Anyone start with just a 50 point resale?

[ekatiel]

50 points doesn't seem like it gets you too much, but from what I've read on the points charts, you could stay at several resorts for a 5 night stay (Sun-Thurs) in the off season each year. Did anybody start their DVC ownership like this? I'd love to hear how it's worked out for you. --Katie

 

[Bob Price]

50 points doesn't seem like it gets you too much, but from what I've read on the points charts, you could stay at several resorts for a 5 night stay (Sun-Thurs) in the off season each year. Did anybody start their DVC ownership like this? I'd love to hear how it's worked out for you. --Katie

That's exactly how I started Katie. 50 BWV with a December use year.

My daughter and I went for 5 nights - 2 @ AKV and 3 with a BW view @ BWV.

We were hooked. After we came home and could afford it we bought 30 more at BWV - September use year, 30 at AKV - June use year and added 40 at BLT for the June and September contracts.

We are going to step up our vacations until she gets out of high school in 6 years and then sell off a couple of the contracts.

It is a great product, very flexible and an incredible return on investment.

 

[wazzu]

I am thinking of doing the same (having only a 50 point membership), but I would then look for points for transfer from other members for longer stays. Perhaps I am underestimating the difficulty to get additional points as-needed on an annual basis, but I see plenty of postings from members looking to transfer points. If I have 50 points and need another 150, I can always post an ad offering to $10 per point.

A 50 point membership will also keep your MF's down.

Finally, I watch the TSS board and it appears that the 50 point memberships are quickly snatched-up. If it does not work out, you can always sell it.

 

[ekatiel]

Thanks for the insight, guys. Do you think there's a better resort to buy a smaller point value from? It looks like you can stay at AKV for less points than many of the other resorts. Buying is probably a long way off for us b/c I still have to convince DH (we just returned last month from our first trip to WDW ever). We stayed in a value for that trip and will probably stay in a value again for a 2010 trip, but I'm guessing that once we've "done it all" in the parks, and really want a more relaxing time, spending more time at the resort, etc, we will probably upgrade to a mod or try renting points from a DVCer. Our oldest son has multiple food allergies, and Disney did such a great job accomadating his food needs that we will probably return every year or two, so DVC is starting to make more sense for us (or at least to me-- I'll have to work on DH for awhile ). --Katie

 

[Bob Price]

The relaxing and the fun are the return on investment for me. I have never had so much fun on vacation. And I look so forward to going back. I let people cut in line, take my seat on the bus and just stand back and enjoy - I'll be back soon.

I'm a view person. If I'm going to spend the dough and relax and enjoy myself I want to step back and see what's going on around me. I'll spend the points - it's worth it. That's why I got BWV for the BW view, AKV - for the Savanna view and BLT - for the all important parking lot view. I want to make sure I'm in at 11 months. Buy where you want to stay and stay where you buy.

Good luck. You can't go wrong.

 

[MinnieVacations]

Our first purchase was 65 points at OKW. I often rent points from another member and have them transferred into my account. When we bring friends with us I use my points for half and have the friends pay for the transfer points that are needed for the other half. It works out well b/c our friends still get a great deal in the cost of the room and I don't have to borrow points for the next year. We just recently added another 75 points for a total of 140. I still plan on having friends transfer in points but now I can go twice (or maybe even three times) a year.

 

[princessfionasmom]

I started off with 50 pts at OKW. We have banked our 08 pts and will use them with our 09 pts and some of our 10 pts for our next trip in Oct. This will be a big tirp, 3 nights lake view studio at BLT then 6 nights studio at OKW. Of course, we are already starting to suffer from addonitis (it's real ) and will probably add some points at the DVC Boston show in a couple of weeks.

 

[Cricket2]

I started with a 48 and now I'm into my 4th and 5th add-ons. The point chart shift really goofed some of my plans up though so I might have to convert one of my 50's to a larger one just to complete a stay now for our 3 year 2x per year rotation.

 

[ekatiel]

I started with a 48 and now I'm into my 4th and 5th add-ons. The point chart shift really goofed some of my plans up though so I might have to convert one of my 50's to a larger one just to complete a stay now for our 3 year 2x per year rotation.

Can you explain the point chart shift to me? I tried googling it, but nothing really came up. How often can they change the points required for a stay? And I read on another thread that they can't actually increase the total point value for a resort, but they can rearrange things?? Is that true? How does it all work? TIA!--Katie

 

[ryan840]

We did one better, bought in with a 25 point contract! We don't want to finance and we couldn't wait to get started so we found a small one and borrowed points to use this year for 5 nights and stayed at a value for the weekend. It's been great for us and we hope to add on another 25 for next years trip to do the same, and slowly work our way up to our ideal points. The best part is that we got our foot in the door and get all the perks associated with DVC without the huge up front cost. Now we can look for more resales that fit our needs or buy right from Disney.

 

[Cricket2]

Can you explain the point chart shift to me? I tried googling it, but nothing really came up. How often can they change the points required for a stay? And I read on another thread that they can't actually increase the total point value for a resort, but they can rearrange things?? Is that true? How does it all work? TIA!--Katie

The weekday vs. weekend (Fri. & Sat.) point values as well as each season's point values can be changed to suit members needs (or Disney's needs) as long as the total of points required in the year do not change (if i'm not mistaken, it's only happend twice??).

Others can give a much more detailed version of this, but that's the main point. We had exactly the number of points with banking and borrowing every 3 years to stay the periods of time we wanted to stay and they re-balanced the weekday and weekend rates out a little and it threw off our amounts enough to ruin it for us. We can't just add on 12 points (or whatever) so we are sort of stuck in a couple of cases with stealing points outside our home resort so we loose our 11 month advantage for part of our stays.

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi Katie,
I am a current DVC member with 30 points. My situation is a little different though as I live in Orlando and use my points strictly for DVC resorts a few nights a year.

I found that staying at a deluxe resort one time a year was costing twice as much as the annual dues on 30 points. I can get 2-3 nights a year with that amount of points, so it is much more cost effective. The other benefit is I am in a villa and not a hotel room. Everyone's vacation needs will be different though many owners have expressed to me that a small amount of points works well.

If you look at the point charts and see 50 points will work for you I would say go for it. It is a more affordable way to get into the program and if you find you need more points in the future you can always add on.

Just be careful though adding on can quickly become an addiction, however not a bad one!!!

If you would like to see the point charts for the DVC resorts they are all listed on The Timeshare Store,Inc. website. There is a banner add at the top of the page. Click on that and then look for the tab that says DVC Point Charts.

I hope this information has been helpful. Good luck and hope to welcome you home soon!

Jamie
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[WiggleWorm]

We're also thinking of starting at just 50 pts at AKV b/c of the savings with the "value" rooms. We also only plan on going every other year (or even 3 years). It seems like it will work for us - especially not having to pay so much up-front.

 

[Sandisw]

We started with 50 points at VWL (in Feb) because we wanted BLT but they were saying that the minimum buy in for this was going to 200 for new members (never happened).

It was a great way to get our foot in the door and the plan was to look at the BLT models in August and then add on then.

Unfortunately, I got hit with addonitis as soon as I closed and ended up getting my BLT points one week later!

Good luck!!!

 

[Kathy C]

My son started with a 25 pt resale. We have 300 pts so I told him not worry about buying any more points because between us we can go twice a year, and his resale purchase entitles his family to all the DVC perks like discounted annual passes!

 

[starwood]

We started with a little bit more. We had 100 points and it wasn't long after DH decided we should add on another 35. Then about a year later it was another 50.

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

Buying a 50 point contract is a great way to become a DVC Member and enjoy all the benefits without having a major initial upfront cost. A smaller contract will also allow you to try out the program and experience it first hand.
If you love it , you can always add on more points down the road.

 

[nunzia]

I bought 25 points at OKW to get in the system so I could buy VGC when they were first offered. I thought they'd be offered to current members first and wanted a step up in line. That wasn't necessary, but I still didn't want to buy 160 at VGC so it still worked out well for me. I used three years of my points for almost a week at OKW which almost pays for my initial investment. I got my VGC points (125, which will work for our current travel restrictions) and couldn't be more pleased. I only wish I'd been able to find a 30 point OKW resale, since that's what I was really looking for.

 

[extremesoccermom]

We knew we wanted 100 points or more but we don't do debt. So we bought a 50 point SSR contract and added on 25 AKV points within a couple of months and paid cash. We were able to bank the points right away then the next year when we went on vacation we borrowed to get a 2 bedroom at OKW (I was able to treat my parents to a nice room and DD13 loved staying by herself one night while the adults went out)
We are currently looking to add at least another 25 points right now (have the money saved up and I have the dues fees but into a seperate account monthly to help myself budget). We have already borrowed most of our points for next year to treat DS19, DD14 and I to AKV studio in July (our favorite resort). But we don't have an plans to go to Disney the next year so we are OK!
Chances are we will eventually get to 150. I think we should be able to handle the dues at that amount and get in the number and kind of trips we want. It all depends on the kids and when they eventually get married. DS19 has not been to Disney since he was 12. (Will he change his mind? Will his future wife be a Disney freak? Will the grandkids want to come with us?)

 

[vwlamy]

Do it. 75 is the new 50 though..considering the 2010 point shift..