2 MORE questions today AGAIN!!

[DisneyLoverUSA]

1. When you make a reservation with your DVC points is it set in stone or is it possible to make changes to it if needed like swapping dates around, if there is availability?

2. When you are a few points short on what you need for your stay and you buy a few extra points through Disney for a one time rent type of thing, how much is it per point?

I know to rent through brokers is around $12-$13 per point but if you have to get it from Disney what does it run? I imagine it is twice the going rental amount per point or more?

 

[Kidanifan08]

1. When you make a reservation with your DVC points is it set in stone or is it possible to make changes to it if needed like swapping dates around, if there is availability?

2. When you are a few points short on what you need for your stay and you buy a few extra points through Disney for a one time rent type of thing, how much is it per point?

I know to rent through brokers is around $12-$13 per point but if you have to get it from Disney what does it run? I imagine it is twice the going rental amount per point or more?

1. You can change it based on availability.

2. Disney offers up to 24 points at $15/pt. You can only purchase those points at the 7 month window and I believe it has to be in conjunction with making a new reservation, not adding on to an existing reservation. Once those points are purchased, they are non-refundable.

 

[JimMIA]

1. When you make a reservation with your DVC points is it set in stone or is it possible to make changes to it if needed like swapping dates around, if there is availability?

Yes -- IF there is availability. It's technically not as simple as "swapping dates around," though. It's actually a cancellation, and a rebooking. Or better yet, if you have enough points -- a new reservation, followed by a cancellation.

The thing you need to be aware of is that it's possible not all dates of your projected stay will be available. And it's also possible that there may be other owners ahead of you in the queque on waitlist. Also possible that others on waitlist will immediately snap up your cancelled reservation.

Many times of the year, a change would be simple and transparent to the point you'd never know what happened. However, at other times, it could be impossible -- or worse, turn out badly.

 

[Deb & Bill]

1. When you make a reservation with your DVC points is it set in stone or is it possible to make changes to it if needed like swapping dates around, if there is availability?

2. When you are a few points short on what you need for your stay and you buy a few extra points through Disney for a one time rent type of thing, how much is it per point?

I know to rent through brokers is around $12-$13 per point but if you have to get it from Disney what does it run? I imagine it is twice the going rental amount per point or more?

Also, if you change your reservation 30 days or less out and you require fewer points for the new reservation, the remaining points will become holding points and have to be used before the end of your UY. And they cannot be banked.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I appreciate the responses. I have so many questions. The more I learn the more questions I have.

We know IF we buy we want a 150 point contract at OKW. Now we are just learning all we can about the process and procedures to make sure buying into DVC is the right choice for us.

Being able to stay at Aulani for less than 150 points for one week is so tempting because that 7 day stay at Aulani is $4,000 if you pay outright for it. Just that one stay would pay for half the cost of the contract purchase.

 

[LisaS]

I think they also limit how often you can purchase those one-time-use points, perhaps once per UY? It's still relatively new and they could stop doing it at any time so I wouldn't make long term plans based on being able to do this.

Having to wait until 7 months out to purchase these points is a major limitation as well.

 

[Dean]

We know IF we buy we want a 150 point contract at OKW. Now we are just learning all we can about the process and procedures to make sure buying into DVC is the right choice for us.

I'm curious as to the reason you're set on OKW even though you're still learning about DVC.

 

[Sandisw]

I appreciate the responses. I have so many questions. The more I learn the more questions I have.

We know IF we buy we want a 150 point contract at OKW. Now we are just learning all we can about the process and procedures to make sure buying into DVC is the right choice for us.

Being able to stay at Aulani for less than 150 points for one week is so tempting because that 7 day stay at Aulani is $4,000 if you pay outright for it. Just that one stay would pay for half the cost of the contract purchase.

DVC works well for those that plan in advance as many members take advantage of booking 7 - 11 months out. So, if you are planning to own at OKW but book at Aulani, you want to make sure you are booking right at that 7 month mark. Since its a new resort, no one really knows yet how easy or hard it will be to get rooms at that resort.

And, as mentioned, you can only by the one time use points once per UY. So, if you go to book and need only 8, that will be it for the UY. Even though you can get up to 24, it's in one transaction.

And, you can only buy them if you are out of current UY points and don't want to borrow. They will not let you do it if you have current or banked points available to use.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I'm curious as to the reason you're set on OKW even though you're still learning about DVC.

Because I love OKW. The look and feel and location. It is the most appealing resort to me. I just can 't afford to stay there as a cash paying customer at $435 a night.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

DVC works well for those that plan in advance as many members take advantage of booking 7 - 11 months out. So, if you are planning to own at OKW but book at Aulani, you want to make sure you are booking right at that 7 month mark. Since its a new resort, no one really knows yet how easy or hard it will be to get rooms at that resort.

And, as mentioned, you can only by the one time use points once per UY. So, if you go to book and need only 8, that will be it for the UY. Even though you can get up to 24, it's in one transaction.

And, you can only buy them if you are out of current UY points and don't want to borrow. They will not let you do it if you have current or banked points available to use.

I know ti might be hard to book Aulani at 7 months out which is why I am not depending on the fact that I will be able to use them there. I would definitely go in the value season when it is only 123 points for a standard room for 7 days.

We probably won't ever have to buy extra points since the 150 we will have will cover 5 days in a one bedroom at OKW. For 7 days there we would need 157 which is why I asked. But we usually do one beach day at the beginning of a trip and one beach day at the end of a trip so we would only need a 5 day stay at OKW most years.

However I will probably use the full 7 days at Aulani since I can do it for 123 points in value season.

 

[Dean]

Because I love OKW. The look and feel and location. It is the most appealing resort to me. I just can 't afford to stay there as a cash paying customer at $435 a night.

Fair enough, however, I would like to make sure you look at all angles to make your best decision. There's no requirement to own OKW to stay there. Other than possibly a 3 BR (not applicable for 150 pts), OKW and SSR are the easiest to reserve in the system. I doubt there's a time when you couldn't get a studio, 1 or 2 BR unit at 7 months out and if there ever is, the chances of a wait list not coming through are dramatically low. I'd encourage you to look further and judge the value of other resorts financially. If you can get OKW cheaply enough and don't mind the earlier expiration (or find an extended contract), it still may be your best choice. However, I'd buy SSR or even AKV at around the same price even if you do plan to stay at OKW mostly. What I wouldn't do is buy HH or VB for this purpose for WDW only.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

Fair enough, however, I would like to make sure you look at all angles to make your best decision. There's no requirement to own OKW to stay there. Other than possibly a 3 BR (not applicable for 150 pts), OKW and SSR are the easiest to reserve in the system. I doubt there's a time when you couldn't get a studio, 1 or 2 BR unit at 7 months out and if there ever is, the chances of a wait list not coming through are dramatically low. I'd encourage you to look further and judge the value of other resorts financially. If you can get OKW cheaply enough and don't mind the earlier expiration (or find an extended contract), it still may be your best choice. However, I'd buy SSR or even AKV at around the same price even if you do plan to stay at OKW mostly. What I wouldn't do is buy HH or VB for this purpose for WDW only.

If I know OKW is where I want to stay what is the thinking behind buying at a different resort? Because they have a later expiration date?

 

[Dean]

If I know OKW is where I want to stay what is the thinking behind buying at a different resort? Because they have a later expiration date?

Value and options. While technically you'd be giving up security to book OKW at 11 months, in reality there is little risk in doing so. However, you open yourself up to other contracts that might be a better long term value or even lower price, esp if you decide to sell later, and give you more options long term. I would not take it as far as buying off property to do so though, esp for VB or HH.

 

[luckyman_apd]

If I know OKW is where I want to stay what is the thinking behind buying at a different resort? Because they have a later expiration date?

With OKW being where you want to stay, and the possibility of the reservations you want being open at 7 months, then you should really research other home resorts for the value. SSR currently has the cheapest dues, and a low buy in price resale. Remember, dues are big part of the investment. Currently there's 47 cents per point difference in there dues. That's $70 difference on 150 points. Now, not that big a difference if you pay monthly. But if that difference stays the same over the next 10 years, that's a $700 difference. There is also the difference in contract expiration date. I don't know your age. If you are younger, 30 years might not be enough, or it could be all you need.

At 7 months, points are points. It doesn't matter where you own to make a reservation, so if you can save up front, why pay more?

 

[Deb & Bill]

But if you think you want a GV at OKW frequently enough, it's a good reason to own there. Otherwise, find something a little cheaper at WDW if you can. Unless you want the extra years of the extended OKW contract.

 

[Dean]

But if you think you want a GV at OKW frequently enough, it's a good reason to own there. Otherwise, find something a little cheaper at WDW if you can. Unless you want the extra years of the extended OKW contract.

Agreed. In this case it appears the OP is looking at once a year in a 1 BR at OKW. IMO, 1 BR are generally the easiest to get and also usually the lowest value for owning DVC.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

But if you think you want a GV at OKW frequently enough, it's a good reason to own there. Otherwise, find something a little cheaper at WDW if you can. Unless you want the extra years of the extended OKW contract.

Looking at what everything is selling for lately it seems OKW is going for anywhere from $52pp to $60pp. Unless I missed something, that is the lowest price besides HHI or VB on resale right now. OR is there something cheaper?

I saw even SSR 150 point contract were going for over $65 pp and AKL at sometimes $70 pp or more.

I thought since we KNOW OKW is where we want to stay, and it is so cheap to buy into, that would be the best choice. The only time I would ever stay at another resort is if I just could not get availability at OKW.

I DO KNOW that I may not always be able to book at 11 months out. That 7 month window may be more closer to when I would know of solid dates to book. SO that would make my points be the same at any resort basically.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Agreed. In this case it appears the OP is looking at once a year in a 1 BR at OKW. IMO, 1 BR are generally the easiest to get and also usually the lowest value for owning DVC.

Explain to me why the "value" is lower. I see that 2 br lockoffs are a 1br and a studio, but to book them both as a 2br costs less points than if they were booked by 2 separate people.

I'm not arguing or disagreeing, just looking for perspective.

 

[chalee94]

Explain to me why the "value" is lower.

occupancy for most 1BRs = occupancy for studios.

cost for 1BRs are roughly twice the cost for most studios.

if you value the 1BR perks very highly - more space, separated bedroom area, jacuzzi, full kitchen,etc...then your personal value attached to 1BRs may be higher...

 

[Dean]

Explain to me why the "value" is lower. I see that 2 br lockoffs are a 1br and a studio, but to book them both as a 2br costs less points than if they were booked by 2 separate people.

I'm not arguing or disagreeing, just looking for perspective.

As Chalee noted, the same occupancy. Also, if you compare to cash prices, the comparison's are not as favorable coming in at around 40-50% more than a studio. It's difficult to show a cost savings compared to moderates or even deluxe hotels comparing directly to a 1 BR. I realize that a 1 BR offers size and amenities that are more but I put that under added value, not cost savings. If you look at the industry, it's not usual to have a 1 BR at double a studio, the cash prices are more representative at around 50% extra, there are individual exceptions of course.