DVC points for travel.. questions

[JudyTL]

Who uses DVC points for traveling to other places outside of WDW? How many points is good to get started. How do you determine the necessary points for this type of travel. One might want to go on the European cruise but not do travel like that every year. How do I determine the amount of points and not over buy? Most of the postings deal with travel to WDW and booking there. What about the other types of trips?

Please advise me.

 

[Chuck S]

Other types of travel are, of course, available to DVC members. However, it is not the most economical use of your points. It is best to buy for your normal Disney DVC vacation needs and rarely trade to other locations.

 

[JodyTG]

For the World Passport Collection in high season, you would need 160 points for a one-bedroom and 270 points for a two-bedroom.

I hope this is the information you were looking for.

 

[Lynne M]

Most members buy DVC in order to stay at the DVC resorts, and only use the trade-out options very occasionally. Some never trade out at all. The best bang for your buck is certainly at the DVC resorts.

If you plan to stay at a DVC resort at least once every 2 years, and use the other options as an occasional change of pace, then DVC may be a good fit for you.

If you want to stay primarily at non-DVC properties, don't buy DVC. There are other very good timeshares available that are FAR cheaper than DVC, and are better suited for your purpose.

 

[JudyTL]

I was not thinking of going out of the Disney, but using points to take a Disney cruise in Europe. With the new Disney options... I see these points to be used for other types of trips outside of WDW. Is this an incorrect view? The cost of one cruise can be 9 grand, but if I save points for two years... and going to WDW at low season.. I can take the expensive cruise.

Does this make sense or not?

 

[Deb & Bill]

DCL points options really sucks up your points quickly. We did a 4 night cruise several years ago for two adults and one kiddo. We used up all our current year points, plus all the next year points. The number of points needed for cruise has gone up dramatically since that time. You will need lots of points to use them for the cruise.

 

[Lynne M]

I was not thinking of going out of the Disney, but using points to take a Disney cruise in Europe. With the new Disney options... I see these points to be used for other types of trips outside of WDW. Is this an incorrect view? The cost of one cruise can be 9 grand, but if I save points for two years... and going to WDW at low season.. I can take the expensive cruise.

Does this make sense or not?

OK, I see what you're wanting to do now. Sorry I misunderstood.

The way I'd approach this - and it may not be the right way - is to figure out what each point 'costs' per year. I'd take the purchase price of my DVC contract, divide it by however many years are left on the contract, and add my yearly dues to that. Then divide by the number of points I get per year. That gives me a yearly 'cost' per point. Just using guesstimated numbers, that would give me:

Purchase price ($10000)/35 years = $285
$285 + $700/year in MF = $985
divide that by 150 points......that comes to $6.60 per point

Let's say the non-DVC trip you want to take costs 250 points. Multiply 250 times $6.60, and that's $1650. If the cash price for the trip would be more than $1650, I'd use my points. If not, I'd pay cash.

As I said, that may not be the right way to go about it, but it works for me.

 

[Dean]

Buy the # of points you'll use at DVC and pay cash for the other options. You'll save money and hassle and have a lot more flexibility and safety.