Thinking of Adding On via Resale

myxdvz

DVC - BLT
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Hi everyone!

We've been a member since 2010 and bought direct and paid in cash. We purchased 170 BLT points for a family of 5 staying at a BLT 1 BR Theme park view every other year for a week during the Dream Season.

Since then, we have actually taken a trip every year, and was able to stay at a 2BR OKW, 1BR AKL, and 1BR VGC + a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah Dream Cruise (perk of the purchase + $) while also renting out some points... so I feel we're well on our way into getting our $$$ back.

Since then, we've been blessed by another boy, so we only have until 2014 to squeeze into a 1BR so I'm really thinking of adding on. I was hoping you can help me in deciding the right # of points, the UY and which home resort. Or help me talk thru my options.

Here's what I think my options are:

1. Add on more BLT points with same UY (April) enough to have points for a 2BR EOY. This will mean just an additional 50 points.

This will keep everything simple and as I understand it, same Member ID? But I might have to buy direct or wait for the perfect/right contract to come along which could take a while.

2. Get another mid-sized contract on another resort that the kids will really like, BCV/BWV/AKL with a different UY. I'm leaning 150 points BCV @ $75. My current preferred option.

The reason I want a different UY is that I always wanted to have the option to do a last minute December, January (MLK) or Feb (President's day) trip -- but I would have already banked any remaining points by November 30th. So I'm thinking maybe I should get a UY where I bank by end of March (so July UY?)

While more expensive than below, AKL/BVW/BCV are rentable properties. And since I'm finding us with extra points we were able to rent (not HAD to rent) these previous years, I wanted to make sure renting is still an option.

3. Get the cheapest points. 150 points SSR/HHI/Vero with a July UY.

Once I decide to have a different home resort than BLT, it doesn't really make sense to keep the April UY. The only thing I don't like about #3 is that I don't think these points are "rentable". Transferrable yeah, but not sure how easy/many opportunities for those there are out there.


Help?!
 
Hi everyone!

2. Get another mid-sized contract on another resort that the kids will really like, BCV/BWV/AKL with a different UY. I'm leaning 150 points BCV @ $75. My current preferred option.

The reason I want a different UY is that I always wanted to have the option to do a last minute December, January (MLK) or Feb (President's day) trip -- but I would have already banked any remaining points by November 30th. So I'm thinking maybe I should get a UY where I bank by end of March (so July UY?)


Help?!

The logic behind this might be a little off. You can still book even if you've banked those use year points. You would just have to borrow them from the next use year. It seems to me as managing two different use year contracts is entirely too difficult especially when it comes to combining points for each trip. You're only allowed one transfer a year. It could be an issue in the following scenario:

Say you have 75 points in one contract and 75 points in the other. You go to book a list minute trip and the only thing available is SSR say 100 points for a week. With BLT being your top choice, you choose to waitlist a 150 point vacation accomodation. If you transfer too many points and your waitlist never comes through, you lose those points. But without them, you don't have enough in your current contract to book BLT. If you transfer enough just to get SSR, your one transfer is done. It's a crazy gamble.
 
If it were me, I would pick another resort. It gives more options to bounce around. Also, as it has been said over and over on this board, own where you like to stay.

If you are planning to take last minute trips around December, MLK or President's day, it does not matter what home resort you have. Last minute (within 7 months) means you and everyone else can try to book anywhere. The result will probably be a room at SSR or OKW.

As for renting points, I have rented several times and in very few cases do people come looking for rentals more than 7 months out. So again, it does not matter where your home resort is since renters rarely plan that far ahead. I usually provide them the open resorts for what they are looking for and let them decide.

Good Luck in your decision making
 


The logic behind this might be a little off. You can still book even if you've banked those use year points. You would just have to borrow them from the next use year. It seems to me as managing two different use year contracts is entirely too difficult especially when it comes to combining points for each trip. You're only allowed one transfer a year. It could be an issue in the following scenario:

Say you have 75 points in one contract and 75 points in the other. You go to book a list minute trip and the only thing available is SSR say 100 points for a week. With BLT being your top choice, you choose to waitlist a 150 point vacation accomodation. If you transfer too many points and your waitlist never comes through, you lose those points. But without them, you don't have enough in your current contract to book BLT. If you transfer enough just to get SSR, your one transfer is done. It's a crazy gamble.

Not sure this scenario is valid as we're not talking about 2 small contracts but 2 mid sized contracts. I would end up having 170 BLT and 150 SSR/BCV/BWV (one of these). If I want a last minute trip, I would always use the SSR points as the BLT points would most likely be used to book 11 months out, or get rented out.

I can't use the BLT points (or wouldn't want to do it) because I would have banked points past November 30 so if I were to take a trip Dec to March, I would have to borrow from next year and then lose them should we decide to cancel. This is actually what happened to us in 2011. Bought DVC in March 2010. Banked points in Nov 2010 then decided we're cruising in March so we extended it for a land trip as well. Had to borrow from 2011 already instead of using my 2010 points.

I just think having 2 home resorts (so 2 11 month window), gives us the most flexibility. Even if I have to borrow/bank to get a BLT GV, I would still have the SSR for the in-between years to stay at OKW/BCV/BVW etc. I just booked a BCV for June (so that's almost 6 months) and got what I wanted so it looks like I won't have too many problems at 7 months if we're flexible.

If you are planning to take last minute trips around December, MLK or President's day, it does not matter what home resort you have. Last minute (within 7 months) means you and everyone else can try to book anywhere. The result will probably be a room at SSR or OKW.

Exactly what I'm thinking so why not buy the cheapest points? and why I'm considering resale. IMO, BLT points are too expensive (since I bought direct) to use for last minute SSR/OKW trips. I might as well rent those out.
 
If it were me, I think I would go with another mid size contract at a different resort, that you are interested with the same UY. Managing 2 UY might get confusing or complicated, certainly harder to tranfer points between the 2 contracts, 2 banking deadlines to remember, etc.

IF you continue with your every year trips, you can just swap contracts that you use. So with banking and borrowing, one year you use your BLT points, next year use your (potential) BCV points, etc.

Renting, eh, I would not worry much on it. Seem like most rentals happen at about 6 months out, at which point, points are points, you are simply dealing with availability, does not matter which resort the points are for.
 
I don't want to throw a wrench in this turning wheel. But I'll speak on the April Use Year. Owning the same Use Year is always a plus, that you will hear more often than not. Managing the banking window, one membership number. And the one transfer per year. I will say they do limit me, so if anyone else out there has been fortunate to have that rule allowed in their favor, then great.

Those last minute trips you referred to. They are tough once you bank the points. And if you have a waitlist for a night, and that banking deadline comes up & it does -Nov. 30- You are faced with banking those points or having to borrow. It's a tough Use Year for a last minute trip, without a doubt.

I wouldn't encourage you to get another Use Year, different resort. But take some time and look what is available resale, particularly the different Use Years. I find April is a difficult Use Year to come by. Lots available in the other Use Years.

Good luck and hope you are happy where you buy.
 


Hi everyone!

We've been a member since 2010 and bought direct and paid in cash. We purchased 170 BLT points for a family of 5 staying at a BLT 1 BR Theme park view every other year for a week during the Dream Season.

Since then, we have actually taken a trip every year, and was able to stay at a 2BR OKW, 1BR AKL, and 1BR VGC + a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah Dream Cruise (perk of the purchase + $) while also renting out some points... so I feel we're well on our way into getting our $$$ back.

Since then, we've been blessed by another boy, so we only have until 2014 to squeeze into a 1BR so I'm really thinking of adding on. I was hoping you can help me in deciding the right # of points, the UY and which home resort. Or help me talk thru my options.

Here's what I think my options are:

1. Add on more BLT points with same UY (April) enough to have points for a 2BR EOY. This will mean just an additional 50 points.

This will keep everything simple and as I understand it, same Member ID? But I might have to buy direct or wait for the perfect/right contract to come along which could take a while.

2. Get another mid-sized contract on another resort that the kids will really like, BCV/BWV/AKL with a different UY. I'm leaning 150 points BCV @ $75. My current preferred option.

The reason I want a different UY is that I always wanted to have the option to do a last minute December, January (MLK) or Feb (President's day) trip -- but I would have already banked any remaining points by November 30th. So I'm thinking maybe I should get a UY where I bank by end of March (so July UY?)

While more expensive than below, AKL/BVW/BCV are rentable properties. And since I'm finding us with extra points we were able to rent (not HAD to rent) these previous years, I wanted to make sure renting is still an option.

3. Get the cheapest points. 150 points SSR/HHI/Vero with a July UY.

Once I decide to have a different home resort than BLT, it doesn't really make sense to keep the April UY. The only thing I don't like about #3 is that I don't think these points are "rentable". Transferrable yeah, but not sure how easy/many opportunities for those there are out there.


Help?!
I wouldn't go with a different UY OR high cost resort unless you have a specific trip planned most years that require these choices. I definitely would not buy HH/VB for use at WDW, the long terms costs will be significantly more. Personally I'd likely go with the cheapest option you can find, likely SSR when the RTU is taken into account but OKW will be a good choice as well for this purpose. My second choice would be BWV because it's both cheaper to buy and has the view options that could use less points for standard view.
 
I wouldn't go with a different UY OR high cost resort unless you have a specific trip planned most years that require these choices.
I agree on the high cost, so am now down to SSR/BWV.

Still unsure about the UY. Obviously I have no specific plan most years, otherwise, the banking date of Nov 30 will not matter as much. If I always know that I will have a trip during the Holidays, MLK, Presidents Day or Spring Break - then I would use my BLT points to plan for those.

The add-on is to prepare us for future 2 BR stays, plus to address the issue I've had above from the 2 years I've had my April UY.
 
The add-on is to prepare us for future 2 BR stays

This is a good reason to buy the same UY. If in the future you'll want to combine points of the addon and of the existing contract for one reservation, having the same UY will save you a lot of headaches.
 
zavandor said:
This is a good reason to buy the same UY. If in the future you'll want to combine points of the addon and of the existing contract for one reservation, having the same UY will save you a lot of headaches.

What headache do you forsee? If I do go with a separate resort/UY, then I would just need to borrow from the next UY on the same contract.

If separate UY, then my understanding is that it's a separate account, so I could transfer and not be limited with the 1 transfer per membership rule since they'd be considered 2 memberships.
 
myxdvz said:
What headache do you forsee? If I do go with a separate resort/UY, then I would just need to borrow from the next UY on the same contract.

If separate UY, then my understanding is that it's a separate account, so I could transfer and not be limited with the 1 transfer per membership rule since they'd be considered 2 memberships.

You are correct. The "headaches" with having multiple use years are overstated, IMHO. We have a very good point manager program and the most important things to remember are the 2 banking deadlines which I do with Outlook tasks.

And you can have one transfer per year, for each membership.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards
 
I agree on the high cost, so am now down to SSR/BWV.

Still unsure about the UY. Obviously I have no specific plan most years, otherwise, the banking date of Nov 30 will not matter as much. If I always know that I will have a trip during the Holidays, MLK, Presidents Day or Spring Break - then I would use my BLT points to plan for those.

The add-on is to prepare us for future 2 BR stays, plus to address the issue I've had above from the 2 years I've had my April UY.
To me, different use years are a minor to moderate hassle. If you have no trouble reconciling check books and credit cards, you'll likely do Ok. However, if DVC ever changes the banking back to the way it was before, the difference will be more important.
 
However, if DVC ever changes the banking back to the way it was before, the difference will be more important.
How was it before? When I first bought, I didn't understand the real value of UY. I just thought it's when I get my points - which I think a lot of members still think it's all it is.

It is only after I tried a couple of last minute bookings that I found an issue with my particular UY (April) and our travel pattern. Before DVC, I've never planned any vacation more than 3 months away... I've since changed, but I have 16 holidays, 9 floating days and 20 PTO days to take so while we can plan 2-3 weeks out of the year, there are still a lot of days I can take off... and I try to take them off when I can.
 
How was it before? When I first bought, I didn't understand the real value of UY. I just thought it's when I get my points - which I think a lot of members still think it's all it is.

It is only after I tried a couple of last minute bookings that I found an issue with my particular UY (April) and our travel pattern. Before DVC, I've never planned any vacation more than 3 months away... I've since changed, but I have 16 holidays, 9 floating days and 20 PTO days to take so while we can plan 2-3 weeks out of the year, there are still a lot of days I can take off... and I try to take them off when I can.
It was a decreasing % of the total points as you got closer to the end of the UY.
 
Maybe I've missed something, but aren't you going to need a 2 bedroom villa very soon?

Do you need the 11 month window at BLT to get what you want for the time you want? If so, my advice is to stay with BLT and really look at buying direct. You are only buying 50 points so the difference in price (dues will be the same no matter how you buy) gets you the points quickly and you want them for 2014. 11 month windows for 2014 trips start opening in February, 2013 less than 3 months away.

If you get a different resort, you will be booking part of your 2 bedroom trip at 7 months, doing a split stay or alternating resorts.

If you decide to alternate by banking and borrowing, will a 50 point contract get you the villa size and length of trip you prefer? And if you are going to bank and borrow, chances are good that you will have a few leftover points that you cannot use. Will you be OK with letting them expire unused?

Given what you say you want to do with the extra points, my advice is to buy BLT so you can consistently book the 2 bedrooms there during the home resort priority booking period. For the last minutes trips, home resort won't matter (except for the dues). Is the few hundred $$ you might save on 50 points at SSR vs BLT worth it? I wonder. Wouldn't be for me.

Good luck!
 
Maybe I've missed something, but aren't you going to need a 2 bedroom villa very soon?

We don't really need a 2BR until after August 2014. Because we're buying the DVC PAP, our 2013 trips would be June 2013 / Nov 2013 / Early 2014 (maybe March) so we don't really need to go 2BR until our 2015 trip.

Do you need the 11 month window at BLT to get what you want for the time you want? If so, my advice is to stay with BLT and really look at buying direct. You are only buying 50 points so the difference in price (dues will be the same no matter how you buy) gets you the points quickly and you want them for 2014. 11 month windows for 2014 trips start opening in February, 2013 less than 3 months away.

If you get a different resort, you will be booking part of your 2 bedroom trip at 7 months, doing a split stay or alternating resorts.

If you decide to alternate by banking and borrowing, will a 50 point contract get you the villa size and length of trip you prefer? And if you are going to bank and borrow, chances are good that you will have a few leftover points that you cannot use. Will you be OK with letting them expire unused?

Given what you say you want to do with the extra points, my advice is to buy BLT so you can consistently book the 2 bedrooms there during the home resort priority booking period. For the last minutes trips, home resort won't matter (except for the dues). Is the few hundred $$ you might save on 50 points at SSR vs BLT worth it? I wonder. Wouldn't be for me.
Good luck!

If I do a BLT add-on, yes I would have to only get 50 points. And yes, I do think I'd have to do a 50 point BLT with April UY direct - small points, specific UY, tough to get in resale unless I'm lucky and/or fast.

If I buy a different resort, I would have to buy big enough to use them for 11 months on that resort, so most likely 150.

I haven't actually done the Math on those two options. I felt I had 2 years to decide until I absolutely need it. I"ve been reading a lot of the valuation threads to understand how people have been pricing.

BLT 50 points @ $165/pt = $8250
$8250 could get me about 125-130 SSR/BWV points @ $60-$65/pt

I have to figure out MFs on this. I know I would have to pay higher MFs on the higher points, which is why I was reluctant to buy SSR because of fear that if I do get extra points, that I can't rent it out. So maybe BWV is better even if a little expensive.

Thanks for everyone's feedback so far! It's really helping me narrow down my decisions.
 
....(snip)........I have to figure out MFs on this. I know I would have to pay higher MFs on the higher points, which is why I was reluctant to buy SSR because of fear that if I do get extra points, that I can't rent it out. So maybe BWV is better even if a little expensive.........

BWV is definitely better if you plan to rent on more than an occasional basis. Many are willing to pay more to get reservations at the BWV - especially during Food & Wine and the Holiday season (Thx - NY). As an example, Daddio (point broker) is always looking for BWV points. I don't recall him ever advertising for SSR points. Don't get me wrong, SSR points do rent and many love the resort. But BWV points will rent faster and bring in a premium.

Good luck with your decision.
 
Have been looking at the resale market and I think I am ready to make the plunge!!!

ETA: I just made an offer for 150 pts at OKW. Cross fingers!
 

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