i own 110 DVC points

[bub]

Okay, this is in no way meant to comment on those who have lots of points - I think it's great - the more the merrier! I just thought it would be interesting to see what those of us with fewer points do with ours.

I joined as part of a family group in 1996 at OKW - 4 family members bought 220 points together, so we each have 55 per year to use. Some of us have stayed in studios 5 nights a year, and some go every other year to a one-bedroom. And once we all combined points and stayed in a GV - that was great. Two of us have added on 55 points each - this lets my immediate family go every year to a one-bedroom for five nights in the summer. This fall we combined points with my brother for a 2-bedroom, and even stayed on the weekend.

I am amazed with all we have been able to do with our small number of points - the DVC has really been great for us, and we were lucky that we could join in this way.

Anyone else have a smaller contract, and creative ideas about how to use it?

 

[Dean]

There are some great ways to be creative with smaller points packages. You have obviously been able to make it work, that's great.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It sounds like you have the smaller point contract usage down pat!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I applaud you, bub. we started with 150 points, but we used Magical Beginnings, and sold our first year's points back to cover the downpayment, and we felt like we were in a hole ever since.

I am impressed with how you have stretched your point allotment. It sounds as if you guys are truly getting the most you can out of your DVC membership.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Curious if I understand this correctly... You own 220 points as part of a group and 55 points by yourself?

And yes...if you aren't obsessed with 1 bedrooms its easy to make the points take you all kinds of places. A cash/points combination works beautifully to give me what I want in a stay. I just got the new planner and I was pleased to see I could go on a cruise using the new points guidelines without exhausting my 150 pt contract.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

You and your three other family members must have a great relationship to pull that off without problems. Congratulations. It sounds like you have a great plan.

HBC

 

[bub]

Just to clarify - there are 4 families that share 220 points, giving us each 55 to use each year. Those are all in one contract, so yes, it does take some coordination, especially with borrowing and banking. We share these with my parents, brother, and sister and their families. Later, my brother and I each added 55 additional points, in two separate add-on contracts (at VWL, so a different property).

As I noted, for the first 5 years or so, except for the GV stay, my immediate family used studios. We thought it was funny that we had never even seen a one-bedroom unit (my parents and brother took the original tour and proposed joining). But, as you all know, once you see those one-bedrooms it's hard to go back to a studio! We bought the additional points so that we can do a one-bedroom now. As our kids get older, it's really great to have the space and privacy - that makes it more of a vacation for everyone, not just something the parents endure so the kids can go to WDW.

 

[dcfromva]

bub,
I marvel at your creativity. I was wondering how you worked out the ownership on the paperwork, does the main contract have all your names on it? When you added on, did the add ons have the same names on it?
-DC

 

[bub]

Yes, the main contract has all 4 names. We can all make reservations, we all receive mailings and benefits. We set it up this way on purpose, so that we did not need to make all of our arrangements through one person. This makes us all equal owners, rather than one of us being the owner and the others being associates of some sort. I do keep track of everyone's points, though, so we have one central record of the account. The add-on accounts are in my name and my brother's as primary owners, but all four of us had to sign paperwork for each one. I'm sure legally we all own all the points. Guess it could be crazy down the road, but up to now we're all pretty close and reasonable, so it's worked out fine.

 

[SueOKW]

This is great! good job!

I am impressed as most of my husband's family doesn't even know we own DVC. There is no way we could get along that well with them.

Congratulations to you.

Sue