Newbie question re: deluxe resorts

[dinkin]

Please excuse this newbie question, but we are considering purchasing into DVC. It is my understanding you can use your points to stay at ANY Disney resort. However, in testing the points calculators, it appears that in many cases if you want to stay at a DELUXE resort (i.e. Grand Floridian, Contemporary), you may be better off or at least break even by paying cash rather than the number of points.

Has anyone had any experience with using points in this way? Is there a "trick" to using points toward a deluxe resort?

I didn't expect a huge discount, but I would think points would always beat cash.

 

[ArnyVee]

Are there certain times that you'd see yourself wanting to stay at one of the Deluxe resorts rather than an actual DVC resort?

The reason that I ask is that the accomodations at the DVC resorts are 'home away from home' and have a lot of extra things that a deluxe resort might have.

Although, if you have little ones that you will be taking to the Magic Kingdom more often than not, you'd want a monorail resort. That is, if you can afford it. If you can, then it might be better to go cash w/discounts at the deluxe resorts.

Some of the more saavy and experienced DVC'ers can probably lend a hand on this particular question though.

 

[zulaya]

There's no trick. If you have the points chart, that's what you get.

It is obvious that paying cash would be a better deal if you can get a discounted rate. Sometimes, you can't.

The deal is is that you get the best value for your points staying at a DVC resort. You have the flexibility to use the points at other Disney resorts and other across the world, but the points are calculated differently for each place.

I personally haven't done this yet, but I know DH wants to do AKL concierge sometime, so we may do that. Right now, he is too much loving BCV to do that.

 

[DebbieB]

DVC was designed to stay at DVC resorts most of the time. Points wise, you would be using more points per night at GF than a 2 bedroom at a DVC resort. A 2 bedroom would give you 3 or 4 times the space as GF and way more amenities. There is a tradeoff - DVC has limited housekeeping included, you have to pay extra at the time of your stay if you want full housekeeping. My suggestion is to rent points from a member for a 1 or 2 bedroom to see if DVC is for you. I always stayed at deluxe resorts before DVC and expected to continue to do so, but once I saw a 2 bedroom I was blown away.

 

[PamOKW]

The option to stay at non-DVC WDW resorts is more of a convenience for members than any cost savings. These points are not fixed and are not guaranteed to continue (although they have from day one and the program has actually been expanded.) It's fun to "mix it up" once in awhile but the value comes from staying at DVC resorts. You can also look at it as the money has already been spent. You aren't taking additional funds to stay elsewhere than DVC.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by dinkin
I didn't expect a huge discount, but I would think points would always beat cash.

It also depends on how you value your points. Cash rates will usually be better than an assumed value of $10 or more per point, but some members value their points as what they actually paid for the maintenance fees that year- ranging from about $3.50 to just over $4 per point. If a member chooses to value their points in that fashion and forego the tribulations of trying to rent them to others, the value may well be a bargain over paying cash rates for Deluxe Resort rooms.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by ArnyVee
Although, if you have little ones that you will be taking to the Magic Kingdom more often than not, you'd want a monorail resort. That is, if you can afford it. If you can, then it might be better to go cash w/discounts at the deluxe resorts.

This is why VWL is great with the boat service.

 

[erikthewise]

The "trick" is to only buy enough points to cover your stay at DVC resorts. I (and you?) still want to spend some time at other resorts. When I do, I pay cash.

Last year we spent 5 days at BCV and 3 at AKL. This year 6 days at BCV and 2 at the Polynesian.

If you choose to use points to stay at other resorts, at least do so on weekdays! Weekend points at non-DVC resorts are incredibly high; there are few if any that would claim points are better than cash in this case.

As Doc pointed out, points are valued in various ways by members. This is fine, but some methods of computing the value of a point are not exactly standard accounting practice... I recommend the "market value" method (i.e. around $10/pt) as it encourages caution in the way you use your points. Unless you have a boatload of points, that's a good idea. And if you do have a boatload of points, you don't need my advice!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by dinkin
I didn't expect a huge discount, but I would think points would always beat cash.

Actually you should reverse it, cash almost always beats points. Most options outside DVC resorts return a value of $5-6.50 per point. Some less discounted cabins for DCL will get up close to $7.50 pp. Now there will always be a special situation where there are no cash discounts, last minute pricing and the like where points will be the best way to go. You if you rent out your points at $10 pp and pay cash, you will almost always have a good chunk of spending money left over.

 

[Cruelladeville]

There are some occasions when you can't book a DVC unit, but you can book a room in a "cash" resort. If you have points due to expire, you could use them in a regular resort, regardless of how we choose to value the points. It's a good perk. If you had points that needed to be used before Dec., for example, 160 pts for 4 nights at AKL might be OK as a one-time deal. I would rather just rent out the points, but that's not everyone's cup of tea.