Am I the only person not worried about pts?

[Starr W.]

Other than at Vero Beach (thank you new pts. allocations), I will book weekends if that's what my vacation timeframe demands at any of the resorts. So I save on some trips going S-TH, then I spend more going on some weekends. It all evens itself out, IMHO. OT, but I would never give up a GV for MK view 2bdr.!!!! That SSR GV is to die for!

Just reminded DH about last time with the "trip killer" and the BLT idea wasn't mentioned again!

 

[jekjones1558]

We have a lot more points now than we had when we first joined, but at no time have we ever stayed off-site or in a cheaper room to conserve points. I scrimp and save while I am at home but when I am on vacation convenience is first priority. To us that means not changing rooms and having a rental car. I suppose it also means that quality trumps quantity of days on vacation. We know that we will be returning soon so we would rather REALLY relax and enjoy whatever time we have. I know that there are many who feel differently so it has been fun reading this thread to find some soul mates.

 

[gkrykewy]

OP, this is generally our attitude too, at least when it comes to weekend points (which is why I'm actually glad about the 2010 points charts). We now have 220 points at AKV, which seems to be about enough for roughly 2+ studio weeks per year, which is typically what we've booked. At AKV, the Value room category makes it really easy to stretch out points in any case.

 

[La2kw]

I like to stretch my points as far as possible. We have a limited budget, and I like long vacations. We usually stay Sun-Thurs, then go to Universal, the beach, Key West, or Miami on the weekends. After than another Sun-Thurs at DVC, then another destination on the weekend. I need two weeks minimum in Florida. We don't see it as a hassle to visit these other destinations since we love them as much as WDW.

The new 2010 point charts are screwing up our travel patterns, but on the other hand we won't need 1br units anymore since DD and DS are in college next year and won't be traveling with us. We can downgrade to a studio now and stay even longer- including weekends!

 

[Chuck S]

When we first bought in, we moved offsite a couple of times for weekends. Too much hassle for us, we added more points and stay put. We do occasionally spend a night at POP if we arrive early or decide to stay an extra day...but I wouldn't move out and then back in the middle of a stay.

 

[Anal Annie]

We are "points challenged" compared to many of you and want to plan as many trips / year as we can so we have to do some creative planning with our points sometimes (I watch the seasonal requirements as much as anything). We also only stay in studios in order to stretch our points. BUT we do stay on weekends and the only time we did cash ressies was when we were out of points & didn't want to borrow. We actually have a long weekend (4 nights) planned for next weekend where many would probably have not used their points for Fri & Sat nights. We had the points available so we used them. But we don't have so many points that we don't know what to do with all of them...we do have to plan things out and decide on the best way to "spend" them.

 

[KathyRN137]

Our family is "point-challenged" too!

Yes, DVC is economical in the long run. But, not everyone can afford to make a very large investment up front. If I had the means, I would certainly add on more points so I wouldn't have to worry about stretching them. But not everyone can do that so easily, especially in the current economy.

The reality is, we just have to squeak by on what we've got now... our "meager" 200 point contract.

It's a lot more than most people have and I'm grateful for it.


Kathy

 

[Crystal_27]

Now that I read your post, I remember that I meant to say that we never will use our points for crusing as the points required are ridiculous compared to the cash price of the cabins. It is too late for you for this trip, but consider paying cash in the future by transfering your points to a fellow DVC member to get the cash. You'll likely save a bundle!

Thank you so much for your suggestion!! We'll take that into consideration for future trips. I actually didn't think that the point charts are that bad for cruises. I mean, considering that food is included as is entertainment (thus no DDP or park tickets), I didn't think it was too outrageous. Still, like I said, given that we are using so many points for 2010, we'll just have to stay in studios for 2011 and 2012 until we can build our points bank back up again. Still, I'm very excited about the next several years of DVC vacations. Obviously, as a new owner, I'm still seeing stars!!

 

[gkrykewy]

Thank you so much for your suggestion!! We'll take that into consideration for future trips. I actually didn't think that the point charts are that bad for cruises. I mean, considering that food is included as is entertainment (thus no DDP or park tickets), I didn't think it was too outrageous. Still, like I said, given that we are using so many points for 2010, we'll just have to stay in studios for 2011 and 2012 until we can build our points bank back up again. Still, I'm very excited about the next several years of DVC vacations. Obviously, as a new owner, I'm still seeing stars!!

If you multiply out the cruise prices -- even at $10 per point --

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Our family includes one of each...I am very miserly with the points trying to squeeze as much out of them as possible. My DH is not a worrier that way. Our compromises are that we stay in a studio when it is just the two of us. If the two kids are along and we do a split stay the first part will be in a studio and the second in a one-bedroom. When family and friends are invited along my DH gets to make the decisions. He says (and rightly so) the vacation will be much better if everyone has enough space to themselves.

Basically we like to go twice a year. Fall is just the two of us. Spring is with the kids and usually guests as well. We bank...borrow....add-on and so far have had a great time.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

{shrug} I'm happy that you have enough points so you don't need to "stress it". Not all of us can say the same. Please don't feel bad for me, though. I don't mind downgrading *gasp* to a studio or staying at a regular DVC resort during Free Dining to save some points.

Haven't read ahead, but this is pretty much us. We stick to the Sun-Thu trips to get our 200 points to get us 3 stay over 2 years. We also tend to not dine out. For us the view (except at VB) doesn't concern us so much. No reason to feel bad for us either... we've been quite happy with our stays.

 

[helenk]

I am a DVC newbie, I just bought into DVC this past September. So I do kind of worry about my points. I bought 210 points with the plan to be careful with my points when I travel solo. When I go with my family, every other year, my plan is to stay in a 1 bedroom savannah view at AKV.
In the years when I go alone, I want to take 2 trips, one in May and then another in December. Then I'll get a studio, and I want to try as many of the resorts as I can so I might stay in a value studio in AKV and then the next trip try a studio in another resort.
I really like Disneyland when I went this year so now I am thinking of adding on some VGC points so that we can all go maybe every 3 years. I want to wait for that until later next year after my daughter graduates from college. Unless she has to go an extra semester then it will be in 2011.

 

[starbox]

We're probably half-and-half. I do try to maximize my points so that I can take multiple trips a year. I also always stay offsite on our arrival day - but I did the same thing when we used to do MYW packages via. CRO.

I love to start my official vacation on the day after I've driven 7 hours! So staying offsite and then checking in on the morning of my first full day of vacation is .

I also realized last year - after we did a 3-night long weekend at Christmas (we were out of points so I did Priceline) that I'd like to do a couple of short weekend trips during the school year - I would never buy points to cover those weekends, as it would take close to 130 points just for 6 nights a year.
I can Priceline a 4 star for less than what I'd pay just in annual dues for those 4-6 nights. I like DVC and I feel like it is reasonable for the way we use it - we get about 19 nights (including one weekend) with our 275 points.

I would not feel good about spending ten-thirteen grand plus 400-500 a year in annual dues to stay an additional two weekends a year. Honestly, I could not justify spending that kind of money.

 

[Disney Doll]

When we had one 200 point contract, we had to be a bit creative with our stays...if we arrived on a weekend day we usually stayed at a moderate and then moved to the DVC property on Sunday or Monday to conserve points.

We bought a second 230 point contract, so now we pretty much have enough to do what we want, but also aren't adverse to splitting a stay if necessary.

Actually, sometimes splitting a stay makes it seem like 2 different vacations, especially if you go to 2 resorts with completely different themeing, like CBR and VWL for example.

The one spot where we are spoiled is that we like a 1BR, even when it is just DH & I. LOVE that full washer/dryer in the room, LOVE having a place to "hang" that isn't the bed.

 

[decarop]

I don't mind spending the points if I get what I want.
Just booked for 5 nights in December (7th thru 11th) at SSR.
Just love WDW around Christmas.

Wanted a 2 bedroom for 4 adults (a little privacy you see) which we couldn't get for the dates we wanted at any DVC resort. Points weren't the issue.
No availability in any 2 or even a 1 bedroom DVC for the night of the 6th.
I was really surprised, but that's the way it goes sometimes.
But, we did get a 1 bedroom with a lockout room so it worked out after all.

I bought the points to use and have a good stay a few times a year after we retire. I was hoping we could use them at will, but it doesn't appear to be that way. Guess we'll need to rethink our program.

 

[Deb & Bill]

..
But, we did get a 1 bedroom with a lockout room so it worked out after all. ...

So you did get a two bedroom then.