Have you/Would you use your points for DCL?

[PaulaMurf]

We are going to do the DCL in 2007, either 4 or 7 nights.

Would you (or have you) cruised using points or did you rent your points and pay cash ?

AND, if you were doing it without using your points, what discounts are available on the cruise? Do we have any kind of members discount??

TIA
Paula in CT

 

[goofy4dvc]

Most people would tell you that it's not a good use of point. The most cost efficient is to either pay cash for the cruise or rent out the number of points that it would take to pay for the cash ressie. However, there are those who just don't want the hassle of renting out the points (and dealing with various renting issues that might arise), and would just prefer to use the points. They say that's what they bought the points for. We are going on the S.S.Member Cruise in September and used points for it.

 

[KAR3600]

This July will be my third Disney Cruise. I have used my points every time. Many people will say "don't use them for the cruise" because it takes alot of points to cruise. However, I feel different, I bought the points to use them. So what if the conversion isn't exact. What I paid for my DVC and what I have used for vacations, I certainly have gotten money moneys worth! If you don't have enough points for the cruise you can add cash to it. I love DCL!, I feel it is one of the best benefits of being a member.

 

[fsubigdogs]

I was going through the same thing you are and we found it better to rent our points for 10.00 a point for 130 points and added some money of our own and that was that. I used Best Price Cruises and they seemed to have the best rates going and I have used them in the past and were pleased.
As far as discounts I don't think we are entitled to any as DVC members. The best thing to do if you can is go in off season and save yourself some money. I hope this helps...

 

[princesses2]

I used points to book Disney Magic in November. I only had enough points to book 1 room so paid cash for the other one (used DU). DU did not have any promos running at the time and didn't get stateroom credit from Disney for using Disney Visa b/c I was already getting discounted rate from DU. I've seen rebate offers from DU after I purchased so they may still have them.

I should note that I probably won't do it this way again. I had such a hard time getting the two rooms together. Since my kids are small I needed to have the two rooms together and I told both DVC member services and DU of that right in the beginning. I got room number from DU called member services and asked to adjacet room and they told me it wasn't available. I was offered a room close by instead. I had to beg and plead with member services to finally get the room. I was on the phone with them for 40 minutes and was put on wait numerous times while member services had to talk to DCL. I wish there is a way to coordinate all this better.

Next time, I will either book 1 person on points in each room and pay cash rate for others in the room or rent my points and book everything through TA.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We had our first 3 night DCL cruise using points, and we're going on the Members Cruise using points, and we wouldn't hesitate to use points again. We are hoping for some deals, either with cash or points for a future cruise while we are on the MC.

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

Haven't used points for a cruise and probably never will.

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

What would a weeks cruise during value season, outside cabin cost using points? I think it's handy to use $10.00 per point as a fair rental (tho you can get $11 or $12 and that is still cheap IMHO) of points. So if a weeks cruise cost $250 points, then I'd see if I could get the same level cabin for less than $2500. If I could, I'd rent the points and pay cash. If it cost more, I 'd use the points. Kind of a no brainer, unless, as someone posted, people had plenty of points and felt their 'adjusted' cost was already so little that they didn't care to deal with any hassle.(which is perfectly reasonable!)

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

We have 2 cabins booked on only points for Oct 22 Magic 7 day sailing. I just did not want the hassel of renting 752 points. I figured out my personal cost of the points vs the cost of the cruise and it came out about even, but I realize I could have come out way ahead if I had rented them. But, so many people rent for studios sun-thurs and the number of reservations I could have had hanging just did not seem worth it.

It is our second time using points for a cruise, the first was also for two cabins for a 4 day on the Wonder.

 

[Dean]

Sure I would, if the exchange value were there. It has not been so far. You should take the cash price and divide by the number of points. If it's less than about $8 pp, anyone would be nuts to use points unless they were distressed and there were no other options. People do have the right to make poor choices, but this is what it would be. But that's not the entire story necessarily if you are comparing to advance bookings at the early booking discount price. And if one is doing a combo of cash and points, do the math above and add the cash amounts to that then compare to direct cash. If one is booking late they are giving up the discount and should judge accordingly.

However, even at break even compared to renting out one's points, it's a poor choice to cruise with points unless you're short notice anyway. Why, here's why. IF you book with points, you can only do so 11 months out, have to pay any cash portion up front, have to pay the non refundable fee and pay it again if you make ANY changes. If you cancel, you don't get your points back in a full function, they are then reservation points and cannot be used at DVC. If you do the insurance, you only get $5 per point return. Compared to cash where you can book at 18 months or so out, do so only for a deposit, it's all totally refundable until you get to 60 days out, if the price goes down, you get a refund. Done correctly, renting is MUCH safer and likely easier than using points for DCL. If one choses that route, that's their choice, just don't try to tell anyone it's anything other than what it is.

I do realize there are special situations like short notice and points that will expire, but these are the exception.

 

[SusanU]

I've done both ways. There is absolutely NO difference in rooms, service, or anything else. The last time we didn't have enough points to complete the reservation for 1 person so I was going to rent the points from someone on this board. When I found I could get 1/2 the price paying cash, I rented my own points and paid cash with $500 left over! Renting on this forum is very easy, I have done it several times with no problems. Once you post availability you usually have a sale within a day or two and money quite quickly through Paypal or Money Order.

 

[GrimGhost]

fsubigdogs...how do you reach Best Price Cruises??

 

[GOVAC24]

I agree with KAR3600, we have the points & we use them. We have cruise 2x with points and plan to use them again to cruise. The only extra onboard is the DVC member's get together. That's about an hour & updates you on the DVC. Other than that there's nothing else avalible for DVC members.
DH & I understand the other opinions about using points for cruising but this is how we use our points.

 

[Tanya]

We have used points and went on the Western Cruise last May. We had canceled a December trip to Disney World and decided to use the points towards the cruise.... Like most people say, the value may not be there but since I was canceling a vacation I just put them towards the cruise...

I happen to agree with Dean. I don't know if the value is really there...but the cruise was nice!

Have fun.

 

[bridgemanva]

Our first cruise was a combination points and cash but that was before I discovered the DIS. Our upcoming repositioning cruise was funded by renting points. With the advice shared here and the rent trade board it was a breeze. We had a net savings of close to $2000 based on $10/point comparison and cash in hand 4 months before payment in full was due. If I have the time prior to the sail date and the points available to rent I'd do the same for future cruises.

 

[Cinderelli]

We're booked on the Wonder, leaving 5/28/06 (4 nights). If we had used points, it would have cost us 735 points for the 5 of us (in a cat 4). As it turned out, we are getting a cat 6 and a cat 11, which would have cost us 1131 points (using the rational that since the 1st 2 people in each cabin pay adult fare, I am assuming they would be charged adult points as well).

We are paying cash for just a little over $4400.00. As you can see, if we had stuck with the cat 4, sold 735 points at $10 pp, we would have netted quite a profit.

We had never rented points before, but it was the easiest thing to do. I would recommend renting the points and paying cash.

Happy planning,
Lissa

 

[debloco]

I would not use my points for DCL for all of the reasons stated by Dean. If you do the conversion of renting out the points and then taking the cash to pay for the cruise you come out AHEAD. Just get the lowest quote you can for the cruise and cabin(s) you want and make the refundable deposit. Then rent only the number of points you need to to cover the cost of the cruise. That way you still have points to use for other stays, and you haven't laid out any cash for the cruise.

 

[bongo59]

This July will be my third Disney Cruise. I have used my points every time. Many people will say "don't use them for the cruise" because it takes alot of points to cruise. However, I feel different, I bought the points to use them. So what if the conversion isn't exact. What I paid for my DVC and what I have used for vacations, I certainly have gotten money moneys worth! If you don't have enough points for the cruise you can add cash to it. I love DCL!, I feel it is one of the best benefits of being a member.

point taken but if you would have rented out your points you would have paid for your cruise and had alot of spending money to boot...........it is all releative and most people would rather get the best value for their points..............renting is very easy on this board and is quite acceptable way of doing this conversion even for the neophyte.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

How do you use points for some in a room, and then pay cash for others?

Do you do that through DVC??

 

[Tanya]

How do you use points for some in a room, and then pay cash for others?

Do you do that through DVC??

Not that I am an expert but when we canceled a trip and decided to use our points for the cruise I did ask member services regarding points/cash... They told me that if you were using both points and cash that one of the people in the cabin would have to be on points.

If anyone knows otherwise, let me know.