calculating points/ other questions

[goofy78]

HI! I am trying to find a way to calculate how many points to buy. Is there anyway to put in how often you would be travelling. If I wanted to go to Disney every other year and use the function of banking and borrowing, can I calculate how many points I need to purchase? I was looking at AKL 362 points for the week in a 2BD CL.

 

[CMNJ]

HI! I am trying to find a way to calculate how many points to buy. Is there anyway to put in how often you would be travelling. If I wanted to go to Disney every other year and use the function of banking and borrowing, can I calculate how many points I need to purchase? I was looking at AKL 362 points for the week in a 2BD CL.

I don't know of any calculator but if you know consistently when you'd want to travel and what type of room you want it's just simply math. If you plan to go every year you need that many points. If you plan to go every other year you'd need 1/2 the number of points it costs to book the room for a week since you have twice as many points by pooling 2 years worth. If you go every 3rd year you'd need at least 1/3 the number of points (since you could access up to 3 years points). Often people will recommend a cushion in case of point reallocation (Disney can modify a resort's point chart as long as they maintain the same number of total points for the resort). However my understanding is that AK CL rooms are extremely difficult to book as they are very few and they are extraordinarily popular. I personally have never tried to book one but have seen many posts that they can be difficult to even book right at 11 months. I don't think I would plan on consistently getting that particular booking especially if you aren't planning to buy AKL points.

 

[kniquy]

I am on the same plan at you and wanting to go every other year in a 1 bedroom. First off - I have never stayed club level, but many say it isn't the best use of points. Might be nice to try once or twice. What you need to figure out is the time of year you will typically travel, figure out a home resort and then look at those points charts to determine the number of points you would need and buy 1/2 that (or close to that). You might want to add 10% so that if there were to be realignment of points you won't be left short. You could also just look at the highest point season (easter or christmas) and the room type and buy 1/2 that amount. In that case it would cover you what ever time of year you would want to travel. Other than figuring out the points you need there are many factors in figuring out what resort you want to buy. It is a lengthy process of learning about DVC.

 

[rg35]

If you google "DVC points calculator", there are a number of them out there that can help you determine the approximate number of points you'd need. One thing to keep in mind is that the booking seasons vary slightly from year to year depending on school breaks, etc., and that the points distribution can also change from time to time.

 

[goofy78]

I don't know of any calculator but if you know consistently when you'd want to travel and what type of room you want it's just simply math. If you plan to go every year you need that many points. If you plan to go every other year you'd need 1/2 the number of points it costs to book the room for a week since you have twice as many points by pooling 2 years worth. If you go every 3rd year you'd need at least 1/3 the number of points (since you could access up to 3 years points). Often people will recommend a cushion in case of point reallocation (Disney can modify a resort's point chart as long as they maintain the same number of total points for the resort). However my understanding is that AK CL rooms are extremely difficult to book as they are very few and they are extraordinarily popular. I personally have never tried to book one but have seen many posts that they can be difficult to even book right at 11 months. I don't think I would plan on consistently getting that particular booking especially if you aren't planning to buy AKL points.

How important is a "home resort"? Now I think I am going to tone it down a bit and look into BW Studio. So for one week it is 107 points for preferred. Is it a must that I purchase BW points? Also for travel in August or October what use year should I look into?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

How important is a "home resort"?

For certain resorts and room types, absolutely critical. Boardwalk Standard would fall into that category, as well as anything at Boardwalk from late September through to marathon. AKV Club Level is often booked up BEFORE the 11 month window begins, as there are a total of 5 lock-off 2BR units total in inventory, making a maximum total available unit count of 10.

If you want to stay at Boardwalk in October, you need Boardwalk points, and you need to plan 11 months ahead.

 

[CMNJ]

How important is a "home resort"? Now I think I am going to tone it down a bit and look into BW Studio. So for one week it is 107 points for preferred. Is it a must that I purchase BW points? Also for travel in August or October what use year should I look into?

Well home resort can be extremely important if you plan to travel in October ESPECIALLY at BWV (or BCV for that matter). We booked our standard view BWV studio at 11 months right at 8 am to ensure we got it (that's how quickly they book up). Preferred view studios last longer but generally they aren't avail for a full week in Oct at 7 months or less unless you get lucky (many own BWV specifically to stay there during F&W or rent out points during that time). We actually closed early last year and at 8 months there were no BWV studios in any view category for our October week. We wait listed but nothing opened so when the 7 month window opened we booked the Poly instead. I have not tried to book August but my understanding is that it is not difficult to book at 7 months for most resorts/room categories (AK CL, AK value, BWV/BLT standard are less likely). This could obviously change and become more difficult but for now it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[goofy78]

Well home resort can be extremely important if you plan to travel in October ESPECIALLY at BWV (or BCV for that matter). We booked our standard view BWV studio at 11 months right at 8 am to ensure we got it (that's how quickly they book up). Preferred view studios last longer but generally they aren't avail for a full week in Oct at 7 months or less unless you get lucky (many own BWV specifically to stay there during F&W or rent out points during that time). We actually closed early last year and at 8 months there were no BWV studios in any view category for our October week. We wait listed but nothing opened so when the 7 month window opened we booked the Poly instead. I have not tried to book August but my understanding is that it is not difficult to book at 7 months for most resorts/room categories (AK CL, AK value, BWV/BLT standard are less likely). This could obviously change and become more difficult but for now it shouldn't be a problem.

What use year would be best? I did some research and I think I read June would be best for vacationing in August or the fall?

 

[BillPA]

UY only matters if you have to cancel. It determines when you get your points "bucket" refilled and sets your banking date. Also the rule of 4 is based on UY.
You can book any resort at 7 months, and your home at 11 months as long as you have the points available at the time you check in.

 

[CMNJ]

What use year would be best? I did some research and I think I read June would be best for vacationing in August or the fall?

I'd say June or August would be ideal since you said August and/or oct travel. Sept, Oct, Dec would be the "worst" but only if you think you might cancel/postpone trips after you book. As the PP said if you never cancel or travel at various times of year UY isn't really that big a deal. In the short term though you want to consider UY when comparing contracts. Unfortunately these days many people are selling them stripped (i.e. No current UY points and some have already used the upcoming UY as well). For example say there were 2 similar contracts you were considering with Aug and Oct UY but both were stripped and only had points coming in the 2017 UY (i.e. Aug 2017 and Oct 2017) If you wanted to travel in Aug 2017 using those points you would have access to 2 years' points with an Aug UY contract (Aug 2017 and borrow Aug 2018) vs one years' points with an Oct UY (have to borrow Oct 2017 points since you'd still be in your 2016 UY). If you see a perfect contract for you I wouldn't get too hung up on UY though. You might have trouble finding certain UY for certain resorts as They aren't equally divided and/or you might find in 5 years that you are traveling a different time of year anyway.

 

[goofy78]

I am looking on multiple websites for occupancy guidelines. I see on one site that the BW Studio is 5 people but on other sites it states 4. Does anyone know the correct answer? I am looking for the cheapest option for max 5 people. I would prefer BW, GF, BLT.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I am looking on multiple websites for occupancy guidelines. I see on one site that the BW Studio is 5 people but on other sites it states 4. Does anyone know the correct answer? I am looking for the cheapest option for max 5 people. I would prefer BW, GF, BLT.

The BW studio sleeps 5 with a murphy bed. This was recently completed. Note that BWV Standard are super-cheap, but can be hard to get even as an owner certain times of year. Budget for Pool/Garden and you won't be sorry.

BLT will only sleep 5 in a 1BR unit. VGF studios sleep 5, and demand home resort advantage. They are fairly expensive for number of points.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I am looking on multiple websites for occupancy guidelines. I see on one site that the BW Studio is 5 people but on other sites it states 4. Does anyone know the correct answer? I am looking for the cheapest option for max 5 people. I would prefer BW, GF, BLT.

Any of the BWV studios will require the least points out of those listed and rooms that sleep 5. VGF studios sleep 5 but require more points than VGF. At BLT you need a 1 bedroom to sleep 5.

Here's a nice point calculator to do some comparisons. http://tagrel.com/util/dvcCalculator.php?site=tag

 

[gmboy95]

I downloaded a points calculator on my i-phone.....its probably best to run a whole bunch of scenarios for vacations that you may take in the future, thats how we did it

 

[_auroraborealis_]

And at BLT, you sleep 5, but the two parents get a door that locks and stuff. BOOM!

 

[goofy78]

Thanks for everyone's responses! So I see a contract that looks good for me. I am very nervous to inquire about it. 150 points BWV. States international seller. Does that make a difference? Also I would be interested in renting out my points for the next couple of years. The UY is December with 150 on 12/2016 and 150 on 12/2017. Will that be an issue?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Renting out points rarely depends on UY, because once you rent they're usually non-refundable.

 

[CMNJ]

Thanks for everyone's responses! So I see a contract that looks good for me. I am very nervous to inquire about it. 150 points BWV. States international seller. Does that make a difference? Also I would be interested in renting out my points for the next couple of years. The UY is December with 150 on 12/2016 and 150 on 12/2017. Will that be an issue?

2 differences that I know of with an international seller

1. With an international seller the sale can take longer. Sellers must have a US notary notarize their closing documents and then return them. For a seller in the US (or Canada according to other disboard posters) this is easily accomplished. For an international seller they usually have to get an appointment at a US embassy to get their documents notarized. If they plan ahead this could lead to a small delay (a week or so is what the brokers' usually say). However if they wait to get an appointment until the closing documents arrive the delay could be more lengthy. That being said some US sellers do not promptly return documents either so there is no guarantee that a US seller will be quicker.

2. When you buy real estate from a foreign seller you (the buyer) are required to withhold taxes according to FIRPTA Rules (I think it is 15%). The title/closing company normally will handle all the paperwork for this and withhold the tax but in order to do so you must provide them with your social security #s. Since we didn't finance our purchase we really didn't want to disclose our social security #s or deal with any potential delays/complications. Many purchase from international sellers without any issues but we just weren't interested.

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks for everyone's responses! So I see a contract that looks good for me. I am very nervous to inquire about it. 150 points BWV. States international seller. Does that make a difference? Also I would be interested in renting out my points for the next couple of years. The UY is December with 150 on 12/2016 and 150 on 12/2017. Will that be an issue?

Sales thru international sellers can take longer to go to settlement due to the added paperwork that the seller has to submit. The good news is that the contract you're looking at has been on the market for a while (if it's the one that I saw back in July when I was also in the market for a BWV contract w/150 pts. and Dec. UY, it still hasn't sold), so you should be able to have some room to negotiate on price.

 

[goofy78]

2 differences that I know of with an international seller

1. With an international seller the sale can take longer. Sellers must have a US notary notarize their closing documents and then return them. For a seller in the US (or Canada according to other disboard posters) this is easily accomplished. For an international seller they usually have to get an appointment at a US embassy to get their documents notarized. If they plan ahead this could lead to a small delay (a week or so is what the brokers' usually say). However if they wait to get an appointment until the closing documents arrive the delay could be more lengthy. That being said some US sellers do not promptly return documents either so there is no guarantee that a US seller will be quicker.

2. When you buy real estate from a foreign seller you (the buyer) are required to withhold taxes according to FIRPTA Rules (I think it is 15%). The title/closing company normally will handle all the paperwork for this and withhold the tax but in order to do so you must provide them with your social security #s. Since we didn't finance our purchase we really didn't want to disclose our social security #s or deal with any potential delays/complications. Many purchase from international sellers without any issues but we just weren't interested.

I don't understand the tax withholding. Could you explain it more?