Help! Considering buying BLT 75 points direct

[Mumof4mice]

We're currently waiting for ROFR on a PVB contract. I knew being patient was going to be difficult and it's worse than I expected! We want to book in January so I want points now

The plan was to purchase a total of 300-400 points spread between BLT and PVB. I've been looking for a BLT Dec resale for about a month with no luck. Current resale pricing seems crazy to me.

The smallish cost difference ($140 resale vs $191 direct) makes me think it might not be a bad idea to just purchase 75 points direct. It saves time, gives us access to misc "extras", saves frustration... What do you think, DVC veterans? All thoughts welcome, thanks in advance!

 

[striker1064]

It's really a personal decision. How much do you value the perks?

75 point contracts are small and don't come up that often, and when they do they command more of a premium. You might be paying more than $140/pp for 75 points. Aside from the perks, the benefits of direct are that the points are immediately available to you (if Disney has them available), and you can get exactly the size you want. You'll save money via resale, but it will take a couple of months at least for everything to close and get your points, and depending on the price you might not actually save that much. Also, closing costs via resale tend to be higher than direct, so that can indirectly make the savings less.

We wanted a small add-on for BWV of 30 points for an every-3-year rotation of the Wine and Dine run. Small contracts like that are so rare we didn't bother with anything more than a cursory glance at the listings, but ultimately we bought direct. Our guide had the amount we wanted in our UY, and they were in our account the next day. Was it a lot more per point than resale? Of course, but a 30-point BWV in our UY may never come up, or if it does it could be gone before we had a chance to get it. Plus it would undoubtedly carry a big premium for being so small, and with closing costs it might not be that much different. I'm not sure what resale closing would have been, but direct closing on such a small contract was only ~$115.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I did a small direct add on at AKV not for the perks... have another direct contract already... but for the convenience. Checked resale but hard to find what I wanted and the price difference was not that great over the life of the contract.

Called my guide who waitlisted me and within 2 weeks I had the points in my account.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

$3000-$4000 for direct benefits would be worth it for my family, but only you know if it is for yours.

If you have a Premier Chase Disney Visa , you can use it for your direct purchase which will give you nearly $4/point back in rewards....so the cost difference is even smaller. You will also get 6 months financing at 0%.

If you haven't called DVC yet, you're not already on a waitlist and I don't know that BLT is necessarily readily available for your use year. You may want to call today to see if you can even get them "now".

How many points were you wanting at BLT in total? If you put yourself in a position of needing only a small contract via resale in the future, you will likely cost yourself additional money there as well. Small contracts usually cost more.

Also, closing costs direct are lower, but now you're closing 2 times...

Good luck!

 

[CarolMN]

As the others have said, it comes down to what you value more - the $3825 ($51*75) or the ability to have points to use right now (for next January) plus access to the perks. there's no right or wrong answer to that - no one but you can really answer that question for you.

Good luck!

 

[Ben E N]

Considering you are looking to purchase such a large amount of total points, I say go for the direct BLT 75. They will only add 5-8% to your total buy in cost, at most, and will get you access to a few things. With that number of points, you'll be going back to Disney frequently and will always look at perks like the lounge and think "what if?" For many it's not worth the cost to avoid, but I would say it is for you.

 

[Mumof4mice]

Thanks for your replies! I was leaning strongly towards a small direct purchase for the reasons you listed. The only thing stopping me was that, on principal, I'm a value shopper. But if other very well informed dvc members think it's justifiable it must be not too bad, right? I'll report back after I chat with a guide!

If we pass rofr that would give us 275 points total which I can work with. If not, I'll bid on a larger contract which will hopefully also bring the cost pp down a little.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I am happy with my points at BLT because I love to go over 4th of July and NYE. Those points get me into the resort on those blackout dates and that lets me see the special MK fireworks without being in the crowds. The black out dates are July 3,4 and December 30,31. Will they continue to be black out dates? They still are this year, that’s all one can count on.

I hope you are happy with your decision.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Thanks for your replies! I was leaning strongly towards a small direct purchase for the reasons you listed. The only thing stopping me was that, on principal, I'm a value shopper. But if other very well informed dvc members think it's justifiable it must be not too bad, right? I'll report back after I chat with a guide!

If we pass rofr that would give us 275 points total which I can work with. If not, I'll bid on a larger contract which will hopefully also bring the cost pp down a little.

I would just be careful to try not to leave yourself needing 25-50 points. If you really need the 300, I'd do the math on 100 direct. If you have 275 and will be satisfied with that OR want closer to 400, I'd say you're in good shape.

Another thing to "make yourself feel better" about buying direct.....

If you're buying a June - Dec UY today, you will be getting 2017 points. Even if getting those on a resale, the seller usually expects 2017 MFs on those. So, for a typical resale (if not already stripped of 2017 points), you'd pay 2017 dues (5.62/pt) which you will not pay direct.

AND you'll pay only prorated 2018 dues (about a 1/2 year at this point) so roughly another $3/pt savings buying direct.

Right there you're at about $8.50 / pt.

Then figure closing costs savings (you'll have to estimate this and it varies by resale company, but easily could translate to $4-5/ pt on a small contract)

So, lower closing costs, dues "savings" and the use of a credit card earning 2% probably may reduce the price by nearly $15 / pt. even when comparing to a resale contract with full 2017 points. So, your $51 price difference may only really be a $36 / pt difference ($2700).

Then go buy some discounted APs and you're all set! lol

 

[Bing Showei]

Even if getting those on a resale, the seller usually expects 2017 MFs on those. So, for a typical resale (if not already stripped of 2017 points), you'd pay 2017 dues (5.62/pt) which you will not pay direct.

I’m not sure this is true for most contracts. Sellers will generally ask for current calendar year dues, but I’ve never seen a contract requesting buyers to pay for banked points or even current UY points for later UYs (e.g. asking for 2017 dues on an AUG UY when sold in May).

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I’m not sure this is true for most contracts. Sellers will generally ask for current calendar year dues, but I’ve never seen a contract requesting buyers to pay for banked points or even current UY points for later UYs (e.g. asking for 2017 dues on an AUG UY when sold in May).

You may be right. I thought this was the case when I was looking, but maybe I was misunderstanding the dues that would be due at closing....

I should have just said it's likely to be stripped of 2017 points and those are worth $16/pt, but someone would chime in with their loaded super awesome deal of a contract. However, if OP is really wanting points right now, she's probably not going to get the super awesome deal on a resale contract and will pay whatever the seller is asking just to get the number of points and UY she wants.

So, my intention was to present to her the possibility that she may not be saving as much as she thinks anyway. People who have time to shop around and place lowball offers, etc. are different than those looking for "right now'. It was suggested to me when I bought to just rent points for an upcoming trip and wait for a resale. However, that would have greatly reduced my resale savings as well (IMO) so.... there is really no completely accurate comparison unless you have the choice at this very minute to buy 2 exact same contracts via resale or direct.

 

[CraigInPA]

As someone with BLT December, and always on the look out for resale points matching that, I can tell you that you're searching for a needle in a haystack 75 point contract. 37% of BLT points are February. December is only 11%. Unfortunately, October is even worse at 5%.

 

[MrsP833]

We bought 75 points direct for BLT (Dec UY) and had to wait 4-6 weeks for them to be available. Once they were, it was a very simple and quick process. I’d call sooner than later to get on a waitlist. Good luck!

 

[Bing Showei]

So, my intention was to present to her the possibility that she may not be saving as much as she thinks anyway.

Certainly a valid point that prevailing wisdom seems to concur with; that small contracts rarely offer significant cost savings over direct purchases. Factoring in the personal value of time, and membership extras, and the equation becomes further muddied.

People who have time to shop around and place lowball offers, etc. are different than those looking for "right now'. It was suggested to me when I bought to just rent points for an upcoming trip and wait for a resale.

I appreciate the desire to buy in quickly. Buying resale can at times feel like it requires superhuman patience. But like any large item purchase, from a house to a car, one is immediately put at a significant disadvantage when one “has to” buy.

Separating an immediate short term need from a long term need when the former colors ones approach to addressing the latter, is often sound advice.

 

[Gilbert Loo]

If you buy direct, say Oct, Dec, (a month that hasn’t past yet) use year, will they also give you 2017 points and are they free from maintenance cost?

As someone has mentioned earlier, those 2017 points are worth at least 12/point on the rental market.

Even with maintenance, that’s $6 a point in the rental market or you can just use them for a vacation and it will be worth more to you and your family.

 

[Bing Showei]

If you buy direct, say Oct, Dec, (a month that hasn’t past yet) use year, will they also give you 2017 points and are they free from maintenance cost?

As someone has mentioned earlier, those 2017 points are worth at least 12/point on the rental market.

Even with maintenance, that’s $6 a point in the rental market or you can just use them for a vacation and it will be worth more to you and your family.

You will get the current UY points. In the case of Oct/Dec in May, that would be 2017 points. Additionally, you would only pay 2018 AF prorated to when you buy. Today, that would be about 7/12th the annual fee.

Depending on the resort, those points are worth closer to anywhere between $13 and $17 per point, less AF and taxes.

 

[Mumof4mice]

Hmm... the guide we met on our DVC tour in Aulani emailed back:

"I did the research for the Bay Lake Tower…. there is a wait list and then we’re notified when your name/ turn comes up. However, once you went back to Australia , Disney Vacation Club cannot do business from your country."

Might this be the Aulani department only? I can't see why DVC wouldn't try very hard to wrangle the laws to make it possible to sell to international buyers (Australia)

 

[beourguest2009]

https://dvcsales.com/listings/

Has quite a few BLT Dec listings in various amounts and prices. All posted about a week ago so looks like it could have been the same seller with various contracts. Worth a look!

 

[Mumof4mice]

https://dvcsales.com/listings/

Has quite a few BLT Dec listings in various amounts and prices. All posted about a week ago so looks like it could have been the same seller with various contracts. Worth a look!

Thank you. They do have a nice selection!

 

[beourguest2009]

Thank you. They do have a nice selection!

A newer company but great to work with! Former DVC rep. I bought through them a year ago and was quite happy!