Buying DVC small perks

[RD-SOX]

So looks like we will be buying direct, haven't officially decided but I've been playing the pros and cons and yes the pros are winning, we plan on finalizing everything the first week in September.

I understand all the amazing perks with DVC but what about the little things? Seems silly but after you buy direct do you get some type of small trinket or "welcome to the club" packet? Like a key chain, sticker, magic band, blanket, bag or hat?

Also since we are buying direct from Disney but not actually in Florida how does that work? I guess I didn't ask that on our two hour phone call with our guide. I just assumed we could do everything on the phone.

 

[Jwaire]

You get a welcome kit with a certificate, water bottle and cooling towel. They can do most states from home. However, there's a few that they aren't allowed to (West Virginia was one, don't know the other one.).



https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program/own...s-new-member-gift-with-direct-points-purchase

 

[Curiousporpoise]

We haven’t received our Welcome Kit yet, but we went to Aulani in July and they gave us a DVC member’s bag filled with lanyards, water bottle, toilette bag, buttons, prints and a special DVC pin.

 

[cdobert]

We didn't get that kit. We got a backpack and cinch sack

 

[Sandisw]

We haven’t received our Welcome Kit yet, but we went to Aulani in July and they gave us a DVC member’s bag filled with lanyards, water bottle, toilette bag, buttons, prints and a special DVC pin.

Aulani has some really nice gifts they give when people stay. It doesn’t happen at the WDW resorts.

 

[Cfabar1]

We have stayed twice so far as direct members. Have received nothing.

 

[intamin]

So looks like we will be buying direct, haven't officially decided but I've been playing the pros and cons and yes the pros are winning, we plan on finalizing everything the first week in September.

I understand all the amazing perks with DVC but what about the little things? Seems silly but after you buy direct do you get some type of small trinket or "welcome to the club" packet? Like a key chain, sticker, magic band, blanket, bag or hat?

Also since we are buying direct from Disney but not actually in Florida how does that work? I guess I didn't ask that on our two hour phone call with our guide. I just assumed we could do everything on the phone.

You can do everything on the phone with your guide. They'll have you docusign some things that are sent to your email. Really it works not much different aside from the fact that you don't get to meet your guide in person.

Enjoy the 30,000 dollar water bottle and cooling towel as in the picture above

 

[stwaldman]

Last time we were at VGF, we were shmoozing with the guide in the villas lobby and she gave our daughter a bunch of minor trinkets like a pin, a roll of stickers, and the Alice art print they've had (there might have been another print or magnet too). Nothing fancy or out of the ordinary, but lots of easy "magic" for a toddler. We were on the Wish after and even though it was a standard cruise, they had the normal silly DVC swag and free drink mixer.

We also got the water bottle kit with our last direct purchase, we were only resale owners in the backpack days.

 

[radiodome21]

When we were in Disneyland last week we were able to access to the DVC Star View Station. It was like 90 outside and the AC and complimentary fountain Coke drinks were a huge hit with my kids. While we didn’t get to try it out at night it looked like you could get a decent view of the fireworks show.

 

[RichVIII]

They have had Magic Band Sliders on property lately but they go quickly. It sounds like this second order is already out again. They were very tight with giving on two sliders per household. Magnets were easier to get.

 

[AstroBlasters]

We have stayed twice so far as direct members. Have received nothing.

Did you go down and talk to them? We are here right now and went down for our welcome gift (the pullstring backpack with goodies. They also include a card with the room artwork you can take home that you can bring down for another gift. They also have a “word of the day passport” that has some little trinkets at the end.

Obviously, everything depends on availability and we don’t ever expect anything.

 

[achinforsomebacon]

When we were in Disneyland last week we were able to access to the DVC Star View Station. It was like 90 outside and the AC and complimentary fountain Coke drinks were a huge hit with my kids. While we didn’t get to try it out at night it looked like you could get a decent view of the fireworks show.

The fountain drink machine with 100+ options is definitely a hit with the kids (as were the snacks). So many options and they want to try them all. A cast member was explaining how the machine works, which I found very interesting but I digress. Anyway, unfortunately the lounge closes at 6 so well before fireworks.

But just having somewhere to chill away from the crowds and recharge was nice. Grab a few drinks and snacks. We also brought our dinner up one night just to have a nice quiet place to eat and relax. There's also a photo machine where you can take a picture and pick a background and then print it out. The kids also had fun with that.

 

[Sunnyore]

We have stayed twice so far as direct members. Have received nothing.

From my personal experience so far, it’s mainly Aulani and Grand Californian stays that gives a bunch of the little knick knacks. And before VDH came along, most of the goodies at Grand Cali are leftover Aulani and cruise line gifts. At WDW if you stop by a DVC desk they might have like buttons, sliders, magnets etc.

I do hope at the very least you got either the backpack or the gold water bottle set mailed to your house as a welcome home gift.

 

[RD-SOX]

They have had Magic Band Sliders on property lately but they go quickly. It sounds like this second order is already out again. They were very tight with giving on two sliders per household. Magnets were easier to get.

Oh my gosh, my Magic Band kept coming off when we were there in July, I wish I could get these to prevent that!!

 

[Disney Spaz]

We added in person in June and got the magnets, backpack, sliders and pictures when we were in person. Then a few weeks after closing we got the box with more magnets, the cooling towel and water bottle. This was our third add on in about 15 months so we have received three of the boxes. Now every time I start thinking about adding points I tell my husband I need a new cooling towel.

 

[teamsamant]

My friends who all bought direct for their first contract told me to buy resale and save 20k. Or buy direct and receive a 20k backpack. The direct perks are at Disney's discretion and can be changed or removed at any time, certainly not worth 2x the price to go direct....at least not for me.

 

[Genie+]

My friends who all bought direct for their first contract told me to buy resale and save 20k. Or buy direct and receive a 20k backpack. The direct perks are at Disney's discretion and can be changed or removed at any time, certainly not worth 2x the price to go direct....at least not for me.

It depends what you want, what you buy, how you’re able to use it, and what you may get should you exit down the road. There are differences. They can be little to great. It’s not automatically $20k increase for nothing.

Enter at your own risk lol:

I did not want Saratoga Springs at $90pp or whatever it goes for, spending this kind of money to settle on something that might bring us frustration/regret instead of joy/excitement. It’s a gamble I’ll find out the answer in 20+yrs when I looking back at our actual experiences and comparing salvage values.

Our direct cost is $3.93pp/yr buy-in with $7.33pp dues and priority to stay somewhere we truly enjoy. I bet on direct being the best value over time. SSR is about $3pp/yr with $7.86 dues. It’s ~$75/yr difference on our 150pts. TVM could be applied to the price difference, though even a high estimate wouldn’t double that. There’s the future unknown of salvage value (and dues) changing that difference up or down. What does it get? Could be more choices, discounts and perks. Easy to live without. Nice to have especially if it ends up near the same cost.

SSR is great because the smaller outlay can make DVC possible. Accessing deluxe rooms for $200/nt is fantastic. That’s exactly what I should’ve done years ago in stead of hemming and hawing. But today I felt VGF direct had the best value.

The DVC landscape will continue changing, we have clues but don’t know precisely how. I know someone who bought SSR resale when BLT went on sale and later kicked themselves. They compromised on what priorities they got with their points and lost out on BLT payday when they later sold. BLT would’ve ended up cheaper and more enjoyable.

 

[intamin]

My friends who all bought direct for their first contract told me to buy resale and save 20k. Or buy direct and receive a 20k backpack. The direct perks are at Disney's discretion and can be changed or removed at any time, certainly not worth 2x the price to go direct....at least not for me.

I don't regret buying direct. I also don't regret buying resale. There's no reason why your DVC portfolio has to be only one or the other as there are benefits to both. Me buying resale Aulani saved me 8 grand. Me buying direct RIV saved me nearly a thousand dollars in annual passes this year alone, gets me into the lounges, Moonlight Magic and any new resorts. And of course the cooling towel.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Went into Star View Station today for the first time. I really enjoyed being able to sit in a comfortable chair in AC and charge my devices away from crowds with as much Powerade as I could drink. I’ll be back with my kids next month and they are going to love the Lays potato chips and Goldfish.

I know someday this will be overrun with West Coast DVC-Y members… but for today it was exactly what I needed to recharge and hit the ground running again!