Okay, wise ones advice needed

[ninaeve]

First, let me say, that we will not be buying this year. We hope to sometime in the next 2-5 years. So this is more a curiosity/info gathering question at this point. Here is our scenario.

Husband and I
3 little ones currently 6 yr, 3 yr, and 1 yr

Our typical Disney year is one family vacation for 8-10 days in the spring(March/April) due to school schedule

Starting this year, we have added two smaller vacations to that(one family and one just dh/me) for 4 nights each, one planned in May, one planned in October.

THinking of that info, any recommendations for a home resort that would fit my family size and vacationing schedule?
How many points would it take to be able to take all three vacations with DVC points?

Just glancing at the point schedules, and the fact that we have to travel at peak times, it seems like we would have to have a HUGE amount of points.
So would be be better to just continue using annual pass discounts for mods and deluxes, and having the ability to not have to plan our vacation so far in advance?

It seems like a lot of you are saying that these DVCs book up so quickly that u have to know your plans a yr in advance...we don't get the school schedule or know dh's work/project deadlines that far in advance, so for someone that only plans 3-4 months ahead, would we have any shot at accomodations?

I would hate to buy, and then realize that we won't even be able to use the points.

 

[Chuck S]

Not knowing exactly what the future will bring as far as new DVC resorts...and given that you are a young family, that will probably be able to use points for many years...right now I'd purchase AKV because of the later contract end date, and for now get enough points for a 1 bedroom unit during your normal Disney travel times, with plans to add on enough points to get a 2 bedroom as your children get older.

 

[kim532]

I am glad to see I am not the only person on these boards who is not purchasing for a couple of years. I plan on buying in Spring 2009, as soon as I get my tax return and my yearly bonus from work. ( Should only have to finance 50% of purchase then)

DH and I are both early 30s and are going to buy AKV due to the extended contract length and the themeing. We are buying exactly as Chuck suggested. enough points for a 1 bedroom during our most likely time of travel.

I wouldn't worry about there being any accomodations for you in trying to book. My understanding is there will be places to stay, but maybe not your first choice.

Good Luck,
Kim

 

[dianeschlicht]

I can tell you from experience that if you plan to stay on-site for those upcoming trips in a moderate or deluxe resort, you will DEFINITELY be money ahead to buy sooner rather than later. We made the decision 10 years ago after returning from a trip that cost us in the $5000 range. We looked at our week of memories, and the $5000 hole in our check book and said "we could have applied this to DVC and been money ahead". So that's what we did before the NEXT trip! If you look at it that way, you realize that you have it "paid off" so to speak in just 3-4 trips. We started out with a minimal 230 point contract and have since added on twice to get to our most comfortable number. We didn't do add-ons unless we could afford them though. My advice is to buy at AKV NOW and buy in with what you would need for a 1 bedroom for that big spring trip. Manage your points well by arriving on a Saturday and staying in a studio for that night. Then switch to the 1 bedroom for Sunday through Thursday nights and go back to the studio for Friday and Saturday again. This gives you some point flexibility until you can afford enough points to stay put.