Disney Vacation every other year should I buy DVC

[sleeping beauty 2]

We travel every other year to disney for about a week, usually in October. Given that we stay on deluxe properties ( AKL, POLY, GF) and it usually cost us close to $2500 for the room only, I was thinking that DVC might be the way to go.

We have 3 children (9, 7, & 2). How do you determine how many points to buy? Does it matter what DVC property you own the points? Right now we would be interested enough points for a family of 5 traveling in the fall. But as the kids get older and their school gets more difficult, I invision not being able to take them out of school. So it would be around holidays or summers.

Lastly, do you have to rent weekly or can you rent less than a week and starting on say a Wednesday.

Thanks for you help.

 

[boatboatboat]

I would suggest you rent points one year and see how you like the dvc resorts.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We have 100 points @ BWV and can either get a studio in off season each year or bank and get a 1 BR villa every other year without any problem.

 

[abner1776]

You sound like a candidate for the 150 point club...this is the minimum you can purchase through Disney( you could buy a smaller amount through resale). THis would give you 300 points every other year and 300 points would get you a two bedroom villa at most resorts in the fall for a week or at least 6 nights. Since your traveling in the fall, the home resort may not matter but if you are planning on traveling over school vacation weeks in the future, then getting reservations at a resort other than your home resort maybe a problem, especially for a two bedroom villa. Therefore, buy where you want to stay...if you love SSR, then buy at SSR; if you hate VWL then don't buy at VWL.
Getting back to the points purchase, buy the minimum(150) cause you can always add on later(albet at a different price) if you find the need. If you buy 250 points now and find out you always have extra points, you cannot sell off part of the contract.

 

[shantay1008]

Hi!
We bought 200 points at SSR two years ago. A lot of people will probably tell you that they bought DVC intending to go once a year or once every two years, but now go every other weekend. We are actually sticking to our guns and will continue to visit WDW every other year. It's just what makes the most sense for our family. If and when we meet our lengthy list of financial goals <sigh>, we might consider doing an add-on, but 200 points is great for now. (We have to do two-bedroom villas because we have 4 kids.)

I agree with the boatster that it would be wise to visit or at least research to the best of your abilities all of the properties to make sure that you like the one you buy at. You get a head-start on booking at your home resort (11 months out), and if you buy at Vero Beach but really want to stay at VWL, you might not get the reservation you want if it's all booked up. It wouldn't be much fun to spend the next X number of years pining for a different resort.

Good luck with your decision!
Shannon

 

[shantay1008]

You sound like a candidate for the 150 point club...this is the minimum you can purchase through Disney( you could buy a smaller amount through resale). THis would give you 300 points every other year and 300 points would get you a two bedroom villa at most resorts in the fall for a week or at least 6 nights. Since your traveling in the fall, the home resort may not matter but if you are planning on traveling over school vacation weeks in the future, then getting reservations at a resort other than your home resort maybe a problem, especially for a two bedroom villa. Therefore, buy where you want to stay...if you love SSR, then buy at SSR; if you hate VWL then don't buy at VWL.
Getting back to the points purchase, buy the minimum(150) cause you can always add on later(albet at a different price) if you find the need. If you buy 250 points now and find out you always have extra points, you cannot sell off part of the contract.

Abner, they can have a one-bedroom villa since they have 5 people, can't they?