DCL Points are getting so...high

[maminnie]

Sorry this was suppose to be a response to the thread 'Disney cruise - points or cash' by Spartacus.

We have used points twice (once all points and once we payed cash for the children) and it is hassle free but looking at the amount of points it now takes (2005) especially for regular or peak travel times, it is getting rediculous. If you consider, we pay the condo fees on the points and then Disney/DVC can rent out that space, it is beyond rediculous what we are paying in points for the cruise versus paying cash. We looked into using points and cash for '05, and the cash prices they gave us for the adult and child fare for a '05 cruise date (regular season) was almost the highest cash level for that particular cabin category on the DCL price charts in the '05 brochure/booklet. One of my greatest concerns is if you have to cancel you also have a tremendous amount of points to use up in a use year and you can't use them at your DVC location.

I am all for it being a win win situation for Disney, DVC, and DCL but that win win should at least be fair and also include the DVC member as DVC continues to use the cruise line as part of their DVC sales pitch.

Just my thoughts. If I am overlooking something about using points that would make it make more sense to me other than rental risks, please share your thoughts. We love DCL and would love to use points again that's one of the reasons we bought DVC. We did not really buy for external (outside Disney) exchanges but thought DCL would remain in our point reach since it is a Disney company.

 

[ErinC]

We have only used points once to cruise, and that was before I really learned the in's and out's of DVC membership. Actually, it was the first time I ever made reservations, was a combo of a 4 night cruise and 4 days at Disney. If we ever cruise again, I will take the risk of renting. It seems like every year, that the points cost of the cruise goes up dramatically. Not to mention, that those of us that own small point contracts pretty much don't even have that option anymore.

I've read of numerous reports from those that have used a combination of points and cash. The cash price that they end up paying can usually be much higher than they could get anywhere else. It just seems like a big rip off to me. Maybe I don't understand the in's and out's of how DVC cooperates with DCL to arrange these "deals" but I think that we are being taken advantage of in this area.

...and you are so right that DVC sales folks really push use of the cruise with your points, when in reality, it's not a good option at all. JMHO