Help walk me though things...

[Snurk71]

Background - Me (37), DW (38), DD (8.5) go to WDW every year (off peak times - mid Nov, early Dec, mid Jan) and DL every year or two (almost all trips have been in May, though we've thought about late Aug thru mid Oct as possible times too). At WDW we stay at GF for 5-7 nights, at DL we either stay at DLH or GC for 4-5 nights. Oh, we also spent a couple nights at Vero Beach last WDW trip - something we may continue doing.

So...

We're looking at buying VGC, and seeing what WDW-trip benefit we might add in to the mix with a DVC puchase. So my first inclination was to check a 160 point buy at VGC. Since we usually go in May, this can get us 7-8 nights in a studio Choice season (comparable to the regular rooms we've stayed in) or just short of 5 nights in a 1BR. My quick math caluclates the studio averaging around $115/nt (amortizing buy-in over 50 years plus maint fees - not calculating maint fee increases or time value of money lost on cash buy-in because I'm calling that a wash with regular annual room increases we have been paying and would continue to pay) and the 1BR for $200/nt. The cost comparison is a slam dunk since this is a resort we already stay at and enjoy. So it's not really a question on whether VGC is a good home resort for us - it's probably perfect since we go to DL so often.

We usually visit DL during the week, so 4 nights in a studio would cost 68 pts (leaving 92 for WDW usage or other). So if we stay studio, we definitely have points to utilize in FL. And by the looks of our staying in Choice season at WDW, we'd be pretty close to covering a week (or 6 nights) in a studio with the leftover points. Or if we want to stay GF at cash, we would just have more points to cover a higher point season or do a 1BR every other year at WDW with the points we didn't use at DL.

Or, if we decide to stay 4 nights 1BR at VGC that would cost 136 pts (22 pts leftover). If we stay 1BR, we'd probably just stay a 5th night every other year and not have points to utilize in FL (maybe continue staying GF cash for WDW trips).

As I type this out, I think I'm answering my own question about whether I should also buy points at BLT. We've not stayed at the Contemp before, but we're obviously addicted to the monorail line. That is why we thought BLT would be the likliest WDW home for us when they built it. But I think I'm talking myself out of it making sense to buy 50-100 points there in addition to the 160 VGC. We're etiher going to hardly have any points from VGC leftover to use if we stay 1BR (so 50 at BLT wouldn't cover many nights), or if we studio VGC we're going to have a bunch to use at WDW and can try staying BLT on those (or whatever resort is available at 7 months). I don't think it would do us much good to have 50-100 BLT with the 11 month window and 90 from VGC in a 7 month window to use at WDW.

I think it might make more sense for now to just go with the 160 VGC until we decide whether we're studio or 1BR people. If we're studio people, we're probably good with what we have to help cover some FL trips. If we end up being 1BR people, then we'll have to take the harder look at BLT on its own standalone merit to see if we'd be okay making this our home resort vs. the GF (which we've never been able to pull the trigger on staying elsewhere).

Comments/feedback appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[amandelba]

I don't think it would do us much good to have 50-100 BLT with the 11 month window and 90 from VGC in a 7 month window to use at WDW.

I would recommend starting out slow with the VGC contract. Depending upon current incentives, you may end up with a lot of points to use in that first year and you can figure out if you're studio or 1BR people. That's what we've done.

Also, don't forget about the banking/borrowing options. If you bank/borrow, you can use three years of points in one trip, so 50-100 points can become 100-300 points.

 

[The Red Head]

You have a child so it may be different, but my husband and I have always stayed in a studio, to conserve points. We still cook in the room using the refrigerator and microwave, we just don't have a washer/dryer in our room, but it has always worked fine. We are staying in a 1 bdr for the 1st time this year in the 11 years we have been DVC members because my brother and sil are staying with us. We started with 170 points and a few years later added another 130 at the same home resort, because we realized 170 was not enough for how often we wanted to do things. We just added at the VGC, but we sold one of our older contracts to do that, because we didn't need that many points, we just wanted the 11 month booking window at GC.

 

[Disney_Villain]

If I were you, I'd buy VGC points only for now.

BLT is pretty big. It shouldn't be hard to book during less busy seasons on the 7-month window (even more so if you're not fussy about the view).

VGC won't be as easy to book on the 7-month window due to it being the smallest DVC resort and the only one in Disneyland.

 

[Crystal_27]

I think it might make more sense for now to just go with the 160 VGC until we decide whether we're studio or 1BR people.
Thanks!!

I think that you are absolutely on par with your thinking. Although nobody really knows how popular BLT is going to be at the 7-month mark, *I* believe that you'll be able to get a studio there with no problems at the 7-month mark (although probably not a MK view...). Either way, best of luck to you and welcome home!!

 

[Sandisw]

It sounds like starting out with the minimum you need 160 and going from there once you know what your needs are is a great idea!

If you find that you are always short on points and borrowing for your trips to both VGC and WDW, then you know its time for more.

But, if you find that you have what you need and are getting BLT at 7 months, then you can take your time on what to decide.

I do think that getting BLT at 7 months is going to be possible. I just think that there will be times of the year when its not (ie: December) and owning there will be important. But if your trips to WDW are flexible, then I think waiting to see how it plays out is important!!!

And, once you are a member, you can always add on at BLT.