150 Point People - How do you use them wisely?

[eporter66]

This was our first year as DVC members. My wife & I went to SSR the first week it was open (May 17-21) arriving on Monday and leaving Saturday Morning.

We got a 5 night stay in a studio that I think came out to 74 points. (mon-th 12 pts & friday was 26 pts)

We are sending my parents to SSR for their anniversary from a Sunday - Friday in November 76 points in a studio. (sun-th 11pts / fri 21pts)

So this year we used exactly our allotment of 150. Thought that was pretty cool that we evened out. I know that this wont work out every time!

We bought into DVC knowing that we might not be able to go every year (even if we want to). So my question is just how people go about spreading out and using their points.

We also have thought a lot about banking, that way we could go every other year and get a 1 or 2 bedroom and be able to bring family and friends if we want.

If you feel like sharing your creative ways of using points - feel free - I would love to know all the "tricks".

Thanks
Eric

 

[bbowers]

Just one word of advice - once you've tried a one-bedroom - there's no going back. I kept reading that on these boards and thought it was a bunch of hooey until we walked into the one bedroom at Hilton Head... When we got home I had to go right into DVCManager and revise all upcoming "possibilities" to reflect a one- bedroom instead of a studio.

 

[rocketriter]

With careful banking, you can arrange a week every other year in a 1-bedroom.

 

[kathleena]

re: One Bedroom. Well, I do think there's going back - because I've done it and will continue to do it. It all depends on your mindset and the length of your stay and the number of people. No problem in a studio for me.

re: 150 pts - I found that the more you go, the more you want to go. We started with 170 and quickly found that we wanted more options so have increased. But the two scenarios you describe are exactly what you need to do - use the S-F lower points in studios for more trips. You could also start in a studio for F-S and then move to 1br. You could also pool points with a trusted family and share a 2br.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[mbb]

Never, EVER stay in a 1bdr, unless you're planning on doing an add-on

Our first trip "home" was last January...we bought at BCV for the 11mos window, and stayed in a studio. LOVED it.

Then we moved to the 1bdr....and promptly called MS to "upgrade" the rest of our stay (at OKW) to a 1bdr...

We LOVE OKW as well, and are saving the pennies to do an add-on there

So...to answer your question, we're in full-on borrowing mode with our 160pt allottment, and couldn't be happier Move to cash only on weekends to save points (look at it as an "Adventures in Bed-hopping!!" not that kindLOL! ) and you'll do fine with 150 points

We're on saver mode this year...we're renting an off-site house for the whole family, and then we're doing OKW for "just us" our last week.

Life is good

 

[westjones]

We have 150 points, and we have stayed in studios, 1 bedrooms, and 2 bedrooms.

As much as I like the space in the larger units, we find the studios to be more than enough for us! Recently we were 'trapped' at the Poly during hurricane Jeanne and I kept thinking how nice it would have been to be in a DVC studio instead of the room at the Poly. We would have had a fridge and microwave (we had to prepare for the hurricane by getting food for the next day to stay in our room--there was no fridge or any place to store food).

NOW, I will say that at HH and Vero I prefer the larger units because we are in our rooms more. But when you are at WDW and you go to the parks, you don't need the larger units (but of course they are nice to have if you have the extra points).

OKW is a great option because the points are lower there and you may have enough points to stay there when you are tight on points.

Anyway, what *I* found is that our first 2 years we went to WDW a LOT, and we went through a lot of points (borrowed from next year). But after our many trips over the past couple years, we are ready to start going once a year instead of multiple times a year (we live in Indiana, so it is a long trip to get there).

I would caution against the 'first year thrill' of staying at a DVC and thinking you need more points, when it may wear off and you find that a once a year (or every other year) trip is really going to be more the norm for your family.

My DH is ready to visit some other places, and after our Christmas trip coming up, we are going to start saving WDW for spring break only. BUT that is after 2 years of multiple trips to Florida! We are ready to slow down.

DJ

 

[2 PRINCESSES MOMMY]

We have 270 points for a family of four and we fell that gives us one or two really nice trips a yaer. My husband and I really don't want to do "disney" every year either especially as the kids get older. We plan on doing some exchanging with II (270 points is good for a 2 bdrm in peak season for one week, that's how we came up with that number of points to purchase originally). We are doing the 3 day Disney Wonder cruise in January Thr/Fri/Sat then off to SSR for Sun/Mon/Tues/Weds/Thrs. My in-laws wanted to join us so they are paying cash for their cruise and I rented 33 points for 3 nights at SSR in a studio for them for $330.00. This way everything works out fine! You can always rent a few extra points to complete a trip, or bring someone along. I think that's better and cheaper for a one time thing....just a thought!

 

[DukeStreetKing]

By taking advantage of OKW's lower point usage, we are able to squeeze in 10 nights at various DVC resorts. Granted, we are staying at SSR for New Year's so that eats up a bunch of points, but OKW tends to offset that.

MY GF is a school teacher so we have to work around her school schedule, but for the most part we are happy with the amount of trips we get to take.

Living just 90 minutes away from WDW doesn't hurt either. If we need a quick weekend fix, we can always use our Florida resident discounts for some of the other resorts.

 

[shelbyjosh]

You don't!! You soon realize you'll never have enough points and do an add-on!

 

[Lesley]

We started with just a bit over 150 and now have 200 points....but we've stretched them a lot!

We rarely stay on weekend nights...or stay for just one. We've done 10 days by staying Tues-Sun in a studio then on Sun. moving to a 1br.

We also like to visit during Adventure season...so that saves a bunch of points and helps us avoid crowds too.

We've taken plenty of long weekends...starting on Sunday...or staying Sat. in another resort with a cash reservation. We have done plenty of cash resort stays and do generally take those on Fri or Sat nights.

Generally I find a 1br unnecessary for short 2-3 day visits. We've even managed up to 5 nights in a studio. But for longer than that we like a 1br, if only for the washer and dryer. Also, with a shorter trip we're less likely to need the kitchen facilities.

Then again, with the addition of a third child, we'll eventually need to take a 2br every time. That will be much harder and I think we may be relegated to Sunday-Friday visits until we can add more points.

 

[tjkraz]

We only have 150 points now, but forsee little problem taking the vacations we had originally planned. We figure we can easily get a 1B, Sunday to Thursday, three times every 2 years.

I suspect we'll be adding-on a few points before the end of 2005, but even if we don't I'm very happy with the vacations DVC will provide.

 

[goofy4tink]

A year ago we bought 150 pts. at BWV. We had our first trip home in august in a studio. But, in June I started getting greedy. You see, we had figured we could go every other year and stay for a week on 150 pts in a one bedroom easily. But then I started thinking maybe more would be better. So, in July we bought 50 more pts. at BWV!!! Now we can go every year in a one bedroom at any time of year. So, what do I do?? Stay in a studio in August, book a one-bedroom for Thanksgiving and then a studio for June!!! And I still have 26 pts. leftover to bank into 2006 when I go for a week and stay in a two-bedroom with my gf and her dd!!! DVC is certainly not saving me any money, that's for sure. But I sure am getting my points worth.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by mbb
look at it as an "Adventures in Bed-hopping"!!

Did I know you in College?

HBC

 

[mom23boys]

We bought 150 points in Dec 2002. We will only go every other year. In Oct 2003 we went to BCV and stayed a week in a 2bedroom, using 2002/2003 points. August 2005, we will spend Sun-Thurs in a 2 bedroom and got my DS and Inlaws a studio for the same time at BCV. We owed them both a vacation so we decided to eat up our 2004/2005 for this trip Total points 300. We are concered that we will either use 2006 points for the weekend before or stay at allstars. But we really only want to go to WDW everyother year.

 

[T Swift]

borrow!

We just bought 150 pts this year as well. We've already borrowed all of our 2005 pts, and have 2 trips coming up. In Dec we'll do a 2 br and take three adult "kids" with us. In Feb of next year we'll do a 1 br and take 2 kids along. I figure I'll borrow every year, since I doubt I'll miss having the pts the last year, when I'm in my eighties.
I don't like the idea of banking, because if something comes up and I can't make a trip one year, I risk losing points. I plan to work in the hole, and avoid ever losing the use of my pts. In the future, I'd like to add 2 more 150 pt contracts. We have 3 children, and when we're finished using the pts, we'll will them each 150 pts for their enjoyment.

 

[Lora]

Go during the low point seasons.
Stay in the studios at OKW or BWV standard view.
Go somewhere else on the weekend. This is not a popular stategy for those who have lots of points, but we do this often. If you can't or don't want to go off-site, split your stay between a 1BR on weekdays and studio over the weekend.

I must admit that we added points after a couple years, but that's not always an option.

 

[eporter66]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

At this point, we are still pretty happy with our 150. Even if we go every year for the next few, I am sure we will be ok with a studio if that is what we have to do.

We usually like to go in the fall (Oct - Nov) - so the points are less. We have not thought about adding on, but, we are going to pay our contract off in another year or two, so at that point - if needed we may buy again.

I do understand that banking can be risky, if for some reason the vacation must be cancelled - I would not want to waste those points!!!!

Right now - I am waiting to get to our 11 month window so I can book our vacation for next year (looking at late Oct / Nov time) - so I will be counting the days!

Eric

 

[crisi]

We go every other year. Last year we stayed in a 2 bd and brought guests. This year a one bedroom. But after staying in a one bedroom - I'd still stay in a studio - just not for a week with kids! I'd do it with my hubby or for a short trip with kids, though.

With every other year, the bank/borrow situation is just part of the plan. Every trip involves some of last years points and some of next years points.

Next year we are doing a SV to save points - and doing Friday night at AKL before moving into the BW. We get an extra day in the parks, we get to stay in a resort we really want to stay in once. And we spend cash instead of points. In 2007 we will use almost three years of points to take my family.

If we need more of a Disney fix, we figure we have options:

1. Stay at the regular hotels on cash. We haven't tried all the resorts

2. Cruise on cash

3. Rent points

4. Buy more points.

I think I'd want to exhaust the first three options before we bought more points.

 

[quentina]

Actually, this is an issue I have never struggled with. I do the Sunday to Friday thing and stay Friday night at Universal. I am not picky as to what resort I stay in or what size the villa is (unless my parents tag along).

I did want to add on instead of always being in the "borrowed" state however, my husband feels it is not necessary. His thoughts are that we go down alot not because our children our young. In a few years, they will not be interested in going yearly so, he says borrow. He thinks this is why Disney gives us this option.

I guess he's right....We have gone 1-2 times per year for the past 4 years. I would imagine in a few years the kids will want a break and we will go somewhere else. Then the points will catch up and will will actually be in the good in our point balance!

You can get quite a few nights out of your 150 points is you use them wisely.

Kim

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

We are in borrow mode and we go off season for less points. This is our first year owning but this is what we have booked so far.
Disney wonder for the three of us (3 night cruise) 3 nights at a SSR studio then switching to cash for 3 nights total 10 day trip. 191 pts (borrowed from 2005)

Then we have Vero booked for the 3 of us s-f in May in a garden room 40pts

then we plan on staying at OKW in August with DH's parents...total of 5 people 2 studios. it will be 46 each for a total of 92 points. s-f then cash again if we decide,

so we are using 323 points for 2 years of vacations....Then I am sure Dh will want a Disney break. So we will either deposit 2006's points into II or we will bank and wait till the next year and decide.