25 point add on - Definately worth it!

D

Dtw002

Mouseketeer
Joined
Nov 12, 2016
Hello - Just had our first DVC trip. Bought resale and reluctantly did the 25 point add on. I will say it was definately worth it. Got a huge (x5 people) discount on the APs and then 10-20% savings on food and merchandise. Also, both lounges are really cool - much nicer/cool than we expected. I can’t see how they will keep this loophole open forever (although I guess they have for 25yrs) but for the minimal premium in price on 25 points you get a lot of perks and savings - It will definately pay for itself eventually.
 
The restriction is primarily a sales tool. In other words, it's there for the guides to dissuade less knowledgeable buyers. It seems like common knowledge to us here, but the vast majority of DVC owners do not read forums like this or even fully understand what they bought.

Just for fun, watch a couple of YouTube videos that some (obviously excited) owners have posted explaining the product to others who may be curious about it. It's amazing how much incorrect information they present. I say this not to put them down - I'm certainly happy for them! However, it just shows that even people who feel knowledgeable enough to publicly share the information on YouTube really don't know most of the details.
 
I keep wanting to talk myself into the extra 25 just to have the potential for those perks but the math doesn't come close to working. I can't see us getting AP's -- we'd need to be there at least 9 days a year for them to make sense, whereas we expect 1 week every other year. And we didn't see hardly any restaurants we typically eat at where they offer the discount. We do the vast majority of our meals at quick service counter places, with at most 2 sit-downs per trip. I wish WDW was more like DL/CA where they include the quick service places in the discount list.
 
Dtw002 said:
.... I can’t see how they will keep this loophole open forever (although I guess they have for 25yrs) ....
Click to expand...

It wasn’t until 2011 that any distinction was made between direct & resale buyers, and since that time the difference has been only in using points for what many consider poor value exchanges such as cruises. It wasn’t until April 2016 that differences extended to perks such as discounts on APs. And actually for most of those 25 years DVC owners received very little in terms of perks or benefits (a search of these boards would undoubtedly turn up more than one thread bemoaning that fact). So “that loophole” hasn’t really been around for 25 years, and they could close it whenever they want. By making the minimum at CCV 50 points, they already have started to - but I’m sure they’d rather sell 25 or 50 point add-ons than nothing to resale buyers.
 




It would be nice to see DVC go all in on the lounges and put one in each park for members, even if it came out of dues.
 
Dtw002 said:
Hello - Just had our first DVC trip. Bought resale and reluctantly did the 25 point add on. I will say it was definately worth it. Got a huge (x5 people) discount on the APs and then 10-20% savings on food and merchandise. Also, both lounges are really cool - much nicer/cool than we expected. I can’t see how they will keep this loophole open forever (although I guess they have for 25yrs) but for the minimal premium in price on 25 points you get a lot of perks and savings - It will definately pay for itself eventually.
Click to expand...
Does this only work if you purchase at the current resort or does it work for the older resorts to?
 
disneyfan16567 said:
Does this only work if you purchase at the current resort or does it work for the older resorts to?
Click to expand...
Any retail purchase will qualify but usually it's best to be at the same home resort as one owns or one plans to add on later. But occasionally there are exceptions, esp for VGF/VGC. It's best to plan the add on as part of the overall purchase strategy, that way it best fits, gives one a better understanding of the best purchase options and the added cost is often reduced.
 
We were at Disney last week. We're resale buyers who purchased after the April 2016 deadline. I purchased a couple of Pandora charms for my wife, one being a DVC charm and I was asked if I was in DVC. I replied with "yes, but we bought resale after the deadline so we don't qualify for the discounts" and she looked at me like I was crazy. When she gave me my receipt I noticed I had a 20% discount. That was the only merchandise I bought on the trip but every time my wife would purchase they would ask if she was DVC or annual pass holder. She would reply with DVC resale purchased after April 2016 and show a digital copy of white card and was given the discount. I asked about this on a DVC Facebook group and was reamed by some upset direct purchase owners as if it's hurting their pocketbook some how... Anyways, after totaling the discounts we were given we figured it would take 66 years to break even from paying for a 25 point direct buy contract. We purchased TiW for dining discounts. DVC dining discounts don't include many of the table service restaurants we frequent.
 
AP is where the savings is. Saved $310 per ticket or $1550. That covers a big chunk of the $2000 premium paid for buying direct. And that is just one year. Granted that discount won’t be forever, but esp this year if you want to get an AP it just makes sense.
 
Had to laugh at Skyywalker's posts above. I'd just say I was DVC and let them work out if I'm entitled to discount or not, they set the rules.
Interesting Skyywalker did you get TIW as a resale buyer no problems?
I'm another who could not make a 25 point add on pay. I go 10+ days every other year (I'm a UK buyer, I like to travel elsewhere every other year for summer vacation).UK 14 day super tickets including everything (memory maker, park hopping, golf etc) are currently $480 incl tax, so an AP would cost me an additional $120.
However, I realised I'd under purchased by 50 or so points every other year (originally bought 160 and we stay in 1 beds in summer) if I wanted to stay in some of the more points intensive resorts, so I actually needed 25 more points.
Having scoured the resale sites for some time, it was apparent it was only a few hundred dollars extra via DVD when reduced closing added in, and I needed my points pronto for a booking I'm making this week.
So I bought direct. My wife has now had 3 blue cards sent to her, me just the one! She's never requested one and never goes on the site.
 
skyywalker said:
We were at Disney last week. We're resale buyers who purchased after the April 2016 deadline. I purchased a couple of Pandora charms for my wife, one being a DVC charm and I was asked if I was in DVC. I replied with "yes, but we bought resale after the deadline so we don't qualify for the discounts" and she looked at me like I was crazy. When she gave me my receipt I noticed I had a 20% discount. That was the only merchandise I bought on the trip but every time my wife would purchase they would ask if she was DVC or annual pass holder. She would reply with DVC resale purchased after April 2016 and show a digital copy of white card and was given the discount. I asked about this on a DVC Facebook group and was reamed by some upset direct purchase owners as if it's hurting their pocketbook some how... Anyways, after totaling the discounts we were given we figured it would take 66 years to break even from paying for a 25 point direct buy contract. We purchased TiW for dining discounts. DVC dining discounts don't include many of the table service restaurants we frequent.
Click to expand...

Extra Park retail discounts are certainly not hurting any DVC owner. A separate division who can offer and give whatever discounts they want and apparently have long felt that they should do so to encourage return guests such as AP holders and DVC owners to purchase items when they visit. That the CM's don't distinguish beyond someone being a DVC owners isn't too surprising to me.
 
Dtw002 said:
AP is where the savings is. Saved $310 per ticket or $1550. That covers a big chunk of the $2000 premium paid for buying direct. And that is just one year. Granted that discount won’t be forever, but esp this year if you want to get an AP it just makes sense.
Click to expand...
That seems a high difference for 25 pts. Looking at only the premium for the same total number of points (retail - resale cost), which I think is the best way to look at it for most, and assuming the same home resort it should be more in the $1500 or slightly less range including closing. Regardless, IMO even for those where the pass discount doesn't add value, it's still a good plan, esp if one plans the add on as part of the overall purchase plan. I'd look at it basically as insurance against future changes. The exception might be where one is buying a smaller number of points such that they can't do a full sized contract and an add on AND the pass discount doesn't add much benefit. Normally it should be at the same home resort or one where the buyer have specific plans for those points. For more difficult to find/buy home resorts resale and retail (BCV, VGF, VGC) it might make sense to just find a contract that works without considering the additional 25 pts then if DVC doesn't have the points, consider HH or SSR points instead the same UY.
 
When I do the math I would need to visit the parks at least 9 days a year for the AP to be a deal over shopping for the best multi-day park hopper rates available. Based on that, I can't see ever needing the AP's. As it stands we're lucky to get in one week (really 6 days at the parks) once every other year. Now that I think about it, I haven't had a 9 full-day vacation anywhere, ever, in my life. And without consistently using that AP discount, it would take a very, very long time to see the return on the premium paid for those points.
 
If you travel every other year, you can still make APs work if you're willing to do twice every four years instead. Loop two years in a row and then take two years off. Schedule first trip at start of AP and 2nd at the end of AP. Honestly, ticket prices are high enough that if you can find a trick to saving on them, it's worth it. Over a period of four years, looping instead of every other year would essentially drop ticket costs by almost half.

Here's the thing about the 25 point trick for direct benefits. It's almost certainly going to be increased to 50 points. If I were DVC, I wouldn't even make the minimum purchase for current buyers 50. I'd leave it at 25 but stipulate that 50 direct points is the minimum necessary to qualify for direct benefits. I think something like that is coming. soon. That, combined with the fact that DVC obviously believes that perks sell (at the last meeting in Dec they directly stated more perks were coming) I believe means that more perks are coming, but at a higher buy in price (50 points minimum).

Right now, since DVC typically grandfathers current owners, buying into possibly more perks later at a 'soon to be gone' discount of 25 points seems to me to be a bargain. I don't think it's a bargain that'll last.
 
ziravan said:
If you travel every other year, you can still make APs work if you're willing to do twice every four years instead. Loop two years in a row and then take two years off. Schedule first trip at start of AP and 2nd at the end of AP. Honestly, ticket prices are high enough that if you can find a trick to saving on them, it's worth it. Over a period of four years, looping instead of every other year would essentially drop ticket costs by almost half.

Here's the thing about the 25 point trick for direct benefits. It's almost certainly going to be increased to 50 points. If I were DVC, I wouldn't even make the minimum purchase for current buyers 50. I'd leave it at 25 but stipulate that 50 direct points is the minimum necessary to qualify for direct benefits. I think something like that is coming. soon. That, combined with the fact that DVC obviously believes that perks sell (at the last meeting in Dec they directly stated more perks were coming) I believe means that more perks are coming, but at a higher buy in price (50 points minimum).

Right now, since DVC typically grandfathers current owners, buying into possibly more perks later at a 'soon to be gone' discount of 25 points seems to me to be a bargain. I don't think it's a bargain that'll last.
Click to expand...

My family would have no interest in going twice within one year then not again for 3 more years. In the scheme of the total cost of ownership and other trip expenses, we wouldn't want to totally change our behavior just for a small savings on passes. Reminds me of my father who used to book a trip from San Francisco to Reno via LA and Phoenix to get more frequent flier points. Would never have been worth it to me. I'm all for savings if it works into our existing plans, but not when it dictates them.

But to each their own.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page


GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!


New DISboards Threads

Tinkaboo
Pixar Preview yesterday
Replies
0
Views
1
Tinkaboo
Tinkaboo
SL6827
Two squatters!
Replies
2
Views
45
BrianL
BrianL
P
waitlisting
Replies
2
Views
33
Pdollar88
P
dledger
Am I crazy? Rental request chances
Replies
3
Views
75
drusba
drusba
P
Remy to FEA at opening
Replies
2
Views
70
scrappinginontario
scrappinginontario
S
Annual Pass Use year questions
Replies
3
Views
103
OKW Lover
OKW Lover
NEWS & UPDATES
DVC INFORMATION
DVC POINT CHARTS
DVC RESALES
DVC RENTALS
DVC LENDING


Latest posts










facebook twitter
Top