DVC points for Cruise

[brasey]

We will be going on the Disney Cruise with 5 families in 2008. Will it work out better to save up our DVC points or sell them and pay cash.

 

[MrShiny]

Most likely sell them and pay cash.

 

[CarolMN]

We will be going on the Disney Cruise with 5 families in 2008. Will it work out better to save up our DVC points or sell them and pay cash.

Depends on the value you place on your points.

Those who say the value is what you can sell/rent them for, will say it is better to rent/sell your points and use the proceeds to pay cash for the cruise. This does not take into account the effort it takes to rent your points or the risks associated with doing so. Renting is not always as easy as one might think from reading these boards, especially if you haven't done it before.

Those who value their points at annual dues + a prorated portion of the initial purchase price often think the cruise is a good value. They know they are paying for the convenience of having MS be their TA.

Other things to think about if you plan to use points for a cruise:

1. The earliest you may book using points is 11 months from departure. Since cash customers can book much sooner than that, you may not have the best choice of cabins.

2. Not all cabin categories are available for points.

3. Some changes to the reservation require you to pay another $75 fee.

4. If you have to cancel, the points used cannot be reused for a reservation at a DVC resort or for an exchange via Interval International. They may only be used for another cruise or one of the resorts included in the Disney Collection, the Adventurer's Collection or the Conceirge Collection.

Best wishes -

 

[Plutofan]

We booked our July 8, 2007 cruise on cash. Disney valued the points at $7.5 per point. You can usually rent points for $10-11 a point. If you pay cash the earlier you book the better rate you get. We used a travel agent that specializes in Disney vactions and we offers cash back after you complete the trip.

 

[Eeyore77]

Honestly I am sure that you can make soe money by selling or renting the points, but we have always just used them to go. It is much easier and a lot less hassel to call and cash in the points on the cruise. I have gone on two cruises that way alreay and we will be going on the DVC member cruise with some in Oct. It is all up to the individual which way is easier...

 

[Pluto4Pres]

I haven't done this yet, but if I was inclined to take the cruise I would rent my points and pay cash.

Right now Mousesavers has a 7 night Western Caribbean Cruise, inside stateroom, 12-2-06, listed for $949 per person.

The same cruise will cost you 194 points per person.

For a $1000 savings per person alone, not to mention the other advantages, I'll go through the "hassle" of the Rent/Trade Board.

If that is the savings on the least expensive accomodations, I'm sure that the savings will increase exponentially as you upgrade to a verandah, 260pts pp. (As SueOKW says you should always exercise your verandah rights.)

JMHO

 

[BigAl]

If you are willing to make the effort to sell your pts., then it is certainly cheaper.
For me, however, it is just so easy and convenient to call Disney and book the trip using pts. But, it’s not the cheapest way to go.

 

[disneybride96]

About the DVC Members Crusies... do you get a better deal on these special cruises? I know they are usually off season (aka hurricane season), but that is when we do most of our cruises anyway. We love DCL, but are considering DVC.

 

[TreesyB]

I don't think there are better deals for DVC cruises. Just special perks (like prizes, etc.).

The way I calculated my points, with my purchase, and current dues they are at $5.60 per point. With those points, I was able to book a cruise for 2 on Jan.4th, 2007 at $1150. all together. I got a quote for cash at: $1701. So I saved about $300/person, and I consider it a lot easier to do, than figure out how to rent points out to someone.

And I'm from Canada, so then I would have to deal with foreign exchange too!

Points was so much easier to deal with.

 

[Duckieluckey]

We are going on the members cruise withmy son and his wife. We saved $2,400.00 by selling points @ $10 and paying cash. Should have sold points for $12.00 per point.

Selling points is too easy to make the mistake of using points for a cruise.

 

[simzac]

I don't think there are better deals for DVC cruises. Just special perks (like prizes, etc.).

The way I calculated my points, with my purchase, and current dues they are at $5.60 per point. With those points, I was able to book a cruise for 2 on Jan.4th, 2007 at $1150. all together. I got a quote for cash at: $1701. So I saved about $300/person, and I consider it a lot easier to do, than figure out how to rent points out to someone.

And I'm from Canada, so then I would have to deal with foreign exchange too!

Points was so much easier to deal with.

I also made a cash reservation for the Jan 4, 2007 before I bought our DVC resale. The total cost for 2 cat 11 staterooms for 4 people came to $2907. We wanted 2 rooms so the boys could each have their own bed. This same cruise on points for the same 2 staterooms will be 268 points. At $10 per point, that makes the DVC cruise price over $200 cheaper. The only reason I feel that using points is a wise choice for us is because we are getting 2 rooms. In one room, we would be losing money, and be very cramped at night also.

 

[TreesyB]

I also made a cash reservation for the Jan 4, 2007 before I bought our DVC resale. The total cost for 2 cat 11 staterooms for 4 people came to $2907. We wanted 2 rooms so the boys could each have their own bed. This same cruise on points for the same 2 staterooms will be 268 points. At $10 per point, that makes the DVC cruise price over $200 cheaper. The only reason I feel that using points is a wise choice for us is because we are getting 2 rooms. In one room, we would be losing money, and be very cramped at night also.

They moved that trip to Value season too. I don't know if the cash reservation was at Regular season, as it was originally listed at on the points. I felt quite fortunate to get some of my points back when they changed the season, even though it had been previously published, and booked at regular season. I'm not sure cash reservations would get that luxury.

 

[Scotch]

Don't forget when you sell/rent points you have to (or should) pay taxes on the profit -- taxed at your income bracket. The net savings may not be as big of a deal, particularly for those in the high brackets.

 

[brasey]

Thank you for everybody's advice. It looks like for us the best way would be to sell the points.

 

[Trishde]

We booked the July 9th Wonder (we are also staying 4 days at BW first).
2 adults & 2 children category 4 Deluxe Family Stateroom w/ Veranda.
It was a $75 booking fee and 694 points.
Some of the other categories are less points but we wanted the larger room.
For comparing the cruise booked through DCL official website would cost us $6268.80 (just for the cruise).
We have the points (borrowed some from 2007 and still have enough to take a trip in 2007) which are paid for, so instead of paying the over $6000 out of pocket, it was worth it for us to use our points.

 

[brasey]

I checked yesterday and a July 22 2007 booking for 2 adults 2 (5 and 10)children category six with a BCV stay on the 4 night 3 day cruise package without transfers and with insurance would be $5118 (give or take a few) and this includes tixx. To do with the points would be over 600 points and add a grand on for tixx. If you do the points you lay out $1000 out of pocket. If you do cash and sell your points you actually get in anywhere from $5800 to $6600 selling so you actually get yourself almost $1000 dollars spending money instead of laying out money.