FL residents want to purchase DVC

[mrsmickeywaffles]

We want to purchase a small point listing either 25 or 50 points so we could go a few nights a year. Do you think we could stay with just having 25 points lets say in January or February time or should we do 50..I know we could buy direct 25 points or 30. what is your opinion?

 

[Lakegirl]

You can look at the charts but I would go with 50. I think you will just want to add more on if you only go with 25.

 

[DisneyfromDeland]

I would certainly look at a points chart. It depends. January is one of the lowest point seasons, but February isn't. Are you looking at weekends or week nights only. Friday and Saturday cost more points. A weekend night at Saratoga in a studio is 15 points in January. A weeknight (Sunday through Thursday night) is 12. Different resorts are more or less. 25 isn't going to get more than 2 stays, and, depending on the resort, only 1.

 

[Dean]

We want to purchase a small point listing either 25 or 50 points so we could go a few nights a year. Do you think we could stay with just having 25 points lets say in January or February time or should we do 50..I know we could buy direct 25 points or 30. what is your opinion?

I don't think they'll sell just 25 or 30 as the primary membership if you're not already an owner. If you go resale you should be able to get more points for close to the same up front price and have more options of home resort.

 

[JimMIA]

Here's a link to the point charts for DVC resorts: http://www.disboards.com/threads/dvc-resource-center.2823943/#post-43070020.

You can click on the 2016 charts for each resort and see for yourself what any number of points will buy.

You're obviously new to this, so I'll tell you that you can "bank and borrow" points between Use Years. The Use Year is the 12-month period of time during which the annual allocation of points can be used. Basically, you can move points between years to have extra points for a reservation. However, once you move the points, they cannot be put back. Banking (to the next year) and borrowing (from the next year) are irreversible decisions. Once you bank or borrow, the points are stuck there if your plans change. But, using banking/borrowing, you can make points go farther than you think if your plans are not subject to change.

Personally, as a fellow Florida resident, I would not buy any number of DVC points to spend a few nights per year. There are so many "Florida Resident specials" that it just doesn't make sense to me. And as far as member "perks," Florida resident deals on annual passes, etc are just as good...and most of the time, better.

Also DVC is a timeshare, and generally timeshares work best with considerable planning and booking reservations far in advance. To some degree, that depends on where in Florida you live, and how flexible you are. If you would check availability for short-term reservations and not be disappointed if nothing was available, and you were fine with just waiting until something was available, you might be ok. If you expect to make reservations whenever you want, DVC is definitely NOT for you.

From our perspective, January and February are not months we would venture "way up North" from Miami to go to Disney. When the temps plunge into the 60's, we light a fire in the fireplace and huddle together for warmth!

 

[BrittanyLynn]

I didn't know you could buy 25 points direct!! They told me there was a minimum well above that number. If you look at the point charts, that doesn't get you a lot and those value studio rooms sell out fast. So I would count on it every single year.

 

[supersnoop]

I didn't know you could buy 25 points direct!! They told me there was a minimum well above that number. If you look at the point charts, that doesn't get you a lot and those value studio rooms sell out fast. So I would count on it every single year.

You can add on 25 points direct, but they won't sell that as your initial contract. In the past, the requirement has been 160, but lowered down to 100. There are some reports that they'll sell a 50-point initial contract at PVB.

 

[CMNJ]

When we were looking in the fall DVC minimum buy in direct was 50 points for the primary contract-25 is allowed as an add on but supposedly the only way to have that low of a primary contract is to buy resale.

 

[Dean]

When we were looking in the fall DVC minimum buy in direct was 50 points for the primary contract-25 is allowed as an add on but supposedly the only way to have that low of a primary contract is to buy resale.

Or bo buy more, end up with a 25 pt add on in some way and sell the rest. Historically they would sell the minimum but break it down, say a new buy in at 50 pts but as two 25 pt contracts. Recently it's sounded like they may not do that. Likely not the most efficient way to do this anyway but it will work. This method is likely the most feasible for one who owns already and wants to downsize. It's a situation I've been contemplating for some time and the very reason why my 100 pt AKV contract is 4*25.

 

[DisneyGirlFlorida]

I'm a Florida resident and I own 80 in SSR and waiting on closing of 120 VGF. I based my point purchase on my planned trips (mostly around RunDisney events + special events). I know I'll be going at least 3-4 times a year. Heck, I visited Disney 5 times between April and now, and I have 2 more trips in September and November planned plus January and February next year. I go for about 3-4 nights at a time. It's a great weekend getaway.

That being said, what are your travel habits? Do you plan on going once a year or more? How close to Disney are you?

25 points is not going to get you much, especially in January or February. As an example, I just stayed 2 nights split stay SSR and AKV Jambo for the DVC Neighborhood Bash in Typhoon Lagoon on July 23/24. It cost me 33 points.

Even 50 points isn't going to go far - maybe at best 3 nights a year during peak season at SSR? Definitely analyze point charts and create hypothetical trips to determine your point usage before deciding on a point number and think about your travel plans. Spontaneous trips are possible, but means you'll probably be limited to SSR on such short notice.

 

[calypso726]

We are FL residents, 3 hours south of the Mouse. Initially we thought about picking up a 25 point contract on resale just to go for a weekend every year. We quickly realized we'd probably want to stay for more than a weekend and we started off with a 180 point contract at SSR direct back in 2006 during the friends and family promotion. Over the years we have added on both direct and resale and are now up to 8 contracts over 4 resorts with 1300 points and always in borrow mode I'd suggest starting with a 50 point and don't be surprised if you wind up with a serious case of addonitis

 

[Marriedbythemouse]

We live in Tampa and just put in a resale offer for 200 at Boardwalk. We go over a lot and have 4 teenage boys so I'm hoping 200 will be enough.