Just venting a little bit - WWYD

[Anal Annie]

Sooo we're planning a beeeeg trip to Europe for next year. Booked one of the DCL Med cruises for next August. Figured we can't go to Europe without going to Disneyland Paris too. SOOOO had been thinking if we're not going to FL then we may as well blow a few points to stay at DLP. Started checking again about park ticket prices there!! OMG!!! We are soooo spoiled with our AP's here. DVC is KILLING US on this. We are being sooo messed over.

Staying onsite at DLP requires that you purchase length of stay tickets. So even though we want to spend 4 nights there but only have 2 park days they will make us buy 5 days worth of tickets. (I believe this is also on cash too - it's just a DLP thing.) Anyway, DVC will not give us any of the current ticket deals (like buy 4 for the price of 3) and we HAVE to buy them on the spot thru DVC. So are you ready? $1,105 for 3 tickets for 5 days for the 2 parks!! And never mind that 3 of those days won't even be USED!!! Then there's the $95 exchange fee. And then there's the points. It will use approx. 134 points to spend 4 nights at the Sequoia Lodge (that's the cheapest resort point-wise that we can use). And I say approx. 'cuz those are 2010 charts - who knows what 2011 will really be. OK so we're up to $1,200 and 134 points. Today I went onto the DLP website and priced out a complete package. 5 days / 4 nights at Sequoia Lodge with breakfast & tickets...came to $1,202 with tax!!! And there's no points lost!!! OK, so that SEEMS like a no-brainer right? Just book a package & save the points, right? NOOOO. Not so fast!! We have 37 banked points that we have to use or lose by next Nov. and we have no other trips planned. It is literally going to cost us $2 more to use points!! AND we'll be blowing all those points that we could save for Aulani in 2012!!

SOOO WWYD? Would you just say SEE YA to the 37 points & chalk it up as a loss and book a pkg. on cash so we can SAVE the rest of the points or would you go thru with your orig. plans to just squander them at DLP?!

I am very frustrated right now. MS told me I can't transfer those banked points to anyone else too. All I can do is make a reservation with them. DARN IT!!!!

(PS) That is the current package deal being offered at DLP - that WILL change but I hear from the DLP board that there's almost always some sort of discount to book - so I'm sure the bottom line with whatever the next deal is will be similar.

 

[Chuck S]

You could rent out most (or all) of your 37 points on our R/T Board, depending on available nights, etc. and use that to help offset the cost of a cash reservation at DLP. That way you don't really lose them, and then you can save your other points for Aulani in 2012.

 

[dbs1228]

I agree with Chuck S, try to rent the points, save what points you can and pay for the ressie since it makes absolutly no sense to use points (7 nights in a studio worth) and pay the same amount. Look at it as gaining 97 points to use in the future vs. possibly lossing 37 points.

 

[Anal Annie]

Sigh. I have always, always said NO to the idea of renting. I guess that is why they say "never say never"!! I never wanted to fool with it. Crazy people out there drive ya nuts over tiny stuff. Want this, want that. And then there's having to report the income etc. And what if they're deadbeats?! Is it worth it for approx. $370? Do people really rent just a few points like that? I always assumed they were looking for a LOT to rent so they could book a whole long stay.

OK, instead of Anal Annie now I am Naive Annie. Where do people get their contracts from? Do they just make 'em up? Sigh (again). I mean is it as simple as posting "37 points for rent"? Then have people pay into PayPay or something? I don't know even know how that works for incoming funds. I mean, I have a PayPal Acct....but I don't ever mess with it. DH will not be happy to have to report income on another line somewhere on our taxes. Where does that go? Does it go on a schedule or is it just "misc."?!

Do you really think that's our only option? OY!

 

[Dean]

Sooo we're planning a beeeeg trip to Europe for next year. Booked one of the DCL Med cruises for next August. Figured we can't go to Europe without going to Disneyland Paris too. SOOOO had been thinking if we're not going to FL then we may as well blow a few points to stay at DLP. Started checking again about park ticket prices there!! OMG!!! We are soooo spoiled with our AP's here. DVC is KILLING US on this. We are being sooo messed over.

Staying onsite at DLP requires that you purchase length of stay tickets. So even though we want to spend 4 nights there but only have 2 park days they will make us buy 5 days worth of tickets. (I believe this is also on cash too - it's just a DLP thing.) Anyway, DVC will not give us any of the current ticket deals (like buy 4 for the price of 3) and we HAVE to buy them on the spot thru DVC. So are you ready? $1,105 for 3 tickets for 5 days for the 2 parks!! And never mind that 3 of those days won't even be USED!!! Then there's the $95 exchange fee. And then there's the points. It will use approx. 134 points to spend 4 nights at the Sequoia Lodge (that's the cheapest resort point-wise that we can use). And I say approx. 'cuz those are 2010 charts - who knows what 2011 will really be. OK so we're up to $1,200 and 134 points. Today I went onto the DLP website and priced out a complete package. 5 days / 4 nights at Sequoia Lodge with breakfast & tickets...came to $1,202 with tax!!! And there's no points lost!!! OK, so that SEEMS like a no-brainer right? Just book a package & save the points, right? NOOOO. Not so fast!! We have 37 banked points that we have to use or lose by next Nov. and we have no other trips planned. It is literally going to cost us $2 more to use points!! AND we'll be blowing all those points that we could save for Aulani in 2012!!

SOOO WWYD? Would you just say SEE YA to the 37 points & chalk it up as a loss and book a pkg. on cash so we can SAVE the rest of the points or would you go thru with your orig. plans to just squander them at DLP?!

I am very frustrated right now. MS told me I can't transfer those banked points to anyone else too. All I can do is make a reservation with them. DARN IT!!!!

(PS) That is the current package deal being offered at DLP - that WILL change but I hear from the DLP board that there's almost always some sort of discount to book - so I'm sure the bottom line with whatever the next deal is will be similar.

I'd try for a private exchange to the Marriott resort there or I'd rent the points.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

You could use Daddio's to rent your points. He does all the work for you. He has a banner add at the top of Disboards page.

 

[ldo]

I agree about NEVER wanting to rent out points---but, if i were to do it, I would only rent to a DVC member--either paypal, or even personal check that clears prior to the reservation. Plenty of DVCers need just a night or two and now with only 1 transfer per year, I bet you will find some takers for a rental of a small number of points. Many want an extra night or a weekend getaway, but don't want to borrow points. So, post and see what you get. If they are a DVC member, chances are they will not be deadbeats.
Also, you might price out MArriott vacation Club right at DLP--huge beautiful villas. Lastly, have a great trip--we just did Europe with the kids--had a blast! Elaine from DC.

 

[Disney Princess]

I would also rent the 37 and bank the rest for your trip to Hawaii. It seems like a total waste to use the points for the same amount of money out of pocket. Also, if the "deals" come out, you may find a better price or a better resort for the same price. This allows you more flexibility.

If you don't want to mess with renting on your own (I wouldn't either), I would try to use David's service as well. We haven't used his service personally, but many on the boards here really have great things to say about it.

If you don't want to use David's service, do you have any friends or family that are going to WDW anytime before your use year ends? Instead of just throwing them out, you could offer a couple of nights to someone for free - at least your "loss" would benefit someone else.

 

[Anal Annie]

"Private exchange" also sounds intimidating! I just don't get out much!! I have always ignored threads about using other timeshares - how do you even go about that? My 37 points wouldn't get me very far anywhere else? Gosh I feel so stooopid right now.

Daddios? Is that a real name? Hope - is that who you used or did you use the R/T board here and do it yourself when you rented out?

I am at peace with the idea of spending $1,200 for room, breakfast AND park ticket package. But the idea of spending $1,100 just on the tickets alone is sending shivers down my neck!! I really didn't expect it to become so complicated!!

I am feeling the sudden need to create a spreadsheet!

 

[Anal Annie]

I would also rent the 37 and bank the rest for your trip to Hawaii. It seems like a total waste to use the points for the same amount of money out of pocket. Also, if the "deals" come out, you may find a better price or a better resort for the same price. This allows you more flexibility.

If you don't want to mess with renting on your own (I wouldn't either), I would try to use David's service as well. We haven't used his service personally, but many on the boards here really have great things to say about it.

If you don't want to use David's service, do you have any friends or family that are going to WDW anytime before your use year ends? Instead of just throwing them out, you could offer a couple of nights to someone for free - at least your "loss" would benefit someone else.

OK, now I'm confused. Is it Daddios or David's? Are you talking about the same place as BWV Dreamin or different?

I WISH I could just transfer the silly things. I don't know anybody else with plans to go. I have a cousin who owns DVC but she already has 2 trips booked (T-giving week & the marathon week) so she doesn't need me to make a new ressie for her.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

http://www.dvcrequest.com/

Daddio's and Davids is the same person.

I rent my own points. If your not comfortable with renting, give Daddio's a try.

 

[Dean]

"Private exchange" also sounds intimidating! I just don't get out much!! I have always ignored threads about using other timeshares - how do you even go about that? My 37 points wouldn't get me very far anywhere else? Gosh I feel so stooopid right now.

Daddios? Is that a real name? Hope - is that who you used or did you use the R/T board here and do it yourself when you rented out?

I am at peace with the idea of spending $1,200 for room, breakfast AND park ticket package. But the idea of spending $1,100 just on the tickets alone is sending shivers down my neck!! I really didn't expect it to become so complicated!!

I am feeling the sudden need to create a spreadsheet!

I don't think it's all that complicated once you understand the basics but it would require some effort on your part and it would have around the same risk as renting or possibly a little more. 37 points likely wouldn't do it but it likely wouldn't require that much more, maybe 60 total, to get a studio for a week. But I don't think you can get 4 days out of DL paris for 37 points either. I think 152 points is the lowest for that time period so either way you'd be using far more than just 37 points. IF you only want to dispose of the 37 points, rental is the way to go.

 

[Anal Annie]

OK, well, I just looked at the Daddio / Davids website thing & looked over his terms. He won't fool with renting anything less than 95 points and I'm not looking to mess with renting points that aren't going to be lost - I want to keep those for Hawaii if we're not using them!! So Daddio is out!! I looked thru the R/T board too - as I suspected, most rentals are for more points than my measley 37. I think renting only 37 will be a challenge but I guess I'll mull over the idea some more to see if it's worth messing with. I could go to 40 or whatever is needed to round off a ressie for a few nights but I really don't want to go much over the 37 points. One COULD do a ressie for 4 nights Sun-Thur in a studio at OKW in Jan or Sept for 40 pts. or a weekend in July etc. I just need to find the right renter I guess.

I would also need to find a good contract to work from & I don't know what fees are involved with PayPal etc. (anybody know that off-hand?) Also need to study the R/T board rules...

I'm also hesitant about the whole income tax thing too...is that just an honor system on our part and where does it have to be reported? I just know DH is gonna give me the evil eye when I bring that one up!!

Dean - how does the whole Marriott thing even WORK? How does one even get started?? I'm not sure I even understand what you're suggesting. Well, OK, I KNOW I don't understand...

 

[ToddyLu]

Just hypothetically speaking, if I got xx amount of points transferred to me (just trying to understand how different situations work while being blonde)....I could use them combined with my AKV points for a reservation in March or May next year, booking at 7 months or less, right? I am able to bank transferred points but not transfer banked points or the other way around? TIA!

 

[ToddyLu]

Do the transferred poionts have to be AKV or have the same UY...do they retain those when they are transferred to you? Gosh I know this is in a sticky somewhere but it is so much easy just to type and ask....

 

[Anal Annie]

Just hypothetically speaking, if I got xx amount of points transferred to me (just trying to understand how different situations work while being blonde)....I could use them combined with my AKV points for a reservation in March or May next year, booking at 7 months or less, right? I am able to bank transferred points but not transfer banked points or the other way around? TIA!

Yes, I believe that's how it all works. MS told me that since my 37 points are banked that I cannot transfer them. Otherwise I would've just said fine, and I would transfer them into my cousins account or whatever. So we are left with renting, using or losing.


I may not do anything with these points just yet - I am also going run some numbers (sounds like a spreadsheet coming) for the idea of trying to plan a 4 night trip over next Memorial Day weekend to use them ourselves. We went that weekend in 2009 as a surprise for DS's birthday & it was a great get-a-way & a fun surprise for him. But we also bought AP's on that trip which we planned to use for 3 trips. The problem for us for NEXT year is that we have this big trip planned to Europe in August and then want to do Aulani in 2012...so it's leaving us with expensive ticket options for FL AND DLP. We either bite the bullet and pay like $800 for 3 days OR we buy 10 day non-expiring which would run like $1,600!!! On top of our Europe / cruise trip I'm not sure that's so feasible for us!! Anyway, I am also considering the idea of making a ressie at our 7 mo. window next month for maybe BLT or something (we only use studios & have already decided the BLT ones are TOOOO small for anything more than a long weekend but yet we want to try it so that would be a good time). Then when we do our taxes in Feb. we'll be able to tell if we can afford ALL of these trips or not. If not, then we can cancel the Memorial Day weekend trip - DS would never have known about it and the points just go back into our acct. - THEN I could try to rent the 37 points at that time. A long weekend in May would be the perfect fix if I could just figure out which tickets we can afford. The more I study these prices the more I realize what a good deal the AP's are...if only we could plan that many trips in 1 year again.

 

[ToddyLu]

Sounds like you are coming up with a great plan!!

 

[Dean]

Dean - how does the whole Marriott thing even WORK? How does one even get started?? I'm not sure I even understand what you're suggesting. Well, OK, I KNOW I don't understand...

If one were interested in a direct exchange I'd look on the Timeshare Users Group and redweeks personally. You might also look at the rent/trade board but investigate the rules as I'm not sure how this would fit in there since I don't generally go there, find the ever changing rules and attempt at social engineering as it applies to DVC rentals aggravating.

 

[TisBit]

The way that I see it, is you have a choice, you can let 37 points expire or you can end up using 134 points just to keep 37 from expiring.

A $2 difference isn't a difference in my opinion, it is the same cost. So you lose more by booking with points, just to keep other points from expiring.

Now, I would possibly consider staying at DLP for 3 days and changing hotels to off site just to keep from buying tickets. I have seen similar discussion/complaints about DLP in the past and the fact they force you to purchase the tickets. And as for DVC use at DLP, I liken that to using DVC to stay at the Poly, it probably won't save you a ton vs current promotions and could cost you more.

 

[Anal Annie]

The way that I see it, is you have a choice, you can let 37 points expire or you can end up using 134 points just to keep 37 from expiring.

A $2 difference isn't a difference in my opinion, it is the same cost. So you lose more by booking with points, just to keep other points from expiring.

Now, I would possibly consider staying at DLP for 3 days and changing hotels to off site just to keep from buying tickets. I have seen similar discussion/complaints about DLP in the past and the fact they force you to purchase the tickets. And as for DVC use at DLP, I liken that to using DVC to stay at the Poly, it probably won't save you a ton vs current promotions and could cost you more.

I wouldn't use points for the Poly either but our thought process had been that since we're going to Europe and were not plannng on going to FL next year we may as well use a few points for our nights in Paris, thinking that we had these 37 banked ones to use up etc, etc. and that still left us with more than 1/2 of our annual allotment that we'd just end up banking. Since we're already shelling out a good bit for the cruise and excursions + we're planning to stay over in Barcelona a few nights afterward in addition to moving there the day before the cruise it seemed like a good idea at the time to cut down on our cash out of pocket. So the thought was that we'd be saving $200 a night or whatever a hotel costs for the 4 nights in Paris - so we THOUGHT we'd be saving ourselves about $800 - which will cover the cost of the private tours we want to do in Rome or Naples. We knew we had to buy park tix but didn't realize just how much they were going to cost and that DVC wouldn't honor any of the deals that DLP offers. AND I had not previously priced their room & ticket packages for a comparison until I found out how much the tix alone were. That's when I priced out their specials & deals.

I momentarily considered the idea of spending 2 nights on site & then moving into the city for 2 nights BUT they would still force us to buy 3 days of tix which would run $510 plus I really despise packing up & moving every 2 days. That is such a waste of precious vaca time. We've done that in Hawaii a couple of times when we island hopped & it really does waste valuable time IMHO. That's what's so nice about the cruise - unpack & re-pack only once the entire time.

(DLP has a 2 night / 3 day minimum requirement!!)