Talk DVC with the Dis Dads

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by Goofy + 3

Question about room layouts.

For race weekend, I was in a 1BR at OKW. That had the master, queen sofa pullout, and a sleeper chair. Are 1BRs in BWV, BCV and WLV set up the same way. The 1BR at OKW says it sleeps 4 but 5 could easily be comfortable there (I know the square footage there is the largest). I'm wondering if I could get away with a 1BR at those resorts for my family of 5. Would Disney allow that? When I checked in a few weeks ago, they never asked me how many were in the room.

The 1BR at OKW was supposed to be 5 if it had the sleeper chair, but is still classified as all sleep 4, some sleep 5. Then, only AKV and BLT 1 BR are being listed as occupancy of 5 the last time I checked. Note, the rule may be different if you are booking on points vs cash.

[DisneyDaddy-O]

We have been really considering buying into DVC. I have talked to a Disney guy and have looked at a reseller, what are the cons to buying from a reseller? The prices seem a lot cheaper, now I understand the length of the contract but any other cons? Thought maybe you pro DVCers could answer for me honestly.

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaddy-O

We have been really considering buying into DVC. I have talked to a Disney guy and have looked at a reseller, what are the cons to buying from a reseller? The prices seem a lot cheaper, now I understand the length of the contract but any other cons? Thought maybe you pro DVCers could answer for me honestly.

The detractor is what you can use your resale points for. If you buy direct thru DVC, then you can use your points on cruises or others. If you buy now on resale, then you can't do that. However, most agree that using DVC points for other than DVC resorts is not a good idea.

The rumor from a bus driver is that one day, DVC resale points could only be used at their home resort. I don't see how they could do that.

[jrtoastyman]

Originally Posted by AirGoofy

The detractor is what you can use your resale points for. If you buy direct thru DVC, then you can use your points on cruises or others. If you buy now on resale, then you can't do that. However, most agree that using DVC points for other than DVC resorts is not a good idea.

This is correct. You can't use resale DVC points for everything you can use direct DVC points for, but you'd never WANT to use your DVC points for any of those things. It's an exceptionally bad use of points from a value standpoint. You'd be better off renting your points to someone else and using that cash to go on a cruise, ABD trip, etc.

[jrtoastyman]

In fairness to DVC, one advantage of buying direct is that it is quick and easy, and you can use your points right away. Resale takes a while, and if Disney exercises its right of first refusal, you're back at square one and have to restart the process. That said, when we add on/get another contract, it will be resale.

[DisneyDaddy-O]

So of I'm reading you guys right the con is not really a con. I was thinking to get in on a smaller contract and maybe pick up another small contract in another year or two. This way I can maybe buy outright rather than finance. Is my way of thinking wrong or can this work as well?

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaddy-O

So of I'm reading you guys right the con is not really a con. I was thinking to get in on a smaller contract and maybe pick up another small contract in another year or two. This way I can maybe buy outright rather than finance. Is my way of thinking wrong or can this work as well?

That was what I did. I bought a resale contract thru TSS. Then I bought a direct contract thru DVC. Once you own resale, then you buy additional dirt contracts at 25, 50, or whatever amount of points. But, you can still get them cheaper thru resale, but you have to wait for right UY or #points that way.

[DisneyDaddy-O]

Originally Posted by AirGoofy

That was what I did. I bought a resale contract thru TSS. Then I bought a direct contract thru DVC. Once you own resale, then you buy additional dirt contracts at 25, 50, or whatever amount of points. But, you can still get them cheaper thru resale, but you have to wait for right UY or #points that way.

So when you buy a direct contract, does Disney match up your UY with the resale contract?

[Goofy + 3]

Originally Posted by AirGoofy

The rumor from a bus driver is that one day, DVC resale points could only be used at their home resort. I don't see how they could do that.

I agree. It would force a lot of people to shp direct rather than resale. So for that reason, I could see them doing it. But this move would also devalue people's existing contracts tremendously and tick off most owners.

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by DisneyDaddy-O

So when you buy a direct contract, does Disney match up your UY with the resale contract?

Yes. If you buy a resale contract first, then you get those specific terms. If you then addon thru Disney, you keep same member #, UY, and can add at any resort for whatever amount of points (in increments). If you first bought a resale, then bought a second resale, you would get a second member # and the UY/ points from that resale.

The cons of having two member #s and UY (like I do) is keeping up with different banking/borrowing windows. The pros are that since we like to take trips twice a year, I never have to use my points in the last four months of a UY, avoiding holding point complications.

The pros for having one member # with two contracts is easier transactions, and easier linking of points (if you need to do that).

We bought SSR resale first because it was cheaper, year of contract, and then added on later thru Disney and another resale. I would recommend, and there is a thread somewhere that says it better, to buy at the resort you want to stay if you could only ever stay in one Disney resort ever again. Let that be your guide over price point. We liked SSR, but not as much as BWV or BLT, so we have contracts there now.

It is a lot to think about. Good luck.

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by Goofy + 3

I agree. It would force a lot of people to shp direct rather than resale. So for that reason, I could see them doing it. But this move would also devalue people's existing contracts tremendously and tick off most owners.

I doubt DVC cares at all about the resale market. They want new sales, and have enough customers that will buy in direct without researching anything. It would be a logistic nightmare for owners. BLT was sold out of studios at 8 months for October. October? I'm sure it goes even faster at other times of year. If those points couldn't be used at another resort, owners might have a claim against being sold a timeshare with a lack of availability.

[jmwest]

Originally Posted by AirGoofy

I doubt DVC cares at all about the resale market. They want new sales, and have enough customers that will buy in direct without researching anything. It would be a logistic nightmare for owners. BLT was sold out of studios at 8 months for October. October? I'm sure it goes even faster at other times of year. If those points couldn't be used at another resort, owners might have a claim against being sold a timeshare with a lack of availability.

We are seriously considering buying in via resale (well maybe I'm a little more serious than DW but she is not opposed). From what I've been reading is that the Sep through early Jan are popular DVC times due to lower point costs for rooms. I just don't know what resort to go for as home resort. I want to keep cost down but don't want to get stuck somewhere I'm not happy with.

The other decision is to figure out how many stinking points I want/need. It seems silly that these contracts for sale are almost all even # i.e. 100, 160, 200 pt contracts. It would seem easier to have a contract that was say a 228 pt contract at AKL because I know I'm most likely to travel during Magic season and need a 1 BR for a week. Do you always have banked points or end up wasting a few?

I figure I will just ask some ?'s here because some of the people in the DVC boards can be rude.

[AirGoofy]

Originally Posted by jmwest

We are seriously considering buying in via resale (well maybe I'm a little more serious than DW but she is not opposed). From what I've been reading is that the Sep through early Jan are popular DVC times due to lower point costs for rooms. I just don't know what resort to go for as home resort. I want to keep cost down but don't want to get stuck somewhere I'm not happy with.

The other decision is to figure out how many stinking points I want/need. It seems silly that these contracts for sale are almost all even # i.e. 100, 160, 200 pt contracts. It would seem easier to have a contract that was say a 228 pt contract at AKL because I know I'm most likely to travel during Magic season and need a 1 BR for a week. Do you always have banked points or end up wasting a few?

I figure I will just ask some ?'s here because some of the people in the DVC boards can be rude.

I think resale is the way to go. As for the points, go small. If you like AKV and need 228 when you are traveling, look for a 100 to 125 point contract. You could pick it up for $8K. Then, bank your points forward and you have enough points for your trip every other year. You'll pay around $500 dues on 100 points (estimate). Or, go with a 75 point contract bank and borrow and go every 3 years. If you don't like DVC, then sell it for roughly what you bought it for.

As for the points, DVC changes their point charts on you. So, the 228 you need this year may cost 238 next year. The rule is that the total points on the WHOLE chart can't change. So, if they are having a problem with studios selling out and 1 BRs open, then they could raise the points for studios and lower them form 1 BRs. Since 2008, I have been able to bank/borrow points and was always able to use them. This year, because I cancelled the Spring Break trip, I'll lose 5 borrowed points.

As for where to stay, usually, people can narrow it down to one or two choices - resort style, hotel style, closer to MK, Epcot, DTD, etc. If you aren't sure, then on your next visit, skip a day or two of theme parks and just travel to all the DVC resorts. The rooms all have a slightly different set-up, but you should be able to get a feel for the location and theming from touring the building.

[Goofy + 3]

Originally Posted by jmwest

We are seriously considering buying in via resale (well maybe I'm a little more serious than DW but she is not opposed). From what I've been reading is that the Sep through early Jan are popular DVC times due to lower point costs for rooms. I just don't know what resort to go for as home resort. I want to keep cost down but don't want to get stuck somewhere I'm not happy with.

The other decision is to figure out how many stinking points I want/need. It seems silly that these contracts for sale are almost all even # i.e. 100, 160, 200 pt contracts. It would seem easier to have a contract that was say a 228 pt contract at AKL because I know I'm most likely to travel during Magic season and need a 1 BR for a week. Do you always have banked points or end up wasting a few?

I figure I will just ask some ?'s here because some of the people in the DVC boards can be rude.

I'm not sure where I would buy either. Practically speaking, SSR makes the most sense with the lowest resale cost, low annual dues, and contract length. But of the resorts at WDW, that's the one I would have the least interest in visiting. BWV is where I'd really like to own, but it will be among the first contracts to expire. I might not care that much about that when I'm 68 though. AKV is a nice middle ground for cost and contract length, but taking busses everywhere doesn't appeal to me. If they'd build a monorail to connect AKV to the rest of Disney, we'd be on to something! I'll probably just hem and haw over this until I die. Then the kids will take my money and buy a DVC contract for one of Disney's properties on the moon.

[NWDAD]

I had read else where that someone bought Used points through DVC. Has anyone else heard of this?

Thanks, Kevin