Am I nuts? (dh probably thinks so...)

[CK1]

We're DVC since '99 and bought "conservatively" at that time (about 175 pts.) We based our purchase pts on what it would take to get a 2Br for about 5 days every 18 mos. We live 15 hrs away from WDW, and have 3 small kids, two already in school full-time and very into sports, scouts, etc. ANYHOOOO.... we recently completed a 10 day stay at VWL in a 2br with family and now I'm thinking, Hey, I want more points!!! It really takes more than 5 days to make it worth our while to drive so far, stock the kitchen, relax and unwind... it was perfect! But that trip was just over 400 pts, which means 2 yrs + worth of points... and we can only do trips like that every 2-3 years. (Wahhh) So I want more pts, but dh no doubt thinks we have enough and I'm nutso.

One note I must make in dh's defense -- we did the world's stupidest thing last year -- we let banked points expire (we had just had a baby and had banked a year's worth, then family trip in Jan 2001 ended up using way less points than planned due to re-scheduling to a far lesser points bracket, then we planned to send MIL/FIL to wkend at Plaza in NYC for anniversary, but along came 9/11 and you couldn't get MIL to leave house, much less go to NYC. We were too naive to know about "renting" and such... at last minute, I was going to get ressies for Grove Park Inn (a bit closer) but a huge array of other commitments set in... tried to get family to go to HH on the pts before June, but no one could get away ...end of story, we lost 80 points (OUUUUCCCHH). And so here I am now, a bit older, wiser, and more point-savvy, and definitely more point-hungry! I checked price and locations on add-ons ($80 per pt now).... but I know dh will probably resist. He loves his DVC, but the 80 pt loss makes him think that we can't even use what we have. (Which is not true -- we just got caught in some very bizarre circumstances, and we're smarter now... I think?!?) What about resales? Are those just a major pain to orchestrate? Am I safer with Disney dealin'? The LAST thing I need is a sour resale deal. I don't think point renting is an option. I just don't think he would pay $10 per point for someone else's DVC for a vacation... he'd just pack up car and head for a relative's house instead!! I pointed out to him that this last (wonderful!) trip cost over 400 pts...he "seemed" disappointed about having to wait to "store up" points again, but not sure if it's enough to sway him towards an add-on!. Disney will invariably only make resorts more "point-costly" in years to come, and due to the size of our immediate family, we'll nearly always need a 2 br. for at least 15 yrs down the road. Again, not sure he totally sees the "big picture" -- and is my picture flawed or am I correct?

Help... anyone.... give me the scoop on add-ons (and dh persuasion!) please!

Cindy

 

[CarolA]

Resales are fairly easy. (That said I am trying to negoitate with Lou Reid on one and I am having problems) I have used the Timeshare Store and Shaunelle with no problems. However, depending on how many points you want finding a contract may be difficult. There just are not many small contracts.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Another option for you is to wait until the Disney Institue (or Saratoga Springs??) goes for sale and then buy at presale. They are bound to have some type of special deal like they did with BCV.
Good luck (more points are always better!)

 

[CK1]

Well, I showed dh some of the resale stuff. I think we might keep our eyes open for a 100 pt resale... I had been considering 50 pts, but understandably these are rare. I am thinking about HH (a nice change and besides, the monthly dues are lower than BWV!! ) I have scanned some of the resale sites (Timeshare store and Atimeshare)... are there other good sites that we should watch? Are there any to avoid?

Cindy

 

[luckytso]

Cindy,

I think when you are serious enough, you can call these brokers and let them know exactly what you are looking for. The 3 resales I bought recently, 2 of them never made it onto the website. The 3rd one was on the website, but I got a much better deal than the asking price at the end. The 3rd one I was just really worried if Disney would exercise their right of refusal because the price was really really low. Even my guide thought Disney would not let it go through. However, Disney did let it go through.

Some people don't think you can get good prices from the big 3 (www.reid4florida.com is the 3rd), I tend to disagree. As long as you know what you are looking for, and let the broker know that you are ready to buy when the right one comes along, you will find something that fits your need.

Good luck.

 

[Nanajo1]

I would call one or all of the resale brokers and tell them what you are looking for. You tell them which resort and the point range you are interested in. My most recent reale I wanted to keep in the same use year to minimize my confusion (I know others manage multiple use years I didn't think I could) Both my Disney guide and Shontelle from the Timeshare Store(she is now on her own) called with contracts. I went with the Timehare store because I negotiated a good deal.
We are up to 935 points and are thinking about a "few"more!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Nanajo1
I went with the Timehare store because I negotiated a good deal.
We are up to 935 points and are thinking about a "few"more!

Thats a lot of points!!!!!Which resorts do you own at?

 

[Laurabearz]

I agree with the above posters....... Call the Brokers. I used Jaki at www.atimeshare.com for both our resales and everything went smoothly. Remember EVEERYTHING in a resale contract is negotiable. Esp if your patient......

Just tell the brokers what UY, what Resort, how many points and what you are willing to pay per point. Your perfect contract will cross their desks. Oh and dont be afraid to call more than one broker to get on their lists

You mentioned your thinking about HH as an add on, as long as your remember that your 11 month booking window only works for the amount of points you have at each resort, so @ 11 months you could book a week at BWV, but would have to wait until the 7 month window opened up to add on more nights @ BWV with your HH points. In the off season, that can be done (prolly not for standard view though) but you have three kids, and soon you may have to travel during school holidays, PEAK.... that is when the 11 month window will really be important.....

If your looking for low dues, check out OKW. The dues are $3.22 pp. Plus the rooms are larger than most other DVC resorts. Splitting a stay between the high action BWV and the low key OKW, could be wonderful.


With that said I own at 3 resorts and have 2 different UYs.......... And love it. BUT all our home resorts are at WDW, and we dont mind splitting our stay between 2 resorts if needed........

Have fun finding that perfect contract!

 

[Nanajo1]

We originally bought 270 OKW points and added on 145 through disney, then added 220 through a resale. OKW is perfect for our family of 4 married children and 3 DGD( with 2 on the way). It never feels like a hotel. Hope to get our first GV 11/03. But DH and I enjoy BWV for our couples only trips so bought 300 BWV points through a resale. We are waiting for more feedback on BCV before we add any points there.

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Nanajo1
We originally bought 270 OKW points and added on 145 through disney, then added 220 through a resale. OKW is perfect for our family of 4 married children and 3 DGD( with 2 on the way). It never feels like a hotel. Hope to get our first GV 11/03. But DH and I enjoy BWV for our couples only trips so bought 300 BWV points through a resale. We are waiting for more feedback on BCV before we add any points there.

Nanajo1,

Thanks for replying back. You will love the GV's. 4 members of my family our DVC members also, so we get the GV's a lot. We have 300 pts at OKW and just added 200 VB pts(mainly for the Beach Cottages-11 month window) this year .