How to make points more 'tidy'

[sndral]

I am once again analyzing DVC, to see if it's a fit for us. One thing that troubles me is how I can't figure out how to make the numbers work out neatly - I always have a few too many or not quite enough points. For example, if I buy 160 AKV points and want to stay in a 2 br. savanna view every other year in early December I would have 320 points, but always would end up w/ spare points.
In one scenario if I stay 12/1/14, Mon - 12/8 Tues, I'd use 310 for 8 nights, leaving 10 spare points. If I bank those points planning to return in 2016, will I be able to use them?
Or, I could start my stay 11/28/14, a Fri. (and higher point cost season) and for 8 nights need 328 points, which would require borrowing from the next year for those 8 points.
Can anyone explain why Disney uses odd numbers per night's stay? It just seems unnecessarily complicated and forces you to mess w/ banking/borrowing every year.
What do you do when your number of points don't add up, are these the 'orphan' points I read about?
Finally, will Disney let you buy an odd number of points as an add on to fix this issue - for example, I find a 160 point AKV resale, then want to buy 26 points directly from Disney so that I have 372 points every 2 years, can you buy an odd number of points?

 

[CarolMN]

I just bank the extras forward. At some point I either stay an extra night or two or stay in a higher cost villa.

Really, banking and borrowing isn't that tough to keep track of, especially if you just have one use year and one home resort.

FWIW, it's probably good to have a few extras. That way, you won't get blindsided if you get hit by a reallocation. Also, few people's travel habits stay the same year after year.

My advice is not to worry about keeping points "tidy". You'll just stress yourself for no gain.

 

[chalee94]

i don't have a problem with leftover pts, but that is one of the reasons i would never recommend DVC for someone who travels to wdw every 3 years. you can usually work it out with banking and borrowing if you travel every-other-year...but it would help to go every year once in a while...

Finally, will Disney let you buy an odd number of points as an add on to fix this issue - for example, I find a 160 point AKV resale, then want to buy 26 points directly from Disney so that I have 372 points every 2 years, can you buy an odd number of points?

yes, disney will let you buy a 26 pt contract, or a 37 pt contract or a 43 pt contract. as long as it's 25 pts or more (paid by cash) or 50 pts or more (financed), you can pick the exact amount if you buy direct.

 

[yitbos96bb]

i just bank the extras forward. At some point i either stay an extra night or two or stay in a higher cost villa.

Really, banking and borrowing isn't that tough to keep track of, especially if you just have one use year and one home resort.

Fwiw, it's probably good to have a few extras. That way, you won't get blindsided if you get hit by a reallocation. Also, few people's travel habits stay the same year after year.

My advice is not to worry about keeping points "tidy". You'll just stress yourself for no gain.

+1

 

[DizBub]

Don't forget that you can get up to 24 one time per year points from Disney for $15pp to round out a booking, should you need it. No having to buy an add-on or paying dues on those points, especially since you really only want to go every other year or 2.

I've read about too many people who bought exactly what they needed in the year they bought and then the next year had a re-allocation of points and were caught short. It helps to have wiggle room.

My problem is that I WANT to bank points into the next year.....gives me more points to play with.

 

[CarolMN]

Don't forget that you can get up to 24 one time per year points from Disney for $15pp to round out a booking, should you need it. No having to buy an add-on or paying dues on those points, especially since you really only want to go every other year or 2. ....(snip).....

Remember that the one-time use points can only be used at the 7 month window. They don't help those who want / need to book at 11 months.

 

[DizBub]

Remember that the one-time use points can only be used at the 7 month window. They don't help those who want / need to book at 11 months.

I always seem to forget to mention this part. True....but even so, OP could book their home resort at 11 months and at the 7 month mark use their "extra" points w/the one-time points to extend a day or 2. Neat and tidy. AKV was mentioned and I think it would be readily available at 7 months.

 

[CarolMN]

I always seem to forget to mention this part. True....but even so, OP could book their home resort at 11 months and at the 7 month mark use their "extra" points w/the one-time points to extend a day or 2. Neat and tidy. AKV was mentioned and I think it would be readily available at 7 months.

I agree!

 

[tjkraz]

1. It will never be neat and tidy.

2. You are overthinking things way too much.

Costs vary by date, room size, resort, view....and all of the above can change if (when) DVC "reallocates" the points and changes the exact costs for a certain accommodation.

If you're running short, you drop a night from a future trip. Or stay at a resort that costs a little less. Or consider vacationing during a cheaper season. Or stay in a smaller room. Or book a view that costs less.

There's no magic formula that will make the points work out exactly unless you plan to visit during the same dates, same room size, same view and same resort every single time for the next 40+ years.

It's like trying to set a household budget when the cost of electricity, natural gas and groceries vary from one month to the next. You simply learn to adjust on the fly and spend points in the manner you consider most sensible.

 

[rmcildw2m]

DVC is magic not perfect thats why we love it so much .

 

[crisi]

We go every other year. In 2012 we went using some points (banked) from 2011, all our 2012 points, and a few points borrowed from 2013. In 2013 we won't go, we will bank all our remaining points into 2014. In 2014 we will go using all the remaining 2013, all the 2014 and some 2015 points.

It really isn't hard. We've discovered that since we are really looking at any one time over trips over four years with banking and borrowing that its fairly easy to adjust our plans - last trip we did a few cash days at Universal. When we took my family, we had a very short standard view trip to only use the points we NEEDED to use, banking (and then borrowing) for three years of points to be able to take everyone.

We've also discovered that as the years have gone by, we are looking for ways to USE our points, not running out of them. We bank more an more forward because five days at Disney every other year is plenty of Disney for us now.

 

[sndral]

I just bank the extras forward. At some point I either stay an extra night or two or stay in a higher cost villa.

Really, banking and borrowing isn't that tough to keep track of, especially if you just have one use year and one home resort.

Actually, with a going every 2 years plan, I'll be banking points every other year in any event. How long are banked points good for?

Remember that the one-time use points can only be used at the 7 month window. They don't help those who want / need to book at 11 months.

I've read that you could buy some extra points, but did not know that you had to wait until 7 months to do so.

I always seem to forget to mention this part. True....but even so, OP could book their home resort at 11 months and at the 7 month mark use their "extra" points w/the one-time points to extend a day or 2. Neat and tidy. AKV was mentioned and I think it would be readily available at 7 months.

I had been thinking to buy BCV since we really like the Epcot/DHS proximity, however, when I wandered through the DVC area @ BCV a couple of weeks ago, I decided AKV appealed aesthetically to me more, but would it be harder to own AKV and get into BCV at 7 months for an early Dec. stay? In both cases we'd want a 2 bedroom, w/ AKV we'd want savanna view.

We go every other year. In 2012 we went using some points (banked) from 2011, all our 2012 points, and a few points borrowed from 2013. In 2013 we won't go, we will bank all our remaining points into 2014. In 2014 we will go using all the remaining 2013, all the 2014 and some 2015 points.

It really isn't hard. We've discovered that since we are really looking at any one time over trips over four years with banking and borrowing that its fairly easy to adjust our plans - last trip we did a few cash days at Universal. When we took my family, we had a very short standard view trip to only use the points we NEEDED to use, banking (and then borrowing) for three years of points to be able to take everyone.

We've also discovered that as the years have gone by, we are looking for ways to USE our points, not running out of them. We bank more an more forward because five days at Disney every other year is plenty of Disney for us now.

Thank you for sharing your use pattern, I could see this becoming us, w/ the once in a great while wanting to do a big trip w/ extended family and spending some time @ universal going forward.

 

[Missyrose]

Actually, with a going every 2 years plan, I'll be banking points every other year in any event. How long are banked points good for?


I've read that you could buy some extra points, but did not know that you had to wait until 7 months to do so.


I had been thinking to buy BCV since we really like the Epcot/DHS proximity, however, when I wandered through the DVC area @ BCV a couple of weeks ago, I decided AKV appealed aesthetically to me more, but would it be harder to own AKV and get into BCV at 7 months for an early Dec. stay? In both cases we'd want a 2 bedroom, w/ AKV we'd want savanna view.


Thank you for sharing your use pattern, I could see this becoming us, w/ the once in a great while wanting to do a big trip w/ extended family and spending some time @ universal going forward.

Banked points expire at the end of the next UY. So if you have a June UY and you bank your 2012 points, they will be good from June 1 2013 through May 31, 2014.

AKV isn't difficult to get into at 7 months out (unless you're interested in value or concierge villas). BCV is much harder to get into because it is so much smaller than AKV. Another thing to keep in mind is that early December is one of the busiest times for DVC, so buying where you want to stay at that time of year is especially important.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[DizBub]

I had been thinking to buy BCV since we really like the Epcot/DHS proximity, however, when I wandered through the DVC area @ BCV a couple of weeks ago, I decided AKV appealed aesthetically to me more, but would it be harder to own AKV and get into BCV at 7 months for an early Dec. stay? In both cases we'd want a 2 bedroom, w/ AKV we'd want savanna view.


Yes, it would agree that BCV would be harder to get at 7 months in early Dec. If you bought BCV at least you would have the 11 booking advantage and have the option to switch to AKV at 7 months. Much easier to achieve.

We bought a 160 point contract at BCV for just this situation. Booked a 2br at 11 months and am plotting to switch to BWV standard to save points. If I can't get that at least we will still have our most excellent BCV to stay at.

 

[ToddyLu]

For instance---I book 2 value studios at Jambo for 11 months later (69 x 2= 138). We have 210 points so I have 72 points left. I decide at 7 months to purchase my one time only points--my 7 month reservation is 95 points for one week--I purchase 23 points, add that to my 72 and ...

Badda bing--two DVC trips in one year. DH and I get a studio and guests get a studio at 11 months, then DH and I get another studio for ourselves for a second trip.

You have to plan and make your points work for you.

This year we booked 2 value studios for next Nov and with the length of our trip have 48 points left over. I will bank these we will travel in 2014 and have a few to get savanna view or a few extra days for the trip.

I can see it now....YOU WILL ALLOW THE POINT USUAGE TO CONSUME YOU AND BECOME ONE OF US... Mawhaahahahaa

 

[Deb & Bill]

... DH and I get a studio and guests get a studio at 11 months, then DH and I get another studio for ourselves for a second trip....

Or you can let those "guests" pay for their own vacation and have a third stay on that cheap PAP.

 

[DizBub]

Or you can let those "guests" pay for their own vacation and have a third stay on that cheap PAP.

Oh, how I wish I would take this advice.

 

[ToddyLu]

Ohhh, I have thought about the three trips a year. We are in our mid and late 40s, have no kids and parents 69-75. After providing me with my first college degree and helping me through numerous other obstacles-Mama, Daddy and MIL deserve this gift and appreciate it. There will come a time when we will no longer be able to travel together for one reason or another. I figure DH and I will enjoy a 1br then.

Funny how parents are ---they question the expense, but once there, love it and JUMP at the opportunity to go. What happened to the trips before DVC where I had to plant a seed to get them to go a year and a half in advance.

Now if I could just get them to keep the curtains closed while on the savanna--yep after 47 years my parents still adore one another and were horrified when I mentioned the vidoe taping.

 

[Mick@Tink]

Now if I could just get them to keep the curtains closed while on the savanna--yep after 47 years my parents still adore one another and were horrified when I mentioned the vidoe taping.