Will buying a 25 point contract make sense for access to Member Cruise?

[icydog]

I own 500 BCV points which I bought resale this time around. BUT, I bought them after the mandate having to buy from Disney for the DCL or Adventures by Disney.

If I buy a 25 point BCV Disney Direct Contract will that entitle me to go on the Member Cruises? Is it even worth the effort?

 

[drusba]

Adding 25 points from Disney means you can use those for the cruise but your resale points, if purchased after mid-March last year, would still not be useable for the cruise. Since 25 points hardly gets a closet for a day on a cruise, it does not seem to be the route to go if you want to do the cruise. Moreover, though the cruise is a popular choice for many members, they do so with the knowledge that the point price being charged is not by any means a discount over regular cruise prices and based on rental value for the points, members are likely paying a premium for the cruise.

 

[a742246]

You would be better off just renting or transfering points to someone.
You have a BC membership so there are people out there that may pay
more for those points ( 11-12 a point).
Then just pay cash for the cruise.

 

[normr]

Could they rent out some of their 500 points and pay cash for the cruise and just having the 25 points to make them eligible? Just asking?

 

[melodyka]

OP- I didn't realize that you wouldn't be considered eligible for the Member cruise, I just thought that you cannot use your points to pay for it?

 

[disneynutz]

Disney is great at hyping and making you want to be a part of something. IMO the member cruise is over priced and offers less special events every year which is another Disney practice. They offer a good price with a lot of extras, then each year they raise the price and take something away. The DDP is a good example.

Many have reported that the member cruise is centered around multi sales presentations with a free hat or other "freebies" tossed in. They do make 2 stops a Castaway Cay but is that really worth the extra cost?

Their resale restrictions are accomplishing exactly what they had planned, causing members like yourself to consider buying direct.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

Could they rent out some of their 500 points and pay cash for the cruise and just having the 25 points to make them eligible? Just asking?

Even with three years worth of those points, 75 points, she couldn't book one person on points. She has to book one person on points to make a DVC reservation on points.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I would guess that purchasing the 25 points direct would then entitle you to book the member cruise - that's what they're trying to get resale buyers to do by restricting it. I'd certainly verify with my guide prior to doing so though.

Have you done the member cruise before and know it's something you definitely want to book repeatedly? We haven't done it although when we first purchased I thought it might be something we would do. From what I've read though it's become such a sales pitch and little of the Disney legends on board that seemed to make it much more unique in the past. And there are other Disney cruises that make a double dip at Castaway Cay so that isn't unique either.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I would guess that purchasing the 25 points direct would then entitle you to book the member cruise - that's what they're trying to get resale buyers to do by restricting it. I'd certainly verify with my guide prior to doing so though.

Have you done the member cruise before and know it's something you definitely want to book repeatedly? We haven't done it although when we first purchased I thought it might be something we would do. From what I've read though it's become such a sales pitch and little of the Disney legends on board that seemed to make it much more unique in the past. And there are other Disney cruises that make a double dip at Castaway Cay so that isn't unique either.

Don't you have to pay for one person with points to cruise?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Don't you have to pay for one person with points to cruise?

My understanding is that you can pay cash for all people and do not have to book any on points. I'd guess that DVC may even prefer that so they don't have to rent a villa out thru CRO.

 

[icydog]

I went on the member cruise twice and had a blast both times. I think the last one was in 2008. Everyday we got a nice surprise on our beds. I'm talking suitcases, blankets, hats, mugs, pins, art work etc. Really a ton of stuff for everyone in the cabin. Plus all the gratuities were included in the price!

I know how to rent my points out to pay for the cruise. I've been doing that for years. It's a good way to get a lot more bang for my buck.

But I spoke with someone in a management position, and even though I'm a DVC member, I am not allowed to go on the Member Cruise EVEN if I pay for the whole trip with cash.

So I return to my question, can a buy a 25 point contract with Disney and then since I'll be a REAL member can I pay cash for the Member Cruise?? (I'm not interested in any of the other DCL sailings-- I've been on the regularly scheduled DCL cruise at least 8 times now)

 

[Brian Noble]

Can you? I would imagine so, but that's something to clarify with a Guide (and get in writing) rather than ask here.

The real question is: should you?

I can't answer that question for you, but I can pass along some advice that my daughter gave to my son, when she was three and he was one. He was banging his spoon on his high chair. We told him to stop, or we would take away the spoon. He did not stop. We took the spoon. He was very sad.

His sister, having watched all of this, gave him the best wisdom I think a three year old has ever mustered: "Don't cry, Russell. When Mommy and Daddy take something away from me, I just don't want it anymore."

 

[LSchrow]

His sister, having watched all of this, gave him the best wisdom I think a three year old has ever mustered: "Don't cry, Russell. When Mommy and Daddy take something away from me, I just don't want it anymore."

three year old? that was one of the best life lessons i've heard!
methinks your girl is going to be famous someday

 

[icydog]

Can you? I would imagine so, but that's something to clarify with a Guide (and get in writing) rather than ask here.

The real question is: should you?

I can't answer that question for you, but I can pass along some advice that my daughter gave to my son, when she was three and he was one. He was banging his spoon on his high chair. We told him to stop, or we would take away the spoon. He did not stop. We took the spoon. He was very sad.

His sister, having watched all of this, gave him the best wisdom I think a three year old has ever mustered: "Don't cry, Russell. When Mommy and Daddy take something away from me, I just don't want it anymore."

OK that's sound advice!! Will I take it? Let me think about it!!!

 

[dclfun]

I went on the member cruise twice and had a blast both times. I think the last one was in 2008. Everyday we got a nice surprise on our beds. I'm talking suitcases, blankets, hats, mugs, pins, art work etc. Really a ton of stuff for everyone in the cabin. Plus all the gratuities were included in the price!

I know how to rent my points out to pay for the cruise. I've been doing that for years. It's a good way to get a lot more bang for my buck.

But I spoke with someone in a management position, and even though I'm a DVC member, I am not allowed to go on the Member Cruise EVEN if I pay for the whole trip with cash.

So I return to my question, can a buy a 25 point contract with Disney and then since I'll be a REAL member can I pay cash for the Member Cruise?? (I'm not interested in any of the other DCL sailings-- I've been on the regularly scheduled DCL cruise at least 8 times now)

I think I'm missing something. If you've been renting out your points for years to pay for the cruise, then you shouldn't be under the restrictions of recent resale purchasers. Or did you sell your direct with Disney contracts and purchase a recent resale, rendering you inelegible?

 

[Dean]

I own 500 BCV points which I bought resale this time around. BUT, I bought them after the mandate having to buy from Disney for the DCL or Adventures by Disney.

If I buy a 25 point BCV Disney Direct Contract will that entitle me to go on the Member Cruises? Is it even worth the effort?

I guess it comes down to how badly you want to go on the member cruise. Financially it doesn't make sense but the total cost involved isn't dramatic so you're back to your personal choice of whether you want to pay the inflated cost to go on the member cruise.