How to decide on #Points to buy

[fallingwithstyle]

My husband and I have been discussing purchasing DVC for a few years and have now decided to do so. My parents are members and have 400 points and we are now trying to decide how many points my husband and I should initially purchase. We'd like to have enough points to take 2 trips each year-one with extended family and one with just my husband, myself and our son. We're leaning towards initially purchasing 250 pts but aren't sure if that will be enough. Any input?

Thanks!
Sarah

 

[CarolMN]

The amount will depend on your travel plans - what time of the year will you visit and how long will each stay be? Will you stay Friday & Saturday nights at a DVC resort on points (some members avoid weekends due to the higher per night point cost).

My advice is to answer those questions and then spend some time with the DVC point charts - there's a link at the top of the page. You'll soon figure what you need and then you can decide if you can afford it, LOL!

Best wishes -

 

[riggins]

Hi Sarah-
When we were trying to decide, we pulled out all the point charts and did several "likely scenarios" of how we thought we might like to use them each year. We changed resorts, time of the year, size of the accomodation and length of the trip to see how many point each scenario would cost. Most of our "likely scenarios" were 160-225 points, so we bought 200.

FWIW, this would have worked ok if we had continued our once a year trip as we had done before DVC. We ended up going 3 times our first year as DVC members and have been borrowing ever since!! I've read about this happening to others too, so be careful!

Good Luck
Leslie

 

[DrTomorrow]

Two possible approaches:

1. What Carol said. While it's impossible to predict exactly what your vacation needs will be like for the next few decades, you can make a pretty good guess. Start by "planning" what DVC trips you would make in 2005 as if you already owned DVC. How many trips, what resorts, what size villa, what time of year, how long, what days of the week. If you do this, you'll come up with a good starting point. Then you can make some assumptions about future needs - more children, bringing friends, etc. - and then come up with a reasonably estimate of what you should buy.

2. The Dr. Evil Approach: Simply buy "One Meelion Points".

Don't forget that you can always buy a few more points, and you can always rent a few extra.

Good luck!

Edited to add: Darn - riggins beat me to it....

 

[fallingwithstyle]

2. The Dr. Evil Approach: Simply buy "One Meelion Points".

Hahahaha!!! Too funny!


I've been sitting down with my points schedule trying to figure out different scenarios and the best I can come up with is 250 points. That's taking into account the fact that my husband will most likely take one 5-day vacation to Disney with us each year in late August (he's an attorney in DC and works with Congress-when they're not in session, he can take vacation) and my son and I would take an additional 5-day vacation in January, September or early December with other family members. My parents and I have agreed to take turns paying with points when we vacation together so that will help as well. There are so many different scenarios that I'm getting stressed from the decision-making process. I don't want to purchase 250 pts and find out in 6 months that I should have bought 300 pts. On the other hand, I don't want to purchase 300 pts and realize that we should have bought 250-we do enjoy traveling and will be taking a non-Disney vacation each year as well so I want to feel confident in my decision before we sign the contract.

I guess I'm lucky that I'm in a situation that I am even able to make this decision. I guess I'll just have fun with it and stop stressing!

Thanks!
Sarah

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I don't want to purchase 250 pts and find out in 6 months that I should have bought 300 pts. On the other hand, I don't want to purchase 300 pts and realize that we should have bought 250-we do enjoy traveling and will be taking a non-Disney vacation each year as well so I want to feel confident in my decision before we sign the contract.

The first scenario is far more likely. Whatever amount you buy, you will soon discover it's not enough. BTW if you buy 300, consider splitting the contract into two and buying two 150 points contracts (or 250 buy a 150 and a 100). In case you ever decide to sell, 150 point contracts move a lot faster than larger ones.

HBC

 

[disworldnum1]

Well since it does'nt sound like maintenance fee's arn't even in your scenarios,I would look at Happy birthday cat's suggestion into buying 2 seperate contracts of 250 points. You could always add on in the future or even rent a few points here and there. I on the other hand never seem to have enough and I'm constantly borrowing points from next use year.But I never worry about it and it always seems to work out. So stop worrying and get started...Good luck

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

2. The Dr. Evil Approach: Simply buy "One Meelion Points".

Oh yes and if you follow the "Bad" Doctor's approach you should buy two 150 point contracts and 9,997 contracts of 100 points.

HBC

 

[bcvillastwo]

First, the advice about purchasing two contracts is very good advice should you ever decide you want to sell some points. It sounds like it's one of those hindsight things that other have discovered over the years and perhaps new buyers can learn from those who've traveled that road already.

Second, knowing how many points to buy is a difficult decision to be sure. Then after you've made the decision it's entirely possible that you will find yourself wanting to visit WDW more often than you planned and you might just find yourself borrowing points. That seems to be a typical scenario. We were bitten by both of those bugs but the "illness" did not overcome us and we've managed to live with our 300 points just fine without borrowing. (It sure takes willpower though.)

Everyone's situation is different but you are doing the right thing by seeking the advice of seasoned DVC'ers and really thinking things through before you make a decision. In hind sight if I had it to do over again, I would have purchased two 150 point contracts and then if necessary (it hasn't been yet) I would have added small 25 to 50 point add ons.

Good luck with your decision and you are correct, you are blessed with a good kind of problem.

 

[fallingwithstyle]

I have to thank everyone for your great advice and input. I appreciate your experience and am headed downstairs to do some more number crunching with the points schedule.

Thanks again!
Sarah

 

[bongo59]

Since we have 2000 total points i think i can lend some insight. If you plan on going at all in peak season, look at the current point charts for your desired home, then your second and third choices. Then select the type of room you'll want. IE studio one bedroom or two bedroom or the GV. Then based upon your most likely vacation choices buy that amount of points. Since you want to do two trips a yr double that number. I would also strongly suggest you buy the first allotment at resort A (your top choice to stay) then buy another contract at the second best resort. That way you can rotate the 11 month windows at your top two choices. That would be my recs. Truthfully you probably will need more than 250 points. I would suggest you buy three separate contracts at three resorts to maximize flexibility

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Since we have 2000 total points i think i can lend some insight.

That's still a lot less than the "One Meelion Points" that Dr. T is trying to get the OP to purchase.

HBC

 

[FamilyGuy]

Buy as many points as you feel would be reasonable to meet your initial annual getaway plans, and that you can comfortably afford.

We wish we could have purchased about 300 points intially, and probably could have if we really wanted to. But we settled for a 160 point SSR contract intitally. After that one is paid off (or more likely closer to being paid off than it is now) we will add on.

Personally, We really felt like a little guy with only 160 points. 300 - 500 points seems to be about the average ownership. Then we read about some members who started with just 30 point resale contracts and 60 point contracts and realized that 160 points is just fine as a start.

Bottom line is that we are glad to get our feet in the door as we are beginning our love affair with Disney (rather than after a few years of staying there each year, as I would imagine is the case with many DVC buyers).

You are also in a fortunate situation that I would be willing to bet that if you fell a few points short of your needs your parents would (hopefully, if they had the available points that is!) transfer you the points as needed.

Good luck on your decision!