home resort help

[DannysMom]

Originally Posted by gerewahl

Thank you all for your insight and help. I'm more confused now, but that just means I wasn't ready for a decision since I did not know all information necessary to make the correct decision.

And that is the right attitude!

Stick around. Keep reading & asking questions. You will know when you have enough knowledge to make the right decision for you. There is no hurry. DVC will be around for quite a while.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards App, please excuse any typos or autocorrects!

[chalee94]

Originally Posted by gerewahl

Well we just went on a cruise and loved it. We understand that the points are of much value when putting towards a future cruise, but we thought maybe that could change in the future (prices of cruise go up, but points stay the same).

you can look here for point charts for trading out of DVC:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-pro...c-destinations

you can do the math and decide if that sounds like a good deal to you (don't forget to factor in the $95 fee when you trade out of the DVC system). and as stated, the cruise and other trade-out point charts are not fixed at all and can change from year to year.

of course, there is always the risk that you pay extra to buy direct and wind up in a situation like this one where DVC blocks trades for cruises for the next year or so:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2537773

I had called [in August 2010] attempting to change the date of an Alaskan Cruise that my family and I had booked using DVC points...Well, after discussion with a representative that seemed hard to believe, I then asked for the supervisor I dealt with last Sunday. Here is the bottom line: ...DCL has blocked DVC members from booking cruises on points through September 30, 2011. This includes rebooking existing cruises such as I have been working on doing.

if you have the cash and don't mind paying extra, suit yourself...but remember that if your circumstances change and you need to sell your DVC contract, you will be selling at resale prices in the resale market whether you originally bought direct or resale.

i'd agree with the posters who tell you to buy for use at DVC resorts where you plan to stay. that's all you are really guaranteed and the other stuff can come and go.

(and i see other people said the same thing while i was typing...oh well...still good advice...)

[radmcg]

Since you were looking for opinions heres mine. For what it is worth. We took the DVC tour 3 times each time just couldn't make myself write that check (We were not going to finance). Kept reading on here and bought resale first at BLT and now have a BWV pending. Couldn't be happier with my decision. I to was worried about the difference between resale and direct. In the end My conclusion was If I wanted to use points to go on some other disney vacation I would just rent my points. When I crunched the numbers it was very close to what you could get for a concierge collection etc. Definitely in favor or the resale if you factor in the initial buy in. People argue both ways all the time and lots of threads on here about it.
As for home resort. I agree buy where you want to stay within reason but also look at availability. I have never run a search and couldn't get a AKV or SSR reservation when i wanted to go. Now I have never tried holidays and such because i avoid Disney like the plaque on high travel times. That could change but for now the 11 month booking is wasted on high availability rooms. Thats why I picked the 2 I did. One is my favorite BWV and one is high demand BLT. Just my opinion worth exactly what you paid for it.
Like others have said they may push you to buy what they want to sell you but if you truly want to buy direct tell them what you want. You might have to be on a wait list but I can't see that being much of an issue. The last time we took the tour, before we bought our first contract, it was AKV and OKW they were pushing. Once i told him what I wanted all of a sudden they had BWV contracts available. The only thing was they were in sizes I wasn't interested in or the UY was wrong. Once again another reason to buy resale for me. Anyway it is kind of funny I have read that disney can split them up anyway they want. I guess that decision is made higher up and once they're bundle they stay in that amount.
Looks like you are doing your homework. Just keep reading and make up your own mind. Don't buy till you look at all options realistically and your comfortable. Again not saying I'm right but when I was looking I liked seeing how other people viewed it. Learned all kinds of stuff that way.
size I guess

[DebbieB]

Originally Posted by gerewahl

hmmmmm...

Well we just went on a cruise and loved it. We understand that the points are of much value when putting towards a future cruise, but we thought maybe that could change in the future (prices of cruise go up, but points stay the same).

Seems like I have more research to do on whether to buy direct or resale, but at least I am now able to answer which resort to buy in to.

FYI - you can't use resale points purchased after March 2011 on a cruise.

New Policy Announced for Re-sale Purchases
Disney Vacation Club® has announced a new policy that limits access to certain Member Getaways exchanges for Ownership Interests purchased on the secondary market (also known as the re-sale market).

Under the new policy, Members who purchase from anyone other than Disney Vacation Development, Inc., on or after March 21, 2011, will not be eligible to use those Vacation Points to make reservations within the Concierge Collection, the Disney Collection or the Adventurer Collection. Those Vacation Points will instead be valid only for reservations at Disney Vacation Club resorts, as well as for RCI® exchanges, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest.

The affected collections are special Member benefits programs offered by Disney Vacation Development, Inc., and are not part of Members' Ownership Interests. That said, Members who purchased on the secondary market prior to March 21, 2011, may use those Vacation Points for all Member Getaways.

Note that the policy doesn't impact banking, borrowing or transferring Vacation Points. All Members will continue to have the ability make such transactions, regardless of where they purchased their Ownership Interests. Complete rules about these transactions are available in the Home Resort Rules and Regulations section of this website.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by gerewahl

hmmmmm...

Well we just went on a cruise and loved it. We understand that the points are of much value when putting towards a future cruise, but we thought maybe that could change in the future (prices of cruise go up, but points stay the same).

Seems like I have more research to do on whether to buy direct or resale, but at least I am now able to answer which resort to buy in to.

Things always change but with DCL in mind, they always get worse. I'd suggest you consider buying less points and putting away the difference for a cruise in the near future. If you do decide on retail, let me give you one additional thing to think about. I'd agree not to generally buy HI unless you plan to go routinely except if you want to go periodically during a higher season and/or the view there is important to you. IF you plan to get during a more demand time and you want the best views, you might consider buying the fixed week option there at 10% higher cost.