not enough points

[chipdale74]

Has anyone booked a vacation but didn't have enough vacation points (with not anything left to borrow)? Have you bought the extra nights or did you work out something with another vacation club member? I am looking to take my daughter for the first time next summer and I want to stay about 10 days but I know I won't have enough points. I wanted to see what other people do in the same situation. Any advise/help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

Has anyone booked a vacation but didn't have enough vacation points (with not anything left to borrow)? Have you bought the extra nights or did you work out something with another vacation club member? I am looking to take my daughter for the first time next summer and I want to stay about 10 days but I know I won't have enough points. I wanted to see what other people do in the same situation. Any advise/help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I have done a night or two with the member cash discount or AP rate.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

I looked at renting/paying cash/etc. But in the end, we just added on.

 

[Anal Annie]

We did 2 different short stays (3-4 nights) using the DVC member discount (25% I think it is). This was back before they offered the one-time rental thing they started last year (is that for 25 points)? ANYWAY, I said NO MORE cash stays. For what we paid for the 2 trips we could've done a small add-on. If the bug ever strikes again to take a trip that we don't have points for then I hope we have the sense to either NOT GO or just add on.

 

[OldGrizzly57]

It is VERY rare to find a circumstance where a cash reservation for a Villa is cost effective.

There are plenty of reputable folks out there wanting to rent for a reasonable cost per point. Either book what you can and rent the remaining nights or rent the whole thing this trip and bank your points for your next trip. If you book part and rent part then make sure you link the reservations so you don't get caught in a situation where you have to change villas.

Griz

 

[mom of princessx2]

We found someone on the rent/trade boards and did a transfer. We also have stayed in a value for a night or two using ap discount.

 

[DMKEDM]

Six years of membership, five add-on's, one rental and one transfer later, it's safe to say I will always want more trips than I have the points to cover...

Probably the easiest of all the "routes" I've taken were the add-on's...of course, that was also the most expensive of my choices--but I've found I use the add'l points so I don't feel bad about those choices...all my add-on's are small (biggest was 115 points--then one 100-point add-on, then 3 50-point add-on's)...worth noting I did all my add-on's before Disney started charging for closing costs--not sure I'd add on "in dribbles" any more given the closing costs now...

Short of adding on, either renting points or a points transfer if you find the "right" DVC member to rent/transfer from can be a super choice...I found a terrific person -- he made a reservation for me for one trip, and did a points transfer for me another time...can't rave enough about him!

One difficulty w/the points transfer is that transferred points are sort of "step children" at MS...they don't show up in your online account, and it can be complicated to keep them straight if you don't use them all, all at once, when you first get them (I decided, since you can only have one transfer per use year, to get "extra's"--I did wind up using them (happily!), but they were considerably more trouble (for MS and for me!) to keep track of...)

The rental was super easy for me and my renter was absolutely wonderful about making the contacts I needed made at MS (to get MS and the dining plan), but I do prefer being in charge of the reservation myself...a control thing, probably, as I had no problems of any kind w/my renter...

If you're just a few points short you can do the one-time points purchase from Disney...

I've also reserved thru MS on the member cash plan (discount was available both times), but not because I was short of points--but because one of my nights wasn't available. Both times the W/L came through and the cash price was credited back on my credit card when the cash reservation was canceled after the W/L came through...also an easy process...

Good luck!

 

[Atchley]

Next year we are planning on taking advantage of the one time use points. We need an extra 22 points for our trip and that would be about 330. With the six people that we have, it would be that much to just rent two value rooms for the night so we just decided to go with the points.
When I call to reserve the room, do I just tell them that I want to also purchase 22 of the one time use points? I just want to make sure that I am not borrowing from the next year.

 

[mlittig]

I am not a member but I was going to suggest renting the points you need I have rented from several people on the DIS rent/trade board and have had the most marvelous, magical experiences Good luck finding the points you need

 

[chipdale74]

Thanks everyone. I don't know if the 24 points will be enough for the trip. I would love to add on points but that isn't happening soon. I have over a year so maybe something will happen in the next year so I can get more points.

 

[Sammie]

I bought 6 points once. We are frugal, our trips fit what we have.

 

[Splashboat]

Make sure you check the general public discounts for the time you are traveling. Often they will offer 30-40% off Deluxe villas. We have done this a few times and thought the cost ended up very reasonable.

 

[CarolMN]

Next year we are planning on taking advantage of the one time use points. We need an extra 22 points for our trip and that would be about 330. With the six people that we have, it would be that much to just rent two value rooms for the night so we just decided to go with the points.
When I call to reserve the room, do I just tell them that I want to also purchase 22 of the one time use points? I just want to make sure that I am not borrowing from the next year.

Yes, that's all you have to do. MS will take it from there. But be sure to mention this right away, so MS knows not to borrow.

Assume you know that the one-time-use points are only available for reservations made 7 months or less from arrival.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, that's all you have to do. MS will take it from there. But be sure to mention this right away, so MS knows not to borrow.

Assume you know that the one-time-use points are only available for reservations made 7 months or less from arrival.

We did this for a trip last year and it was very easy. I just told them how many one time use points I wanted to rent, gave them my credit card number, and it was all booked.

 

[com_op_2000]

I used some of my extra DVC rental points (up to 24) to complete my vacation bookings.

 

[sweetdana]

I'd say either

BEST IMO if you can make it happen: Transfer in (usually about 10$ -11$ a point from rent/trade board). If you think this is a fluke, and rooms should be available still. I do this once a yr. Since 2008, I have every yr except not 2012 yet, but it isnt over yet either. You do not pay significantly more than the owners actual cost, if you did a small add on. I think I figured it out once to be about 7-9$ or so depending on the resort you bought, so the premium to use it once and not require MF again is IMO a best kept secret. (The bonus of picking which ever resort you want for the yr is even better.)

2, if you cannot get a transfer that meets needs, and/or rooms are not available I would use CRO, and book a package/special/AP discount/room only ect. Moderates are very nice and though not SSR or the BC, they can be added to the 1st few nights to get started on the fun, and by the time yo are ready to rest/ use pools ect you can move into your villa with the rest of your points.

 

[seelyt2]

We have purchased the one-time use points without any problem.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If we don't have the points, we don't go. No matter who wants to go. And we plan our trips out ahead of time so we know when we'll have points and when we won't. So we can get a PAP instead of just X-many days of admission.

 

[nyck]

I just bought the one time use (14 points) from Disney yesterday for a vacation in July and it was very easy. It was worth the $15 points for it to be less stressful and pretty smooth.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

I paid cash for the extra points I needed through them (DVC) at $15/pt... but we find we don't have enough points from year to year so we just purchased 130 more at a second resort....