Whats a good number of points to start off with?

[pmaurer74]

We are thinking of 150-200 pts. we want to stay in a 1 bedroom every year for a week. That should get us a few years then we hopefully will get a second contract for the same amount at another resort.

 

[Sheri in CT]

I have a question (sorry for the barge). I need about 300 points and would like to stay at OKW, SS and Beach Club. Should I get a small amount at BC and SS and the rest at OKW since they seem less expensive? Will this allow me to book a full week at Beach Club 11 months in advance?

 

[disneynutz]

I have a question (sorry for the barge). I need about 300 points and would like to stay at OKW, SS and Beach Club. Should I get a small amount at BC and SS and the rest at OKW since they seem less expensive? Will this allow me to book a full week at Beach Club 11 months in advance?

Do you really think the Disney would let you get away with that?

You can only use the BCV points at BCV at 11 months.

Bill

 

[Sheri in CT]

Do you really think the Disney would let you get away with that?

You can only use the BCV points at BCV at 11 months.

Bill

Thank for the reply. Then is there really a benefit to owning at different locations? I read some posts about people doing that.

 

[Dean]

Thank for the reply. Then is there really a benefit to owning at different locations? I read some posts about people doing that.

Sure, there are lots of benefits. For any home resort you own you get the chance to reserve (subject to availability) without competition from non owners there. You also get to chose a resort that may cost less up front on yearly.

 

[disneynutz]

Thank for the reply. Then is there really a benefit to owning at different locations? I read some posts about people doing that.

One of Disney's businesses is making money selling timeshares. Of course they would come up with a program to get you to buy at more than one resort if you want a better chance of getting the resort and room type that you want, when you want it.

We are those types of people so we own at 5 resorts.

Bill

 

[Sheri in CT]

One of Disney's businesses is making money selling timeshares. Of course they would come up with a program to get you to buy at more than one resort if you want a better chance of getting the resort and room type that you want, when you want it.

We are those types of people so we own at 5 resorts.

Bill

I think I am still confused? Let's say I have 150 for OKW and 150 for BC. If my trip at BC will cost 300 points, can I book the trip at 11 months or do I have to wait until 7 months b/c I will be using some OKW points for the trip?

 

[Dean]

I think I am still confused? Let's say I have 150 for OKW and 150 for BC. If my trip at BC will cost 300 points, can I book the trip at 11 months or do I have to wait until 7 months b/c I will be using some OKW points for the trip?

To use all points together you'd have to wait until 7 months out. What many do is book at OKW for part of the trip and BC at the rest using your example then try to get their preference at 7 months out.

 

[disneynutz]

I think I am still confused? Let's say I have 150 for OKW and 150 for BC. If my trip at BC will cost 300 points, can I book the trip at 11 months or do I have to wait until 7 months b/c I will be using some OKW points for the trip?

You can only use 150 BCV points at BCV booking at 11 months out. You can combine all of your points from all resorts that you own to book at 7 months out. That makes you buy more BCV points to book a 300 point vacation at 11 months.

Don't forget, you can borrow 150 BCV points from your next UY to have a total of 300 BCV points but then you don't have any for next year.

Bill

 

[Kidanifan08]

I think I am still confused? Let's say I have 150 for OKW and 150 for BC. If my trip at BC will cost 300 points, can I book the trip at 11 months or do I have to wait until 7 months b/c I will be using some OKW points for the trip?

To expand on the above posts, what some will do is use banking and borrowing to stay at each of their home resorts every other year. Using your example, you could borrow 150 BCV points from next UY into this UY and have 300 points to book a stay at BCV at the 11 month mark this UY. Your 150 OKW points could be banked into the next UY so you have 300 OKW points to use for next year's trip. Then you repeat. This way you get 300 points to use at the 11 month mark.

 

[Sheri in CT]

To expand on the above posts, what some will do is use banking and borrowing to stay at each of their home resorts every other year. Using your example, you could borrow 150 BCV points from next UY into this UY and have 300 points to book a stay at BCV at the 11 month mark this UY. Your 150 OKW points could be banked into the next UY so you have 300 OKW points to use for next year's trip. Then you repeat. This way you get 300 points to use at the 11 month mark.

You can only use 150 BCV points at BCV booking at 11 months out. You can combine all of your points from all resorts that you own to book at 7 months out. That makes you buy more BCV points to book a 300 point vacation at 11 months.

Don't forget, you can borrow 150 BCV points from your next UY to have a total of 300 BCV points but then you don't have any for next year.

Bill

To use all points together you'd have to wait until 7 months out. What many do is book at OKW for part of the trip and BC at the rest using your example then try to get their preference at 7 months out.

Thank you! Now I understand!

 

[guppy1013]

Perfect explanations. Thank you. We are looking at purchasing 150-200 points (22 mo old and 3.5 year old) within the year, from the Timeshare store. Trying to decide which resort is best with the up front costs vs annual fees. I would only ever stay at the hotels at have ferry/boat/monorail services to either MK or EP. (hate the buses, avoid as much as possible). Thinking of half points at BLT and half at BWV or BC. Any opinions?

 

[Coach81]

We started with 150 and that was great for our young family of 4....since our boys have gotten older and bigger we've added an additional 150. We are very happy with our points now..

 

[dvcdenise]

If buying direct from Disney, you can purchase more points and have them draft the contracts into smaller amounts. Example: total purchase of 150pts - one contract of 100 pts, one contract of 50pts.


If you buy in two different contract and you decide to sell, do you have to pay double the closing cost(or whatever it's called) if you sell to the same person?

 

[disneynutz]

If buying direct from Disney, you can purchase more points and have them draft the contracts into smaller amounts. Example: total purchase of 150pts - one contract of 100 pts, one contract of 50pts.


If you buy in two different contract and you decide to sell, do you have to pay double the closing cost(or whatever it's called) if you sell to the same person?

I have them break them up into 50 point contracts.

The buyer pays closing so no cost to the seller.

All costs are negotiable with the buyer and broker.

Bill

 

[spruce]

We started with 164 at okw which at the time was 6 magic season 1br nights. Then added 64 bwv points which was 2 weekend nights studio magic season, kind of a buffer if okw adjusted points charts. Then we got 50 bcv points just to get 11 month booking ability at bcv and primarily use for an sab day or two during a longer stay elsewhere on site. Then we added 100 more bwv points before some price increase because we could. So, 4 contracts, 3 resorts, 378 points. Plenty for us. In fact, maybe too many now that our son is grown. We did bank and borrow last year for our last ever 20 person trip.
How many should you get? Look at the points charts, figure out how many vacation days you want in your unit size and buy that many plus 10 or 15 percent (which may not be necessary with the ability to buy up to 25 one time use points per year from ms). Good luck.

 

[spruce]

Oh yeah, smaller contracts are better, when we first looked at dvc the minimum was 220 or 230, when we first bought it was 160 with add ons being 25-49 cash and 50 + financed. The minimum is different today and I don't know what it is for prime contracts.

 

[Maccabee18]

We started with a 270pt contract, thinking a 2bdrm villa every other year. Quickly added on to allow for every year. Then we realized we wanted AKL and BCV. Then we realized we could travel without the kids! Then Aulani! Now, we are over 1500 pts and enjoy our multiple trips per year just the two of us, with friends, and with family!

Since you have a ton of points, I was curious if it was worth the amount you pay in annual dues each year? Seems like it would be more than you pay for vacations?

I have been thinking about adding on points because I like the cruises a lot, and since I live right near WDW I could stay there when I wanted, but I've been calculating that its almost better to save and pay outright.

At the current cost of 150 per point on average it almost doesn't seem a value. When I originally bought my points we paid 97 a point, and that decent.

Any advice?

 

[Countryrunner262]

Since you have a ton of points, I was curious if it was worth the amount you pay in annual dues each year? Seems like it would be more than you pay for vacations?

I have been thinking about adding on points because I like the cruises a lot, and since I live right near WDW I could stay there when I wanted, but I've been calculating that its almost better to save and pay outright.

At the current cost of 150 per point on average it almost doesn't seem a value. When I originally bought my points we paid 97 a point, and that decent.

Any advice?

I was thinking the same the about the cost of annual MF with all of those points. We live out of state, so airfare costs would be crazy too!

 

[Dean]

I have been thinking about adding on points because I like the cruises a lot, and since I live right near WDW I could stay there when I wanted, but I've been calculating that its almost better to save and pay outright.

As a rule a cruise will net you between $6 & $7 a point in addition to all the risks and extra costs involved. Plus you'll lose out on the ability for FL resident specials which happen fairly routinely much of the year. IMO there is no scenario where it's worth buying points specifically to use for cruises. Too many risks, far too low a return and absolutely no guarantee the program will even continue.