Best place to use "extra" points

[Charles Marshall]

We just joined the DVC, and as a bonus received the points from 2015. We purchased 250, so with the bonus, we have 500 points to use. Any suggestions to make the best use of the points since we have so many to use?

 

[ktmo]

Congrats on joining DVC. I just became a member and my contract had 78 points that were going to expire at the end of May. The points couldn't be banked, since they were points from 2014. Any way, I ended up planning a quick trip for my DD's birthday.

What is your use year? You probably are still in your 2015 use year, so you have those points available, not really "extra". Are you planning a trip this year?

 

[disneynutz]

If you have points that you don't intend to use this year, bank them and use them next year.

Bill

 

[zavandor]

We just joined the DVC, and as a bonus received the points from 2015. We purchased 250, so with the bonus, we have 500 points to use. Any suggestions to make the best use of the points since we have so many to use?

If you really cannot use them all, then I'd suggest to rent the excess and use the proceedings to pay for tickets, foods or maybe a vacation somewhere else. All non DVC options are not really a great value.

 

[gharter]

We just joined the DVC, and as a bonus received the points from 2015. We purchased 250, so with the bonus, we have 500 points to use. Any suggestions to make the best use of the points since we have so many to use?

If you have a large trip coming up next year, banking them makes sense. If you don't, I would rent them. As noted, the money from this can pay fo the rest of your trip.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have never done it but you could use them for a cruise or exchange points into interval for a one or two bedroom that can be used anywhere in the world and you have a couple years to use the week.

 

[jerseyduke]

The best way to use such points is to transfer them into my account, and let me take care of it for you - no need to let them cause extra stress.

All kidding aside, I would get an idea as to your plans.

You can always bank them, and use them next year. Then bank next year's to the year after, and perceptually bank them until you are going to use them. If you are new to DVC, and you think you will end up buying annual passes, those extra points become a little more interesting, since you can take a short trip, since you will have accommodations and tickets taken care of. This will depend on other factors of course, such as size of group, airfare costs, etc.
If you are someone who might take a quick trip, with spouse/friend/family, whatever, you might want to hang on to some.

Otherwise, I would rent them out, and use the money to pay for your passes and such.


What is your UY? Just remember banked points can not be unbanked, so you have until your banking deadline to make a decision, and I would probably not bank them until very close to that date.

 

[Charles Marshall]

Since we are getting last years points, we cannot bank them with this years. In theory, we would bank this years points, and use last years points I suppose.


That is not really what I am asking. We are hoping to use both sets of points, 500 total, on one big killer trip. Was looking for ideas on what would be the best trip to use 500 points on, when typically we only have 250.
Thanks

 

[supersnoop]

Since we are getting last years points, we cannot bank them with this years. In theory, we would bank this years points, and use last years points I suppose.


That is not really what I am asking. We are hoping to use both sets of points, 500 total, on one big killer trip. Was looking for ideas on what would be the best trip to use 500 points on, when typically we only have 250.
Thanks

Stay twice as long, or get a room twice as large. Splurge on a better view than normal.

 

[bwang123]

We were in a similar position years ago and booked a 2 bedroom savannah view at kidani and invited friends.

 

[pinklotusflower]

If it was me with so many extra points I'd spurge on staying at the Poly bungalows

 

[SleighBelle]

Agree that Poly bungalows would be awesome!

 

[cvjw]

500 points won't get you a very long stay in a Poly bungalow.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Splurge for upgraded views. Try out something you probably wouldn't do if you had only the 250 points. We had 102 points to use in two months so we did a last minute trip over christmas. Was great to see the crowd level and try different resorts and views. Great first trip and let us decide that christmas crowds aren't for us if we have a choice. Plus we decided MK view at BLT wasn't worth it to us unless we are trying to use up points. We stayed at three different resorts to check them out. We had a great trip and even better that we didn't have to really "pay" for those points.

like others said try out a larger room. if you have any weddings you have coming up you could always gift them a few nights in a studio. Great present and won't cost you any more out of pocket.

 

[disneynutz]

Since we are getting last years points, we cannot bank them with this years. In theory, we would bank this years points, and use last years points I suppose.

That is not really what I am asking. We are hoping to use both sets of points, 500 total, on one big killer trip. Was looking for ideas on what would be the best trip to use 500 points on, when typically we only have 250.
Thanks

The way that your post is worded makes it seem that you bought direct. If so contact your guide and ask that the points be banked.

Bill

 

[Dean]

We just joined the DVC, and as a bonus received the points from 2015. We purchased 250, so with the bonus, we have 500 points to use. Any suggestions to make the best use of the points since we have so many to use?

Take family you wouldn't normally take, splurge as suggested are two options to use the points. But you don't necessarily need to use all of them by the end of your 2016 UY, only the 250. So you could kick the can down the road and bank the 2016 points to the 2017 UY. Someone questioned your UY and I'd second that issue. Your wording makes me wonder if you have a good grasp on how UY works. You definitely need to understand since your 2015 UY will extend into 2016 and so on. Personally if I were going to splurge beyond the 250 points, I'd plan it out a year or 2 and take family or do a longer trip hitting several DVC options.

 

[jerseyduke]

Since we are getting last years points, we cannot bank them with this years. In theory, we would bank this years points, and use last years points I suppose.


That is not really what I am asking. We are hoping to use both sets of points, 500 total, on one big killer trip. Was looking for ideas on what would be the best trip to use 500 points on, when typically we only have 250.
Thanks

I do not see how anyone can answer this. How many people are you? When do you like to go?

When is your UY. If you bought direct your guide should be able to bank them for you.

500 points can vary a lot in mileage. That is 1 week and a Grand Floridian 2 bed room lake view in Dream Season, and that is it. (14 left over) 500 points can go quickly.

I would suggest going to Davids and using his point calculator. Get an idea of what you can do, what size room, what resort, when etc. If you want to go the 'killer' trip, use david's as a guide. Personally, I want to stay in one of the SSR tree house villas at some point. His site is at www.dvcrequest.com

Personally, I would probably do as Dean suggested and kick the points down the road. 250 may seem like a ton. For now.....

There will probably come a time down the road when a short trip will seem like a great idea, and you will wish you had the points.

Most people on this site preach about buying resale, and have bought resale. But, my guess is many bought their first contract directly, then bought resale; which suggests, many of us needed more points than we originally thought!

So,
A. Kick them down the road
B. Go to David's and get idea as to what you can get for 500 points, remember that the 7 month rule will apply. I am assuming you bought Direct, which probably means Poly, so you would have to do multiple studios, or maybe a 4 or 5 day stay at a Bungalow (which would be cool)
C. Rent them out, and use the cash to buy your tickets and such.

Also as Dean said, I am questioning your understanding of UY. It can be confusing, so just make sure you understand it.

Now go out and enjoy your points!

 

[DenLo]

You could splurge and reserve a larger villa for your family, but keep in mind that can be habit forming which means buying more points.

 

[jerseyduke]

You could splurge and reserve a larger villa for your family, but keep in mind that can be habit forming which means buying more points.

Too true!!!

You may be better off not knowing what you are missing!!!!

 

[lovin'fl]

Seems like OP is wanting to take a Mac Daddy trip with these points. So, OP, what dates are you thinking and how long? That can help us make suggestions. Pretty much any dates between now and Nov will be booked up at WDW (aside from non F&W and Thanksgiving weeks in Nov...and Dec will be getting booked up too). How many folks in your party? Could do late Aug-Sept at Vero or HHI maybe...in a 2BR. I had HHI points to use and no plans for them so we actually booked a 3BR grand villa at HHI for NYE (3 nights and will add a 4th night at 7 month window with some OKW points). We will bring friends (and our kids and their kids are same ages) and party it up. You could do a half Vero or HHI and half WDW trip. You could do a long trip where you resort hop so that you can try out several resorts. So, dates and travel party info please and we can help more. Also, will you fly or drive?