Average Point Package

[Anewman]

Question the OP.

Since you purchased at DL, I was wondering if you were given free Annual passes? And did you use the Friends and Family 15% off incentive?

Thinking of doing a add on this week b4 it ends and this may decide it.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Anewman -- I thought I read that someone had posted the annual passes were only good for initial contracts, not add-ons. I'll see if I can find the thread.

 

[Disney Doll]

When we bought our first contract back in 1997, the only thing they told us about points was that 150 points would not enable us to book into some of the non-DVC resort offerings...you know, the stuff in the Concierge Collection, etc. That didn't interest us, so it wasn't an issue, but we did appreciate that point of information.

Our first contract was for 200 points, and that worked well for us using some creative resorting, staying at moderates for the weekend (read higher points cost) nights etc.

We then decided a few years later that we wanted to have more points so we wouldn't have to do the weekend at a different hotel thing unless we wanted to. So we bought another contract for 230 points.

Now we have a total of 430 points, which is enough to spend most of our days at a DVC resort if we want to.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

"Average" is irrelevant. Your family may not fit the average. If you have a family of five with teen-sized kids you'd need a two bedroom. If they are little uns a one bedroom or a studio might do. No kids? A studio or a one bedroom.

If you don't mind combining cash and points or can travel in the lower point periods you wont need many points.

Ultimately it sounds like he was saving himself sometime by nudging (shoving?) you towards buying the amount you choose. If you want some help being nudged in a more likely direction share the following information with the board.

>> When would you most likely want to go? Top three months.
>> How frequently would you go in a three year period?
>> How big is your family?
>> How long would you be at Disney?
>> How many points did you buy?

If you can't be bothered with all that if you bought around 200 points and its affordable for you it is probably a number that works.

 

[Pamjr]

We purchased 240 and have been visiting WDW every two years ever since. We stay in nice size places for 6 nights and we love it. We also stayed on Central Park in NY last year. It works for us.

You need to purchase what works for you. There are a lot of questions you have to ask yourself.

 

[NYMomof4]

What works for one family isn't a fit for another-that's how it was explained to me from my guide. I only have 150 right now and would love more, but that number can work for a few years. My guide walked me through how to use the 2005 points with this years to spread out the extras over the next few years if I wanted to. That was a nice touch and if anything-he was showing how to make the 150 work for now. I could definitely use more points but I don't need them. If we go every other year, we'd have 300 points-it just depends how you plan it all. Avoiding weekends stretches it too.

The most important factor in DVC is what your family needs or wants for points not the national average. My plan is to add on points in the future, as many do, so that is always an option if the number of points isn't enough on the first purchase.

Do your own math and decide based on that figure

 

[magicmama]

We bought 160 and then added 50 more points a year later. Not quite enough for a one bedroom for a week but its great for almost 2weeks in a studio. I suggest you consider your family size, what accomodations you want (studio, 1 bedroom, etc) and how often you want to visit WDW. That should tell you how many points you need, regardless of the 'average'. I would really like to have more points but we have a great time with 210!
Have a magical time!

 

[DebbieB]

I bought 250 because that would give me 5 nights in May and 6 nights in early December in a 1 bedroom. I do wish I would have bought 150 and 100. Now that my mom has passed away, I don't think I will be going that often and not in a 1 bedroom. 150 would probably be enough now.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We started with 175, added another 75 about a year later. Then another 50 for a total of 300 at our first resort. Then we added 100 at a second resort, and about 6 months later another 100 at a third resort. So we have 500 total, but five contracts. If we ever decide to sell some, we can sell one of our contracts and still have points for vacations.