How to decide how many points to buy!!

[stnet]

We are considering buying in to DVC but I really have no idea how many points we will need. We usually go once a year for around 9 days and have been traveling in May or Sept but as DD gets older we probably won't be able to take her out school anymore. Also as both DD get older the option of the 2 BR will be very nice but for now we would probably be happy with a studio or 1BR. Also one more question, we have stayed WL and the Poly in the past Poly being our favorite, will we like the DVC resorts? We usually rely solely on Disney transportation so I am a little concerned about how long some of those bus rides will be from other resorts and not having monorail access (at least not yet!!)

 

[bczang]

I had the same questions leading up to our purchase!

To figure out how many points we "needed" I used the point charts to create 3 - 4 years of hypothetical vacations based on my families historical travel and plans for the future. I made it as detailed as possible, including banking/borrowing, trades through the Disney and Concierge Collection, etc. This gave me a good rough idea of what we needed. I started with 160 points (minimum) and planned on adding on in the next few years. All went according to my plan except for the add-on. We added on 200 points 6 month after our initial purchase because we saw how much we LOVED DVC and how much we could/wanted to use it in the future.

As for the transportation - Yes, the bus rides can be long and are certainly no match for the monorail, but are not that big of a deal (at least for us). However, the monorail only goes to a limited number of places and using the busses are a must.

Also - the HUGE advantage of DVC over a regular hotel room is a Villa and all it has to offer. To me, especially with a child, a Villa is a "must".

 

[JenSop]

For us it was easy - we could only afford the 160 points so that's what we got. But I'd eventually like to add on 40 more to bring us to an even 200. Then I'll be a happy gal!

 

[Disney_Villain]

We are considering buying in to DVC but I really have no idea how many points we will need. We usually go once a year for around 9 days and have been traveling in May or Sept but as DD gets older we probably won't be able to take her out school anymore. Also as both DD get older the option of the 2 BR will be very nice but for now we would probably be happy with a studio or 1BR. Also one more question, we have stayed WL and the Poly in the past Poly being our favorite, will we like the DVC resorts? We usually rely solely on Disney transportation so I am a little concerned about how long some of those bus rides will be from other resorts and not having monorail access (at least not yet!!)

Taking the higher-points resorts into account, and that May is Dream Season, you would need 149 points for 9 nights in a Studio in May - and 308 points for a 1BR in May.

A 308+ point contract would do you for 1BR 9-night stays every year in as high as Dream Season in any WDW DVC resort. I would consider between 150 and 310 points to cover your needs (at a minimum) based on what you can afford and whether you'll be booking Studios or 1BR's.

I think you'll like the DVC resorts. There's something for everyone in each of them in terms of amenities. The 4 pools, big, lushly landscaped grounds of OKW and SSR do it for us. However, the gem locations of BCV, BWV and (soon) BLT might be want you want. The rooms at AKV and (from rumour) BLT are to die for.

Keep in mind that all the DVC resorts have balconies - and that is common with only the Deluxe (non-DVC) resorts. You may find that you like some of the DVC resorts more than the Deluxe resorts (we did) - or find them very comparable.

 

[stnet]

Thanks for all the great info - this defiently gives me a starting point!! I am really excited about DVC and just got my info book in the mail this morning!!!

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

For us it was easy - we could only afford the 160 points so that's what we got. But I'd eventually like to add on 40 more to bring us to an even 200. Then I'll be a happy gal!

I love your honesty, that's why we started at 175 (used the $8 discount to buy the equivalent points instead of taking dev. pts.).

As luck would have it, my mom bought us 50 more points on our last trip--woo-hoo!!!

Our basic idea for choosing our # of points was if we took 1 trip a year for 1 week, what would we need to stay how we wanted to stay (studio at that time). Then when we actually took the tour earlier this month, walking thru a 1 BR DW informs me we need more points to have a 1 BR each trip--which we do now.

DW and I are both teachers so travelling in off season is pretty much out of our options...so we generally travel at Mardi Gras (Feb.), early June, or Thanksgiving...so that's where we used our point values to start with when deciding.

My goal is to buy another 175 in the next 5 years at AKV so I'll have 200 points to will to each of my children. With 400 we can hopefully swing a 2 BR for a couple of trips a year especially when we start having DGC waaaayyyy down the road!!!

 

[ACDSNY]

If you purchase more than the min. 160 points it might be a good idea to have the excess points split into sub-contracts. Then you can sell off any additional points later down the road or easily pass them on to children.

 

[djmeen]

Hmmmmm..... seems like an age old question.

Answer: buy as many as you can comfortably afford!

Seems like most of us have added on after we start using the initial purchase of points because we find ourselves using it more than we initially thought or because of a desire to stay in 1BR versus studios.

We did all of our initial calculations based on trips in studios in off-peak times and then discovered how much we loved taking family with us. This pushed us into 2BR units which really ate the points!

But first and foremost, know your budget and stick to it. There will always be points to be bought later.

 

[WOW]

We, also always loved the Poly and I was a bit nervous about DVC (OKW for us) and how I would adjust......no everyday housekeeping, but once we got a taste of the great accomodations I was so HAPPY!!!!! I don't miss daily housekeeping at all....it was always a pain anyway and all we do is keep is fix the beds. One of the things I love, is having breakfast...cereals and the like and having snacks throughout the day. We used to spend so much time eating. I have never cooked there and we love eating at WDW restaurants, but now everything is so much more casual for us.

 

["Got Disney"]

If you purchase more than the min. 160 points it might be a good idea to have the excess points split into sub-contracts. Then you can sell off any additional points later down the road or easily pass them on to children.

That is what we did. We have 2 children and 400 points. They are of 2 200 point contracts. WE live in SD and are season pass holders so we go to DL often. We cruise every year but do not use our points for cruising but at WDW for 7 days a year a week before the cruise. Than the rest at DL.

We were going to start with 200 points but for us it was not enough. But again that is because we use them at The GCH in DL. If we lived in the Midwest and did not go to DL a few times a year than I would have stuck with around 200 points.

The points are not what will cramp your style it is the dues every year that get ya....the more points the higher the yearly dues

 

[photobob]

We have 180 and I wouldn't mind having another 50-100. We have been members for only two years and have been feeling out the best way to use our points. So far we have stayed in a studio, 1BDR, 2 BDR and an OVIR at Vero Beach. We have done a long trip, a short trip and a Sun-Thurs trip.

Next year we may try a week long trip to Vero Beach, we've been to WDW at least once a year since 2001 so we are thinking of just vegging out at the beach next year.

One thing you may want to try to do in planning DVC trips particularly if you do one long trip every year is try to go when you can use an annual pass for both trips. For example in 2009 go May 20-29 and then in 2010 go May 10-19. DVC members get a $100 discount on AP's, so they cost about $370, the best deal going.

Sorry to ramble just a few things I've learned in my short time as a DVC member.

AS far as accommodations I think you'll be pleased with the villas. We use studios for just the two of us, a 1BDR when it is us and our DD, a 2 BDR when my son and his GF tag along. The 1 BDR and 2 BDr have washer/dryer and full kitchens as well as very large nice bathroom. What I have found is that when you become DVC members you'll spend more time at the resort than you did before. Making the villas more comfortable for lounging around than a typical resort room. You have couches, chairs, balconies or porches instead of just a couple of beds and straight chairs.

 

[Disneypirate85]

We purchased our pts thru The Timeshare Store and was able to buy in for $84.00 a pt and bought a 160 pt contract. HOWEVER if I knew then what I know now we would have went ahead and purchased a larger contract, we bought this year and are already looking for add on contracts but they get bought up QUICKLY if you haven't already purchased look over at The Timeshare Store less money per pt ='s more pts and same DVC service