I am green

[bonnielynn]

We just joined the DVC on this past cruise.. we started with 270 pts at SSR.. any hints, advice, suggestions on how to work this thing? I did bank my points for last year (it was an incentive to buy)...

Its a whole new world!

 

[Chuck S]

The best advise, really, is to plan your trips early. If staying at SSR, take advantage of your 11/7 priority window. If staying at a different DVC resort, call as soon as the 7 month window opens.

Be aware that BCV abd BWV are prtty much booked early during Food & Wine at EPCOT and for major holidays. VWL books up very early for Christmas, and it is the smallest on-site DVC. OKW and SSR usually have the most availability because they are large resorts.

 

[rutgers1]

The thing that has fried my brain the most since signing up last month are all of the options in terms of where you can stay and how many points it costs at each time of the year, as well as in each type of room. The thing that helped me was to create a Word file where I actually noted down all of the combos (dates, points, etc.) that I had researched. That stopped me from starting from scratch every time the urge to "plan" hit.....which is every other day, lol.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Do lots of research here on the DIS and at other websites. When we first bought in, we would go to the internet and type in a search engine of Disney Vacation Club or Disney's Boardwalk Villas (SSR in your case).


Here are a few pointers.

• DVC resorts are the best use of points
• Once you bank or borrow, you can't put your points back in its original use year.
• The World Passport Collection is not a sure thing.
• You have to make a decision about your points when you have 4 months left in your use year.
• If you plan to stay outside your home resort, book at home and then switch at the 7 month mark.
• Go ahead and get APs. Even with 100 points, we've gone twice in the same 12 months, but didn't realize that we needed APs - so Disney made more money from us.
• Sit back, relax, you don't have to be theme park commandos anymore. You'll be back again, soon, and it is wonderful!
  

 

[DeeCee735]

Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead....it works wonderfully.

We don't find that AP's are worth it if we are only visiting twice in the same year. We go with the 10 day ticket, no expire. They cost more than the AP's, but last 3 to 4 trips since we don't do parks every day (2 or 3 days in a 6 day trip).

Be careful with the banking, borrowing, changing your mind. I've had "straggler points" hanging around because of that (although it only took a quick minute to plan on how to best make use of those

Review points charts until you get the hang of it, it won't take long for you to become a points expert - like most of us here on the boards.

If you're not clear on something, don't hesitate to call MS, and ask on the boards, getting information is easy and helps with making the best use of your points.

Most of all ENJOY your planning and your trips!

 

[disneynutz]

We just joined the DVC on this past cruise.. we started with 270 pts at SSR.. any hints, advice, suggestions on how to work this thing? I did bank my points for last year (it was an incentive to buy)...

Its a whole new world!

Do yourself a favor and download Caskbill's DVC planner/tracker. It makes planning and tracking your points much easier.

 

[bonnielynn]

Lots of good advice!.. thanks everyone..

Now how do you get Caskbills dvc planner?

 

[chalee94]

http://www.caskbill.com/

 

[Chellymouse]

Caskbill is a lifesaver! I used his planner when we first joined and it has saved many a headache!

 

[bonnielynn]

I did get it loaded up.. I guess I can't book anything until July. .since I just got points and my 11 month out would be July.. Right?

 

[disneynutz]

I did get it loaded up.. I guess I can't book anything until July. .since I just got points and my 11 month out would be July.. Right?

Use the planner program to select you vacation dates. You can print a planner report that tells you when to call in your reservation.

 

[bonnielynn]

Do yourself a favor and download Caskbill's DVC planner/tracker. It makes planning and tracking your points much easier.

Can you upgrade the Caskbill's dvc planner with the new resorts? and how?

 

[Threeh]

Do lots of research here on the DIS and at other websites. When we first bought in, we would go to the internet and type in a search engine of Disney Vacation Club or Disney's Boardwalk Villas (SSR in your case).


Here are a few pointers.

• DVC resorts are the best use of points
• Once you bank or borrow, you can't put your points back in its original use year.
• The World Passport Collection is not a sure thing.
• You have to make a decision about your points when you have 4 months left in your use year.
• If you plan to stay outside your home resort, book at home and then switch at the 7 month mark.
• Go ahead and get APs. Even with 100 points, we've gone twice in the same 12 months, but didn't realize that we needed APs - so Disney made more money from us.
• Sit back, relax, you don't have to be theme park commandos anymore. You'll be back again, soon, and it is wonderful!
  

Thanks for the great tips!!! These were some of the questions as a newbie I was looking for answers to!!