Where else do you use your DVC points?

Deb & Bill · Nov 27, 2015

Personally, for one trip every three years, I wouldn't buy DVC. I'd buy something else that is close or I could trade into DVC through RCI.

dsneygirl · Nov 29, 2015

Only at a DVC resort (and the DL hotel once). 130 points will not get you very far when Concierge collections are around 50-80 points for 1 night. So you'd be trading out a whole week at WDW for just 2 nights.

Dean · Dec 1, 2015

Grendalynn said:
We are (very seriously) considering buying a 130 point DVC contract at Poly. We do not plan to vacation at Disney every year - we usually go every other or every 3rd. However, we do plan to vacation elsewhere and use our points.

We have 3 boys, 9, 12 & 16. Aside from Disney - we enjoy sunny & warm beach vacations.

Can you experienced DCV'ers tell me where else you have used your points to vacation and how many points it cost you? We typically vacation in November and/or March. Thank you!

I would agree with buying DVC resale for the number of points you need. I would not buy the Poly unless most of your trips will be there only. IF 130 is truly your need, I'd likely bump it up a little to the 150-170 pt range. I would not under any circumstances buy planning to use the points elsewhere other than DVC properties. It'll cost more, cause more hassles and likely not be successful for many of the options.

For your group you'll need a larger 1 BR if not a 2 BR consistently. You'll likely find yourself needing a 2 BR when they are all going. The other way to approach this from a timeshare standpoint is to look at a timeshare that would cover all of your needs. Maybe a Marriott beach week or Wyndham or Bluegreen points. MUCH cheaper and more if not better options.

DisDadDVC said:
Using your points at almost any non-DVC property is a waste of money. You are better off renting your points out and paying cash for the reservation.

I would agree, however, the best situation is to have the DVC points you need and use other options for non DVC. In general I would not buy planning to rent but I would also prefer to get to a normal sized contract. Most who "need" 130, likely won't have to rent at all if they own 150 but if they did, it should only be once every few years.

DisDadDVC · Dec 1, 2015

Dean said:
I would agree, however, the best situation is to have the DVC points you need and use other options for non DVC. In general I would not buy planning to rent but I would also prefer to get to a normal sized contract. Most who "need" 130, likely won't have to rent at all if they own 150 but if they did, it should only be once every few years.

I was more thinking of years where you go on a cruise INSTEAD of going to WDW. Then they could sell their entire years allotment to go towards the cruise price.

Dean · Dec 1, 2015

DisDadDVC said:
I was more thinking of years where you go on a cruise INSTEAD of going to WDW. Then they could sell their entire years allotment to go towards the cruise price.

I agree, however, in general it's best to own the points one needs for DVC including off years such as cruising. I'd rent over using points ongoing for such options and certainly over buying retail to do so but the best is to not use points or need to rent. IF the cruise periodically meant they'd go to WDW only on the 4th year, I wouldn't buy at all under any circumstances.

So my 2 principles would be to own roughly the points needed with a small buffer of 10-20% (amount depending) but not to go too small. IF not going too small meant they had to rent once every few years, I'd do that over going small unless one found a contract that was small AND esp advantageous and they were very sure of the long terms needs. The OP said every other to every third year which is about the limit of the situation where it's reasonable to considering buying. Usually every other year is reasonable if the other appropriate assumptions apply but every third year is not. A good fit non DVC timeshare and either staying off property or renting for DVC trips is likely the best single option for the situation described.

DisDadDVC · Dec 2, 2015

Dean said:
I agree, however, in general it's best to own the points one needs for DVC including off years such as cruising. I'd rent over using points ongoing for such options and certainly over buying retail to do so but the best is to not use points or need to rent. IF the cruise periodically meant they'd go to WDW only on the 4th year, I wouldn't buy at all under any circumstances.

So my 2 principles would be to own roughly the points needed with a small buffer of 10-20% (amount depending) but not to go too small. IF not going too small meant they had to rent once every few years, I'd do that over going small unless one found a contract that was small AND esp advantageous and they were very sure of the long terms needs. The OP said every other to every third year which is about the limit of the situation where it's reasonable to considering buying. Usually every other year is reasonable if the other appropriate assumptions apply but every third year is not. A good fit non DVC timeshare and either staying off property or renting for DVC trips is likely the best single option for the situation described.

For me, it is better financially to have extra points and rent them out, than to not have enough points and have to rent from someone else. After all, if it wasn't, there would be no reason to own at all.

Dean · Dec 2, 2015

DisDadDVC said:
For me, it is better financially to have extra points and rent them out, than to not have enough points and have to rent from someone else. After all, if it wasn't, there would be no reason to own at all.

My point is that the best situation is to have just the right number of points which will vary somewhat with personal situations. In general that's what you think you need with a small buffer when on the lower side and just under what you think you need on the upper side. There are always variables such as you need smaller now and larger later. Someone buying in has the unique opportunity to make that decision better than most of us have. However, whether it's better to own more and rent out or less and rent extra is an "it depends" situation. For many, having something like SSR resale with the points actually needed plus renting every few years for the high demand options is actually cheaper than owning more points at the high demand option and trading down a significant portion of the time. IMO owning DVC with the intent on renting is not a reasonable option unless there are other variables that make owning more points a good idea such as needing less points now but more later or for those that are looking at small contracts and renting allows them to meet those needs now. Just owning for investment purposes, like buying 300 but only needing 150 with the intent of renting the extra long term, is not a great plan.

DisDadDVC · Dec 2, 2015

Dean said:
My point is that the best situation is to have just the right number of points which will vary somewhat with personal situations. In general that's what you think you need with a small buffer when on the lower side and just under what you think you need on the upper side. There are always variables such as you need smaller now and larger later. Someone buying in has the unique opportunity to make that decision better than most of us have. However, whether it's better to own more and rent out or less and rent extra is an "it depends" situation. For many, having something like SSR resale with the points actually needed plus renting every few years for the high demand options is actually cheaper than owning more points at the high demand option and trading down a significant portion of the time. IMO owning DVC with the intent on renting is not a reasonable option unless there are other variables that make owning more points a good idea such as needing less points now but more later or for those that are looking at small contracts and renting allows them to meet those needs now. Just owning for investment purposes, like buying 300 but only needing 150 with the intent of renting the extra long term, is not a great plan.

Let me phrase it this way: If I need 160 pts every time I go to WDW and I plan to go once a year, I would buy 160 pts. If I decide to go on a cruise every 3 or 4 years, I would just rent the 160 pts those years. To me, that is easier than only buying say 120 pts and trying to borrow 40 pts each time so that I don't have any leftover pts when I want to cruise.

Dean · Dec 2, 2015

DisDadDVC said:
Let me phrase it this way: If I need 160 pts every time I go to WDW and I plan to go once a year, I would buy 160 pts. If I decide to go on a cruise every 3 or 4 years, I would just rent the 160 pts those years. To me, that is easier than only buying say 120 pts and trying to borrow 40 pts each time so that I don't have any leftover pts when I want to cruise.

I would do the same at 160 points because smaller contracts are an issue in terms of availability and pricing plus I'm not convinced they'll remain advantageous selling going forward. I would not agree with the same approach at say 250 or 300 though, in that case I'd just buy what I needed. I'd put the cutoff at 150-160 for what I needed JUST for DVC (considering a buffet depending on specifics). I would not buy the points for a given year just to avoid banking and borrowing which is what it sounds like you're proposing.

Where else do you use your DVC points?

Deb & Bill

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