speak to member services to verify the ressie. You can not cancel or modify the ressie through member services, that can only be done by the member. BTW, while possible, it is the exception to be able to rent a ressie for less than $10 per point, and the "normal" rental price seems to be leaning more towards a slight increase. And if the transaction does" go bad" Disney will not intervene, it is a private transaction between you and the member.

The initial $85 to $100 buy in means YOU are a member, you control your points, you will hae points available to you for reservations year after year, until you either sell the contract or the DVC contract ends in 2042 or 2054 (depeding upon which resort you purchase in). You will have to pay annual dues, wich includes maintenance, taxes, resort management fees, etc. They currently are averaging less than $4.50 per year, but can increase. They have, on occasion, even decreased, but given the increases in insurance, employee and security costs, they have increase lately.

While actually owning the points isn't for everyone (no timeshare is "one size fits all") it will certainly save you money in the long run over renting, and allows you not to go on the "trust factor" when trying to deal with a rental situation.

 

[browniemtb]

Buying/Owning DVC is $86 to $101 per point...the points are yours forever, ok not forever....expiration of 2042 or 2054.
Renting - $7.00 to $12 per point....one time deal. The DVC owner has to make your reservations...you have no control over the points.

So yes you could rent 66 points for a weekend at HH from a DVC owner but this would be a one time deal.

I'm sure the previous two post have answer this for you....

Ownership give you a new allotment of points every year.

Brownie

 

[Deb & Bill]

As a member, you can contact Member Services to find out what is vacant and when. As a renter, you have no contact with MS. You'll need to find an owner willing to make the reservation for you at the time you want. But it might not be available and you'd have to wait to be contacted back by the member to make another call. When we call MS, we ask them if it is available and we might even change our mind while on the call with them. If we want to stay elsewhere, if we have the points to make the change, we do it. If you want to stay elsewhere, the member has to make the change, charge you more or less and they have to worry about the points needed.

Ultimately, points are worthless to you. You can't change a reservation, make a reservation, cancel a reservation. You can't even check on availability.