Winter Dec 25 - Jan 26 Direct Incentives

[Hubalorian]

Points will show up when when buy but you can not use them for any bookings until the resort officially opens.

Your dues will also be prorated to the opening date of the resort and not from the day you buy.

Thank you!

 

[jcolvin5]

Yeah, I hear everything you're saying. I think, for someone who likes or loves Poly, 150 direct points there to get blue card benefits is as close to a no brainer as it gets. You can make up the cost difference between direct and resale with a few years of APs, dining discounts, and some MMs - and, if Poly's resale value holds up, it's about as close as you're going to get to a risk-free proposition (not saying it is risk-free, just as close as you're going to get). The current CCV sale isn't quite as good because resale CCV prices have not kept up with PVB, so you've got more a "drive off the lot" loss, and you need to make sure you're in it for more of the long haul to be worth it. And, of course with the restricted resorts, we all know you shouldn't be buying points there unless you love that resort and want them for the long-term.

My main struggle at the moment is whether it is worth it for more direct points. My direct RIV points are definitely enough - I don't really need more direct points. If I decide I really like LSL, and availability is as I expect it to be, I'll have plenty of points to use there. Then, I have my resale CCV points for O14 resort stays. But, what if I want to have a year where I want to use my points at RIV AND LSL? Or a different future resort? How much value will I place on even more of my points being able to be used everywhere? How much more will I like having more direct points to easily exchange for APs through MMB? (Of course, no guarantee that last benefit will stick around, but it is a pretty nice one right now - the ability to easily monetize your direct points without renting.)

Those are the current direct benefits I'd get value from. But, then, there is what we all know is likely to happen at some point - that is, further devaluation of resale points. How long before MM early registration is only available if your stay is booked using direct points? Could they limit lounge access to stays on direct points? How long before more benefits are added to direct points? Could they offer better exchanges on them in the future?

For me, as someone who already knows I love one of the restricted resorts and plan to stay there many times into the future, I see a lot of value in points being direct for that alone. The resale restrictions are doing their job for someone like me. Is it enough for me to buy more direct points at CCV? I'm not sure the current benefits are enough, but when viewed as a hedge against the potential of future benefits and flexibility, it might be. Of course, that could end up being a bad hedge and waste of money too. Just haven't decided where I land on that yet.

I don’t think you’re overthinking this at all — I think this is exactly how someone should be thinking once they’re past the “first blue card” phase and into portfolio optimization mode.

 

[juliebee]

If you purchase direct and do the payments over 60 days, when do the dues start? From the initial payment date, the date you sign the contract, or after the 60 days?

 

[PolyRob]

If you purchase direct and do the payments over 60 days, when do the dues start? From the initial payment date, the date you sign the contract, or after the 60 days?

Dues start the day you agree to the purchase and get the contract and points. Doesn't matter when you pay or sign.

 

[DisneyFanSea]

Yes on 150 VDH points there is a $1500 Disneyland 70th credit, the $3450 developer incentive, and the $500 D23 credit.

Combined is this still a better deal than what they were running during member's week in September?

 

[tx911]

Yeah, I hear everything you're saying. I think, for someone who likes or loves Poly, 150 direct points there to get blue card benefits is as close to a no brainer as it gets. You can make up the cost difference between direct and resale with a few years of APs, dining discounts, and some MMs - and, if Poly's resale value holds up, it's about as close as you're going to get to a risk-free proposition (not saying it is risk-free, just as close as you're going to get). The current CCV sale isn't quite as good because resale CCV prices have not kept up with PVB, so you've got more a "drive off the lot" loss, and you need to make sure you're in it for more of the long haul to be worth it. And, of course with the restricted resorts, we all know you shouldn't be buying points there unless you love that resort and want them for the long-term.

My main struggle at the moment is whether it is worth it for more direct points. My direct RIV points are definitely enough - I don't really need more direct points. If I decide I really like LSL, and availability is as I expect it to be, I'll have plenty of points to use there. Then, I have my resale CCV points for O14 resort stays. But, what if I want to have a year where I want to use my points at RIV AND LSL? Or a different future resort? How much value will I place on even more of my points being able to be used everywhere? How much more will I like having more direct points to easily exchange for APs through MMB? (Of course, no guarantee that last benefit will stick around, but it is a pretty nice one right now - the ability to easily monetize your direct points without renting.)

Those are the current direct benefits I'd get value from. But, then, there is what we all know is likely to happen at some point - that is, further devaluation of resale points. How long before MM early registration is only available if your stay is booked using direct points? Could they limit lounge access to stays on direct points? How long before more benefits are added to direct points? Could they offer better exchanges on them in the future?

For me, as someone who already knows I love one of the restricted resorts and plan to stay there many times into the future, I see a lot of value in points being direct for that alone. The resale restrictions are doing their job for someone like me. Is it enough for me to buy more direct points at CCV? I'm not sure the current benefits are enough, but when viewed as a hedge against the potential of future benefits and flexibility, it might be. Of course, that could end up being a bad hedge and waste of money too. Just haven't decided where I land on that yet.

I think you've nailed it. The only value of direct points once you have the blue card is the freedom to use them at any resort and any perks such as AP that DVC allows us to use points for. To me, that's a pretty big perk, and only going to get bigger over the years. Plus, if DVC ever goes to a tiered benefit plan based on number of direct points (personally I don't want them to), you'll be in good shape. In spite of the saving of resale, I'm still more drawn to direct points, same as you.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Combined is this still a better deal than what they were running during member's week in September?

It depends on how many points you seek. Welcome Home Weeks was slightly cheaper for 150 points. Current incentives are cheaper up to 125 points than Welcome Home Weeks were. Then Welcome Home weeks get cheaper, at 150 points and above.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

That said, it does feel psychologically satisfying to straddle one incentive period to another and helps you feel like you did get the best deal available to you at the time.

This is where I am, straddling the last cycle incentives with a 150 point Poly contract. This cycle the incentives are worse since there is no Castaway Club $1,000 credit (and no Disney Visa either), so am inclined to move into a 200 point Poly add on at $196.5 per point after MB - I have an April UY so selling back the 2025 points is not a factor at this point.

Just checked out of a 2bdrm TPV at the Poly Tower to conclude my FW50 and I am more convinced it's the right long term thing for our use case. Combined with the right incentives from last cycle, going to add to my pool of PVB points to make sure I can get a dedicated 2bdrm at peak times.

 

[Brittleebee]

*opens the points add on tool for the 40th time this week*

“Hey Siri, play Nothing Can Stop Me Now from Disney’s Planes.”

 

[Xalthon]

This is where I am, straddling the last cycle incentives with a 150 point Poly contract. This cycle the incentives are worse since there is no Castaway Club $1,000 credit (and no Disney Visa either), so am inclined to move into a 200 point Poly add on at $196.5 per point after MB - I have an April UY so selling back the 2025 points is not a factor at this point.

Just checked out of a 2bdrm TPV at the Poly Tower to conclude my FW50 and I am more convinced it's the right long term thing for our use case. Combined with the right incentives from last cycle, going to add to my pool of PVB points to make sure I can get a dedicated 2bdrm at peak times.

Can you help me with the math? I am not getting 200 Poly points at $196.5 pp. 200 points x (235-12) = $44,600. Minus $500 for D23 and minus $4,000 for MB is $40,100. That comes out to $200.5 pp. Is there something else that I am missing. I'm very curious because I am looking at possible adding on at Poly too.

 

[airjay75]

Can you help me with the math? I am not getting 200 Poly points at $196.5 pp. 200 points x (235-12) = $44,600. Minus $500 for D23 and minus $4,000 for MB is $40,100. That comes out to $200.5 pp. Is there something else that I am missing. I'm very curious because I am looking at possible adding on at Poly too.

Probably credit card cash back. 2% credit card cash back takes another $4 off per point.

 

[CarolynFH]

I don't think there is. I wish, though! It's annoying to see just 1 side of a conversation.

Sometimes I find it funny, and I can often figure out what the Ignored post says without reading it. Sometimes I can even figure out which person from my Ignored list posted it. And once in a while, I get useful information from the posts I can see.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

Can you help me with the math? I am not getting 200 Poly points at $196.5 pp. 200 points x (235-12) = $44,600. Minus $500 for D23 and minus $4,000 for MB is $40,100. That comes out to $200.5 pp. Is there something else that I am missing. I'm very curious because I am looking at possible adding on at Poly too.

My math is based on the incentives from the last cycle, which were better (for Poly anyway) and which I committed to before they expired and were replaced with the current round. So, from the last cycle at 200 points: 200 points x ($235-$11) = $44,800. Then subtract $500 for D23, subtract $1,000 for Castaway Club (not offered at the moment in this cycle) and subtract MB of $4,000 = $39,300; for 200 points, that is $196.50 pp. Since I am sitting on that contract (which I can amend to change the number of points), I will just sign that one for the better deal.

 

[Genie+]

DVD has been very good about grandfathering through the evolution of resale changes. They’ve also been very good at slowwwly normalizing the questionably not-so-good new things so negative perceptions aren’t felt as sharply. Just a guess but this may be part of the strategy with MMB. That’s already helping to normalize a different tier of perks.

Plus there’s a difference between existing perks and new perks. There would be more negative perception if DVC changed an existing perk to no longer include resale points’ eligibility. But perks slowly change over the years. I would not be surprised down the road to see newly created perks somehow involve direct points only.

Fomo I already like the idea of unrestricted points and longer contracts of active direct resorts. I’d never purchase solely on perks, due to their unreliable nature. But I also suspect adding-on resale or direct today will affect how we can use some perks in the future, even though we already have DVC-Y. How little, how much? Who knows. Maybe nothing. If I had to bet though… it will be something. The easiest way for them to do it would be through new perks, especially behind something like MMB. Leave the regular tier traditional, all points qualify perks with blue card.

 

[jcolvin5]

Plus there’s a difference between existing perks and new perks. There would be more negative perception if DVC changed an existing perk to no longer include resale points’ eligibility. But perks slowly change over the years. I would not be surprised down the road to see newly created perks somehow involve direct points only.

I agree and I think this is inevitable.

There’s a huge difference - both practically and reputationally - between taking something away and never offering it in the first place. If Disney were to retroactively strip existing perks from resale points, the backlash would be immediate and justified. That would cut directly against reasonable owner expectations and damage trust in the product.

But introducing new perks that are explicitly tied to direct points is a very different conversation. DVC has already shown, repeatedly, that perks are not static - they evolve, rotate, disappear, and reappear over time. Framing future benefits as “available to qualifying direct points” is consistent with how they have gradually shifted the value proposition without provoking the same level of negative perception.

From a business standpoint, it also makes sense. As more inventory moves into resale-only circulation, Disney needs ongoing ways to differentiate direct ownership beyond just access. Layering in new, incremental perks over time, rather than touching legacy ones, is a clean way to do that while preserving goodwill with existing owners.

The risk isn’t in existing perks being pulled, but in future perks quietly being designed with direct ownership in mind. That’s a much softer, more defensible evolution, and one that aligns well with how Disney tends to play the long game with DVC.

 

[Patmcpsu]

If Disney were to retroactively strip existing perks from resale points, the backlash would be immediate and justified.

Resale perks waved bye-bye a long time ago. Disney would have to be especially punitive to stick it to resale buyers at this point:

1. Early Entry / Extended evening hours
2. Advanced Lightning Lane and/or dining reservation windows
3. Free Parking
4. Free Wifi

Getting rid of these (for resale points only) would not only be hostile, but hard to actually implement. Not sure if it would even violate the contract if the perks are considered to come with the room.

The silver lining is that Disney has exhausted viable options for hurting resale, and the only remaining options are to improve direct benefits.

 

[jcolvin5]

Resale perks waved bye-bye a long time ago. Disney would have to be especially punitive to stick it to resale buyers at this point:

1. Early Entry / Extended evening hours
2. Advanced Lightning Lane and/or dining reservation windows
3. Free Parking
4. Free Wifi

Getting rid of these (for resale points only) would not only be hostile, but hard to actually implement. Not sure if it would even violate the contract if the perks are considered to come with the room.

The silver lining is that Disney has exhausted viable options for hurting resale, and the only remaining options are to improve direct benefits.

I mostly agree with you. I think your last sentence actually reinforces the original point rather than contradicting it.

You’re right that the big, operational perks (Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, parking, Wi-Fi, booking windows) are effectively baked into the stay experience at this point. Trying to selectively remove those only from resale owners would be both hostile and borderline unworkable, not to mention a PR disaster. Whether or not it technically violates the contract, it would absolutely violate reasonable expectations and create chaos at the front line. But that’s exactly why Disney’s remaining leverage isn’t in taking anything away, it’s in where they go next.

If they want to steer behavior, they don’t do it with punitive moves; they do it by adding layers of value elsewhere. The elimination of most resale perks years ago already set the floor. From here, the only practical direction is forward: new experiences, access, or benefits that are explicitly framed as “direct-only” from day one.

That approach avoids the hostility problem you describe, sidesteps implementation issues, and still accomplishes the same business goal - differentiating direct ownership as resale inventory grows. It’s also very Disney: soft gating, incremental benefits, and long timelines rather than blunt-force changes.

So yes, resale buyers are probably as “safe” as they’re ever going to be from further losses. But that safety comes with the tradeoff that future upside will increasingly be designed with direct points in mind. Not because Disney wants to punish resale, but because it’s the only remaining lever they have that doesn’t blow up goodwill.

In that sense, I think we’re all describing the same reality from different angles.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Having some Aulani direct can be beneficial if you want to try and use the points at VDH or other future DL Fwd properties.

How is it more beneficial than my other direct points?

 

[AstroBlasters]

How is it more beneficial than my other direct points?

I’m not sure how to respond to this. I believe my comment was in regards to why someone would ever buy Aulani direct. If someone who is West Coast based wants home resort priority at Aulani & the ability to use the points at VDH within 7m from time to time, but would never use the 11m window then AUL direct (especially with an on property special deal) could be a good way to go.

 

[gvel]

Resale perks waved bye-bye a long time ago. Disney would have to be especially punitive to stick it to resale buyers at this point:

1. Early Entry / Extended evening hours
2. Advanced Lightning Lane and/or dining reservation windows
3. Free Parking
4. Free Wifi

Getting rid of these (for resale points only) would not only be hostile, but hard to actually implement. Not sure if it would even violate the contract if the perks are considered to come with the room.

The silver lining is that Disney has exhausted viable options for hurting resale, and the only remaining options are to improve direct benefits.

I'm now wondering why didn't DVC just restict all resale contracts to the home resort? We can still book the O14 with resale. Is it a contractual thing? If not, I can totally see them doing this in the future, while grandfathering existing resale owners.