ROFR Thread January to March 2024 *PLEASE SEE FIRST POST FOR INSTRUCTIONS & FORMATTING TOOL*

[Chili327]

High cost, more flexibility.

You can get a Duo PV in Jan/Feb @ DLH for a
Similar point cost as a SV BWV studio.

Definitely not “like for like”…. but it gives you options.

Ok, I just did the math on direct with closing costs… I think I’ll just hold off and wait for the right contract to pop up. lol
Choice of UY and access to VDH aren’t worth THAT much.

 

[Cfabar1]

We made the mistake of buying a small resale contract. I will likely not do that again because of the higher closing costs, additional fee, etc. Don't think we really saved that much over direct.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Ok, I just did the math on direct with closing costs… I think I’ll just hold off and wait for the right contract to pop up. lol
Choice of UY and access to VDH aren’t worth THAT much.

What was the cost difference?

We made the mistake of buying a small resale contract. I will likely not do that again because of the higher closing costs, additional fee, etc. Don't think we really saved that much over direct.

Which resort?

 

[Cfabar1]

What was the cost difference?



Which resort?

It was VGF right before the big incentives came around and we ended up buying 150 points direct a few months later.... should have just waited and bought 210 or 230 all at once....

 

[Chili327]

What was the cost difference?

$1000’s

30 pts direct
$240 per point = $7200
Closing costs = $378.90
Total $7579
vs
25 pts resale
$115 pp = $2875
Closing = $485
Fee = $225
Total $3585

*halftime edit*
I have a full year to find one and even then I don’t necessarily need it to even stay there, and prices have to start dropping pretty hard soon, there will only be 15 years left at that point.

 

[AstroBlasters]

$1000’s

30 pts direct
$240 per point = $7200
Closing costs = $378.90
Total $7579
vs
25 pts resale
$115 pp = $2875
Closing = $485
Fee = $225
Total $3585

*halftime edit*
I have a full year to find one and even then I don’t necessarily need it to even stay there, and prices have to start dropping pretty hard soon, there will only be 15 years left at that point.

Why are you comparing a striped 25 point contract to a fully loaded (previous year points and this year points) 30 point contract?

30 points is 20% more points than 25 points.

I’m not saying resale isn’t the right way to go…. I just think you want to minimize variables where possible when making a comparison.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Also, if you get 23 and 24 points you can sell them off OR use them at DLand if there is availability during a trip ththere.

I was Super disappointed at lack of availability at DL - when we looked *multiple times* not a single DVC room available even one night within 7 months. Something I did not "see" until added Direct points. Cancelled that purchase within the 10 day period. Just not enough incentive for that Direct $$$ bump on a budget to be able to add a couple 7 month resort options.

Love the look of the new DL tower, but felt nickel and dimed compared to other nice hotels nearby. Plus, we are driving distance, and with "cash" hotels can cancel 48 or 72 hours in advance without hassle if the weather looks miserable.

 

[Chili327]

Why are you comparing a striped 25 point contract to a fully loaded (previous year points and this year points) 30 point contract?

30 points is 20% more points than 25 points.

I’m not saying resale isn’t the right way to go…. I just think you want to minimize variables where possible when making a comparison.

Yes true, you want to do a fair comparison, but I didn’t have actual numbers from the direct 25pt. I guess we can assume very similar closing cost? I’m not sure about the amortization and years left, etc. but here is the direct numbers for 25.
- - -
25 pts direct
$240 per point = $6000
Closing costs = $375**
Total $6375
vs
25 pts resale
$115 pp = $2875
Closing = $485
Fee = $225
Total $3585

**should be pretty close

 

[TinkAgainU]

Yes true, you want to do a fair comparison, but I didn’t have actual numbers from the direct 25pt. I guess we can assume very similar closing cost? I’m not sure about the amortization and years left, etc. but here is the direct numbers for 25.
- - -
25 pts direct
$240 per point = $6000
Closing costs = $375**
Total $6375
vs
25 pts resale
$115 pp = $2875
Closing = $485
Fee = $225
Total $3585

**should be pretty close

That 25 to 25 allows you to compare more "apples to apples" for $ only. The ability to work with 30 (60 or 90 combining two or three years) points instead of 25 (50 / 75) can be a game changer when booking at 11 months for some rooms, but at 7 months is less of an issue since you can buy One Time Use points (about $20 each, up to 24 per Use Year) at 7 months if only a few short. It's a tough call when you figure roughly a $2,800 difference at buy in - what could you do with that $2,800? Disney may give you Current Year points (even 2023 if not to the 2024 UY yet!) without paying Maintenance Fees (be sure to ask) so you want to calculate how many points you are getting with Direct. If not using some, you may be able to rent them out - adjust that income for Maintenance Fees on the points and taxes, if applicable ... As a side note, you can only buy an Add-on in a Use Year you already have - and I believe it must be done a few days prior to Use Year start to get 2023 points (which can be banked late as a Direct, one-time accommodation).

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but seems your only real "benefit" to 25 or 30 Points Direct is adding access to booking Riviera, DLH, or hypothetical future resorts at 7 months - you still have no priority at 11 months except at your Home resort. 25 Direct points won't get you Any of the other Membership Extras (I think Currently requires 150 Direct for those). Even if you buy 150 Direct, most those Membership Extra's are not set in stone

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

That 25 to 25 allows you to compare more "apples to apples" for $ only. The ability to work with 30 (60 or 90 combining two or three years) points instead of 25 (50 / 75) can be a game changer when booking at 11 months for some rooms, but at 7 months is less of an issue since you can buy One Time Use points (about $20 each, up to 24 per Use Year) at 7 months if only a few short. It's a tough call when you figure roughly a $2,800 difference at buy in - what could you do with that $2,800? Disney may give you Current Year points (even 2023 if not to the 2024 UY yet!) without paying Maintenance Fees (be sure to ask) so you want to calculate how many points you are getting with Direct. If not using some, you may be able to rent them out - adjust that income for Maintenance Fees on the points and taxes, if applicable ... As a side note, you can only buy an Add-on in a Use Year you already have - and I believe it must be done a few days prior to Use Year start to get 2023 points (which can be banked late as a Direct, one-time accommodation).

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but seems your only real "benefit" to 25 or 30 Points Direct is adding access to booking Riviera, DLH, or hypothetical future resorts at 7 months - you still have no priority at 11 months except at your Home resort. 25 Direct points won't get you Any of the other Membership Extras (I think Currently requires 150 Direct for those). Even if you buy 150 Direct, most those Membership Extra's are not set in stone

I think your analysis is correct (and soon CFW with their reasonable point chart) — but if it’s not your last purchase, it could put you closer to the 150 threshold for Y card benefits.

Also, I completely forgot that direct purchases would have closing costs earlier, so that’s my bad—but it would be offset by the nearly free extra year of points.

 

[Chili327]

That 25 to 25 allows you to compare more "apples to apples" for $ only. The ability to work with 30 (60 or 90 combining two or three years) points instead of 25 (50 / 75) can be a game changer when booking at 11 months for some rooms, but at 7 months is less of an issue since you can buy One Time Use points (about $20 each, up to 24 per Use Year) at 7 months if only a few short. It's a tough call when you figure roughly a $2,800 difference at buy in - what could you do with that $2,800? Disney may give you Current Year points (even 2023 if not to the 2024 UY yet!) without paying Maintenance Fees (be sure to ask) so you want to calculate how many points you are getting with Direct. If not using some, you may be able to rent them out - adjust that income for Maintenance Fees on the points and taxes, if applicable ... As a side note, you can only buy an Add-on in a Use Year you already have - and I believe it must be done a few days prior to Use Year start to get 2023 points (which can be banked late as a Direct, one-time accommodation).

Yes it’s only access to VDH & would get to match my UY.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but seems your only real "benefit" to 25 or 30 Points Direct is adding access to booking Riviera, DLH, or hypothetical future resorts at 7 months - you still have no priority at 11 months except at your Home resort. 25 Direct points won't get you Any of the other Membership Extras (I think Currently requires 150 Direct for those). Even if you buy 150 Direct, most those Membership Extra's are not set in stone

Correct, they wouldn’t give me any member benefits. (not really a fan of lounges anyway)

 

[TinkAgainU]

To expand on the 25 vs 30 points you are considering. Be sure to check HOW MANY rooms are actually available at each price point you are considering. For example - at Disneyland Hotel, there are only 36 Duos if every one is available - but 267 Studios. To increase your chances of a room at 7 months (even at 11 months if you cannot "walk" a reservation, you'd want to consider how many points you'd need to be likely to get something. That info is in the Field Guide www.dvcfieldguide.com (I think about $13) that I found helpful for collecting info all in one place

 

[AstroBlasters]

It’s tough when you are only getting the direct flexibility for 16-18 years vs 35+ years on other resorts.

If my VGF goes through then I’d consider adding on a small direct contract at some point. Also, if VGC became available I’d probably add direct. Part of my reasoning is to add post 2042 Epcot/Disney FWD DVC/VDH availability with a bucket of points and the ability to give these to the kids later and have them maintain direct benefits

 

[ClaraOswald]

It’s tough when you are only getting the direct flexibility for 16-18 years vs 35+ years on other resorts.

If my VGF goes through then I’d consider adding on a small direct contract at some point. Also, if VGC became available I’d probably add direct. Part of my reasoning is to add post 2042 Epcot/Disney FWD DVC/VDH availability with a bucket of points and the ability to give these to the kids later and have them maintain direct benefits

Can I ask why you'd add direct at VGC? What is the benefit of that? (We're still trying to figure out how many extra VGC we might want down the road. Thinking somewhere around 75ish.)

I saw mention of one time use points above. Can I do that with a resale contract or do you have to be direct? I think I asked this before but can't remember. When running different scenarios, I sometimes come up short a few points some years. It would be nice if we could add points to cover those stays. I'd rather do that once every couple years than buy a larger contract we might struggle to use all the points for.

 

[The_MT]

Can I ask why you'd add direct at VGC? What is the benefit of that? (We're still trying to figure out how many extra VGC we might want down the road. Thinking somewhere around 75ish.)

I saw mention of one time use points above. Can I do that with a resale contract or do you have to be direct? I think I asked this before but can't remember. When running different scenarios, I sometimes come up short a few points some years. It would be nice if we could add points to cover those stays. I'd rather do that once every couple years than buy a larger contract we might struggle to use all the points for.

Both resale and direct buyers can purchase up to 24 one time use points per membership per use year, but only within the 7 month window. Direct memberships can use the one time use points at any resort within the 7 month window; resale memberships can only use them at resorts built before Riviera.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Can I ask why you'd add direct at VGC? What is the benefit of that? (We're still trying to figure out how many extra VGC we might want down the road. Thinking somewhere around 75ish.)

They might be thinking it makes more sense to pay Direct (more per point) on a resort with a longer Expiration date, where you'd feel you were amortizing that extra cost and receiving "membership extras" etc. for a longer period of time? Here are the Expiration Dates in a list for quick review: https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/buying/dvc-deed-expirations/

 

[AstroBlasters]

Can I ask why you'd add direct at VGC? What is the benefit of that? (We're still trying to figure out how many extra VGC we might want down the road. Thinking somewhere around 75ish.)

I saw mention of one time use points above. Can I do that with a resale contract or do you have to be direct? I think I asked this before but can't remember. When running different scenarios, I sometimes come up short a few points some years. It would be nice if we could add points to cover those stays. I'd rather do that once every couple years than buy a larger contract we might struggle to use all the points for.

1) The pricing for small VGC resale contracts is not that different from direct at the moment.

2) I figure the VGC points are the ones most likely to stay in the family until expiration. We already have 2 x 100 point direct AUL contracts and so we would need 2 x 50 additional direct points for our two sons to have access to direct benefits if we were to gift them the contracts.

That would give each of them some access to Disneyland and Hawaii if they wanted to keep the contracts into their late 40s/early 50s…. Which would overlap with grandchildren if they decide to go that direction.

 

[Chili327]

To expand on the 25 vs 30 points you are considering. Be sure to check HOW MANY rooms are actually available at each price point you are considering. For example - at Disneyland Hotel, there are only 36 Duos if every one is available - but 267 Studios. To increase your chances of a room at 7 months (even at 11 months if you cannot "walk" a reservation, you'd want to consider how many points you'd need to be likely to get something. That info is in the Field Guide www.dvcfieldguide.com (I think about $13) that I found helpful for collecting info all in one place

The point chart isn’t that crucial, I’m looking at 15-18 points ( most likely 15/night, 90% of the time) so 60pts for 4 nights or 75 for 5 nights is what I’m using for planning, which I would also have another contract I can try for more nights (if needed/wanted) at 7months which is usually available already. I barely need 11months priority, so it should work out fine, plus I love split stays.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Ah, that makes sense.

I haven't been watching long but haven't seen any small contracts for my UY for VGC yet. I didn't realize they were going for close to direct prices. Ugh.

 

[TinkAgainU]

1) The pricing for small VGC resale contracts is not that different from direct at the moment.

2) I figure the VGC points are the ones most likely to stay in the family until expiration. We already have 2 x 100 point direct AUL contracts and so we would need 2 x 50 additional direct points for our two sons to have access to direct benefits if we were to gift them the contracts.

Disney has increased "how many" direct points are needed for Extras a few times ... I know people "grandfathered" in at 50 or 100 points ... might be worth taking that into consideration if you're close anyway. But make sure you're aware of the fine print - it's very irritating when you think you're getting something long term (for example Annual Pass discounts) only to realize those are not a guarantee.