lots of ????

[nelle]

My husband and I are considering purchasing into the DVC and I have a few questions.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to the minimum number of points we should purchase? We like to stay about a week or more and like to vacation every year. There will be five of us most of the time except when extra family comes along.
Has anyone ever used thier points to stay at any of the other destinations that DVC offers( like the bed and breakfasts or the world passport collection)? We live in WI so there is two or three places close by. Is it worth using your points for this or is paying cash the better route?
I read somewhere that if you purchased into the DVC before 99 that included in your purchase was unlimited magic passes, is that true? If you buy through a resale does the pass come with the points?

 

[Richyams]

The pass program ended for everyone at the end of '99. No more passes for anyone at all.

You are going to need a two bedroom unit, 4 is the max for a studio or one bedroom, plus a child under three in a portacrib.

What season do you wish to go?

What resort do you want to stay at?

These all effect the number of points you will want.

Most non-DVC uses of points are not a good value. They are real nice to go somewhere you normally wouldn't if you didn't have the points, but in general, spending points outside of a DVC resort isn't a good value.

You need to look at the point charts and point calculator.

Here is a link to the DVC FAQ

You will find a link to the point calculator and the answers to many questions there.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Rich is right. You need to look at which resort and what time of year before you decide how many points. If you decide you like BWV or OKW, you need to look a resales. If you prefer VWL, you need to buy from Disney. The point calculator on this site will help you determin that.

Disneydiane

 

[Disnydad]

Another point is that the one bedroom at VWL will only sleep 4. It is a king size bed in the bedroom and a full size fold out couch in the living room. You may need a resale at another DVC location.

Don, DVC/VWL 2000

OS/90, BC/95, WL/97, Cont/98&99, Poly/99, DxL/00, CBR/00

 

[spiceycat]

I thought the bed in the livingroom was a queen sleeper sofa, like all the other DVC resorts - it is not?

 

[Ed T]

Hi:

If you are interested in buying into either OKW or Boardwalk you will need to purchase a resale. Resale carry the same benefits as you would get if you purchased through Disney except sometimes at lower prices. Disney does not deal in resales. You need to make sure that the resort you pick is the resort you are most likely to stay the most. the 11 month booking window is important especially if you are traveling during peak seasons.
If you are interested in a contact for resales please email me and I will be happy to share my contact with you. We have purchased both through Disney and resale so have experiences with both transactions.
Good luck with your decision.

Ed
DVC 1994

 

[Richyams]

All DVC resorts only sleep 4 in the studio or one bedroom. VWL is not special in that regard. The exception is that BWV has some room called a studio-plus, these rooms are dedicated studios. On the wall where the door to the one bedroom would be, there is a small daybed suitable for a small child. It is about five feet long.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[drusba]

For most times of year other than off-seasons, Easter and Christmas, a 2BR that holds 5 at VWL (the one currently being sold by Disney) takes 350 points for a week; a 1BR that sleeps 4 plus a child under 3 in a crib takes 270. The same applies to preferred view rooms at BWV (about 80% of all rooms). OKW takes 296 for a 2BR. The 2BR's sleep up to 8 and thus you will have some extra room for additional family members. BWV and OKW are available only in the resale market.

It is usually better to use your points for DVC. However, for a once in a while excursion usuing them for other places is easy and prevents the cash outlay. Also, one the places in Wisconsin is worth its weight in gold if you are golfer--The American Club--and I have used points for a weekend excursion there.