New here and trying to understand some things about resale better.

[mjmjbelle1023]

This exactly. You'll find yourself losing hours on here (far worse than any YouTube rabbit hole) with all of the great input that's going to be provided to you by many, many board members who'll love to answer any questions.

I have youtube channels ready to go!

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

Long story short, you can book more than 7 days. The only time the 7 day maximum applies is if you’re trying to book as soon as the 11 month window opens.

You’re correct you still can stay in those 2042 resorts without owning points there. All resale contracts will allow you to stay there assuming they’re available at the 7 month mark except Riviera resale.

so basically you have to add on to the 7 days?
This helps me feel that BW or BC isnt a good fit for me thanks

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

1. Your friend is wrong, you can have stays longer than 1 week. We have people on here with thousands of points, who can stay much longer than a week. You just have to modify the existing reservation to extend it out once those days past 7 days become available.

2. How much longer do you realistically expect to go? Do you only plan to go for the next 20 years? Or are you expecting to go for the next 50? That should also be a factor into your decision. Different resorts have different contract end dates.

3. Consider looking at different DVC point calculators online and selecting days/seasons you are most likely to stay to get an idea of how many points you need.

Meant to say on your #3 that is what I was doing for August or December and for mainly GF and AK , but the way it's listed on this particular chart is confusing me. It says Sun-Thurs one set of points then Fri-Sat another set then Weekly a third set!

 

[intamin]

so basically you have to add on to the 7 days?
This helps me feel that BW or BC isnt a good fit for me thanks

BW and BC expire in 2042. You yourself said you plan to go longer than that. And yes you would have to add on to the 7 days. Again, any time before exactly at 11 months, you can book as long as you’d like.

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

mjmjbellw1023 - I am noticing you are having many misunderstandings of how the point system works... Take a step back and perhaps read a bit deeper, or watch more videos... These should be helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrqGInKji-x7Rva_7M0WmrQ

thanks

 

[UberClaire]

Point charts here: https://cdn2.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...gdom-villas-kidani/2024_DAKK_Points_Chart.pdf

If you want to stay in a 1 bedroom every other year for ~8 days, it will be much "cheaper" to go at the end of August vs. after Christmas. You would likely need ~120-150 points at AKL (standard vs savannah view. Don't count on getting value rooms).
You would then bank your points from one year (2024, for example) into the next (2025) and use 240-300 points to book your 1 bedroom vacation in 2025.
1 bedrooms are typically the easiest accommodation to get at 7 months out. If you wanted to swap to Beach Club, you could check availability at that point and switch if it is available. AKL resale points are significantly cheaper than BC points and have a longer life before deed expiration.

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

BW and BC expire in 2042. You yourself said you plan to go longer than that. And yes you would have to add on to the 7 days. Again, any time before exactly at 11 months, you can book as long as you’d like.

when you say "any time before exactly at 11 months" I am misunderstanding I believe....I thought you cant do anything before 11 months ?

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

Point charts here: https://cdn2.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...gdom-villas-kidani/2024_DAKK_Points_Chart.pdf

If you want to stay in a 1 bedroom every other year for ~8 days, it will be much "cheaper" to go at the end of August vs. after Christmas. You would likely need 125-150 points at AKL (standard vs savannah view. Don't count on getting value rooms).
You would then bank your points from one year (2024, for example) into the next (2025) and use 250-300 points to book your 1 bedroom vacation in 2025.
1 bedrooms are typically the easiest accommodation to get at 7 months out. If you wanted to swap to Beach Club, you could check availability at that point and switch if it is available. AKL resale points are significantly cheaper than BC points and have a longer life before deed expiration.

Thanks I was looking this over..https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/listings/animal-kingdom-lodge/?tab=point-charts and I believe banking is our best bet anyway as my husband wants to do other trips every other year -as if there are other places besides WDW to visit! ? )
I have to look at the points on the charts for 1BR as our girls are growing and we all need privacy so that is ok. BW and BC are def out - I need a long contract

 

[Genie+]

The way I learned about DVC was by reading questions people had and the responses. It’s hard to just sit down and ‘learn’ DVC. The context of the questions people ask helps it sink in, like how it actually works vs what the rules are.

 

[DonMacGregor]

when you say "any time before exactly at 11 months" I am misunderstanding I believe....I thought you cant do anything before 11 months ?

I told myself I wouldn't do this but....

There are two booking windows: you can book a stay at your "home resort" (the resort where you own points) from the current date (today) until 11 months out (for example, I can book a stay today at my home resorts, Boulder Ridge and Saratoga, starting as far out as December 11th of this year).

You can book at other resorts (where you don't own any points) from today to as far out as 7 months (I can book at Beach Club, a resort that I don't own at, for any days from today until June 11th, pending availability). No one, under any scenario, can book any trip that starts AFTER December 11th of this year. Before the 11 month window, you can book as long as you like at your home resort, and before 7 months you can book at another non-home resort (for as long as you like).

There are exceptions regarding Riviera, but that is an outlier currently and the basic 7/11 month rule applies to the vast majority of situations. It's BEYOND 11 months that you can't do anything.

If I DO decide to book that home resort trip at 11 months, I can only book a total of 7 continuous days initially. If I book those seven days today, I can log back on tomorrow and add another day on to the end of the reservation and continue to do so daily, up until I reach 30 days or run out of points.

 

[Wedgeout]

You came to the correct place to learn. Read, Watch, and Take Notes. Within a month you will be a pro.
Picking a resort is all personal preference where you want to stay most of the time. Look at each expiration date and point charts.
Use Year sometimes picks you if buying your first resale contract. Focus on a UY that covers most travel plans in the first 8-9 months of it. (All part of your research).
Much can change within the five years. Once have a complete understanding, funds, and yearly budget, establish a membership with resale first. There is no minimum number of points required.

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

The way I learned about DVC was by reading questions people had and the responses. It’s hard to just sit down and ‘learn’ DVC. The context of the questions people ask helps it sink in, like how it actually works vs what the rules are.

online feels overwhelming - i wish there were classes lol

 

[NEW-B]

I was in your same boat months ago when we decided to take the plunge into DVC. I always thought I had a "basic" understanding of how it worked but Use Year was the most confusing thing to me. Like people have said, youtube videos have helped tremendously.

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

You came to the correct place to learn. Read, Watch, and Take Notes. Within a month you will be a pro.
Picking a resort is all personal preference where you want to stay most of the time. Look at each expiration date and point charts.
Use Year sometimes picks you if buying your first resale contract. Focus on a UY that covers most travel plans in the first 8-9 months of it. (All part of your research).
Much can change within the five years. Once have a complete understanding, funds, and yearly budget, establish a membership with resale first. There is no minimum number of points required.

Yes resale feels to be a better fit for me -now. Could always add a direct later on, but it has also been mentioned that a direct with the new poly may be good with a long contract and discount. Def avoiding BW or BC due to short life. Right now GF and AKL are at the top of my list until I learn more about the new poly. I would like 150 pts min as this amount, esepcially when banked for following year, would help me cover 1 BRs per some charats. Plus when I have asked people what they would have done differently it wastn buying direct over resale it was not waiting so long OR buying more points

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

I was in your same boat months ago when we decided to take the plunge into DVC. I always thought I had a "basic" understanding of how it worked but Use Year was the most confusing thing to me. Like people have said, youtube videos have helped tremendously.

yep I have many channels subscribed - the other problem is not seeing in action like HOW people book. I am way better hands on to learn something than watching or reading - I need to do it.

 

[davidhr]

Yes resale feels to be a better fit for me -now. Could always add a direct later on, but it has also been mentioned that a direct with the new poly may be good with a long contract and discount. Def avoiding BW or BC due to short life. Right now GF and AKL are at the top of my list until I learn more about the new poly. I would like 150 pts min as this amount, esepcially when banked for following year, would help me cover 1 BRs per some charats. Plus when I have asked people what they would have done differently it wastn buying direct over resale it was not waiting so long OR buying more points

If you are thinking to buy later, the resort decision needs to be re-evaluated. As an example, if you were going to buy today, I'd definitely recommend going direct for VGF instead of resale.

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

I told myself I wouldn't do this but....

There are two booking windows: you can book a stay at your "home resort" (the resort where you own points) from the current date (today) until 11 months out (for example, I can book a stay today at my home resorts, Boulder Ridge and Saratoga, starting as far out as December 11th of this year).

You can book at other resorts (where you don't own any points) from today to as far out as 7 months (I can book at Beach Club, a resort that I don't own at, for any days from today until June 11th, pending availability). No one, under any scenario, can book any trip that starts AFTER December 11th of this year. Before the 11 month window, you can book as long as you like at your home resort, and before 7 months you can book at another non-home resort (for as long as you like).

There are exceptions regarding Riviera, but that is an outlier currently and the basic 7/11 month rule applies to the vast majority of situations. It's BEYOND 11 months that you can't do anything.

If I DO decide to book that home resort trip at 11 months, I can only book a total of 7 continuous days initially. If I book those seven days today, I can log back on tomorrow and add another day on to the end of the reservation and continue to do so daily, up until I reach 30 days or run out of points.

thank you - I am copying this into my iphone notes as I am keeping a running list of advice as I navigate this all. I dont feel that Riv is a good fit for us so that helps. I figure perhaps one day I can rent out points and visit Riv using that money. ONE DAY

 

[NEW-B]

yep I have many channels subscribed - the other problem is not seeing in action like HOW people book. I am way better hands on to learn something than watching or reading - I need to do it.

This may help a little Link

 

[mjmjbelle1023]

This may help a little

thank you!!!!! I was going to try and visit a friend who lives an hour away one day lol

 

[ak517]

You've gotten a lot of great feedback already, but I will also add the YouTube videos are merely just videos of the podcasts (at least that I've seen), so you don't need to sit and watch them, but just listen. I spent months and months listening to the DVC fan podcasts and reading these boards before having a firm grasp of DVC. Ultimately I'm sure a lot of this language sounds like gibberish to you right now, but once you are able to learn more about how it actually works, once you come back to this thread things will make a lot more sense.

The best advice I can give you that I didn't see here is that once you have a membership you have all of your points available, but you can only use them up to 7- or 11-months in advance from whatever today's date is, depending on the resort, and your points will pull from whatever that Use Year timeframe falls in. For example, if you want to book VGF for May 2024 and you own at VGF with an August Use Year, you need to wait until June 2023 to make your reservations and it will be using your 2023 Use Year points. If you want to book BWV for May 2024 but you own at VGF, you need to wait until October 2023 to make that reservation and it will still be using your 2023 Use Year points. This is always the hardest for potential and new DVC members to understand, but is also the key to using the membership.