Never enough points

[tink'smom2B]

I don't have enough points for Easter. We can't go any other time over spring break as that is when our school gets out (10 days). My question is, should I rent more points, use an AP discount (do they discount over Easter?), stay in Disney part of the time and off property the other time, or rent out my points and stay somewhere off property. I am very frustrated over this and it happens nearly every year. We can't afford to buy more points, and I'm seriously considering selling the 300 we have. I should also mention there are 5 of us, at least for another couple years (one going to college next year). Any advice other than change the date?

 

[TAKitty]

This happens to us all the time. I suggest you try to stay at OKW or AKV to use fewer points. Consider skipping a year. Try for the DVC room discount. They typically don't offer AP discounts for Easter week. I have also rented more points from someone on the Dis, but I would try to do that soon if you are traveling this spring break. Good Luck! I assume you have already borrowed points and can't do that. If not, that is an option too.

 

[mehall]

I know everybody is different but we use to take our kids out of school for our WDW trips.Yes every teacher was crabby about it.....mostly they were just jealous.Our kids were just average in grades etc.They did not mind having to make up school work to be able to go to WDW. Give it a try.
You sure can save alot of points going in off season and save on air fare too.

 

[Pig Pen]

This is a tough call for a party of 5. Whenever we don't have enough points, we pay cash and stay at a regular room on the weekends. However it sounds like you would need 2 rooms. You could try for a cabin at FW. I think they sleep 5 or 6. Some rooms at PO sleep 5, but one is a trundle bed.

I agree with the other poster who said discounts are rare during Easter. Maybe AAA has a discount?

Good luck!

 

[helenk]

If it were me, I stay for as long as my points would allow. If you stay at the VWL or the BCV you'll need a 2 bedroom correct? You can stay in the villas for 5 nights from Sun to Thurs night.
Can you book the weekend with cash or stay at another resort before transferring over?
Or try for a 1 bedroom at the AKV, a standard view in Kidani for a 1 bedroom would be 283 pts for the week.

 

[tink'smom2B]

After a call to member services and a reality check on cash room prices for a party of 5, I booked a two-bedroom condo in orlando with a rental car for 4 nights for $792 all taxes included. I wish Disney wasn't so darn expensive! We will be in Disney for the rest of the vacation so I will get my Disney fix

 

[dgaston]

That may spoil you forever! While I love our DVC, whenever we've had to stay at peak times (and that was often given DH's HS teaching schedule), I also love to stsy off-site at places like Cypress Pointe or Windsor Hills. You have tremendous amount of space for good dollar value. And Disney Magic is the memories you create.

 

[ldo]

I would start my stay offsite--there are tons of hotels that allow 5 near DTD--some have semi-suite tyrpe arrangements. Then I would move over to DVc for the rest of the stay. Usually our 1st day there, the kids want to do a long park day anyway, but the end of the trip, they are ready to relax more. We are doing the flip-side--we have 2 units (AKV and OKW thru Good Friday), then all family is leaving, so we are moving to Residence Inn LBV in a kids suite for Friday night. We will just pop luggage in the car and go to waterpark for the day--sleep, and leave the next AM to drive back. If it is looking like chilly weather, then we are canceling RI and drving home a day early. Elaine

 

[podsnel]

I just read on the DVCnews site that OKW is going to get the sleeper chairs in their 1 & 2 bdrms- so in the future there will be another option for a family of 5 in a 1 bdrm at a lower point cost.

 

[littlestar]

We do split stays quite a bit. Usually a 10 day trip. We'll use DVC points for 3 nights and then use our Marriott to trade into a Marriott Vacation Club resort 2 or 3 bedroom for the rest of the trip. We've recently bought some Wyndham points resale and plan to use those some at Wyndham Bonnet Creek (it's within the Disney arches next to Caribbean Beach). So that way we'll be able to stretch our DVC points even further and be about a 5 minute drive (or less) to Boardwalk or Beach Club from Bonnet Creek.

Another option would be one of the Downtown Disney resorts for a few nights (like the Doubletree) to avoid those weekend points.

 

[Brian Noble]

I just read on the DVCnews site that OKW is going to get the sleeper chairs in their 1 & 2 bdrms

This is huge huge huge news! Wonderful! We have trouble in 1BRs with the four of us unless there is a sleeper chair there, because my son and daughter are getting to an age where sharing a bed isn't something we personally are comfortable with. Having another option is very nice.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I just read on the DVCnews site that OKW is going to get the sleeper chairs in their 1 & 2 bdrms- so in the future there will be another option for a family of 5 in a 1 bdrm at a lower point cost.

Have they announced that they will increase the occupancy limit as well? Just by including a sleeper chair doesn't mean they will also increase the occupancy limit. They very well may, but until you see an official change in the limits, I'd be cautiously optimistic.

 

[avamadison]

I would rather do a split stay and save points or rent them or stay less time....it just isn't the same staying off site. BUT at least you would be going - right!