where to buy

[Redsred3]

I am looking at buying a contract, more or less for SAP. We will probably go to Disney every few years, we want to go to Aulani probably next year or 2025, and we might trade in points for a cruise or Universal at some point too. What I am trying to figure out is where would be best to buy. If hypotheticallly in 12, 15, 18 years we aren't utilizing the points as much, I want to make sure I have a contract somewhere that I can resell fairly easily without taking a loss (not looking to make money... I know its not an investment). I know SSR is a good option for SAP, but I have zero desire to stay there. I have thought about buying AUL because you can get it cheap right now, but I know their MF are super high. I've also considered AKL. Any suggestions based on how we might use the points and what would be best if we decide to sell the contract down the road?

I had put in an offer for BWV that was accepted, but I backed out as I just couldn't justify the 2042 expiration date with how much the dues were.

 

[mz-s]

Isn't the whole point of SAP you have no desire to stay there? so what is the bad thing with buying at Saratoga?

If you think you won't need the contract in 12,15,18 years - OKW might be an option because those points won't exist after 2042 unless you buy an extended contract.

 

[Sandisw]

I would not buy any resale contract with the notion that you can sell without a loss of purchase price…way too many variables to many which DVD can manipulate.

To use at cruises, etc, there is no trading. You have to rent your points and use the funds to pay..that requires finding renters. Not a huge issue, but it does take some work.

I definitely would try to get a resort you are okay staying with if you can’t trade out. Any of the near park resorts are good choices but it depends on room size and time of travel.

If you want studios, VGF is a pretty good deal and you can even get in direct with 100 points..just don’t qualify for the perks until 150.

RIV is also an option now at 100 points and does give you an Epcot adjacent resort via the Skyliner..but none of us know about resale value down the road so it may not be worth it to you if that is a concern.

But BLT and CCV are also great choices but CCV has a hard limit of 4 in studios and 1 bedrooms so that may not work.

Good luck!!

 

[Redsred3]

Isn't the whole point of SAP you have no desire to stay there? so what is the bad thing with buying at Saratoga?

If you think you won't need the contract in 12,15,18 years - OKW might be an option because those points won't exist after 2042 unless you buy an extended contract.

I think mostly just the fact of availability at 7 months at other resorts IF it's a year we want to do Disney, and not being able to stay at a more convenient location. I had BWV, but pulled out because of the 2042. I think I panicked haha.

 

[AstroBlasters]

How about subsidized Aulani

 

[Redsred3]

I would not buy any resale contract with the notion that you can sell without a loss of purchase price…way too many variables to many which DVD can manipulate.

To use at cruises, etc, there is no trading. You have to rent your points and use the funds to pay..that requires finding renters. Not a huge issue, but it does take some work.

I definitely would try to get a resort you are okay staying with if you can’t trade out. Any of the near park resorts are good choices but it depends on room size and time of travel.

If you want studios, VGF is a pretty good deal and you can even get in direct with 100 points..just don’t qualify for the perks until 150.

RIV is also an option now at 100 points and does give you an Epcot adjacent resort via the Skyliner..but none of us know about resale value down the road so it may not be worth it to you if that is a concern.

But BLT and CCV are also great choices but CCV has a hard limit of 4 in studios and 1 bedrooms so that may not work.

Good luck!!

I have seen where on page sponsor website, you can essentially trade/sell them your points to swap them out for a cruise or universal etc. So I imagine we might try to do that.

I did have an accepted offer at BWV b/c we loved staying there when we went and its close to the parks, but I got spooked. And with the fact that we probably won't make it to Disney but every 3-4 years, the price per point at many of the other closer resorts is a deterrent.

 

[mz-s]

I think mostly just the fact of availability at 7 months at other resorts IF it's a year we want to do Disney, and not being able to stay at a more convenient location. I had BWV, but pulled out because of the 2042. I think I panicked haha.

It can be competitive at a lot of resorts for certain rooms at 7 months, that's for sure. So having your home resort being a resort you want to stay at, at least some times, is helpful for sure.

 

[Redsred3]

How about subsidized Aulani

https://www.fidelityrealestate.com/property/disney-vacation-club/aulani-a-disney-resort-spa/6045492/

I've actually been poking around looking for sub Aul, b/c that might be the best of both worlds. But they are so hard to find, and I don't really want/need more than 150 points. I'd say between 120-150 points is what I am searching for.

 

[Sandisw]

I have seen where on page sponsor website, you can essentially trade/sell them your points to swap them out for a cruise or universal etc. So I imagine we might try to do that.

I did have an accepted offer at BWV b/c we loved staying there when we went and its close to the parks, but I got spooked. And with the fact that we probably won't make it to Disney but every 3-4 years, the price per point at many of the other closer resorts is a deterrent.

Wondering if BLF would be better, eventhough the contract expires the same as BWV? Ahhhh! I just don't know what to do!

BLT expires in 2060 so way longer than BWV.

And the swap program with the board sponsor is still you renting your points and then just booking yoour the cruise vs paying you cash…

Not sure if DVC is the best option then if you don’t plan to visit that often..or just go with SSR and be flexible with the choices and dates of those trips.

 

[lilsonicfan]

How about subsidized Aulani

https://www.fidelityrealestate.com/property/disney-vacation-club/aulani-a-disney-resort-spa/6045492/

Omg wish I’d seen this one and calculated the dues!

 

[Redsred3]

BLT expires in 2060 so way longer than BWV.

And the swap program with the board sponsor is still you renting your points and then just booking yoour the cruise vs paying you cash…

Not sure if DVC is the best option then if you don’t plan to visit that often..or just go with SSR and be flexible with the choices and dates of those trips.

I actually corrected my reply. My brain read BRV instead of BLT. BLT makes much more sense haha.

 

[lilsonicfan]

OP: the considerations you have are in some ways a bit contradictory, or at least difficult to mesh together.

You’d like SAP points that hold some value 12-18 years down the road. You don’t really want SSR, but you’ve also mentioned the cost factor. You don’t want to lose too much on resale, so buying direct is probably a risk you don’t want to take (I assume.) You likely will only go every 3-4 years. That alone makes everyone here question if it’s a good choice to buy into DVC.

If you’re set on buying DVC resale, I’d probably go with AKL, BLT, or CCV due to their longer expiration dates. Otherwise I think buying 100 direct at VGF is worth considering too for the fact that you’ll have desirable points you can offer for the 11 month mark in years you need to rent your points.

But if you’re going every 3-4 years… in 12 years you’ll have done 3-4 times. Is there enough savings to justify the cost for you?

 

[Redsred3]

OP: the considerations you have are in some ways a bit contradictory, or at least difficult to mesh together.

You’d like SAP points that hold some value 12-18 years down the road. You don’t really want SSR, but you’ve also mentioned the cost factor. You don’t want to lose too much on resale, so buying direct is probably a risk you don’t want to take (I assume.) You likely will only go every 3-4 years. That alone makes everyone here question if it’s a good choice to buy into DVC.

If you’re set on buying DVC resale, I’d probably go with AKL, BLT, or CCV due to their longer expiration dates. Otherwise I think buying 100 direct at VGF is worth considering too for the fact that you’ll have desirable points you can offer for the 11 month mark in years you need to rent your points.

But if you’re going every 3-4 years… in 12 years you’ll have done 3-4 times. Is there enough savings to justify the cost for you?

Sorry for the confusion. Let me clarify. We are planning a WDW trip next year (2024), then AUL (2025...we may swap and do AUL first, just depends on availability at 7 months if we dont buy where we stay). Then the following year hoping to do DL (2026)...although I know this might be tricky to book and we may just do WDW again that year. Then either back to WDW or possibly rent out points to cruise that year (2027). What I meant by every 3 years or so was specific to visiting WDW, but would still, for the most part, be using the points. I just wonder as my kids get older and move out, if we don't go but every 3-4 years at that point, if we might want to sell then...or rent out points. But thats a ways off.

AKL is one I was looking at and had put offers in on...I was just more concerned about the dues on that one long term.

 

[Sandisw]

Sorry for the confusion. Let me clarify. We are planning a WDW trip next year (2024), then AUL (2025...we may swap and do AUL first, just depends on availability at 7 months if we dont buy where we stay). Then the following year hoping to do DL (2026)...although I know this might be tricky to book and we may just do WDW again that year. Then either back to WDW or possibly rent out points to cruise that year (2027). What I meant by every 3 years or so was specific to visiting WDW, but would still, for the most part, be using the points. I just wonder as my kids get older and move out, if we don't go but every 3-4 years at that point, if we might want to sell then...or rent out points. But thats a ways off.

AKL is one I was looking at and had put offers in on...I was just more concerned about the dues on that one long term.

If your plan is to try to use DVC at DL, that will be pretty difficult. VGC is small and hard to get if not an owner…

VDH is most likely going to be restricted from resale points…you’d only have access there, for sure, if you buy direct.

 

[mz-s]

Right now the ONLY room available at Grand Californian for DVC within the next 7 months is a 2-night stay in a 2-bedroom villa for May 8 and 9. There are no studios, no 3-bedrooms, nothing else until later in November (beyond the 7-month booking window).

Refresh and it's probably gone.

Every 3 years is sort of tough. Yes you can borrow and bank points so you combine three years worth of points into one booking - so you could probably make due with a small 50 point contract and still put together a nice trip every 3 years. That keeps your buy-in and yearly dues relatively low.

But that also leaves you with very little left over to rent out for a cruise etc. If you go down to every 4 years then you will have to rent out points every 4th year, or you'll forfeit points because you can only bank points for one year, and can only borrow points from one year ahead.

You shouldn't go into this thinking that your contract will have any residual value when your kids grow up. That might be true, and will certainly be nice if it is, but it's absolutely not guaranteed. So if your decision to buy in hinges on having the ability to resell in 20 years, think again.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Sorry for the confusion. Let me clarify. We are planning a WDW trip next year (2024), then AUL (2025...we may swap and do AUL first, just depends on availability at 7 months if we dont buy where we stay). Then the following year hoping to do DL (2026)...although I know this might be tricky to book and we may just do WDW again that year. Then either back to WDW or possibly rent out points to cruise that year (2027). What I meant by every 3 years or so was specific to visiting WDW, but would still, for the most part, be using the points. I just wonder as my kids get older and move out, if we don't go but every 3-4 years at that point, if we might want to sell then...or rent out points. But thats a ways off.

AKL is one I was looking at and had put offers in on...I was just more concerned about the dues on that one long term.

Ah okay I see.

It's such a personal decision, I've only been looking at resale for a few weeks and when I first posted about my decision, some people also thought that it wasn't worthwhile for me to buy in. I suppose they could still be right. But for us, I see us going to WDW or AUL every 2 years or so, and because we are a family of 5 we need a 1BR at AUL and might prefer one in Florida anyway. AUL is super expensive on a cash rate and so for me, the math works out that if we go about 3 times, we'll have made up the initial purchase price; then I can either rent out points or use at WDW or even sell if we are done with it by then. But because of that, the math only works if I buy in pretty cheap, so it was either SSR or AUL. If I sell later for a "loss", which I would anticipate, that's okay by me since I would have made up the costs anyway.

I should also add that we really like DL too especially for the proximity, but I don't think we'll ever be able to stay at VGC using our points.

 

[mz-s]

Ah okay I see.

It's such a personal decision, I've only been looking at resale for a few weeks and when I first posted about my decision, some people also thought that it wasn't worthwhile for me to buy in. I suppose they could still be right. But for us, I see us going to WDW or AUL every 2 years or so, and because we are a family of 5 we need a 1BR at AUL and might prefer one in Florida anyway. AUL is super expensive on a cash rate and so for me, the math works out that if we go about 3 times, we'll have made up the initial purchase price; then I can either rent out points or use at WDW or even sell if we are done with it by then. But because of that, the math only works if I buy in pretty cheap, so it was either SSR or AUL. If I sell later for a "loss", which I would anticipate, that's okay by me since I would have made up the costs anyway.

I should also add that we really like DL too especially for the proximity, but I don't think we'll ever be able to stay at VGC using our points.

It is very likely the new DVC rooms at Disneyland Hotel will be restricted from resale buyers, similar to Riviera today. So don't buy resale if you think you may want to use your points at the new villas at Disneyland Hotel. It probably isn't going to happen.

 

[Redsred3]

Ah okay I see.

It's such a personal decision, I've only been looking at resale for a few weeks and when I first posted about my decision, some people also thought that it wasn't worthwhile for me to buy in. I suppose they could still be right. But for us, I see us going to WDW or AUL every 2 years or so, and because we are a family of 5 we need a 1BR at AUL and might prefer one in Florida anyway. AUL is super expensive on a cash rate and so for me, the math works out that if we go about 3 times, we'll have made up the initial purchase price; then I can either rent out points or use at WDW or even sell if we are done with it by then. But because of that, the math only works if I buy in pretty cheap, so it was either SSR or AUL. If I sell later for a "loss", which I would anticipate, that's okay by me since I would have made up the costs anyway.

I should also add that we really like DL too especially for the proximity, but I don't think we'll ever be able to stay at VGC using our points.

This is exactly me. We would almost always do a 1 bedroom, possible 2 bedroom every other trip or so if we brought additional family. So borrowing and banking every few years makes sense to us.

I also was thinking AUL. But the dues are painful. Or AKL or SRR to buy in cheaper to help it make sense. But I know 100 percent when we go to WDW we are going to want to be at BWV (bc we love it there) or something on the monorail. If a monorail resort, banking and borrowing for 1-2 bedroom makes sense. BWV has a lower point chart so we might go more frequently if that’s the case. So many variables. I also know staging DVC at DL is highly unlikely. Most likely when it’s time to do that, we would rent points there (and rent ours out that year to offset the cost).

 

[lilsonicfan]

It is very likely the new DVC rooms at Disneyland Hotel will be restricted from resale buyers, similar to Riviera today. So don't buy resale if you think you may want to use your points at the new villas at Disneyland Hotel. It probably isn't going to happen.

Totally agree with this! Personally, I'd choose VGC over DH anyway if funds/booking were no issue but really...Disneyland is so walkable and there are a ton of (not amazing) hotels right across the street that are even closer than VDH.

 

[intamin]

This is exactly me. We would almost always do a 1 bedroom, possible 2 bedroom every other trip or so if we brought additional family. So borrowing and banking every few years makes sense to us.

I also was thinking AUL. But the dues are painful. Or AKL or SRR to buy in cheaper to help it make sense. But I know 100 percent when we go to WDW we are going to want to be at BWV (bc we love it there) or something on the monorail. If a monorail resort, banking and borrowing for 1-2 bedroom makes sense. BWV has a lower point chart so we might go more frequently if that’s the case. So many variables. I also know staging DVC at DL is highly unlikely. Most likely when it’s time to do that, we would rent points there (and rent ours out that year to offset the cost).

I'd consider CCV/BLT if you care more about resale value. Both of those being MK resorts will hold value, CCV just because of how long it's duration is and BLT because it's a monorail resort. I agree, you shouldn't purchase SSR if you're not at least okay with being stuck there (I should prob purchase some SSR SAP since I love staying there). AUL sub is a good option for SAP as well like you already mentioned which is why I sucked it up and got one despite it being a different UY. AUL unsub is a great value if you like going to AUL regularly but if you're not planning to go there regularly I wouldn't recommend it with it being a beach resort and we know those dues are going to increase.

tl;dr: Of the options discussed above I'd recommend BLT. Long contract length remaining. Will hold resale value since it's a monorail resort. 11 month booking window actually matters for standard view/theme park view during certain times.