Why Would You Buy Direct Anymore?

[Maistre Gracey]

It can be if it is replacing an upcoming cash stay and it allows you to cancel that and use that savings toward the trip vs waiting 3 months going resale.

The speed is the PERK - not the point purchase.

Laughable....
Point is it should NOT be a so called *perk*.

Sometimes I think DVC is delaying resale point availability just to hose resale folks.

 

[Sandisw]

Laughable....
Point is it should NOT be a so called *perk*.

Sometimes I think DVC is delaying resale point availability just to hose resale folks.

I’ll speak for me and I think you took my interpretation of the work perk to mean something different,

A perk is anything that is a benefit you don’t get with chosing something different, So, yes, a perk of buying a direct contract today is you can use it to replace a cash stay you have coming up in the next few months,

If you don’t, then you are right, it’s not a perk.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Laughable....
Point is it should NOT be a so called *perk*.

Sometimes I think DVC is delaying resale point availability just to hose resale folks.

It has gotten pretty bad. It used to be once you closed you had the contract and points in a week or less. No more. Not even close.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

OH that's a good question. That must have been our Feb 2014 trip (had to check my signature) and I'm really not sure if they are still there. We had a room with a queen (or double?), bunk beds and a trundle. Worked perfect at the time and we even had room for Grandma to stop down for a couple days. I thought it was the most brilliant layout for families, so I'm bummed if they got rid of it.

It's been 3 or so years since we got a hotel room at GC and it was during the time they were refurbing and removing at least some of the bunk beds per reports. I don't know for certain if they took them all out or not though.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I’ll speak for me and I think you took my interpretation of the work perk to mean something different,

A perk is anything that is a benefit you don’t get with chosing something different, So, yes, a perk of buying a direct contract today is you can use it to replace a cash stay you have coming up in the next few months,

If you don’t, then you are right, it’s not a perk.

My point is it shouldn’t be a so called *perk*.
DVC/DVDhas power to manipulate that, and they shouldn’t.
It should not be a perk to get what you paid for.

 

[Anthony Vito]

Here's a super long post I made about why we chose to add on direct at Riviera:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/riveria.3830666/post-62809983

 

[AaronEuth]

We just purchased direct on Saturday. While there are not really any tangible benefits to doing so there were a few.

1. We are about to close on selling a contract that largely covers the direct purchase.

2. We passed on direct the last few years, and are kicking ourselves for not buying in when the minimum was 75, or 100. If we keep waiting, that minimum and cost per point is only going to go up.

3. The wife loves Riviera

4. The "not free" 2020 points let us really upgrade our Jan 2022 vacation. And extended resale closing period, even if I found a loaded contract, would not have allowed this due to the booking window.

5. Lack of resale options I want, and the ones that are close vanish really quickly.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the decision, sure I hope the AP discount returns, but I trust something will exist to promote direct benefits. The ease of of purchase was also great,. Phone call at 8 am, points in the account and booking by 1 pm.

 

[Sandisw]

My point is it shouldn’t be a so called *perk*.
DVC/DVDhas power to manipulate that, and they shouldn’t.
It should not be a perk to get what you paid for.

Benefit then? As I said, my definition of perk and the way I was using it was not the same as your definition.

I still stand my point.

 

[RoseGold]

First time ever I found a Direct discount I would have liked to take advantage of. Blizzard Beach tickets are $20 off if you have a blue card. That would be a $100 saving for me.

But...
I saved $10k buying resale

So...
$100 down, $9900 to go.

I also would have liked this discount and would have saved $100. We are going to Busch Gardens instead, but let's give that a $100. $41,900 to go.

 

[godisney14]

Not sure if this is the right thread but since it’s on the topic of buying direct at Riviera

Thinking about direct at RIV. I see that they’re at $201pp. Any pattern to how prices fluctuate throughout a regular calendar year? Or, is now better than it will likely get for the rest of this year?

 

[Red Dog Run]

So you get the points about 60-90 days sooner... if the cost difference was $5-10 a point I might be able to justify that but again with such a divergence in direct versus resale indirect I still balk at the cost/value.

Agree. Saving $86 pp on AKV which took about 75 days from start to finish is not making me want to by AKV direct. That's a dent, not a perk. Yikes.

 

[Red Dog Run]

Agree. Saving $86 pp on AKV which took about 75 days from start to finish is not making me want to by AKV direct. That's a dent, not a perk. Yikes. HOWEVER, I also bought direct at OKW.. I love it and was able to use it asap. It was nice to have my purchase immediately.

 

[sethschroeder]

Thinking about direct at RIV. I see that they’re at $201pp. Any pattern to how prices fluctuate throughout a regular calendar year? Or, is now better than it will likely get for the rest of this year?

Now is pretty much always going to be the cheapest time. Its not that often you find where discounts get cheaper and if it is its going to be like $2000 cheaper and even that is unlikely.

 

[sethschroeder]

Still sit in the group that expect AP to return once Disney eliminates the capacity restrictions and has either the new face scan working or people can use the fingerprint scanner again.

I also think it depends on what you are purchasing and how many points as well. You need to do the math and figure out what the difference is for what you want.

Give it 5-10 years and resale will have restrictions and will cost the same as RIV, OKW, SSR, AKV likely depending on the total points you want.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Right now it would take changes to the benefits of holding/buying direct for people to purchase at these exorbitant prices. And I think we will see changes coming. That is the only thing left to justify purchasing direct.

 

[eleven24]

1. APs are almost certainly coming back to WDW -- They are taking renewals.

The problem with AP's, and I have one, is that we're looked at as the red-headed step children in the eyes of Disney. They don't want AP holders in the parks. They want those who DON'T come all the time.

 

[havoc315]

The problem with AP's, and I have one, is that we're looked at as the red-headed step children in the eyes of Disney. They don't want AP holders in the parks. They want those who DON'T come all the time.

It's just that they want MONEY. An AP holder generates little income for Disney beyond the purchase of the pass. They don't usually generate hotel revenue. They generate less dining revenue than a regular vacationer. They are less likely to spend on other entertainment and shopping than a regular vacationer.

Compare that to a vacation who stays at a WDW resort, who eats all their meals at WDW, buys photopass, etc, etc.

 

[wvujeb]

It's just that they want MONEY. An AP holder generates little income for Disney beyond the purchase of the pass. They don't usually generate hotel revenue. They generate less dining revenue than a regular vacationer. They are less likely to spend on other entertainment and shopping than a regular vacationer.

Compare that to a vacation who stays at a WDW resort, who eats all their meals at WDW, buys photopass, etc, etc.

This varies from passholder to passholder. There are some passholders that stop in do their 3 passholders and leave. There are others that visit quite regularly and in a rather full capacity. During limited capacity, when you compare a ticketed guest to a passholder, this (ticketed guests spending more) holds true. Under normal circumstances though, it's not an either or proposition. There are local passholders that dine at Disney on a regular basis. They don't buy as much merchandise on each visit, but they buy merchandise consistently. There are some passholders that are out of state that make additional trips since they have a pass, that they wouldn't otherwise make. These passholders typically spend more in-line with ticketed guests. APs also balance out some of the lower travel seasons. The only reason I see to reduce/remove AP is if they truly want less people in the park in order to improve the quality/experience of Disney. But that comes at the expense of profit, and I don't see that happening.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It's just that they want MONEY. An AP holder generates little income for Disney beyond the purchase of the pass. They don't usually generate hotel revenue. They generate less dining revenue than a regular vacationer. They are less likely to spend on other entertainment and shopping than a regular vacationer.

Compare that to a vacation who stays at a WDW resort, who eats all their meals at WDW, buys photopass, etc, etc.

Do you have any data to support that claim?

Respectfully, I don’t think you can make that generalized statement.

 

[havoc315]

This varies from passholder to passholder. There are some passholders that stop in do their 3 passholders and leave. There are others that visit quite regularly and in a rather full capacity. During limited capacity, when you compare a ticketed guest to a passholder, this (ticketed guests spending more) holds true. Under normal circumstances though, it's not an either or proposition. There are local passholders that dine at Disney on a regular basis. They don't buy as much merchandise on each visit, but they buy merchandise consistently. There are some passholders that are out of state that make additional trips since they have a pass, that they wouldn't otherwise make. These passholders typically spend more in-line with ticketed guests. APs also balance out some of the lower travel seasons. The only reason I see to reduce/remove AP is if they truly want less people in the park in order to improve the quality/experience of Disney. But that comes at the expense of profit, and I don't see that happening.

It’s not about individual cases. It’s about the group as a whole.
And a frequent AP visitor is even worse for Disney— for $1,000 (less for gold, more for platinum).. if they visit 50 days in a year, only paying $20 per visit!

But as a whole, an average AP holder brings in significantly less revenue per day than a regular ticket buyer.
On average:
1– they are paying less per day on the ticket than an average regular ticket buyer
2– they are less likely to be staying on property. (Which is why they get offered big discounts to stay on property)
3– they eat fewer meals and snacks on property than a regular on-site guest

Yes, of course there are some AP holders who visit 30 days per year, staying at the Grand Floridian for 30 nights, eating 90 meals on site, etc. But most AP holders are not doing that.