How many points to buy?

[disneyluvbug]

My DH and I are going to join DVC.. we are waiting for our package and have talked to our sales guy numerous times. My question is, is it worth it to buy 300 points now? DH thinks it is so when we have it paid off we can aquire many points a year? I was thinking of doing the 160minimum or 200.. we are in CA and would buy the animal kingdom place in florida, but probrally rarely go there since we are in N.Cali.

Thoughts? Ideas?

we normally go to Disneyland a few times a year and stay at GCH, I am kiking myself because 3yrs ago DH said we should look into it and I said no..well over 6000 later in hotel/etc I agree we should have done it!

 

[disneynutz]

My DH and I are going to join DVC.. we are waiting for our package and have talked to our sales guy numerous times. My question is, is it worth it to buy 300 points now? DH thinks it is so when we have it paid off we can aquire many points a year? I was thinking of doing the 160minimum or 200.. we are in CA and would buy the animal kingdom place in florida, but probrally rarely go there since we are in N.Cali.

Thoughts? Ideas?

we normally go to Disneyland a few times a year and stay at GCH, I am kiking myself because 3yrs ago DH said we should look into it and I said no..well over 6000 later in hotel/etc I agree we should have done it!

You really need to buy where you like to stay. I also think that you should rent accommodations at a DVC Resort prior to buying. Spending this much money without really knowing what you want could be a costly lesson.

 

[disneyluvbug]

ok so I am confused.. the sales guy said that it didn't matter were the home resort was, jsut that we would have more preferncethere and that we can use our points anywere anytime. He said the tax rates are lower in FL and that we can use our points now and when the resort opens next year that is were we have our home resort. he said that when grand califonian goes on sale we will have an option to buy into it as well. We are going to DL in July and the hotel alone is 1400, so we think it would be wise to invest that money into a plan we can use. I am fine with going to DL a few times a year and FL every 5yrs and some crusies.. what am I missing?

We have APs also and love love disney!!!

 

[disneyluvbug]

I forgot to add that salesman also said that u only need ur home resort to book 11months in advance, if I jsut want normal rooms is this an issue? I like the animal place n FL and am fine staying htere when we go.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Currently the Grand Californian Villas are going to be 50 units only so it could become VERY important to have the 11 month booking window there. It will be the smallest DVC resort by far. I would definitely plan on buying the majority of my points there if that is where you plan on staying the most. Otherwise you have to wait until 7 months out and you'll be competeing for rooms with all other resort owners.

If you were to buy 160 AKV points right now from a Disneyland Guide (and it must specifically be a DL guide) then you can get founding member status which will give you an early window to purchase GCV points before they are available to other members and the outside public. Home resort is most important if you are not flexible on where you want to stay....and since that is GCV then you should buy there.

Currently it is fairly easy to use your points at the DL hotels, but the rules could possibly change once GCV opens. Always keep in mind that the guides are sale people and don't seem to always recognize what really is the most beneficial for the way a person wants to use their points.

FYI - We just bought AKV points at the DL members event. Besides the wish to have those points it was also important to us to have the founding members status to buy at GCV. There is a lot of speculation that it will sell out quickly, but that is speculation. It's not like you would get shut out forever if you didn't buy right away b/c there will always be resales, but being on the West Coast it was important to us.

 

[disneynutz]

ok so I am confused.. the sales guy said that it didn't matter were the home resort was, jsut that we would have more preferncethere and that we can use our points anywere anytime. He said the tax rates are lower in FL and that we can use our points now and when the resort opens next year that is were we have our home resort. he said that when grand califonian goes on sale we will have an option to buy into it as well. We are going to DL in July and the hotel alone is 1400, so we think it would be wise to invest that money into a plan we can use. I am fine with going to DL a few times a year and FL every 5yrs and some crusies.. what am I missing?

We have APs also and love love disney!!!

How many times have you been to WDW? Disneyland is a wonderful vacation destination but it just doesn't compare to WDW. We lived in San Diego and found the few extra hours on the plane to vacation at WDW well worth it.
Do yourself a favor and spend a few days reading all you can about the DVC.

 

[Off-The-Deep-End]

Also, no matter where you buy. If this is a first-time purchase, buy 1 - 100 point contract and as many 50 point contracts that you need. This allows you to more easily sell some of your points, without loosing your entire membership. Plus small contracts sell very quickly and at a premium to large contracts.

IMHO contract size is second only to Location, with UY third.....

Welcome Home Neighboor!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Unless you see yourself going to WDW in Florida at least every other year, I don't see any point in purchasing a resort there. I think it sounds to me like you want and need GCV in California instead. I don't think those have started selling yet though. You need to learn a bit more about the program before you do this.

 

[CPTJAK]

Buy from a Disney Land guide at the minimun number of points.

They recently announced that the buy in is now 100pts minimun instead of 160 pts.

If you buy in CA as stated earlier posts you will get preference on the california resort.

Buy the rest of your points at the CA resort

 

[disneyluvbug]

Ok thank you all for your help.. I am going to look into it further. The salesguy is in Disneyland at the GCH, he said that when we are down there the villas should be open for a tour.

I have not been to FL for years!!

If I have points at 2 resorts, can we use them all for one place? I understand the priority of 11month booking. the SM did say that I would be given an option to purchase for GCH when it became availble ..he said that they do not even know if they will have enough points to get to general public because the demand is so high. He said that price/points have not been determined yet.

Also if we buy points now (SM said min buy in is 160, but I will ask him again) can the future points be added to current payment or is it all new? He also said that he can give me up to 300 extra points now with the 2 premiumm APs and points @ 96/point.

I will do more research and figure this thing out!! Thanks for all of your help!

 

[shortypots]

I would go for the 100 pt buy in, and bank and borrow so you have 300 pts to use every 3 years. You could take a Disneyworld vacation every 3 yrs and still have founder's status for when GCV comes to purchase.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You can add on more points at any time. I really think it does not make sense to own at WDW if you only plan to use it mostly for DL. The 11 month booking window is only good at your home resort, so if you have 160 points at AKV and only say 50 at GCV, you will only be able to use the 50 at the 11 month window, or 150 every 3rd year with banking and borrowing. The current 100 points deal at AKV WOULD get you in the door though, so ask about that. It might be that it isn't available from the CA reps.

 

[Disney_Villain]

I agree with Kathy's and Diane's comments below. That is why I am buying directly into the GCV this fall. It is a SMALL resort (the smallest DVC resort to date) and you will likely have problems booking it if it isn't your home resort - the 11 month window at the GCV will make a big difference for you.

With the GCV as your home resort, booking the WDW DVC resorts on 7-month windows would not be difficult (as there are many of them and some are quite big and easy to book regardless of season).

You are in CA, you go frequently to DL and infrequently to WDW. It makes no sense to buy into a WDW DVC resort for your home resort.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The current 100 points deal at AKV WOULD get you in the door though, so ask about that. It might be that it isn't available from the CA reps.

One thing to note - I learned after speaking to Quality Assurance yesterday about our add on is that it takes 160 pts minimum to get the founders status for GCV. We received it with the 100 pt add on as a special that they did at the DL event. I didn't receive the paperwork for it so I had to talk to them about it. It took a few calls but they finally corrected. It's something to clarify with your guide if you ask about the 100 pt buy in.

Also if we buy points now (SM said min buy in is 160, but I will ask him again) can the future points be added to current payment or is it all new? He also said that he can give me up to 300 extra points now with the 2 premiumm APs and points @ 96/point.

I will do more research and figure this thing out!! Thanks for all of your help!

I think any new add on would be a separate financing - they don't combine. I'm not certain about the 300 extra points (developers points). They may be giving matching Developers points for whatever you buy. DL often gives out the AP's for purchases although we did not get it for the 100 pts.

 

[kgc07]

You really need to buy where you like to stay. I also think that you should rent accommodations at a DVC Resort prior to buying. Spending this much money without really knowing what you want could be a costly lesson.

I want to add that the developer points (300 extra) are probably only good at SSR in FL. If you are not planning on taking a trip to FL in the next year, those points are useless to you unless you rent them.

 

[OC_stacylace]

I am a new DVC member, so I am by no means an expert. I also am not sure how important home resort advantage is, but I can imagine that it is probably impossible to get WLV or BWV or BCV at Christmas time, or other peak times, at the 7 month window. I'm sure someone else can help clue us in to that! However, I totally agree that the villas here in DL are going to be in very high demand, and low in number. I live close, and I was thinking that I could spend some points there if I needed to, in case my points were to expire or something. But, I am now considering buying in at GCV, even at just 25 points, to give myself some more flexibility. But, in saying that, here is the catch! Let's say I have 100 points total, and buy my 25 at GCV. I can spend those 25 points only at the 11 month window, not the total 125. I can add on at the 7 month window if there is availability my other points from a different home resort.

Does that make sense?

 

[disneyluvbug]

Well we did it!! We bought 300 points!! We also got another bonus 300 so as of now have 600points! The points can be used anywere. We did the math all day and looked at points for GCH were we really like to stay. So we did it!! I made reservations for our trip in July using the developer points (htey expire in a year) we will plan some FL trips also. We are also on the founding CA member and will have option to buy GCV which we really want also! Wow we could have bought another car..or part of car, but hey it's disney!!! We paid our 10% and are waiting for paper that has to be notarized, but we are in the system!!!

Thanks for all your input. It helped us decide what we want! We also don't need to plan far in advance each time, we want to take lots of minnie trips also!!

Ok I am so excited!!! We get to see the GCV next month!!

 

[disneynutz]

Well we did it!! We bought 300 points!! We also got another bonus 300 so as of now have 600points! The points can be used anywere. We did the math all day and looked at points for GCH were we really like to stay. So we did it!! I made reservations for our trip in July using the developer points (htey expire in a year) we will plan some FL trips also. We are also on the founding CA member and will have option to buy GCV which we really want also! Wow we could have bought another car..or part of car, but hey it's disney!!! We paid our 10% and are waiting for paper that has to be notarized, but we are in the system!!!

Thanks for all your input. It helped us decide what we want! We also don't need to plan far in advance each time, we want to take lots of minnie trips also!!

Ok I am so excited!!! We get to see the GCV next month!!

Congratulations

Where did you buy your 300 points? AKV or SSR?

 

[disneyluvbug]

We bought at the Animal Kingdom, figured we love animals and have many at home so why not have a wild zoo outside!!!!

 

[disneynutz]

We bought at the Animal Kingdom, figured we love animals and have many at home so why not have a wild zoo outside!!!!

I hope that you understand what you are buying.

You stated that you you made a reservation using your developer points for a July trip but you also mentioned that you will plan some Florida trips also.
Last I heard, the developer points can only be used at SSR, so that means that you will be in Florida in July.

The points can be used anywhere, but at AKV only at 11 months, everywhere else at 7 months, including GCV. That means you probably won't be able to get a reservation there. Using points to pay for a room at non DVC resort like the GCH is not the best use of points, financially.

What UY did you get and how does your UY fit into your normal travel patterns?

I'm not trying to put a damper on your purchase, I'm just concerned about your quick decision. We took a year to check things out and we still made some mistakes.