Help for a newbie

[choirfarm]

Ok.. I have spent 15 minutes surfing around and I can't figure out the basics. If I understand DVC is Disney vacation club where people have spent money to guarantee the fact that they can vacation at a Disney resort so many weeks a year. They may not want to go that many times and may allow others to use their time. Ok, that is as much as I understand. Can someone point me to a thread or link with the basics. I have a family of 5. We may want to go in October, November, December or even maybe February of 09. We are extremely flexible and want to go as cheaply as possible. How do you go about finding DVC's that might be available. What does renting points mean? What does 8 dollars or 11 dollars a point mean...what are the points??? Help, I am so lost!!! I'm sure the anwers are here on the board, but please help a newbie figure it out.

Christine

 

[chalee94]

DVC is a timeshare. each night at a DVC resort is converted into point values (depending on how much space you are taking up - whether in a small studio, 1BR, 2BR or grand villa - and how in demand the time of year is: holidays and weekend nights "cost" more) and point packages are sold to buyers as a real estate interest.

owners can book 11 months in advance at their home resorts and the holidays are a very popular time, so you'll definitely want to learn quickly!

here are some pages with more info:

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/dvc.htm

http://tagrel.com/wiki/index.php?title=Disney_Vacation_Club_(DVC)_FAQ

there's a link with point costs per night for the different resorts at the top-right of this webpage.

here is some essential reading if you decide to try renting:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1669863

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1255828

it's a lot to learn, so feel free to come back and ask more questions.

 

[spiceycat]

here is the point chart.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/DVCpoints.shtml

you multiply the amount you are paying ($9 to $12) times the point cost. (8 to 15 points generally for a studio)

 

[chalee94]

I have a family of 5. We may want to go in October, November, December or even maybe February of 09. We are extremely flexible and want to go as cheaply as possible. How do you go about finding DVC's that might be available. What does renting points mean? What does 8 dollars or 11 dollars a point mean...what are the points??? Help, I am so lost!!! I'm sure the anwers are here on the board, but please help a newbie figure it out.

Christine

here is a basic example for renting:

animal kingdom villas has 1BRs that sleep 5. go to the points chart and look up point costs for a standard view ("S") in january:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/AK-Points.htm

each weeknight would cost 19 pts. fri-sat nights cost 38 pts each.

if you stay for 7 consecutive nights in jan 2009, that would cost 171 pts. at $10-12, you could estimate the cost at $1710 to $2052.

you would look for someone "renting points" on the rent/trade board that had at least 171 available for rent. if they respond, they will call member services ("MS") and see if there is availability for your 7 nights and book that if available (as well as putting you down for the dining plan and/or magical express, if desired.) then you will pay them as agreed and they will send you the reservation confirmation from MS saying that you have a 7 night reservation for a 1BR at AKV.

 

[choirfarm]

We must have been posting at the same time.Thank you so much for your help. It seems like if I get an All-Music Suite with my 40 percent off code for a week at 874 including tax that that would be the best way rather than going DVC. I'm sure they are probably nicer and if I could get it for around 1000 that would be good, but it doesn't look like that is possible.

Christine

 

[chalee94]

you'll be farther from the animals and jiko and boma, but you can't beat a 40% off discount...