What are Developer Points?

[pbharris4]

When can you use them?

Currently, we are on the waitlist to purchase 75 more BCV points and am told there is still 7 or 8 families ahead of us. (Doesn't sound like a lot though.) I saw there's an incentive for both SSR and VAK and wondering if we s hould go for that instead? Are developers points extra points or something?

 

[GusMan]

Developer points are bonus points offered as an incentive to buy into SSR or AKV. For example, we got double developer points (double the number that are a part of our contract) when we signed up in August. If I have read some of the other points correctly, they may have been offered to existing DVC members when buying into SSR or AKV.

They are good for one year but you cannot use them until you hit the 7 month window, regardless if you are trying to make reservations at your home resort. You cannot bank, rent, or transfer the points as well.

To be honest, there are some pros and cons...
For example:
A PRO: We used our developers points to book a stay at a Grand Villa at AKV for this coming April. I would not have been able to do that easily if I had to bank and borrow and the like. It will be a "once in a lifetime" kind of thing for us.

A CON: The whole 7 month window thing was NOT explained well by our guide. That kinda ticked us off. It made us nervous because we had to wait for that 7 month window to book. But at the same time, all of the restrictions were listed in our paperwork and we just did not read it carefully. (Our bad.)

I think that if I had to do it all over again and had the choice between dev points or cash off the purchase, I would take the cash off. Just easier.

As for your situation... I guess it depends on what you would like to do - add on or get a separate contract for SSR or AKV.

Hope that helps.

 

[pbharris4]

So we'd buy 100 pts and then also get 100 developer points that would have to be used within 1 year of our purchase date? Is that right? I'd want to use the developer points at the end of June '08/early July.

 

[robinb]

Pam:

Do you want to stay at AKV or SSR often? Do you make your plans within the 7-month mark? If so, then it would make sense to go with another resort other than BCV. Otherwise, I think you should stay on your waitlist. The developer's points are not worth it iMO.

 

[LisaS]

So we'd buy 100 pts and then also get 100 developer points that would have to be used within 1 year of our purchase date? Is that right? I'd want to use the developer points at the end of June '08/early July.

I think you have to purchase 110 points to get the 100 developer points. Doc explains the new incentives in this post about the OKW extension. Here is the relevant quote from his post:

For current members who wish to add-on at SSR or AKV, the $10/$8 incenitve applies for purchases of 100 or more points ... and for those buying 110 or more points there is a bonus of 100 Developer Points to be used within a year - with 160 Developer points for purchases of 160 - 199 and 270 Developer Points for purchases of 200 or more points. New purchases of 225 points will also have access to tiered Developer Points depending on the number of points above 225.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

yes I believe Lisa is right its 110 points to get the developer points.

I would not so quickly dismiss the incentive point bonus as others are, it is really a personal decision

As mentioned previoulsy you first must decide which resort you would like to own. Again only you can decide that based on booking patterns of you and your vacations and your likes dislikes. If you plan 7+-11 months out and love BCV and want to stay there most then you should probably buy there

but if you plan in under 7 months then the home resort booking window is not going to make a difference for you and then in that case theres no reason to wait for BCV necessarily

although vacation habits will change over such a long period

another factor is the years of membership, AKV and SSR currently have more years left, so that could be good or bad depending on your perspective.
Although, once more, OKW is extending their end date and its rumored all other will follow suite so that point may be a wash soon anyway

 

[pbharris4]

Thanks all. We decided to stay put.

 

[CarolMN]

Moving to Operations Forum so the info can help others interested in buying DVC contracts.