Wow, they really make this confusing, then. Does a 25 point direct contract qualify you to book the cruise for cash, or do you need the 125 point minimum direct for that? It seems like any direct contract should open up that option.
Oh - that's a good question! When it started of course there still was no minimum and it was just that you needed to own a qualified contract to book the member cruise on cash.
Conclusion: DVC looks to be kind of a mess in this area in that they went past the qualified points part and added a Membership Extra criteria to the Disney Collection and possibly the Member Cruise.
Here's what I found and think it looks like as of now you'd have to buy 125 pts direct to be able to do anything within the Disney collection. It looks like it muddies the water a bit between qualified points and membership extras in a way I wasn't aware was happening. The red is my highlighting.
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Important Information about Membership Extras:
Membership Extras, such as vacation options in the Disney and Concierge Collections, certain discounts, offers, and special events are incidental benefits. These incidental benefits are subject to change or termination without notice, may require the payment of a fee and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Membership Extras are also subject to availability and block-out dates may apply, including high periods of demand such as Christmas and New Year’s Day.
To receive any Membership Extras, purchasers must present a valid Disney Vacation Club Membership Card along with a corresponding valid photo ID.
Effective October 19, 2020, to obtain a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card, Members must accumulate a total of at least 125 Vacation Points purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. Disney and Concierge Collections options are not available for ownership interests not purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. after March 21, 2011, and, effective April 4, 2016, Members who have not purchased an ownership interest directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. will not have access to Membership Extras.
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The actual Member Cruise has different wording and it is a charter so doesn't fall under the Disney Collection and I think it could be interpreted that you could still pay cash as long as you own one direct contract. It's possible that tacking on the 125 point notice is meant to mean you must be a qualified blue card holder too but it doesn't have it as specified as it does for normal cruise exchanges.
- Effective March 21, 2011, Members who do not purchase their Ownership Interests directly from Disney will not be able to use those Vacation Points to make reservations for the Member Cruise. If a Member wishes to pay entirely in cash, they must still own at least one Contract with Ownership Interests purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. Effective October 19, 2020, to obtain a Disney Vacation Club Membership Card, Members must accumulate a total of at least 125 Vacation Points purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc.
ie - They really need to review these things and write the for better clarity. My interpretation - if you are resale only after 2011 you can't participate in the Disney Collection nor on the Member Cruise. More than that I'd think it could be argued that having a directly purchased contract after March 2011 means you could pay cash for the member cruise although I'd bet they mean that if you were just doing that today you'd have to get 125 pts but maybe not.
There's a gap I see though if you are an after 2011 purchaser and pre-April 2016 who was grandfathered in for incidental benefits (are a blue card holder). I wonder what they'd do if they added on 25 pts as they'd meet the criteria of owning a direct contract plus they are qualified for benefits. I think they'd have to allow them to book both the Disney collection and the Member Cruise on cash.