Do I have it Right? Planning help for our first DVC family vacation?

[dvc rookie]

My use month starts in aug 2005 at SSR. I do not want to vacation again until late August early September 2006 (looking for light crouds and warm to hot pool weather?) When can I start making reservations? Is this possible using 2005,2006&2007 points on a 210 point contract? Do I have to make the reservations at each resort at different time's?
This is our plan to treat the entire family to our first DVC vacation.
part 1
Wilderness Lodge sun - thur- 5 days
2 bedroom =150 points/1 studio = 60 points = total so far 210
part 2
SSR
grand villa near the main pool if possible 170 points for the weekend
380 points gone so far
part 3
The Animal Kingdom
2 concierge rooms for 5 days sun- thur 245 points
625 points for 12 days
Anyone with a better plan or different ideas much appreciated.
DVC Rookie

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Wow -- looks impressive.

This looks "doable." You are going during Aug. 2006 UY, using banked points from Aug. 2005 and borrowed points from Aug. 2007 -- a total of 630 available points.

Your SSR ressie is straightforward. With 2 nights beginning Sept. 8, you can make your ressie on Oct. 10, 2005 but you would call on Oct. 11 because the 10th is Columbus Day and MS will be closed. There's 170 points used. 460 to go.

Your VWL ressie (Sept. 3-8, 2006) can only be made beginning Feb. 8, 2006 because of the 7 month window. You are probably safe waiting for the 7 month window to open up. Let's face it -- this will be the first week of Sept. and everyone everywhere will be back to school somewhere. You might make your initial ressie for this time period at SSR to take advantage of your home resort window and then switch it over to VWL at the 7 month window.

I'm guessing the AKL concierge is a special request. While nobody but nobody recommends using DVC points for non-DVC Disney stays, I'd say "Go for it." You certainly have the points to enjoy.

Now you only need to figure out what to do in Aug. 2008 with those 5 points you'll be banking from Aug. 2007.

 

[loribell]

Okay I will try this and see if I am understanding you correctly.

First you can use three years worth of points if you are vacationing after your 06 use year starts, which it looks like you are. You will need to bank your 05 points into your 06 use year. You will then be able to use 05, 06, & borrow 07 points.

You will have to wait until the 7 month window to book the room at VWL.

You can book the room at SSR at the 11 month mark.

You can book the AKL at the 11 month mark.

My first year I also did this. We completely used 3 years worth of points. Had a 2 bedroom and a studio at VWL and then moved to 2 lagoone view rooms at the Poly. It was an absolutely amazing trip but I wish I had done it different.

Also last summer we used points to stay at CSR. It was our first onsite resort and holds a special place for us. I wish I had done that different too.

This summer we are having a Magical gathering with 21 - 23 people. It was supposed to be for a Sun - Thurs with the family paying for 1 weekend night cash, but ended up getting messed up and is now for a Wed - Mon which of course uses 2 weekend nights and I don't have the popints for that. So I decided to try renting out my poin ts and staying at a moderate resort. I had no problem whatsoever finding a renter.

Maybe you can check into renting out some of those points to pay for the nights at AKL. It wouldn't use as many points. 245 points would rent for $2450 or more.

Hope this helps some,
Lori

 

[dvc rookie]

What would you have done different? Why is it not a good idea to use dvc points to stay at the AKL? Cash price for two rooms concierge is cheeper than using dvc points? To make the most of our points and spread our hopeful two weeks into different areas of interest and accommodations what would you do with 630 points? Or should I save my 2007 points? To many combinations. Not a bad problem to have I must say.

 

[kweaver]

Assuming you have your heart set on AKL Concierge, I'd plan those days for the beginning of the trip rather than the end. Once you've been in a 2BR villa...going back to a hotel room is going to seem like a major step backwards.

If it were me, I'd consider another DVC property for the last Sun-Thurs period. Something with a great pool...considering the timeframe.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[loribell]

What would you have done different? Why is it not a good idea to use dvc points to stay at the AKL? Cash price for two rooms concierge is cheeper than using dvc points? To make the most of our points and spread our hopeful two weeks into different areas of interest and accommodations what would you do with 630 points? Or should I save my 2007 points? To many combinations. Not a bad problem to have I must say.

I'm sorry I didn't make that more clear.

What I would have done differently was rent my points and pay cash for the rooms at the Poly and CSR. I would not have had to rent as many points as we used to pay cash for the nights we stayed at those resorts. Of course at the time I felt like it was to much hassle to rent them and just booked the trips on points. But we have been in a constant state of borrowing ever since our first trip. Of course I have never priced concierge at the AKL so I don't no for sure how much it is but I do know that up to this point in time I could have always gotten a pool view room at the AKL for that time period from the 129 - 169 range per night. That same reservation through Member Services would be 29 points per night, 29 points could easily bring $290 through a rental. I can't see that room ever costing me $290. That is why I say it is cheaper to rent the points and use that cash to pay for the room instead, it would take 13 -17 points rented approx. to pay cash for the room.

Also I just checked my guide book and it says that an AKL Concierge room in August would be 49 points per room per night. Did you maybe figure wrong? I am coming up with 490 points for 2 rooms for 5 nights.

As for how to split up your stay for the different points of interest I think your plan is great. I just think that now that I have taken the leap to rent points to pay for staying at a regular resort that that is what I will do from now on. But they are your points and you should do what you feel most comfortable with. I just wanted to let you know, coming from a person that did pretty much what you are planning, that I wish I had rented my points and paid cash for my rooms at the regular Disney resorts so that you could give that some consideration. Kinda like benefitting from my hindsight!

I agree the combinations can be mind blowing and it is a lot of fun to plan. I am in a constant state of planning myself. Have fun with your decision and by all means do what you feel most comfortable with. I just wanted to give you my thoughts on how I wish I had done it instead.

Lori