How many points do you own V2 electric boogaloo

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

I think Aulani is decent SAP for WDW, even if you can't book at WDW at 11 months out. It may not always get you the cheapest rooms, but I don't view that as the primary goal of SAP. To me, SAP means cheap points that I can use to book something satisfactory. In the Westin system we own a Westin with cheap dues in the AZ desert and can use it at 8 months out in Hawaii or the Caribbean where dues are double (owners book 12 months out). I don't always necessarily get my first choice of summer week, room size, or view category, but I can almost always get a summer week in a room/view that makes the entire family happy (I've been doing it for ~15 years and visited the home resort just once). For us, It's similar with the Aulani subsidized when it comes to WDW, although we also own at multiple other home resorts too and also intend to visit Aulani every 3-4 years. Aulani represents about 50% of our total points, so it's meaningful. Given most others' DVC booking preferences with home resorts, we can actually use Aulani points at WDW for larger rooms with nicer views so it makes those stays more memorable than the "cheap" ones where we use our home resort points.

The only reason to worry about availability at 7 months at a place like SSR is if you want a studio, or a 2BR around the holiday season in Nov-Dec. If a 1BR suits your needs, you will very likely find one pretty much anytime of the year in both view categories. And if you can book SSR at one of your top 3 room choices as a backup at 7 months out with Aulani points, then it really doesn't matter if your SAP are Aulani or SSR, at least from a WDW availability perspective... Just my point of view.

Regarding your question what is hard or easy to book at 7 months out, check out these tables for an initial indication. If the number is not "7" you may have trouble booking. Tables are based on 5-year historical averages and things can and do change over time.

https://www.dvcfieldguide.com/availability-tables

Wow!!!! Thank you

 

[Chili327]

I think Aulani is decent SAP for WDW, even if you can't book at WDW at 11 months out. It may not always get you the cheapest rooms, but I don't view that as the primary goal of SAP. To me, SAP means cheap points that I can use to book something satisfactory. In the Westin system we own a Westin with cheap dues in the AZ desert and can use it at 8 months out in Hawaii or the Caribbean where dues are double (owners book 12 months out). I don't always necessarily get my first choice of summer week, room size, or view category, but I can almost always get a summer week in a room/view that makes the entire family happy (I've been doing it for ~15 years and visited the home resort just once). For us, it's similar with the Aulani subsidized when it comes to WDW, although we also own at multiple other home resorts too and also intend to visit Aulani every 3-4 years. Aulani represents about 50% of our total points, so it's meaningful. Given most others' DVC booking preferences with home resorts, we can actually use Aulani points at WDW for larger rooms with nicer views so it makes those stays more memorable than the "cheap" ones where we use our home resort points.

The only reason to worry about availability at 7 months at a place like SSR is if you want a studio, or a 2BR around the holiday season in Nov-Dec. If a 1BR suits your needs, you will very likely find one at the 7-month window pretty much anytime of the year in both view categories. And if you can book SSR at one of your top 3 room choices as a backup at 7 months out with Aulani points, then it really doesn't matter if your SAP are Aulani or SSR, at least from a WDW availability perspective... Just my point of view.

Regarding your question what is hard or easy to book at 7 months out, check out these tables for an initial indication. If the number is not "7" you may have trouble booking. Tables are based on 5-year historical averages and things can and do change over time.

https://www.dvcfieldguide.com/availability-tables

Yea, subsidized still seems like it could work (i would only use WDW & Aulani every 3 years anyway), but maybe not a 200 point contract. I'd definitely be interested still if 100 or less, but small sub contracts are hard to come by, so if it ever does, i'll have to consider it.

 

[intamin]

Yea, subsidized still seems like it could work (i would only use WDW & Aulani every 3 years anyway), but maybe not a 200 point contract. I'd definitely be interested still if 100 or less, but small sub contracts are hard to come by, so if it ever does, i'll have to consider it.

It’s fine for SAP again as long as you already have another contract you can guarantee booking at 11 months at WDW. If you see availability at 7 months and you think you’re not going to Aulani for awhile, you can modify your 11 month reservation to another resort at 7 months and swap it to use the AUL points. If you go in with the expectation that you won’t be dependent on these points for WDW then it’s fine. Likely will always at least be able to book SSR which you would’ve gotten anyways if you owned SSR.

 

[ehh]

Looks like there's been a nice number of votes since the last time I posted a stats update.



Latest stats:

• Average, assuming midpoint of range: 525pts
  • Assuming minimum of range: 436pts
  • Assuming maximum of range: 621pts
• Median: near the top-end of the 251-400 range, maybe 380ish
• 25th percentile: near the bottom-end of the 251-400 range, maybe 260ish
• 75th percentile: near the midpoint of the 551-700 range, maybe 640ish

 

[intamin]

Looks like there's been a nice number of votes since the last time I posted a stats update.

View attachment 802004

Latest stats:

• Average, assuming midpoint of range: 525pts
  • Assuming minimum of range: 436pts
  • Assuming maximum of range: 621pts
• Median: near the top-end of the 251-400 range, maybe 380ish
• 25th percentile: near the bottom-end of the 251-400 range, maybe 260ish
• 75th percentile: near the midpoint of the 551-700 range, maybe 640ish

.. I knew I needed more points.

 

[Chili327]

Latest stats:

• Average, assuming midpoint of range: 525pts
  • Assuming minimum of range: 436pts
  • Assuming maximum of range: 621pts
• Median: near the top-end of the 251-400 range, maybe 380ish
• 25th percentile: near the bottom-end of the 251-400 range, maybe 260ish
• 75th percentile: near the midpoint of the 551-700 range, maybe 640ish

Yea, I’m thinking my happy place will be right around 300. (just below the median, but above 25%)

 

[intamin]

Yea, I’m thinking my happy place will be right around 300. (just below the median, but above 25%)

Just keep in mind this particular poll is probably very skewed because most regular members don't spend their time talking about said timeshare ad nauseum so 300 is probably past the actual average and median

 

[tidefan]

Yea, I’m thinking my happy place will be right around 300. (just below the median, but above 25%)

You say that… and then you go to Aulani…

 

[JackosinDIS]

Started the summer with 270, but felt like I was compromising on which rooms and resorts I could stay at… so added another 335 points this month. I’m DEFINITELY stopping at 605.

 

[Plutopian]

Another vote here for AUL subsidized for SAP. It's almost impossible to beat them or lifetime cost per point. There's usually something decent at 7 months at WDW and I think people underestimate how often Waitlists clear. Sure, you're not get home-resort-priority-only categories like an AK Value/Concierge and even a Standard Studio at a lot of resorts but you can get something. And every once in a while that Dream Hawaii vacation...

 

[paults]

Sorry I hit the wrong vote. I hit 401-550. I should have hit the 400 points vote. Will never buy any more.

 

[Chili327]

Sorry I hit the wrong vote. I hit 401-550. I should have hit the 400 points vote. Will never buy any more.

No, see, now you have to buy more to fit into the 401 club.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

No, see, now you have to buy more to fit into the 401 club.

Now you have me wondering what the smallest point transaction ever is.

 

[TCRAIG]

Now you have me wondering what the smallest point transaction ever is.

Well- that might just be my 2 BCV contracts bought years ago direct - I have a 15 point contract and a 17 point one…

 

[intamin]

Started the summer with 270, but felt like I was compromising on which rooms and resorts I could stay at… so added another 335 points this month. I’m DEFINITELY stopping at 605.

And then you get a taste of the cabungalows..

 

[JackosinDIS]

And then you get a taste of the cabungalows..

I am literally just planning what points I need to bank for a week in said cabins…

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Well- that might just be my 2 BCV contracts bought years ago direct - I have a 15 point contract and a 17 point one…

Wow, yeah—I’ve never seen any contracts less than 25 before, and only a handful that are less than 50. I could see myself being tempted to pick up 15-20 BCV points here and there…

 

[TCRAIG]

Wow, yeah—I’ve never seen any contracts less than 25 before, and only a handful that are less than 50. I could see myself being tempted to pick up 15-20 BCV points here and there…

It was the last big economic downturn when DVC was not selling much of anything…I wanted 30 points (min was 25) but before DVC could combine contracts - so these were just left over points…my guide said no way could they combine these 2 left over points to make the minimum but I convinced her to ask the higher ups and they said YES (but to never let anyone know they okayed contracts of less than the 25 min)…but they still couldn’t combine them so I ended up with a 15 pointer and a 17 pointer…and I’ve never said a word about them til just recently- I think the statute of limitations has passed…

 

[DonMacGregor]

Wow, yeah—I’ve never seen any contracts less than 25 before, and only a handful that are less than 50. I could see myself being tempted to pick up 15-20 BCV points here and there…

I have 3 25-point contracts, and two 30-pointers. Just sold a 40-pointer. There are a ton out there at 25-30 points, they just don't turn over too often.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I have 3 25-point contracts, and two 30-pointers. Just sold a 40-pointer. There are a ton out there at 25-30 points, they just don't turn over too often.

That makes sense, because presumably people buying in those numbers are largely experienced DVC folks, who know exactly how many points they need and what they want to use them for.