Looking for the lowdown on DVC World Passport Collection

[rutgers1]

Hello! I just joined the family this week and am excited to get started. The biggest realization that I made post-signup was that we can't afford to fly down to Disney every year, so we will probably go every other year, thus necessitating either banking or using the points at a location closer to home on the odd years.

So, with that said, what is your impression of the World Passport Collection program? Is it a good deal?

I have this vision that I would be able to spend a week at a beach resort somewhere in the northeast (I live in NJ) each summer. If I could do that, then I am undoubtedly going to be happy with joining the DVC. Otherwise, it looks like I will be going for a mega Disney trip every other year!

 

[Dean]

Hello! I just joined the family this week and am excited to get started. The biggest realization that I made post-signup was that we can't afford to fly down to Disney every year, so we will probably go every other year, thus necessitating either banking or using the points at a location closer to home on the odd years.

So, with that said, what is your impression of the World Passport Collection program? Is it a good deal?

I have this vision that I would be able to spend a week at a beach resort somewhere in the northeast (I live in NJ) each summer. If I could do that, then I am undoubtedly going to be happy with joining the DVC. Otherwise, it looks like I will be going for a mega Disney trip every other year!

The WP is not a good program overall but at least it is an option. For things you can easily get, it's a lot of points, usually worth far more than you could get the same type reservation for other ways. For the prime options, such as mid summer Beach locations, your chances of getting anything are very slim. I'd suggest banking and using the points EOY when you can. But if you decide to use Interval for a timeshare exchange, learn the system and plan AT LEAST a full year out. If you can avoid the school vacations you'll do much better exchanging. Unfortunately there isn't much for good Beach options in the NE or Atlantic states, you'd have to get down to NC & SC to have good choices for this type of trip.

 

[rutgers1]

I just got off the phone with DVC. She walked me through the member site, which I had yet to access. Searching for world passport hotels seemed relatively simple, and I liked the idea of their new short stay program. Unlike the longer stays, you are supposed to be able to book them online. However, when I tried to access availability, it didn't work. She said that the system is new and that there are glitches.

Unless I am reading the book incorrectly, points required for these locations are comparable to the points needed for a Disney resort. The main difference is that you have to pay the up-front fee to Interval International.

 

[Dean]

I just got off the phone with DVC. She walked me through the member site, which I had yet to access. Searching for world passport hotels seemed relatively simple, and I liked the idea of their new short stay program. Unlike the longer stays, you are supposed to be able to book them online. However, when I tried to access availability, it didn't work. She said that the system is new and that there are glitches.

Unless I am reading the book incorrectly, points required for these locations are comparable to the points needed for a Disney resort. The main difference is that you have to pay the up-front fee to Interval International.

There is a fair amount of availability, it's just that you must look no more than about 3.5 weeks ahead. And while it is comparable to what you'd pay at a DVC resort, it's a week you could get for $300 or less in most cases if you were a regular member of II.