Incentives and new pricing winter/spring 2025

[Flash_Sloth]

In particular, the idea that Disney does better by renting the rooms rather than selling them seems odd given that they built timeshares and not hotels.

I agree that on the surface it sounds crazy that Disney is doing OK renting rooms vs. selling them, but then if you look at their nightly cash rates, holy cow they've priced me out!

Very crude math, but when I bought a fixed week at Riviera a few years ago, it was 130 points for a week in a Standard View Deluxe Studio.
Purchase price divided by remaining years, lets say about $4 per lifetime point
Plus approx $8.5 per point in annual dues = $12.5/point
$12.5/point * 130 points = $1,625
$1,625 / 7 days = $232/night

Quickly looking at cash rates at RIV for the same week as my FW, it is over $500/night. If they can get it, they're probably doing OK letting dvc sales take their time.

 

[stat]

In particular, the idea that Disney does better by renting the rooms rather than selling them seems odd given that they built timeshares and not hotels.

Agreed, building timeshares does imply that selling timeshares is their end goal. But if hotel rates and occupancy are strong I could see slower sales as being a valid strategy short term approach not unlike an options strategy. I.e., benefit using it like a hotel in the short term while the prices are high (and the paint is fresh), sell slowly as the allure starts to fade and more shiny resorts open. Maybe that's giving Disney too much credit but it seems they win either way.

 

[Genie+]

Poly - current member $225pp for 150pts = $33,750

Minus $3000 MB = $30,750

Minus $1000 Visa = $29,750

Minus $500 D23 = $29,250

Anything else?

$29,250/150pts = $195pp and likely 41yrs left to use (40yrs for Jan/Feb UYs).

Not horrible, not great either.

I’m spoiled after getting $1,500 off for existing trip incentive and 5 free points too. That would take it down to $27k and a price I’d actually consider ($180pp :^D). Probably jump on! I’m ok waiting… though it might never get there. While we’d like more points, we have enough available to match our upcoming plans and do the job. For now I watch mid ‘25 and ‘26 for deals and play the long game. Also keeping an eye on all resale for good measure.

 

[tx911]

Poly - current member $225pp for 150pts = $33,750

Minus $3000 MB = $30,750

Minus $1000 Visa = $29,750

Minus $500 D23 = $29,250

Anything else?

$29,250/150pts = $195pp and likely 41yrs left to use (40yrs for Jan/Feb UYs).

Not horrible, not great either.

I’m spoiled after getting $1,500 off for existing trip incentive and 5 free points too. That would take it down to $27k and a price I’d actually consider ($180pp :^D). Probably jump on! I’m ok waiting… though it might never get there. While we’d like more points, we have enough available to match our upcoming plans and do the job. For now I watch mid ‘25 and ‘26 for deals and play the long game. Also keeping an eye on all resale for good measure.

I wasn’t aware they were doing MB for Poly.

 

[LittleBitGoofy]

Here is the Disney Visa offer details for Poly. Only applies to 150+ pt purchases on the Active resorts, per our Guide.

https://dvcexplorer.com/fin/m/Polynesian_Member_Visa.pdf

 

[Genie+]

I wasn’t aware they were doing MB for Poly.

So I just got a call from my guide, as I had been asking about better incentives on PVB before the prices went up.
He left a message stating that there is a $1000 off Disney Visa offer, and that Magical Beginnings is being offered for PVB right now. He didn't say if there is a welcome home offer, but I can ask.

I am also going on the Treasure on Saturday and intend to see if there is any additional onboard incentive. I am not necessarily expecting one, but maybe there will be something.

I’m not 100% sure but it looks like they’ve started offering it for PVB.

 

[DanCali]

I agree that on the surface it sounds crazy that Disney is doing OK renting rooms vs. selling them, but then if you look at their nightly cash rates, holy cow they've priced me out!

Very crude math, but when I bought a fixed week at Riviera a few years ago, it was 130 points for a week in a Standard View Deluxe Studio.
Purchase price divided by remaining years, lets say about $4 per lifetime point
Plus approx $8.5 per point in annual dues = $12.5/point
$12.5/point * 130 points = $1,625
$1,625 / 7 days = $232/night

Quickly looking at cash rates at RIV for the same week as my FW, it is over $500/night. If they can get it, they're probably doing OK letting dvc sales take their time.

It's probably not as profitable as it looks at first.

How many people pay the $500/nt+ vs using the various 30% discounts that are quite common?

And what are the occupancy rates for the hotel rooms? Obviously they fluctuate be season, but they may be as low as 50% during some seasons. If you sell 70%$ of the rooms at $500/nt and 30% of the rooms sit empty, you're not actually making $500/nt per room.

And I believe the hotel stays have daily housekeeping? How much does that cost per room? $30? $50? That's also eating into the margins.

 

[Brian Noble]

So, I went back and looked. And if you have a Disney Visa card and qualify for the Visa $1,000 incentive, the difference in price for 150 Riviera points as a brand new member between yesterday and today is....

$50.

Total.

https://dvcexplorer.com/fin/n/Riviera_Prospect_Visa_CashOnly.pdf

 

[jess2022]

Poly - current member $225pp for 150pts = $33,750

Minus $3000 MB = $30,750

Minus $1000 Visa = $29,750

Minus $500 D23 = $29,250

Anything else?

$29,250/150pts = $195pp and likely 41yrs left to use (40yrs for Jan/Feb UYs).

Not horrible, not great either.

I’m spoiled after getting $1,500 off for existing trip incentive and 5 free points too. That would take it down to $27k and a price I’d actually consider ($180pp :^D). Probably jump on! I’m ok waiting… though it might never get there. While we’d like more points, we have enough available to match our upcoming plans and do the job. For now I watch mid ‘25 and ‘26 for deals and play the long game. Also keeping an eye on all resale for good measure.

What is the D23 discount? Do you have to have a paid D23 membership?

 

[Girlstar30]

So, I went back and looked. And if you have a Disney Visa card and qualify for the Visa $1,000 incentive, the difference in price for 150 Riviera points as a brand new member between yesterday and today is....

$50.

Total.

https://dvcexplorer.com/fin/n/Riviera_Prospect_Visa_CashOnly.pdf

How does this disney visa deal work, do you have to put the whole thing on the credit card and pay it all off?

 

[Brian Noble]

No idea. I just guessed at the URL.

 

[LittleBitGoofy]

How does this disney visa deal work, do you have to put the whole thing on the credit card and pay it all off?

When we got it in 2023 I believe we just had to prove we had a Disney Visa, but didn't have to put any of the purchase on it. Of course we did though for the 6-month 0%.

 

[Girlstar30]

Saratoga 100 point resale at $9400 is looking pretty juicy right now if I'm literally flexible to go ANY time of the year would it make sense to buy a resort you don't really want to stay at in hopes of something else hitting at the 7 month mark every year? I like a lot of resorts and split stays are a ok with us

 

[LittleBitGoofy]

Saratoga 100 point resale at $9400 is looking pretty juicy right now if I'm literally flexible to go ANY time of the year would it make sense to buy a resort you don't really want to stay at in hopes of something else hitting at the 7 month mark every year? I like a lot of resorts and split stays are a ok with us

If you truly don't care where you land and if you would be just as happy sticking with your home resort if nothing "better" comes up at 7mos, then SSR resale makes a lot of sense.

We pieced together a split stay on our first DVC trip thanks to late reservations from loaded points. It was not something I'd want to do again with a couple of little kids and sitting around at the resort waiting at 4pm for when it'd be available. But to each their own.

 

[Brian Noble]

buy a resort you don't really want to stay at

You'll often hear "buy where you want to stay."

My advice is usually a little weaker: "Buy where you wouldn't mind staying." If you'd resent being at SSR, then maybe it is a bad idea.

 

[Girlstar30]

If you truly don't care where you land and if you would be just as happy sticking with your home resort if nothing "better" comes up at 7mos, then SSR resale makes a lot of sense.

We pieced together a split stay on our first DVC trip thanks to late reservations from loaded points. It was not something I'd want to do again with a couple of little kids and sitting around at the resort waiting at 4pm for when it'd be available. But to each their own.

We stayed at five different hotels in 11 days in January because I wanted to "try everything" it definitely isn't something I'd want to do again but I would totally be down and actually prefer a different hotel every 5-7 days for a 3 week trip. That being said there are no kids involved and we did theme park days during moves

 

[Girlstar30]

You'll often hear "buy where you want to stay."

My advice is usually a little weaker: "Buy where you wouldn't mind staying." If you'd resent being at SSR, then maybe it is a bad idea.

I think this is great advice, I have never stayed at Saratoga i think I should probably do that first before going that route

 

[LittleBitGoofy]

We stayed at five different hotels in 11 days in January because I wanted to "try everything" it definitely isn't something I'd want to do again but I would totally be down and actually prefer a different hotel every 5-7 days for a 3 week trip. That being said there are no kids involved and we did theme park days during moves

That's not too bad. We did 2 days at AKL and 2 days at CCV. It was a real hassle on the move-day and getting the kids changed in the bathroom. Nah, not something I'd want to do again in most of our trips. But if it was just us adults then dropping off bags and heading to the parks wouldn't be bad.

 

[kgou]

While we’d like more points, we have enough available to match our upcoming plans and do the job. For now I watch mid ‘25 and ‘26 for deals and play the long game. Also keeping an eye on all resale for good measure.

100% right there with you, my sentiments exactly.

 

[kgou]

You'll often hear "buy where you want to stay."

My advice is usually a little weaker: "Buy where you wouldn't mind staying." If you'd resent being at SSR, then maybe it is a bad idea.

Precisely this advice. We bought resale SSR in 2023 because I wouldn't mind staying there if I couldn't get in anywhere at 7 months. We want to experience as many resorts as possible, so for us SSR resale was a good buy for SAP, and of course if we ended up staying there I'd be fine with that. The recent remodel and the Murphy beds were a selling point for us compared to other resorts I was considering at the time. FWIW I haven't yet stayed at SSR on those points yet, though of course I haven't owned them for that long in the grand scheme of things.