Do people generally buy more or less points than they need for an annual trip?

[bitbelle]

I've stayed at SSR twice and I'm considering buying a resale contract there. I like September. The 2023 points chart shows it costs 406 points to get a 2BR for two weeks in SSR.

My questions are:

Should I be looking to get a 400 point contract or a 450 point contract? If I buy at 400 I'd need to perpetually borrow points from the upcoming years. (I know the points charts change but I'm making an assumption it will be above 400 and less than 450). If I buy 450 I'd have to bank or rent out remaining poitns each year and have extra dues to pay.

If I bank/borrow points do I get to choose which ones I use? In this case if I bank extra points, do I get to choose to use those ones first when I spend them the next year? I don't want to be in a situation where points are wasted. I'm international and direct flights to Orlando are on weekends only so I can't adjust my vacation length to use the points up.

If I rent out points - how much of a hassle is this? Do the rental websites combine my points with someone else's to fit the person's request? Or would I be matched with someone who wants to rent out my extra 44 points exactly? I wouldn't be looking to make a profit, but if it covered the extra dues that would be good.

Looking at point charts, I see there are some other resorts that take less points e.g. AKL value 2BR is 332 for 2 weeks in September. So I could occasionally stay at a different resort to rebalance my points, or do a split stay. I don't technically need a 2BR, there would typically be 4 adults only so a 1BR is big enough but I hated the sofabed in SSR so would prefer to be comfortable whether it's in two studios or a 2BR. How likely is it that I could book another resort at the 7 month mark for studios, 1BR and 2BR?

 

[HappyThoughtsTees]

In general, it's best to buy more than you need, especially if you come annually. Renting out is super easy, either through a broker, or doing it yourself directly. There are Facebook groups dedicated to renting DVC. I would also suggest getting a few smaller contracts, not one large one. Easier to sell and can get a higher price per point down the road if you go that route.

Banked points are used first when the system creates a reservation.

With 4 adults I would definitely do a 2 bedroom, it's nice having the common areas not also be sleeping areas. Larger rooms are usually easier to book at 7 months than studios. AKL value is very difficult to book unless you own there.

Good luck!

 

[CaoilinnsMom]

Are you aware that you can buy a certain number of points each year to bridge the gap? I think it is 24pts? If I were you, I would buy the lower number and use the one time use points to bridge the gap, or get a point transfer or rent the points, get a 1 night stay at another hotel etc. This is if you are staying at SSR, you probably won't get the 2 bedroom value unless you buy AKV and are on the website at 8am eastern time at the 11 month mark. BTW the sofa bed at SSR is now a full Murphy bed with an actual mattress.

 

[MICKIMINI]

OTU points are available at 7 months currently $19 PP up to 24 points and are a great option if you want to add another day at 7 months. Adding on about 10% or 20% when you purchase is the safest way to go.

DVC tends to shift seasons and may mess up your plans. Our fall weeks have grown from 188 to 208 if I remember correctly. If you are a lucky one and have your points go down for the weeks you travel consider it a bonus!

Good luck!

 

[bitbelle]

I would also suggest getting a few smaller contracts, not one large one. Easier to sell and can get a higher price per point down the road if you go that route.

Thanks for your help. I've noticed smaller contracts seem to hold their value better than large ones but I'm torn on the issue; If I buy a large one I might be able to get a better deal now but struggle to sell it later. If I buy smaller ones should I be looking to try and match UY? Is it more fiddly managing multiple contracts than one?

 

[bitbelle]

Are you aware that you can buy a certain number of points each year to bridge the gap? I think it is 24pts? If I were you, I would buy the lower number and use the one time use points to bridge the gap, or get a point transfer or rent the points, get a 1 night stay at another hotel etc. This is if you are staying at SSR, you probably won't get the 2 bedroom value unless you buy AKV and are on the website at 8am eastern time at the 11 month mark. BTW the sofa bed at SSR is now a full Murphy bed with an actual mattress.

Ooh thank you. I was not aware about single use points. I thought I'd done my research but there are always things to be missed! That's interesting and sheds a different light on things, that would allow for a little flexibility.

I heard about the Murphy beds, I've never slept on one though (they're not really a thing in the UK) so I'd prefer to plan for a proper bed in a secondary room. If I like the Murphy bed, that would be a happy surprise and would let me be flexible with 1BR vs 2BR. Do you know if Disney are replacing all sofa beds with them?

 

[bitbelle]

Adding on about 10% or 20% when you purchase is the safest way to go.

DVC tends to shift seasons and may mess up your plans. Our fall weeks have grown from 188 to 208 if I remember correctly. If you are a lucky one and have your points go down for the weeks you travel consider it a bonus!

Thanks, we can be flexible with travel dates but prefer to avoid the summer/school holidays so it's a little quieter and still warm. I'm guessing that's spring/fall. September worked well for us before so I'd be fine if that was always our travel period.

Ideally I would split the difference and buy a 425 point contract but most of the large ones seem to come in multples of 50 so to do that I'd need separate contracts and I'm not sure how fiddly it is dealing with multiple contracts and moving points between them?

 

[Her Dotness]

They're replacing most sofa beds with the Murphys as refurbs are done.

The new VGF resort studios will have a twin-size sofa bed. Those are reportedly not that comfy in regular GF rooms that have them.

Reports from vloggers we watch say the Murphy beds are surprisingly comfy. Not as much as a regular mattress but somewhat more than the pull-out queen sofa beds the Murphys are replacing.

 

[MICKIMINI]

We have multiple contracts. If you have the same UY it's easy. We have two UY's which gets a bit more complicated. Buying a couple contracts in the same UY to get the points you need works out IMO. Good luck!

 

[JavaDuck]

When you book a reservation, points are used in this order.
1) Points in Holding
2) Banked Points
3) Borrowed Points
4) Transferred Points
5) Annual Points.

As a previous poster mentioned, you could look for a combination of contracts with the same use year that would give you a total of 425 points.

 

[bitbelle]

They're replacing most sofa beds with the Murphys as refurbs are done.

The new VGF resort studios will have a twin-size sofa bed.

That's good to know, we never actually used the sofa bed as a sofa (too much hassle) so the Murphy bed seems a better solution. As for VGF, The GF is the only resort I don't like so I don't anticipate wanting to stay there.

 

[bitbelle]

We have multiple contracts. If you have the same UY it's easy. We have two UY's which gets a bit more complicated.

That's what I'll look out for then. I've read the UY should be at least 4 months out from when you intend to travel in case of cancellation. So for September stays does that mean I'd be looking for one of the UY between October and April?

 

[bitbelle]

When you book a reservation, points are used in this order.
1) Points in Holding
2) Banked Points
3) Borrowed Points
4) Transferred Points
5) Annual Points.

As a previous poster mentioned, you could look for a combination of contracts with the same use year that would give you a total of 425 points.

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense and that's the order I'd want to use them in. Yeah I think I'm leaning towards trying to get two contracts so that I can get as close to the expected point range as possible and then with any future point chart changes I could use the single use points to cover any shortfalls.

 

[MICKIMINI]

You are going the wrong direction. You want a UY before you travel. For September, you should be June or August being that September travel is in the beginning of your current UY. You can bank up until 8 months out from your UY. It's hard to wrap your head around it but in the "old days" when OKW first opened we didn't have a choice LOL.

You want to be able to schedule your vacation and should you need to cancel, be able to reschedule or bank into the next year without penalty (holding). It is important for peace of mind, particularly after the past two years.

 

[bitbelle]

You are going the wrong direction. You want a UY before you travel. For September, you should be June or August being that September travel is in the beginning of your current UY. You can bank up until 8 months out from your UY. It's hard to wrap your head around it but in the "old days" when OKW first opened we didn't have a choice LOL.

You want to be able to schedule your vacation and should you need to cancel, be able to reschedule or bank into the next year without penalty (holding). It is important for peace of mind, particularly after the past two years.

Ahh! Thank you, your explanation is the first one that's actually clicked in my brain. Okay, I'll keep an eye out for June and August contracts.

 

[CarolynFH]

Ahh! Thank you, your explanation is the first one that's actually clicked in my brain. Okay, I'll keep an eye out for June and August contracts.

Bookmark and read this thread - it should be required for everyone just learning about DVC! https://www.disboards.com/threads/understanding-use-year-updated-february-10-2021.1942668/

 

[bitbelle]

Bookmark and read this thread - it should be required for everyone just learning about DVC! https://www.disboards.com/threads/understanding-use-year-updated-february-10-2021.1942668/

Thanks, I'll read through that. You'd think Disney could have come up with a less confusing system but it seems they've decided otherwise

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks, I'll read through that. You'd think Disney could have come up with a less confusing system but it seems they've decided otherwise

Yes, they could have! I distinctly remember that when we were buying our contract, the guide said "By the way, your use year is September," and we just nodded our heads. It turned out that September is the perfect UY for us, because we almost never travel to WDW in May, June, July or August. We just lucked out, and I'm really glad I didn't have the internet then to confuse me!

 

[davidl81]

Thanks for your help. I've noticed smaller contracts seem to hold their value better than large ones but I'm torn on the issue; If I buy a large one I might be able to get a better deal now but struggle to sell it later. If I buy smaller ones should I be looking to try and match UY? Is it more fiddly managing multiple contracts than one?

Buying direct a lot of people will split large point purchases into separate contracts since the price is the same. If buying resale I would just buy the size you want since the bigger one should sell for a decent discount over two smaller ones. Sure the smaller ones will sell for more In the future of you sell, but you will pay less for the bigger one now, so it’s really a wash. Also it’s mist likely easier to negotiate on a large contract since frankly those get less action on them. A 100 point contract may only last a few days before getting offers, a 400 point contract may go 60 days before an offer.
Also waiting for two contracts to go the ROFR sucks and if you miss out on one then you have to start over again.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

I would not buy a 400 point contract - maybe buy two 200 points, if you decide to downsize you can. I would buy two 200 point contracts and then use one time use year points to fill in the extra 6 in the 7 month window. SSR is usually available in 7 months. Also if you find you need more points this will allow you two options either add on a small 35 or 50 point contract or sell one of your 200s and then buy a 250