Bouncing between Aulani and Poly - buying a resale contract

[aaron911]

Been renting points for 4 years and now realizing that it'll be cost-effective to purchase a resale contract. We forecast bouncing between Aulani (once every 2 years) and Poly (once a year). On average about 9 nights. Family of 5 so limited to 1 bedroom at Aulani and the studio is just fine at Poly with its 2 bathrooms. From my limited experience renting points, it appears Aulani is easier to acquire the rooms at the 7 month window than Poly. This has me leaning towards buying resale at Poly. I figure I need about 450 points total (~250 for poly and ~200(x2=400) for Aulani). Anything I'm missing? Any supporting or contrary advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[VandVsmama]

As long as you're aware that with a resale contract, you won't be able to do any of the following, I say go for it:

• use your points to stay at Riviera, Disneyland Hotel villas, or that new Lakeside/Lakeshore Lodge (whatever they're calling it) that's being built.
• attend DVC Moonlight Magic events
• enter any of the DL or WDW DVC lounges
• attend the DVC member-only stuff that's at Aulani (like a special character dance party that happens in the evenings)
• get 10-20% off on merchandise
• buy a WDW AP at the same price as FL residents pay
• use your points to book a Disney cruise

 

[aaron911]

Missed the kicker in my opening post. Poly is about 50% more expensive for the resale contracts.

 

[VandVsmama]

Somebody else on this board shared this link awhile ago in a different post and I've found it helpful...

https://www.dvcforless.com/listings

You can set up automated alerts which will email you when new listings show up matching your criteria.

 

[Chili327]

Missed the kicker in my opening post. Poly is about 50% more expensive for the resale contracts.

You could save a little by buying a different WDW resort, but if Poly is your spot then it is what it is.

 

[juliebee]

Why not buy two contracts, one at Poly and one at Aulani? Then you would have home resort advantage at both. Just have the contracts the same use year. If you are considering doing one of them direct, then buy the resale one first as Disney will have the direct use year match the resale one.

 

[VandVsmama]

Why not buy two contracts, one at Poly and one at Aulani? Then you would have home resort advantage at both. Just have the contracts the same use year. If you are considering doing one of them direct, then buy the resale one first as Disney will have the direct use year match the resale one.

When I read the OP's post, I assumed that they're thinking of buying 2 contracts: 1 @ Poly, 1 @ Aulani. If OP does do that, I think they should consider making sure both contracts have the same use year. That way, it would be easier to combine the points all together in case they decide once in awhile to use the points at a different resort (NOT Poly or Aulani).

 

[juliebee]

When I read the OP's post, I assumed that they're thinking of buying 2 contracts: 1 @ Poly, 1 @ Aulani.

From my limited experience renting points, it appears Aulani is easier to acquire the rooms at the 7 month window than Poly. This has me leaning towards buying resale at Poly.

Since the OP said it was easier to acquire rooms at Aulani at 7 months and they were leaning toward buying resale at Poly... it appeared they were looking to get one contract to me.

 

[aaron911]

Since the OP said it was easier to acquire rooms at Aulani at 7 months and they were leaning toward buying resale at Poly... it appeared they were looking to get one contract to me.

This is where I was and still am (albeit much closer to the fence now) but I’m learning more by the minute today Appreciate y’all’s input.

 

[intamin]

This is where I was and still am (albeit much closer to the fence now) but I’m learning more by the minute today Appreciate y’all’s input.

When are you wanting to go to Aulani? That makes a huge difference on whether or not you need to own there.

 

[aaron911]

When are you wanting to go to Aulani? That makes a huge difference on whether or not you need to own there.

Mid to late Feb or early to mid April. So far with renting had no problems with availability at these times at the 7 month mark over the past 4 years.

 

[intamin]

Mid to late Feb or early to mid April. So far with renting had no problems with availability at these times at the 7 month mark over the past 4 years.

Personally then I'd just go all in on resale/direct Poly so you can flex the full amount of points at 11 months if you decide you want to splurge on something bigger than a studio at Poly in the tower. Shouldn't be an issue getting nonstandard rooms at Aulani for the times you want aside from when your trip coincides with spring break.

 

[tx911]

Appreciate y’all’s input.

I don't have any advice that hasn't already been given. I just want to say you're my kind of people.
Same last name too!

 

[Steelers0854]

My recommendation if you decide to go all in on resale is to buy smaller sized contracts, like 100 each to get to your 400 number. Maybe even just starting with 200-250 total points. This way when (not if lol) you decide you need to own direct you can have flexibility in selling some of your resale points to balance with a direct purchase. We thought we would be happy with our resale only purchase, that lasted exactly a year. Im glad we only bought 100 resale as we found that the 100 resale and 150 direct was a good amount for us going forward. Had we bought a larger resale contract we could have been in more of a pickle that required us to sell it, buy a smaller one etc.

 

[RichVIII]

Agree with @intamin - buy more and flex. The bulk of our points at one resort provides way more flexibility. Agree with others. Smaller contracts. But more points.

 

[DisneyMimiUSMC]

As long as you're aware that with a resale contract, you won't be able to do any of the following, I say go for it:

• use your points to stay at Riviera, Disneyland Hotel villas, or that new Lakeside/Lakeshore Lodge (whatever they're calling it) that's being built.
• attend DVC Moonlight Magic events
• enter any of the DL or WDW DVC lounges
• attend the DVC member-only stuff that's at Aulani (like a special character dance party that happens in the evenings)
• get 10-20% off on merchandise
• buy a WDW AP at the same price as FL residents pay
• use your points to book a Disney cruise

Question about this. I own direct at VGF and resale at AKL and AUL. So if I'm staying at AKL when there's a Moonlight Magic event, am I excluded because I'm utilizing resale points if I'm using that resale AKL contract?

 

[intamin]

Question about this. I own direct at VGF and resale at AKL and AUL. So if I'm staying at AKL when there's a Moonlight Magic event, am I excluded because I'm utilizing resale points if I'm using that resale AKL contract?

No, you still qualify because you are still using your own points and are technically eligible for benefits even though the points used for the booking are resale.

Edit: you have good taste in resale contracts

 

[aaron911]

Ok, I think I'm landing on a 150pt direct contract at Poly + a smaller Poly resale and multiple smaller resale for Aulani (although a forum member alerted me to a large AUL-S one that is super appealing right now).

Should I be concerned with the new Poly contracts causing more competition for the cheaper rooms at the 11 month mark? The tower rooms aren't cheap on the points charts.

 

[intamin]

Ok, I think I'm landing on a 150pt direct contract at Poly + a smaller Poly resale and multiple smaller resale for Aulani (although a forum member alerted me to a large AUL-S one that is super appealing right now).

Should I be concerned with the new Poly contracts causing more competition for the cheaper rooms at the 11 month mark? The tower rooms aren't cheap on the points charts.

I personally wouldn't be too concerned unless maybe you're trying to go for very popular times like early December. Since there are so many of the longhouse studios you should be fine for the most part but I don't think anybody knows for certain until at least next year when we get a better picture of how much Poly Tower is booked/not booked when it's not as new and shiny.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Ok, I think I'm landing on a 150pt direct contract at Poly + a smaller Poly resale and multiple smaller resale for Aulani (although a forum member alerted me to a large AUL-S one that is super appealing right now).

Should I be concerned with the new Poly contracts causing more competition for the cheaper rooms at the 11 month mark? The tower rooms aren't cheap on the points charts.

FWIW, smaller poly resale contracts don’t appear to be that much cheaper than direct.