If you are 'short' on points? .....

[anbouk]

Just wondering if we should go with a min. of 160 pts vs 200 or plus. I know this will depend on whether we do a studio vs 1 bdr, etc. I am wondering is it easy to 'buy/rent' points if we fall short on points for a stay. Right now our vacation averages every year or other year to WDW. I know if we do every other year, we'll be fine, but I am worried that if one year we may want to go and not have enough points. Can anyone make suggestions based on their personal experience. Still trying to decide on DVC!!! Thanks!!! Hopefully a soon future DVC member

 

[jjohnson]

For us we never have enough points and are in a constant state of borrowing or using cash for the weekends. If I had to do it over I would have purchased at 225 to cover a 1 brm for the week.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It is possible to transfer a few points from one member to another. But with only one transfer in or out a year, it might not be worth it to the member transferring out to just do a small number. You are better off borrowing from the next UY or just pay cash for the last night of your stay.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We too are always short on points! The DVC studios are very nice, but in essence when I have to stay in one, it occurs to me that I bought DVC for the one bedroom, not the studios. To me the studios are your basic hotel room with a few added features (and of course you still are in a wonderful, deluxe level resort). When I am short on points, I kick myself because it puts us in a studio or having pay cash nights.

In all my years on these boards, I have never seen one time when somebody regrets buying too many points!

So I say if you go with the higher number of points, if you can afford it, you won't regret it. DVC and WDW are very addicting, chances are you'll want to go more often once you are a member.

I will also add, this is for my family of four. Once the kids are grown up, studios will be fine for me and dh. But then we'll want to do longer stays and more frequent trips so we'll still always be needing as many points as possible! I do agree though in reading some of these later responses that starting out on the low end to see how things goes is wise. But I am seldom wise when it comes to trips to WDW! Maybe you will be smarter than me.

 

[threegoofys]

Go with the more points. cheaper now to get 40 more points then an add on in a few years when you realize you didn't get enought points the first time. Plus you can always rent any "left over" points you might have during your UY. Good Luck

 

[janni518]

We just bought 160 points this past May and have already realized that we are going to need to add on.

 

[DVCTiff]

We have 160 points and it's never been a problem, but it's only the two of us on most trips. We've had no problem banking or borrowing to take the whole family every couple of years. I wouldn't want to spend one-bedroom's worth of points for just the two of us. We're very comfortable in a studio, but that's just us.

 

[DMKEDM]

We started with the then-minimum buy-in of 150 points...the result for us was far more frequent trips, meaning add-on's (we now have 415 points)...but all 3 of our add-on's were done prior to price increases, so we didn't "lose" by starting "slow" and seeing how it went...

Also, I am also in a constant borrowing mode...but have determined two things which make borrowing a good stance for us: first, if I borrow points, I don't have to worry about winding up w/a few "left over" points at year-end (and with the new banking deadline of four months prior to the end of the use year, that's an issue for us...we've been members for 2 1/2 years now--our first year, I had 12 "left over" points (wound using them on a last-minute trip I hadn't planned on--and borrowed into next year to make the trip happen)...if I ever get to the point where I run out of borrowed points as well as current year points, I'll either add on again or rent (or look for a transfer)...or pay cash for our room)...second, I now have four relatively small contracts (150 points, 115 points, 100 points, and 50 points)--selling will be much easier (presumably) if/when I ever have to "downsize" than it would have been had I gotten all 415 points at first...

In addition, I don't think there's any way I could have known, prior to buying in the first time, all the nuances I now know having been using our points for the past 2 1/2 years...starting with a smaller number of points gave me time to learn (without having to make any really expensive mistakes!) ... adding on is SO easy...yes, prices go up...but if you really do need those extra 50 or so points, you'll find that out fairly quickly--watch here for "notice" of pending price increases (Disney does seem to give us notice--no doubt to give us all a chance to do some pre-price change add'ons!)...

Plus, if you add on near the end of your use year it's like getting a bonus of extra points...for example, I did a 100-point add'on at the end of January--just 10 days prior to getting my new year's points (we have a Feb use year)...so I got all 100 points (which Disney let me bank) for last use year, followed by another 100 points 10 days later for the new use year...it's a great way to leverage the number of points you have to use in a given year...

So, I've never regretted our decision to start w/the minimum number of points...we found out soon enough that we needed more that we didn't spend any more than we would have had we bought them w/our initial purchase...(Disney doesn't charge for closing costs on add-on's)...

Good luck with whatever you decide...

 

[dvcdisney]

I would suggest you purchase the number of points you think you will need for the next vacation. If you believe it to be 160 pts, then that's what I would suggest you purchase. Since this would be fairly new to you, it's best to know how you vacation with DVC, since, if you are anything like many of us DVCers are different from our pre DVC days.(Before we purchase DVC, we tried to go to Disney every year. But after we purchased, we were completely addicted and had to go once a year, but then that wasn't enough so we bought more points and now we have to go twice a year... It is just a very different way to vacation. And it may be something that you love or not, either way, I think you need to experience it first to purchase more points that you presently require.)

Once you are comfortable in DVC and you are sure you will need more points, then that's when you should purchase it. Again, if you are anything like us, you will be adding on in a year or two. It's just very addictive. Now, some are not as Disney obsessed and are fine going to Disney once every two years and if you find that every two years is good for you, then as you already mentioned 160 pts is enough for you. Then you don't have to worry about using up the points without losing them.

Another suggestion is if you like the price now and feel that you want to purchase alot of points now, you can purchase 160pts in one contract and purchase a smaller contract to go along with it (ie. 40pts to make your total 200pts). Then if for some reason you feel that 160 pts is all you need, you can sell your smaller contract with ease.

Just some suggestions. Good Luck.

 

[dvcdisney]

Also, I am also in a constant borrowing mode...but have determined two things which make borrowing a good stance for us: first, if I borrow points, I don't have to worry about winding up w/a few "left over" points at year-end .

I like that rationalization. So it's GOOD to be in constant borrowing mode. I will think of it this way from now on.

But in reality, I know that I am in contant borrowing mode because I NEED more points.

 

[Dean]

If 160 seems to give you enough for your current plans and expectations, I'd go that route. Much easier to add on later than to downsize. But if you do decide on more than 160, I'd recommend you go with smaller increments. Possibly 100+50+50, 100+100 or 160+40 using your example of 200. And if you're planning to finance, less to do so and you could save up to buy the rest later, possibly at a different home resort.

 

[LoveToDisney]

We never stay in a studio, even when it is just the two of us. We are tall and want the king size bed for starters. Second, we pack light and use the washer/dryer. Third, we love having the full size refrigerator and freezer. We started with 160 pts at BCV and that worked for a while because we could get additional points transfered to us when we needed them from other owners. When the rules changed and getting a small transfer became difficult because of the ONE transfer in or out rule, we decided to add on with points at BWV so we didn't have to worry about having enough. Now we bank and borrow for each resort to do whatever we want. I usually in a slight borrow mode so I never have to worry about losing any points.