How do you do it??

[mopee3]

We have used all our 2009 and 2010 points (sept use year). After a trip to Disneyland in May we must do one of the following, a. add on, b. borrow the 2011/2012 points, or beg (I am not above this to feed our Kool Aid addiction) someone to take us with them. I am not a 1000-point member, would love to be, only 360pts as of right now.

Now the question, how do you all that can not go but once a year or have to save up a couple of years, wait for the next trip??

PS, we have found someone to take us on their points for 12 days in Oct./Nov..

Moe

 

[Sandisw]

I can't really help you out in terms of waiting. We own 180 points and right now, that is enough to cover our yearly trips (5 or 6 nights in a combination of studios and 1 bedrooms).

But, just wanted to say that if you are finding your points already gone, an add on is really the best option!!!!

Have fun during your October trip!!

 

[BrentR]

We spend the time waiting for our next trip by reading these boards. Exploring the DVC website and planning our next trip. We live in MT, so when we plan our trips we plan at least 7 and ideally 10 days. We have 280 pts so we can only go about every other year if we take the entire family. We were spoiled the 1st time we went because we took 9 people and we used 3 years worth the points on our brand new 180 contract and were able to spend 7 days in a GV at Saratoga!

 

[tinkerfan1]

We have used all our 2009 and 2010 points (sept use year). After a trip to Disneyland in May we must do one of the following, a. add on, b. borrow the 2011/2012 points, or beg (I am not above this to feed our Kool Aid addiction) someone to take us with them. I am not a 1000-point member, would love to be, only 360pts as of right now.

Now the question, how do you all that can not go but once a year or have to save up a couple of years, wait for the next trip??

PS, we have found someone to take us on their points for 12 days in Oct./Nov..

Moe

We realized the same thing. We were borrowing almost immediately upon joining. As a result, we bought additional points almost immediately, too. Now, we need to figure out how to make more money. I think I could still spend 1000 points with no problem, though... It sure would make it easier, though!

 

[twinklebug]

If you find you must return before you have points available and purchasing more at this time would not be a good idea, transferring another member's points to your own account might be the best option. They'll keep their home resort and use year so be aware of expiring and banking deadlines.

Check out the rent/trade board. Last I checked pts were going for about $10/pt. Still a deal compared to renting the rooms directly from Disney and allows you more time to let your point reserves grow back & you'll avoid the annual dues.

 

[ACDSNY]

We're usually in the same boat and we've add on again recently. DH says we just need to quit taking all of our extended family but that's what makes the trips so fun.

 

[corpcomp]

We only have 240 points but we've found thats enough for at least two 5 night trips. True we are no longer staying in a 1 BR which I personally love (there are three of us - me DW and DS14) but until the time we feel comfortable adding on more points, a studio will do. We would rather go at least twice a year than once. The waiting is too long.

This year we have three trips planned, 5 nights in April, 5 nights in July and 3 nights week after Christmas 2010. We only borrowed 4 points from 2011.

I would suggest only add on in 50-75 point increments since those tend to sell fastest and are least likely to lose value versus 200+ point contracts if there is another downturn in the economy which of course the powers in D.C. assure us that is under control.

You used 720 points for one trip???? Wow. How many rooms did you use???

 

[kdzgon]

We have used all our 2009 and 2010 points (sept use year). After a trip to Disneyland in May we must do one of the following, a. add on, b. borrow the 2011/2012 points, or beg (I am not above this to feed our Kool Aid addiction) someone to take us with them. I am not a 1000-point member, would love to be, only 360pts as of right now.

Now the question, how do you all that can not go but once a year or have to save up a couple of years, wait for the next trip??

PS, we have found someone to take us on their points for 12 days in Oct./Nov..

Moe

12 days! Sure hope you are as nice to those people as they were to you!

 

[robertdangelo]

If you can swing it... maybe doing DCL on Cash can fill your DVC point void.

Bob

 

[mopee3]

DH says we just need to quit taking all of our extended family but that's what makes the trips so fun.

This is where we are, too many of us and we like to share.

You used 720 points for one trip???? Wow. How many rooms did you use???

You would be amazed how fast Grand Villas eat up points.

Thanks you all, I think I see a few hundred points starting to come our way.

Moe

 

[Disneypirate85]

We have 160 pts (SSR) and that gets us 2 trips a year. Week of July 4th and 4-5 days at Christmas. Now we usually add on a day or 2 with CR in Dec due to AP discount. We always stay in Studios, we hate waiting 11 months, so as to stretch our points out. Usually travel with 2 of the kids, we have 7 total children but only 5 are still in house other 2 have moved out and families of there own. We alternate the kids and they have no complaints and has worked very well for us. Our 17yo DD has even talked about buying into DVC, a small contract 50 pts, when she is out of school on her own.

I would hate to go back to the 1 trip per year deal! Shawn

 

[AnnaS]

Of course we have added on a few times to our original contract and who does not want more points. I know we are good for a long time and maybe for good (if we plan on visiting other places here and there). As a family of five 460 was perfect for us and I still like it. Patterns do change though.

My oldest son has started using some of my points now (w/girlfriend) - this will be his second time this year. I am glad he is. Since my two sons are 24 and 22 - unless we go as a group (family/friends), I doubt they will be coming with us anytime soon. Therefore if it's just dh and I, a studio is fine and we have more than enough points to go more than once a year even twice with a 1 BDR if my dd comes with us (17). (460)

Of course, because of too many medical issues with our families and waiting for my dd to get her driver's license and have some experience behind her, we cannot get there as often as we would like.

We are hoping to start going at least twice a year (and some other place outside of WDW yearly or EOY) soon.

Then again - all three kids might want their own vacation yearly, lol and add dh and I and those points might not be enough for a while again. I had points transferred twice many years ago and would do that again before purchasing.

 

[Tiger926]

We have 360 points too and that's enough for almost 2 weeks of 1 beds in July - that's when we primarily go as I'm a teacher. Over the years, we've gone 2x in one year, like when we have added-on to get extra points. We did a small add-on 2 months ago, so we took those and are going at March Break for 5 nights/6 days in a studio, plus 9 nights in 1 bed/1 night/studio in summer for a total of 15 nights.

We look at our point totals very carefully and never borrow. We don't like borrowing at all - we have had several family emergencies, so borrowing is not a good idea for us. We've lost a few points the first time we did it, so no more for us. We do bank points though, as we are frugal with points.

We are maxed out at 360 points - we won't add on anymore. We also don't take friends/family as we don't have enough points. The points are for us, plus, inviting friends/family brings with it a slew of other problems - BTDT!

We also don't upgrade for views either, and once in a while we also tack on a studio 1st night stay in order to gain a few points as well. We like Standard View @ BWV and Value @ AKV as it means we can stretch our points!

Although it sounds like you had a fab trip, we would never spend 720 points in one trip as we bought DVC to go yearly, and that's what our points allow. It sounds like he/she had a great time, but perhaps if this is the intention, more points would be necessary? It it was just a 1 time thing, then pay cash for another stay or borrow points?

Good luck to OP in getting through the between vacation blues - LOL! Tiger

 

[Dean]

We have used all our 2009 and 2010 points (sept use year). After a trip to Disneyland in May we must do one of the following, a. add on, b. borrow the 2011/2012 points, or beg (I am not above this to feed our Kool Aid addiction) someone to take us with them. I am not a 1000-point member, would love to be, only 360pts as of right now.

Now the question, how do you all that can not go but once a year or have to save up a couple of years, wait for the next trip??

PS, we have found someone to take us on their points for 12 days in Oct./Nov..

Moe

Lots of options in this situation if you have the time and finances to do so. Here are a few choices, all may not apply to you, I'm sure there are many others and variations.

• Add on
• Rent points
• Get transferred points
• Do cash stay
• Do cash for other option (DCL, non Disney stay)
• Buy a different timeshare for non Disney options.
• Borrow the points and if necessary, make up the points deficit by staying off property part of the time, cash nights, etc.
• Avoid using points going forward for high cost, lower value items like DCL, DC, CC, etc.

 

[LSchrow]

we used to stay in a one bdrm for about 10-12 days (august) annually when our kidlets were younger. now, DD is 25 and DS 21, so we do our trips differently.

we still go for 10-12 days, but DD and i go in may (studio), and DH & i in oct (again, studio). 2 people in a studio is perfect for us.
every other year, we go in august in a 2-bdrm with other family (this year we're adding a studio to that mix).
our biggest problem is that our 400 points include BWV, BCV, and SSR, and we only book the BWVs (BW view). an extra 100-200 points would help, but i'm afraid the more points we have, the more vacas we tend to book.......