Add on? Or get cash rooms as needed? Advice needed

[Dtw002]

Hello - just got back from a trip and had the best time. I know there dvc isn’t perfect, but for our family it’s pretty great. We have 200 points at Bcv, that includes 25 direct for perks. Problem is we are always borrowing to do a week trip. This trip we split stayed and paid half the trip in cash (~$2500 out of pocket).

Was thinking of adding on ~150 points. Would then essentially use each contract every other year, this way our annual week we would not borrow. We also want to go to Hawaii and could also see going to the other non Disney too.

Think it’s best to keep supplementing with cash rooms as needed or go with another contract? Looking at AKL for the add on.

Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

 

[Katie2]

Hello - just got back from a trip and had the best time. I know there dvc isn’t perfect, but for our family it’s pretty great. We have 200 points at Bcv, that includes 25 direct for perks. Problem is we are always borrowing to do a week trip. This trip we split stayed and paid half the trip in cash (~$2500 out of pocket).

Was thinking of adding on ~150 points. Would then essentially use each contract every other year, this way our annual week we would not borrow. We also want to go to Hawaii and could also see going to the other non Disney too.

Think it’s best to keep supplementing with cash rooms as needed or go with another contract? Looking at AKL for the add on.

Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

We just ran into a similar situation, and we added on a few nights with cash reservations. I am hesitant to add more points since DVC charts are always in flux and I wouldn’t want to get saddled with points that are unnecessary. I also think of it this way...more points, equals more dues.

 

[Dtw002]

Good point, thank you. The add on contract would be ~$15k which would be another 6 trips like this one. But then the annual dues. I’m just looking at how a big Hawaii trip would destroy our points for a year if not two. Thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

Hello - just got back from a trip and had the best time. I know there dvc isn’t perfect, but for our family it’s pretty great. We have 200 points at Bcv, that includes 25 direct for perks. Problem is we are always borrowing to do a week trip. This trip we split stayed and paid half the trip in cash (~$2500 out of pocket).

Was thinking of adding on ~150 points. Would then essentially use each contract every other year, this way our annual week we would not borrow. We also want to go to Hawaii and could also see going to the other non Disney too.

Think it’s best to keep supplementing with cash rooms as needed or go with another contract? Looking at AKL for the add on.

Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

Personally, I think it’s better to be in borrowing mode than in banking mode. However, I would continue in borrowing mode until I was out of points in the following UY. Then I would book a cash stay for the entire trip, maybe even staying at that other theme park’s resorts.

So for next year, since you borrowed all of next year’s points for this trip, you can do a cash stay. The following year, when you have your full compliment of points again, you can start borrowing again and again until you are out of points for a year once more.

No outlay of $15K+ to purchase (use it for next year’s trip instead). And no dealing with the additional MFs.

 

[jerseyduke]

I would borrow and borrow until empty then do a full week in cash just as @Marionnette stated.

But with regards to your statement;
"Think it’s best to keep supplementing with cash rooms as needed or go with another contract? Looking at AKL for the add on. "

Didn't you (all of us) basically buy DVC to stop supplementing with cash? If you own 0 points, you supplement your entire trip with cash in essence. Then you buy DVC to stop this.
If this logic justifies going from 0 contracts to 1 contract, how is is any different from going from 1 to 2?

If you are going to use it, and have the funds I would buy another contract. How is it any different from buying your first one. Yes you have more dues. But that holds true when you go from 0 to 1 contracts as well, so that argument is specious In my point of view

The point charts do not seem to fluctuation that much in my eyes.

If you are going to use the points buy them.

Not to mention, DVC contracts seem to hold their value pretty well, you can always sell it down he road.

The arguments against buying a 2nd contract would be the same for buying a 1st. Just as the arguments for buying a 1st would be the same for buying a second.

 

[Dtw002]

Exactly! I can’t see paying $750/night to get the 1 bedrooms my family wants. I guess if the points will be used than it makes sense. After shopping for cash rooms, I still think dvc is a way better deal.

 

[jlb727]

With an add-on contract, you can always rent out points you don’t use, especially since you have very coveted BCV points. That could help cover the dues, too.

 

[CarolMN]

For us, it would depend on whether or not we can see ourselves continuing to go every year for the foreseeable future. If that is a resounding yes, the only other (and more important) consideration would be financial - i.e. the initial purchase could come from discretionary funds and the annual dues could fit within our budget without undue strain. We absolutely LOVE our DVC vacations, but in no way are they a necessity. There are other ways to enjoy family and/or vacation time.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[aoconnor]

I agree with prior posters. I personally would borrow and borrow until I'm totally empty, then take off a year and pay cash (whether through CRO or renting points).

Or better yet, switch it up that year and do a split stay with Universal or other FL destinations. Lots of great options out there!

 

[Dtw002]

Agree, makes the most sense to pay cash when needed. I think our current number of points will be good in a few years when our kids are older - just now it seems like too few.

Having just got back this is like going grocery shopping while hungry. Bad timing to make a well thought out decision.

 

[GeneralTso]

If we are out of DVC points, we rent or purchase transfer points from another member. You still get the DVC rooms you want. So much more bang for the buck. I can't imagine paying cash for any Disney room ever again.

 

[Call me Doc]

I think it depends on just how much you need the points. A previous poster spoke of going from 0 contracts to 1 contract. Well sometimes 0 contracts is the right answer. We went 8 years between trips when we were first married. Zero was the right number. I say keep borrowing until you run out of points. We often stay 1 night at Port Orleans or gasp! Off property. We enjoy Riverside! We stay off property if we get to Disney really late in the day.

If you keep running out of points after borrowing, find yourself spending money with CRO by necessity and not choice, believe that your vacation habits will continue as is, and can afford it, then buy more points.

 

[crisi]

It really depends on how long term your need for extra points is. For some people, there is a real long term need for more points. For other people, they get infatuated with more trips, bringing guests, and within a few years are a little burned out or start wanting to do other things than Disney.

 

[Dtw002]

Still debating. We’ve used all 2019 and 3/4 of 2020 points already. March UY so I’ll get 2021 points then to use next summer. Are most people this way? I’ve made 200 points work annually for a 9 day 1 bedroom, but it’s tight. Do most people have more than 200 who take annual trips in 1 bedrooms?

 

[CarolMN]

Still debating. We’ve used all 2019 and 3/4 of 2020 points already. March UY so I’ll get 2021 points then to use next summer. Are most people this way? I’ve made 200 points work annually for a 9 day 1 bedroom, but it’s tight. Do most people have more than 200 who take annual trips in 1 bedrooms?

We've been taking annual trips of 8-9 nights in a 1 bedroom, but we own BWV, take advantage of the lower point charts in Adventure season and can plan 11 months ahead to get the standard view. We have 250 points, which gives us enough flexibility to occasionally stay elsewhere or do a split stay if that appeals. However, we almost always stay at BWV.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Still debating. We’ve used all 2019 and 3/4 of 2020 points already. March UY so I’ll get 2021 points then to use next summer. Are most people this way? I’ve made 200 points work annually for a 9 day 1 bedroom, but it’s tight. Do most people have more than 200 who take annual trips in 1 bedrooms?

If you plan to continue doing the annual trip I actually do not think it's a bad idea to purchase another contract to get to the point level that allows that to continue.

The other option would be to look for a single large transfer into your account vs paying CRO cash prices for a 1BR. You could even do transfers every few years or so when you are getting to the point of needing to book rooms on cash. If the transfer is large enough it'll make you more than whole and it could be quite a few years again before you were out of points for your trips.

 

[Dtw002]

Found a few 160 point contracts that would work. Is going from 200 point to 360 a huge leap? I could see us going to vero, Hilton and Hawaii with them as well as WDW. Also two bedrooms as kids get older. Or should we just make due with 200?

 

[CarolMN]

Found a few 160 point contracts that would work. Is going from 200 point to 360 a huge leap? I could see us going to vero, Hilton and Hawaii with them as well as WDW. Also two bedrooms as kids get older. Or should we just make due with 200?

Depends - some rhetorical questions to consider:

• are the additional annual dues ever going to be a problem?
• do you have enough vacation time to allocate to Disney trips
• what about the other expenses that go along with lodging - i.e., travel, tickets, food, etc.
• do you see yourselves enjoying Disney for many years to come? (Kids develop other interests, have activity commitments as the age, etc.)

Might be better to consider some of the suggested temporary options until you're sure. Good luck!

 

[jerseyduke]

Found a few 160 point contracts that would work. Is going from 200 point to 360 a huge leap? I could see us going to vero, Hilton and Hawaii with them as well as WDW. Also two bedrooms as kids get older. Or should we just make due with 200?

How did you come to the conclusion that 0 points was not enough?

I do not see any difference in the decision making process.

You know what its like to pay the annual dues, you know the system, you know if it works for you.

When you went from 0 points to 200, your dues went up - and you seem perfectly ok with that.

If you are going to use the points, and you are in a financial position to do an add on, then go for it. DVC has, until this point at least, held its value (actually tends to go up), so there seems to be an escape route that does not cost a whole lot should you decide it was a mistake

 

[Madame]

Still debating. We’ve used all 2019 and 3/4 of 2020 points already. March UY so I’ll get 2021 points then to use next summer. Are most people this way? I’ve made 200 points work annually for a 9 day 1 bedroom, but it’s tight. Do most people have more than 200 who take annual trips in 1 bedrooms?

We have 200 SSR & 270 BCV. We travel as a group of 4 or 5 or 6 depending, so a 1 or 2 bd always. We have an Aug UY and are completely out of 2019 AND 2020 points.

I can’t see myself ever wanting studios even when it’s just DH & I as the kids get older, so 2 contracts it is (perhaps a third added just before retirement to give us 6 weeks during the winter). If Disney is part of your long term plans beyond kids a 2nd contract would be beneficial. I’d look at SSR or AKV if you already own at your preferred home resort. Good luck.