150 points enough?

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Is a 150 point contract enough? I've been looking at it, and it would get us 2 studios for 5 nights (Sun-Thru) during most of the year, and then would have 10 points a year left. We'd probably end up adding 2-3 nights at a different resort before moving to BCV. Their current special is a 5 night resort stay, or $5/point off - the resort stay would be a better deal, I think. Does anyone know if they'll still be running this special in July? (I'll be in WDW then, that's why I'm wondering). Also, I'm not sure I want a February-June use year, I'd rather have July. What would you DVC experts suggest? If I'd book now, I could try to get my 5 nights for July, then I'd only have to pay for 3 nights for 2 rooms (w/ AP rates) and then an additional room for the other 5 nights (w/ the AP rate).

Thanks!

 

[PamOKW]

If you look at your typical vacation and 150 points looks like it will work....then 150 is enough. Use Year is not that important. The only time it comes into play is if you have to cancel a trip you are taking toward the end of your Use Year at the last minute. FYI -- there is no July Use Year. The Use Years are Feb, March, April, June, August, Sept., Oct. and December.

I'm not sure how long this promotion will last. My guess is that it's being used to get people to buy now when they aren't really able to use the points. By July, BCV will be taking reservations and about to open. They may very well drop this particular promotion at that time. However, depending upon how sales are going, they'll probably offer another one.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Humm, so it really wouldn't matter what use year I get? We'll probably use most of our points during June/July/August.

 

[Lisa F]

On paper? Yes. In reality? From your posts, your family seems to be as big disney nuts as we are and it became clear early on that our 170 contract would not be enough and we soon added on another 130 points at a $2/point increase. Not a HUGE difference but enough to say "i wish we'd just bought 300 to begin with"!

Lisa

 

[PamOKW]

I'm looking at your plan for 2 studios. Are you planning to make two trips or one trip with people staying in 2 studios? If it's in the budget, you really get much more out of the DVC experience by staying in a one-bedroom or two-bedroom. Just a consideration in trying to figure out your point needs. Also, I'm not sure whether it's you or your parents making the purchase....you should try to think ahead a few years about what your needs will be. You may not all continue to vacation together and/or you may be adding on your own family to big trips.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

The main thing we are looking at is that we might not always need the large units. A two bedroom would be wonderful, but for the point cost we were thinking 2 studios would fit the bill better.

Another option is 175 points, it would take care of a two bedroom for a week every other year. It would also be possible to split some stays up between studios/1BRs for when a larger unit isn't needed, and a yearly trip can be done.

 

[PamOKW]

Ah ha! See, you already see the flexibility. Another way to think about how many points to buy....for quite some time DVC sold 230 points because that is good amount for doing the II trades. I believe it gives a week in a one bedroom at OKW during most of the year. Reducing the point requirement to 150 as the price creeped up allowed them to keep the buy-in affordable although it may limit non-DVC options. I would think as close to 230 as you can get without breaking the budget is a goal to shoot for.

 

[kem330]

Watch out points can be addictive! As soon as you get some you want more! Some would say having use year at the same time you travel is helpful, because if you have to cancel or change your plans, you have the whole year to reuse or bank the points. So if you go every July, June would be a good ue year to have. The incentive is for a limited time- of course they will come up with another if sales slow down.

 

[dianeschlicht]

THe undercurrent I get from your statememts is that you probably really need more than 150 points. Especially if you plan to travel to WDW every year. We originally thought 150 would be enough, but settled on 230 for our original purchase. This still meant we could never do an exchange PLUS stay at WDW in a given year, so we added on another 150. I would say to buy as much as you can afford your first time out. Are you hooked on BCV, or would another resort do? Rember that OKW requires far fewer points to stay in each size accomodation.

 

[garrett79]

Well, we just completed our first year with 150 points and we ended up with 10 nights in a studio. We will have ended up staying at BW in Oct, OKW in Jan, VWL in mid March and VWL again for 5 nights in June. Plenty for now but add-ons are tempting.

 

[SINK]

If you decided to go with 150, but found out that you need a bit more than banking or borrowing would allow, you can always rent from the good people on this board.

 

[Boardwalk Garry]

We bought 220 at Boardwalk in 1999. Ever since, we have been talking about getting more. We just added on 105 pts. at the WLV. Of course, we do multiple yearly vacations at Disney. If Disney is in your plans more than once a year, 150 will not be enough for very long!

 

[Richyams]

I am one who often says "The beauty of DVC can't be experienced till you stay in a one bedroom or larger unit"

Obviously, a 150 point package will save you money when staying in studios vs other on site resorts.

For me, vacationing in Disney takes on a whole new level of comfort in a two or three bedroom unit. The kids get their own room, the adults get to use the living area after the little ones are asleep. The laundry facilities, the kitchen and all the space make it a completely different experience from a standard hotel room..........which a studio basically is.

I think they made a mistake when they lowered the minimum buy in to 150 points. They should have left it at 230. They have forced more people to avoid weekends like the plague and I think that this effects the overall occupancy percentage badly, making it more likely that weekends and weekdays will need to be evened out.

It will be interesting if they ever do actually even out that point difference, it will effect the plans of most 150 point owners quite dramatically.

Originally, we bought the 230 point minimum back in '92. We had two years of points for our first stay, so we got a Grand Villa. We immidiately realized that we were going to need the Grand Villa every year, so we added an additional 200 points during that first stay.

 

[ncligs]

I agree with you Rich......thats why we have added on twice.....and I think we are done.........

 

[Rock'n Robin]

We started out with 160 points, enough for a week in a 2BR at BWV every other year. We have 3 kids so we need the 2BR. But then it became clear that we wanted to go every year. So we bought 100 points at VWL so we could do Sun.-Thurs. there in the years we are not at BWV. We have to go in summer because I teach. If we could go in the off season the points would go farther. I wanted to get 75 more VWL points but things are pretty tight here right now.
Robin M.

 

[Dancind]

Here's a tip, if you buy 150 points, be sure you NEVER stay in a one or two bedroom. I thought our 230 points would be more than enough if we stuck to studios, but we made the mistake of renting points for a one bedroom at OKW before we closed on our resale. Our third DVC trip is coming up in May, and we have yet to stay in a studio, and probably never will. We're spoiled. Rotten. And I'm thinking we need more points!

Diana

 

[invalid_char]

I too am one of those people who was basing my initial points need on staying in studios only.

I am now thinking that staying in a 1BR with 2 kids will provide so much more of a relaxing experience that it is worthwhile to cut out one trip and also pay a lot more. After all, the point of vacation is to relax and not get stressed because you really want to eat "at home" and can't, or you need time away from the kids and have to be really creative to get it.

I'm struggling with this decision myself, as it will be very expensive for us to take 2 6-day trips, one in October and one in April, if staying in a 1 BR. It will basically cost us 100 points more than the studios, even if I cut out an entire trip!

It is also making me wonder if there is a better vacation alternative for my family than spending $26,600 + dues for 2 6-day vacations. I'm just not sure what the alternatives are if you're committed to enjoying your vacation AND bringing your kids along. It seems that there's something for everyone to do in WDW and it is hard to find multi-room situations in this country.

I've heard there are some nice places in Mexico, but tickets there are expensive from my part of the country. And the nice places in the Caribbean are pricey.

I guess you can also just stay off park, but the BCV location is so important to us and SAB is so special for the kids.

All of this being said, I just don't want to go "half way" on this by committing myself to studios and then being unhappy. It seems that in the forseeable future, if you add on at BCV (and we are committed to BCV), you will only be paying more if you wait.

And if it turns out we don't mind the studios, then it certainly won't be a problem to add that 3rd vacation in, plus bring friends from time to time, or rent in the worst case scenario.

Another way to look at it... how many people complain about having too many points?

 

[Princess Tess]

We bought into DVC so we wouldn't have to stay in studios. For me that is the whole point of DVC, to have more luxurious accomodations. As far as how many points to own I have to admit that I too am like many others and needed more. We bought 150 pts. last year and are now adding 100 more! I am glad that I have it in 2 deeds though so if I should ever want to sell one (yeah, right) I can.....I don't see the value going down for a LONG time. As for who complains about owning alot of points...he who has to pay the maintenance fees!




How 'bout those PATRIOTS!!!!