Mickey Math

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

Hard to justify using points at Vero when it's practically a giveaway in RCI. I'm hoping that Alaunai will be the same since it seems the off site resorts don't have the appeal that the Orlando ones do.

I do think there are definite advantages to owning DVC if you want to stay onsite at WDW and if you go during any of the more popular seasons, although how much of an advantage that is varies according to what RCI is up to and what RCI members own. If I weren't the only serious Disney fan in the family, and if I weren't traveling with the troops, I'd be seriously tempted to buy into DVC. But their 2 BRs are too small for us; sometimes marginal in terms of square footage, but the layouts are awkward enough there's no way.

With the possible exception of Aulani, I don't think anyone outside of rabid Disney fans cares about the offsite DVC resorts, and they don't seem to be on the best sites for the location, so I expect they'll always be ridiculous cheap through RCI. The TUG threads I've seen on Aulani give me the impression that the resort is too big for its grounds (lots of griping about crowds in the common areas), so it may be Aulani ends up being the same way. Sounds like Disney's trying to reconfigure the grounds to deal with the crowding issue, could go either way I guess.

I'm enough of a Disney-phile I'd totally be going for the DVC Vero Beach or Hilton Head at RCI's normal point prices, but at the BG point prices I don't think so. *sigh*

[pnappleprincess Member Find all posts View Profile Close pnappleprincess]

Any of the portal minis are cheaper than using your DVC points but that doesn't stop the DVC junkies from needing to own their Disney vacations and there is definitely something to be said for the flexibility of what DVC offers. .

what is a portal mini? and is BG - Bluegreen?

[pnappleprincess Member Find all posts View Profile Close pnappleprincess]

what kinds of incentives does Disney offer that drop the price from the low 100's to 86?

[pnappleprincess Member Find all posts View Profile Close pnappleprincess]

When I purchased BLT in 2009 my net price after incentives was 86 dollars.

It was my second DVC purchase, I knew about the resale market but when I analysed the facts like the low MF's, the probability of BLT keeping it's value similar to BCV in the future made the decision easier.

The funny thing is I have been renting all my DVC points in the last few years, I have been using my Grandview Las Vegas RCI timeshares to trade into DVC for less than 1/3 the cost of using my Disney points. I have scored a 1 bed @OKW, 2 bed @Grand California, Studio @ Beach club in the last 2 yrs and have recently booked a 2 bed at Animal Kingdom for Mar 2013.

so your MF's were lower buying direct versus resale???

[Presley Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Presley]

what kinds of incentives does Disney offer that drop the price from the low 100's to 86?

They always have some type of special like maybe $15. off per point and then a Disney gift card. Sometimes, they give a free 3 night cruise. There is pretty much always a special offer when a new resort opens. However, the current new sales resorts are going for around $150 per point. So, even with incentives, you won't see less than $100pp on new resort sales.

You can find the current pricing and specials on dvcnews.com

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

what is a portal mini? and is BG - Bluegreen?

A portal is an entry way into RCI that the developers have for those who own in other systems like BG, HGVC, Wyndham, Worldmark etc.
You log in thru their corporate account into RCI and you book using your mini systems points instead of TPU's or RCI points.
The inventory is pretty much the same although I have noticed lag times with the different portals at times. I'm not sure if the inventory is being held back for each system or if there is some timing issues with visibility. I know that with HGVC there are quality filters in place to prevent an HGVC owner from booking down in quality and being dissatisfied with the exchange. That can be a negative if you want to go somewhere that does not have gold crowns but is a primo location.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

what kinds of incentives does Disney offer that drop the price from the low 100's to 86?

They will sometimes throw in current years points or in my case it was actually a cash credit off the purchase price. Of course they recorded the sale at full price which is a bit misleading. I'm not sure why they do that but whateverrrrrr.

They will also offer a discount on the points price with a deadline if you purchase a minimum number of add on points. I think the minimum is something like 100. They usually don't offer any incentives for smaller contracts.

I know if you want to purchase in a sold out resort you can get it at a discount thru them and I imagine they will ROFR someone to get you what you want. I think that may be why we don't see much rhyme or reason to ROFR at times.

so your MF's were lower buying direct versus resale???

I think he was referring to the fact that the resort was newer so the MF's are lower than buying cheap points at say Vero or HHI but having much higher MF's.

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

To the original poster - I'd definitely consider the length of the contract on where you end up buying. Of course, if you have your heart set on Beach Club during certain times of the year, it might be best to own some points there. But Beach Club Villas does expire in 2042.

I think overall the best "deal" on resale is Saratoga Springs or an extended contract at Old Key West if you are just looking at price, dues, length of contract, and being a WDW located resort. Having said that, some day my parents will deed their Beach Club points back to me when they no longer travel and I will be happy to take the points - LOL

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

To the original poster - I'd definitely consider the length of the contract on where you end up buying. Of course, if you have your heart set on Beach Club during certain times of the year, it might be best to own some points there. But Beach Club Villas does expire in 2042.

I think overall the best "deal" on resale is Saratoga Springs or an extended contract at Old Key West if you are just looking at price, dues, length of contract, and being a WDW located resort. Having said that, some day my parents will deed their Beach Club points back to me when they no longer travel and I will be happy to take the points - LOL

I know I'll be in my 80's when my membership expires.
Who knows what will have become of Disney by then.

I know that my niece and nephew really have little desire to go to Disney anymore.
They much prefer SeaWorld and Universal for the coasters.

Of course they will go with me to Vero though cause that is more "adult".

[pnappleprincess Member Find all posts View Profile Close pnappleprincess]

Thanks to everyone for all of the feedback. This is very informative. The notion of the portal minis though is very intriguing. I will have to learn more about that.

I sincerely doubt that VGF is going to be personally worth it - even after any incentives. Not to mention, I would not be crushed if I could not stay there (disclaimer: i reserve the right to completely change my mind after i see it). I think it makes more sense to look at BLT or BCV resale or maybe SSR. Now, if we were talking Poly......

Every time I crunch the Figment Financials, I keep coming back to renting. We went last month and did a combo stay of BLT 2 bedroom (still cannot believe i got that) and SOG for less than our MF. The time before that was a combo stay of Hilton and Bonnet Creek for wayyyyy less than MF. Although the current premium annual pass renewal perk they are offering for DVC members is pretty sweet!!

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

DVC can't just be a financial decision.
You definitely have to sort of let that pixie dust cloud your vision and just say, what the heck, I want to be a part of Mickey.
That's kinda how I ended up owning.
I knew about exchanging but in all honesty it was such a mystery and I didn't want to fuss with it at the time since I had not mastered II and still really don't do too well in II.

Now that they are in RCI, I think it's definitely easier but still ya gotta work at it.
Owning DVC is soooooooo much easier. You just log in and book something.
There is always something available somewhere even if it's SSR.
I think that's why so many just take the plunge.
If I wanted to go this weekend, I could.
Most exchangers can't say the same unless they are extremely lucky.
You'd be surprised how often I just take off because I own and they make it easy.
Of course I could just as easily stay off site too but sometimes it's just not the same.

[pnappleprincess Member Find all posts View Profile Close pnappleprincess]

@chriskre I totally agree. For us it is definitely NOT the same!!!! We love Bonnet Creek, but there is just something about that pixie dust that makes us pay that little bit more when we can.

Not to mention the little things. Like when we took my daughter for the first time, they gave her a pin that said "1st Visit" and the rest of us pins that said Celebrating. And everywhere we went they called her princess. Not to mention - we did Magical Express for the first time. We live in Georgia, so we typically drive. And yes, it was magical. A lot of people complain about how long it takes etc. But not having to lug suitcases around MCO with a 9 month old is priceless.

If DVC were the only way to stay on property, we would have taken the plunge years ago!

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

You'd be surprised how often I just take off because I own and they make it easy.

Trying not to be jealous, here. I comfort myself with the knowledge that, if we lived within an eight hour drive of Orlando, DVC would be a much bigger temptation. So staying put is saving us money, right?