Need help with DVC points suggestions please...

[lisatx04]

Planning a trip for this summer, 8 nights. (Friday-the following Saturday, which is our checkout day). We will be staying at OKW in a 1 BR. However, we are short points. (adding on is not an option, but I have thought about it!).

If we stay in a 1 BR the entire trip, we would be short more points than if we go into a studio for the first 2 nights and then to a 1 BR. My DH is not the type that likes to move from room to room or resort to resort, so when we book our trips, we stay in the DVC resort on weekends.

Here's where your suggestions are needed. I figure my choices are:
1. stay in a studio for 2 nights and then switch to a 1 BR
2. stay in a 1BR for the entire trip and borrow from next year
3. try to get a good rate at another resort and then switch to DVC on Sunday.

What do you think? Remember, adding on is not an option. If I wanted to rent points, if it would help, how would that work in this situation and where would I go to look into that? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[dougmatt]

My first choice would be cash rate at the same resort with a member discount if available.... Next would be cash at another resort and then move. I hate doing weekends for point!!! That said though, if you don't want to move then if you can borrow from next year... Why not???

You never know when you won't have the opportunity to go as much during another year...

I would borrow from next year if you don't want to move....

Doug

 

[LIFERBABE]

Hi Lisa,
You can visit the DVC rent/trade board here on the Dis. Since you are a DVC member, the points you rent can be transferred into your account so you'll have control of the ressie. Transferring is easier because it is a final transaction.

If you go from a studio to a 1 bdr at OKW, my only issue would be the room not being ready until 4pm. If you are comfortable leaving your luggage with bell services and wouldnt stress too much about checking in and getting settled, then I would opt for trying something different for a couple of nights then moving to the 1 bed.

Ideally, I would stay in the same unit the entire trip. But if borrowing will impact future vacations then stay at another resort first.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Believe it or not, paying Rack Rate for a 1BR at OKW is a better deal than using your precious points (valuing them at $10 a point as DVD and the rent/trade board do). For example, for a summer weekend night, rack rate is $460 + 11.5% tax comes to ~$513; this compares to the points price for that room of 54 points. Now if you can nab the DVC discount for one or more of those weekend nights, the price drops to $345 cash + 11.5% tax, or ~$385. Note that if you end up playing rack rate, you are entitled to daily housekeeping too.

To summarize, for a 1BR weekend summer night at OKW, it will cost you either:
54 points (assume $10 a point = $540);
rack rate: $513; or
DVC discounted rate: $385 (if available)

When we have made all our ressies thru MS, we have blended points and cash ressies completely seamlessly: same room, same parking pass, same keys, just one check-in at the beginning. Check out what kind of rates you can get for those weekend nights and see if it works for you. Yeah, you could borrow points from next year if you wanted, and that would reduce current year cash outlay. But you could also rent out the points you were going to spend for those weekend nights and arbitrage the income to pay for the cash portion of your stay (i.e. the weekend nights).

 

[lisatx04]

Thanks for the replies. Your posts bring up other questions...

If I rent points from another Dis member, you say they can get transfered into my account. Does it have to be from another OKW owner or could the renter be from any DVC resort? How does this renting of points work?

As for paying cash for the 2 nights, do I go through MS for that or call Disney direct? I'd also like to see the odds of having an AP discount come out, although I know they are saying they are now good for Sun-Thurs.

Again, all help is appreciated.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Are you not willing to borrow from your next use year?

 

[Chuck S]

I'm with your DH, I absolutely HATE moving...but given your arrival day of Friday, I could handle a studio for Fri & Sat night at the beginning of the trip, I'd much rather move early than be hassled with it in the middle or end of the vacation.

 

[lisatx04]

I could borrow from next year, and I still may BUT that brings me to my next problem which would be we invited someone to vacation with us next year (2006), so if I borrow from this year (2005), I won't have enough for next years trip and then I would have to borrow from the following year. It's a cycle my husband does not want to get into, the borrowing cycle that is. Again, adding on would solve our problems but not feasible.

I think I would prefer to go the studio route for 2 nights or maybe another resort. I may just push for one of those 2 choices.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I could borrow from next year, and I still may BUT that brings me to my next problem which would be we invited someone to vacation with us next year (2006), so if I borrow from this year (2005), I won't have enough for next years trip and then I would have to borrow from the following year. It's a cycle my husband does not want to get into, the borrowing cycle that is.

Borrowing points is not a bad thing like borrowing money. Since there is no cost to borrow points, it makes sense to borrow tomorrow's points to use today. Odds are that at some point in your life, you won't make a trip to WDW for a year for whatever reason. At that point you will get caught up. Even if you don't, all it does in reality is cause you not to have any points left in the last year of your contract.

HBC

 

[Mary Anne]

Personally I'd rather borrow a few points then bank a few. If I borrow, then the next year I can BANK all that is left, if I bank then if I don't go, I lose them and cannot bank them.

 

[Dean]

Getting a cash room for the same size for at least some of the weekend nights through MS (hopefully with a member discount) and linking to your points reservation, will be your best and cheapest option. Second choice, maybe first if you get a good enough deal, would be to rent points from another member and link to your account. You're likely to get a better deal on points not able to be transferred but either is certainly an option.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree with Dean's idea. For our OKW trip in May in a 1 bedroom, I book Friday and/or Saturday with either the DVC member rate or an AP rate, then the weeknights with points. It's about $300 and saves 48 points, about $6.25 a point. I've done it twice, once with the member rate and once with an AP rate, we did not have to move.

 

[disworldnum1]

I have an august use year and seem to have to borrow every year for our first stay.i think thats its a great option and doesnt have to cost you a dime and you dont have to move during your vacation and waste any of your limited time.The money you save can buy plenty of goodies..

 

[pumpkinboy]

...As for paying cash for the 2 nights, do I go through MS for that or call Disney direct? I'd also like to see the odds of having an AP discount come out, although I know they are saying they are now good for Sun-Thurs.
Again, all help is appreciated.

Definately get the cash nights thru MS. And tho there are AP rates on 1BRs at OKW, I have not encountered an AP rate (on a DVC property) better than our 25% DVC discount; they may exist, I just haven't seen one. With a booking thru MS, you can link the cash and points ressies and ensure you don't have to move. And remember: even the rack rates for the 1BR weekend nights for your dates are cheaper than the points rate.

 

[DebbieB]

I priced both last year for early May. The AP rate for an OKW 1 bedroom was about $300 with tax, the DVC rate was $322. Since the Friday night I wanted was after our Sunday to Thursday night points stay, I figured it was very unlikely they would make us move for 1 night. Plus full housekeeping would be welcome at that point. I went to the front desk on Friday morning to get new keys, most people in line were doing the same thing.

The year before, I wanted to do Friday and Saturday nights before our Sunday to Thursday points stay. The prices were about the same as above. I booked the DVC rate first. Then the AP rate came out. I decided it wasn't worth changing it, plus I wouldn't have to worry about switching on Sunday.

 

[lisatx04]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I am going to call MS and see how much the room will be paying cash.

As usual, a wealth of info here on the board!!!

 

[lisatx04]

I called MS and had a very short wait, not even 2 minutes. Anyway, I was told they had avail. for the time I was looking for, and we went over my options, which I had already done here with you guys. I then asked him about paying cash, and he gave me the prices, which is way below what the points value would be paying $10/point (thanks pumpkinboy!!)

So I called Dh and told him my new found info, and the end of the story is that tonight we will firm up plans for our next trip, which will be June 2005.

Thanks again!!