Best way to stretch 100 Points at BLT?

[Idreamodisney247]

First week as a DVC Member Woohoo!!. A 17 year dream has finally become a reality! I keep pinching myself. I was so excited when I was offered the opportunity to buy a minimum of 100 points at BLT. We must have been to at least two presentations in the last 17 years and this was the first time they expected less than 160 pts.

I promised myself that I wouldn't be greedy about it and to purchase the plan I felt I could afford on my own. However, now that I am home trying to plan and stretch my points, I realize that my favorite accomodations were the 1 bedroom or higher rooms and 100 points is just not going to cut it for me.

Do you have any suggestions as to how many points you think I should have in order to make the most of BLT!
Thank you!

 

[Friendofpluto]

BLT is our home, but also very expensive. Your best bet is a studio / standard view during lower pt times to get the most for your money. We are doing a studio this Sept at BCV for 6 nights for 70 some pts. In Dec, our 2 B Lakeview at BLT is over 200 points for 6 nights. Thus we will not be at BLT for each trip. Have fun and go to BLT for special occasions w/ other sites in b/n. Thus you can get more vacation days for your money.

 

[Disfamoffour]

You can always go every other year which will double your points and afford you a longer trip. We purchased 100 points at OKW and will be able to stay in a 2BR for 6 days every two years.

 

[snorris49]

We also have 100 points at BLT. Since we had 100 points from last year's UY we had 200 initially to work with, so we decided to do several trips this year in studios and at low times in different DVC locations that are less points. We actually did book at BLT in a studio for our first trip in October b/c of my brother's wedding at the Poly and the convenience of the location, but in January we are staying for 4 nights at OKW. We have just enough points left to stay a few days in May, hopefully at AKV.

I'm planning on buying another 100 points in the next year and 1/2 or so...yep the addonitis has already begun!

 

[ToddyLu]

At 7 months or less from check in date you can also purchase up to 24 points direct from Disney one time per year, $15 per point. This could help you stretch those points also. You cannot use them during your "home resort" advantage time period. If you cancel the trip they are gone...but it would help.

 

[Sandisw]

We own BLT and just stayed there in a 1 bedroom and I agree, they are wonderful!!!

One other way is to complete a split stay between a studio and a 1 bedroom. We did that this summer. 3 nights at BCV in a studio and then 3 nights at BLT in a studio. We had 180 points to work with, plus some left over, but also travel in Magic season so a much higher point season.

This same trip could be done in Adventure season for only 124 points. Or, pair your stay on points with a cash stay. DVC members can book the DVC villas through MS for a 25% discount, if there is availability.

And, you can always borrow points for a few years to get what you want and then skip a year to replenish the points. For example, if you used 125 points each year, you can go for 4 years before you have to skip a year. Then you can start the cycle all over...and, within those 4 years, you put yourself in a position to maybe add on more points!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[Brandis]

I also own at BLT, but my first stay was in a value studio at AKV, I thought the point value was exceptional there, especially since we got a Savannah view!

40 points for 4 nights in May!

 

[Idreamodisney247]

snorris49 We got the same deal. I just want to stretch it so I can vacation at least once if not twice per year. The problem is that I am a teacher and I tend to be in the categories that use the most points. I am however trying to economize more by staying sun - thurs.

By the way I am so excited that you have a dairy free/gluten free blog. I had that on all my dinner reservations at WDW and they were amazingly accomodating. I even met a college student on the plane that suffers the same way and I cannot wait to send her a link to you blog if that is okay.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

At 7 months or less from check in date you can also purchase up to 24 points direct from Disney one time per year, $15 per point. This could help you stretch those points also. You cannot use them during your "home resort" advantage time period. If you cancel the trip they are gone...but it would help.

I have never heard about this before. Could you give me an example of how I would use this option?

 

[kristenrice]

We, too, have only 100 points. We are a family of four and we own at AKV so we plan to split our stays between studios and 1BR's, preferably in the value category. In Magic Season, we can do Sun-Mon nights in a value studio (26 points total) and then Tu-Th nights in a Value 1BR. This will total 104 points based on 2011's point charts. We've done this twice in the past (split our stay between a studio and a 1BR) and it works out great. We add a DDP to the studio stay and eat at our favorite TS restaurants while spending a lot of time in the parks. Then, we move to the 1BR and eat from the kitchen while we do laundry and have some downtime at the resort. Since we drive down from Michigan (for our spring break vacations), we arrive on Sunday and leave on Friday anyways so the points chart works to our favor.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

I also own at BLT, but my first stay was in a value studio at AKV, I thought the point value was exceptional there, especially since we got a Savannah view!

40 points for 4 nights in May!

I just put myself on a wait list for an AKL value studio. Please tell me what you thought about the accomodations. They told me it was about 311 sq feet as opposed to 365 sq ft in the standard room. Did you feel as if the room itself was a far cry from a room at the one of the moderates or the same? I'm just asking because I purchased the membership on my own and I am still trying to Mousertize my DH into seeing what an amazing program this is.

 

[Sandisw]

I have never heard about this before. Could you give me an example of how I would use this option?

This just began a few months back. At the 7 month mark, you are allowed to buy up to 24 one use points to complete a reservation. They are $15 each.

So, say you decide to go next summer and need 120 points for your reservation. You book what you can at 11 months and then call back at 7 months and extend your trip by buying those extra 20 points. It would cost you $300.

The drawback is that the room still needs to be available. With BLT, this might be tough if you originally book SV rooms to conserve points. I don't think it would be as difficult with LV rooms.

However, these are one use points and the way I understand it, they are only for that particular reservation. If you had to cancel or change that reservation, those points are lost and can not be used again.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

We, too, have only 100 points. We are a family of four and we own at AKV so we plan to split our stays between studios and 1BR's, preferably in the value category. In Magic Season, we can do Sun-Mon nights in a value studio (26 points total) and then Tu-Th nights in a Value 1BR. This will total 104 points based on 2011's point charts. We've done this twice in the past (split our stay between a studio and a 1BR) and it works out great. We add a DDP to the studio stay and eat at our favorite TS restaurants while spending a lot of time in the parks. Then, we move to the 1BR and eat from the kitchen while we do laundry and have some downtime at the resort. Since we drive down from Michigan (for our spring break vacations), we arrive on Sunday and leave on Friday anyways so the points chart works to our favor.

Wow that sounds terrific! I'm wondering now if we should have made AKV our home resort. I didn't realize how many more value options they offer.

 

[Sandisw]

Wow that sounds terrific! I'm wondering now if we should have made AKV our home resort. I didn't realize how many more value options they offer.

If you just signed your papers, and have not yet closed, you can call Disney and see if you can change resorts.

We did that last year when we changed our mind of how many points and to get better incentives.

Those value rooms at AKV do go fast and if you are comfortable booking and staying there, owing there would be important to get those rooms.

Good luck!!!

 

[kristenrice]

I just put myself on a wait list for an AKL value studio. Please tell me what you thought about the accomodations. They told me it was about 311 sq feet as opposed to 365 sq ft in the standard room.

I have never stayed at a moderate (only Pop Century), but the value studio does feel a bit cramped. Not because the room is that small, but because the furniture is HUGE!! It is the same furniture used in all the other AKV units so it is a little crammed into the value rooms. Personally, I wouldn't do a value studio for more than 2 nights as a family of four, and our girls are only 5 and 7. They are a great option for a few nights, especially a weekend night, because they are so few points.

The *best* part about the value rooms is that you can get lucky and have a view like this....

This was taken from our value 1BR in June of 2009. The value studio that we stayed in to start the trip was about three rooms down the same hall so it had almost the same view. Based on the 2009 points chart, we saved almost 40 points over the folks who had the savanna-view rooms on the other side of the "crescent". Yup, we had to give up three whole feet of living room/bedroom space, but we didn't even notice.

 

[Brandis]

This is almost the same view as we had, though I only saw the giraffes once, late at night.

The room and view were still very nice though!

 

[Idreamodisney247]

I have never stayed at a moderate (only Pop Century), but the value studio does feel a bit cramped. Not because the room is that small, but because the furniture is HUGE!! It is the same furniture used in all the other AKV units so it is a little crammed into the value rooms. Personally, I wouldn't do a value studio for more than 2 nights as a family of four, and our girls are only 5 and 7. They are a great option for a few nights, especially a weekend night, because they are so few points.

The *best* part about the value rooms is that you can get lucky and have a view like this....

This was taken from our value 1BR in June of 2009. The value studio that we stayed in to start the trip was about three rooms down the same hall so it had almost the same view. Based on the 2009 points chart, we saved almost 40 points over the folks who had the savanna-view rooms on the other side of the "crescent". Yup, we had to give up three whole feet of living room/bedroom space, but we didn't even notice.

What an amazing experience. You must have just sat on your balcony drinking coffee and soaking up the magic of Disney!!!

 

[snorris49]

We got the same deal. I just want to stretch it so I can vacation at least once if not twice per year. The problem is that I am a teacher and I tend to be in the categories that use the most points. I am however trying to economize more by staying sun - thurs.

By the way I am so excited that you have a dairy free/gluten free blog. I had that on all my dinner reservations at WDW and they were amazingly accomodating. I even met a college student on the plane that suffers the same way and I cannot wait to send her a link to you blog if that is okay.

I also work in education, so I can understand the frustration of peak times, though I'm not a teacher, so I can take off time during the school year, as need be, which helps. I also try to stay Sun-Thurs! Definitely a point saver!

Feel free to forward my blog to whomever you like. It's there for anyone to read. I really wanted to share my experiences and photos b/c I know how difficult it can be not knowing what to expect! I hope it is helpful! Enjoy

 

[Idreamodisney247]

If you just signed your papers, and have not yet closed, you can call Disney and see if you can change resorts.

We did that last year when we changed our mind of how many points and to get better incentives.

Those value rooms at AKV do go fast and if you are comfortable booking and staying there, owing there would be important to get those rooms.

Good luck!!!

I am definitely thinking about it. Do you think they would allow me to switch to another complex they are not selling now such as SSR? Just a thought.

 

[Idreamodisney247]

This is almost the same view as we had, though I only saw the giraffes once, late at night.

The room and view were still very nice though!


The room looks nice. It is difficult however to imagine that you can be transported to the savannah without actually stepping foot in Africa.