My take on Non-DVC point value

[Pluto4President]

I just posted this on a different thread but wanted to give it it's own attention.

Just to put in my 2 cents here. My original DVC purchase was based on the amount of points needed to stay at the GF for 10 days between Tday and Xmas. Maybe I am not the norm, but I did not purchase into the DVC just to stay at my BWV home. I purchase to stay at WDW. We've been to the GF in 98 & 99, YC in 2000, BWV,CR and DCL already this year, GF next month, BWV for Tday 2001. Granted I have added on seem to have enough points now to do as I please, but I still like the flexibility of the point system. If I want to stay a little longer on a certain trip and string out my pioints, I will hit a DVC resort. Otherwise, I like to bounce around the resorts and enjoy all of WDW. I know that it may not be a good value for the points, but nonetheless, it's the reason I bought the magic! And I don't regret it!

I've been out of the loop for a couple of months here on the Dis, but it seems that there is a lot more grumbling going on here than there used to be. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and as it is written in many threads on this board, DVC is not for everyone. If people are unhappy or becoming disatisfied with DVC, sell it. The resale market will snatch up your contract.

Although I "seem have enough," I am always looking on the market for small BWV contracts with an August use year couldn't hurt

DVC Member and proud

 

[Muushka]

Ditto!

 

[PamOKW]

My original DVC purchase was based on the amount of points needed to stay at the GF for 10 days between Tday and Xmas.

Pluto, first let me say I am also quite happy with my DVC purchase and I certainly hope these threads don't dissuade people from a DVC purchase. The "grumbling" began yesterday when word leaked about a change in the point system. I'm going to wait to see the whole picture before getting overly concerned and, in fact, I don't use the WDW Collection much so it shouldn't be a major problem.

What I was wondering is, since you say you bought with the idea of using the various resorts and planned on roughly 450 points to stay at the GF in early December, how would you feel if when the new point chart comes out that same stay will require 1350 points? We don't know if the increase will be that dramatic at that time of year but it's within the realm of possibility.

 

[kem330]

Pluto, I want to stay at other resorts also and I'm unhappy because of an unusually high increase (200%) in points required for Jan 1 and 2. Would it bother you if points for your Dec stay increased so much that you had to cancel or cut short the trip? Everyone expects some increases and nothing is guaranteed, but to suddenly change so drastically, without warning is wrong. It would have cost 140 points/room for 4 nights and now its 216 points/room for 4 nights for three rooms. I budgeted based on last year that it would cost 420 points plus up to 50 points or so for inflation. Now its 648 points, an increase of 228 points and more than I have available. As reasonable people, are we so wrong to expect reasonable increases? Out of the blue, after 10 years of stability, suddenly this change? I would have appreciated some information from Disney before I bought my airline tickets that they expected to make this change.

 

[prplcrzy]

Kem, it seems to me that they should have been able to confirm the point values for your stay when you booked it. If they couldn't do this I would be curious to know why. It does say in the guidebook that they can do this though. I really feel for you, I know what it is to plan and have it blow up in your face.

I realize that you may have your heart set on one way of vacationing, but maybe you can just be flexible and plan on something else. Maybe something good can come of this and I hope it does for your sake.

 

[PamOKW]

they should have been able to confirm the point values for your stay when you booked it.

Non-DVC point schedules are re-set every year. This year is the first one where a major change has taken place.

 

[prplcrzy]

Since you can book so many months out the point charts should be available before that time. I wouldn't book a vacation on cash without knowing how much it would cost and they have the cash rates available before you can book, why shouldn't the point charts be the same???

 

[PamOKW]

That's the problem, prplcrzy. It's DVC/DVD that would need to provide an answer. I believe it's the way they negotiate the contracts with a 12/31 yearly end date that causes the problem. If they could project further out, we'd all be better off.

 

[Doctor P]

Pam, I think you may be on to something. Having point charts and rates change annually during a holiday season when a lot of people travel is probably part of the problem. I wonder if they could move to a system where the point charts/rate changes start May 1 or another time that is not a time where fewer people can be expected to be staying over the point change time frame. As I said in another thread, part of the problem is also that the DVC seasons do not run the same as seasons at non-DVC resorts both at and away from WDW. Therefore, members assume that there will be a drop in points or increase in points contemporaneous with a change in DVC season and can be surprised to find out differently.

 

[Pluto4President]

Honestly Pam, I wouldn't really worry too much about it. Like I said, I bought enough for that mainly because it was the most expensive point value at the time. I personally love the GF but it really isn't one of Disney's more kid friendly resorts. There are (well should be) plenty of options for different resorts, and ways to "budget" our points. Like you inferred, as of now it's really all speculation. I will wait and see like the rest of you and deal with it then. But, either way, whatever happens, happens and we can only deal with the cards which we are dealt. I for one do like the idea of concierge being offered.

 

[prplcrzy]

These charts should be available over a year in advance since people can book flights 11 mos out. They should have a firm number of points they will use so they can make a decision not hope for the best.