? for DVC owners

[Coopsmum77]

I am considering buying into the DVC, but don't plan to do Disney every year. My question is whether or not you can apply your points to the Adventures by Disney vacations? I would like to do these yearly, with Disney World as an every few years trip. Just wondering if they let you apply those points like that.

Thanks!

 

[DVCLiz]

Yes, they do. In my case I would have to use points from this year and next year to have enough for an ABD trip, but it is certainly possible!!

 

[wildernessDad]

I do not believe that ABD would be a prudent way to use your points. But points is points and you can certainly use them for ABD.

 

[Coopsmum77]

Yes, they do. In my case I would have to use points from this year and next year to have enough for an ABD trip, but it is certainly possible!!

Where would I find something on what the point value for the ABD trips would be?

Thanks for your reply.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm not sure this will work, but this link is where it is.
http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/common/blankPage?id=PointsChartAdventurer07Page

 

[Lynne M]

Well, I found it on the DVC member site, but I can't figure out how to paste the info in here.

I'll give you a few examples.

"London and Paris" seems to be the most expensive. 496/adult and 467/child during regular season, 446/adult, 417/child during value season.

"American Mid-Atlantic" seems to be the least expensive. 300/adult, 285/child in regular season, 270/adult, 255/child in value season.

Now, you need to do the math. Everyone seems to have their own formula for figuring out what their points are worth. Compare your point 'cost' for these trips to what you'd pay for the trip with a cash reservation, and you'll see if using DVC points is a good value or not.

I would suspect that you'd spend a lot less for these trips if you paid cash. DVC is structured so that you get the best value by staying at DVC resorts. Trading out, either to the Concierge Collection, Disney Collection (incl. Adventures), and II, is a nice perk, but DVC isn't intended to be mainly used for these types of trips.

Another thing to consider: unlike the point cost for staying at a DVC resort, the point cost for these trades is re-negotiated every year, and can change dramatically. In five years, you could find that you suddenly need to buy more points to continue taking Adventures trips.

In your case, I'd suggest that you buy enough points for your WDW vacations and pay cash for Adventures. With banking and borrowing, you can buy a modest number of points and have plenty for a WDW vacation every few years.

 

[dianeschlicht]

As you can see, this is considered an outside exchange. You would be exchanging DVC for the points for Adventure. It is a LOT of points, but if you want to purchase that many, it could be worth it.

On the other hand...Why not buy half the number of points you think you will need, and use them every other year with banking and borrowing? I'm quite sure that is a more ecconomical way to travel.

 

[Coopsmum77]

Thanks for all the info. I do see the point that it isn't worth the number of points/person for the adventures. I think I might lean toward the smaller point number and bank them for every few years.

But then my addiction might win over, as well....

Thanks again!

 

[JBCP]

I agree with everyone that non-DVC resorts/trips are not the best use of your points, but that does not mean that it's a BAD deal. Just that it's not the BEST deal.

We're not likely to go to WDW every year--we live in WA State and it's a hike. Plus we like lots of different kinds of vacations. Because of the incentives right now, though, we were able to book for a large extended family gathering in February at AKV which will earn back over half our initial investment. In one trip! So I figure that even if we end up using points on non-DVC options, we are still going to come out ahead. Maybe not AS ahead as if we only stayed at DVC resorts, but we like the variety.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[flyerron]

Yeah, This is all good advice. If you are planning to go to WDW every 2 or three years then it makes sense to buy a few points & bank & borrow as needed. The adventure trips & cruises are a very point exhaustive. Better use in the park, unless you have plenty of cash flow & buy a bunch of points & use for all Disney trips.
Good Luck

 

[vandy]

I think I might lean toward the smaller point number and bank them for every few years.
QUOTE]

Just remember that points are bankable only once. For example, you would bank your 2007 use year points to use into your 2008 use year. You can also borrow from your 2009 use year to use in 2008, thus giving you three years worth of points to use.

 

[flyerron]

Right, don't forget when you bank points they must be used in the next uy. You cannot bank them again.