DCL and DVC - "exchange rate"?

[wideeyedwonder]

Is there somewhere I can find out the exchange rate of DVC points vs. various categories of rooms, cruise types, and sailing dates? In other words, how many DVC points are required per person (and taking account adult vs. child) for any given sailing itinerary, room type, and sail date?

Also, can you use DVC points to partially pay for a DCL cruise, and pay the rest in cash, or is it "all or none"?

 

[edmartin]

Is there somewhere I can find out the exchange rate of DVC points vs. various categories of rooms, cruise types, and sailing dates? In other words, how many DVC points are required per person (and taking account adult vs. child) for any given sailing itinerary, room type, and sail date?

Also, can you use DVC points to partially pay for a DCL cruise, and pay the rest in cash, or is it "all or none"?

Based on past experience, I think you'll find that the exchange rate is roughly $6 per point. We've found that it's a much better value to rent the points - you get about $10 per point that way - and use the proceeds to pay "cash" for the cruise.

 

[owensamo]

It really depends on the sailing. The point charts should be available on the DVC member site. On the sailings we've chosen, we've typically gotten 8-9 dollars per point - so for us it's not worth the effort to go through the hassle of renting.

Instead, we get to cruise for the $95 exchange fee, plus the cash we pay for our DD (who comes out cheaper via DVC than DCL because they have different age ranges).

Amanda

 

[BWV Dreamin]

It really depends on the sailing. The point charts should be available on the DVC member site. On the sailings we've chosen, we've typically gotten 8-9 dollars per point - so for us it's not worth the effort to go through the hassle of renting.

Instead, we get to cruise for the $95 exchange fee, plus the cash we pay for our DD (who comes out cheaper via DVC than DCL because they have different age ranges).

Amanda

Yes, we too got a good "rate" with our points for our next May cruise. Our son too was cheaper thru DVC than DCL. Plus I could use Disney rewards points towards his cash portion to boot. In a regular season, the 7 day cruises seem to be about equal in points vs. renting pts. So I'll just use my points and forget the rental hassle!! Love DVC!

 

[TnRobin]

The member website will give you all the information you need on point value per person. You can pay cash and points, but you will need to pay points or cash for each person. You can't pay part cash and part points for a single person. You will have to call member services to find out the cash price per person. Each cruise is priced individually.

 

[Anal Annie]

The cruise charts are in both your vacation planner and on the member website. (The cruise charts for 2009 are not in the current vacation planner tho as it came out before the charts.)

Remember that since DCL raises their prices as you get closer to the sailing date the perceived point value changes depending on when you compare the points to the cash price. If you book really early and compare the point requirements to their first tier pricing then it doesn't look like such a good bargain. But if you compare the points to the price of the cruise at say 5 or 6 months from the sailing date then the points "look" like a better deal. The point charts are fixed for the entire booking window whereas the cash prices fluctuate (go up).

 

[wideeyedwonder]

Thanks everyone...I don't have access to the DVC member site, as we are trying to evealuate whether DVC makes sense for us and our travel habits. As we at the very least make anual pilgrimages to DLand and stay at the Grand Californian, we are thinking that it might make sense (especially to "lock in" prices over the long term). However, depending on the exchange "value" between DVC and certain room cats and sailing itineraries on DCL, it could "clinch the deal" for us.

Is there a link where I can learn about renting points?

Also, in general, is it a good deal to use DVC points for cruises? It sounds like it depends on how early you can book it and what the going "cash" price is at the moment...correct?

Thanks for any help!

 

[DisneyMama629]

This post has links to the charts for using DVC points for DCL.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25708921#post25708921&highlight=point+charts+for+DCL

 

[wideeyedwonder]

Krista, thanks, that was exactly what I was looking for!