DVC points or cash?

[62travelDisney]

Who has researched which is the better value, using DVC points or cash? Thanks!!!!

Laurie

 

[mom2rb]

For us it was better to rent the points and pay cash for our Sept. 2005 cruise but I think if you go during a holiday or summer it might be about even.

 

[DisneyBill]

Most of the time, it is less money to use cash and book through a discount TA. Beyond that, the two drawbacks that I have using points (done it before) is you can't book until the 11 month window, you have to pay all of the cash portion (when doing part points & part cash) at time of booking. Plus the $75.00 exchange fee. Here is an example, we have a 7 western pending for 7-31. Cat. 4, 2 adults - 1 17y.o. & 1 11y.o. The deal through MS was 318 points for 1 adult and $4907 cash. I booked with allseastravel.com for a total of $6695. In this scenerio my point benefit for 318 points was about $1700. However, the DVC points are yours to use as you wish.

 

[MarceRN]

I used my points. This is what I bought into the program for,so I would not have to use cash.

 

[CACruiser]

Some folks use points for the couple traveling and cash for their kids.

We did'nt have the extra cash, so we opted to use points for a lower Cat for all of us.

DVC points work really well for folks who can and like to plan ahead. We have always planned our vacations out way ahead of time. We are also West Coasters, so we only come out to Fl every 3 years or so. We can use our points in CA too, but I have family I can stay and visit with 30 mins from Disney!

I would much rather blow all my points on the DCL, knowing I am going to have a real blast!

LisaCA

 

[lneeley]

We are from the west also. We don't get to WDW as often as those east coasters! Anyway, we have used points on five different cruises. There is no way the DH would have let me cruise that many times using cash. I took my parents on their retirement on the 3 night cruise and used points. We generally have used points for DH and myself and then used $$$ for the 3 person (daughter 11). The best thing we did was take all of my husband's children on a 3 night cruise and we used points for everyone except for our two granddaughters who were under 2 at the time. So for 11 of us at the time, we spent the $75 exchange fee and I think it was $79 or $99 a piece for the two granddaughters. 11 people on three night cruise for less than $300. We have owned at OKW since 1994.

We are also going on the 10 day Christmas Cruise with all 13 of us (now four grandkids) 12/18/2004. We used points for the DH and myself and then have paid for the 3 kids cabins along with their spouses and children. It's costing us alot of $$$$ this time, but the DH has never spent a Christmas with his children since his divorce in 1987. So, I figured if I gave them a cruise for Christmas (which I did when we "Celebrated Christmas" on Jan. 3, 2004), they could either spend Christmas with their dad in 2004 on a cruise or they could stay home and spend Christmas with their mother. Well, of course, they opted in and are spending Christmas 2004 on a cruise with their father and me the stepmom.

Anyway, sorry to rattle on so long, but we love DVC and love to use our points and use the $$$$ for shore excursions and anything else we want!

Sea-U-Later

 

[Mary Anne]

I too am using points to cruise; 4 of us 470 points but that is why I bought in to DVC. The reality is with two kids in private school I don't have an extra $4000 or so for a week's cruise; I do have banked DVC points for five nights in OKWest and a 7 niight cruise. All for $75. May not be the best use of points but sure as hell beats going to the bank and making a withdrawal.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

All I do to see if it is worth using points vs. cash is take the cash price and divide it by the number of points you would need. Considering you can rent your points out at $10/point, is the point value you came up with worth it?

For instance, we booked the March 5 7-day Eastern for two adults at $2890.70 (early booking). Points are approximately 406 (2004 point chart) total for a category 8.

$2890.70/406 = $7.11/point

I could rent out 406 points at $10/point = $4060

In this case, renting the points and paying cash is worth it. Ideally I would end up with $1169.30 left over.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

In my experience as a family of 5 in the summer (teacher) the points were the way to go. We used points for our 4 day wonder last summer and paid cash for DS. I had a cruise booked this summer with cash, but even if I rented out all of my remaining points I would still have owed more money than I could afford (that was connecting cat. 10s). I think if I had a family of 4 things would be more flexible, but as it is they aren't. Luckily my folks are paying for the cruise this summer(and DS is staying with them so we can get cat. 6) or I don't think we'd ever do one longer than 4 days.
Robin M.

 

[rae519]

I bought my points (500) to use cruising - we like the idea of being in one place and not having to drive around and pay for entertainment and food. We have cruised 3x using our points and we are very happy with the deal we get. We book 3 days after the cruise to get the best DVC rate and have always enjoyed a Category 6 (verandah) on Deck 5 Aft stateroom as our "home".

I do not want to mess around with renting points or dealing with people/problems.

So, speaking as an individual, I couldn't be happier regardless of what number crunchers and DVC renters/points dealers may say.

Rae

 

[Mary Anne]

Actually I think you have the key to when to use points; We too go in peak times. Perhaps that is why the use of points look so much easier and better to me.

Also, I don't want to deal with the stress and bother of renting points. That plays a big factor in my choice.

Rae how much of a deal do you get when you rebook within the 3 days using points?

 

[AnnaS]

We are also a family of five and have chosen two staterooms for both of our Magic cruises. We have used a combination of points and cash. This works out well for us. We will do the same again as soon as we know the point chart for July 05 - depending on how our cash flow is at the 11 month mark, that is how we determine how much to pay cash/points. We like to have a few points left over for a few night at WDW after our cruise too.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Mary Anne
[Rae how much of a deal do you get when you rebook within the 3 days using points? [/B]

I recall that it was approximately 15 points per person for the 7 nighter (Eastern) when we booked last year.

I am not sure now what the early booking with DVC is but you do have to get in that 3 day window to get it.

Rae

 

[Verandah Man]

We rebooked while on our cruise last August for this coming August. We selected a Cat. 9 cabin and my DW and I both saved 26 points per person for our 7 day cruise.

 

[rae519]

Which is a nice savings!!!

Rae

 

[GOVAC24]

We used our points for the room the days before the cruise & our reservations. Our daughter's spot was taken care of with $$$. This way we got a nicer cabin for less $$ for all. Thanks to DVC! LOVE that DVC!

 

[mouseclick1]

I know that cash is usually a better $$ deal, but we booked our upcoming Easter cruise entirely on points. We had to borrow some of next year's points, but we still have enough to take a trip if we want next year. We also booked the night before the cruise at Vero Beach using our points. I bought the points to use however we want, and I really don't want to deal with renting.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I'm going by memory here (which probably isn't a good idea) but I think our May 1st cruise was 174 pnts each for Lindsey and myself, but if I paid cash it was like 6000.00 for a cat. 6 verandah. I remember thinking I couldn't sell the points for what it would cost to cruise. That was the price I was quoted on the Disney site so maybe if you go to a TA you get a better deal. It was either use them on the cruise or bank them because I couldn't afford the 1500.00 for AP's this year. To me it was like a free vacation.

Alice

 

[62travelDisney]

Thanks all so much for your responses! Even tho we've been DVC members for years, I didn't even realize we could rent the points (we've always used all of them!) but it certainly helps to know how to calculate. It is also great to know that DVC members can get a deal by rebooking on the cruise. With a family of 6 and a DH who insists on a verandah, not enough points to cover this trip, but it made a dent anyway. And from your answers I'm beginning to think it's worth it to buy more points to cover cruising.............

 

[rae519]

Alice Sr - yes, DVC points do help out!!! Of course, the only problem with going on any vacation for us is leaving our horses - and you have sooooo many!! Lucky Lady!
I'm definitely coming up to see your babies this spring!!

Rae