Looks like we may be doing a 50 pt add on at BLT-Is there any reason not too?

[Disneyfun1]

We have 210 pts at SSR right now, 1 was a 50 pt add on 2 years ago. We may be doing a 50 pt add on at BLT next week. Are there any pros or cons to it now?

i know the points go up nov 1 to 120/pt. we are at 112 with a 5 pt discount for a total of 107/pt, and we would get points now which we would bank since we are not returning until oct 2010, so we would have 100 to use then total without borrowing.

Is this good or bad?

Sucks making another payment, but want to get it before the increase and we can use the points. they said about 65 on the points and 15 on the dues for this loan. sound right?

 

[disneynutz]

I guess the biggest question is do you love staying at BLT? Did you find the accommodations to your liking?

BLT seems to be either a love or hate type of resort. Compared to other DVC resorts, BLT doesn't have the same DVC homey feel. Some find having all of the support services at the Contemporary a negative, others don't seem to mind.

DVD expected sales to be better then they have been. To increase sales they have increased incentives including free cruises, and lowered the minimum purchase requirement.

Bill

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I'm torn, I wanted to add on 92 points, I know it sounds odd, but that would give each kid 196 points, when the time came!! But with the economy the way it is, I just can't justify it. Don't want to take 10K out of savings, right now, refuse to finance, plus my maintenance is about 1200 a year already, just seems crazy to do it, considering the state of the economy. Now if the Dow stays above 10K for the next few weeks, I may re-consider!!

 

[cayman01]

I went for a tour last week and was quoted $120/pt at BLT. It may still only be $112 for current members, I don't know.

 

[Coach81]

No reason not to.. DO IT!!!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I would look at what 50 points at BLT can do for you. I know you can bank and borrow, to make longer stay, but will you?
Now that the THV is open at SSR, I am thrilled to have enough points to book there for a week or 2.
I too have considered adding on more points at BLT, but I am waiting. Who knows the price could increase and so could the incentives. I just dont think the $5 off is that good of a deal anymore.

 

[DVCGeek]

We did a 50 point add on at VGC with the plan being a studio for 5 nights every 3 years or so (bank-use-borrow) and then use our 160 point BLT contract for a 6 night stay every calendar year @ WDW. I'd say do it if you can afford it, but don't stretch yourself uncomfortably thin! Addonitus is a hard disease to shake.

 

[lch6257]

Other than the cost factors, I can think of no reason not to add on at BLT. My family debated over DVC for years. We bought in at $96/pt in June and bought 180 pts. We just got back from our first trip home in a 2BR dedicated last week at BLT and we all had a SUPERB vacation. BLT is top notch. My kids want the same exact room for next year and I asked them if they wanted to stay at OKW or BCV, AKV or BWV and the answer was a resounding no thanks, we are very happy at Bay Lake. We are going back in October again next year and will request the same room as this year. We had a Lake View on the Marina side and could see the Contemporary, Monorail, Water parade, Spaceship Earth, Expedition Everest, Sorcerers Hat (at night when it is lit) not to mention the gorgeous water views and sunrises. We hit all 4 parks and I asked my oldest daughter, turned 13 last week while we were there, what she liked best and she said: Bay Lake Towers!

We sent a letter to Disney to let them know how happy we are with this EXCELLENT resort. For my family of 7, it did not compare to OKW, and I like OKW a lot. We have two in strollers, so the convenience of the monorail and close proximity to MK was a huge PLUS and the absence of this was why we did not go DVC earlier. We look forward to many,many future trips home.

 

[Saratoga_Dan]

Unless you have enough BLT points for your reservation there, you will not have the 11 month benefit. If your going to have to wait for the 7 months, it would be far cheaper to add on 50pts at Saratoga. The fees would be cheaper as well.

 

[Saratoga_Dan]

Bye-the-way, I meant to add on resale Saratoga points. The Timeshare store has loads of resales; you could add on 50 Saratoga points very inexpensively. Best of luck.

 

[hopare]

Unless you have enough BLT points for your reservation there, you will not have the 11 month benefit. If your going to have to wait for the 7 months, it would be far cheaper to add on 50pts at Saratoga. The fees would be cheaper as well.

Now I am confused. Aren't MF cheaper at BLT than Saratoga??

 

[DenLo]

First I'd check my finances, if I can afford the points and MF, then I check whether 50 points will give me any home resort advantage at BLT. I'd also check other DVC resorts to see if 50 points there gives us more nights and whether I'd want home resort advantage there.

Personally I'd never buy 50 points unless I could pay cash for it. It wouldn't take that long to save for it. And I'd be willing to cut expenses here and there to save for it. By time I'd save the money more BLT contracts should be on the resale market or better incentives might be available.

BTW, I just doubled checked and BLT does have a lower MF. $3.6709 vs $4.3353 per point. That would be $33 less in MF year (currently) on 50 points.

 

[toniosmom]

I considered a 50 point add-on for BCV not too long ago. When I reviewed the point charts, I realized that I would need 60 in order to bank and borrow to achieve a 5-day trip (Sun-Fri) during spring break every 3 years. So, it really depends on when and how long you want to be at BLT. For me, less than 5 days is not worth the price of airfare. (I can never get under $250pp from here.)

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Saratoga_Dan]

You are not confused, you are correct. The difference is about .68 per point for management, with SSR being the higher. However, even with the additional $34 per year for the SSR points, you would eat up the additional $2100 in cost (assuming a purchase price of $70 for the resale and $112 for the new BLT points) in just under 62 years. All of that may be a mute point because I think most people purchase DVC emotionally. (I know I did) The advice of doing what feels good seems right on to me. I just think that unless you purchase enough points to actually cover a reservation at BLT, you would be financially better off buying after-market points. You may want to wait a bit and get the BLT points as a resale. Unemployment is supposed to go up, so, unfortunately there will most likely be some folks that purchased BLT that have to give them up. I hope not, but I fear it may be in the cards.

 

[lark]

Sucks making another payment, but want to get it before the increase and we can use the points. they said about 65 on the points and 15 on the dues for this loan. sound right?

This sounds correct to me. 50 points at $107 is $5350. A 10 percent down payment would be $535, leaving a loan of $4815. At the preferred rate of 10.75%, this is $65.65 per month, for a total payment over the life of the loan of about $7878, or $4815 in principal and $3063 in interest.

Dues are $3.67 or $183.50 per year for 50 points. That's $15.29 per month.

I don't think I'd add on 50 points just to do it. I agree with others that you need a sense of what you want to accomplish. Points just don't go as far at BLT as other places. How often will you use the ponts?

The increase in price is certainly worth considering, but you have to take into account that you're borrowing money now to make this purchase now. Assuming there will still be some incentives after the price increase, let's say next year you can only get points for $115. That's $400 more than you'd spend today. Seems crummy, but it's actually less than you've paid in interest in one year on that $4815 loan in that one year. I guess if you know for sure you want to stay in October 2010 and 100 points is enough for what you want, then buying now gives you the 11 month window. Now that would be a reason to do it, but the impending price increase alone isn't enough I wouldn't think. Both combined perhaps make it right. Just trying to say people shouldn't overreact about the price increase if they are borrowing, because the interest needs to be considered.