The Benefits of a Small DVC Add-On

I previously stated that you should avoid purchasing One-Time-Use Points whenever possible. Now, I’ll explain the better strategy. It’ll cost a little more in the short term, but it’ll work wonders for you as a long-term Disney Vacation Club member. Let’s discuss the benefits of a small add-on contract.

The Either/Or Debate 

When Disney first introduced One-Time-Use Points, they were an affordable option. Guests could supplement their DVC contract by adding a handful of points at a reasonable price. 

Alas, the company eventually identified a cost inefficiency. Leadership recognized that they could charge more for these points, and DVC members would have no problem paying the extra amount. After all, since One-Time-Use Points are hard-capped at 24, the price increase only forced members to pay a few dollars more. 

That’s a bit misleading, though. Let’s say that you purchase the maximum number of One-Time-Use Points five times over the next decade. Presuming no additional price increases – and let’s be honest that there will be some – you’d spend $480 each time, which is a grand total of $2,400. 

That’s money you’re never getting back, and it adds no value to your current DVC ownership interest. The problem with One-Time-Use Points is right there in the name. Their DVC’s version of a points rental system, albeit nowhere near as good a value as DVC Rental Store. 

So, I’d argue that you’re better served by buying another DVC contract instead. Members who are buying One-Time-Use Points that often – and I’m guilty of this particular mistake – are using our money poorly. 

Alas, we purchase One-Time-Use Points to avoid a larger investment. We know we need more points, but we don’t want to buy another big contract. Some of us are resistant to Add-on-itis, even in instances when it would help us. 

Therefore, we have two unsatisfying options, and we’re stuck choosing between the lesser of two evils. Typically, we select the less expensive option, One-Time-Use Points. What we don’t consider enough is that there’s a superior choice, the secret option members often overlook. 

The Benefits of a Small DVC Add-On 

As I type this, DVC Resale Market lists more than 15 “small” DVC contracts. That’s a relative term, and my definition may differ from yours. In this instance, I mean the tiniest one possible: 25-50 DVC Points. 

Ordinarily, members would skip past these contracts in favor of bigger ones. After all, you’ll struggle to book many vacations at Disney when you have 25 DVC Points. That’s not the point, though.

When you buy One-Time-Use Points regularly, you’re acknowledging that your current contract isn’t big enough. So, you’re spending money in the short term to solve a short-term problem. You need more points, and Disney sells you extras to suit your needs. 

In the above example, you’re spending $2,400 to get more points over the next decade. While the inventory is likely to change by the time you read this, DVC Resale Market lists three different small contracts at less than $4,000 while I type this. They range from 25 to 50 DVC Points. 

For only a fractional amount more money – and in one instance, LESS! – you utilize that same purchasing power as an investment. Rather than paying $2,400 for points that only help you once, you could purchase a small DVC contract instead. 

The Math Proves the Point

Before you counter that you’d have to pay Membership Dues, I’ll show you the math and logic behind my suggestion. When you buy 24 One-Time-Use Points, you get…24 points. Should you do that five times, you’ll wind up with a total of 120 points. 

However, when you buy a 25-point contract, you get exponentially more. Let’s say that you purchase a contract with a 2042 Expiration Year, the shortest possible amount of time. You’ll still get 400 DVC Points over the lifetime of the contract. That’s 25 points per year for 16 years. 

So, would you rather have 120 points that are only good during the year you buy them or 400 full-fledged DVC Points? That’s 3.33 times as many points for not much more money. The math suggests that as long as you buy a contract under $8,000, you’re probably coming out ahead. 

That’s not even the best part. Since you’re not using your points every year, you can rent your extra points. By employing that strategy, your contract virtually pays for itself. Rather than burning through $2,400 with nothing to show for it, you’re adopting a different approach. 

At times, you’ll use the points from your small contract to visit Disney. When you don’t, you’re leveraging those same points to pay for part of the contract and the Annual Dues. It’s a much better use of your money. 

Access all available Disney Vacation Club resale listings, or learn more about buying and selling with DVC Resale Market.

If you’d like to make an offer or request a free consultation about buying or adding to your DVC contract, the DVC Resale Market team is here to help!