How do you use your exact number of points

[mdoc]

As we continue to weigh the DVC decision, I had a couple questions. First, do most people use their exact number of points? If so, how do you do this? With the resorts being different points for different accommodations at different times, how do you figure out exactly how many points you'll need? And if you have a few extra, or are a few short, what do you do?

Second, does anyone have insight on the likely point cost of the new properties in California and Hawaii? Is it expected that you'll need the 11 month window to book times like spring break and T'giving week (the times we're able to go)? I guess for any property where we can't book busy times at the 7 month window, it's as if that property wasn't part of the system. It sounds like there are a few of the existing resorts in that category, too.

 

[dianeschlicht]

With banking and borrowing, most folks don't use exactly their number of points each year. We are usually in banking mode, but we often borrow as well. Figure out how many points you are likely to need for a stay and guage what you buy by that number. You can buy odd numbers of points such as exactly the number needed for a week in the size accommodations you will likely most often use.

 

[DVC Grammy]

When we first joined DVC, we tried to use every point we had (at the time). By now, we don't drive ourselves trying to reach that goal. Yes, we have bought some more points, but even so, as the years passed, we realized that if we didn't get to "do" something on one trip, chances are it would be there for the next trip!
Knowing we were definitely returning took a lot of pressure off the feeling of having to get every point's worth in any given year. We generally have a few to bank, and the following year we either treat ourselves to longer or more frequent trips, or we invite some family/friends to join us for a few days.

 

[mowog]

We agree with everyone- we switch from borrowing to banking mode from year to year. This year we borrowed and have a 2Br for 6 nights at BCV along with a studio for 5 nights, and a studio for 1 night at AKL. When we get our 2008 points in Feb we'll have enough for a Nov/Dec 2008 trip.

If you want to use your exact amount of points every year you could have bought a "week" at any timeshare. The beauty of DVC (besides the Disney Magic) is the flexibility allowing for different length of stays at different accomidations at different times of the year.

We bought 170 initial points, saw the handwriting on the wall, and did two 25 point add ons, for a total of 220. This seems to be a nice number for us and our 2 married children to enjoy WDW at our currrent rate of 1 trip/year.

Jean and Bob

 

[brianm27]

We are always in borrow mode. On the positive side, I never have to worry about banking deadlines!

We have a small contract so we get about a week every year in a studio. We usually end up spending a few nights at a non DVC resort at some point (like on a long weekend where the points needed are high).

 

[Dina]

We're also in a constant state of borrow mode, and I know we will remain that way until I finish nursing school in '09, and we can add on.

 

[kimberh]

The question you have asked worried me to death in the beginning. I bank what I don't use or borrow what I may need. It all works itself out. Look at the point chart and try to get a idea for what you may need for your family, then go from there. If you buy directly from Disney, min purchase is 160. I can tell you now, that you will end up with more than that over time.

 

[BroganMc]

First, do most people use their exact number of points? If so, how do you do this?

One of the past times of DVC members here is to sit before Caskbill's DVC Planner and just plug in various dates, resorts and room sizes to see what sort of vacation combos we can do in a year.

I doubt many members stick to exactly the same plan every year. For us, we bought enough points that we felt comfortable to start. We added on just enough to afford one week in a 2 bedroom in springtime (a benchmark for us only, we don't plan to squander all our points on one trip). But I can work it so we can get 21 days in a studio per year or a combination of studio and 2bedroom stays to invite family.

Whatever you don't use, you just bank for the next year. I'd love to be in the position of having a year's points banked so am always in the positive, but it doesn't work out that way.

Second, does anyone have insight on the likely point cost of the new properties in California and Hawaii? Is it expected that you'll need the 11 month window to book times like spring break and T'giving week (the times we're able to go)? .

No one knows yet what the point totals will be for those new resorts. That info isn't released until they're ready to start selling and that's a while off yet. Most likely high demand times like holidays will require the 11 month advantage for smaller resorts. California will be the smallest resort to date. As for Spring Break, well it can be hit or miss depending on what you're after. 1bedrooms tend to linger in the system longer for every resort, studios go the fastest, yet it is possible to get rooms at every resort when calling at 7 months. Under 3 months and you probably have limited yourself to the larger resorts.

 

[lisareniff]

First, do most people use their exact number of points? If so, how do you do this? With the resorts being different points for different accommodations at different times, how do you figure out exactly how many points you'll need? And if you have a few extra, or are a few short, what do you do?

We never use our exact yearly amount. When we have some left over we save them for the next year (banking). In fact we plan on not going every year and sometimes bank the whole amount to save for the next years BIG trip. Sometimes we need a few more and take some of next years points(borrowing). This makes for great flexibility in the program allowing BIG trips that use up to 3 times the yearly points or many little trips during the year.