Help-addonitis-how many points should we have?

[dr&momto2boys]

My question is how many points do you have and how do you use them? (How often do you go and for how long?) How many points does a typical family have?

Right now we are a family of four but are pretty sure we'll have at least two more children. We love Disney and I'm sure we'll go there at least every other year...but maybe every year. Right now we have 150 points at BWV.
My husband and I both seem to be itching to add on points. We haven't even had our first trip at a DVC resort yet! We're using three years of points plus had to buy some for this first trip with in-laws in September. I doubt we'll make that a habit, though you never know--we did treat my family to a disney stay two years ago.

Maybe it's the flyer about the price increase soon that has us thinking..It will cost less and we'll get to use the points for more years if we buy now rather than waiting for a couple of years. We need help in considering this.

How many points should we add on? Should the use year be the same or different? I think we would add on at AKL--what's the best deal? Are we just being impulsive? Should we wait until we've at least used our DVC once?

 

[CheshireCat]

Great question.....I also am curious about this.

 

[JimC]

Buy more if:

1. You can comfortably afford the additional upfront cost and annual dues.

2. You have sufficient vacation time to use the points with some time not committed.

3. You want to vacation primarily at WDW. If you want to vacation elsewhere then consider buying into a different timeshare program for non-Disney vacations. We own at Marriott for that purpose. There are many options to consider.

4. You know you need additional points to accommodate a larger family -- but only when they arrive

Number of points depends on many variables -- How frequently do you vacation, during which seasons, what kind of villa, which resorts, for how many nights, do you stay on points for weekends or pay cash, etc.

The great benefit of DVC is that you can adjust as you need -- direct or resale. Word of advice stay with smaller contracts (50 - 200) -- gives you more contracts, but greater flexibility. And I believe they are easier to sell if you want to change your ownership in the future.

Enjoy your first trip home!

 

[Yoanny]

We started with 200SSR points,and have done a few 50point-add-ons.We like to do the small contracts so we do not have to finance. The smaller contract are easier to sell if you wanted to sell.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

We just bought at AKV and started with 230 points. Funny it's only been a a few weeks but I don't really remember exactly how we came up with that number We've got two kids, DS11and DD7 are we are not planning to add to the family in the future. But I've started to wonder whether we have the "right" amount of points too. I think we are going to give it 2 or 3 years of vacationing and see how we use the points before we seriously consider adding on. By then I think iI will have a better idea aobut what we really need.

 

[DeeCee735]

Alot of people buy smaller add on contracts at different resorts. We own at BWV and have added on twice. To us it just makes sense to add on where we own (it's our favorite resort), because we can always vacation at other DVC places with the 7 month window. Yes it's more difficult at the 7 month window, but not impossible, especially if your dates and requests are flexible. We have gotten into HH for Easter without a problem at the 7 month window, with our first choices met. It seems there is always availability at SSR no matter how far out, because everytime I call and ask MS whats available for a potential vacation, SSR comes up, so no worries if we want to stay there. We haven't tried Y&BC and have no desire too since we are already at BW, yes I agree SAB is a nice "perk", but my kids are big now and they have always enjoyed the slide/pool at BW very very much. We've done SAB (before there were hopping restrictions) and the kids liked it, but didn't love it, so a stay at Y&B DVC isn't in the future for us. AKV is though - that's for sure, and with patience and time we will get there at the 7 month window. It certainly isn't worth it to us to purchase an add on there, even though the resort is our favorite what with the goregous savannah, animals and great restaurants and all, but the location leaves something to be desired IOHO and the price is higher and the points per night are higher than BWV. As far as use year goes, Disney will give you the same use year you have now. This is what has happened to us with both add ons and my guide tells me that when you purchase an add on at your home resort you can only purchase your use year. Anyone out there, please correct me if I'm wrong.

We have taken my parents in the past, always take a friend for the kids, and I take my friends or cousins for a 3 night stay each fall. Sharing with family works when it works for us - meaning, if we have the points for the accommodations to bring people with us we do, if we don't have the points, we vacation just our family and a friend for the kids (never had a problem with 5 in a one bedroom). We do not feel "obiligated" to bring other family members. Good luck with your decision - now does seem the right time to add on with price increases coming - have fun planning all of your trips.

 

[MagikMom]

We bought our first contract in 2001. It was 200 points at HH. We chose HH because the dues we lower. We added on in 2003. 130 points at SSR. So now we have a total of 330 points! We are a family of 4 but we do like to take some family with us for part of our trips. A typical stay for us is 10 days. We usually go every year. We usually stay in a 1 bdr but we are planning our next stay for a 2 bedroom.

 

[ebenmax]

We purchased 200 SSR pts. as our "major" home resort and decided we would add on small contracts at other resorts where we would like the 11 month window occasionally by banking/borrowing. For example, we purchased 50 (then 30) more pts. at BCV so we could stay spring break every other year and F&W every other year (studio). Our next idea is VWL for the holidays every few years. We keep debating AKV but think as it opens up completely, there will be some openings at the 7 mo. mark. Our strategy is to buy at the smaller resorts where we know it is difficult to book at certain times of the year.

HTH

Ellen

 

[Didney Daddy]

We started off with 200 points at BCV. We now own 600 points and are finally maxed out. This is the right amount for us but we are true Disney holics. As Jim C stated so well, look at all the factors before adding on.