How many points is right?

[iankh]

I am circling in on my decision as to whether to buy into DVC. I am expecting the info package to arrive today. I know that buying directly from Disney, it would have to be SSR at a minimum of 150 points.

I have also been looking at resale, OKW in particular. I suppose if money were no object, VWL would be my first choice, because we have loved WL so much.

My question is regardless of the resort, how do you figure out how many points are enough? (I know the number would vary by resort).

There are a few things we know:

We would never want to be at WDW at Thanksgiving or Christmas, so, that season is out. We would prefer not to be there in peak season.

We typically plan this sort of vacation about 8 to 4 months out (if that's an important piece of information).

Do I look at the highest point number for the potential seasons we would be there and base it on that? Is there some sort of other "magic" formula for computing?

I ask because I see so many posts about people buying more points or having points at multiple properties.

 

[tjkraz]

It's going to be some combination of the number of points you WANT and the number of points you can afford.

If you want to take the same trips, year after year (same resort, same rooms size, same season) then buy enough points to accommodate that schedule. If you anticipate changing seasons, resorts and rooms, then you'll just have to make a best guess. Don't buy more than you think you will reasonably be able to use. And remember that you can always borrow one year ahead. If you find that you need extra points one year for the vacations you want to take, just borrow from the next Use Year.

You see people adding on points here for several reasons:

1. Didn't buy enough to begin with.
2. Increased the number of WDW vacations they are taking.
3. Want Home resort advantage at other properties.
4. Family is growing.

...and so on.

Start with a reasonable expectation of the number of points you will use in a typical year. Then add more if necessary. It's not a difficult process.

 

[Scoootch]

My suggestion would be to buy enough to cover 1week in the size villa you'd want to vacation in most often in the highest point season (unless you know for sure you'd never go during that high season ever) if you can afford it. Mainly because if you are like my family where we like to go all different times of the year, depending on when my dh can take off of work, and the fact that sometimes we like to take 2 or 3 trips in a year and sometimes we just take 1 long one, we can do that with the amount of points we have. We have enough to cover at least 1 week (Sun - Sun ) in a 1bdrm if we choose no matter when we want to go (we are a family of 4). This also allows us to go 2 weeks in a studio instead. When we have extra points left over from going in the lower point seasons we bank them and either stay longer the next year or get a larger villa and bring family or go more often. When we want to take an extra trip beyond that or a bigger villa we borrow. You get the idea. But at least we get at least a week every year.

If you are one of those people who knows for absolute certain that as mentioned - you want to take the same trips, year after year (same resort, same rooms size, same season) then buy enough points to accommodate that schedule.

HTH's

 

[disney junky]

I agree with Scoootch. Once you have decided on what number of points you think you need, take one last look at the points chart and see what else those points will buy for you. You may be surprised how an additional 5 or 10 points will add to your vacation flexibility. Right now I wish I had bought 5 more points.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree that you will probably want more once you have experienced DVC, but for starters, pick the resort you most want to stay at and look at those vacation points and costs. If you feel you will want to stay at VWL the most, then you should probably buy a resale contract there, since that is one of the smaller DVC resorts, and it will be most improtant to have the 8-11 month booking window there. That's not to say you can't book there after the 7 month window, but it might be more difficult to get exactly what you want at that time.

SSR and OKW require fewer points for any stay than the others, and are much larger, so they will probably have more availability a shorter time out from vacations. Just FYI, the less crowded times at WDW are often busy times at DVC resorts.

I would look at a weeks worth of points at the resort you feel fits your needs best and at the times of year you are likely to travel most and start there.

 

[TwingleMum]

The only advise I'd add is think about the future. You say you won't vacation during Christmas or Thanksgiving but you also don't say what your family make up is ~ just married, no children, never want children, empty nester ect... The reason I say this is I have very small children 3 under 4 . I can travel off season b/c no one is in school yet. But very soon I too will be at the mercy of a school calendar and peak season. Also Christmas & Thanksgiving are some of the absolute best times to be at Disney. Whats better than Disney and Santa!! LOL. Its less expensive to buy what you think you'll need now (remember closing costs on future purchases). You can rent what you don't use. Also ask yourself, will we go each year or every other year. The DVC creed is buy where you most want to stay ~ if thats VWL then save and buy there or you'll regret it. And sometimes the 11 month window means alot. Especially as the DVC population grows with SSR and anyother future DVC resorts. You may in the future be limited to your home resort so make sure its where you want to stay.

 

[HookdonWDW]

My question is regardless of the resort, how do you figure out how many points are enough? (I know the number would vary by resort).

I ask because I see so many posts about people buying more points or having points at multiple properties.

This question has the same answer as "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?" "The world may never know."

We have 400 points, and sometimes we still feel like it's not enough. Vacation habits tend to change once you belong to DVC. When we first looked into buying, I couldn't believe that people would actually spend points inviting family to come along on their vacations AND NOT CHARGE THEM. Now that we're veterans, been there, done that, have the t-shirt. I could have told you straight out that there was no way I would book a 2BR instead of a 1BR so that the kids could bring along friends. Once again, I've been proven wrong.

We have 2 home resorts because we needed more points, and wanted the booking advantage at both resorts. I would figure out what you think you might need for points, and then, if affordable, try to increase it by 10%. Good luck!

 

[lsutigger2]

When I first read the title of the thread, my gut answer was:

"As many as you can afford!"

As usual, you've gotten lots of good info from the wonderful folks on the boards. Hope you make a decision soon and then we'll all be welcoming you home !

 

[spiceycat]

complete depends upon you.

if you would be happy staying in a studio not going on Fri/Sat - then a 100 might work.

I can stay in a studio at oKW for 40 points Sun-thurs (leaving on Fri) for the months of Jan, Sept, Oct, most of Nov, and dec 1-14.

so far using DVC points, although Christmas is high season, Thanksgiving is almost (except for a couple of days) low season. It is still a good value.

I hope it will remain so.

if you can only go in the summer - then it would be 55 points for my 5 day stay.

so you can go twice a year - once in off season and once in the summer if you avoid fri/sat for under a 100 points.

just depends upon what you want.

also some members MUST have a 2-bedroom or at least a 1-bedroom. I don't - completely depends upon you.

 

[kweaver]

Figure out how many you will need to take *your* standard yearly WDW vacation in the type of villa you want...then double it. Trust me, you will thank us! (I'm only slightly kidding)

Try to keep your contracts in the 150-200 point range, in case you want to sell a portion later on.

 

[iankh]

Good input from the "veterans." We are empty nesters, but there are some grand kids, though all of the family is in the UK. Part of the reason for doing this is to invite family. I was looking at the points required for a one bedroom, then thought if there was family, we could always do 2 studios, or skip a year and bank points for something larger.

I've gotten a lot of good information here. Lots to consider. It is quite a bit different from when we just plan a regular old vacation and book a room.

 

[bongo59]

there is no right answer for this question .........you have to know someone's preferences first