Just curious how many pts you have?

[gryfoxmama]

1000 club chiming in here. Our first 180 was SSR direct simply because we enjoyed our first stay there when we rented points. At the time AKV had not existed yet. Since then, everywhere else we have bought has been because we wanted to stay there. We generally don't care where we stay so we have SSR points for our unplanned spur of the moment getaways which are quite frequent. We have 380 SSR points now. The other 200 was resale. We bought both direct and resale at AKV because it is my favorite resort. We like to treat family to a GV stay here once in a while. We have 400 here. We bought 220 at VGF since it is DH's favorite and we wanted to also treat family here once every few years. When we found ourselves going to Food & Wine every weekend we decided to get enough points to stay in a studio for most of the weekends. We have 100 resale there and are waiting for another 100 to pass rofr.



We've never used points for any if the 11 Disney cruises we have been on yet. We have always been recognized as DVC members by DCL though.

Did you do something special to be recognized DVC by DCL or just luck?

 

[DenLo]

Did you do something special to be recognized DVC by DCL or just luck?

When you book your DCL cruise they know that you are a DVC member even when you pay cash. And if they don't mention it, I would tell them. The DVC representatives have a list of members onboard ship. So goodies are placed in the cabins of members as well as sending you invites to Member only presentations. You can even check in with the DVC Rep in the terminal to make sure they have you on the list. And if it's your first Disney Cruise, get a DVC lanyard to hold your KTTW card. Normally only past passengers get a DCL lanyard based on their Castaway Club standing.

 

[calypso726]

I wish I had heard about this site before we bought in 2009. We keep changing how we use our pts and plans to use in future. Love to hear how you guys do it!!

It is a shame money and work have to impact vacations!!!!!!!

Oh tell me about it! I plan to come back as independently wealthy in my next life

Our vacation habits have changed over the years and so has how we use our points. At first we just wanted enough to go to WDW once a year in a 2 bdrm with friends for a few days to a week. As time went on we wanted to be able to bring family and treat them every other year so we added on.

Well that changed as time went on after drinking the Kool Aid and getting back in line for more. We went on our first Disney cruise and loved it! So we started doing more cruises but we never used our points for them and still don't. We found that we were taking shorter trips over the weekends much more frequently because we were dedicating vacation time from work to the cruises. Then we discovered Adventures by Disney and are hooked on those! We are doing our 3rd one this September.

Now that we split our vacation time between ABD and DCL trips we have found we don't spend a week at WDW. However, we still love going there so we do lots of weekends throughout the year. We are a 3 hour drive away so it is very easy to go at a moment's notice. We have a group of about 30+ friends we've made over two DVC member cruises and we all cruise together or meet up at WDW for dinner when any of them come down.

Currently we used points to book our post London/Paris ABD stay at the Disneyland Paris Hotel. We are looking at using our points to stay at one of the ski resorts available through the Concierge Collection next year. After staying at the Manhattan Club last month with ABD we will definitely use points to stay there again down the line. I love the idea of getting away for a long weekend once in a while to catch some Broadway shows in NY. We are also planning on using our points for a post stay after the Norway/Iceland/Scotland/England DCL cruise next June at the Royal Garden Hotel in England.

Did you do something special to be recognized DVC by DCL or just luck?

Nothing at all. They just knew

 

[gryfoxmama]

DISboards is addicting!! Rather get on here than check emails and texts!!

 

[judydvc]

Interesting to see how use of points has changed. When I first bought my points. I used them for a trip to WDW every year. Then I started using them To go to DLR and that's why I bought at VGC when it first opened. I did once use them for a trip to NYC but now it's mostly for Disneyland trips. And maybe a few nights at Aulani prior to our cruise. We're paying cash for the cruise.

 

[gryfoxmama]

I have rented out to close friends a couple of times like last year when I was trying to figure out how to pay for the Scotland ABD (Adventures by Disney) after they announced the trip. Of course we found ourself in perpetual borrow mode but it was worth renting out about 400 points to help pay for the best vacation EVER!

We discovered travel hacking when I was trying to figure out how to pay for the Scotland trip that wasn't in our vacation budget since it was announced well after we made our vacation budget for the year. Travel hacking is a hobby now which involves accumulating air miles and points to be used for travel. This is accomplished through credit card sign up bonuses, maximizing the points earned on the things we buy by knowing where to buy, how to buy it and which card to use. Some of it is manufactured spending, especially when trying to meet spending requirements with some of the credit cards to get the bonus. DH and I have over 2 million miles between us now. I never use cash or checks. My credit score has gone from low 700s to 800 so this doesn't adversely affect credit score when done the right way.



Last year we treated extended family, 14 of us in a GV and 2 bdrm at AKV both savanna view. I would not do this again. Everyone changed their arrival and departure dates without notice. We had a grand villa for just DH and I for 2 nights.

I keep thinking about all your ideas you use to get those magical vacations. Why don't you start a thread for your "travel hacking" ideas and this of others?
Just a thought!!

 

[JessLCH]

We bought 920 resale points at BLT over the past year (4 contracts) and recently passed ROFR on 650 at VWL which will total 1570 points once we close.

We travel a lot including 1-2 Disney visits per year which are often with extended family, generally during peak periods, often requiring two 2 bedroom villas. This year our points were used as follows: we did a long weekend at Kidani in Jan (1 bedroom), will be at Aulani in August (2 bedroom and studio) and BLT over Thanksgiving week ( two 2 bedrooms).

 

[gryfoxmama]

We bought 920 resale points at BLT over the past year (4 contracts) and recently passed ROFR on 650 at VWL which will total 1570 points once we close.

We travel a lot including 1-2 Disney visits per year which are often with extended family, generally during peak periods, often requiring two 2 bedroom villas. This year our points were used as follows: we did a long weekend at Kidani in Jan (1 bedroom), will be at Aulani in August (2 bedroom and studio) and BLT over Thanksgiving week ( two 2 bedrooms).

Congratulations on acquiring so many pts so quickly!! Wish Illinois wasn't so far away so we could justify short trips to WDW!!

 

[SusieBea]

Like several others, the way we use our points has changed over 21 years. We initially purchased 190 at OKW in 1993. We've added 4 more contracts, all at OKW, now totaling 635 points in two Use Years. We won't add more because this is working for us. Our two girls now have their own families. We've used points to secure accommodations for each of them for their honeymoons, one in London, one at WDW. We took a cruise (won't use points for that again). We stayed at VGC, GF, and YC using points. We've also stayed at Vero and HHI. In recent years, we've spent a full week w/ our daughters' families, then just the two of us the first week in December to see the decorations, and usually 4-5 additional nights. I've been really pleased to not have "lost", not used, whatever, any more than 7 points over our term of membership so far. It's been a good decision that we haven't regretted.

 

[keaster]

We have 480 points (2-240 point contracts), both purchased direct at AKL. We bought in on a cruise in 2011 when they had some pretty good incentives. Sad to hear that they don't seem to be offering many incentives at sea anymore!

I think 480 is good for us, we tend to go twice a year so it's a good amount for now

 

[calypso726]

I keep thinking about all your ideas you use to get those magical vacations. Why don't you start a thread for your "travel hacking" ideas and this of others?
Just a thought!!

Thanks. I posted about it here and there on various threads if and when the topic presents itself. I don't know where I'd actually start a thread that would be relevant though.

 

[gryfoxmama]

Thanks. I posted about it here and there on various threads if and when the topic presents itself. I don't know where I'd actually start a thread that would be relevant though.

It sounds like you have it down to a science!! I will look through the threads for more ideas. Thanks

I am always looking for ways to save a dollar and guess where I want that dollar to go. My grandsons wanted to go up in my attic like the "pickers on TV" and look for rusty gold to sell for vacations.!!

 

[Judique]

Your honesty at jealous is refreshing. I get it also and not always honest with myself.
I turn 60 this year and noticed over the years that are a lot of people of who acquire status/ wealth but act like everyday people. Many of the wannabes are the ones who carry the airs and attitude - "snobs".

Right in your age group and I think most of it is perceived. I stayed at Grand Floridian Villas in February and to me it was just like staying at any other DVC with the differences being the décor and location, not so much the people. I really loved the rooms, but not so much the location. I think for a monorail resort I like BLT better because of access - walk to MK, monorail to Epcot, etc.

My thought on wealthy people is the 1% needs friends also. And, who wants to buy their friends? Just be yourself, whatever that makes you - live a happy life. The rest will come along.

 

[DizBub]

One of my favorites stories was one I read on a DVC board, overheard on the monorail by a DVC member. Little boy pointing at BLT and asked his daddy what it was, dad says,"that's where the rich people stay". DVC member found this amusing and asked the dad where they were staying, the reply was Grand Floridian.

Perceptions indeed.

Then again, a few years ago my brother was waiting in line for the monorail at MK and struck up a nice conversation with a guy. Before they got off at TTC the guy asked him where they were staying and my brother told him CBR and the guy became instantly cool. My brother asked where he was staying and the reply was Poly. Personally, I feel my brother was probably defensive and felt jealous and inferior......I know how he is.

 

[gryfoxmama]

Right in your age group and I think most of it is perceived. I stayed at Grand Floridian Villas in February and to me it was just like staying at any other DVC with the differences being the décor and location, not so much the people. I really loved the rooms, but not so much the location. I think for a monorail resort I like BLT better because of access - walk to MK, monorail to Epcot, etc.

My thought on wealthy people is the 1% needs friends also. And, who wants to buy their friends? Just be yourself, whatever that makes you - live a happy life. The rest will come along.

People tell me I have it made because we can afford to go on vacations. I have tightened the budget in areas to order to do our vacations.

 

[DizBub]

People tell me I have it made because we can afford to go on vacations. I have tightened the budget in areas to order to do our vacations.

We are in our early/mid 60s retired and can go when we want. Since buying DVC nearly 5 years ago now we go often. The perks of getting old, I guess.
We drive (cheaper than airfare and car rental) and stay in a motel one night on the way down. We have APs (PAPs the last couple of years), TIW and use our DVC discounts when we can. Aren't big shoppers so we don't blow $ there. The point is that a our trips just don't cost that much. But take the cost of 1 trip Xs 3 or 4 every year and it can add up. I'm just glad we can afford it.

 

[gryfoxmama]

We are in our early/mid 60s retired and can go when we want. Since buying DVC nearly 5 years ago now we go often. The perks of getting old, I guess.
We drive (cheaper than airfare and car rental) and stay in a motel one night on the way down. We have APs (PAPs the last couple of years), TIW and use our DVC discounts when we can. Aren't big shoppers so we don't blow $ there. The point is that a our trips just don't cost that much. But take the cost of 1 trip Xs 3 or 4 every year and it can add up. I'm just glad we can afford it.

We have four grown kids with families and adopted three who are now 12, 15, & 17. I keep thinking I could be foot loose too if we hadn't adopted. The truth is, probably would always be bringing one or more of the grandkids on our trips.
With frequent flier miles.....we just bring them all. Get a villa and cook half meals there and give them xmas $ for spending....
Park passes are our biggest expense.
Memories!!

 

[cedricandsophie]

We too are from Illinois. Mostly we fly down although my husband does drive down for spring baseball. We have over 1400 points at seven resorts and four use years. Some bought through Disney others on the secondary resale market. We go to Walt Disney world at least two times a year, for anywhere from 5 to 12 days. We usually go to Vero beach a few days a year. And we adore aulani and have gone there three years in a row and will go back next year. We give our kids some points every year but mainly we just use them ourselves. We have no desire to sell or rent them. Our kids will enjoy them after were gone. I have figured out that based on how we use them, we more than cover our maintenance fees.

 

[gryfoxmama]

We too are from Illinois. Mostly we fly down although my husband does drive down for spring baseball. We have over 1400 points at seven resorts and four use years. Some bought through Disney others on the secondary resale market. We go to Walt Disney world at least two times a year, for anywhere from 5 to 12 days. We usually go to Vero beach a few days a year. And we adore aulani and have gone there three years in a row and will go back next year. We give our kids some points every year but mainly we just use them ourselves. We have no desire to sell or rent them. Our kids will enjoy them after were gone. I have figured out that based on how we use them, we more than cover our maintenance fees.

Do you rent some out to cover maintenance fees?
I wish WDW, HHI & VB were closer to Illinois.......would definitely do more than our one annual trip!

 

[bcvlover]

I wish there was something closer to Illinois too, so we could drive .. like 6 hours away or closer.