Went to Presentation ... Now I'm Confused ... Help Please!

[disneymath]

A bit long, sorry ... but advice is much appreciated.

So, we are back from our cash stay at BLT. Loved the resort. We were in a 2 BR (dedicated) LV on the 12th floor. My parents were in a studio next door. We loved many things about the resort - the 2 BR unit was awesome in terms of space, cleanliness,etc. (though there did seem to be a lot of wear and tear for it only being a year old) - the studio was kind of underwhelming, but clean and functional.

Anyway, since we are seriously considering buying in, I booked a tour. Well, it was a bit of a disaster. I let the guide know up front that I had done some research and had a basic idea of how DVC works and that I was more interested in the "fine print" than the "big picture". Well, that through the guide off - he even said to me that "most people who attend these don't know anything about DVC". He even told me that I would "have to make a decision before you leave today". (Ah, I don't think so.)

MAJOR ISSUE #1
Worse than that, when we discussed Use Year and I mentioned that based on our travel habits August seemed like the best one for us, he agreed and then went on to say that the only downfall was that I wouldn't get any points until August 2011? Is this right? (Before I left, the talk around here was that if you bought a September or later Use Year you got 2009 and 2010 points - and yet I would only get 2011's for going with an August UY? Seemed strange to me, and I kept coming back to it, but he was adamant. (If it's true, why would I buy in now? I can let my money gain interest for another year and buy in in July 2011.)

MAJOR ISSUE #2
Finally, it is true that you cannot get a copy of the PoS (Public Offering Statement) without buying in? I forgot what PoS stood for duing my meeting and only remembered the morning of our departure day. I went to the BLT DVC desk and asked the girl for one. She called and spoke to someone and explained that she could not get me one b/c it is a legally binding document and I would have to request one through my guide.

MAJOR ISSUE #3
Anyway, the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth and so, needless to say, I did not sign on any dotted lines this trip. I figured it was best to enjoy the rest of my vacation and deal with things when I got home. If it turns out that I'm not just misinformed and that my guide really is a dud, what are my options?

 

[Mtnman44]

In my opinion, there isn't really much in the fine print that affects the buy decision and there aren't any hidden "gotchas". If you are comfortable with the price and you understand the aspects of Use Year and booking windows, and the annual maintanence dues, then it all comes down to "is this a good choice for me" based on your current and future WDW travel plans.

Sales people are what they are. The good news is that pretty much when you buy from DVC you get the exact same thing at the exact same price, no matter who your sales person is.

2009 points have expired for the August Use year. We are now in 2010 for the August Use year. You would need to purchase a Sept Use Year (or Oct, or Dec) before those 2010 years begin if you wanted to have 2009 points available. DVC allows these points to be banked late in the Use Year for new purchases, so these points do have significant value for you. You will be paying for some of the 2009 year dues, so they aren't "free" or bonus points. They simply come with your contract that you buy.

You do get all the paperwork to read before you sign. Prior to your signature, there is no risk to you as any deposit is refundable. As I mentioned, I don't believe there are any significant surprises in the paperwork, but I wouldn't fault you for wanting to be fully familiar with them.

One new purchase tip of major importance. Don't buy Large contracts (over 200 points) all in one contract. Split the points up into smaller contracts.

 

[Sandisw]

If you buy now with an Aug UY, you should be getting 2010 UY points and not have to wait until 2011.

I just added on this week with my June UY and got 2010 UY points. I don't know why they guide said what he said but he obviously was confusing things (not a guide I would necessarily want).

Yes, the POS is not available to people until they have at least put down a deposit and agree to buy. If you really want to read one of those, you would have to start the process so you get all the paperwork (mine just came today). You can then read the documents and decide. You can always cancel the sale out if there is something in the POS that you don't like and get your deposit back.

You can call DVC and tell them that you want to talk to a supervisor and explain to them that you want to have a new guide. I think in most cases, DVC is very good at doing this, especially if you are ready to buy but hesitant because of the lack of knowledge by the guide.

Good luck!

 

[disneymath]

If you buy now with an Aug UY, you should be getting 2010 UY points and not have to wait until 2011.

I just added on this week with my June UY and got 2010 UY points. I don't know why they guide said what he said but he obviously was confusing things (not a guide I would necessarily want).

Yes, the POS is not available to people until they have at least put down a deposit and agree to buy. If you really want to read one of those, you would have to start the process so you get all the paperwork (mine just came today). You can then read the documents and decide. You can always cancel the sale out if there is something in the POS that you don't like and get your deposit back.

You can call DVC and tell them that you want to talk to a supervisor and explain to them that you want to have a new guide. I think in most cases, DVC is very good at doing this, especially if you are ready to buy but hesitant because of the lack of knowledge by the guide.

Good luck!

Thanks Sandi ... for the info about the 2010 points, the POS, and my opitons about getting a new guide.

I knew there was no way I was getting 2009 points with an August UY, but the guide really threw ne for a loop me when he kept insisting that I wouldn't get any points until 2011 - and that if I needed points before August 2011 then I would have to borrow them. (To be perfectly clear, I never even mentioned 2009 in any aspect of our conversation.) I even had my mom go down to the DVC desk and inquire about 2010 points with an August UY - but the girl at the desk wasn't sure and wanted to set her up with a tour ... so then my mom explained that I had been on a tour just that morning, etc., etc, ... needless to say the question got transferred back to my guide, who called our room the next morning and left a message saying again that it was true that I would get no points until August 2011. (Clearly, it wasn't a short term blip of confusion on his part.)

 

[MassachusettsMouse]

My family is considering buying DVC. Is there anyone who is unhappy with their purchase?

 

[vicki_c]

My family is considering buying DVC. Is there anyone who is unhappy with their purchase?

You should really start your own post w/your question - it will just get buried here. There's a few posts w/that same question or something similar as well right on the first page or 2 of the board.

 

[TisBit]

I would think you would get the 2010 points, but it might have to do with the dues and possibly there is something about buying a use year the same month as the purchase causing problems.

 

[disneymath]

I would think you would get the 2010 points, but it might have to do with the dues and possibly there is something about buying a use year the same month as the purchase causing problems.

The guide did claim that I would not have to pay 2010 dues since I would not be getting 2010 points - but it still seems off to me. Also, I thought that if you bought in you paid prorated dues in relation to how much of the current year was left - but I may be wrong on that.

I can't see why buying during the desired use year month would be an issue, but if that is the case, September is right around the corner and would take care of the issue pretty easily.

 

[disneymath]

You do get all the paperwork to read before you sign. Prior to your signature, there is no risk to you as any deposit is refundable. As I mentioned, I don't believe there are any significant surprises in the paperwork, but I wouldn't fault you for wanting to be fully familiar with them.

One new purchase tip of major importance. Don't buy Large contracts (over 200 points) all in one contract. Split the points up into smaller contracts.

Thanks for the advice ... I'm definitely the "read the fine print" type - heck I even read the acknowledgement sections in novels and resource books at times! No way could I just sign a contract without reading through it.

Thanks also for the small contracts tip: I had my head wrapped around that one from my pre-tour research.

 

[jimanda44]

This is a little off topic but I would look into the resale market. A lot of people are trying to unload their DVC b/c their kids are older, divorce, or the economy, etc.

 

[GrUvGrL]

We also just got back from our vacation and went on the DVC tour on Sunday Aug 8th and my guide offered us the 2009 points if we signed up, of course he did also say that it was a limited time offer and that I may not get it if I signed up in Sept.

Of course, I figured I'd come back home and get some info before dropping 48k on a membership, so Im gathering info and will be posting soon.

 

[wdrl]

Thanks for the advice ... I'm definitely the "read the fine print" type - heck I even read the acknowledgement sections in novels and resource books at times! No way could I just sign a contract without reading through it.

Thanks also for the small contracts tip: I had my head wrapped around that one from my pre-tour research.

You can view and download an electronic copy of BLT's Master Declaration of Condominium, which is essentially the same document as the POS, from the Orange County Comptroller's website at https://officialrecords.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/docSearch.jsp. This link may take you directly to the Master Declaration: https://officialrecords.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/myPdf.pdf?&parent=DOC293S21987. It is a large document so it may take a minute or two to download as a PDF.

As other posters have stated, you will get 2010 points for any of the eight Use Years. If you elect a September, October, or December UY, you will also receive points for the 2009 UY as well. However, before you commit to a specific UY, I suggest you read some of the threads on this board about how to pick a UY that should work with your normal Disney vacations times.

Good luck on making your decision!

 

[disneymath]

You can view and download an electronic copy of BLT's Master Declaration of Condominium, which is essentially the same document as the POS, from the Orange County Comptroller's website at https://officialrecords.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/docSearch.jsp. This link may take you directly to the Master Declaration: https://officialrecords.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/downloads/myPdf.pdf?&parent=DOC293S21987. It is a large document so it may take a minute or two to download as a PDF.

As other posters have stated, you will get 2010 points for any of the eight Use Years. If you elect a September, October, or December UY, you will also receive points for the 2009 UY as well. However, before you commit to a specific UY, I suggest you read some of the threads on this board about how to pick a UY that should work with your normal Disney vacations times.

Good luck on making your decision!

THANK YOU for the links!

An August use year is really ideal for me since the I currently travel in August, hope to start travelling for "longer weekends" in October and early December, want the option of March trips as my nephews get older and look forward to January/February trips to beat the winter blahs once retirement comes along WAY down the road. (April, May, June, July aren't typical travel months for me - and, should I decide to travel during those times in the future, they pose the least risk for last minute cancellations for my extended family and I.)

 

[castleri]

He was trying to sell you BLT and not Aulani wasn't he? If a resort is not completed there are times that you don't get the current use year points because the unit you buy is not available yet and hasn't been released to DVC from the developer.

 

[PoohNFriends]

disneymath - I 2nd the recommendation to call DVC for a new guide if you decide to proceed with it. This guide doesn't deserve the sale credit if you decide to purchase since he couldn't get the information about when you get your 1st points (as others have said also pretty sure you would get 2010 points right away). Plus he dropped that line that you had to sign today; I hate when they use that as a sales tactic !

 

[disneymath]

He was trying to sell you BLT and not Aulani wasn't he? If a resort is not completed there are times that you don't get the current use year points because the unit you buy is not available yet and hasn't been released to DVC from the developer.

Oh yes, we were definitely talking about BLT. (The only time Aulani came into it was way into the discussion when I mentioned that one of the things that made DVC attractive was the ability to stay at DVC resorts in places like Vero Beach, Disneyland, and Hawaii.)

From what I've read on different threads here, DVC has declared about 80% of BLT and only sold 60% with August being a lower sold UY than others ... so I can't see why "unit unavailability" would have been the issue.

disneymath - I 2nd the recommendation to call DVC for a new guide if you decide to proceed with it. This guide doesn't deserve the sale credit if you decide to purchase since he couldn't get the information about when you get your 1st points (as others have said also pretty sure you would get 2010 points right away). Plus he dropped that line that you had to sign today; I hate when they use that as a sales tactic !

The worse part about the "you must make a decision today" line was that the DVC rep who arranged my "open house tour" specifically pointed out that is was DVC policy to be a no pressure, make no decisions now, presentation. (It's even printed on the back of the literature you're given when you sign up for an appointment.)

(Now, because of laws in many Canadian provinces, most Canadians do need to purchase DVC while in Florida. Those of us in Ontario and Alberta, however, are not bound by such provincial laws. Again, even if the guide made the comment b/c my form indicated I was from Canada, he was still misinformed b/c it also clearly stated I was from Ontario.)

 

[quirty30]

We went to the presentation yesterday and they said anyone who purchased or added on would get 2010 points, regardless of use year. And dues would be prorated based on the date of purchase, not the use year.

 

[wdrl]

From what I've read on different threads here, DVC has declared about 80% of BLT and only sold 60% with August being a lower sold UY than others ... so I can't see why "unit unavailability" would have been the issue.

You are right about BLT's numbers. To date, 86.6% of BLT has been declared for the DVC membership and about 63% has been sold. The August UY has the fourth most points assigned to it, with February, December, and June having more points assigned to them, so far.

As a prior poster said, your Guide must have been talking, or at least thinking, about Aulani when he said there were no points available until August 2011. Aulani is scheduled to open August 29, 2011, and none of its points are valid until the resort opens. When we bought BLT in May 2009, we got points with a February UY. Even though we had February 2009 points, none of those points could be used in the DVC system until August 4, 2009, the date BLT opened.

 

[disneymath]

We went to the presentation yesterday and they said anyone who purchased or added on would get 2010 points, regardless of use year. And dues would be prorated based on the date of purchase, not the use year.

Thanks for confirming this with current info straight from a DVC presentation!

You are right about BLT's numbers. To date, 86.6% of BLT has been declared for the DVC membership and about 63% has been sold. The August UY has the fourth most points assigned to it, with February, December, and June having more points assigned to them, so far.

As a prior poster said, your Guide must have been talking, or at least thinking, about Aulani when he said there were no points available until August 2011. Aulani is scheduled to open August 29, 2011, and none of its points are valid until the resort opens. When we bought BLT in May 2009, we got points with a February UY. Even though we had February 2009 points, none of those points could be used in the DVC system until August 4, 2009, the date BLT opened.

On the one hand, I'm glad it was the guide who was "off track" instead of me being misinformed ... on the other hand, being fed incorrect information by a guide is not exactly confidence inspiring!