ATTN Small Points Owners (100 or less), and all others too!

[arcruiser]

Hi all! Just sold a motorhome, and after thinking about it for a few years (we have the 2001 guide), have about decided to become DVC members.

My head tells me about 80 - 100 points is plenty. We generally go once a year for a week.... always drive...... always arrive on Sunday...... usually about 5 nites...... ususally in the fall.

80 to 100 is more than enough, right?

But, DS is 9 months old. In a few years, I guess that means school and summer vacations - need more points.

And we loved the 2 cruises - a little bank and borrow here and there - need more points.

And would love to bring grandparents, or a friend in a few years - need more points.

Now the meat of the question - how creative can tou get with a 100 points or less? Would love to hear some examples!

Thanks

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, arcruiser. While a trip can be done for 100 points, it should be noted that you will need to buy resale, as Disney will sell no less than 150 points.

You should also be warned that once you get the taste of DVC, you may want more, and more points...

Good luck...

 

[jaysue]

Creative ways to keep costs down:

1) Buy at Old Key West - generally near or at the lowest cost for a DVC resort at WDW

2) Buy at OKW - annual dues the least expensive - currently $3.49 per point per year versus for example $4.37 per point per year at Vero Beach

3) Buy at OKW - this resort requires the fewest # of points of all the DVC properties at WDW to stay at so you would have the 11 month window for your fall vacations at the resort that costs the least maintenance fees and the fewest points

Cruises are not the most economical way to use points and at most you can bank one year and borrow another so at most you could have 3X your annual points for a trip - on a cruise 300 points does not go very far

Except for right around Thanksgiving, fall is the least "expensive" time to visit in terms of points

For example at OKW during September this year:
Sunday to Thursday
Studio 40 points
1BR 80 points
2BR 110 points

October and November:
Studio 40 points
1BR 90 points
2BR 120 points

By way of comparison, BCV or VWL or BWV (Preferred View):
September Sunday to Thursday:
Studio 60 points
1BR 110 points
2BR 150 points

October/November:
Studio 60 points
1BR 120 points
2BR 160 points



Thanks
jaysue

 

[arcruiser]

Actually we are thinking OKW, for several reasons.

Cost per point - 'bout the only thing cheaper is VB.

Maint dues - cheapest, and seems to be likely to stay that way.

Seems to be the resort we would like the best in terms of atmosphere.... we loved POFQ, and OKW seems to be even more laid back and quiet.

We always drive from AR, and parking is a consideration.

Cheapest to book with points.

I'm sure we'll stay at all the resorts, but coming "home" to OKW would be great if bringing others along, with the bigger rooms, etc.

Yes, I know fewer than 150 is available only thru resale - but then again, OKW is available only thru resale to a new member.... SO we are thinking resale is gonna be the way to go for us. I have talked to Shontel, but have not talked to anyone at timeshare.com yet.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Another consideration are the standard room rates at BWV. You'll need to own ad BWV in order to get the standard rates, they ususally go before the 7 month window. In comparison, OKW rates are generally available within the 7 month window. OKW and BWV are both different resorts, you'll want to make a good comparison before deciding, each has it's own advantages. You may also want to consider the cooking, meal and laundry advantages that a one bedroom offers. We generally eat out once per day, with meals and snacks taken care of by the nice villa kitchen. Sometimes it's just easier for us with small kids. Enjoy your shopping. You can always rent points to go check out th resort options. Choosing your home resort is probably the biggest decision.

 

[PamOKW]

*** Can't delete.

 

[JimC]

OKW is laid back and as another POFQ fan, we were quite happy with OKW.

Two other OKW advantages: 1. OKW has the largest units, when combined with lowest points and maintenance fees it is a real bargain. 2. OKW has a dedicated bus for those days when you don't feel like driving, a water taxi to DTD and a pathway to walk to DTD (I believe you come out by Cirque.

Good luck!

 

[torismom]

We have 80 points BWV and are happy with them. I would love more points but they are not needed.

My grandmother is purchasing a vacation home in Orlando and that solves my dilemma of to few points. LOL

I say purchase what you can afford (pay cash), where you want to stay and add-on as money allows.

 

[Candace]

ARcruiser - no additional advice because all up to now is good. Just want to say 'welcome to the boards' from another Arkansan. We are located in Osceola, 50 miles north of Memphis. Where are you?

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Hi arcruiser,
Welcome to the board!! You'll find that we are some of the nicest people around. Anyway, DH and I have 150 points at VB and all I can say is, I WANT MORE!!!!
As I said, it's only DH and I. No little ones, yet. At first I was having a hard time talking hubby into DVC. All he could see was the initial money of like 12,000 (at the time). After going through the presentation, talking to our guide, thinking it over we both saw the advantages financially. At the time, coming up with the down payment was a bit of a problem but our guide told us all about the magical beginnings program. We bought at VB because we received more money per point which in turn gave us a bigger downpayment. . . you get the picture. She also asked how far in advance do we normally make our ressies. I said 5-6 months in advance and she said, well, this will be great for you as you can make ressies at your home resort at 11 months out of your departure date and 7 months out of your departure date at any other resort. Great we thought, this is for us. At this rate, with 150 points, we can go like twice a year in a studio.
Here we are, a year later, taking my mom, sister and her husband with us in Dec. I've always wanted to be able to take my family so I'm very excited to say the least that we can. Here's the problem. First off, we needed a two bedroom. That means 150 points isn't enough and now we have to borrow. Second, we wanted to stay at BWV. Couldn't get anything not even a studio for the dates we wanted there and I'm like six months out. We tried to get into OKW but even that was full. We had to go onto a waiting list. Luckily, that worked out.
Before we bought, I asked a ton of questions here and everyone was extremely helpful. One of the main things that most people said was "buy where you want to stay". I never thought I'd need more than 7 months, this year I see I could have used it.
If all you can afford is 80-100 points then by all means, get them and add on when you can but definately buy where you'll want to stay the most. People said, "You can always get into OKW" and I had trouble even getting in there this year.
Good luck in whatever you decide and keep us posted. The most I can say is, you won't regret it!

 

[arcruiser]

Thanks for the many replies.

We are just a little s/w of LR in Benton.

Yeah, OKW definitely seems to be our front runner. I guess BC would be second choice... from what I hear it's next best for parking and SAB is great. But the price and dues are a tad higher.

It looks like we will be looking in the 150 to 200 point range. I just started into looking at a home equity loan at 6%. We could swing the lower points, but my thinking is get the lower interest loan (which is deductible I think), and pay off a few credit cards with the cash.

I have not really studied the Cruise cost effectiveness that closely, but our thoughts are along the line of banking around 75 and borrowing around 75 in the cruise year (every 3 years?), which will still leave enough for a very nice 1 or 2 bedroom the other 2 years(in the fall at OKW). Seems like a cruise outside with porthole starts at about 350 points right now? Anyways we could go inside on cruise to save points (done it before), for a bigger room or busier season....... or get a Verandah (done it also, Cat 4 - great room!) by staying in a studio or 1 br.

So Yeah, at this time my head says we only need 40 to 60 points for our annual fall trip to WDW, in a very nice studio.

But our hearts say we need 200 points for the 1 or 2 br units, with a cruise thrown in every so often!

 

[InstImpres]

Just FYI, if you buy a small OKW contract via resale you can the go on the waitlist with DVC for OKW points via FROF.

Good luck - I'm sure you'll be thrilled with your "new home"

Sandy

 

[westjones]

We only have 150 points, and have found that with studios and going in off seasons we can make do quite a bit with them. We also love the Disney Cruise, but found that we prefer paying cash to using points, so we like the idea of going to WDW for 4 day and then going on a 3 day cruise at the end of the week (paying cash).

I am sure we could easily come up with ways to use more points. But the 150 points fits very comfortably into our budget. Also, we want to go other places on vacations beside WDW. That is where the banking and borrowing works well for us. We can skip a year and go somewhere else, and then use more points the following year.

Points are like money, the more you have, the more you will/can spend. Consider your budget and your vacation goals (how often do you plan to go to WDW). We are a family of 4, and we enjoyed our stay at BCV in a studio very much. We also tried a 2 bedroom at HH and I must say that it was wonderful, but we can still enjoy our trip staying in a studio.

Whatever you decide, I am sure you will have many wonderful memories from your WDW trips!
DJ

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by arcruiser
Now the meat of the question - how creative can tou get with a 100 points or less? Would love to hear some examples!

Well I believe this is the most creative way to stretch your points to the max on a single trip--(and I have never seen anyone else post this so I think I am the inventor of this idea)

Book your trip so that it starts at the end of your use year but extends into the beginning of the use year.

Example: September use Year--Go from August 28 2005 to September 9th (checking out on the 9th--12 nights--in a 2 BEDROOM AT OKW!!!) 348 points!!! You could do 16 nights in a 1 BR starting Aug 27th. (400 points) 32 nights in an OKS studio starting Aug 24...(396 points) A week in an OKW Grand Villa starting Aug 28 or 29th (383-392 points depending which day you start since the season's change on Sept 1)
But that is more than 3 years' worth of points?
How?
100 -2003 points banked into 2004 and used for the start of your trip...248 points for the rest of the trip from 2004 2005 and borrowed from 2006 into Sep 2005! in other words use 2 years worth of points for the days before Sept and the other 2 years for the days on and after Sept 1!

It taps out your points for a while but it tells you the most you could possibly have is 4 years worth not 3.

Paul