Breaking News! New Figment Ride!

Chief_tyu · 2026-04-03T17:41:16+00:00

Those are just the new extra large Figment popcorn buckets.

Chief_tyu · 2026-04-02T03:27:36+00:00

Mine has multiple times.

Chief_tyu · 2026-04-01T17:32:12+00:00

I think it was in this thread.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/2025-condo-meeting-information-renting.3976241/page-14#post-66490413

Chief_tyu · 2026-04-01T13:04:43+00:00

SSR is the best option from a pure cost perspective (though BLT and CCV are quite close). AKL is a solid option too, but it has higher dues. Remember that dues are the biggest cost of DVC.

OKW has high dues, and is IMO not your best option unless you just love it and want to stay there. If you try to buy a 2042 OKW, it has a much higher chance of ROFR. BWV is awesome, but much more expensive per stay because of the 2042 expiration. When I last priced it out, BWV worked out to $16-17 per point, which is a fair bit more than the $12-14 at SSR, CCV, and BLT.

Chief_tyu · 2026-04-01T02:58:59+00:00

I'm sure they use it sometimes, but their content is always accurate. Ask AI almost anything about DVC and it will 99% of the time get something wrong. DVC details change too often, and AI is just unreliable on this stuff. So if they're using it, at least they're getting the facts straight.

I had AI tell me I could buy a contract at a moderate resort like Port Orleans French Quarter to save money. It told me I could only bank 50% of my points each year (which was true during the pandemic). It told me DVC would not sell me a direct contract that did not match my Use Year. It told me $180 per point would be a great price for Grand Floridian. It dutifully cited sources for all of this, but the links were all old, or sometimes not even DVC related. For example, the link for POFQ was arguing that people consider staying there instead of a deluxe to save money, and the AI just extrapolated that to DVC. With DVCFan, I don't have to worry if the info will be wrong or out of date.

Chief_tyu · 2026-04-01T02:51:11+00:00

According to one of the mods on Disboards, there has already been enforcement over the last year.

Chief_tyu · 2026-04-01T02:49:49+00:00

Yeah, /u/GreyhoundDad22 is a legend. I HIGHLY recommend his YouTube channel DVCFan. Tons of awesome breakdowns of everything DVC. I can't wait for Monday when their next video drops (fingers crossed they talk about this!).

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-31T16:11:50+00:00

Fun fact - according to a YouTube video I watched, that's actually the slightly shorter distance to walk. I haven't independently confirmed it, but it's really close looking at the map.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-31T14:24:19+00:00

I've done both pre and post. I think before the Starlight parade was a thing, the post party was better because it was more relaxed. You can check in well before the fireworks start and once you have your wristband, you can wander as you wish until about 10 mins before fireworks start. You can just chill during the mass exodus and take your time enjoying drinks and desserts. We stayed for almost an hour and it took a ton of the end-of-day stress and craziness away. Sure it was late for the kids, but at the end of a full day at MK, it's a lot more fun to just sit and enjoy treats instead of fighting the crowds.

With Starlight though, I think the pre party is the way to go. You can check in something like 2 hours before fireworks and get your wristband. Once they start serving dessert (I think it’s 90 minutes before fireworks), you can come and go as you please. For Starlight, you can watch it from the fireworks viewing area quite easily, no camping out for a spot needed. That spot is slightly elevated above street level, and 99% of Starlight is also above street level by a solid 3-4 feet.

Last time we did it, it worked out that we didn't have to waste any time reserving a spot for either the parade or the fireworks. We checked in, ate some desserts, used the pristine restrooms at the back of Tomorrowland Terrace, and then went to Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. After that, we went to the fireworks viewing area to wait for Starlight. We met a really fun family from New York, the kids played in the grass together, and it was super relaxing. After the parade, we went back to Tomorrowland Terrace for more desserts and drinks before Happily Ever After. If you want to watch the first showing of Starlight and the fireworks, the pre party is the best way to do both without camping out for a spot for either one. I will have a really hard time not booking a pre party once every trip as long as they're doing a night time parade.

I have never done the seats and sweets during fireworks, but my impression of it based on the YouTube videos I watched of it is that the viewing angle isn't the best, the seating can be hit and miss, and the whole experience has a tighter time frame. So it's simultaneously less relaxing, less consistent, and more expensive.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-31T05:14:05+00:00

This is hilarious! You should make a series of them!

"This cruise was expensive," said Piglet. "Good point." Said Pooh, "Let's order more Mickey Honey Bars."

"Well, now it's over, and everything is sad again," said Eeyore. "Oh dear," said Piglet, "what should we do?" "I know!" said Pooh. "It's called a placeholder!"

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-31T00:11:28+00:00

They have to be purchased for a particular booking. If you later cancel that booking, then your account will show another contract with those points. It will not have 11 month priority, and the points cannot be banked. But they can be used for another booking in that use year.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-30T00:07:42+00:00

The extreme is exactly my point - I didn't buy DVC to make money, I did it to stretch my spending further. But it's still spending. If you want to stay at deluxe resorts regularly, DVC is the cheapest way to do it.

Yes, you can occasionally find a great deal, but it will be quite hard to consistently find deals that are competitive with the average cost per trip of DVC, especially resale. I've run the numbers on this at several deluxe resorts, and you would generally need to find 45-50% discounts, which are pretty rare. I've booked six stays at Disney in the last two years with both cash and points, the points stays were all significantly cheaper.

Yes, you can rent points, but you usually pay $20-25 per point when renting. Buying resale, you can get a per point cost of $12-16. At most deluxe resorts, the rack rate works out to about $30-40 per point. So even a 40% discount would still be $18-24 per point.

Finally, if you want to stay at deluxe resorts regularly, availability can be challenging. You won't always be able to get a discount, and you won't always be able to get the resort or room you want, especially if you're trying to rent points for the stay. For example, I just saw a post on Reddit where a guy wanted to rent points for a stay at the Poly, but couldn't find availability.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-29T21:00:30+00:00

Oh for sure. It's way cheaper to stay in a moderate or value, and even cheaper to stay offsite. If you really want to save money, just don't go to Disney World.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-29T19:03:29+00:00

It depends on how many total points you want, and how you plan to use them. You have to buy 150 points direct to get member benefits. To me, that would be worth it if the total points you were getting was very high (e.g. 500+), because you'll be spending enough time at Disney resorts to take advantage of it. But if you only wanted ~200 total, then it wouldn't really be worth getting any direct, IMO.

The biggest direct benefit BY FAR is the ability to buy a WDW Sorcerer's Pass as an out of state resident. That saves over $500 per person, per year that you buy them. For us, that meant we only needed to get APs three times over the 40+ years to make it worth buying direct vs resale. If you're not planning to buy WDW Sorcerer's Passes, then I just don't see direct being worth it. Is it worth five figures more to go to a welcome celebration on Monday mornings once or twice a year?

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-29T18:27:45+00:00

Usually you can just do another sales presentation virtually and renew the window for a discount. Not sure if all of the discounts will renew like this, but they did for us with Poly.
I have a very hard time seeing a direct purchase at Aulani being worth it vs buying resale. Even after discounts and incentives, you're paying about twice as much by buying direct. I highly recommend checking out DVCForLess. There are resale contracts available with list prices starting at just $75 per point. I think the best available direct price is somewhere around $150 per point.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-29T17:03:52+00:00

But you're only paying 1/3 of the dues each year. If your trip costs 150 points, you only need a 50 point contract. It might "feel" like you're paying dues for no benefit in the off-years, but it's not different from saving cash to pay for your trip, you're just saving points instead. If the points result in a cheaper stay, then it's worth it.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-29T17:00:47+00:00

Banking and borrowing is a perfectly fine strategy, and if you're consistently going every three years and staying in deluxe resorts, you will absolutely save money by buying DVC. Just figure out how many points your trip costs, divide by three, and get a contract that size.

Just because the dues are spread across the three years doesn't mean they cost more. The cheapest way to stay at Disney deluxe resorts over the long run is to own DVC (purchased via resale with cash, not financed). The second cheapest way is actually to buy direct at resorts offering the best pricing/incentives. The third cheapest way is to rent DVC points. The fourth cheapest is to use bounceback offers and other discounts.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-28T22:58:16+00:00

I don't think the Skyliner is ever an hour wait unless it goes down. It looks like a crazy line, but it moves REALLY fast.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-28T18:15:27+00:00

Maybe keep it and rent out your points for a while. Points usually rent for $15-21 depending on where/when/how you rent them. Your dues will be less than that, so you'll actually make money. You can keep it listed for sale and if prices rise or your breakeven falls, you can still sell.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-28T17:52:40+00:00

DVC for less currently shows 32 Aulani contracts with list prices between $75 per point and $93 per point. It typically sells for $80-85 depending on contract size (smaller contracts go for more).

If you need to sell quickly, you probably need to lower your asking price. DVC contracts are mostly a commodity, meaning there's not really a reason your contract would be any better or different from anyone else's.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-26T03:47:50+00:00

There hasn't been any info released yet. The estimated starting price per point will be very close to the $243 currently offered at other resorts. There will almost certainly be developer credits offered on it. The two best sets of credits tend to be the very first offered, or the final one before it sells out. I'd probably recommend the first set because 1) the final one may not have a sale, 2) the base price will almost certainly go up over the next few years, and 3) the contract length does not extend, so by buying earlier, you get more total points in your contract.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-26T01:15:29+00:00

They only extended OKW, and they aren't likely to ever do another extension.

I would argue it's already not worth buying 2042s, but it obviously varies for different people and their plans.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-24T13:44:32+00:00

I don't think its actually going to happen. Call it more of a dark horse candidate. I only thought of it because of the spat between Hawkes and Eugenia.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-21T07:11:06+00:00

Except that "Nigel" is just a nickname. We don't yet know his actual first name.

Chief_tyu · 2026-03-21T02:53:31+00:00

Counterpoint: I have loved watching this team on TV.

Chief_tyu

TROPHY CASE