DVC wanna-be, newbe with a question

[d'Isigny]

Normally, I am a lurker on the DCL boards...have an interest in DVC and hope you can offer support/suggestions.

We are a family of 5...yes, I know, 4/5ths of the world travels as a family of 4...blame my DW…she is irresistible.

I’ve visited the ‘debate board’ RE: the number of people you can ‘stuff’ into a room. Yes, I know that people get by with an extra in a 4 person room. I’d rather have a confirmation that documents the number of people we are allowed in our room….but, I’d appreciate your direction…

- What is permissible and comfortable for a family of five (two 40-somethings, 3 – 6 & 9 y/o DD’s)?

We want to visit every other/third year…in either March or October (prob Oct). Have little or no desire in ‘pool time’…just love the Disney theme-ing and want to absorb it 24hrs a day we are there. Frankly, we are “semi-commandos”…arrive at park opening—stay till closing with a ‘hotel/timeshare break’ every other afternoon.

Our favorite parks are Epcot and MGM…it appears like Boardwalk would be in our best interest. Will pursue purchase through a recommended resale agency….but;

- How many points at a minimum would you suggest we start with?

I’d appreciate links to web sites and past trip reports of DVC members…..looking forward to hearing – my first…’welcome home’

K

 

[Dean]

You can likely get by with 150 points at BW. That will easily get you a 2 BR every 3 years for any of your times and for Oct every 2 years. March will be a bit more tricky as it's Magic most of the time and Premier season some years (2 weeks around Easter) and will require more like 200 points (on average) for a full week EOY. If you try to get by with a smaller unit, you could stay longer.

 

[Richyams]

What is permissible and comfortable for a family of five

We won't even adress "permissible", you really don't even have to. Just think of five people and one bathroom.

We bought DVC for comforatble vacations, four in a one bedroom is not comfortable. Especially in those tiny BWV/BCV/VWL units. A one bedroom is perfect for a couple. As soon as you add one or two kids, a two bedroom is the thing that you need....three children in a one bedroom just aint my idea of a vacation.

But some people don't mind the crowded living room, needing to be quiet in the bedroom at 9:00, waiting and waiting for the one bathroom.

Some prefer for the kids to have their own room and be able to stay up later watching TV, eating snacks partaking in adult beverages, etc.

 

[Pa@okw95]

You will need a 2 bedroom for your family unless you are going to have more Like one person said 150 points for everyother year should do it for a two bedroom.

 

[disneyberry]

i agree. 150pts is plenty for 2-bdrm trips every 3rd year.
if you think you might want to go every other year, then maybe 175pts is better. (it costs 350pts for 1 week, 2bdrm in Magic Season)

(btw, an Oct UY would be "perfect" for you. and Sep UY a close 2nd place. but, i'm sure we'll get to the UY questions later )

 

[crisi]

We do a two bedroom every other year on 150 yearly points in October. When the kids get old enough that we don't want to pull them from school, we will move to early/late summer dream season.

Its 282 points for BWV preferred view seven nights. We have two kids, who are little enough that sleeping on the couch isn't a problem (it isn't like they don't end up in our bed anyway, and our bathroom - in a few years, we will need that extra bedroom), so we bring family/friends.

You may want to look into buying OKW resale, the two bedroom is 232 points for the same week. OKW is generally considered easiest to book at seven months out.

BWV standard view is 236 points.

March is much pricier on points: 364 BWV SV 2BR, 411 BWV PV 2BR, 352 at OKW, for seven nights.

There are some tricks to saving points: Stay midweek. Book offsite for your weekends - a lot of people fly in on Friday or Saturday late and book a hotel by the airport cheap for the first night. Getting rid of just one weekend night gets you below 300 points in March at OKW or a BWV SV. Stay at the resorts that offer the best point value - OKW or BWV SV (if you need to be frugal with points, its best to own there, particularly if you want the elusive BWV SV).

I'd really recommend buying enough points for the two bedroom now. Not to have a room debate, but you'll want those points as your kids get to be teens - dealing with multiple contracts as an every other year person - or waiting possibly a year or longer for a little add on wouldn't be good. (I think multiple contracts are really cool for people who go more often) And, given your travel schedule, I think you can pull it off with 150 points, unless March every two years is looking more likely than October.

Get a point chart and start playing. You'll quickly figure out how far you can make points go. Do a search on Caskbill's planner. Its also on the DVC link page from this sites home.

We bought our BWV resale through Jaki at www.atimeshare.com. The Timeshare Store, www.dvc-resales.com is another reputable source.

 

[d'Isigny]

Much thanks for all your comments and suggestions. Sorry to be a pest...in continuing my research i've got some questions (OK, becoming a pest).

Do a search on Caskbill's planner. Its also on the DVC link page from this sites home.

have attempted to search/find "Caskbill's Planner"...however - No luck. Can someone please post a link
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btw, an Oct UY would be "perfect" for you. and Sep UY a close 2nd place. but, i'm sure we'll get to the UY questions later

Gotta ask...please define "UY"? Man, I was just gett'n good with WDW-DCL short-cuts...now, it appears I'll be learning another language.
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You will need a 2 bedroom for your family unless you are going to have more

I can answer that --- right now!! Our three DD's are 'nicknamed' -
Eenie, Menie, Minie ----- Cause there ain’t gonna be no MOE!!

thanks folks - appreciate it/you! Looking forward in sharing a Frou-Frou drink at the bar of my "new-home" sometime soon.

K

 

[Caskbill]

UY means Use Year, but in reality it's short for Use Year MONTH, such as October UY, or September UY. It's the month you receive your new allocation of points every year.

have attempted to search/find "Caskbill's Planner"...however - No luck. Can someone please post a link

Click the link in my signature below.