How much do point costs affect your vacation timeframe

[zavandor]

DVC is allowed to reallocate points from studios to 1-bedrooms.

Can you please explain why do you think this is the case? My understanding of the POS, the accompanying documents produced by DVC over the years and Florida laws is the opposite. And the fact that DVCMC didn't try again to do it in 2021 tells me they may have their doubts as well.

Anyway, as with everything with DVC, this is very much the case of "beware what you wish for".
The reason a 1BR is double the points of a studios is simply because it occupies double the space. If studios were more points than half a 1BR it would be much more convenient to create all studios and no 1BR. Or at least, greatly increase the number of studios as compared to 1BR (given that Poly wasn't well received). Lower availability coupled with lower points means that the current difficulty of booking studios would just move to the difficulty of booking 1BR. The result is that people who currently book 1BR would probably need to book a 2BR for more points or book a studio for just a few points less than they were using for a 1BR.
Anyone invoking a change in DVC, should be very aware that the management will always think: "what's in for us in this change"? They wouldn't limit themselves to move points between studios and 1BR (which they cannot do for existing resorts, but they can certainly do it for future resorts), they'll take it as an opportunity for gaining even more. They'll probably not just increase studios and decrease 1BR, they'd just increase studios in the Reflection point charts.

 

[Sandisw]

Can you please explain why do you think this is the case? My understanding of the POS, the accompanying documents produced by DVC over the years and Florida laws is the opposite. And the fact that DVCMC didn't try again to do it in 2021 tells me they may have their doubts as well.

Anyway, as with everything with DVC, this is very much the case of "beware what you wish for".
The reason a 1BR is double the points of a studios is simply because it occupies double the space. If studios were more points than half a 1BR it would be much more convenient to create all studios and no 1BR. Or at least, greatly increase the number of studios as compared to 1BR (given that Poly wasn't well received). Lower availability coupled with lower points means that the current difficulty of booking studios would just move to the difficulty of booking 1BR. The result is that people who currently book 1BR would probably need to book a 2BR for more points or book a studio for just a few points less than they were using for a 1BR.
Anyone invoking a change in DVC, should be very aware that the management will always think: "what's in for us in this change"? They wouldn't limit themselves to move points between studios and 1BR (which they cannot do for existing resorts, but they can certainly do it for future resorts), they'll take it as an opportunity for gaining even more. They'll probably not just increase studios and decrease 1BR, they'd just increase studios in the Reflection point charts.

I thought they could adjust with lock offs since they are declared as 2 bedrooms? Again, the documents I got said units had to remain point neutral but a vacation home can go up and down, The definition of each is different so I interpreted to mean a studio is a vacation home, but the units may consist of more than one?

Or, am I misunderstanding what that means? But, in terms of point differences, I do think that the double points for 1 bedrooms makes sense when they sleep 5...when they sleep less than the studio, I would think that ratio would be a bit smaller...but since the adding of the Murphy bed to studios came later, I can understand why that can’t really be adjusted.

 

[zavandor]

I thought they could adjust with lock offs since they are declared as 2 bedrooms? Again, the documents I got said units had to remain point neutral but a vacation home can go up and down, The definition of each is different so I interpreted to mean a studio is a vacation home, but the units may consist of more than one?

I have only read the SSR POS, so I don't know about all other resorts. In the SSR POS a studio is explicitly defined as a vacation home exactly like a dedicated 2BR or a GV. At SSR there are no dedicated studios, so they are referring to lockoff studios for sure.
Then they say that in a reallocation points for a vacation home, points can go up in a day or season but must be balanced by a corresponding decrease in another day or season. There is very little room for interpretation. And this is coherent with the Florida law.

Nowhere they say that points can be reallocated within the lockoff.
The VGF POS says the lockoff premium can be increased, but that has is not present in other POS, neither the previous ones or the following ones. Maybe because it's illegal?

 

[Sandisw]

I have only read the SSR POS, so I don't know about all other resorts. In the SSR POS a studio is explicitly defined as a vacation home exactly like a dedicated 2BR or a GV. At SSR there are no dedicated studios, so they are referring to lockoff studios for sure.
Then they say that in a reallocation points for a vacation home, points can go up in a day or season but must be balanced by a corresponding decrease in another day or season. There is very little room for interpretation. And this is coherent with the Florida law.

Nowhere they say that points can be reallocated within the lockoff.
The VGF POS says the lockoff premium can be increased, but that has is not present in other POS, neither the previous ones or the following ones. Maybe because it's illegal?

Okay. RiV POS does not discuss points reallocation at all, other than to refer you to details in the multisite POS.

That language is not the same as you indicate above, so they have obviously amended things. Since they took specific rules language out of RIV POS, they seem to be deferring now to multi site POS.

 

[crvetter]

Okay. RiV POS does not discuss points reallocation at all, other than to refer you to details in the multisite POS.

That language is not the same as you indicate above, so they have obviously amended things. Since they took specific rules language out of RIV POS, they seem to be deferring now to multi site POS.

Exhibit F, Section 3, Paragraph 3 discusses this (same language as I can tell of most resorts).

 

[Sandisw]

Exhibit F, Section 3, Paragraph 3 discusses this (same language as I can tell of most resorts).

Thanks, I found it but I see nothing that states it can only adjust by seasons, It still indicates that reallocations must remain neutral in a unit, but unit is defined as more than one vacation home. it’s thst language that is confusing to me as I think that allows them to move points between different room types.

 

[crvetter]

Thanks, I found it but I see nothing that states it can only adjust by seasons, It still indicates that reallocations must remain neutral in a unit, but unit is defined as more than one vacation home. it’s thst language that is confusing to me as I think that allows them to move points between different room types.

Yeah that’s consistent with other POS it was supplemental material that explained DVCs interpretation. And actually that phrasing about points in a unit remaining neutral DVC argues has nothing to do with point reallocations and not all units are more than vacation home (cabins and bungalows for example).

 

[Sandisw]

Yeah that’s consistent with other POS it was supplemental material that explained DVCs interpretation. And actually that phrasing about points in a unit remaining neutral DVC argues has nothing to do with point reallocations and not all units are more than vacation home (cabins and bungalows for example).

Okay. It does say that not all units would contain the same number of vacation homes. Where it does say it remains neutral in the unit is in the section regarding points reallocation so I am surprised they say it’s not related.

 

[crvetter]

Okay. It does say that not all units would contain the same number of vacation homes. But, where it does say it remains neutral in the unit isin the section regarding points reallocation so I am surprised they say it’s not related.

Yvonne stated that directly on my call with her. The reading is a bit weird and she said that it was in reference to that once a unit was declared they couldn’t declare more points into the unit.

 

[Sandisw]

Yvonne stated that directly on my call with her. The reading is a bit weird and she said that it was in reference to that once a unit was declared they couldn’t declare more points into the unit.

That make sense,

 

[DebbieB]

Another option we have done - supplement with cash nights or split stay. I have done both. When I bought in 1999, weekends were considerably higher points, we were staying at OKW in a 1 bedroom. Paying for Friday and/or Saturday cash with the member or AP discount was worth it. We have also done split stays with a non-DVC room. We are going to do Destination D in November, I have 6 nights booked at BWV but will move for the Destination D nights, perhaps at Contemporary where it’s being held. 3 adult women, a split stay doesn’t bother us. We did 3 different rooms on a trip last year. Started with a night in Poly Club on cash, 5 nights in a Poly studio, 1 night at Yacht Club for July 4th fireworks at Epcot.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

This question really demands multiple answers. For example, we bought almost enough points to go for a 5-day period every year, with the intent to go every other year, but, wouldn't you know, now we are talking about going every year. If Disney suddenly decided to host some uber-popular event on our typical week and adjust the points for that week, we'd change plans to a different week. After all, we probably wouldn't want to be there during the event anyway. If they just do a little micro-adjustment, we'd probably keep our plans and borrow points until we would be forced to stay somewhere else for a night or 2 or skip a year to catch up on points. I don't think we'd sell and get out or buy more points. After all, it's best to have just enough points and use them all.

FWIW - the points for our typical stay went down in the 2021 allocation.

Lucky you! I'm glad the new points allocation worked out for you. Sending Pixie dust your way!

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I voted that I wouldn't change when I go but wish I could vote for "or sell". We go in Jan/Feb, mostly Jan. We live in the northeast and want to get away from the winter weather so our travel time will not change. I don't like the excessive heat so summer is definitely out and the early fall and spring months can be pretty warm in FL so those are not times I want to be at WDW.

I have enough points to absorb the new points allocation but I'm not happy that my annual trip is now going to cost me more. I usually run with points to bank which allows me to do large family trips every other year or so. I'm still digesting the new change to the points cost, I'm not sure yet what I will do. My plan at this point is to wait and see how it goes. I can say that this newest change does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling, I almost feel violated. The new point allocation is costing me roughly one nights accommodation when compared to 2020 and the type of room I get. This added to how the crowds are being handled when the Skyliner goes down, the price of park tickets, the difficulty in getting fast passes, etc...(the list goes on) and I'm starting to become disenchanted with WDW. This makes me very sad as I have been a life long fan of Walt Disney and pretty much all things Disney. I hope this feeling goes away during our upcoming trip this Jan. We will be at WDW for 2 weeks, first week with our daughter and her family in a 2 bedroom and the following week in a standard view studio. From there we are going to Vero for a week so hopefully during that time I will again get that warm and fuzzy feeling back about all things Disney.

I hope all of you have a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

 

[Judique]

I voted that point reallocation does not affect me.

Some years I have points to bank. Other years I am borrowing.

That said, going in summer is out of the question - I have other places I want to be in summer.

Originally I bought an exact number of points -enough for 2 short visits at Xmas and Easter to fit in with school vacations. Did this for years and then the kids grew up and stuff changed.

I also developed a mild case of addonitus which doubled my points.

In 2020, I have 4 trips booked and already planned. I will stay in a studio, a one bedroom and a two bedroom depending on the trip. The one bedroom almost became a grand villa but there will only be three, so I resisted. My 'go to Disney' season is late October to mid May.

In 2021, I'll probably do 3 visits, but you never know - I am free as a bird to switch up. I've considered selling my smaller contracts, but then I end up using the points. I think this DVC journey is a process through life and that it has the flexibility to be longer term than many timeshare offerings. And, when it doesn't work out, we all have the option of selling or renting with little to no loss and sometimes potential gain.

Have a Merry Christmas all!

 

[jkips]

I’m pretty much stuck to the dates based on my and my kids’ schedule so a point allocation change won’t affect me. I do still question how the point allocation works across the rooms types and dates but based on the discussion in this thread it seems like any changes should be made very slowly and over a long period of time.

 

[MilwaukeeMom]

I am also stuck with school days off. I went once in June and won’t ever do that again. We travel to Florida to escape the crummy weather here. If that time of year costs more, we’ll take fewer trips. Ticket prices are also becoming an issue. We plan on one park day next trip

 

[DougEMG]

I can only go Sept to Dec because of my teaching schedule, so the point charts will not change when I go or how long I stay.

 

[Sandisw]

I can only go Sept to Dec because of my teaching schedule, so the point charts will not change when I go or how long I stay.

Were you ever able to snag the SV studio?

 

[DougEMG]

Were you ever able to snag the SV studio?

Yes, I eventually got a standard studio at both BLT and BWV for Nov/Dec 2020. I certainly was surprised how many attempts it took at trying to get the room before I was successful.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, I eventually got a standard studio at both BLT and BWV for Nov/Dec 2020. I certainly was surprised how many attempts it took at trying to get the room before I was successful.

I know, I got lucky yesterday. For the heck of it, I thought I’d try and got one, I am walking it to end of December now. Was not my intent but I was up and had time. I had figured I’d end up with garden view, but when I was able to book, I figured it was worth it,