How many points?????

[dreamscometrue]

Hi there: We just received our packet to sign on the Mickey line and now we are sceond guessing the number of points that we purchased. After reading how many points most of you seem to have, my question may seem silly. We did the analysis of how we would vacation for about the next 6 years and 160 points seemed to work. After rethinking on the trip home we're now thinking that 170 or 180 would probably be more like it. I tend to be conservative and worry about losing points that we may not use. I realize that we can bank and borrow. Can anyone shed some light on how they finally decided on the number of points??



Thanks!!!!

 

[Chuck S]

You can always do an add on if you feel you need more. We bought in when the minimum was 230 points, then after our first point stay we saw what out vavaction patterns could be and begn adding on. For us, our eventual climb to 345 points is working well. It all depends on your specific vacation "wants and needs". Rather than lose points, whenever you build up enough through banking you could always squeeze in an "extra trip" or an extended stay every few years, or take a couple of guests.

 

[sandieb]

We purchased our initial points based on one week in a two bedroom. Since then we have decided to add additional points allowing us another week in a studio and a longer stay in a two bedroom. We want to try Vero Beach and Hilton Head. Later we can use the "studio" points toward a World Passport Vacation. The ways to use points goes on and on. That's when the DVC member begins to feel there is "never enough points".
DVC person, Sandie

 

[Coastie]

These are the same questions we asked prior to becoming members of DVC. We started with 150 but ended up with 225 on the original purchase. Now 2 years later... you guessed it, another 125 points! Someone mentioned a few posts back... its called Disney DVC Addiction.

 

[Loubon]

Since we go about every other year we figured out what would be best for a week stay. We bought 165 points so that if we went every year we were good for a studio, every other year banking or borrowing would get us a one bedroom and if we did the 300% bank and borrow we can shoot for more.

Of course it is all irrelevant when add on fever gets you (runs very high on this board). I haven't succombed yet but it is only a matter of time......

 

[dcfromva]

Loubon,

I haven't succombed yet but it is only a matter of time......

Resistance is futile!

-DC ( signing the papers for our add-on today...)

 

[Beast fan]

While waiting for the papers to come in, I was sure we were only going to sign up for 150 points. After looking over the point charts, however, we decided that 170 would allow us some "wiggle" room, which is helping us be able to stay in a 1BR at VWL over this coming New Year's Eve (we joined 2/02).

After going on 2 wonderful DVC trips so far (HH and VB in a 1BR), we wish we had more points.

I'm sure we will be adding on in the next year or two.

Good Luck with your decision!!

 

[crisi]

We vacaton like loubon.

We bought a minimum 150 points. It allows us to average one trip every other year for 300 points utilizing both banking and borrowing for each trip, for about a week in a two bedroom.

We really don't have much interest in Disney more often - and we will pay cash for our cruise and we can fill our Disney itch with a regular hotel room or renting points if we really feel we need to. Like you, I'm conservative (not politically, but financially) and I'd rather stretch a stay with a cash Saturday night at AKL, than feel that I need to "use or loose" points.

A lot of people plan for a week every year in a studio, but decide they need the add on when they move to a one or two bedroom. Other people travel to Disney more often than planned. And, I know this isn't anyone who hangs out here, but we bought our contract resale from someone who "just couldn't afford to travel as much as she initially planned." And there are plenty of people who go once a year in a studio on their 150 point contracts - they are just somewhat less likely to be hanging here. (Hanging here is as much a contributor to add on fever as DVC itself is)

My advice would be to sign on the dotted line for your 160 points and then see how it goes. You can add on later (a minimum of 25 points for an add on), and if you buy the points as seperate contracts, you can sell them as seperate contract - so if you need to get rid of one, you can dump the little contract. Its harder to sell on big 300 point contract anyway. And there are advantages to owning at more than one resort - you may decide an add on at SSR is just what you need once it opens.

 

[Dean]

160 may be fine but you can always add on as long as DVC is selling. You may not be able to get your preferred resort though. Add ons can be found resale but it's hard to get exactly what you want and the price pp after all the fees can be as much or more than DVC.

If 160 seems to work and there's still some flexibility there, you could stay with it. Increasing by 10, 20 or even 50 points though is not a bad idea. I doubt you're regret it in the least.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by dreamscometrue
...We did the analysis of how we would vacation for about the next 6 years and 160 points seemed to work. After rethinking on the trip home we're now thinking that 170 or 180 would probably be more like it.

Hi, dreamscometrue. I fyou continue to rethink this, you will work youself all the way up to 1000 points!

I would suggest to buy as many as you can comfortably afford (of course not more than you would use). As previous posters have said, you can always add on.

As for us, we added on five times because we kept 'rethinking' the number of points we wanted/needed. First, we decided we always wanted a one or two bedroom (not a studio). We then realized that there was always some family that wanted to tag along, so we figured we would always get a two bedroom. We then decided to take longer trips, then we decided to go more often...ect.... It is truly an addiction!

Good luck....

 

[ditzy]

Start with 160 and borrow any extra you may need. If addiction sets in, you'll be buying more soon enough. If not, you'll have great options with the 160.

 

[jaysue]

We worked from how many can we comfortably afford which was up to 400 points

Then we worked out based on planning, typical holidays etc. that 270 would be a good number

We signed the paperwork and then when I was down in WDW, purchased a 50pt add on due to the "all of a sudden" interest shown by various close family members in WDW

Thanks
jaysue

 

[JimC]

We bought a 170 point BCV contract last summer over the phone after signing up for their AKL visit DVC special, which was enough to give us our typical WDW vacation in a one bedroom during choice season. Then we bought a 300 point OKW contract at a great price, no closing costs and the maintenance fees fully paid for the year (Used it for the first time at a 2 bedroom for a week at VB this May!). Did it stop there, no. When we went to meet our guide during the AKL trip, we bought an add-on to have enough for a full week in the one bedroom during choice season.

That's it, no more points for us. 515 is plenty. No more are needed. Nope, no way no how. Not even when SSR opens. Nope all done. Just going to enjoy what we have.

 

[Poorman]

To tell you the truth, I never thought about it, I just bought. Ended up with 1220 points without ever seeing DVC. And they said my mother didn't raise no idiots.


Regards, Rich

 

[Lexxiefern]

We started with 200 points (150 BCV 50 BWV) in April. By the time I got those papers, I decided I wanted a few more. So I did a 35 point add on at BWV. Got those papers and decided I really would like to have more BWV while they are available. Called and added 40 more. The next day my guide calls me and says there are only X amount of BWV points left, this is your last chance. So I added on 25 more.

So now we have 150 BCV and 150 BWV - a total of 5 contracts. (all the same use year)

And we haven't even closed yet on the first one!!

Go on, call and add a few more

 

[FreeTime]

We started out with 200 points and added on 100 a year later. We just now added on 100 again. I am finally saying enough! I tried to talk myself out of the most recent 100 by telling myself that I want to vacation in other places but it didn't work. Everyday my kids ask when we get to go to Mickey's Castle and I find myself listening to their Theme Park CD on the way to work. I can't get to much Disney! We decided to buy more points to make sure that when our kids are grown we will have 200 points and they will each have 100 to use. Our theory is, if there ever comes a year that we can't afford the tickets we will just hang out by the pool and still have an awesome trip! But there is no reason to buy too many point snow. Start small- you can always add on!

 

[natcam1996]

We started with 270 points last summer at BCV. We first figured 10-14 days/year in a studio. Just called today to add 100 more at BCV. Decided to add on because when my daughter gets older (now 7) and starts bringing friends we'll want the space of a 1 or 2 bedroom.

As other posters have said, start out wtih something comfortable and add on later if you need to. The advantage of adding on later is separate contracts that you can dispose of more easily if you decide you want to cut back on points.

 

[jodifla]

We joined in '96, right when they dropped the minimum point requirement to 150. 150 has served us well, but I just today called for a BCV add-on of 56 points. I wanted to make sure we had access to SAB in the future in the summertime. My son is only 1 so school schedules aren't an issue now, but they will be in the future.

A lower amount of points meant we pretty much stayed away from weekends, unless we were staying in a studio. We often go Sunday through Thursday nights in a one or two bedroom and still stay under our annual points allotment. Then you throw in a couple nights at Vero and you start taking people, and your point needs start to add up.

But like other posters said, you can always add on. See if the 160 suits you and your family.