Help, I'm so confused!

[Lisavince3]

Hi, we have been DVC members for 7 years. Love it. Unfortunately, we used two years with of points for our last cruise, so we won't get any new points until October of 2014. I have been trying to plan another vacation since we disembarked the Dream in January, and looking into paying cash. I've researched numerous trips including those on the Fantasy, Aulani, HHI, DLR, and WDW. However, from someone who is not used to paying cash for vacations, the sticker shock is quite high. Hoping this doesn't come off the wrong way, but we have the money, I just tend to be a saver and it causes me a lot of anxiety to think about spending so much money for a one-time trip. I know vacations are so important to me and my family, and why have money if we won't spend it doing something we love. So what's wrong with me?!?

I guess after all this stress and anxiety, maybe we just need to get more points. That way I could spend a little more money, but be guaranteed future enjoyment out of the expenditure. I would love to buy resale, but I'm nervous. I don't want to be locked into one resort as some rumors are claiming will happen. However, in buying points, do I want to be locked into paying more dues for the next 40 years? Or, should we just rent points and hope it works out? However, that option seems like it could be risky. Or, should I just keep telling myself that life is short and I shouldn't be so worried about spending? So those are my dilemmas. If anyone has any words of wisdom I would appreciate it. I'm driving myself crazy!!

 

[Luv2trav]

I've been in your situation before and just rented points through the rent/trade board. I had them transfer them into my account so I had full control how I used these points.

 

[disneynutz]

In most cases using points for anything other than a DVC stay costs more than cash. If you have the cash, use it for DCL and save your points for WDW.

Buying resale from one of the major brokers is no different than buying direct, thousands have purchased through resale. If you are always short points for DVC stays, consider a resale purchase.

Bill

 

[disfanforlife]

We just took 2012 off from Disney and went on a cruise instead. In the future though, if we were out of points and still wanted to go to Disney I would consider staying in a moderate or deluxe resort and looking for a discount. Then it would not be as much as paying cash for a villa stay.

 

[DizBub]

Did you try pricing your cash vacation with a member's discount? I understand the sticker shock.

I would suggest doing what others have advised. Look into renting points or better yet a point transfer into your account. That way you can control your reservations. Also you won't have to pay MFs on more points every year.

If you really want to buy more points resale is safe. It takes longer for sure but the savings more than make up for that. The restrictions are minimal IMO and if you still want to use your points to cruise you can still use your direct points to do that and use the resale points for your WDW stays.

 

[bumbershoot]

We're just about "out of points" until Feb 2015. We could borrow and put them to use from Feb 2014 through Jan 2015, but we don't want to.

So we're looking at a moderate for an upcoming trip. We always stay for some period of time at Universal's onsite hotels anyway, and the cost is just about the same between the two, so it isn't AS shocking as it might be if we had never stayed elsewhere.

With DLR there are many offsite motels and hotels that are good; have you checked out the Disneyland forum for ideas? While we do love the PPH and feel almost the same about DLH (the Grand is our least fave and we won't stay there again, at least on the hotel-side), there are LOTS of offsite options, many of which are actually closer to things than onsite. (our room at the Grand was literally as far from the center of the esplanade as it would have been to walk from the sidewalk outside Howard Johnson...that walk didn't make it feel so "deluxe")

 

[bakerworld]

Cash Reservations are best 2 to 3 months from date of arrival. If you've specific dates than book and pay the hold amt (use to be like $200). Then you have to keep checking the site for the new 'special offer'. I think the current special offer is in effect until August.

If you're booking thru Amex, airline carrier or a source that is requiring whole payment in advance then I'd go thru a travel agent as, once again, you'll hold the amt with a down payment.

Hope that helps. We were recently in this situation and ended up booking in August for a October vacation. Good luck

 

[Shellandscott]

In most cases using points for anything other than a DVC stay costs more than cash. If you have the cash, use it for DCL and save your points for WDW.

Bill

I agree with this point. The way to look at a cruise or any non-DVC purchase is take the amount of points it costs x $10.00 (the money you could get to rent it thru a place like Davids). Most times it costs us 2x the actual cost of the cruise to use points.

Also you say you do not have any points until 10/2013. Can you borrow? Or is the oct date your borrow date?

 

[Lisavince3]

Thank you everyone for the replies. In retrospect, we shouldn't have used all of those points to cruise. We wanted to go on the Dream and we had access to the points, which made it seem practically "free." At the time, it seemed like a great plan. Looking back, it wasn't the wisest use of the points.

We will be able to borrow starting in October of 2013, but I would rather not do that. I don't like this feeling!

Everyone had great advice. I did not know about the member discount for paying cash. I will also look into the DLR area further as well. Thanks again!

 

[SamSam]

Thank you everyone for the replies. In retrospect, we shouldn't have used all of those points to cruise. We wanted to go on the Dream and we had access to the points, which made it seem practically "free." At the time, it seemed like a great plan. Looking back, it wasn't the wisest use of the points.

We will be able to borrow starting in October of 2013, but I would rather not do that. I don't like this feeling!

Everyone had great advice. I did not know about the member discount for paying cash. I will also look into the DLR area further as well. Thanks again!

Welcome to the "I need more points' club. We have a lot of points but we are constantly 'borrowed out'. Dh and I actually don't mind borrowing, so we constantly do it.

Yikes! I'm afraid the only answer is 'more points'. We bought our first contracts directly from Disney, but our last 3 have been re-sale (love the savings)