Come on in and help me decide...

[sugar apple]

After visiting Disney this past weekend, I am eager to buy. I am thinking about buying at BLT & AKV. I have a few questions though. I read the incentive thread in its entirety before posting here so I am clear on the incentives. I just am confused as to if I should buy 250/250 and if I did do that, would that be enough for a stay at both resorts? I would need a 2 bedroom vacation home. We would typically travel June -December.

 

[sugar apple]

another question if i buy 250/250, can I combine to then use at one resort or is it just 2 contracts and I have a total of 500 points to use however I would like?

 

[hellerjw]

After visiting Disney this past weekend, I am eager to buy. I am thinking about buying at BLT & AKV. I have a few questions though. I read the incentive thread in its entirety before posting here so I am clear on the incentives. I just am confused as to if I should buy 250/250 and if I did do that, would that be enough for a stay at both resorts? I would need a 2 bedroom vacation home. We would typically travel June -December.

You should be able to stay in a 2BR most times of the year for 250 pts or less, but that depends on the unit category (ex. standard view vs. savanna view, etc) and specific time of year. For example, we are staying in a standard 2BR at AKV in mid-October for 176 pts for 6 nights. However, a 2BR savanna view in June is costing us 280 pts, so it can vary a lot throughout the year. However, with 250 pts your borrowing would be minimal if you did have to go that route occasionally.

I would also consider doing smaller contracts (ex. (2) 125s or (2) 100s and (1) 50, etc) since those typically would be easier to sell and demand a higher price per point than a larger 250 pt contract. Disney will usually break up the contracts into smaller ones without any problem if you are buying above the minimum 160pts.

 

[thepowellslovedisney]

I must say that I agree with the previous post that you should split it into smaller contracts. It is easier to sell smaller contracts and they typically go for a higher asking price. Obviously you wouldn't be looking to sell your timeshare right away but if for some reason in the future you needed or wanted to, it would be much easier to. Good luck and let us know when you buy-in so we can welcome you home!

 

[Dziactor]

another question if i buy 250/250, can I combine to then use at one resort or is it just 2 contracts and I have a total of 500 points to use however I would like?

I would go and use a point calculator to see how many points it would be to stay based on the time of year. You can google disney vacation club and go to the wdwinfo.com page to get a good one. Also remember, that the point totals per night are higher at BLT then AKV.

As far as I know you can combine points but, you can only book your home resort points from 7-11 months. So, if you have 250 points at AKV and 250 at BLT and want to book more than 250 at one resort you would book up to 250 points then the other you cant until its less than 7 months from the date of arrival. If that all makes sense.

If you need a referral for the current incentives, PM me. Would be happy to give you my info.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I agree with the PPs who advised to buy smaller contracts--but not only for the obvious reason of reselling. Are those your kids in your avatar? Do you have 3 kids? If so, I would try to have at least 3 contracts that are equal in points and home resort; that way, you can will them equally to your 3 children. For example, I have 100 points at AKV, but I am going to be adding on 100 points at AKV in a couple of years. That way I can will equal contracts to both my kids. If you need around 500 points, maybe 3 contracts of 85 at AKV and 3 contracts of 85 at BLT. That would result in 510 points, but each child can have 2 contracts of 85 points each, one at AKV and one at BLT. That would also give you 255 points to use at each resort at the 11-month mark.

 

[Sandisw]

Points may be used to book reservations at the "home resort" up to 11 in advance. So, at 11 months, you could book a room at BLT using the 250 points you own there or book a room at AKV using the 250 points.

At the 7 month mark, you can use all 500 points and book any of the DVC resorts you wish, using a combination of those points in any way you wish.

I have heard members who use banking and borrowing so that they can alternate between two home resorts every other year and avoid doing "split stays". For example, if you banked your 2009 BLT points but borrowed your 2010 AKV points, you would have 500 AKV points to use in 2009 (but no BLT) and 500 BLT points to use in 2010 (but no AKV).

After two years, you just repeat the cycle. As many other posters have said, buying those points in multiple contracts would be a good idea as it gives you flexiblilty. 500 points is a lot and by having the multiple contracts, you could always sell off some of the points if you find that it is more than you need in a few years (of course, for most of us, we can NEVER have enough points!!!!:)



Good luck and happy planning!!!!