Need advice about DVC and ABD

[Bobo912]

Since it takes a lot of points to book an ABD vacation, is there any advantage to joining DVC if you want to use the points mainly for ABD trips? We like to take our WDW trips in the off season and because of school, we will probably be taking shorter trips in the future than we have in the past - likely no more than 3 or 4 days. But I plan to take one ABD trip per year during summer vacation. Would it save me any money to be a DVC member? Seems to me that I would have to buy an enormous amount of points or bank them for two or three years before I could use them. But I'm no expert, so any advice from those of you who are would be appreciated.

 

[Chuck S]

Trading out of the DVC system routinely, such as to Adventures by Disney or other Disney location is really not the best use of your membership, and I certainly would not purchase DVC with the intent of non-DVC vacations being the primary usage.

 

[Bobo912]

Trading out of the DVC system routinely, such as to Adventures by Disney or other Disney location is really not the best use of your membership, and I certainly would not purchase DVC with the intent of non-DVC vacations being the primary usage.

That's what I thought. Thanks for confirming.

 

[carlbarry]

The standard for measuring is figuring your points cost $10 each (MF + amortization), which is what you can rent them for on the Dis Board. If you multiply the number of points you need by $10, you will see that the vacation costs more than booking it directly. And don't forger, there is a surcharge for using the points outside of booking a DVC resort!
That said, I have read hear where people say they use the points that way regardless, the usual reason being, "I have the points, I bought the points, and I'm going to use them however I want!" Not a good economic reason, but a reason!