New Member non Standard User

[Bill_McIntyre]

Just wanted to drop a line as I just fed-ex'd my member paper work back yesterday for SSR and let some of the other people who are considering DVC Mebership know how I plan on using the points. (Of course this may change as the Disney fever builds!).

Many on this board have a lot of points. More than I can afford. They also seem to take vacations a lot more often than I do. (Not sure if the more points causes this or vice versa). So I initially thought the DVC was either out of my league budget-wise or not for me because I can't take those big vacations every year.

But

I can afford 150 points and since I can bank and borrow I will have 450 points every 2-3 years to take a nice vacation. Now that I can do! I even get the same return of Investment every bit as fast as those who take a annual vacation (since the 6-7 year point is about the break even)

Now...please understand I love how there are so many who take the Disney vacation so often (I am just a little bit envious ) but hey if you are like me and just can't "YET!" DVC can still be a great deal for you.

Just wanted to share this approach as it is not the most often "written" about on the board and other may benefit from knowing that a small points/left often vacationer can still benefit from DVC membership.

 

[pplasky]

I am with you. I wish we could go several times a year, but don't have the time or money to do so. We also will be borrowing for most trips and skipping WDW every 5th year or so to "catch up". As do you, we still see the value in DVC since we normally travel once a year at a deluxe. I am hoping to one day be able to afford the many points that others seem to have!

 

[CVW]

You're probably more "standard" than you might think. The problem is the DisBoards. There are 80,000 DVC members. Only several hundred are routinely on this board.

This discussion group is populated with weird people who insist on going to WDW every year, sometimes multiple times a year. If you plan on keeping this commitment of only one trip every three years, STOP READING THIS BOARD IMMEDIATELY.

The DVC Disboards is sort of like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". I, too, bought in for every-third-year vacations. Then I started reading this board. Then we actually made another trip last month. We're already planning on taking the in-laws at Christmas. HELP ME!

We decided to sell our house and live in a trailer so we could afford more points. I'm sending my 8 and 5 year old to Venezuela to work in a Nike factory. That should earn us another five to ten points a year.

BILL, GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN MAN! GET OUT!

Go over to the official DVC site. It's bland, uninspiring, and completely useless. It will get your mind off Disney altogether.

 

[Beast fan]

Hey Bill.................
soon to be "WELCOME HOME!"
Oh yeah, welcome to the DIS, too!

Keep your mind open to the possibilities w/DVC. We only have 170 points (at VWL), yet try to go every year to somewhere DVC. You may want to try HHI or VB, which have beautiful accomodations. Other than travel expenses, there isn't much more expense needed other than groceries (unlike staying at WDW locations, where you'll most likely go to the parks).

We love HHI and VB so much that we now plan on only going to a WDW location every 2 or 3 years.

Just one opinion.

Good luck!

Dave

 

[disneyberry]

<font face="times" size="+0">Welcome Home!

This may seem surprising to you, but there actually are quite a few DIS DVCers that own only 150 points and there are even some that own <i>less than 150 points</i>!

(I can't find the poll on how many points people own, but here is one showing how many points people bought as their initial purchase: Link to Poll )

Whether the strategy is like yours: to go on big trips less often by using banking/borrowing; or to go on really short trips a few times a year, staying in studios to stretch points, it's clear that the flexibility of DVC allows many different types of vacationers to use their ownership well, even if it is a small ownership. </font>

 

[AFMom]

We only purchased 100 points - will have to really use the banking and borrowing! I still think we'll be able to go every year or every other year if we budget our points carefully!
The idea of doing Disney more than once a year makes my DH cringe - so 100 is working so far!
CVW - you're a hoot! I should have taken your advice before we even bought the 100..... I can feel the need for more points already!

 

[wtpclc]

Originally posted by CVW
We decided to sell our house and live in a trailer so we could afford more points. I'm sending my 8 and 5 year old to Venezuela to work in a Nike factory. That should earn us another five to ten points a year.

Yeah, I'm still trying to decide if these boards are the best thing or worst thing ever!

My DH thinks we'll a DVC trip every other year, but WDW only every other one of those times (i.e., WDW every 4 years). Yikes!!! (He also thought it had been ~5 years sicne we were last there and it was only 3.) I will change his mind! These boards make me want to go every other day!

 

[disneyberry]

<font face="times" size="+0">Oh, I found the poll I was looking for. I've bumped it up so you can look at it.</font>

 

[Sarangel]

Bill, you're not alone. My family of 3 (DH, Me & DD) have 200 points, but since we live in CA our travel expenses are pretty high & we only go every 2 or 3 years. We bank and borrow and take family and friends. It's a great way to DVC.

I think that DVC works just as well this way, it's only when you get into the "I think I'll come back someday" WDW vacationers that I wouldn't recommend DVC. Those of us who love Disney need to get our fix more often and many of us 'upgrade' or 'save' money on our vacations by going the DVC route.

Enjoy it and Welcome Home.

Sarangel

 

[crisi]

We are the same.

We talk about buying more points, but we don't. For us it would be a short term thing - eventually we will find vacations that are as appealing as Disney - it just with little kids Disney is SO appealing. So, we've decided the best short term solution is cash stays to augment out points. Hubby was talking about taking his brother down (his brother is going through a rough time), but if they go, they'll stay at the Contemporary or Poly for a few nights.

For the family, every other year works fine. Currently we are using our "off year" for a Disney cruise, but when the kids get just a bit older, we want to visit other places too.

 

[Dean]

I agree, I think this is the norm for a large segment. 150 points can go quite a long way used correctly. Plus I'd venture that MOST of us started with exactly that approach and things just snowballed from there.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Welcome, Bill, to a very happy place....

Sit down....

Relax....

Ignore that post by CVW; this is exactly where you need to be....

The number of points you have purchased is fine; you won't be making any extra trips - don't worry....

It is nice, though, to visity WDW during the Christmas holidays....

The Food and Wine Festival is fun, I'm told....

Halloween makes for a delightfully scary visit....

There's even the DVC Members-Only Cruise....

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the DIS DVC forum....

You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

You won't need many more points.

You won't need many more points.

You won't need many more points.

Hang on for the ride.

HBC

 

[magicalmcwho]

This discussion group is populated with weird people

CVW,

Were not weird people, we are world people, so Bill welcome to the world. Come on in and join us.

CVW hey now that is a new spin on outsourcing work. LOL

Jim

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Now I know what has happened to me

There are voices in my head telling me I need more points! Sometimes I agree with them (the voices ) and sometimes I argue with them. I haven't even been on a trip home yet

CVW is dead on!!! Of course, I am now addicted to the Disboards and I don't want a cure. Enter the Dis at your own risk

Lisa

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Bill...never fear...it is quite possible to be perfectly happy with 150 points. You can even do multiple vacations some times if you are willing to throw a little cash in to cover Fridays and Saturdays.

Of course it helps if you have no desire to cruise (improbable on 150 points), no kids, and are quite flexible.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by CVW
I'm sending my 8 and 5 year old to Venezuela to work in a Nike factory. That should earn us another five to ten points a year.

They might be able to get you a discount. You need good walking shoes for all that time in the parks.

-Joe

 

[CVW]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

You won't need any more points....

YouseewhatImeanBill? TheseguysandespeciallythisDrTomorrowaregettinginsidemyheadandsayingthingstome. MyaluminumfoilbeanieistheonlydefenseIhaveagainsttheseDVC'ers. They'redrivingmeCRAZY,Bill,CRAZY,Itellyou. Gottagetsomerest. GottacutoutthecaffeineandgetofftheDISBoards.

But first I need more points. MORE POINTS I TELL YOU! Just a second. Gotta wake up my wife. There's still my 2 year old and my four month old girls. They could probably throw a few stitches for Phil Knight in Venezuela with their big brothers. I'll see what she thinks.

----------

I'm back. My wife just kicked me out of bed, and I'm on the floor now. HEY, I'VE DONE IT! I'VE FOUND SOME POINTS!

No. Never mind. That's just carpet fuzz. Must...get...some...rest.

pInKy FIngeR IS sTArTIng to TwiTch On thE ShIFt KeY. MuST sLEep nOW.

PoIntS...pOinTs...PoINts...

gET oUt, bIll...tHerE'S sTIlL tiMe.

 

[LeftCoaster]

Originally posted by CVW

We decided to sell our house and live in a trailer so we could afford more points. I'm sending my 8 and 5 year old to Venezuela to work in a Nike factory. That should earn us another five to ten points a year.

Hmmmm..... I should start having children. I can mark 'em up and sell them off.

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by doubletrouble_vb
Bill...never fear...it is quite possible to be perfectly happy with 150 points. You can even do multiple vacations some times if you are willing to throw a little cash in to cover Fridays and Saturdays.

Of course it helps if you have no desire to cruise (improbable on 150 points), no kids, and are quite flexible.

Or pay cash to cruise (we do - we wouldn't use points anyway, poor value). Have kids who will sleep on the hideabed or even in a studio, and are inflexible, but inflexible about cheap point seasons.

We stay every other year in a two bedroom on 150 points per year in October (its 282 points for 7 nights). Next year we are scoping back to a one bedroom standard view (174 points, kids on the pullout) to save points to rent two two bedrooms for six nights for my family in 2007. In 2006 we cruise instead of WDW on cash. We don't know what we will do in 2008 yet, its possible we will spend the time on the East Coast - the kids should be nearing Washington DC age.