DCL points

[jcarlstrom]

Are the points listed per stateroom for 2 people (like the DVC resorts) or are they per person?
Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[Dean]

Per person, OUCH.

 

[BillPA]

Just remember, the points to cruise are high, but the cruise does include all your meals. Realizing meals are includes helps, but it is still a lot of points.

To paraphrase a wise poster: 'they're your points, use them which every way makes you happy'

 

[msdis]

And next year they are going up a LOT, so if you are entertaining the idea, I would go this year.

 

[Mary Anne]

They only allow the DVC a certain # of cabins on each cruise. If you are cruising on points you need to book early at the 11 month mark. I don't think there are any more DVC rooms available on points for this year. (2004)

 

[DVC Mary]

You only have to pay for one person w/points. You can pay for the other people in the room w/ cash. We only have 150 points, so we used points for one kid & used cash for the rest at a discounted price better than we could find anywhere else.

Happy sailing!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DVC Mary
You only have to pay for one person w/points. You can pay for the other people in the room w/ cash. We only have 150 points, so we used points for one kid & used cash for the rest at a discounted price better than we could find anywhere else.

Happy sailing!

The cash rate through DVC is usually FAR more than the direct cash rate as long as you plan a year or so in advance. The cash rate through DVC can become better if you've missed a lot of the early booking discounts. There are many other advantages to going cash and disadvanates to using points or points/cash through MS.

If you miss the direct cash discounts that's where DVC can be an advantage. But's it's more than one missed the discounts than DVC being a good deal.

 

[tenaseewalker]

Where do you find the points chart for the DCL?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by tenaseewalker
Where do you find the points chart for the DCL?

They are on the member website.

 

[RuthnPaul]

Originally posted by BillPA
Just remember, the points to cruise are high, but the cruise does include all your meals. Realizing meals are includes helps...

BillPA, I agree with your thinking and recently started a thread on this topic! By the time we pay for a rental car, park passes, meals, and entertainment at DTD, DH and I feel that a cruise is a good way to use our points.

As you paraphrased, do what you like with your points!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by RuthnPaul
BillPA, I agree with your thinking and recently started a thread on this topic! By the time we pay for a rental car, park passes, meals, and entertainment at DTD, DH and I feel that a cruise is a good way to use our points.

As you paraphrased, do what you like with your points!

What is or is not included in the cruise has nothing to do with the points vs cash issue. All of those things mentioned are a function of what's included in a cruise, nothing more and nothing less. It would only be germaine to the discussion of cash vs points if one got perks or had problems for one vs the other. The problem with using points beyond the price per point return far outweigh just the cost itself. IMO, I'd rather go through the hassle of renting my points and pyaing cash for the cruise than accepting the negatives of a points or points/cash through MS DCL reservation even if it were only a break even scenario. These include that you must pay up front for the entire cash component through MS, if you cancel there are significant penalties, if you make even the slightest change in your reservation you pay the $75 fee again and you can only book at 11 months out when many of the best cabins are gone. You also loose the benefit of a refund it the price goes down. If you book simply through cash you don't pay in full until 60-75 days out, if the price goes down you get a refund, many travel agencies plus the Disney Visa give you a rebate or cabin credit and you can frequently book up to 18 months or so out.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

We are a family of 5 and need to book 2 rooms and pay for 4 adults plus a 3 yo. We booked 2 cat 10's for a cruise in 2005.

Based on the 2005 chart, if we booked the cruise on points it would cost us 657 points. BTW, the 2005 cruise chart is only in effect until April 2005, after that there will likely be another huge increase.

We rented points to cover our cash booking and we only needed to use 425 points to cover the entire cost. And my meals are also included.

That's a savings of 232 points.

While anyone can do what they want with their points, the numbers speak for themselves.

In most (if not all) cases, paying for the cruise with points is a rip-off. You really need to view DVC points as cash, that is exactly how Disney looks at them.

Good luck.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Cruising on points is not for everyone. As I said in another post, I did it a few years ago (after buying a re-sale add on with lots of banked points) but I'm going on a crusie next April that I rented out points to pay for.

That being said, renting out points to pay for a cruise, just like paying for a cruise on points is not for everyone. I stopped telling people to rent their points a few months ago when I noticed the same person with a post trying to rent out points on the rent/trade board while at the same time asking a question about their points on this board.

Now what I tell everyone who will listen is that they should do with their points what they are happy and comfortable doing.

HBC

 

[DVC Mary]

Thanks. I learned a lot too & w/ the future increases I was worried about many of these issues. We rebooked while on board for 2006 by holding the discount via booking a 2005 cruise. I figured I could keep a spot that way until the 11 month window & then see what was available through DVC. My rebooking ressie is 100% refundable, unlike the DVC one w/ its penalties.

I love these boards. I learn so much every time I go on. Thanks!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by DVC Mary
We rebooked while on board for 2006 by holding the discount via booking a 2005 cruise. I figured I could keep a spot that way until the 11 month window & then see what was available through DVC. My rebooking ressie is 100% refundable, unlike the DVC one w/ its penalties.

We did the exact same thing. It is an excellent idea and allows you to compare the cost per point to the cost paying cash.

HBC

 

[dbond]

Cruising on points is obviously a personal decision. Some years, we are cash poor but have plenty of points so why not use them.

There is no guarantee that renting points will work out the way you want it to, deals fall through all the time, I personally would rather have the sure thing booked and ready to go rather than hope for the best by locating a renter and working out a deal.

We have never tried to rent our own points before, but we have made attempts to rent from others, and we found that the complications of finding the right person, with the right points (not borrowed or banked), and the anxiety of waiting for them to make your reservations for you, etc, etc, it was just too much. I can only imagine what it must be like on the renting side trying to make someone else happy with your points. Too frustrating for me!

 

[Dean]

There is no guarantee that renting points will work out the way you want it to, deals fall through all the time, I personally would rather have the sure thing booked and ready to go rather than hope for the best by locating a renter and working out a deal.

While when making a reservation it may be close to a sure thing, there's nothing certain about the program. Not only does it keep escalating in price, it could go away any time.

 

[DVC Mary]

What was cheaper in the end the rebooking w/ cash or the DVC points + DVC discount?

Just curious....

 

[DVC Mary]

What was cheaper in the end the rebooking w/ cash or the DVC points + DVC discount?

Just curious....

 

[DVC Mary]

What was cheaper in the end the rebooking w/ cash or the DVC points + DVC discount?

Just curious....