We own resale and are debating buying direct..

[FireflyTrance]

My husband and I have been debating buying Copper Creek Villas directly from Disney whenever it goes on sale. We love the Wilderness Lodge resort and are interested in staying in 1 bedrooms when we visit WDW. We think the resort would be a good fit. For those who have bought from Disney directly instead of resale, what made you choose to do so? We currently own VGC resale, but since we bought after April of last year we didn’t get a membership card and don’t have access to any membership extras. It isn’t possible to buy any add on points for VGC directly from Disney.


I find myself wishing I could go on the member cruise and visiting the lounge at Epcot, I even feel sad we don’t have a real membership card. But it’s hard for me to place a specific monetary value on those things. We stayed at Aulani and couldn’t access some of the membership benefits such as getting our bracelets early. It’s small things but it does make me feel a bit like a second class DVC citizen I have heard the argument to not buy based on membership extras, but they do have some value, even if they are subject to change.

If you purchased directly from Disney recently how do you feel about your decision? Do you feel like it was worth it?

 

[disneynutz]

My biggest issue right now is that Disney has created a 2 party DVC system giving direct buyers extras while treating resale buyers like they don't matter. Disney is showing it's true feelings about their guests and that is a shame. This has made resale buyers buy some points direct just to be included, Disney wins and most of the extras won't really benefit the direct buyers but being included is a powerful emotion.

Bill

 

[FireflyTrance]

My biggest issue right now is that Disney has created a 2 party DVC system giving direct buyers extras while treating resale buyers like they don't matter. Disney is showing it's true feelings about their guests and that is a shame. This has made resale buyers buy some points direct just to be included, Disney wins and most of the extras won't really benefit the direct buyers but being included is a powerful emotion.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I think feeling excluded sums it up well. We bought VGC because that was our first choice, but we also would like to get some points at a WDW resort in the near future. At Aulani there was a feeling of being excluded. We are given member wrist bands because we own DVC, but then we can’t actually access some of the member benefits. Several cast members told us about the special member only photo booth, but then we didn’t know if we would actually be allowed to participate due to lack of membership cards. It’s a lot of various small things which make me wonder if I would be happier buying some points direct instead of more resale.

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks Bill, I think feeling excluded sums it up well. We bought VGC because that was our first choice, but we also would like to get some points at a WDW resort in the near future. At Aulani there was a feeling of being excluded. We are given member wrist bands because we own DVC, but then we can’t actually access some of the member benefits. Several cast members told us about the special member only photo booth, but then we didn’t know if we would actually be allowed to participate due to lack of membership cards. It’s a lot of various small things which make me wonder if I would be happier buying some points direct instead of more resale.

Only you can decide if the "included emotion" is worth the premium price of buying direct. Disney thinks that it is, do you?

Bill

 

[bobbiwoz]

From what I have seen Copper Creek Villas are going to be pretty special!

I'm an "old timer" here who really enjoys Member Cruises. Many here on the Disboards pooh pooh them as being overpriced, but I do think I have gotten what I paid for on each one. For instance, meeting and hearing Joe Rohde on the last Member Cruise was priceless to me. I took every advantage to listen to him as much as I could!

So, my best wishes to you as you make your decision!

We were at Aulani last week and the one time we were up early enough to get the pool bracelets at the Member place, that line was twice as long as at the other place, so sometimes " special " means something different than what you hoped!

 

[jf3kds]

We kind of having the same feeling, that's why we are considering buying a few pts from retail. Sometimes tiny things add up and ruin the whole vacation. We really want to try the member cruises, my daughter's classmate told her it's much better than regular DCL.

 

[gharter]

It's easy for me to say those extra perks don't matter, as I purchased resale before they were removed. However, as much as i like getting a discount on APs and access to the member lounges, etc, would I pay considerably more per point for them? i don't know that I would, but for some it may be worth it. Even at only 25 points, it adds up.
Have never been on a Member Cruise, so I have no idea if its better or not.

 

[FireflyTrance]

We kind of having the same feeling, that's why we are considering buying a few pts from retail. Sometimes tiny things add up and ruin the whole vacation. We really want to try the member cruises, my daughter's classmate told her it's much better than regular DCL.

Yeah it's just basically a lot of little things. The member cruise looks like it would be a lot of fun. I think it's something we would do at least once if we could

 

[disneynutz]

The member cruises do have some extras that a regular cruise doesn't but member cruises are more expensive so you are paying for the extras.

Bill

 

[lovin'fl]

We bought several resales from 2006-2013 and then added on small BWV contract direct in 2014 for F&W trips. We have two UY and actually went on both UY waitlists for 55 BWV points. June UY came available pretty fast and we bought... then two months later we got a call that they then had the 55 Aug UY available if we wanted... so we grabbed 25 of those. Then we added 25 more Aug in 2016. The smaller add ons direct are not bad as closing costs are less and we get a fully loaded contract so you have to figure there is value in the extra points (points you most likely wouldn't get with a resale). And if you have a Disney Visa, you can pay with that and get reward dollars. So those are the benefits aside from the perks you were mentioning.

I agree that the perks might not be all that big of a loss, but these are the perks we like to use: DVC pricing for AP, the member lounge at Epcot, TOTWL at BLT, dining discounts (though AP discounts are currently better). We don't cruise Disney as it is too pricey. And we don't use our DVC points for anything other than east coast DVC resorts (hope to get to Aulani someday). We too are about to buy CCV direct. This is the first newly selling resort we have wanted to get in on. We bought our first resale, at OKW, when SSR was newly selling and nothing has made us want to swallow the hefty price tag until now with CCV (aside from the BWV add ons for Food and Wine trips). As long as it is priced where I am thinking and not some crazy outrageous price.

 

[jerseyduke]

I purchased both directly from Disney and via resale. I made my direct purchase at the VGF because I wanted to stay there right away, and there were no resale contracts since it had not even opened. I do not regret it, however, I doubt I will ever purchase direct again.

If there is a reason that you feel Copper Creek is a fit, and Boulder Ridge is not, then I would buy directly. I do not see the savings to be that fantastic on the "active" resort (currently Poly). You can save some money, but you lose the perks, can not break up your contract into smaller contracts, etc. In the case of the Poly, if it was my first purchase, and I specifically wanted the Poly, it is a lot easier to swallow the premium of paying Direct prices

The question with Copper Creek is, is it different enough from Boulder Ridge? Would owning at BR be just the same to you? If so, then you might want to consider BR via resale, with a small add on at CC. However, if you specifically want CC, then I would say buy direct. Buying resale at a new resort is harder...There probably will not be any contracts on the resale market until after it opens, and even then, it will take a while to get a good selection of them, probably a year or two. And come that time, direct prices will probably be 10 bucks per point higher, which enables the resale contracts to go higher; so if you pay 180 per point when sales start, and its at 190 per point when there is a formidable resale market, those will probably be 140 to 150 per point. The premium you pay to buy direct in that situation, combined with member cruises, discounted APs, etc, is a lot easier to justify.

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

We bought resale initially as we want to try out all the resorts so didn't see the need to buy at the expensive resorts Disney was currently selling. Poly without 1 bedrooms has zero interest to us. When I think I could get twice as many points at SSR resale as I can direct for the same price its hard for me to consider paying direct pricing. But, I really am tempted by the new CC, Because I would love to stay there around Christmas time, and there is no way I will get that not owning there. It will be quite a few years before there is any decent resale contracts for it on the market. So resale isn't an option for that resort. Plus I just want a small contact which are harder to come by on the resale market to match a current UY and not as cheap. I much prefer the longer contract life that CC will offer over BR and also staying the in main building.
So if it's a resort you really want to stay at regularly and will need home booking priority to go when you want to go it seems more logical to buy there. If you just want to buy direct to get perks but don't care where you stay then that is harder for me personally to justify. We qualify for the perks but rarely use them so the price difference would never pay for itself for our family.

 

[FireflyTrance]

The question with Copper Creek is, is it different enough from Boulder Ridge? Would owning at BR be just the same to you? If so, then you might want to consider BR via resale, with a small add on at CC. However, if you specifically want CC, then I would say buy direct. Buying resale at a new resort is harder...There probably will not be any contracts on the resale market until after it opens, and even then, it will take a while to get a good selection of them, probably a year or two. And come that time, direct prices will probably be 10 bucks per point higher, which enables the resale contracts to go higher; so if you pay 180 per point when sales start, and its at 190 per point when there is a formidable resale market, those will probably be 140 to 150 per point. The premium you pay to buy direct in that situation, combined with member cruises, discounted APs, etc, is a lot easier to justify.

From my understanding of the information I could gather on Copper Creek, the room options will be similar to Boulder Ridge and at similar (or exactly the same) points per night. So you're right, there isn't a big difference. I guess the biggest difference I can think of is that Boulder Ridge expires in 2042 and Copper Creek will likely expire in 2067, so Copper Creek can be used twice as long. So I guess I have to debate if the longer contract + perks is worth paying at least twice the resale prices.

 

[FireflyTrance]

We bought resale initially as we want to try out all the resorts so didn't see the need to buy at the expensive resorts Disney was currently selling. Poly without 1 bedrooms has zero interest to us. When I think I could get twice as many points at SSR resale as I can direct for the same price its hard for me to consider paying direct pricing. But, I really am tempted by the new CC, Because I would love to stay there around Christmas time, and there is no way I will get that not owning there. It will be quite a few years before there is any decent resale contracts for it on the market. So resale isn't an option for that resort. Plus I just want a small contact which are harder to come by on the resale market to match a current UY and not as cheap. I much prefer the longer contract life that CC will offer over BR and also staying the in main building.
So if it's a resort you really want to stay at regularly and will need home booking priority to go when you want to go it seems more logical to buy there. If you just want to buy direct to get perks but don't care where you stay then that is harder for me personally to justify. We qualify for the perks but rarely use them so the price difference would never pay for itself for our family.

Thanks for your input. Yes I do like the theme of CC and could see us staying there frequently. I own at VGC and ideally I would like to just use that contract for DL and then have another contract that I only use for WDW. I'm thinking now maybe a small CC contract would be best, and we can just bank and use it every other year or so.

 

[Tardisblue]

My biggest issue right now is that Disney has created a 2 party DVC system giving direct buyers extras while treating resale buyers like they don't matter. Disney is showing it's true feelings about their guests and that is a shame. This has made resale buyers buy some points direct just to be included, Disney wins and most of the extras won't really benefit the direct buyers but being included is a powerful emotion.

Bill

I came to search this forum specifically for feedback like this. We bought resale last year and will be staying at BWV in May for our first visit as owners. The allure of being an actual "member" is hard to price. I know that we can add on a 25 point contract and get the membership extras, but I'm struggling to justify the cost ($4,000 if points are 160 direct?) plus the additional dues. I'm reminded every time the Disney Files magazine arrives and I see Ken Potrock's smug blurb about all the cool membership extras followed by an the asterisk staring back at me seemingly screaming "NOT YOU CHUMP! YOU BOUGHT RESALE AND ARE SECOND CLASS!".

So I try to put a value on the membership extras: Epcot Lounge - I'd pay maybe $25 to access that and I'd be able to use it once or twice annually, so it's value to me is less than $100; Member Cruises: no value to me at this time, I don't see us going on a cruise in the near future; Special Member Events: only have value if you live nearby or just happen to have a trip booked when one takes place so no real value for me there. Emotion of being a real member? How do you price that?

What else am I missing? I'm hard pressed to justify the additional cost to become a real member but fear that after downing a Nautilus at Trader Sam's in May that I may get sucked into buying another 25 points.

 

[disneynutz]

Our first contract was BCV resale. During one of our stays we found a DVC gift basket in our room, called MS and asked why, was told that we love our members.

Things are sure different today.

Bill

 

[FireflyTrance]

I came to search this forum specifically for feedback like this. We bought resale last year and will be staying at BWV in May for our first visit as owners. The allure of being an actual "member" is hard to price. I know that we can add on a 25 point contract and get the membership extras, but I'm struggling to justify the cost ($4,000 if points are 160 direct?) plus the additional dues. I'm reminded every time the Disney Files magazine arrives and I see Ken Potrock's smug blurb about all the cool membership extras followed by an the asterisk staring back at me seemingly screaming "NOT YOU CHUMP! YOU BOUGHT RESALE AND ARE SECOND CLASS!".

So I try to put a value on the membership extras: Epcot Lounge - I'd pay maybe $25 to access that and I'd be able to use it once or twice annually, so it's value to me is less than $100; Member Cruises: no value to me at this time, I don't see us going on a cruise in the near future; Special Member Events: only have value if you live nearby or just happen to have a trip booked when one takes place so no real value for me there. Emotion of being a real member? How do you price that?

What else am I missing? I'm hard pressed to justify the additional cost to become a real member but fear that after downing a Nautilus at Trader Sam's in May that I may get sucked into buying another 25 points.

Yeah I think it’s funny we get the Disney Files magazine, but we can’t get a membership card Each time I get the magazine I do feel left out a bit seeing all the cool membership extras. Also sometimes I can’t figure out if something is a “membership extra” or a perk that resale buyers can also access.

Members also get some dining/shopping discounts + AP discount. If you really utilize all those discounts each year over many years I guess the 25 points could pay for themselves. But membership extras change so there is no guarantee the discounts will remain. Probably the biggest value of membership is having the membership card and the psychological benefits of being included, whatever that is worth it to you.

 

[FireflyTrance]

Our first contract was BCV resale. During one of our stays we found a DVC gift basket in our room, called MS and asked why, was told that we love their members.

Things are sure different today.

Bill

That’s nice you got a gift basket. No gift basket for us, though they did send me some DVC magnetic car stickers, so I thought that was nice.

 

[Tardisblue]

Yeah I think it’s funny we get the Disney Files magazine, but we can’t get a membership card Each time I get the magazine I do feel left out a bit seeing all the cool membership extras. Also sometimes I can’t figure out if something is a “membership extra” or a perk that resale buyers can also access.

Members also get some dining/shopping discounts + AP discount. If you really utilize all those discounts each year over many years I guess the 25 points could pay for themselves. But membership extras change so there is no guarantee the discounts will remain. Probably the biggest value of membership is having the membership card and the psychological benefits of being included, whatever that is worth it to you.

The AP discount is probably the most valuable, but it would take ~26 years to recoup the cost for a single AP purchase. I can buy one AP for myself every year for the next 26 years, receive generally better discounts (as of this writing) at restaurants and shops than the true DVC membership provides and not have to spend an additional $4K up front for the privilege. When I look at it critically, it doesn't make any sense to buy an add-on.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Copper Creek details are out. $176 per point, initial dues of $7.33 per point, and a variety of odd, non-bookable room configurations.