Good Use of Points ???

[RweTHEREyet]

If you were taking a spur of the moment trip, just two of you, not the family vacation, would you use 134 points for 4 nights in a one bedroom or perhaps save the points and use a really good rate of $66 for a moderate? Won't be cooking meals and won't miss the laundry facilities, either. Other than just loving to stay at a DVC resort and having all that space, I would lean towards staying at the moderate and saving the points. It would mean using the 2004 Dec U/Y points in Dec of 2004 and not getting more on that contact until Dec 2005. Guess I equate it to spending $264 for hotel versus $1,340 worth of points at DVC. I do value my points at $10.00 per point, and I know not all folks do. I also know there are some that would stay at DVC over anything else anytime anywhere if they have the points, so I guess I am not really addressing that group, just those that sometimes stay in regular WDW resorts.

 

[lat]

I know exactly what you were saying. We are used to staying deluxe so for us, or more for me, I would not consider a moderate. I would compare the best rate for the deluxe resort I would like to stay in and the points needed for DVC to see if the price is comparable.

If it is or close, I would chose DVC resorts (less work not to rent out the points), otherwise, it would be a deluxe.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I could get a room at the Contemporary for less than $500 for the time I want, and I wouldn't rent out the points, just save them for later. I was using the $10.00 per point comparison for what my DVC room was costing me per night, in my opinion.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

I guess there's all sorts of ways to look at this. Personally I do use the kitchen and washer/dryer and love the space of the one bedrooms.

This may sound obnoxious, but honestly I don't mean it that way: Won't it ALWAYS be "cheaper" (if you're comparing moderates to DVC one bedrooms) to stay at the moderate? If you're only concerned with the bottom line why buy DVC at all? if you bought because, as you say you "just loving to stay at a DVC resort and having all that space" then why not use it?

And by the way why compare the moderate to a one bedroom? Why not stay in a studio through DVC and save some of your points if it's $$ you're worrying about?

Having said all the above:

If the 134 points include weekend points (and it does sound that way if it's that many points for 4 days) then I might think twice about using them. Maybe you can stay in the moderate for the Friday/Saturday portion of the trip and DVC the other two days?

 

[lat]

We like CR, I know some people don't. We like the fact that you can walk to MK. The room we had at CR in one of the wings was much larger than the BC room we stayed in. We ended up extending our stay there and shortened BC's stay. $500 for 4 nights is a GREAT rate for CR!!!

 

[lenshanem]

I'm in a similar dilemma -
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=631828

I'll be watching your thread! Good luck!

 

[Disney Doll]

Actually, DH and I are doing exactly this same thing. We are going for a 4 day weekend in September, got a postcard rate of $100/night for a king size bed at Coronado Springs.

From a financial standpoint, I think in this case it's a better idea to spend the $300-$400 rather than the points. Plus, we've stayed at CS, it's pretty resort, nice pool etc. IMHO, it's the most "upscale" of the moderates in terms of amenities....maybe because it has a convention center, it has a bit more of an adult- oriented feel to it.

Like oyu, we'll be there for 3 nights, we are not going to need a washer/dryer or a ful kitchen. If I want to have snacks or drinks in the room, I'll buy a cheap strofoam cooler and leave it there when I check-out.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Won't it ALWAYS be "cheaper" (if you're comparing moderates to DVC one bedrooms) to stay at the moderate? If you're only concerned with the bottom line why buy DVC at all? if you bought because, as you say you "just loving to stay at a DVC resort and having all that space" then why not use it?

Not concerned about "cheaper" more interested in making better use of the points, like having them for the whole family to use on a longer trip next summer, not just for hubby and I for 4 nights. We used up a lot of points when our son was on the College Program last fall and we went every six weeks for 6 months, including holiday weekend points, so now I am in the "recovery" mode

And by the way why compare the moderate to a one bedroom? Why not stay in a studio through DVC and save some of your points if it's $$ you're worrying about?

I am not comparing one to the other, just stating what rate I could get at CB, which is a resort I have enjoyed staying at many times. Not worrying about the money, but don't see any need to be wasteful, either, and $264 versus $1,340 is something to consider. And there are no studios available for the time we are considering, only the one bedroom for 134 points. We have already made 2 trips to DVC this year, with another stay coming up in October, so this is not our one and only trip for 2004, no need to blow almost a years' worth of points on one of our contracts.

If the 134 points include weekend points (and it does sound that way if it's that many points for 4 days) then I might think twice about using them. Maybe you can stay in the moderate for the Friday/Saturday portion of the trip and DVC the other two days?

the points included one weekend night, and we have moved before to avoid weekend points--especially during holiday periods when points are really high, but a 4 night stay is too short to spend one day moving, and I don't care what anyone says, I have experienced it, packing up and relocating takes a chunk out of your vacation time. I only like to move if I have at least 5 days at my DVC resort and am staying elsewhere the weekend before and/or after.

This may sound obnoxious

enough to put me on the defensive. And actually writing this reply has helped me to see that I would probably feel I would be wasting my points for that short of a stay for a quickie trip.

 

[Terry S]

We just returned from a short 4-night stay at the GF on Cash. First off let me say, we do spend a good amount of time relaxing in our rooms, but I must be really spoiled with the space of the 2 Bedroom we normally get for the 4 of us because 1 room at the Grand was just suffocating me! I ended up going down to the Concierge desk and asking them if they could add the adjoining room for the rest of the nights so that the kids could have their own room. I have come to the conclusion if we ever stay non-DVC again that the way to go is 2 connecting rooms right from the start so the kids have their own space and I have my own space. It was a much more enjoyable (albeit pricey) trip after that!

Edited to add: I just re-read that it is just the two of you so one room should be fine and I would just save the points and try and get a good deal at whatever resort you feel like trying out.

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Originally posted by RweTHEREyet




enough to put me on the defensive. And actually writing this reply has helped me to see that I would probably feel I would be wasting my points for that short of a stay for a quickie trip.

My apologies for putting you on the defensive, that was far from my intention. You asked for opinions. But if my reply helped you decide then I am glad.

 

[adamandallie]

I would save your points and use them for a bigger trip later with the whole family. That's what we are doing in about a week. We are making a very short trip to WDW (2 nights) and staying at Pop Century on a military discount. I ouldn't see using our points when we will hardly be in the room at all. I'd rather save them and use them later for a bigger room or longer stay some other time.

The moderate resorts are nice too and I think you'd have a great time anywhere you stay. Its Disney!

 

[SoCalKDG]

Use cash in this case. I wouldn't go anything lower than a moderate though.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

If it were me, I would decide based on location. We don't do moderates because we don't like how you have to travel by bus everywhere.

But, we have (and will continue to) stayed in the WL or Contemp when good deals surface, usually for only part of our stay.

I never see anything wrong with saving points until later, so long as they will be used.

Good luck with your decision!