Finally dove into the DVC World, where to start....

[dspud]

I have been watching this forum from afar for a while now. We just finished our trip to WDW yesterday with our 5y, 2y, and 6m old daughters. During our stay at Pop Century, a great resort in its own right, we realized we will be back many more times, and the accommodations Pop Century provides simply won't do long term. purchased 130 pts at the Poly, so we are already excited to plan our next trip. Just hoping we made a good decision, Never spent that much money for something I don't have physical possession of in my life.

 

[disneynutz]

I would visit the DVC purchase section and read more about buying. It's better to know that you made a good decision than to hope.

Bill

 

[dspud]

I have been looking into it for years. There is so much to it, I finally decided that I might as well buy in and become a member so I would know more about what you all are talking about on here. I know we will be doing Disney a lot for the next 15-20 years at least(and We as parents love Disney anyway, so it's not just for the kids for us). I didn't want to try all these resorts out and end up regretting not buying in 5 years prior.

My only issue is I don't have much experience at the resorts. I LOVE poly but I admit we don't have much experience there other than eating there a few times and the aloha show. We had two strollers on this trip at will have strollers for the foreseeable future so the accessibility to the monorail and boats was very important.

 

[Savagekids]

If you're within the 10 day cancel time for your contract, cancel it. Then look into which resort you really want and buy resale. If you find out that you do really want Poly, it will still be there.

 

[supersnoop]

Poly only has studios, so it probably isn't the best choice of home resort for your family composition. You'll probably want more room as those kids grow.

 

[southerngirl528]

I joined DVC over 2 decades ago and have 3 kids. Back then we bought it to stay in a 2 bdrm villa every trip. But in those early days you had to start with 210 points minimum as I recall. Needless to say I am quite spoiled to stay in large villas, but IMHO if you are wanting to extend your 130 points/year and stay as long as possible as opposed to staying in a larger villa, I think the Poly is actually a very good choice. Yes, it is a family of 5 in a Studio, but I think the Poly studios are the best in the DVC collection for an entire family to stay in because they are quite large and because of the split bathrooms.

 

[mickeyman]

Look into buying resale, maybe cancel contract and look into resale. You can buy at bay lake tower for quite a bit less than poly and still be on the monorail.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are within ten days, you can rescind your purchase and learn a bit more. You might come up with the same decision, but at least you will have given yourself some time to study the purchase. It's a lot of money for something you don't want to regret. You might be perfectly happy now, but it takes a little time to learn it all.

 

[dspud]

Not really interested in cancelling. From what I have read (like I said I have been looking into this for a couple years now off and on). Seems like every post I read on here with newbies asking advice ends up with everyone telling them to cancel, but then everyone saying they are happy with their purchase. Makes me wonder if no one just wants to admit it's a bad deal......

I admit some time down the line we might want an extra room but that's at least 7-10 years down the line. By that time I'll be buying more points, most likely resale. To get the 11 month booking you can only use points from that resort from what I understand. So adding points from different (cheaper) resorts is basically to get better rooms at resorts that you can actually book 7 months in advance. I really have no interest in GFR so that one at least isn't really an issue.

 

[dspud]

Also, I am not one to go to Disney every year or multiple times a year. My plan is to go at most every other year. I have a lot of places on my vacation bucket lists to show my DD's.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Not really interested in cancelling. From what I have read (like I said I have been looking into this for a couple years now off and on). Seems like every post I read on here with newbies asking advice ends up with everyone telling them to cancel, but then everyone saying they are happy with their purchase. Makes me wonder if no one just wants to admit it's a bad deal......

I admit some time down the line we might want an extra room but that's at least 7-10 years down the line. By that time I'll be buying more points, most likely resale. To get the 11 month booking you can only use points from that resort from what I understand. So adding points from different (cheaper) resorts is basically to get better rooms at resorts that you can actually book 7 months in advance. I really have no interest in GFR so that one at least isn't really an issue.

It's just that you can spend so much less, with a little time (unless you need to go back in a month - and then you won't find any vacancy). And the rules in making DVC work take a little time to learn. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

I bought direct in 1997 for $50 a point. I just don't think $168 a point is worth it. I can book that same room at seven months out. But I prefer one bedroom villas and the Polynesian doesn't have any of those. A studio is nothing but a glorified hotel room. I stayed in those exact hotel rooms (Moorea in 1997 - third floor end room) with five and it was tight then. But they took a lot of the living space to put in the kitchenette and increase the bathroom space. It's just too small for me.

 

[dspud]

I paid 165 (not really a difference, but I think it went up today). I agree with you. I wish I had got in when the rates were that cheap but I didn't even have my driver's license in 1997 ha. I did have a belief I would like to use this membership for more than just the WDW resorts, like other resorts around the country and possibly abroad at some point so resale wasn't an option at first. I am already rethinking that, but honestly I don't think I can predict how I am going to use this membership yet so I would like to keep my options open until I see how we end up using it. I understand those benefits are not guaranteed and may or may not be great deals but at the end of the day I when its $300 a point 20 years from now I'll be happy with the price I paid now like you are with your 1997 price. At least I hope. Still, I'll be buying resale from here on out most likely.

 

[ziravan]

If you're still in your 10 day grace period, and since you bought 130, my strong advice is to look up fixed/guaranteed weeks and call your guide and tell them you want to trade for a fixed week.

I have a 168 point fixed week 44 Lake View. Lots of advantages, few downsides.

If you're in your 10 day period, they will do it, it's a de facto recission/re-buy.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/purchasing-a-guaranteed-week.3436056/

 

[ziravan]

 

[ziravan]

I would get a week 49 standard wouldn't cost you anymore points, 130. Lake View is 163.

That's first week of Dec, one of DVC's busiest weeks. Even if you opt out each year, it will markedly increase your resale value.

DVC busy season is late Sept to mid Jan.

 

[dspud]

I am going to read more about this tomorrow. I'm not sure I see any downside, other than possibly having to pay more points for that stay than the normal DVC member if the chart shows less points during those dates. But couldn't you just opt out of your guaranteed stay and go back and rebook it using your newly acquired points?

 

[ziravan]

Yes.

You have the best of both worlds. Opt out and rebook if the dates are open.

Guaranteed without needing to worry about if the dates become hard to book.

 

[dizfan]

Congratulations and welcome home!!!

PVB has many great things about it. The new kids water play area there is outstanding. Your daughters will have many years of enjoying that area.
A great resource for Polynesian information is Tikiman's facebook page. He does an incredible job. He is not associated with Disney, but he has a tremendouw appreciation for the resort and it's history.

 

[Judique]

The Poly rooms are very nice and I think you made a good choice. We just moved to BW from Poly yesterday.

Since you only bought 130 points, I would probably keep them and maybe do that fixed week thing that Ziravan suggests.

I remember when I was buying - friends urged me to buy OKW for greater value, but I wanted Boardwalk. I made the right decision for me. I'm sitting at BWV now and after 15 years couldn't be happier - friend went back and bought BW points as well and rarely stays at OKW as her focus has changed.

You can always add on at a cheaper price through resale. But for now sounds like you made the right choice for you, even though some of us who paid $50 are cringing at the price per point.

 

[supersnoop]

Seems like every post I read on here with newbies asking advice ends up with everyone telling them to cancel,

That does seem to be the overwhelming response these days. I try to stay positive and stay away from that. If you want to always (or mostly) stay at PVB, then a direct purchase is absolutely appropriate. If you have any other intentions for your points, resale may be a better choice. And it's also important to note that DVC isn't for everyone. If you are planning to go less than every other year, you're going to run into problems and will likely allow some points to expire.

I did have a belief I would like to use this membership for more than just the WDW resorts, like other resorts around the country and possibly abroad at some point so resale wasn't an option at first.

The direct options for traveling outside the system are practically worthless; usually less value than the maintenance fees, let alone the buy-in cost.

But couldn't you just opt out of your guaranteed stay and go back and rebook it using your newly acquired points?

Exactly. Worst case, you pay a little more to get a guaranteed reservation for the most difficult week to book. That's not a bad "worst case."