DCL on points

[walter]

I am sure this has been brought up in the past, but are their any new experiences or value analysis of using your points for a 3 or 4 night cruise?
Thanks

 

[zavandor]

It does not make sense financially. It's better to rent out the points and pay cash, you would end with extra money to use on the trip.
However if one doesn't want to rent (there are drawbacks) and has points near expiration, a cruise is better than nothing.
However the est value for DVC is using the points at the DVC resorts.

 

[emmababy]

We are planning on taking a break from WDW, so we checked into it....I think we will use points for one adult and child and pay cash for the rest. I have zero desire to rent out my points. Hope that helps!

 

[k3chantal]

We are planning on taking a break from WDW, so we checked into it....I think we will use points for one adult and child and pay cash for the rest. I have zero desire to rent out my points. Hope that helps!

We have just committed our points for the second time for a cruise. I actually think it is not that bad of a value if you consider that not only is it for your accommodations (which is all you get when you go to WDW) but also for your food and most of your entertainment. We saved further the first time because we were able to drive to the port of LA thus saving in airline costs (we have to fly to WDW).

The most vocal people on these boards will fill this thread that it isn't a good idea. Please beware that they are the most vocal. There are plenty of members who happily do this.

No one in their right mind buys into DVC FOR cruising. It is however a way to use our points and every member needs to decide for themselves if the value is there.

For us, it is. In food alone it is worth it. We have two growing boys and a toddler girl. Our food costs when we travel are huge because we have exposed our children to 'good' food. (Steak, lobster, sushi; basically five star restaurant fare) Though cruise food sometimes is not perfect, it pleases my growing boys that they can eat as much and what they want (they never saw what the 'kids' menu offered). At WDW and during other vacations, we don't let them go carte blanche on the ordering of food.

We also don't have to pay for five people to get into the parks. My oldest boy (13) is perfectly happy to disappear into the bowels of the ship; never costing us another 'red' cent.

Please don't get me wrong. I love DVC for going to Walt Disney World and Disneyland. But it is a great 'perk' to be able to occasionally use it for a Disney cruise!

 

[OKW Lover]

I am sure this has been brought up in the past, but are their any new experiences or value analysis of using your points for a 3 or 4 night cruise?
Thanks

No new analysis needed - the simple math hasn't changed. If you can rent your DVC points for ~$10/point you can easily compare the two and see how much of a difference it is.

 

[islandtimect]

Paying cash and getting onboard credits may be cheaper, but that's not why I bought DVC. We are using 129 points + $1,596 cash on the Dream 4 night cruise for category 8c stateroom. If we paid only cash, it would have cost ~ $2,500. That means more money sitting in my pocket. For our family, its worth using pts because we aren't interested in renting our pts, and then paying cash to save $100-$200 dollars..

 

[Dean]

I am sure this has been brought up in the past, but are their any new experiences or value analysis of using your points for a 3 or 4 night cruise?
Thanks

As long as you don't miss early booking and other possible discounts, most cruise options return between $6 & $7 a point. There are other negatives. These include that any cash portion if you're doing both is generally a fair amount higher in this situation and due in full at the time of the booking. There are significant risks if you have to change and cancel. IMO the risks and negatives FAR outweigh the risks and negatives of renting out the points. These are general statements and there may be rare exceptions so look at the specifics as they apply to you. IMO, what's included in a cruise vs what's not has no meaning in the circumstances being discussed simply because they are the same cash vs points. I also feel it's a little different if you own already and have the points to use vs considering buying or adding on for those type options.

 

[MedicGoofy]

Can I ask what it would take in points to do a DCL cruise?

A standard 7nt cruise, Caribbean. In the off months. 2 people. Is it double what it would be to get a room?

I have not bought in to DVC yet, but am really thinking about it. I love being at WDW a lot, but it's nice to change it up, and I love DCL.

 

[EskiLvr]

Also, keep in mind that cruise costs at different parts of the year can make using points more/less valuable. We are getting much more value for our points usage towards our upcoming Spring break cruise, for example, than we would have for the same cruise even two weeks earlier.

 

[Dean]

Also, keep in mind that cruise costs at different parts of the year can make using points more/less valuable. We are getting much more value for our points usage towards our upcoming Spring break cruise, for example, than we would have for the same cruise even two weeks earlier.

Cruises, locations, cabins that are less likely to be discounted tend to return a better value since the DVC rate is constant and related to a slightly discounted rack rate.

 

[Dean]

Can I ask what it would take in points to do a DCL cruise?

A standard 7nt cruise, Caribbean. In the off months. 2 people. Is it double what it would be to get a room?

I have not bought in to DVC yet, but am really thinking about it. I love being at WDW a lot, but it's nice to change it up, and I love DCL.

For example, the 7 day Fantasy that covers 4th of July 2014 is 558 points for 2 in the lowest Cat 11 and $4042 with fees. That's $7.07 per point. This is usually the ball park.

 

[Dean]

Also, keep in mind that cruise costs at different parts of the year can make using points more/less valuable. We are getting much more value for our points usage towards our upcoming Spring break cruise, for example, than we would have for the same cruise even two weeks earlier.

How far out did you price/book? Is it possible you simply missed the early booking discounts that would have been available a year ago? I think you'll find that mid summer is generally more than spring break even if it coincides with Easter. I know there have been some that did well with cat 3 and ? higher (not listed on the charts) simply because they tend to not be discounted as much and I think it was the first year for the Dream where the numbers came in closer to $10 a point IIRC. I seem to recall that AK was similar year 1 as well.

General answer ALL exchange options are a bad choice and buying for those options a far worse choice. However, if one owns and has the points, there can be good exceptions as well as use or lose situations.

 

[islandtimect]

Also, keep in mind that cruise costs at different parts of the year can make using points more/less valuable. We are getting much more value for our points usage towards our upcoming Spring break cruise, for example, than we would have for the same cruise even two weeks earlier.

Yep, that's another reason why we paid with some points.

 

[EskiLvr]

Dean: we booked in fall of 2011. Originally for Easter week, which wound up costing over *3K* more rack rate for the same cabin we're now using two weeks earlier - which in turn is significantly more expensive rack-rate-wise than similar cruises in the same points usage category. It's all about playing the game - we knew prices would go up, so we booked early (we use a combo of points and cash) - but the relative value of my points for this particular cruise is pretty darned good for me.

IMHO, that's the beauty of DVC - you have the flexibility to use your points in the way that's best for you and your family.

 

[CarolMN]

We have just committed our points for the second time for a cruise. I actually think it is not that bad of a value if you consider that not only is it for your accommodations (which is all you get when you go to WDW) but also for your food and most of your entertainment. ...(snip).....

First of all, I don't care how people use their points. In fact, I see nothing wrong with using points for cruising - depending on the circumstances it can be a good choice.

However, the above argument for cruising is not a logical one. You get those same amenities (food, & entertainment) no matter how you choose to pay for the cruise.

So the controversy is really over how you value your points.

For example, those who think cruising on points is a poor value generally value their points at $10/point or more. That's the amount that is very easy to get by renting or transferring.

Others consider the buy-in as a sunk cost. (They either paid cash for the initial cost or have long since paid off the loan). These members value their points at the current cost of dues. I've owned since 1999 and this is how I currently value my points when considering non-DVC resort options.

These are just 2 of many ways to value your points.

If you value your points at $10 or more each, cruising is almost always a poor value. If you value at $5 or so, it can be a good value.

I agree with you that buying DVC to cruise is a poor decision. From a strictly financial point of view, the best economic value of a DVC point is using it to stay at a DVC resort. Still cruising isn't always a bad choice.

 

[Dean]

Dean: we booked in fall of 2011. Originally for Easter week, which wound up costing over *3K* more rack rate for the same cabin we're now using two weeks earlier - which in turn is significantly more expensive rack-rate-wise than similar cruises in the same points usage category. It's all about playing the game - we knew prices would go up, so we booked early (we use a combo of points and cash) - but the relative value of my points for this particular cruise is pretty darned good for me.

IMHO, that's the beauty of DVC - you have the flexibility to use your points in the way that's best for you and your family.

I don't know what you have exactly or what your numbers are, it's also late to compare reasonably. However, I just took the 3 day Dream for 2 weeks before easter and all that was available was Cabin type 5C. You'd figure that it would not be discounted much (other than maybe FL resident) at 2 months out if the ship were essentially sold out. It's interesting that even then it give you essentially $7 a point return ($1606-95/208 pts). I also took the Fantasy for 2 weeks prior to Easter week (9 Mar) cat 11C ($3916-95/336) which gives over $11 now. The latter may simply be a function of the timing, I don't have earlier price but it also illustrates the reason you need to look at specifics. You have a higher demand cruise that happens to fall into the lowest grouping using DVC points (regular season).

 

[k3chantal]

First of all, I don't care how people use their points. In fact, I see nothing wrong with using points for cruising - depending on the circumstances it can be a good choice.

However, the above argument for cruising is not a logical one. You get those same amenities (food, & entertainment) no matter how you choose to pay for the cruise.

So the controversy is really over how you value your points.

For example, those who think cruising on points is a poor value generally value their points at $10/point or more. That's the amount that is very easy to get by renting or transferring.

Others consider the buy-in as a sunk cost. (They either paid cash for the initial cost or have long since paid off the loan). These members value their points at the current cost of dues. I've owned since 1999 and this is how I currently value my points when considering non-DVC resort options.

These are just 2 of many ways to value your points.

If you value your points at $10 or more each, cruising is almost always a poor value. If you value at $5 or so, it can be a good value.

I agree with you that buying DVC to cruise is a poor decision. From a strictly financial point of view, the best economic value of a DVC point is using it to stay at a DVC resort. Still cruising isn't always a bad choice.

Please reread my first paragraph. My comparison on 'value' was between what you receive if you go on a cruise on points or go to WDW on points. Of course you get the same thing if you pay cash for a cruise. My point was that I continuously have a significant food bill when I go to WDW where, as long as I choose to not go to Remy or Palo, I have NO food bill. Therefore, my vacation has cost me less. Thus, my belief that the value of my points is put to good use.

Just to be very clear; I do value my points VERY much. However, at my house we have chosen to look at the value of our points differently. We consider the cost of food, airline seats, and tickets into the equation. I have yet to go to WDW and not pay them.

And yes, I do consider the buy in cost as a sunk cost. We paid in cash.

 

[Dean]

Please reread my first paragraph. My comparison on 'value' was between what you receive if you go on a cruise on points or go to WDW on points. Of course you get the same thing if you pay cash for a cruise. My point was that I continuously have a significant food bill when I go to WDW where, as long as I choose to not go to Remy or Palo, I have NO food bill. Therefore, my vacation has cost me less. Thus, my belief that the value of my points is put to good use.

Just to be very clear; I do value my points VERY much. However, at my house we have chosen to look at the value of our points differently. We consider the cost of food, airline seats, and tickets into the equation. I have yet to go to WDW and not pay them.

And yes, I do consider the buy in cost as a sunk cost. We paid in cash.

It's fair to look at it that way though I feel a dollar comparison is FAR better. However, I think if you do, you have to then compare to the same number of points for the same group size to be reasonable. I do not feel one can reasonably or honestly compare far more points for one vs the other AND ignore the fact that you're not getting anything more or less than you would using cash. Of course anyone can simply decide they don't care what the cost is they have the points and they want to cruise just like anyone can walk into the showroom at a car dealership and pay the ADP or ADM price if they so choose.

Personally I don't think anything under $10 a point is reasonable unless you have use or lose points other than on short notice I'd drop it down to maybe $8 a point.

 

[CarolMN]

Please reread my first paragraph. My comparison on 'value' was between what you receive if you go on a cruise on points or go to WDW on points. Of course you get the same thing if you pay cash for a cruise. My point was that I continuously have a significant food bill when I go to WDW where, as long as I choose to not go to Remy or Palo, I have NO food bill. Therefore, my vacation has cost me less. Thus, my belief that the value of my points is put to good use.[/.quote]
We'll have to agree to disagree. My point was that comparing a WDW vacation to a DCL cruise is not an apples to apples comparison.