Newbie To DVC. Can Someone Answer Some Questions For Me?

[Madi100]

We just joined. Filled out our paperwork today, and we need to get it sent back. A couple things I don't understand. First of all, I asked our guide if it is a problem to stay at a resort that is not our "home". He said it shouldn't be a problem. I just read a thread on here that says that people sell and rebuy to have a different home resort. So, what's the deal with that?

My second thing I don't thing I don't exactly understand is banking points. We just signed up, but with the promotion going on, we get our points in August. So, we have 150 now, and we will get another 150 in August. But if we don't plan on taking a trip before the end of July we need to bank our points by the end of January. Well, we would like to take a trip next year, but we don't know when. So, we will probably bank them. DH asked if we can use those points then, and we were told yes. So, I don't understand why you wouldn't always bank them unless you had a very specific date that you were going. Is there any reason I shouldn't bank my points? Our guide seemed a little offended when I asked him if the promotion he offered us that expired in 72 hours was something that would around the next time we asked. I asked if it was a sale's ploy. I think that it was very important for our guide to tell us that we needed to bank our points by January if we don't plan on taking a vacation before the end of July. While we were sitting in his office we talked about visiting again at Christmas time.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, Nicole. Welcome to the DVC World!
During certain times of year, certain resorts may be difficult to book at the 7 month window (non home resort booking window). It depends on how badly you want to stay at a particular resort, but good advice is "buy at the resort you want to stay at most".

Once you bank your points, they can not be un-banked. If you bank your 2005 points, you can't use them until the start of your 2006 use year (August 2006).
If you did bank them, then decided you wanted to use them, there is an option: You could borrow your 2006 points, and use them in your 2005 use year. So you would use your 2006 points in 2005, and use your 2005 points in 2006. Clear as mudd?

Finally, no, Disney/DVC does not play games with the promotional offers. I understand many timeshare salespeople do, but your okay with DVC!

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

MG

 

[Caskbill]

Hi, and Welcome home!

It's very important to understand that your DVC points follow a Use Year, not a calendar year. So when you say you want to take a vacation next year (meaning 2006 calendar year), it could be either your 2005 Use Year, OR your 2006 Use Year, depending on which month you take the vacation.

Take a look at this chart which is for an August Use Year which is what you have.

Use Year.....Vacation Dates
2005.....Aug 1, 2005 thru July 31, 2006
2006.....Aug 1, 2006 thru July 31, 2007
2007.....Aug 1, 2007 thru July 31, 2008
2008.....Aug 1, 2008 thru July 31, 2009

You are receiving an allotment of 2005 points which means they are good right now through July 31, 2006. On Aug 1, 2006 you will receive your 2006 Use Year points.

If you want to take a vacation anytime in Jan-Jul, 2006, then you need to use 2005 UY points. If you want to take that vacation Aug-Dec of 2006, then you will need to use 2006 UY points.

So it all depends on what month you want to take your vacation. If it's after Aug 1, 2006, then bank your 2005 points into your 2006 Use Year and use them for any vacation dates from Aug 1, 2006 through July 3, 2007.

You may bank 100% of your points within the 1st 6 months of your use year, so your Aug 2005 UY points may all be banked into 2006 if you bank on or before Jan 31, 2006 (The end of the 6-month point: (Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan).

You need then to decide before your January banking deadline as to when in 2006 you want to vacation. That will determine whether to bank your 2005 points or not.

Now, finally, you can also borrow points, so if you want to take a vacation in June 2006, you would use your 2005 points, and if necessary, borrow some of your 2006 points.

If you are going to take your vacation in August or later, you would bank your 2005 points into 2006 and use them for that vacation. You could also use any of your regular 2006 points if necessary.

Hope this helps without getting too confusing.

 

[Madi100]

Hi, and Welcome home!

It's very important to understand that your DVC points follow a Use Year, not a calendar year. So when you say you want to take a vacation next year (meaning 2006 calendar year), it could be either your 2005 Use Year, OR your 2006 Use Year, depending on which month you take the vacation.

Take a look at this chart which is for an August Use Year which is what you have.

Use Year.....Vacation Dates
2005.....Aug 1, 2005 thru July 31, 2006
2006.....Aug 1, 2006 thru July 31, 2007
2007.....Aug 1, 2007 thru July 31, 2008
2008.....Aug 1, 2008 thru July 31, 2009

You are receiving an allotment of 2005 points which means they are good right now through July 31, 2006. On Aug 1, 2006 you will receive your 2006 Use Year points.

If you want to take a vacation anytime in Jan-Jul, 2006, then you need to use 2005 UY points. If you want to take that vacation Aug-Dec of 2006, then you will need to use 2006 UY points.

So it all depends on what month you want to take your vacation. If it's after Aug 1, 2006, then bank your 2005 points into your 2006 Use Year and use them for any vacation dates from Aug 1, 2006 through July 3, 2007.

You may bank 100% of your points within the 1st 6 months of your use year, so your Aug 2005 UY points may all be banked into 2006 if you bank on or before Jan 31, 2006 (The end of the 6-month point: (Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan).

You need then to decide before your January banking deadline as to when in 2006 you want to vacation. That will determine whether to bank your 2005 points or not.

Now, finally, you can also borrow points, so if you want to take a vacation in June 2006, you would use your 2005 points, and if necessary, borrow some of your 2006 points.

If you are going to take your vacation in August or later, you would bank your 2005 points into 2006 and use them for that vacation. You could also use any of your regular 2006 points if necessary.

Hope this helps without getting too confusing.

Thanks for your explanation. Our biggest decision right now is when do we want to go again. We know it will be during value season. We know that it will just be the two of us, no kids. We don't want to go when it's really hot. We JUST got back, and I'm not really up for deciding when I want to go again quite yet. I would love to go for the Christmas celebration again, but my AP expires at the end of November. I think DH wants to go in February for my birthday. Just a bit stressed, because I really need to decide right now. I guess we'll just have to decide.

 

[byoung]

Welcome Home

 

[mbb]

...Just a bit stressed, because I really need to decide right now. I guess we'll just have to decide.

I know it's stressful - it's a big financial commitment It really does get easier to understand...I always smile when I read someone's post where they say: "I just wish we had purchased sooner" ...


...We wish we had too

It's still ok to say, "no, not right now..let me understand it first". That's what we did...(although seeing the price/point increase - twice! - while we were trying to wrap ourselves around it was hard )

Caskbill and MG have given you some great tips..and it will get easier to understand, we promise!

..and Welcome Home, Neighbour!!!

 

[crisi]

We just joined. Filled out our paperwork today, and we need to get it sent back. A couple things I don't understand. First of all, I asked our guide if it is a problem to stay at a resort that is not our "home". He said it shouldn't be a problem. I just read a thread on here that says that people sell and rebuy to have a different home resort. So, what's the deal with that?

He's....not lying, but not telling the whole truth. Some resorts and some room types are difficult to get into at the seven month window. Some members, including myself, believe as membership grows, smaller resorts will become even harder to get into. VWL is the smallest DVC - with only a little over a 100 rooms - and is very popular with its owners in the Fall and Winter - particularly around the holidays. BCVs is the second smallest resort, and is very popular with its owners because of Storm Along Bay. BWV is bigger, but its two big draws are standard view rooms and boardwalk view rooms - those are often booked by its owners before the seven month window opens. Grand Villas at OKW are huge and relatively cheap point wise - often booked by owners before the window opens.

That doesn't mean these rooms won't be available at seven months. Plenty of people have had great luck. But if you are buying SSR to stay exclusively at VWL or are under the impression that a BWV standard view will be available for Food and Wine, you won't be happy.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Madi100, aren't you the Iowan with the two redheaded children? I remember a picture with at least one ( I believe two) beautiful redheaded girls. Wasn;t that you? I remember posting a reply to a thread of yours on the Transportation board.

Well Welcome Home! We needed more redheaded DVCers! My DD, DS and I add three more to the mix (DW is the odd one out in this family).

 

[paults]

 

[poohbear7]

Welcome Home Nicole

 

[debloco]

He's....not lying, but not telling the whole truth. Some resorts and some room types are difficult to get into at the seven month window.

That doesn't mean these rooms won't be available at seven months. Plenty of people have had great luck. But if you are buying SSR to stay exclusively at VWL or are under the impression that a BWV standard view will be available for Food and Wine, you won't be happy.

Well said.

And I would add that it peeves me a bit (just me personally, let's not take this anywhere) that it seems that the guides do not inform (fully or otherwise) potential buyers that there are options other than buying SSR.

And...

Welcome Home!

 

[rufusrex]

He's....not lying, but not telling the whole truth. Some resorts and some room types are difficult to get into at the seven month window. Some members, including myself, believe as membership grows, smaller resorts will become even harder to get into. VWL is the smallest DVC - with only a little over a 100 rooms - and is very popular with its owners in the Fall and Winter - particularly around the holidays. BCVs is the second smallest resort, and is very popular with its owners because of Storm Along Bay. BWV is bigger, but its two big draws are standard view rooms and boardwalk view rooms - those are often booked by its owners before the seven month window opens. Grand Villas at OKW are huge and relatively cheap point wise - often booked by owners before the window opens.

That doesn't mean these rooms won't be available at seven months. Plenty of people have had great luck. But if you are buying SSR to stay exclusively at VWL or are under the impression that a BWV standard view will be available for Food and Wine, you won't be happy.

I would agree 100%. We bought 4 years ago through a reseller at BWV and are very happy, and once had no trouble trading into VWL (wow, nice place), but with the size of SSR I feel that trading into anywhere except SSR at the 7th month window is out the window. And then guides telling people that they should have no trouble trading will not help the situation, I believe many of the people buying into SSR don't really want to stay there, they are just buying into DVC under the false impression that they'll never have to stay there. As far as SSR, it's nice, IMHO it doesn't have the charm of VWL, or the convenience (and standard room pts), or the spaciousness of the rooms at OKW, or SAB at BCV. It's a nice place, just not as nice the others. Please don't flame me, that is just my opinion.

 

[robinb]

Welcome Home!

The availability of your non-Home resort depends on the popularity of the time you usually travel. You may have problems getting into VWL, BCV and a Standard View at BWV during busy times in the 7th month or shorter window. We love to be at BWV over New Year's Eve, so we specifically bought our second contract there (on the resale market) so we could be ensured a cheap(er) standard view during that time. The less popular times are easier. I have stayed at BCV 3 times and VWL twice, but during the late spring and summer.

As for your 2005 Use Year points ... I would recommend that you bank them into next year. You will have to use them by July, 2007. If you end up wanting to take a vacation before July, 2006 then you can borrow 2006 points into your 2005 use year. Those points then remain in the 2005 UY and expire in July, 2005.

 

[Madi100]

Thanks for all of the advice. We have decided to bank our points and maybe go again next December. We were going to do February by upgrading DH's ticket to an AP, but our guide failed to tell us we needed to do that while we were in Florida. He knew we were leaving the next day. Oh well. We have to "rearrange" some things so that we get this paid off in the next couple months. So, it's probably wiser to hold off.

I'm really happy with SSR. I think it's beautiful. Do any of the others appeal to me more? I don't know. Maybe one of the ones closer to a park. But, they are more poitns. I think we have decided that if we are absolutely thrilled with DVC, and we need to purchase more points, we will do it with another resort. That just gives us more options for an 11 month reservation window.

Thanks again for all of the advice and well wishes!! We are very excited!

 

[fishermouse]

Well said.

And I would add that it peeves me a bit (just me personally, let's not take this anywhere) that it seems that the guides do not inform (fully or otherwise) potential buyers that there are options other than buying SSR.

And...

Welcome Home!

A Ford dealer is not going to tell you the benefits of buying a chevy..and unless you really push he is not going to steer you toward the used cars.. His best sale is the new model. Right now thats SSR.
Also I have as of yet not had any problem booking what I want. Last year we booked for the flower Festival three months out for a standard view BW. My home is SSR and love it but I do want to eventually try them all. Just to say I did.. Just a side note we usually don't book during the busiest seasons. It's a lot more fun when you can just walk on the rides and see the shows without waiting. Kids are grown, of course I do miss watching the little ones!!

 

[Madi100]

Madi100, aren't you the Iowan with the two redheaded children? I remember a picture with at least one ( I believe two) beautiful redheaded girls. Wasn;t that you? I remember posting a reply to a thread of yours on the Transportation board.

Well Welcome Home! We needed more redheaded DVCers! My DD, DS and I add three more to the mix (DW is the odd one out in this family).

I'm flattered that you remember. I only have ONE redhead. Here are both of my girls waking up Tinker Bell

 

[pumpkinboy]

I'm flattered that you remember. I only have ONE redhead. Here are both of my girls waking up Tinker Bell.

Then again, perhaps just one redhead is enough for a family . We get a reputation as troublemakers, which I have always found unjustified since I myself was an angelic child.

As for your initial issue, I think you are wise to bank this year's points and be sure of the banking deadline. Heck, you can all get annual passes next year and rock 'em sock 'em; we did that this year using the current year's points plus a third more - and got 25 park days on those APs (that's almost 7% of a calendar year! Yay!).

Again, Welcome Home! And thx for the cute picture.

 

[mydogdrew]

We just joined. Filled out our paperwork today, and we need to get it sent back. A couple things I don't understand. First of all, I asked our guide if it is a problem to stay at a resort that is not our "home". He said it shouldn't be a problem. I just read a thread on here that says that people sell and rebuy to have a different home resort. So, what's the deal with that?

You did get the $83 deal, right?

 

[Madi100]

You did get the $83 deal, right?

We got 15% off. Is that the $83 deal?

 

[cobbler]

Yes the 15% off is the $83 deal. You should have paid 83.30 per point.