Confusing myself on how many points

[luckyman_apd]

So, after answering other posts on how many points to buy, I find myself with a dilemma, and some unanswered questions of my own. I originally planned on 100 pts. at BLT. We plan to travel Novembers and summers. So with Nov 2012, skip and bank 2013, and then summer 2014. Nov. 2015, skip and bank 2016, and summer 2017. 5 nights in November, and at least 7 nights in the summer.

I've planned with 100 points, the minimum number of pts. for a studio is 76 for standard view, 87 for Lake view and 108 for MK view. We plan on taking grandma in 2012 so we would borrow from 2013 to get 2 studio's. With the resale completion time having yet to purchase, I'm figuring Standard view may not be available by the time my points come online.

My dilemma is there is a 125 pt. contract that is listed that has caught my eye. I'm worried that is too many points. The concern comes with the years of the November trips. Even with the 100 pt contract, I would still have leftover points after the Nov 2015 trip for that Use year unless we booked MK view with a few borrowed pts. from 2016. With a 125 pt contract, I would have extra its every third year. Since I couldn't bank 2015 its to 2016 as we will skip that year, is it difficult to rent or transfer small amounts of points to others? It seems like a tricky thing. We have friends that maybe we could cut deals with to transfer our points to them one year, and they transfer theirs to us the next year.

Also, the 125 I'm considering has some leftover 2011 pts. Instead of 2 studios for the Nov. 2012 trip, I was thinking maybe a 1 br lock off. I can't plan it out points wise without knowing the views they have available. Do they have Lockoffs at all view levels? or are they all lake view? If I did buy the 125, with the extra points, I could also go 2 bedroom, but the standard view for those dates are already reported with no availability as we are inside the 11 month window.

 

[disneynutz]

A couple of thoughts. New members tend to travel to WDW more in the beginning and less as time goes on, just like they attack the parks in the beginning and later will have days with no parks.

Your favorite resort may change as you visit other resorts. Experience is the best teacher and until you have visited all of the resorts, how do you know where to buy. BLT is our least favorite resort.

The points charts get reallocated by Disney, we are looking at the third reallocation in a couple of years time. If you cut your point count to close, you may come up short, on the other hand you may be over. We ended up 32 points short every year.

Bill

 

[luckyman_apd]

A couple of thoughts. New members tend to travel to WDW more in the beginning and less as time goes on, just like they attack the parks in the beginning and later will have days with no parks.

Your favorite resort may change as you visit other resorts. Experience is the best teacher and until you have visited all of the resorts, how do you know where to buy. BLT is our least favorite resort.

The points charts get reallocated by Disney, we are looking at the third reallocation in a couple of years time. If you cut your point count to close, you may come up short, on the other hand you may be over. We ended up 32 points short every year.

Bill

Thanks for the advice. To be honest with you, I really enjoy the proximity to the Magic Kingdom and the Monorail with BLT. If it were completely up to me, I would buy SSR. But my wife is insistent on BLT. She LOVES the Magic Kingdom, and wants the proximity and Monorail. She truly Hates the busses, and does not enjoy Animal Kingdom park at all. She likes Hollywood studios but more than 1/2 day there and she is bored. She is all about MK and Epcot. However, MY travel times include only summers and November. As it is planned now, she will be traveling with the kids on a Tuesday morning, and I will be meeting them down there on Wednesday night after work. She can travel anytime. She has vacation days to use throughout the whole year. As a teacher, I am restricted. As much as I would hate for them to go without me, my wife asked me last night about adding another day. In the future she might want the whole week, and I'll just be there for half of it. Sucks for me, So the 125 points would then work as we would have more flexibility with points. But the whole reason for her wanting BLT is for the times without me, she has the monorail to take both kids by herself. I have also thought about points reallocations. I have a feeling they will be occurring more often and I am also thinking about the opening of GF. I'm sure it's not something will want all the time, but we will want to stay once at least.

For the summer months (especially late June/early July) how hard is it to get 1 br reservations for a week at the 7 month window? We really don't see BLT as our summer resort. We would obviously like a resort with more to do at it for downtime.

 

[JimMIA]

My guess is that BLT would be available at 7 months, except for Standard or MK views -- the caveat being I've never tried to get BLT at 7 months, so others who actually have would be a better source of info. But BLT is a pretty large resort, so there is somewhat more availability there than there would be at VWL or BCV

If your wife can travel anytime and you are a teacher, you obviously can plan vacations 11 months ahead and would be able to use the 11 month booking window.

The other question to consider is whether it really matters to you where you stay and/or how flexible you are. If your November trips would be during Thanksgiving break or you shift to the December school break period and you REALLY want to stay at BLT during that period, I'd buy BLT.

If you would not be too disappointed having to stay at a second choice at 7 months, I'd think seriously about buying somewhere else resale. You can buy OKW or SSR (both of which have low dues) for roughly half (maybe even less) what you'll pay for BLT. You could even buy substantially more points for less money than you'd pay direct, but don't forget you have to pay dues on those extra points.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Again, it's all on my wife. I'm ok staying anywhere (I know others say that) but I do have a thing for the monorail (no idea why). We actually would be interested in staying at other resorts on our summer trips, but its the November trips that are the hangup. She is INSISTENT on BLT for November. I'm pretty sure (as of now who knows in 6 years) that we would be able to book at 7 months for a studio for the Nov. trips for lake view, but the advice I've always heard is "if you will disappointed staying somewhere else" and the answer to that is yes, she would be disappointed.

I've tossed the idea of VWL to her since the boat takes you right into the MK, and it's easy enough to get the monorail to Epcot that way rather than do the busses, but she also wants the longer contract time. 2042 we will be in our early to mid 60's, and (hopefully) with grandchildren or soon on the way. That is when we would be able to share the magic with another generation. We really are thinking lifetime ownership here. You can't really predict that far down the road, but having the option is nice. For a small contract, I'm willing to spend around 3 or 4 thousand more.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...Also, the 125 I'm considering has some leftover 2011 pts. Instead of 2 studios for the Nov. 2012 trip, I was thinking maybe a 1 br lock off. I can't plan it out points wise without knowing the views they have available. Do they have Lockoffs at all view levels? or are they all lake view? If I did buy the 125, with the extra points, I could also go 2 bedroom, but the standard view for those dates are already reported with no availability as we are inside the 11 month window.

A one bedroom lockoff isn't a booking category. You book a 2 bedroom lockoff or a 2 bedroom dedicated. A one bedroom "lockoff" is mearly a one bedroom that would have connected to the studio next door. If you want the connected studio, you need a two bedroom villa (either dedicated or lockoff). The lockoff second bedroom is just a studio, with a kitchenette and one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa.

The other think to consider is the size of the BLT studio. It is the smallest of all the studios. When the sleeper sofa is opened up, there is almost no room between the bed and the sleeper sofa. In all the other studios, there is a bedside table (approx 24"x24") between the sleeper sofa and the bed. No such thing in BLT, the headboard on the queen sized bed has rounded corners and that is where they put the clock radio. So you have about 12" or less between the two. Also, there is little or no space between the sleeper sofa and the window when the sofa is opened up.

I can't think of anything more miserable than continuous stays in a BLT studio for more than a day or two at a time with a couple of kids.

 

[ToddyLu]

I would get the 125 points. DH and I hope to be lifetime owners also and do not see our habits ever changing deliberately. You would then have a bit of wiggle room. We were going to get 200 points at AKV then I realize that an extra 10 points would sometimes give us an extra night and it was only about 5$ more a month I think. So we purchased 210 and use every last one of those babies.

As two adults and no children we plan on adding more points. I am slowly getting DH into a May trip with our annual fall trip. We currecntly take my MIL or my parents with us on the fall trip and we go alone in May. DH is wanting to nix the studios and splurge for a 1 br. So we will need more points. It has taken us until 2012 planning to get to the point where we are wanting/needing to add on as we see how DVC fits our needs. We really do not have any other outside hobbies or interests and spend lots of time at home. DH does not like to travel but I can get him to WDW which he loves--we have everything there, etc.

I was like you and didn't care where we stayed and was really fine with SSR due to pricing but like your DW, my DH insisted on AKV. He would not hear of any other resort and is still a purist only wanting to stay there. Well he somehow know it was perfect for us and made a fantastic decision. We like the remote feel, decor and of course animals. Yor wife is taking a Mother/Female perspective and you should maybe allow her to set the location for you if this is where she really wants to be.

DVC meant somethng to me and the location means something to DH. So we compromised and I got DVC and he got AKV. Win-Win.

 

[ToddyLu]

DVC is so nice for us it increases our desire to stay there--we just enjoy being at the quiet resort with the great pool, music and vibe. So as your children get older you and she may begin to use it in a different way then how you feel about it now. We really looked forward to Disney before DVC, now Disney is a MUST DO! It really fells like home there and we are so comfortable that we keeping thinking about adding on so we have more time there. Disney is now a truly relaxing vacation. Be careful you may just get what you are asking for

 

[luckyman_apd]

A one bedroom lockoff isn't a booking category. You book a 2 bedroom lockoff or a 2 bedroom dedicated. A one bedroom "lockoff" is mearly a one bedroom that would have connected to the studio next door. If you want the connected studio, you need a two bedroom villa (either dedicated or lockoff). The lockoff second bedroom is just a studio, with a kitchenette and one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa.

The other think to consider is the size of the BLT studio. It is the smallest of all the studios. When the sleeper sofa is opened up, there is almost no room between the bed aind the sleeper sofa. In all the other studios, there is a bedside table (approx 24"x24") between the sleeper sofa and the bed. No such thing in BLT, the headboard on the queen sized bed has rounded corners and that is where they put the clock radio. So you have about 12" or less between the two. Also, there is little or no space between the sleeper sofa and the window when the sofa is opened up.

I can't think of anything more miserable than continuous stays in a BLT studio for more than a day or two at a time with a couple of kids.

I understand the lockoff thing. I just phrased it wrong. My understanding for the points usage is you get charged for a 1 be AND a Studio points wise. I wouldnt think its the same aas a 2 br is it? I think a 2br is less points.

A studio with 2 kids can't be any worse than a normal hotel room with 2 kids. We've done that plenty.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I understand the lockoff thing. I just phrased it wrong. My understanding for the points usage is you get charged for a 1 be AND a Studio points wise. I wouldnt think its the same aas a 2 br is it? I think a 2br is less points.

A studio with 2 kids can't be any worse than a normal hotel room with 2 kids. We've done that plenty.

I think you are actually thinking about reserving a 2 bedroom lockoff - ie, a configuration that has a 1br and a studio connected - instead of 2 studios. A 2BR can come in two different configurations - dedicated or lockoff and the points are exactly the same number of points. And it is less points than reserving a studio and a 1BR separately. It also guarantees you connecting rooms which reserving a 1br and a studio will not.

I think a BLT studio with 2 kids could be worse than many normal hotel rooms. They are quite small. Have you toured one? It may not be bad with small children but they do keep growing and may not want to share a double pull out not to mention the growth in baggage that seems to happen too.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I think a BLT studio with 2 kids could be worse than many normal hotel rooms. They are quite small. Have you toured one? It may not be bad with small children but they do keep growing and may not want to share a double pull out not to mention the growth in baggage that seems to happen too.

I agree with Kathy. The furniture is bigger in the studio than most of the WDW hotel rooms that might be similar in size. The bathroom in the studio is pretty big (the sliding door they put in takes a lot of room when it is opened and the bathroom takes up a lot of the space in the villa.

 

[JimMIA]

Again, it's all on my wife. I'm ok staying anywhere (I know others say that) but I do have a thing for the monorail (no idea why). We actually would be interested in staying at other resorts on our summer trips, but its the November trips that are the hangup. She is INSISTENT on BLT for November.

Well, you could roll your eyes and say, "Yes, dear." But realistically, this is an important purchase (and not just because of the money part), and it has to work for everyone. If you're flexible and she really wants BLT in November, to me that's a pretty sensible rationale to buy BLT. And especially if you're talking about late November, because you're gonna need the 11 month booking for Thanksgiving.

I'm pretty sure (as of now who knows in 6 years) that we would be able to book at 7 months for a studio for the Nov. trips for lake view, but the advice I've always heard is "if you will disappointed staying somewhere else" and the answer to that is yes, she would be disappointed.

And..."If Momma ain't happy, ain't NObody happy!"

Seriously though, your luck in getting into BLT in November would probably depend greatly on WHEN in November you're talking about. If you are talking about the Thanksgiving school break period, I think you're really going to need the 11 month window -- and you're probably going to have to book the day it opens for that time period.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Well, you could roll your eyes and say, "Yes, dear." But realistically, this is an important purchase (and not just because of the money part), and it has to work for everyone. If you're flexible and she really wants BLT in November, to me that's a pretty sensible rationale to buy BLT. And especially if you're talking about late November, because you're gonna need the 11 month booking for Thanksgiving. And..."If Momma ain't happy, ain't NObody happy!"

Seriously though, your luck in getting into BLT in November would probably depend greatly on WHEN in November you're talking about. If you are talking about the Thanksgiving school break period, I think you're really going to need the 11 month window -- and you're probably going to have to book the day it opens for that time period.

HA. So true if momma ain't happy. We actually would travel early November. Jersey Week. But I can't take the week off like she can, so they would head down a day or two before me, and I would meet them. That is why she is insistent on BLT. I haven't physically viewed a BLT studio, but the November trips are usually all out every minute in the parks so the small space is not much concern for me. The summer trips are the times we will need the space as we do more time at the resort.

I guess I was very confused about the 2 br lock off. I was under the assumption that you got a 1br and a studio and the points charge was for a 1br and studio. It pleases me to hear the it is charged like a 2br. My original question remains about it though. Are 2br lockoffs available in standard or MK view? or are they all lake view?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Lock offs are available in all views. They may not necessarily be available even though a 1br and a studio are though. That will depend on how many are allocated to be booked as a 2br lockoff. BLT does not have any dedicated 1BR's or studios so all 1BR's & studios would be part of a 2BR lockoff configuration.

And just a little more info - when you book a 2br lockoff you aren't able to just modify and downsize to the 1BR or the studio part. That would be a total cancellation and rebooking and dependent on the availability.