Hi
We purchased through timeshare store - most common place for resale.
http://www.disneyinfo.com/timeshare/dvclisting.cfm
Link above
Resale is only way to buy for "sold out resort" ie Old key West and Boardwalk.
The advantage of these resorts is that you tend to get more for your points as newer resorts tend to cost more for a week but you should really buy where you want to stay. eg we are going in early 12.2002 for our 1st trip home - cost 160 points in studio in OKW our home resort, a studio at Wilderness lodge villas will cost 210 points for same time. (2 weeks)
Our agent was Shontell Crawford.
We chose a likely purchase on the website above & then e-mailed to find out more details.
In addition to the basic price there are closing costs to pay but we negotiated (commonly done) for the seller to pay these.
We Offered about $65 per point with seller to pay closing costs ($500)
This was accepted and the rest was settled with a couple of faxes and the money was wired through a closing agent so that it is secure. They will ask for an extra amount for bank charges but our english bank was able to do this for us more cheaply.
It may be possible to buy cheaper - I see some on sale there now for $60 but you also need to consider the points currently available.
If the owner has used all the points for the following year then you should of course pay less.
You also need to clarify who pays the dues.
We bought in the Summer - 3-4 months into our use year and the owners had used all of the points. We therefore agreed that the sellers would pay all of the annual dues for 2001.
We got our full pack from Disney on completion and our membership card which says we have been members since 1995 - as this refers to the start of the original contract.
Resale Vs Direct Purchase.
1. Resale - only way to get sold out resorts
2. Can get good deal - direct purchase soon to be $80 per point
3. Hassle - some people may find it easier to buy direct from disney - but I found a resale very straightforward having never done anything like this before.
4. Treated NO differently by disney after completion.
5. Time - 3 months from decision to buy to closing - slightl delayed by us being away 2 weeks
Any more questions, fire away!