Would/Will be a new DVC Buyer

[radiodome21]

Here’s my current experience with 2 weeks: I am leaving for Orlando a week from Sunday for what was supposed to be a 6 night stay. Last Saturday night friends of ours told us they are going to be at VGF at the tail end of the trip so we wanted to see if we could extend our trip. Sunday afternoon there was a deluxe studio at VGF listed when I checked. I didn’t want to book anything until my wife could see the breakdown of changing her American Airlines basic economy ticket. If I booked a room before we checked her tickets and decided not to change her airfare I’d be screwed out of those points because I wouldn’t be able to reuse them once they come out of the holding. We’re talking 39 points. However we did change her flight that night but that was left was Saratoga Springs. Monday morning I was able to get a studio at Riv so I switched that. Since then though, all that is available is either SSR or split stays. I realize you won’t have to deal with airlines but booking DVC 2 weeks out is tricky. And impossible during busy times. I’m trying to switch our Poly stay for the Food & Wine Half Marathon weekend and there’s absolutely nothing available.

 

[Sandisw]

1. I've done a lot since 2019. I've had 2 offers fall apart because of ROFR. I had a third fall apart when the owner passed away and there were estate issues that would have added a few months to closing.
2. I prefer weekends but do take some weekdays off from work depending on the workload.
3. The are somewhat spread out evenly. but I do not go again when it's Thanksgiving (1996), Christmas (2023), New Years (1990/91 ) or Easter (1994). I've been there already for those holidays and I don't need to go again. The crowds are crazy nuts. I went for Christmas in 2023 because a group of friends wanted to go and I had never been there on Christmas Day.
4. I take what I can get. I said I only need a studio. But if they only have a 1 BR villa, then so be it. I'm looking at getting a 250-300 point contract.
5. I go when I feel like going.
6. There is little to manage because I go when I go. If I have to cancel last minute, well then, worst case, I lose the points.
7. Yes

Yes, the last minute availability listing on the DVC website may not be accurate. But it does show rooms are available.

I know there is risk with how I would plan on using DVC. I know DVC is geared towards people who want to come for about 5 - 7 days and more people than not want to be next to a theme park. Yes, I said all I need is a studio, but I would be OK with a larger room if that's all that is available. None of these are a deal breaker.

I really could care less where the room is located because I don't plan anything. When GOTG and TRON opened, I went into the parks and went to the opposite side of the park. I could go on those rides after they were opened for a year. Yes, some people think I'm nuts because I want to do my trips my way (1 or 2 nights). Yes, I get it for the planners, doing excel spreadsheets planning their trips in 15 minute increments. I think they are a tad off center. But that's my opinion and mine alone. You do you. If that's part of your trip buildup process, great for you. I am long past doing that level of planning. I once went up, went to Magic Kingdom, went in, got 2 hot dogs, fries and a coke at Casey's and sat and people watched while I ate, saw a parade and then came home. Some people think I'm nuts. Some people think it's great I live close enough I can do that.

My original question was should I buy direct or resale. I think resale is for me.

Just remember, that things with DVC change in minutes and some od those were not even there when that picture was posted.

It’s one reason we don’t allow people to post really time info here on the boards. Until one can actually, book its outdated.

But, if you are okay with losing points if you have to cancel last minute or not get dates when you want them, then at least you are going in with a good understanding that the chances of last minute…within a month,..bookings can be difficult and at times impossible.

Good luck!!

 

[sndral]

In my mind there are 3 reasons to go direct:
First, you want to stay at the resort they are selling & you plan to book during the home resort window - which doesn’t apply to you since you prefer to be spontaneous.
Second, the member benefits are attractive/make sense to you. In your case, assuming you already qualify for the Sorcerer’s AP or aren’t interested due to the block out days, that likely is no benefit to you. Likewise, no DVC discounts on merchandise/food, but you likely already get similar benefits w/ your AP. The member lounges wouldn’t be available w/ resale & you couldn’t go to membership magic nights when they pop up, You also couldn’t use points for cruises & the like, although you could still exchange through IL. Maybe the ability to buy the new Membership magic & use points to pay for your AP might have some value to you?
Third, you want to stay at Riviera, the new cabins, or, presumably, future resorts such as Lakeshore Lodge - these resorts are (or w/ LL is likely to be) restricted. To stay at a restricted resort you must own there, or have direct points elsewhere (or resale grandfathered points.) Those who buy those resorts resale can only stay at the resort they own & those who buy resale at non restricted resorts (OKW, SSR, BWV, BC, BRV, CCV, AKV, BLT, VGF, & Poly at WDW) cannot use those resale points at the restricted resorts.
Based on all of that you might start w/ about half the points you’re aiming for - like a loaded 150 point contract - at an inexpensive resort (both buy in & annual maintenance fees) such as SSR. It looks like some folks on DIS are getting SSR in the $80s per point ATM https://www.disboards.com/threads/r...ost-for-instructions-formatting-tool.3965193/.
If after you use the points on that contract for a year or two & get a sense for whether DVC works for you, then you can add on & at that point decide whether direct matters to you & if so go direct for contract #2, if not you can pick up a second contract resale. A lot of us have ‘blended’ memberships w/ both direct and resale contracts .

 

[MartyParty]

I think as long as you are flexible with the resort selection (likely driving your own car), I think DVC could make sense saving some funds.

What I think will be tricky is how many points to buy? Are you looking to purchase for the full 12-18 trips a year. Or, half DVC points and the other half cash? It would be an interesting Excel spreadsheet exercise to figure it out.

Given you're not interest in the direct perks, then resale would be the way to go. Also, as resort location doesn't matter my off hand thought would be Saratoga or Old Key West. Resort selection would be another debate. You could consider cheap cheap cheap Vero but those maintenance fees keep on increasing.

Animal Kingdom could be a nice option to own at if looking to do a resort only stay.

 

[cruisehopeful]

1. I've done a lot since 2019. I've had 2 offers fall apart because of ROFR. I had a third fall apart when the owner passed away and there were estate issues that would have added a few months to closing.
2. I prefer weekends but do take some weekdays off from work depending on the workload.
3. The are somewhat spread out evenly. but I do not go again when it's Thanksgiving (1996), Christmas (2023), New Years (1990/91 ) or Easter (1994). I've been there already for those holidays and I don't need to go again. The crowds are crazy nuts. I went for Christmas in 2023 because a group of friends wanted to go and I had never been there on Christmas Day.
4. I take what I can get. I said I only need a studio. But if they only have a 1 BR villa, then so be it. I'm looking at getting a 250-300 point contract.
5. I go when I feel like going.
6. There is little to manage because I go when I go. If I have to cancel last minute, well then, worst case, I lose the points.
7. Yes

Yes, the last minute availability listing on the DVC website may not be accurate. But it does show rooms are available.

I know there is risk with how I would plan on using DVC. I know DVC is geared towards people who want to come for about 5 - 7 days and more people than not want to be next to a theme park. Yes, I said all I need is a studio, but I would be OK with a larger room if that's all that is available. None of these are a deal breaker.

I really could care less where the room is located because I don't plan anything. When GOTG and TRON opened, I went into the parks and went to the opposite side of the park. I could go on those rides after they were opened for a year. Yes, some people think I'm nuts because I want to do my trips my way (1 or 2 nights). Yes, I get it for the planners, doing excel spreadsheets planning their trips in 15 minute increments. I think they are a tad off center. But that's my opinion and mine alone. You do you. If that's part of your trip buildup process, great for you. I am long past doing that level of planning. I once went up, went to Magic Kingdom, went in, got 2 hot dogs, fries and a coke at Casey's and sat and people watched while I ate, saw a parade and then came home. Some people think I'm nuts. Some people think it's great I live close enough I can do that.

My original question was should I buy direct or resale. I think resale is for me.

Resale is good if you don't plan on going to Riviera, Cabins at Fort Wilderness and potentially Lakeshore. You can still rent those if you want to stay at any of those. When you look at resale contracts, compare the cost to buying a similar direct contract. In some situations, with all the discounts of whatever resort they are pushing, it's not a big enough savings to buy resale. Other times, you can save about 50%!

 

[MartyParty]

Ok, availability post deleted. As a reference, I checked the DVC site and there are studios available for the next two weeks at many of the resorts. This is including during the July 4th week.

Hopefully excluding the specifics this message will get through letting you know there could be availability within a two-week window as that's how you stated your typical lead times are.