Help! Pts to Purchase?

[SarRoc1020]

We'd like to buy BWV resale, but I'm stuck on the points. I've read and read, but still not sure how many to buy, exactly if banking would work, or if we should buy extra "wiggle room" points to cover any reallocations.

We're two adults, no kids. Bringing other family members with us would be rare, so we're definitely okay with a Studio. Proximity to Epcot, the dining/entertainment of the Boardwalk and overall central location are why we hope to go with BWV (esp. since we plan to travel during F&W).

Here is our ideal WDW vacation "cycle" (I know these are high demand DVC times):

Year 1: 9 or 10 night stay in early-mid December
(131-144 Studio Pref; 250-274 1Bed Pref based on 2010)

Year 2: 4 or 5 night stay in mid-late October for F&W
(52-65 Studio Pref; 108-135 1Bed Pref based on 2010)

I was thinking that we could book a Studio Preferred for our longer December stays and "treat" ourselves to the 1Bed Preferred during our shorter, F&W trips since we'd be spending more time in the room then.

So using this year & next as an example:

• December 2010 - 10 nights, BWV Studio Pref = 144
• October 2011 - 5 nights, BWV 1Bed Pref = 135

If we have an October UY, we could buy 150 pts, which would leave us with 6 and 15 to bank respectively. My understanding, however, is that we can't bank them "forever", that the banked pts do expire.

Does anyone actually spend their EXACT number of points?

Maybe I'm over analyzing. We're buying in and will probably end up adding on eventually, but for now I'm just trying to find the best fit.

TIA for any tips, advice, suggestions, etc.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Honestly, that's one reason we didn't buy in 1996 when we first learned about DVC and I wasn't on the internet to learn from people. When we finally bought, in 2003, we bought sort of what we could afford, 200 BWV and 50 VWL, and we made do with that until we began to add on, and on.

Banked points do eventually expire, but, when you book you would use those banked points first, so the points that you have left over to bank would be current use years, and so you bank them into the next use year. You may find yourselves just wanting to go away for an extra weekend sometimes. Addonitis strikes more often than losing banked points for many of us!

Bobbi

 

[Sammie]

as to spending the exact number of points, No. I have always had to bank or borrow some points each year. I figure in the long haul it will even out the last years and I won't care by then.

 

[joandegennaro]

The banking was confusing to DH also.

When we bought we recieved 2009 points as we purchased when that UY was still valid. We banked them right away as we had no plans to travel in the 2009 UY as we had just returned from Disney. We will actually use our 2009 points in 2010, 2010 points in 2011 ect. We will just keep banking the points we don't use into the next year. Once we retire and can go for longer or more frequent visits we will then end up in a borrowing state which I hear leads to a nasty case of addonitus!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

How many? More than you think you need

I'd say yes, give your self a reasonable cushion. The season you like to travel may very well change (requiring more points), the points required for certain dates now may very well be reallocated - again, you might want that 1BR for all your stays, or add an extra long weekend trip, etc.

You can always add on but the pricing will always be changing too.

 

[CarolMN]

In your situation, I'd start out with 150. That will give you just a few extra in case the charts are reallocated again and your preferred stays end up costing a bit more.

As Bobbi said, you really do not need to worry about banking - until you need to bank more than 150 in one year. That's unlikely to happen - with a little planning (you'll turn into a planner if you aren't already one), you can prevent that by extending one of your trips by a day or two or staying in a 1 bedroom some of the nights you usually stay in a studio

Example:

1st trip you use 135 points, so you bank the extra 15.

Next year, you need 144 points - you use the 15 banked and 129 "New" points. You bank the extra 21 points.

Third year you need 135 points. You use the 21 banked points and 114 new points. You bank the extra 36 points.

At some point, you'll be able to do a whole trip on banked points. That;s when you take an extra trip, upgrade to a 1 bedroom, stay longer or perhaps invite family and friends. There are endless possibilities.

You'll get good at it - in fact, prepare to spend hours planning trips several years out, LOL.

We have 250 BWV points. Our current pattern is to alternate 2 trips in one year (Flower & Garden & Food & Wine) with a trip during early December the next year. We only stay in a 1 bedroom. I've been spoiled. Some years we borrow a few and some years we bank a few. It always works out.

The years with only one trip go by very slowly, though - so I spend even more time here.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Disneycouple99]

You really need to look at the 2011 points chart and recaluate your plan. A pref 1 bedroom in Oct. would be 145 points next year.

 

[Sandisw]

Based on your numbers, I also think starting with 150 is a good figure. I will warn you. Once you stay in a 1 bedroom, it will be very hard to go back to a studio.

We did a studio and then 1 bedroom this summer and we came home and added on another 30 points so that I can do my 5 or 6 night summer trip in 1 bedrooms from now on.

Once you are a member and you see how things go, you can always add on more points to cover your trips if you need them.

And, as a PP already explained, while you can only bank points once, you can extend points for years by always using up banked points first and then banking more of the current UY points into the future.

 

[ToddyLu]

Do I need to call and verify that MS will use my banked points first? Or does that just make me sound OCD?

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I will warn you. Once you stay in a 1 bedroom, it will be very hard to go back to a studio.

 

[MarshallMoore6]

I also agree with the 150 point amount. We originally bought 150, then 100, and then 125. Now that the kids have grown up I believe 150 would be enough. Try to avoid the weekends at the resorts. Too many points.

 

[CarolMN]

Do I need to call and verify that MS will use my banked points first? Or does that just make me sound OCD?

MS procedures say to use banked points prior to dipping into the current use year pot.

But that said, it's always a good idea to make sure you and MS are in sync regarding points.

Before I hang up, I habitually ask MS for a recap of my points after each "point transaction" (a reservation, banking, borrowing, transferring, etc.).

It's just a lot easier to clear up any discrepancies or misunderstandings when they happen, than it is to call about them later. I know this habit has saved me hassle and points.

 

[SarRoc1020]

Thank you, everyone, for your great thoughts. I'd love to buy in at the level where we could afford a 1 bedroom every time, but we'll probably start with 150, as that's more affordable at this time. I'm sure once we're a bit more settled (and have more vacation time to burn!), we'll succumb to addonitis! Thanks, again!

 

[mouseaider]

Hey neighbor..... I'm from the west side of Rochester (Gates) and we just bought in at BWV also. We bought 100 points, with all 2009 and all 2010 coming in December.

We are in the same boat as you, no kids traveling and we thought we could do all we wanted to do with this contract. We like to visit WDW once a year and a studio would work just fine for us also.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[SarRoc1020]

Congrats, mouseaider! My parents live in Gates.

I think we're definitely going with the 150 to start...unless we win the lotto. I'd really like to pay "cash" and not finance, so we won't be purchasing immediately, but within the next year. I just started as a lia sophia independent sales advisor, so my commission checks will go right into my DVC fund

 

[mouseaider]

Aw oh...... you're not going to try to sell me...... are you ???

Wouldn't it be funny if they lived near me.... what street ?

Good luck... and save, save, and save.

 

[SarRoc1020]

They're on Silkwood Circle, off Manitou. It's very close to Lugia's

 

[mouseaider]

Nope..... but not far from me..... we are near the Big M. But Lugia's is a great spot fro a creamer !

 

[tmagg]

I would start out with the minimum, and see how it works. You could always buy more later on.