DVC for family w/ 8 kids??

[8timesblessed]

We are planning our first trip to Disneyland and were looking at renting points to stay in the 3 bedroom Villa but it's 797 points. My DH wanted me to check into DVC and owning but it seems so overwhelming. We own a timeshare in Whistler and DH is thinking we should sell it and buy into Disney but I'm not sure how many points we would really need for a family of 10. Our kids are 3-11 yrs right now and we are from Seattle. We always have a hard time with vacation because most 2 bedrooms only house 8 at most and there are hardly any 3 bedrooms and then are alot more points and we could get two rooms but it's just more work and right now the kids aren't big enough to be on their own. I know that will change in the future.

Do you really have to plan a trip every year to make it worth it or if you only plan a trip every few years is it better just pay for it? With our other timeshare we trade with some RCI places because they are closer to us. It seems most people want into Disney and it would be easier to trade the opposite way but I read on here it's an expensive timeshare to own if your doing it that way.

Any help for a larger family?? I think we would look into the VGC.

 

[Dean]

We are planning our first trip to Disneyland and were looking at renting points to stay in the 3 bedroom Villa but it's 797 points. My DH wanted me to check into DVC and owning but it seems so overwhelming. We own a timeshare in Whistler and DH is thinking we should sell it and buy into Disney but I'm not sure how many points we would really need for a family of 10. Our kids are 3-11 yrs right now and we are from Seattle. We always have a hard time with vacation because most 2 bedrooms only house 8 at most and there are hardly any 3 bedrooms and then are alot more points and we could get two rooms but it's just more work and right now the kids aren't big enough to be on their own. I know that will change in the future.

Do you really have to plan a trip every year to make it worth it or if you only plan a trip every few years is it better just pay for it? With our other timeshare we trade with some RCI places because they are closer to us. It seems most people want into Disney and it would be easier to trade the opposite way but I read on here it's an expensive timeshare to own if your doing it that way.

Any help for a larger family?? I think we would look into the VGC.

Every year is not necessary, you could certainly go up to every 2 years (even 3 if you're very careful) and get value assuming there IS value for you for DVC. At some point they won't all be with you on every trip and then 2 BR units may work fine. Getting 3 BR units at DVC is tough. I don't think I could recommend anyone buy into DVC expecting to get 3 BR units other than possibly OKW or SSR if they can plan exactly 11 months out. Certainly not for DL given the small size of the resort and small # of 3 BR units available. You'd be better off with a 2 BR plus studio though I realize that's not good right now due to the age of the kids.

 

[Deb & Bill]

VCV is a very small resort. Only 60 two bedroom equivalents if I remember correctly (someone needs to confirm this). The odds of you always getting the GV would be against you unless you always booked at 11 months out exactly. And you still might not get the days you needed with the way they book DVC now.

DVC is too expensive to use primarily for trading. You probably won't get a GV on a trade into DVC, though.

 

[js]

Does it have to be DVC?
Although we own DVC points (purchased resale), we also own two 3-bedroom timeshares both in Orlando (Orange Lake Country Club) and HHI-Waterside by Spinnaker.
I can tell you that I LOVE OLCC and the three bedrooms sleep 12 and are VERY spacious, although we usually vacation with 5 people in the 3 bedroom.
OLCC boarders AK and from our villa, you can even see the fireworks in the distance. It is very close to WDW Property and a fence is what divides the two properties.
You can find VERY cheap resale for OLCC. Being a t/s owner, I am sure you know you will most certainly not make back what you paid for your Whistler t/s, unless you purchased resale.
Our last purchase at HHI for our 3 bedroom was $3K, found online at the end of the year. People start to panic, need to sell and do not want to pay the mf for the following year.
If, you are only interested in DVC and GVs and vacationing at peak times, it will be costly. If you are remotely interested in purchasing offsite, I would strongly recommend you join tug2.net. It is a timeshare user group, which you pay for, but it is a wealth of information (like the dis for Disney but this is for timeshares).
Good luck!

 

[8timesblessed]

We are thinking it would probably be better off renting points this first time and just see how everyone likes Disney. Can you rent points from multiple people to book?? I know they only have 2 3 bedrooms at the VGC and most times we would probably have to book a 2 bedroom and studio but we thought this first time it might be fun to try and get the 3 bedroom if possible to make it a super magical trip!! It's for our twins 5th birthday.

It still seems like alot of points are needed to even get the 2 bedroom and studio for a week. So if I bought 266 and then banked them for a year, I would have enough points. Can you borrow from the following year as well?

 

[hakepb]

Yes, you can bank and borrow points (no exra cost) to use up to 3 years points on a single trip.
(and if you want to be very tricky and span a UY you can use up to 4 years points on a trip, but that's probably too difficult and restrictive for this discussion)

However, I cannot recommend buying 1/3rd the points needed for an exclusive every 3 year trip. Since points can be reallocated and have been reallocated on he 2010 and 2011 charts (The point charts must stay balanced but DVC can still i.e.: take from one season and add to another, take from weekend and added to weekday or take from a 2BR and add to a GV...)What now looks like a perfect sized contract to use every 3 years may wind up with extra points (that get lost) or you wind up short on the points needed for your every 3 year stay.

If you plan on every other year trips, you can always borrow or bank if there are slight changes...

I guess it is possible to rent from multiple people and DVC can link the reservations together if the renters ask DVC to link them (extra call needed on their part), but you would be rentting individual days, (points cannot be combined from 2 accounts for a single day unless there is a transfer, which is unlikely for 2 renters)

 

[paults]

We are planning our first trip to Disneyland and were looking at renting points to stay in the 3 bedroom Villa but it's 797 points. My DH wanted me to check into DVC and owning but it seems so overwhelming. We own a timeshare in Whistler and DH is thinking we should sell it and buy into Disney but I'm not sure how many points we would really need for a family of 10. Our kids are 3-11 yrs right now and we are from Seattle. We always have a hard time with vacation because most 2 bedrooms only house 8 at most and there are hardly any 3 bedrooms and then are alot more points and we could get two rooms but it's just more work and right now the kids aren't big enough to be on their own. I know that will change in the future.

Do you really have to plan a trip every year to make it worth it or if you only plan a trip every few years is it better just pay for it? With our other timeshare we trade with some RCI places because they are closer to us. It seems most people want into Disney and it would be easier to trade the opposite way but I read on here it's an expensive timeshare to own if your doing it that way.

Any help for a larger family?? I think we would look into the VGC.

where would you by in ? (DL or WDW)
797 pts at about $10 a pt = $7970 That would be a great down payment for buying in.
buying resale you could get 200 pts for between $13000 to $20000 depending what DVC you pick. If your looking at WDW take a look at OKW resale more pts for the money and a lot of GV's.
resale at VGC 180 pts for $18900 at the timeshare store.
Good luck on what you decide.

 

[dmoore22]

Every year is not necessary, you could certainly go up to every 2 years (even 3 if you're very careful) and get value assuming there IS value for you for DVC. At some point they won't all be with you on every trip and then 2 BR units may work fine. Getting 3 BR units at DVC is tough. I don't think I could recommend anyone buy into DVC expecting to get 3 BR units other than possibly OKW or SSR if they can plan exactly 11 months out. Certainly not for DL given the small size of the resort and small # of 3 BR units available. You'd be better off with a 2 BR plus studio though I realize that's not good right now due to the age of the kids.

Eight kids!?! I thought we had a challenge with our six! If your were going to WDW I could certainly vouch for the economy of DVC for a large family. With DL its a bit more challenging due to the size and availability as mentioned in previous posts. As Dean mentioned a 2 BR and a Studio is definitely doable but you would have to have an adult staying in each room. As Dean mentioned if you do buy into DVC you can bank/borrow your points for a trip every 2 or 3 years so you won't be point poor and vacation heavy when the empty nest in sight. We are down to one at home and now, even after making at least two trips a year to WDW, we still have points to bank at the end of the year. Not so when all the kids were still with us.

 

[8timesblessed]

Well this morning I decided to look up our timeshare through Club Intrawest and what do you know...............it had the option to book a DVC at the Villas at Grand Californian and I could use my own points! So now I'm waiting to hear back from them to see if it went through or not. We opted for the 2 bedroom and studio so we shall see. It looks like if I would book out a year in advance I would probably always be able to get something. So for now I think we will just stay with what we have.

 

[Dean]

Well this morning I decided to look up our timeshare through Club Intrawest and what do you know...............it had the option to book a DVC at the Villas at Grand Californian and I could use my own points! So now I'm waiting to hear back from them to see if it went through or not. We opted for the 2 bedroom and studio so we shall see. It looks like if I would book out a year in advance I would probably always be able to get something. So for now I think we will just stay with what we have.

On the DVC side that is called a Buena Vista Trading Company exchange. In the past you could not book 7 days, only more or less, for anything listed with the exchange company. Also, I can guarantee you that the 3 BR will not be available and the chances of the resort being available through the BVTC at allis likely not much better due both to the size and newness. Renting points for that trip is also going to be almost impossible since almost anyone willing to rent that to you would need to have enough points under one roof and likely require payment in full up front plus you'd need to plan far enough out to have all arrangements in place a full 11 months out so they could reserve that for you. Even then if all else falls into place, since others would be trying to get the same villa, the chances of being successful are fairly slim and you'd (hopefully) be getting a refund. You're likely better off looking at a suite there or connecting rooms at one of the hotels. I'm assuming you own with Club Intrawest. Think of it like getting a larger unit at Whistler or in HI for Xmas week.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

If you enjoy going to WDW every 2 years, please consider a purchase at Old Key West.

Another thought, the treehouse villas officially sleep 9. I think Disney will allow you to have 1 extra person in a villa, but doesn't provide linens. I don't know the policy for the treehouses.

That might be a good option while the kids are little.


Another consideration for a family of 10...AIRFARE!!!!

 

[lugnut33]

If you enjoy going to WDW every 2 years, please consider a purchase at Old Key West.

Another thought, the treehouse villas officially sleep 9. I think Disney will allow you to have 1 extra person in a villa, but doesn't provide linens. I don't know the policy for the treehouses.

That might be a good option while the kids are little.


Another consideration for a family of 10...AIRFARE!!!!

Hey, quiet about the THV recommendation, I don't want people to know about that!!

 

[stopher1]

VCV is a very small resort. Only 60 two bedroom equivalents if I remember correctly (someone needs to confirm this). The odds of you always getting the GV would be against you unless you always booked at 11 months out exactly.

Very true. VGC is small, the smallest DVC of them all. There are only 50 rooms - 2 of which are the Grand Villas.

 

[Deb & Bill]

... I think Disney will allow you to have 1 extra person in a villa, but doesn't provide linens. ...

Nope, that might only be in the older one bedroom units that only sleep four. Not in any of the newer resorts/units.