Has anyone purchased through resale? - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Buying through Disney would have strained our budget so it was not an option for us. We bought resale last year at VWL through the Timeshare Store and financed with our credit union for lower monthly payments. Hope to have it paid off before the end of our 5 year loan.
So far, we have been very happy with our purchase.
Just left Orlando this morning & had our fourth DVC model walk thru since 2003. On the road home -- Very sad. Reading rampantly through posts & strongly considering buying AKL through resale despite the Concierge or Adventure restrictions. ALSO point prices go UP in 3 wks.
Does anyone know if you buy resale points if you are still offered the OTHER PERKS offered to DVC members such as:
* Discounts on annual park Passes
* Sneak preview Invites to new events or attractions
* Vacation tips from dvcmember.com
* Discounts on dining, shopping & recreation.
* Access to member services for vacation planning?
Any info in this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Just left Orlando this morning & had our fourth DVC model walk thru since 2003. On the road home -- Very sad. Reading rampantly through posts & strongly considering buying AKL through resale despite the Concierge or Adventure restrictions. ALSO point prices go UP in 3 wks.
Does anyone know if you buy resale points if you are still offered the OTHER PERKS offered to DVC members such as:
* Discounts on annual park Passes
* Sneak preview Invites to new events or attractions
* Vacation tips from dvcmember.com
* Discounts on dining, shopping & recreation.
* Access to member services for vacation planning?
Any info in this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Yes,
Both our contracts are thru resale, and we get all of the above.
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Does anyone know if you buy resale points if you are still offered the OTHER PERKS offered to DVC members such as:
* Discounts on annual park Passes
* Sneak preview Invites to new events or attractions
* Vacation tips from dvcmember.com
* Discounts on dining, shopping & recreation.
* Access to member services for vacation planning?
Just want to add that NONE of the above items are contractually guaranteed to either resale or direct buyers. DVC was founded in 1991 and members have only had the Annual Pass discount since 2005. It could continue for another 50 years...or it could end tomorrow. Dining, shopping and other discounts CAN and DO change frequently.
It's difficult to completely ignore perks when making a buy/don't buy decision but just understand that there is absolutely no guarantee that you will be getting 50 years' worth of discounted park passes. Even without the perks, DVC offers savings of 70% and up on accommodations. That's the primary draw...and the only thing guaranteed in the contract.
As for direct vs. resale, the only difference today is the ability to book Disney Cruises and other non-DVC destinations. Resale buyers are barred from accessing those locations with their points.
What remains unknown is whether that could change in the future. To discuss history again, DVC was selling for nearly 20 years without any difference between direct and resale ownership. It was just about a year ago that DVC introduced this differentiation.
Since these ancillary perks are not contractually guaranteed, it would be well within DVC's power to eventually restrict them from certain groups of owners.
Current management doesn't seem inclined to pursue these types of limitations. But four - five decades is a lot of time. DVC management will change many times over that period...as will the economy (which impacts DVC's ability to sell) and the resale marketplace.
I don't want to frighten you into buying direct just by pointing out what could happen. But reality is everything I've described COULD happen. At least be informed and understanding of what rights you have as an owner. Those rights are largely limited to using points for DVC resorts. Perks will change. Policies & procedures will change. And non all of those changes will be in your favor.
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Just so you know. I got an email that said there was a great incentive for buying at AKL right now. For every 100 points you buy, they give you 20 points. So, if you buy 200 points, you get 240 (a $5000 value).
Yes just got back from WDW today & went thru the Hawaii Aulani model tour & current deals. They are offering the 2011&2012 points plus the extra 20 pts on 100 or 40 on 200 for AKL.
It was so simple and much cheaper than buying BCV through Disney. I would do it again since we don't use our points for anything other than Disney. I would buy where you would like to stay not where is the cheapest. It's hard during low point seasons to sometimes get resorts other than your home. We are usually lucky but last year we ended up at SSR when we wanted to change to AKV. Not that there is anything wrong with AKV.
I agree. We can book BCV at 11 months during F&W which was the big push to buy at BCV. Our second choice was AKV which was less expensive. But it is much easier to get a room at Kidani then it is at BCV.
We have 2 resale contracts, one purchased before the change in resale uses and one after. Even though we can use points from the first contract for non Disney stays or for a cruise I never would. The points price is crazy. You come out ahead if you rent the points and pay for the trip with cash. Plus there are lots restrictions paying for those things with points, such as if you need to modify a reservation.
There are lots of ins and outs to the whole DVC thing. You really do need to do your homework and understand what you are buying and if it is a good fit for you.
TJ's comment is what makes me a bit concerned about buying resale. I want to take advantage of the big price difference, but I hate to think that Disney could pull the rug out and change terms again, perhaps in attempt to reward direct buyers for their "loyalty." I could envision something like resale buyers only being able to use their points at their home resort, or maybe only being able to book seven months out max. Who really knows? I wonder if Disney would grandfather in pre-existing resale contracts, and only make the change from that point forward?
I know I am being a worry wart, but interested in any thoughts that DVC vets have. Thanks!
TJ's comment is what makes me a bit concerned about buying resale. I want to take advantage of the big price difference, but I hate to think that Disney could pull the rug out and change terms again, perhaps in attempt to reward direct buyers for their "loyalty."
It's not so much "loyalty" reward as it is simply an incentive to buy direct. On the sale of the points, Disney earns virtually nothing on a resale transaction. They want (need) people buying direct so that they can continue to build new destinations and grow the program.
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I could envision something like resale buyers only being able to use their points at their home resort, or maybe only being able to book seven months out max. Who really knows?
Limiting owners to a Home resort is probably not something DVC could do. Each resort has its own legal entity called a "Condominium Association." One of the key aspects of the DVC program is the ability to trade between Condominium Associations--in other words, Bay Lake Tower owners can use their points at BoardWalk, BW owners can stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge and so on.
I don't really see how it would be legal to limit those inter-system exchanges to just a certain subset of owners (i.e. direct buyers.) Not within the native group of DVC resorts.
The DVC Public Offering Statement guarantees owners a 1 month booking advantage at their Home resort. What I could see DVC doing--at least from a legal standpoint--is altering those booking windows to favor direct buyers. Something like this:
11 months: Direct buyers can book Home resort
8 months: Resale buyers book Home resort
7 months: Non-Home bookings for all
Under that scenario, the resale buyers still get the 1 month Home resort advantage which is stated in the POS, but direct buyers have a decided advantage.
Mind you this is purely speculative on my part.
Other things that would be much easier to change involve any member perks. For instance they could someday announce that the Annual Pass discount is only available to those who buy direct. Since perks are not contractually guaranteed--much like the Disney Collection bookings which have already been restricted--Disney can alter those at will.
Quote:
I wonder if Disney would grandfather in pre-existing resale contracts, and only make the change from that point forward?
My gut feeling is that they would not grandfather owners on future changes. Right now the only limitation that is in place relates to point use at Disney Collection, Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection. That restriction went into place on March 20, 2011.
I really can't envision DVC attaching a series of dates to different limitations. (i.e. those who buy after 1/1/xx do not get AP discount, buyers after 6/1/xx have different booking window, buyers after 12/1/xx get no dining discounts, etc.) That would prove to be an administrative nightmare.
Again this is all speculative but DVC has 30 years before the first wave of contracts reverts back to Disney ownership in 2042. Over that time, the dwindling years on those contracts means that resale bargains will have a greater and greater impact on DVC's direct sales. Meanwhile DVC is running out of appealing locations to develop at Walt Disney World. I have a tough time envisioning how DVC will compete with resale in another 10 years or so after they've built at the Grand Floridian, Poly (probably) and perhaps a second Contemporary tower. Chipping away at perks & benefits may be the easiest way to differentiate.
All of that said, as long as ancillary perks and benefits aren't driving the decision, I wouldn't let this impact you too much. Regardless of how points are acquired, Disney has an obligation to provide the accommodations. That will never change. And even if they were to alter the booking windows, that wouldn't have a dramatic impact on the ability to secure desired accommodations. Most members have great success at 7 months. Under the scenario I outlined above resale owners would still have several weeks advantage over those booking at 7 mos.
If you accept the fact that perks can and do change, and you could be on the losing end of it someday...maybe...possibly...I wouldn't let it impact a buy/don't buy decision.
To hedge your bets, you could even consider a small direct purchase followed by resale add-ons. Best of both worlds, and insurance against potential policy changes.
To hedge your bets, you could even consider a small direct purchase followed by resale add-ons. Best of both worlds, and insurance against potential policy changes.
Curiously, what is minimum direct purchase? (As initial purchase, not as add-on)
And Thank you for all you've shared, definitely helping me make sense of it all.
Minimum buy in as of March 2012 was 100 pts. With an incentive at Animal Kingdom Villas with a bonus 20 points. If you buy 200 pts they will give a bonus of 40 pts. I believe they are $115 or $125 per point & all pts are going UP about $5 on April 28th. Oh and if you buy now they will give you 2011 & 2912 points for use.
Question...
Let's say I have 100 points with Disney & 50 on a resale & I want to book a 140 pt trip. Will Disney allow me to book with a combo of these differently contracted points to book a single stay?
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