first time ?renting points for big family vacation

[kidzmom3]

Hi, I had a question. I will be travelling to WDW with my extended family November 22-31 2002. We will be 4 adults (2 couples) and 3 teens (1boy,2girls) and 3 children. In your opinion, would it make sense for us to rent points and stay at a DVC property? If so, what property would you suggest for us. Would we need 2? Any opions/options would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

You could use a two bedroom which has one master bdroom, another bedroom with two double beds and a pull out couch in the living room, these are at OKW, very big room. Then only thing is that the dates you stated are one of the most crowede times of the year. You might have a hard time finding a two bedroom or even a 1 bedroom for that time this late in the year. check on the point rents board there might be more information there. If you can do it I highly recomend going DVC, you will love the room.

Scott, Peg and Tyler

 

[spiceycat]

you are staying over 2 weekends - Fri and Sat are much more points than Sun thru Thurs

this is OKW - for your entire stay in a studio (you would need 3 of these ) would be 142 points - the sun thru thurs stay would be 46 points - big difference

I would recommend a 2-bedroom and a studio - 2-bedroom at OKW for your entire stay 390 points - sun-thurs 132 points.

a studio at VWl/BCV or BWV (pref) would be 174 points for your entire stay or sun-thurs 64 points - a 2-bedroom would be 448 points for your entire stay or 176 points for sun-thurs.

you decide which would be the best for your family. this is thankgiving so you would probably have to take what is available if anything - generally OKW.

Oh the points are generally $10 a point

 

[kem330]

Just to clarify: The unit occupancy are as follows:
2 Br: Sleeps 8, 1 King, 1 Queen, 1Queen/or Double Sofa bed, 1 Queen Sofa bed. NO Rollaways.
1 BR: sleeps 4 plus one under 3 in portacrib- king bed and queen sofabed
Studio: sleeps 4 + one under 3: Queen bed + Queen bed OR Double Sofa-( depends on resort)
1 & 2 BR have full kitchen, W/D. Studio has mini frig and microwave.
These are very nice size for a large family, plus provide the convenience of laundry and cooking. They are very difficult to get at the holidays and need to be booked by DVC members often 11 months in advance. You can also reserve through Disney- maybe even get a discounted rate. Most comfortable for you would be one 2 bedroom and one studio. You need to decide which location works for you check out web sites which describe the resorts. OKW and VWL are quieter. BWV and BCV are in walking distance of MGM and Epcot plus the Boardwalks own entertainment area. Points cost for each: As stated points usually run $10 each:
BWV, BCV, VWL= 165 points for studio for Nov 22- Dec 1, 434 points for 2 BR.
OKW 136 for studio and 373 for 2 BR
If you can find this available basically your average cost is $565.55/night at OKW for all ten of you or split 1/2 way $282.78/night-
OR $665.55/night ($332.78/family/night) at VWL, BWV, BCV
very reasonable for deluxe accomodations at holiday time AND there is no room tax on rental.

 

[kidzmom3]

Thank you everyone for your info. I don't know that much about the DVC but I am trying to learn. I am hoping that if we can rent some points this time, I can persuade my F-I-L to buy points instead of a house in Kissimee. He is buying it mostly for my family and the future families of his other 2 kids. But, they like the house and we like onsite. So this is a little devious of me. I appreciate everyons help!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Your biggest problem is the late timing for your request. Most of the DVC resorts get booked for Thanksgiving week at the 11 month mark by the owners at that resort. You need to plan better to get what you need. If you were renting for 4 people in a studio, you would have a better chance of getting what you need. You need a 2 bedroom and a studio at the least or three studios. (You can substitute a one-bedroom for a studio since they also sleep four). Even if your FIL decided to join DVC today, your chance of getting the lodging you need would be slim to none at this late date. Now, this isn't saying that it is impossible, just extremely hard to do.

If you want to rent points for a busy holiday time, you had been plan it before the 11 month mark.

 

[vernon]

For a DVC stay you're going to need a Grand Villa for one unit for your group, or a two bedroom and either a studio or a one bedroom with it. Even then with the mix of kids ( ages and sexes) it's not going to be easy. Coupled with the fact you want two weekends I think it's going to look pretty pricey. If you want to sell your relatives on the DVC idea, you really need to show them the best value of the plan, not the worst.

In your situation I would bite my tongue and go along with a stay in a villa ( you could get a great house for your group ) then suggest that before he stumps up his cash , you take the DVC tour to compare the costs/benefits. Making sure you know enough about DVC to show him/then the benefits of DVC/a house purchase.

I have done a couple of DVC/house ownership costs comparissons in the past, because I own both, and I think I have an old one on file. The points would still be valid, although the values may need an update. Please feel free to email me if you'd like me to forward it to you.

To buy a house is a pretty large capital cost, if the idea is just to provide a quality holiday destination for his family, I think my arguments will work for DVC instead of a house. If he himself wants to spend a few months a year in Florida ( once he's retired), or even to retire there in the future then it is likely that the house is still going to be his best option, BUT if he does plan to spend a lot of time himself in Fl, then I think it's his money and he should choose what's best for himself first, if you still get the benefits of a nice lodging for free then you can't really complain.

 

[kidzmom3]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I spoke with my f-i-l yesterday and we did agree to the house rental. We did this once before and the place was very nice. However he will try the dvc tour so we can check it out. thanks again.