How I fight the onset of addonitis

[rutgers1]

When I first purchased 210 points, I figured that there would never be a time when I'd want more points (the math worked out -- I could visit every year).

Then one trip became two. Then a cruise found its way into my itinerary. Suddenly, 210 points didn't seem like so much anymore.

However, I have been able to stay strong and not add on by the following:
1) Whenever I want to add on, I remind myself that I still haven't fully paid for my first purchase.
2) I remind myself that there is bound to be a time when life gets a bit more complicated (kids in high school) and the trips will be less frequent simply because we can't get away.
3) The biggest thing is that I remind myself that there are ways to stay on property for relatively cheap (comparatively) without buying more points. We can rent some points (or transfer) from another owner. We can also stay at the Swan/Dolphin (very reasonable), which is a GREAT location for us. Finally, there are a couple of hotels (POR) that we have a strong attachment to that we wouldn't mind visiting as "cash" guests.
4) Sometimes, the 210 point barrier is a sign that we need to get out and see a bit more of the world!........and by the "world" I don't mean Disney World, lol.

 

[dcamdad]

I know the feeling kinda.
1. Ours has been paid for years so cant use that one.
2. I do have kids in HS and the trips now involve bringing friends, so cant use that one.
3. Not even gonna go there if I cant stay DVC not gonna stay.

My biggest reason for fighting addonitis: No matter how hard I try not to I always drop 5-10k every trip.

 

[DiznyDi]

I don't try to fight it anymore, I just give in to it!

 

[CMOORE185]

I wish I would have fought addonitis. I started with 240 points and told DW that is all we will ever need. Two add ons later we own 500 points, and every month I see that dues payment I wish we had a little less. We still borrow every year though. Absolutely no more add ons!

 

[rutgers1]

I never want to get used to a 1BR. That would cause me to want to add on. As long as I am happy in a studio, I am fine.

I don't mind staying in other non DVC resorts on property. My biggest thing right now is being near the parks, and the price of Swan/Dolphin, not to mention proximity to the parks, is awesome. I think we paid $139/night last time. My wife thinks it doesn't quite have the Disney vibe throughout, but it is pretty darn close to me.

 

[zalansky]

HA! We started with 200 points, added on twice and now have 400. Somehow we are always borrowing, but not by a lot. I have had addonitis rear its ugly head browsing resales for two years now but have always resisted. Because as much as you can get past that intital investment...its always very sobering to get that dues statement in January.

400 points is my limit!!!

 

[sskem96]

DH and I suffer from chronic addonitis, but we have been able to resist so far! 185 pts easily gets us a week in a 1 BR, and with banking and borrowing we manage to squeeze in an extra trip here and there. If money were no object, we would definitely add on and go more often! Unfortunately, airfare is a lot more expensive than when we first bought in, and I lost my annual bonus when the company I work for changed hands, which is how we used to finance our trips. About the time our DVC contract is paid off, we'll have 2 college educations to pay for and eventually 2 weddings. I have a feeling our add-ons will end up being purchased as gifts for our kids after they're grown so they won't be bugging us to use our points!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I have 210 points, bought a loaded resale with banked points then after I used them all reality set in that I really could use another 100 points every year. I paid up front, all I have is an $87 monthly dues payment and I don't want to pay anymore in dues, so I make due. I dream about adding on once in a while, Oh well, 210 points it is!

 

[sweetdana]

Try the rent/ transfer board. It is a 1 time add on.. with no MF for later.

This is the best kept secret for me.

Cost stays about 10$, which is within 3 $ a point of what you would pay if you divided out your points costs for the term. .. ANd no commitment. You also have the ability to switch resorts from home and even from year to year.

 

[heynowirv]

WEllllllll, we stated out with 190points,resale,OKW with the outgoing and incoming years points ,so we started out with 380 points in da bank.Around the 2nd year we thought it would be nice to add-on a few (61) points SSR so we had 11 month dibbs on the THV,Now we're waiting on another small (25) point at SSR so we really can get into THv about every 3 yrs, for a big family vacation. And i swear 276 better be enough,,,,

 

[Cyndibear]

OP--you have great self-control!!!! I on the other hand was quite happy with our initial purchase of 250 points at SSR. Dh had other thoughts. Lets just say addonitis has been almost an epidemic for him. We now have 660 total points (150 AKV & 260 BLT)! We do enjoy our one bedrooms and we have been taking family & friends a lot so we have been using points for 2 bedrooms. Don't get me wrong, I love it so I'm very happy Dh has THIS type of illness!!

Cyndi

 

[Kidanifan08]

And i swear 276 better be enough,,,,

We started with 268 in 10/08 and we are now waiting for another 50. We hope 318 is enough!! It's hard to resist some of the resale values on the market right now, especially with DVD being so lenient on the ROFR. We felt that we needed more so that we can travel during Magic Season and still get a 2BR on occasion when we entertain family or friends. It's a sad addiction, but we love it! We have little to no interest to travel in Premier Season, so I hope that we are cured of addonitis at this point -- but I doubt it!

 

[ssawka]

Well, we have 275 BLT points, which has served us well so far. We are thinking of adding on a HHI contract, but unlike BLT, I will not buy HHI sight unseen. I'm sure the resort is beautiful, but we want to make sure that we like HHI enough to justify a 9 hour one-way drive every year. If and when we do buy, it will be resale for the cheaper price and I definitely do not want the same UY as our BLT points.

 

[jstarcze]

Where was this thread 2 days ago! I just added on 70 BLT points. I'm not sure it would have stopped me though.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We were in the same situation. Started with 210 points and the math worked out. We started with one trip and then one became a week plus a quick spring getaway. THen the DCL Alaskan itinerary was announced. This year we faced not having enough points for our spring getaway so we decided to go cheap and stay on cash in a value, however, DS who is in high school likes to invite someone which means we need more space. We looked at the moderates--POR or the cabins, but the price for a just 3 nights in one of those was the same as a down payment on 100 more points.

 

[bwvBound]

How I fight the onset of addonitis?

I find that spending time on DisBoards feeds my addonitis. I think my personal best option for fighting the feeling would be to put myself on "time out" from this community. (My apologies to the community.)

Dear OP, I'm not saying that you should leave the boards ... I'm just saying that would be my first step in breaking my own personal addiction.

 

[lugnut33]

I'm quite content with 170 points (had 120, then bought a 50), especially whenever DVC changes things or my dues are due. No matter what happens to DVC going forward I have so few points I'm not going to feel bad or feel cheated. A few more trips and I'm going to feel like it has paid for itself.

 

[Disneypirate85]

We paid our's off in Jan and it has taken ALOT for me not to grab one of these resell's for 50-75 points!....We go twice a year in studio but would like to make one of those a 1 bedroom, with kids getting older now the extra points would really help out. Shawn

 

[jstarcze]

We paid our's off in Jan and it has taken ALOT for me not to grab one of these resell's for 50-75 points!....We go twice a year in studio but would like to make one of those a 1 bedroom, with kids getting older now the extra points would really help out. Shawn

Beware, my one trip in a studio the 2nd trip in a 1BR will be excellent became I want both trips in a 1BR.

 

[Tiger926]

We started off with 175 points @ SSR in 2004 (1 child). We didn't think we could have any more children, and along came our sweet boy, so we added on 185 points @ AKV in 2007.

The point reallocations were a bit hard for us, as we go for 2 weeks each summer, so we added on 60 points @ AKV in 2009.

We wished we hadn't added on the last 60 points @ AKV, as our dues are now $1700 USD/year. If our CDN exchange goes up, we are looking at a hefty dues payment.

We have made a pact that we will not add on anymore, as owing DVC has cost us a lot of money over the past 6.5 years. The amount of our add-on, dues and costs of trips is staggering to us, so we will not add on anymore. We now borrow, and have no problems doing so.

Good luck to those who wish to resist adding on, Tiger