Considering DVC Purchase...

[House_of_Mouse Fan]

My family is considering a DVC purchase and I have some questions that I can't find answers to on this forum or in the Timeshare Store brochure.

A number of members are buying small amounts of BLT in addition to their existing points at other resorts. How does this work when it comes time to book a vacation? For example, if I own 200 points at SSR and 50 points at BLT, which resort is considered my home resort for booking 11 months in advance? Does having any number of points entitle you to book 11 months ahead and would you be able to put all points together (e.g. the 250) to book a stay at BLT?

Thanks!!!

 

[Sandisw]

If you own both SSR and BLT, you would have two "home resorts".

At 11 months, you would be able to use your 200 SSR points at SSR and your 50 BLT points at BLT. You can not combine the points until the 7 month mark.


Some owners buy smaller add ons at different resorts specifically to get the 11 month "home resort" advantage to stay a few nights a year, or to use banking/borrowing to stay at that resort every few years.

For example, 50 BLT points, with banking and borrowing, would give you 150 points every 3 years to stay there.

HTH!

 

[Crystal_27]

Your SSR points will retain their 11 month booking "window" as will your BLT points. Your points cannot be combined until the 7 month window. So, in your example, you could use your 200 points to book a stay at SSR at 11 months, and then use your 50 BLT points to either book a stay at BLT at 11 months or add a couple nights to your SSR stay at 7 months. Alternatively, you could book a couple nights at BLT at 11 months and then hope that your same room view is available at the 7 month window to use your SSR points to stay at BLT. And, for what it's worth, many members buy into DVC via resale as a means to add onto the resorts only available through Disney in smaller increments, as you can add on through Disney in 25 point increments if you pay cash (50 if you finance). Hope that helps!!

 

[House_of_Mouse Fan]

Thanks for the quick (and helpful) replies!!!

One more question...You mentioned that a purchase of 50 points, with banking and borrowing, would permit a 150-point stay every third year. What happens if you want to stay for a week at BLT and the points chart says that would be 183 points, but you have only accumulated 150? Can you purchase the extra night(s)?

Thanks!

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for the quick (and helpful) replies!!!

One more question...You mentioned that a purchase of 50 points, with banking and borrowing, would permit a 150-point stay every third year. What happens if you want to stay for a week at BLT and the points chart says that would be 183 points, but you have only accumulated 150? Can you purchase the extra night(s)?

Thanks!

Yes, you can try. If there are nights available for cash (DVC members get a 25% discount on DVC resorts), then MS will allow you to book some nights with cash and the rest with points, and I believe, link the reservations.

However, you can not combine points and cash for the same night--they have to be single night reservations.

But, there are times of the year when there are no cash rooms available. If this is something you are considering, I would look at the points chart to get an idea of what you would really need for a trip every third year and try to buy along that line. When adding on through DVC, you don't have to buy in set multiples of 5 or 10 but any number 25 or greater (ie: 36, 54, 87, etc.)

Good luck!!

 

[Crystal_27]

Thanks for the quick (and helpful) replies!!!

One more question...You mentioned that a purchase of 50 points, with banking and borrowing, would permit a 150-point stay every third year. What happens if you want to stay for a week at BLT and the points chart says that would be 183 points, but you have only accumulated 150? Can you purchase the extra night(s)?

Thanks!

Yes, you can pay cash for the extra nights, and usually will receive a 25% discount on the rack rate!! Something else that you can do is use your SSR points at 7 months to book at BLT for the couple nights, but you might have to go on a waitlist, which may or may not come through. Another option is to receive a points transfer from another DVC member (either by purchasing the points or by a friend giving them to you). As you can see, there are a lot of options with DVC.