How many points for a disney cruise?

[christmas angel]

Just came back from a one-week stay at the Aulani Resort in Hawaii, and thinking of buying in to the DVC. Hubby and I were looking through the book they gave us, but it did not say anything about how many points does it take to take a family of 4 on a Disney cruise? (say, to Alaska?)

Still have to do the math on all the other Disney resorts.
Thanks for the info, in advance!

 

[CarolMN]

Here's the 2015 Points Chart:

Disney Cruise Line for Alaska, Baja, Hawaii & Panama Canal

Also, know that many who post here believe that regularly using points to cruise is more expensive than using cash. If one must use points for that option, they advocate renting the points and using the proceeds to book the cruise. It is a controversial topic and we mods ask that all discussion pertaining to using points for cruising take place in this thread:

Using Points for the Disney Collections

Welcome to the DIS DVC Forums - have fun doing your research & feel free to ask any questions you might have as you do it.

 

[AnnaS]

I know it's listed - but don't forget those points are per person. You can pay one person with cash and one with points, etc. Many do rent out their points and is the best way. We have used a combination of both cash and points (depends on vacation time, funds, # of points - bank/borrowed for whatever reason). Buy with the intention of using them mainly for DVC stays. Good luck!

 

[disneynutz]

IMO Disney over charges when points are used for anything other than DVC resort stays. That wasn't enough so a few years ago they added a $95 booking fee for non-DVC bookings.

Bill

 

[DVC Doctor]

Booking cruises with points seems good, but in reality is a less than optimal (i.e. bad) use of points.

You are probably paying the equivalent of around $12 per point (annual dues, depreciation costs, interest, etc) and when you use DVC points for DVC resorts you are getting a great deal, but when you book Disney Crusie, you are getting around $6 or so in credit towards the cruise.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The points are yours. There is no bad use. I'm not sure why people feel the need to judge your use of your points I have used mine to cruise three times and I don't feel it was a bad use in any instance. If those who want to judge the use of my points would like to pay for my points and they can tell me it was bad. LOL

 

[DVC Doctor]

The points are yours. There is no bad use. I'm not sure why people feel the need to judge your use of your points I have used mine to cruise three times and I don't feel it was a bad use in any instance. If those who want to judge the use of my points would like to pay for my points and they can tell me it was bad. LOL

I don't think people are judging, but the math is pretty clear that using DVC points for DCL is not a reason to buy into the club. Of course, if money is no object, then please include me on the list so I too can get someone else to pay for my points.

 

[MsTessP]

I'm not judging at all when I point out that cruising with points is not the best financial use of points.

I definitely thought about using my points for cruising simply because I thought that *of course* this was a good deal. My thinking was that certainly a "benefit" of membership must be a great use of my points. It certainly does appear to be so in all of the DVC literature and, of course, when talking to DVC guides.

However, when the simple math was presented to me, it became very clear that this "benefit", although convenient, is not a good financial use of points. For some, the convenience is a greater factor than the financial factor, and I certainly appreciate that. At the end of the day, everyone owns their points and everyone has the right to use these points in whatever way they wish. However, I'm very grateful that someone pointed out to me the financial reality of using points in this manner, and I'm only trying to do the same for others. At that point, the conversation is over and the final decision is theirs.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

You might already know this- but if you buy resale you can't use your points for a disney cruise

 

[MsTessP]

You might already know this- but if you buy resale you can't use your points for a disney cruise

Technically, people do this all the time. They take their resale points and then rent them. They use that cash to book the cruise and save money. Some members who are direct are doing this also.

 

[CarolMN]

This is a reminder that if you wish to discuss / comment on the pros or cons of using points for cruising, you need to do so in the thread I linked in post #2 of this thread.

Thanks, all.

 

[Dean]

The points are yours. There is no bad use. I'm not sure why people feel the need to judge your use of your points I have used mine to cruise three times and I don't feel it was a bad use in any instance. If those who want to judge the use of my points would like to pay for my points and they can tell me it was bad. LOL

There's a difference, a big one IMO, between having the points and deciding to use them for ANY cash type exchange and buying for those same options. The reality is that when one buys points to use for cash type exchanges they both pay more up front AND buy more points (usually a lot more) than they need otherwise to do so. All for programs that across the board would be cheaper to buy less points and use the cash saved (up front and yearly dues) to pay for those cash type options. The new buyer or add on situation are unique opportunities to position oneself for the best possible situation. A given person can do whatever they chose to but the math of their decisions will speak for itself. Of course we're not talking about lose or use situations whether it's a loaded contract of when life happens, that is totally different.