Buying 160+160 points in 2 locations?

[plasmo]

We are going to purchase a total of 320 points DVC membership, and planning on splitting into 2 contracts of 160 + 160 each (to will them eventually to our 2 kids).

We were thinking about getting them in both AKV, but would it be advantageous (or disadvantagous, or even possible) to purchase into 2 home locations? (eg. 160 in AKV and 160 in Aulani ?)

Obviously the yearly maint. fee would be different, but wouldn't it be more advantageous to do it this way (if possible) so that you would now have 2 locations that could book in the 11-month window?

thanks

 

[chalee94]

wouldn't it be more advantageous to do it this way (if possible) so that you would now have 2 locations that could book in the 11-month window?

you have 160 pts that can book AKV at 11 months out and 160 that can book aulani at 11 months out...they cannot be combined till the 7 month window. you need the right "currency" to pay for the reservation, and aulani pts are no good at AKV at 11 months out.

now you can use banking and borrowing, but AKV will still only take banked or borrowed AKV pts at 11 months out. (so you can combine 160 banked aulani + 160 current aulani + 160 borrowed aulani = 480 aulani pts to book aulani at 11 months out every third year...but AKV pts - banked/borrowed/current/whatever - still can't be used at aulani till 7 months out.)

 

[Sandisw]

I would only consider it if you really want to be able to use each contract in a way that will allow you to use them at 11 months.

We own BLT and are in the process of adding BWV. We did it so we could book a few nights at BWV and a few nights at BLT every summer at 11 months. We enjoy the split stay and this allowed us to get what we wanted. We also plan to use the BWV points to do long weekends in Oct for Food & Wine. So, we had a reason for doing it.

However, as mentioned, owning at 2 resorts only gives you 1/2 the points at 11 months, unless you use banking/borrowing at one to get more.

So, if both are at AKV, you have 320 points at the 11 month window every year to book. If you only one 160, that is all you can use, without borrowing points from the next year (or using points that have been banked).

 

[kenny]

My feeling is unless you are going to be going to Hawaii often, there isn't much reason to own there. The 11 month window won't help you that much if you only go every once and a while.

If you go to WDW most of the time, I would do it all at AKV or split it among 2 WDW resorts. We had both SSR and BLT but ended up selling SSR and buying more BLT. Too much of a pain borrow/banking or trying to consolidate at 7 months.

Plus if you are leaving them to your kids, would one of them want just a Hawaii contract? Just something to think about. We split our contracts too so we can leave them to our kids and having all BLT now makes it easier.

 

[Granny]

We have two contracts at two resorts of almost equal points, and it works out great for us. We bank one contract, and borrow on the other to use the 11 month booking window.

However, both of our home resorts are at WDW (VWL & BWV) and we stay at them a lot. As kenny said, unless you plan on going to Hawaii every other year there isn't a lot of reason to own there for the 11 month booking advantage.

But the concept of owning two home resorts with equal points makes a lot of sense otherwise, IMHO.

Even if you bought all 320 points at, for example, AKV you can still break the purchase into individual 160 point contracts.

 

[plasmo]

Thanks. Awesome responses and explanations!

 

[DisDad07]

We bought points at AK and OKW to leave to our kids. The rooms at both places are close on points, the MF are close, and they (the Kids) can even go down to WDW at the same time and stay at diff places. Both contracts have same UY so they can get 11 month window. We have not told them who gets what, the 2 of them will have to wait and see.

 

[Plutofan]

If you would need the 11 month window to get a hard to get reservation then I would consider buying at two locations as long as you would not need more than 480 points at the same resort (160 bank, 160 borrow and 160 current yera points) to get the reservation at the 11 month window.

 

[Dean]

We are going to purchase a total of 320 points DVC membership, and planning on splitting into 2 contracts of 160 + 160 each (to will them eventually to our 2 kids).

We were thinking about getting them in both AKV, but would it be advantageous (or disadvantagous, or even possible) to purchase into 2 home locations? (eg. 160 in AKV and 160 in Aulani ?)

Obviously the yearly maint. fee would be different, but wouldn't it be more advantageous to do it this way (if possible) so that you would now have 2 locations that could book in the 11-month window?

thanks

I think having 2 home resorts is a great option but it is often one that comes at a price. Resale you're looking at an extra roughly $5 a point price difference plus the extra $400-500 closing cost for the second contract. I also wouldn't let future estate questions drive your decision currently, at least as a major factor, too many variables and you don't know if they'll even want them at the time. I get the impression your looking at retail, which will simplify the 2 home resort issues but will dramatically increase your cost, esp with AKV in the mix. Obviously I don't know your stay preferences but all points at SSR resale as a single contract will be your best value from a dollar standpoint. If you're set on 2 contracts, definitely get two home resorts and if you get a more expensive one or an off site one, absolutely make sure it's a location you'll use the home resort booking window for. Good luck with your decision making process.

 

[MamaDrama]

We just purchased and split AKV and Aulani. We live in CA and know that we will travel to HI just as much, if not more, than WDW so for us it was the best possible scenario of being able to book in WDW and HI at the 11 month mark.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulations on your purchase! Welcome Home!

I think if I lived in CA, I would be very tempted to buy at Aulani. It looks like a beautiful resort and it's relatively close to you!