Help me decide, what does the math say...

[AstroBlasters]

I would be selling two resales to pay for the 300 points. Jumping to 500 it would be a mix of selling the resale, cash and 0% for the 6 months on Disney Visa.

I've been speaking to my guide and even looking at the spreadsheet it looks like the math is better ($330) to be 2 x 150 contracts and not just a straight 300 points. She thought that was weird and said she'd make sure it didn't come out to the higher price. That's when I really started looking at what is the best option. I'm out for the 400-450 since it seems like that amount of points isn't the best on these deals. Leaning towards 300 since it just seems simpler at this time, although the fact that I hate split stays makes me wanna go all in at one resort to make it easier. I think for the next couple years though with the type of trips we want to take, 300 would work.

In regards to passing it on to my kids - as someone mentioned I really don't know if they'll want it. Heck I may still be traveling and not interested in giving it up. I just thought 150 point contracts were easier for the whole benefits but really who knows what the future holds and if it's even something my kiddos would want.

Smart move. 300 points broken up into two contracts.

 

[PolyRob]

I would be selling two resales to pay for the 300 points. Jumping to 500 it would be a mix of selling the resale, cash and 0% for the 6 months on Disney Visa.

I've been speaking to my guide and even looking at the spreadsheet it looks like the math is better ($330) to be 2 x 150 contracts and not just a straight 300 points. She thought that was weird and said she'd make sure it didn't come out to the higher price. That's when I really started looking at what is the best option. I'm out for the 400-450 since it seems like that amount of points isn't the best on these deals. Leaning towards 300 since it just seems simpler at this time, although the fact that I hate split stays makes me wanna go all in at one resort to make it easier. I think for the next couple years though with the type of trips we want to take, 300 would work.

In regards to passing it on to my kids - as someone mentioned I really don't know if they'll want it. Heck I may still be traveling and not interested in giving it up. I just thought 150 point contracts were easier for the whole benefits but really who knows what the future holds and if it's even something my kiddos would want.

Isn't the Welcome Home Additional Credit limited to 'one per family?'

That's why @achinforsomebacon mentioned doing 300 and 150 separately prior to the Welcome Home Additional Credit and Magical Beginnings instead of 3, 150 point contracts. The DVC Explorer chart shows 150x2 as less money than 300 because you're saving 1,500 in the Welcome Home Additional Credit 2x in the figures, but you wouldn't be eligible for it more than once.

My guide explained even if you closed on 150 and then attempted another 150 with the same credit that QA would flag it and wouldn't allow it. I inquired about deeding it differently and he said even if it's a new UY or you drop people you would be ineligible if you personally received it before.

 

[DSLRuser]

we started with 175 direct.....took about 7 years before I grew tired of all the borrowing and having to work to get the points to fit our needs. 2-3 trips a year, mostly 2-4 night long weekends. studio, 1br, and occasional 2br

added 190 points resale to make things easier.

 

[mort1331]

We have over 400 points at one resort,,,,no issues,, and no other resorts,,,,,we have been able to hop at 7 months no issues,,,but love our home as well,,,,1 resort simple,,,over 2 contracts

 

[Disney Spaz]

First in the interest of full disclosure we LOVE VGF and own 425 points there. It was our only resort until last month when we added on a small contract at CCR. We like long stays in a 1bdrm in the summer and not doing split stays. DH prefers to stay only at VGF when possible so if you would be happy there buy all of your points there, addonitis will hit at some point and you can figure out other resorts then.

Do not over stress yourself about what you leave the kids. Between DH and I there are 4 kids, the oldest 34 does not like Disney and is not interested in our DVC at all. The 2nd, 33, would probably sell it if we left any to him and keep trucking, maybe make one trip with his kids but that would be it. Our 3rd, 32, owns DVC at AKV and while he would love the points he is not a VGF fan and would probably sell to buy more AKV or BWV where his DGF currently loves staying. Then there is the last one, 17, and she LOVES DVC, VGF and CCR which is why we just added a few points there. Her older siblings all agreed we should just leave the points to her as she is the one who will appreciate them the most.

I tell you all this to say if you will enjoy staying at VGF primarily I say go all in especially if you can get to 500 and get a much bigger discount. If you prefer to try a bunch of different places get the 300 pts and see what your thoughts are on the new Poly Tower and Ft Wilderness DVC.

 

[HundredAcreWoodNurae]

Thanks so much for the replies. I guess I have one more follow up if anyone can give their opinion on this -

We will always stay in either a 2 bedroom, 2 bedroom and studio/1 bedroom (depending on availability) or Grand villa. Which room we stay in is just dependent on who all from our huge family can come. We do WDW every other year, as we're west coast. We have magic key and live 15 mins from Disneyland. We went to Aulani this year and loved it and will most likely make it a yearly thing. We will always do a week at WDW and will mostly do at least 5 days at Aulani but no more than 7, as we typically island hop to Kauai or Maui when going to Hawaii.

Although VGF is gorgeous and we wouldn't be sad to stay there, the next trip we were hoping to try out Riviera. I want VGF points as I feel they are the best price, length of contract and MF. I guess my question is, based on the accommodations we want, would changing at 7 months usually be possible? If we can't switch it's not the end of the world but wondering what people's opinions are that have been doing this for a lot longer than me.

We switched for our trip this year at 7 months from a 2 bedroom and studio to a 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom, as the studio wasn't available. If that's usually the case, I feel like sticking with VGF would be fine. All this to say that's why I was thinking of just getting one home resort as then I can book our stay there completely at 11 months, as we are not split stay people.

 

[intamin]

Thanks so much for the replies. I guess I have one more follow up if anyone can give their opinion on this -

We will always stay in either a 2 bedroom, 2 bedroom and studio/1 bedroom (depending on availability) or Grand villa. Which room we stay in is just dependent on who all from our huge family can come. We do WDW every other year, as we're west coast. We have magic key and live 15 mins from Disneyland. We went to Aulani this year and loved it and will most likely make it a yearly thing. We will always do a week at WDW and will mostly do at least 5 days at Aulani but no more than 7, as we typically island hop to Kauai or Maui when going to Hawaii.

Although VGF is gorgeous and we wouldn't be sad to stay there, the next trip we were hoping to try out Riviera. I want VGF points as I feel they are the best price, length of contract and MF. I guess my question is, based on the accommodations we want, would changing at 7 months usually be possible? If we can't switch it's not the end of the world but wondering what people's opinions are that have been doing this for a lot longer than me.

We switched for our trip this year at 7 months from a 2 bedroom and studio to a 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom, as the studio wasn't available. If that's usually the case, I feel like sticking with VGF would be fine. All this to say that's why I was thinking of just getting one home resort as then I can book our stay there completely at 11 months, as we are not split stay people.

1. A 2BR at AUL annually for a week each time is probably going to cost you around 450-500 points. More if you want an ocean view regularly. Although if you do under a week sometimes it'll save some points. With you also wanting to stay at WDW every other year as well, I'd add another 200-250 so that you can bank your points and give yourself essentially 4-500 points for VGF/RIV to make your total goal around 6-700 points at least, more if you want a grand villa.
2. In general it should be pretty easy to switch, if you're flexible about what you're switching into and do it right at the 7 month mark.
3. If you're impartial between VGF/RIV, I can't deny the resale restrictions suck for owning RIV and if I didn't have a strong preference for RIV because of the resort itself I wouldn't own there. On the other hand what can I say, we love Epcot and already plan to own other resorts near MK so VGF didn't make sense for us. But if you only want to own one resort VGF makes a strong argument.

 

[NVDISFamily]

Is there ever a chance you may book multiple rooms for a family trip? If so, having a large bucket of points at a single resort gives you huge booking power at 11 months to plan ahead and take a lot of the gamble away. For example you wanted to plan a big family thing near a holiday, 500 becomes 1500 with planning and the bank/borrow option. Having a big pool of direct points gives you a lot of flexibility as the program changes over the years. You have lots of good options. Just some things to think about.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks so much for the replies. I guess I have one more follow up if anyone can give their opinion on this -

We will always stay in either a 2 bedroom, 2 bedroom and studio/1 bedroom (depending on availability) or Grand villa. Which room we stay in is just dependent on who all from our huge family can come. We do WDW every other year, as we're west coast. We have magic key and live 15 mins from Disneyland. We went to Aulani this year and loved it and will most likely make it a yearly thing. We will always do a week at WDW and will mostly do at least 5 days at Aulani but no more than 7, as we typically island hop to Kauai or Maui when going to Hawaii.

Although VGF is gorgeous and we wouldn't be sad to stay there, the next trip we were hoping to try out Riviera. I want VGF points as I feel they are the best price, length of contract and MF. I guess my question is, based on the accommodations we want, would changing at 7 months usually be possible? If we can't switch it's not the end of the world but wondering what people's opinions are that have been doing this for a lot longer than me.

We switched for our trip this year at 7 months from a 2 bedroom and studio to a 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom, as the studio wasn't available. If that's usually the case, I feel like sticking with VGF would be fine. All this to say that's why I was thinking of just getting one home resort as then I can book our stay there completely at 11 months, as we are not split stay people.

Given what you would be booking, it does make sense to buy one resort and split into smaller contract.

In terms of RIV, getting rooms there at 7 moons should be doable but be aware it eil most always be PV. Owners at RIV snap up SV pretty quickly!

GV are unique and I think that will depend on when you are trying. I decided to change our two bedroom to a GV for January just inside the window and could only get one of the two nights I want. I am on a waitlist for them.