New DVC member, already booked a decent deal at POFQ for June. Help me decide....

[bradykp]

So I'm taking a Disney trip in June (22-29) and this trip planning prompted me to look into DVC and ultimately purchase a resale contract at AKL with an October use year. I'm in the process of closing so hopefully will have my member number soon. I have my 2015 use year points (180), and I have my full 2016 use year points coming - 180.

Assuming I can book a room for my June trip, here's my decision dilemma.

We currently have a reservation at Port Orleans FQ for the trip. It's 2 adults and 3 children in one room, with our youngest child being 2, so he doesn't "count" as an occupant for the room. That room with the promotion we got is $3,100 including 8 day park hopper tickets and the photo package add on.

The second room will have 3 adults in it and is $2740.

So we have 5 adults and 2 kids plus a toddler. So, i think i need either 2 studios or a 2 bedroom, and i would probably need to borrow my 2016 use year points, which is ok. Or i could bank my 2015 use year points and take a bigger trip next year.

From speaking to current DVC members, two studio rooms are SSR are available and would cost 240 points or some 2 bedrooms are available at OKW for 296 or a 2 bedroom at SSR for 315. If i don't use my 2015 points and bank them into 2016 use year, I can take a monster trip with 360 points sometime in summer of 2017 or i could even do multiple 4-5 day trips.

What do people think?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

My opinion - use the DVC. It doesn't sound like you have very definite plans for later and without it you will likely be spending far more than if you had not bought DVC. Also, POFQ is a nice resort but it's a moderate so still a different experience. You will need either 2 studios or else a 2BR for everyone. Is a monster trip next summer something you would do if you didn't have all the extra points? It certainly could be fun but as I was mentioning earlier it's going to mean spending money you wouldn't otherwise have spent. If you find you did want to go next summer you'll have some point available thru borrowing or else at that time you could pay out of pocket.

 

[clayfolks]

With 8 day hoppers already planned, I would be very tempted to save the cash on the rooms and upgrade the hoppers to APs. The photo package is included with the APs. You should have enough left over points to do least one long weekend or more before the APs run out.

 

[bradykp]

mostly what gives me pause at doing it this trip is that i'm only paying for the room for 5, the other room is my mom and sister and uncle. so i could certainly treat them, but it comes at the expense of borrowing 60 points to do 2 studios. of course, i may not get my member number for 2 - 3 more weeks and maybe nothing will be available by then, so the whole convo may be pointless. lol

thanks for the feedback though i appreciate it

 

[magicaldisney]

Will you be happy at SSR instead of your home resort? That's where you will probably have to stay with trying to get a reservation this late (possibly OKW, but questionable). That might help you make some decisions.

 

[bradykp]

I dont know what i'll think of SSR until i stay there. my home resort is AKL. i like numerous disney resorts though. my main concern with SSR is whether the pool is nifty enough for the kids and how transportation to the parks would be.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

mostly what gives me pause at doing it this trip is that i'm only paying for the room for 5, the other room is my mom and sister and uncle. so i could certainly treat them, but it comes at the expense of borrowing 60 points to do 2 studios. of course,

Ah, that changes things a bit. Then maybe if they would compensate you but otherwise probably most simple to go with the plans you have already.

 

[magicaldisney]

The pool in the Paddock section has a kids play/splash area so that would be nice, so I would request Paddock. Transportation is no better or worse than the other resorts. There are numerous stops, with the Paddock area being the middle stop. This is good so you can get on before standing room only happens. There is a boat to Disney Springs and a walking path to get there as well. Have you visited SSR?

You will need to make a decision on whether to keep your POFQ rooms once you can see what's available when you get your member number. You might be totally out of luck at any resort, but I would start doing some research on SSR if you think you might want to switch to that.

 

[jerseyduke]

When you say you are in the process of closing, do you mean you are past ROFR, through estopell and just waiting on documents?

If you are only paying for one room, then I would probably stay with your plans. But if you want to treat your family, and save them some money, I do not think anyone can fault you. (although in this case, i might ask for money to cover the MF of those points, but again, that's an individual thing)

(However, I think this is the curse of DVC...you are not paying for their room now because it is cash.....but if it is only points...well then you pay for it, points aren't money )

If you do stay with your plans, you need to think about 2017. You mentioned a monster summer 2017 trip - so unless you mean a trip in 2017 that would end before June 22nd, APs would not cover both trips. an 8 day park hopper is cheaper than an AP. You want the AP if you would do another trip within the next 365 days.

 

[bradykp]

exactly jerseyduke. i signed closing documents and sent them in - title agency got them on march 14. waiting for seller to sign still.

 

[keishashadow]

So I'm taking a Disney trip in June (22-29) and this trip planning prompted me to look into DVC and ultimately purchase a resale contract at AKL with an October use year. I'm in the process of closing so hopefully will have my member number soon. I have my 2015 use year points (180), and I have my full 2016 use year points coming - 180.

Assuming I can book a room for my June trip, here's my decision dilemma.

We currently have a reservation at Port Orleans FQ for the trip. It's 2 adults and 3 children in one room, with our youngest child being 2, so he doesn't "count" as an occupant for the room. That room with the promotion we got is $3,100 including 8 day park hopper tickets and the photo package add on.

The second room will have 3 adults in it and is $2740.

So we have 5 adults and 2 kids plus a toddler. So, i think i need either 2 studios or a 2 bedroom, and i would probably need to borrow my 2016 use year points, which is ok. Or i could bank my 2015 use year points and take a bigger trip next year.

From speaking to current DVC members, two studio rooms are SSR are available and would cost 240 points or some 2 bedrooms are available at OKW for 296 or a 2 bedroom at SSR for 315. If i don't use my 2015 points and bank them into 2016 use year, I can take a monster trip with 360 points sometime in summer of 2017 or i could even do multiple 4-5 day trips.

What do people think?

perhaps since we usually stay DVC, and not with a party of 8 people, but seeing $3,100 makes me . Then I saw another room mentioned costing $2,740. Makes me really appreciate having DVC!

How do 8 day hoppers compare with DVC AP cost for your immediate family?

can't you just buy one photopkg for entire party 'to share'? price out as room only reservation, buy tix thru UT...could be less expensive.

Are you determined to all be at the same resort? at the risk of being harsh, those in the 2nd room could just stay put if you can find a last minute studio somewhere. Sometimes it's nice to be able escape extended family at the parks

 

[bradykp]

$3100 for 5 people isn't bad though. room is running roughly $210/night. so 8 nights for the room is about $1669. the passes for 2 adults and 2 kids (3rd kid is 2) bring it to $3251. park hopper option would normally be $74 each additional, but that's free in this promotion. those arent the exact numbers, but it's about right. slight discount on the room brings it down to about $3100. the tickets i guess come out to about $400 each for the 2 adults and 2 kids. add the photo pass for $140 i think and that increases the "cost per" pass to about $435. the AP that includes photos is $649 right? so if i'm gonna go twice in a 365 day period, it certainly makes sense.



i think we'd like to stay at the same resort only because having the additional 3 adults helping us with the 3 kids getting to/from the parks will be beneficial. having to coordinate meeting at the parks every morning sounds like more work, when the entire reason they're coming along is to be with the kids. it's not off the table, but not preferable.

 

[Deb & Bill]

exactly jerseyduke. i signed closing documents and sent them in - title agency got them on march 14. waiting for seller to sign still.

So you have at least a month before you can book. You'd probably be moving around, unable to book one villa for your trip. A few nights here , a night or two there.

 

[bradykp]

i dont mind moving around. they still transfer everything for you right?

 

[Deb & Bill]

But you don't really get to experience your resort when you only get a night or two at a time.

 

[bradykp]

well, i wouldn't want to move every night. but if i could get 3 nights one place and 3 nights another place and 2 nights another place, that could work. mostly our resort experience will be sleeping + pool.

 

[suebeelin]

Another option is to rent your excess AKL points to help pay for your trip. The AKL points can be rented for between $11-13/pt, depending on if you rent privately or through a broker.

Then, you can upgrade your 8 day park hopper for an annual pass (and pay appx. $100) and use them on your next trip.

just an alternative!

 

[auralia]

I charged my brother to use my dvc once. I didn't make $ off of him because he is family, but he covered my dues for his room and a bit of my buy in cost (think like 200$ over dues cost). He got a great room at a huge huge discount and did not mind paying for it at all. Perhaps your family would rent there room from you? Why give POFQ that $ when they could give it to you.

 

[bumbershoot]

I dont know what i'll think of SSR until i stay there. my home resort is AKL. i like numerous disney resorts though. my main concern with SSR is whether the pool is nifty enough for the kids and how transportation to the parks would be.

The pools are nice at ssr! We love the Paddock Pool. We always rent a car so I don't really remember abut the bus.

The pool in the Paddock section has a kids play/splash area so that would be nice...

Only if they are small. That part of the pool area has a height max. By the time we started going to WDW DS was already over the kid water play area height maxes. (But still so young he wanted to play there)