Brand new DVC Member Question

[XxStaceFacexX]

Sorry if this has been asked before but are DVC members staying on points entitled to the dining plan?! I'm very overwhelmed and confused about the way things work.

 

[DVC Mike]

Yes, members can purchase the DDP.

 

[XxStaceFacexX]

thank you. Is there any information anywhere that I can get on it? I read the DVC member book they gave me but I am still really confused as to how the point system works and how/when I can use my points

 

[dizplanner]

The dining plan is the same for DVC as far as price and things included. The only difference is if you are staying on points, there is no requirement to purchase a ticket. Thus you can use it with an annual pass, existing tickets, etc. You have to reserve the dining plan before you arrive, something like at least 3 days before (can't add it at the desk) and you have to pay for it when you check in. You cannot use points to get the dining plan.

As for point usage, ask questions and we will try to help you. The simple explanation is you have so many points per year (I'll use my contact as an example - 150 points) that are available from the first day of your use year (my use year is August so my 2007 points are available for stays between Aug 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008). It doesn't matter when you make the reservation - what is important is what points are available at the time of your stay.

There are point charts for how many points it takes to stay. The number of points required is dependent on the resort, the size and in some cases type of room, whether it is during the week or on Friday/Saturday and the time of year. I'll give you a couple of examples from my last two trips.
In March 2006 - we stayed at Old Key West during spring break. We arrived on Saturday March 11. Because Saturday is a high point night we got 3 studios at OKW for the night. March is during Magic season. This cost me 27*3=81 points. (the Grand Villa would have been 123 points) Then we moved to a Grand Villa for 5 nights. This cost me 51*5=255 points. So the trip was 336 points. But I only own 150 points - how did I do it? I had purchased in Nov 2004 and had all of the 150 points. The trip in March 2006 was during my 2005 use year. I banked all of my 2004 points. So for the trip I used all of my 2004, all of my 2005 and borrowed 36 points from my 2006 points.

Then in December 2006, my husband and I took a trip and stayed at the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge (where we own). We went Dec 3-10, 2006, staying 7 nights. Since there was just the two of us, we got a studio. Early December is in Adventure season. This cost us 2*22 (for Friday and Saturday) + 5*12=104 points. Since December 2006 is in my 2006 use year, I used 2006 points.

This left me with 10 2006 points which I banked. So I have 160 available until the end of next July. I'm probably going to take a short vacation in late April, early May and bank the rest. Then take a vacation March 2009 during the kids spring break. (In 2008, their break is the week before Easter - I don't want to go to WDW then.)

I hope this helps a bit.