150 Point DVC Members

[bnlbebes]

Sometimes I am very envious of all the plans and resrvations being made by DVC members with more points than me posting on this site. My wife and I both being teachers and getting ready to start a family would love to own more points so that we could take more frequent and more extravagant trips, but all that is in our future for nw are the 150 point that we started out with. They have taken us on the Disney cruise, to Vero Beach, on a long trip to California, and a Christmastime stay at our home resort - The Boardwalk. This summer we are taking her siblings on a short trip to Hilton Head in a 2BR.

I was just wondering - How many other members are getting by with 150 points like we are?

bnlbebes@netzero.net

Life's like a movie, write your own ending...

[kcmrlitz]

We are happily getting by with 150 points per year! Sure, we would love to have more. We head down 2 or 3 times a year to WDW and Vero. We usually check-in on Sunday and leave on Friday. We usually end up with points to bank. Of course as the family gets older, we will be using 1 and 2 bedrooms more.

Kevin

[MarkW]

We bought 150 points 3 years ago and it is plenty for my wife and I. We go about once or twice a year to Disney and we usually end up banking points. We've even had enough "leftover" points for friends and family to use as well.

I don't feel any pressure to buy more. I'm very happy with what we've got right now.

Mark and Steph's Web Site (http://markwirth.home.att.net)
OKW Members since 1998

[downontheBW]

We have 150 points which is plenty for us. Our kids are in college so just the two of us go down. We don't want to stay an entire week so Sat-Wed or Sat-Thurs is perfect. We get a studio since we don't spend much time in the room or cook. Our habits will probably change once we have grandchildren but we don't expect that for quite a while yet.

I can't imagine trying to juggle 150 points for a 2 bedroom and/or staying for a week or more. I'm betting you'll add on by the time you have a few school-age kids - start saving now! Good luck

Dixie Landings '94, '96 / Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club '98
Off site (never again) '99 / BWV '00 / HHI '01 / BWV '02

Heidi

[normr]

Sounds like you are making the very best of your 150 points, that's great and the beauty of DVC, we can shape it into what works best for us. We own 285 points and it's not enough for us.

But as i was saying, even with the minimum amount of points, you are maximizing your DVC into what is best for you, I just showed a friend at work about DVC when he told me he just bought a timeshare in orlando for $16,000 (not DVC), after I showed him the DVC stuff, he called to cancel his sale while he had time..

[MinnieMe2]

We bought 150 pts. in Feb. We'd like more, but since we usually only go down every other year, we should be fine with our 150. Of course, if we have a sudden windfall of some kind, we'll probably add some points!!

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/WeisKat/RAcroc.gif Counting the Hours Til We're Back in the World

Mother-of-Four (Five, If You Count My Husband)

[minnie mouse]

I too have a 150 point contract at Boardwalk. And since this is only our second year being a member so far it is working out ok.

I am on a waiting list for a small add on through resale but if nothing comes up before this next price increase we want to add on to Vero Beach.

We like to vacation at least 10 to 12 days in Disney and I would love to have the option of staying in a one bedroom vs. a studio all the time.

But then I keep going back on forth with the decision of a longer or more frequent visits or a large unit.

[DisneyHumbug]

I have 150 points - just bought in Feb. We are taking our first trip as DVC members in June and have another planned for next Feb. We will manage! Since my oldest is in college (and 2 more will be there soon enough) - 150 will have to do for now!

DVC 01

[TnRobin]

We have 180 points. Close enough to the 150 points to understand

Disney Vacation Club Board Co-Moderator
DVC and Cruise Chat Hostess
Cruise Board List Mistress

<font size=4 color=blue font face="Comic Sans MS">Robin

[Lesley]

We have 162...close enough. I have the next few years planned out and we will average about a full week a year. Adding on is incredibly tempting and I've been waffling on it for weeks, but we can manage with what we've got.


Lesley


1979 Contemporary
1992 Off-site
1994 Carribean Beach
1999 Fort Wilderness and Coronado Springs
2000 Polynesian and Old Key West
2002 Boardwalk Villas

[caverill]

We have 150 (I'd like about 300 more) points. Since it is only my wife and I, we only need a studio.

We usually go for a week a year in Feb. and we have been able to bank points, however I believe that as we use DVC more, we will end up with more points.

Clark Averill

DxL 95
DL 97
Off-Site 98-Courtyard/DD
DxL 00
Joined DVC - Sept 00
BWV - Feb 01
BWV - Feb 02

[lodgelady]

We are just getting ready to close on 150 at VWL. We have two younger kids(5&8)who are old enough to stay up as late as we do on vacation, but young enough to not mind sharing a bed! So, 150 buys a week in a studio anywhere anytime except in premier -often more- so we think it is a perfect place to start:) When the kids get big and want more room, we will add on( maybe at Y/B!)

[mickeyc]

We have been going to disney since it opened on our honeymoon. We have stayed in and out of the park and always had a good time. However, the past 10 years we have not booked outside the park and there is definetly a difference staying in the park with Mickey.

A 150 pt contract if planned carefully can get you two studios for five days from Sat. to Thurs. during magic season. This year in addition to our family we have friends coming with us which is the reason for the second studio. As everyone knows two studios will accomdate 8 people. While at disney we don't usually cook in alot because of the activties we plan. However, during our second week of vacation we go to the west coast of Florida to relax. It is when we go to the beach where we usually rent a two bedroom two bath unit.

If you have been accustomed to staying in a hotel room a studio is bigger and provides other features such as microwave, refrid, and wet bar. In addition most units have balconies.

As everyone knows when they purchased a disney timeshare there is alot of flexiblity. A 150 pt contract can accomdate depending upon your indivdual vacation habits; however, don't plan to take a safari--not enough points. Enjoy ;)

[ez]

I feel rich with my 150 points! Living just over an hour away, we can be very flexible and get alot of milege out of our points. For the small amount it costs me in monthly payments and dues, getting these deluxe accomodations is awesome. My friends are all jealous because its like we are always taking a mini vacation to disney(Sometimes we take them with us!) All on 150 points a year... I'm lovin it!

[Zimbubba]

We have 150 and visit every other year. They have also taken us to Vero and HH in the same year. It works for us.

[Paul in CT]

We "survived" very nicely on 150 points since 1995 when we joined, but we enjoyed it so much that we decided to add 50 more points when the extra points became available in 1999.

We originally figured on going once every two years, but we have found that 150 was enough to go once each year and even stay in a 1BR. We often go for five nights, but have also stayed for more and we DO stay through weekends even though they are more expensive point-wise. The real killer was NYE 99 that cost us 72 points, but it was worth it!!

Enjoy your 150!

Paul in CT

[Louise-Montreal]

I LOVE MY DVC!!!

With Magical Beginnings, I had extra points this year, and I was able to go in January and we rented three studios at OKW- one for my mom, one for my brother and his family and one for us. Then we went to Hilton Head for two nights and we rented a two bedroom for for two nights ($120.00 a night- cash discount) and then we went again in March to our home resort BWV for a week. I did have to borrow some points and I realize that I will not be able to travel like that again, but I was able to book a studio at BWV next year for six days with 18 points left over. I would love to have more points, but I am enjoying my 150 pts! :eek:

[disney queen]

we are staying at the villas/wl in june for 4 nights and then in december, we, along w/another couple, are spending a week at OKW, home resort, each couple w/a studio!! and have points to bank, but not many. <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz"> <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz"> <IMG WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="15" SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif" alt="razz">

[garrett79]

We have 150 points as well, an, sure, we would like to have more.But, like you, my wife is a teacher and is limited on when we can go. So far, we have planned our vacations exactly as we wanted them and 150 has been more than enough. I cant say how glad I am to be part of DVC.

[Pooh Bear Dad]

There seems to be a little point machoism on this site. "I have 20 millions points and like to rent 3 GV at a time". Reminds me of computer types braging over the size of their hard drive. It is cute I guess.

I have 200 points and have not experienced any "point envy" as of yet. :D

Scott

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/gorayman/groupan2.gif

[Hotrod Mickey]

Goes to show you the differences in appreciation. I am only 24 years old and my wife is 23, we work hard have a house and a 150 point vacation club membership. I feel so fortunate to have this timeshare....we all would like to have more points, but remember....some people cant afford to go to Disneyworld...at all. I think all of us should think about how good we realy have it sometimes.

[msdis]

Until a couple years ago, I thought only the very wealthy could afford to stay at ANYTHING above the moderates, let alone be able to afford DVC. In fact I thought WE were wealthy to be able to stay at the moderates. Then when we really looked at DVC we saw the value being able to stay in deluxe accomodations at a moderates price. We felt like we "bit the bullet" just to buy 150 points. But in our enthusiasm we did the 7-day cruise in a verandah last year along with 2 planned trips and found we were already short on points. So less than 6 months later we found our selves making a small add-on to accomodate a few extra nights. Then we found our selves short for the next trip so we added on just enough to do the next trip. We are now at a little over 200 points and I know we could do this forever, as we have been tempted twice this year already. But somewhere we are losing sight of our original goals, uses, and sensibility of DVC. So, I drew the line and said no more. If we really need to stay 7 nights and we only have enough points for 5 then we either stay 5 nights or switch resorts and pay for the extra 2 nights. There is an addiction just like any addiction only it's a harder one to recognize. I have been awed by the number of points that others own but never envious, more power to all. I still feel very lucky for what we have and as someone else said there are a lot of people who never get to Disney let alone 2-3 times per year like most of us do. We don't have a family and it's just the 2 of us each trip so our points sure do go a lot further than someone with a family. Those people don't get my envy they get my sympathy. We get almost the same level of magic in a studio as they get in a 1-2 bedroom for a lot less points and maintenance fees. Happiness is NOT relative to one's means and the number of DVC points one owns is no exception.

[alexcturner]

We have 152 pts (we banked 48 from last yr). We would like to have more so we could get larger units and be able to invite others. However, by watching the dates, we are able to get quite a few nights, usually 1 or 2 vacations per yr.

[JohnG]

We have 170 points and find that, with a little advance planning, we can get a lot of vacation value.

I always book at the 11 month window for BW, and sometimes get "Standard View" accomodations. We go in May and November, (except for going over the last New Year's Holiday), so not the most expensive times of the year (though we do get to enjoy the Flower Festival and the Wine and Food Festival). And, we almost always go for Sun to Fri stays, to avoid the expensive Sat and Sun nite point costs.

I'd like to own about 500 more points, but thanks to the flexibility and value of DVC, we are getting by just fine!

JohnG
Offsite 73,74,75,76,77,79,80, 82
Poly 82,83,85,86
Carribean Beach 87,88,89,90
Beach Club 91,92,93,95,96
Yacht Club 94
ASM 99
BWDVC 97,98,99,2000 (3 Times)2001 (New Year's for the REAL Millenium!)

DLand 74,78,84,88,92,94,95,96,98

[jcodespoti]

We started w/150 points. Added another 50 in 200. Just about right

Joe in CT

[tss2]

I sometimes think it would be nice to have more points, but we can always add later, IF we think it is necessary. I don't feel too "bad" about our amount of points, in fact sometimes I think its good we have that amount. We can go to Disney for approximately 1 week a year.

Over the course of the next 41 years I would like to go many other places that aren't offered thru the trading our points. Yes, I hope to enjoy taking children and eventually grandchildren to Disney, but I would also enjoy going to MANY OTHER PLACES in the world and SELECTING MY OWN CHOICE of accomidations. I love planning trips and one plus of going on non-DVC vacations is choosing the BEST TIME and PLACE FOR YOU without 7/11 month constraints!

[zurgswife]

It seemed like enough point to go every 18months or so...but alas we haven't, we go about every 10 months. We have 6 in our family so we had to purchase an additional 136 with resale. Which is a little more than we need but I'm sure that it will do.

We feel extremely fortunate to be able to visit WDW as much as we do..

<IMG src="http://members.home.net/dunlapsdisney/images/halloween/halloweenMK1_small.jpg" ></P>
CBR Dec '95, Sept '97
BWV Aug '98, Mar '99
ASM Nov '99
BWV Oct '00, Mar 01
Zurg, Barbie, Buzz, Buzz, Jessie & Tinkerbell

Visit http://badshoe.com

[Mojomanny]

We bought 185 points which works for us. We plan to have a disney vacation every other year, alternating between the parks and the cruise. This means we will cruise once every 4 years and hit the parks once every four years. This fits nicely for us so my son will not feel as if he is doing wither too often and he will be able to transition through the parks as he gets older. He is alomst 5 right now)

This works for us.

Year 1 - sold 92 points back to DVC (one time only opportunity). Banked remaining 93 points.

Year 2- Will use 185 points plus banked 93 points for a 7 week stay - One bedroom in Late February - At Villas at Wilderness Lodge. Points cost=270 ($1485 estimated value) Cash customer price same room is estimated at $3255.

Year 3 - Bank 185 points

Year 4 - Use 185 points plus banked 185 plus 90 borrowed year 5 points for a total of 460 for a 7 day cruise - Category 7, late February - Point cost $2530. Cash price over $3300 exluding port fees.

[HorizonsFan]

My wife and I also own 150 pts and feel like we have enough for now. We're both teachers and our calendar is done two years ahead so we're able to take full advantage of the 11 mo. window. We're going for 10 nights this May/June in a standard view studio and we'll have a few points to bank. We'll probably add 50 pts. when BCV opens. We love the BW area and if we combine the pts., we'll only have to move across the lake!
We love DVC...

Dave

http://members.home.net/tdkersh/horizonssignsm.gif http://members.home.com/tdkersh/puck.jpg

[baileybrad]

that is what we want. We bought a resale and got a great deal on it. We stay in a studio most of the time. The one downside to us when it comes to the DVC or any timeshare is the maintenance fees. My brother has over 400 points at OKW and the thought of paying the fees on those points in 10 to 15 years seems brutal to me. We are happy with what we have. The thing that makes this country great is choice. We made ours and our quite happy with it.

[tarzanman]

We started out with the 150 at BWV. It was all we could do. It turned out that by the time we made our first trip to Vero we were able to add. We just purchased another 200 at VWL but we couldn't do it all at once. I hope that you are blessed in the future and have the opportunity to get more if you want them. Happy Easter!!

some trips as a child
DxL 4/00
DVC member 4/00
BWV 9/00, 12/01
VB 9/00, 5/01
DCL 1/01, 12/01-1/02 New Years Cruise
OKW 1/01

http://gennaroworld.topcities.com

[bnlbebes]

Thanks for all of the wonderful replies. I had a busy Easter Break and didn't get a chance to look at all of the responses until now. It is good to know that I am associated with other members who are such kind, appreciative, level-headed people.

I would like to add-on more points some day, but with the cost increasing, years passing by, and opportunities dwindling the dream seems to fly further and further away.

bnlbebes@netzero.net

Life's like a movie, write your own ending...

[mattsdad]

I have 150.

[KKlecknerWray]

My husband and I are both teachers, too, and have purchased 150 points. This is our first year with the points, so we're pretty pleased thus far. I'm not sure we would need to buy more, though, just because I'm lucky enough to have parents who have tons of OKW points -- so I kind of "mooch" off of them (by going on there annual summer trips!!)

Sometimes less is more....at least when you're able to "mooch" from others!! ;)

--Kara

http://www.russellwray.com/kara/donald.gif

[BVC4us]

we too have 150 points and to be honest with you, I feel very blessed to have that. That's good enough for me. Believe me, I never even thought I would be able to be a DVC member. I feel very fortunate and I absolutely love the 1 bedroom at the boardwalk.

quick question for ez....I noticed that you are from Ormand Beach. We were in Daytona a couple of weeks ago and were told of the shark attacks at New Smyrna. Have there been anymore?? Thanks