Have you ever regretted an add-on?

[Tiger926]

We added on 125 points @ AKL last year, and have been regretting this as of late. We used to vacation each July to SSR with our 175 points for 10 nights in a studio - we really enjoyed it and our dues were very manageable.

Last year, we had our 2nd child, and added on @ AKL as we love the resort. We thought we'd need bigger accommodations now that we have a boy and a girl. We didn't really crunch the points as closely as possible, and chose 125 points in order to total 300 - we mistakenly looked at the value 1 bed and based on our total on this. This was a mistake as all other 1 beds are quite a bit more than the value room at AKV. This week we have been looking at plans for our regularly scheduled July vacation - dues just got charged to our VISA, and with exchange they were close to $1800.00. Ouch! We are thinking we made a mistake with this add-on as we would have been fine for the next few years in a studio with 175 points. Now we have a lot of dues to pay, we still are payin off the add-on (minimal interest as hubby is a banker with a very cheap rate of 2%) and we still don't have enough points for a 1 bed for our whole trip - we like to stay at least 10-12 days as we have a long drive to Canada.

So, have any of you ever regretted an add-on, and if so, how do you get over it without it tainting your future vacations and feeling disloyal to your new home resort?

Tiger

 

[Lenc324]

No I only added on 25 points.

 

[disneynutz]

If you have any regrets, the easiest way to get over it is to sell it. We have some points in a UY that we don't care about and we will be selling them this year.

 

[twinklebug]

You might opt for renting your extra points and share your love for your home resort with others who might not get to try it otherwise. Until you do need them that is

If you do opt to rent, make sure you have a good written agreement and charge well enough that you cover any dues, interest etc that you incur on those points. The folks over on the rent/trade board have a number of stickes that can help. I rented from 3 wonderful DVC owners over the past few years and am very grateful they were there to help me out before I was able to purchase in myself.

 

[Inkmahm]

I'd do a transfer to another DVC member before I'd rent to anyone. Very easy and when the points are out of your account, you are done with them. No reservations to handle, no worry about damage to the room or charges that you'll be left to pay if the renters don't.

 

[BroganMc]

So, have any of you ever regretted an add-on, and if so, how do you get over it without it tainting your future vacations and feeling disloyal to your new home resort?

Up till this year I only added on at my home resort. I kinda regret not adding an additional 10 points to my last SSR add-on when it was really cheap. Would have saved me a lot of angst with the new point schedules.

Your debate is something that has had me prolonging my BLT add-on though. It's the reason I held off purchasing for the last 4 months and only just got contracts this month due to the deadline. I'm not sure I'll get as much use out of it as I intend. That's why I've gone with a smaller contract so I'm not out as much and can more easily resell it later.

Have you considered split-stays during your trips? That's how I'm planning to handle BLT. I'll use it to augment my October or December stays with a 3 nighter. I can afford a 4 nighter with the buffer, but my mind is set on 3 nights. Eventually I can have enough banked that I'll just be able to go longer or move to a bigger unit. Or else I'll use those points to float elsewhere in the system. They are play points for me.

You could always use your AKV add-on for an every other year stay too. A 9 day stay in a Value 1bedroom over summer is 238. So if you went EOY, you'd have 12 points leftover. Alternate with your SSR points and you'd get at least a 9 day stay every summer, longer if you augment with SSR points.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

I've regretted one add-on. well, not the points, but I wish I would have picked a different home resort. I've gotten over it by adding-on at a different resort!

If the dues seem like a lot right now why don't you switch them to monthly auto debit instead of the lump sum in January? I know that won't help you know, but it could next year.

You also could do a studio for the first couple of nights of your trip, then move to a one bedroom for the backside.

 

[LocustPoint]

I've added on twice, once at my home resort and just recently at BLT. The BLT points were added on with the thought of only staying there every two or three years and I actually added on more points that we needed so I'm not affected by the realignment of point schedules. To answer your question I have never regretted an add on.

 

[DVC Mike]

I've added on 21 times, and didn't regret any of them!

 

[alldiz]

I don't regret it but, I only added on 50pts.

Still I just realized reading your post I haven't pd my dues yet
Must call today.
Kerri

 

[tvwalsh]

I regretted my purchase of additional VB points after the subsidy was no longer given. I sold about 200 VB points with a member fee of $6.41 per point reducing my monthly fees significantly. I have only been to VB three times in 10-15 years.

I did purchase 80 additional OKW points in three small contracts, and 30 BLT points, but my monthly fees are still much lower.

The ability to buy and sell points without losing your shirt is a positive for DVC.

 

[CheapMom]

No, I have added on twice and feel it was the right thing for us. For my last add-on I was looking for about 100 points but I forund a great contract that was 130- It gives me some nice wiggle room. I will not be adding on any more in the future though. I can't afford any more points/dues/associated travel costs.

 

[jekjones1558]

Kind of regretting our last 150 point add-on. Health issues in our family are making it hard to vacation and so I am faced with renting/transferring. I once thought I would NEVER do that. Never say never.

 

[keishashadow]

im thinking many of us wish we had added on just a bit more and that DVC is hoping we'll rectify via yet another addon to move some of their inventory (im thinking there has to be ample ROFRd points floating about in this economy)

 

[dan and scott]

We just did a BLT 100 point add on--our 7th since joining 11 yrs. ago at BW.
We now own 625 points.
I don't think we would have added on but came into an inheritance (wanted to use the money for something that the family could use for years to come).
The over 100 dollar benchmark is steap since the initial buy in point for us was $62 and some change.
I would have prefered AK Villas but hubby thought that the dues were going to kill us for the upkeep of the animals and grounds for years to come.
Plus the fact that BLT was prime location (like the BW) with fewer rooms and more demand for the resort.
10 yrs ago DVC was very inclusive to have maybe 1 kiosk per park and was very special to own. Not many members only 30,000, few perks, and the "welcome home" was not as -generic/everybody owns DVC - as it is today-truely special back then!!
But DVC has added more wonderful choices and more opportunities that my family can enjoy from Disney Magic's innaugural crossings of the canal/trans atlantic,Disneyland Paris,and the Grand Californian at Disneyland--places and things we would have never done without DVC.

Scott

 

[LSchrow]

yes.
added at BCVs b/c we loved BWVs, then found the two resorts are very different & despite a few hopeful stays, BCVs simply didn't appeal to us. probably the only way i would get rid of it tho would be a "trade" for more BWV points.
btw, added at SSR, & found we loved the resort for relaxing vacations .

we just use the points that we don't care for for renting, transfers, etc.
it all works out with DVC

 

[ajenkins]

I'm only adding a little at a time (bits of 25-50) at the most..

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Just a suggestion for you. I know you have to pay MF now, but why don't you just use your points for a studio for the next few years and bank your extra points- when you are ready to go into a 1 bedroom, you will have more than enough (due to the banked points)points to get a 1 bedroom for a few years.

The reason I KNOW this is that I do the opposite. I just plan my trip and borrow the extra I need. I don't worry about having enough points to have a specific room at a specific time, because life is crazy, for example we usually go in Feb to Disney, but this year we are going in April during Easter week. when it cost much much more. The kids are part of the Magical Disney Days for Dancers program so we have no choice. That's what make borrowing and Banking so nice!! We are always in borrow mode, but hey, it works out at the end. So every 4 or 5 years we have to get a studio or a standard room at the BW-- Its all good!!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

yes.
added at BCVs b/c we loved BWVs, then found the two resorts are very different & despite a few hopeful stays, BCVs simply didn't appeal to us. probably the only way i would get rid of it tho would be a "trade" for more BWV points.
btw, added at SSR, & found we loved the resort for relaxing vacations .

we just use the points that we don't care for for renting, transfers, etc.
it all works out with DVC

When we 1st joined DVC I was so excited that we bought the BW and heard so many nice things about the BCV that I was definitely going to do an ADD on there-- until I stayed there. I feel the same way!!! Although it does have an awesome pool, I hated the fact that the villa's were an after thought and it just didn't appeal to me either. I just added on at BLT -- Even if I hate the decor I will LOVE the location!!!

 

[clutter]

Just a suggestion for you. I know you have to pay MF now, but why don't you just use your points for a studio for the next few years and bank your extra points- when you are ready to go into a 1 bedroom, you will have more than enough (due to the banked points)points to get a 1 bedroom for a few years.

That was what I was going to say!