Help needed

[savannahvol]

I am planning a trip to WDW June 25- June 30 2006 for my honeymoon. I would like to save as much money as possible and someone suggested trying DVC points. Could someone please explain to me how this works. I was looking at staying at the Wilderness Lodge with 6 day base tickets and the dining plan prior to hearing about the DVC. The price offered there was about 2400. If I decided to go with the DVC could I still get the dining plan? Also how much does it usually cost to rent DVC points and how many would be needed for this stay? I know that is a lot of questions but I am a total newbie and this can be very confusing. Also are there any discount rates for AP holders at DVC? And can DVC members take advantage of the Magic Express from MCO? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND PLEASE GIVE ME AS MUCH ADVICE AS POSSIBLE I AM SO CONFUSED RIGHT NOW.

 

[bounceliketigger]

Ok, where to begin. I recently purchased DVC but had been contemplating it literally for years. Financially, renting points without the meal plan works out to the same cost as staying in a moderate resort with the meal plan. The meal plan is available to DVC after 4-1 and you can get it even if you are renting points. The savings for the meal plan is substantial. We spent $532 on the plan last year. I saved as many receipts as I could to see if it would pay off & counted over $1100 at the end of the 7 night stay. Of course we probably would not have eaten as much food on a regular stay as we did with the meal plan, but we also wouldn't have eaten at the top-notch places either.

Points are going for $10-$11 each right now. You could check the "rent/ trade points" forum here on DIS. It's the best sight I've found for doing so. Also check the point charts here on DIS to determine how many points you would need.

Another thing you may want to consider: we were going to WDW in March. We were going to be spending about $4000 to get a 2br., hotel only, so that we could take the "grammas". It turned out to be simply too much money in total for everyone. We decided to spend only $1500 cash and become members! We'll have a $190 payment for a few years, but will now be taking more vacations at nicer places and take whomever we wish until we're old and gray.

By the way, we went to WDW on our honeymoon too, 9+ years ago & looked into DVC then. We thought we just didn't have the money to make a long term committment. Now I could just kick myself for not having done this 9 years ago, particularly before we had a child.

And again by the way, if your last name is Voll I might just be totally freaked out. If we had had a girl, her name was going to be Savannah Voll.

Best of luck in your decision.

 

[cherylp3]

I am planning a trip to WDW June 25- June 30 2006 for my honeymoon. I would like to save as much money as possible and someone suggested trying DVC points. Could someone please explain to me how this works. I was looking at staying at the Wilderness Lodge with 6 day base tickets and the dining plan prior to hearing about the DVC. The price offered there was about 2400. If I decided to go with the DVC could I still get the dining plan? Also how much does it usually cost to rent DVC points and how many would be needed for this stay? I know that is a lot of questions but I am a total newbie and this can be very confusing. Also are there any discount rates for AP holders at DVC? And can DVC members take advantage of the Magic Express from MCO? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND PLEASE GIVE ME AS MUCH ADVICE AS POSSIBLE I AM SO CONFUSED RIGHT NOW.

Hi There,

You would need 70 points for a studio or 150 for a one bedroom villa
the dining plan is $37.99 per adult per night

I'm not sure what you mean regarding discounts. Yes DVC members get to use magical express

Cheryl

 

[Deb & Bill]

Go over to the Rent/Trade Board and read the FAQs at the top of the page. That should help you a lot or at least to get started.