Need DVC/DCL help please...

[megnsamsgracie]

We LOVE cruising... we just got back from a RCI cruise last week and leave for our free 1wk DVC stay at OKW (thanks to my co-worker) in 2 weeks. We were planning on taking a 2wk RCI cruise next September and asked my co-worker to come along (he DESPARATELY wants to cruise!). He says money is tight and even come next year, he probably couldnt afford it. He said "why not a Disney cruise"? I said because then I couldnt afford it. He then said that he wont have cash to do a land DVC vacation (food, tickets, etc) so he wont be using his points. And his DD is trying to get pregnant so he wont be using his DVC points until 2010 at the earliest. Anyway... sorry for long story. ANYWAY, he said what if I used my DVC points for ALL of us to go on DCL? Meaning me, dh and our 4 kids and him! I said I didnt think he would have enough points. He says he will have 640 points for next September WITHOUT borrowing from the next year.


He said to plan something out and he will call and reserve it! Now, I dont know the changeover of points. When is the cheapest, september? Okay... now 7n Western (more ports). There were will 3 adults, 4 kids. Which is our LEAST amount of points to use? He is willing to borrow but I dont want to be a PIA... he says he wants SOMEONE to get use out of them since he wont. (he lost his wife to a hospital error 12 years ago and got a cash settlement, enough to buy outright 320 points at BWV... so he said he wants to put it to good use)... anyway, this is what I need

Cheapest time to go

Best option for least points for 7 of us (if we did a family room, one would be put in his room but sleep with us.. same if we did 4/3... the kids would always be in our room)

Can he book for next September?

I know that this isnt the wisest use of his points, and I offered to help him rent them out but NO.. he said I want them to go to good use and he cant afford to use them up.

So DVC experts, HELP!

A VERY grateful friend, Steph

 

[Dean]

The cheapest for 2 cabins would be just over 700 points for Sept & Oct. I can't even imagine 6 people in a cat 11 cabin. You must have a special relationship if you'd accept gifts worth thousands of dollars from a coworker. It's also likely he won't be able to use those banked points to schedule the cruise as the points are supposed to be in the Use Year of the cruise, not just available when you book. On a side note, you might suggest he rent out his points since it seems he's struggling and ongoing maint fees are quite a chunk of change.

 

[megnsamsgracie]

The cheapest for 2 cabins would be just over 700 points for Sept & Oct. I can't even imagine 6 people in a cat 11 cabin. You must have a special relationship if you'd accept gifts worth thousands of dollars from a coworker. It's also likely he won't be able to use those banked points to schedule the cruise as the points are supposed to be in the Use Year of the cruise, not just available when you book. On a side note, you might suggest he rent out his points since it seems he's struggling and ongoing maint fees are quite a chunk of change.

Thank you for the point count. I dont own DVC so I am clueless.

As for 6 of us in 1 cabin.. we only sleep in the room, thats it!

As for my friend, we are good friends. Him and my husband became friends too. See, his wife died because the hospital he was working at (and his wife too, they were both RNs) sent her home when she was complaining of chest pain without doing any kind of work up. She died the next morning of a massive heart attack. He won a settlement from the hospital and bought into DVC with cash for his kids.

I have offered him money for our upcoming stay (he says NO, its for my kids since they just lost their grandfather). I have also given him this site to rent out points. He will NOT do it. I cant rent them for him! I told him he has so many points he can get at least $10 a point for them! He just wont do it!

 

[CraftyMouse]

I get 808 points for the 7 of you in two Category 11 staterooms. That's for a Western in September '09. The first two passengers in any cabin are counted as adults so you would have to pay the adult points for one of your kids. You could book 4 of you in one room and 3 in the other but be forewarned...you are not going to sleep 6 in one cabin comfortably...even if it is just to sleep. The DCL staterooms are very small and an 11 is the smallest of them all. It is going to be beyond tight.

The 808 points is also going on the assumption that three of your kids are between 6 & 12. The price per 6-12yo child is 88 points each. If your kids are younger than 6 it would be 86 points per child and if they are 13 & up it is 105 points per child.

And I'm with Dean. Personally, I would not feel at all comfortable accepting a vacation that is worth more than $6,000 from a co-worker/friend...but that's just me. I understand that he wants to do something nice for you, and that is very sweet, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable with it. It's just too expensive a gift...especially after he is already giving you a free week at DVC this year.

 

[megnsamsgracie]

I get 808 points for the 7 of you in two Category 11 staterooms. That's for a Western in September '09. The first two passengers in any cabin are counted as adults so you would have to pay the adult points for one of your kids. You could book 4 of you in one room and 3 in the other but be forewarned...you are not going to sleep 6 in one cabin comfortably...even if it is just to sleep. The DCL staterooms are very small and an 11 is the smallest of them all. It is going to be beyond tight.

The 808 points is also going on the assumption that three of your kids are between 6 & 12. The price per 6-12yo child is 88 points each. If your kids are younger than 6 it would be 86 points per child and if they are 13 & up it is 105 points per child.

And I'm with Dean. Personally, I would not feel at all comfortable accepting a vacation that is worth more than $6,000 from a co-worker/friend...but that's just me. I understand that he wants to do something nice for you, and that is very sweet, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable with it. It's just too expensive a gift...especially after he is already giving you a free week at DVC this year.

I am not very comfortable with it either... neither is my husband.. we dont like handouts, even if he is doing it for something good to come of his wifes death. That is a LOT of money (even if it IS in points!) to give any FRIEND (and he is JUST a friend... which I know this whole thing sounds strange!). And yes, all 4 of our kids are between 6-12. I am thinking of just offering to pay for his cruise portion to go on our RCI ship as a thank you for paying for our DVC stay in 2 weeks

 

[CraftyMouse]

I am not very comfortable with it either... neither is my husband.. we dont like handouts, even if he is doing it for something good to come of his wifes death. That is a LOT of money (even if it IS in points!) to give any FRIEND (and he is JUST a friend... which I know this whole thing sounds strange!). And yes, all 4 of our kids are between 6-12. I am thinking of just offering to pay for his cruise portion to go on our RCI ship as a thank you for paying for our DVC stay in 2 weeks

If you are uncomfortable then just say no. Why not suggest that he rent out some of his points so he can pay for his fare on the RCI cruise? Then he can still give you the gift of your upcoming DVC stay, he will still be able to cruise with you and it's all good!

I would just worry that things might get a bit messy down the road if I took a gift that large from someone who is just a friend. To me (not having all of the facts), it sounds like he is lonely since his wife died and is looking for a way to share his life with your family. That could be a very nice thing for all of you...or not. The problem is, once large sums of money are involved you're just opening the door to a potentially messy situation.

Good luck!...whatever you decide to do.

 

[Dean]

I get 808 points for the 7 of you in two Category 11 staterooms.

You're right, my error, I was counting 6, not 7.

 

[megnsamsgracie]

If you are uncomfortable then just say no. Why not suggest that he rent out some of his points so he can pay for his fare on the RCI cruise? Then he can still give you the gift of your upcoming DVC stay, he will still be able to cruise with you and it's all good!

I would just worry that things might get a bit messy down the road if I took a gift that large from someone who is just a friend. To me (not having all of the facts), it sounds like he is lonely since his wife died and is looking for a way to share his life with your family. That could be a very nice thing for all of you...or not. The problem is, once large sums of money are involved you're just opening the door to a potentially messy situation.

Good luck!...whatever you decide to do.

Thank you for your honesty! Ya know, I like your idea! He would only need about $1K for the trip. So renting about 100 points out! Thats PERFECT! Thank you!!

 

[megnsamsgracie]

I just wanted to say thank you for the great tip! I told him he would only need to rent out 100 points to pay for the cruise but he is going to rent out 200 and have some spending money. He is excited! He owns at BWV and I said Nov would be a good time to put them up for rent due to the 11month window and F&W festival next October. This is good advice, right?

 

[CraftyMouse]

I just wanted to say thank you for the great tip! I told him he would only need to rent out 100 points to pay for the cruise but he is going to rent out 200 and have some spending money. He is excited! He owns at BWV and I said Nov would be a good time to put them up for rent due to the 11month window and F&W festival next October. This is good advice, right?

I'm so glad it worked out! He can really put them up anytime, he doesn't have to wait until November. As long as he rents them, right?

Definitely have him look into the ins and outs of point rentals though, so he can protect himself and make sure he receives payment.

Have a great trip!