OKW/points question

[bubba's mom]

I'm not usually over here, but I am a little confused about something. I posted this question on the resort board, and was recommended to try here also. Here is my story......
We visit WDW each year for a day or two (go to stay with MIL/FIL rest of the week in Ocala, Fl) going to only 1 park. We don't hop-just concentrate on one park. Therefore, we take advantage of the EMH's. Between the EMH schedule (which I know is all over the place and crazy right now), our work schedules and our visit there, we aren't too flexible about when we go. (Like I said, we do the EMH at the park we're going to on our way to relatives.) We are planning to stay at Disney Sat. & Sun. June 25/26th. My SIL wants to give us points to OKW...totaling (she said) 38. She won't take money for them, so I have no idea of their value. Someone told me they trade for $10/point and to buy are about $3.85 or abouts there. Now, when we go, we are a "bare bones" family....a bed and a shower...that's it. We probably won't use the pool (IL's have one @ their home) and won't be in the room but to sleep/shower. Because of our "low necessity", we usually go to the values--which we like. We can get a value for $100/night or less at that time. Seems the points are going to be worth as much as we'd be paying for the value resort. ....The only advantage I see to using the points is getting the fridge...which, would be handy, cuz we eat breakfast in the room! Does this sound about right....her points coming close to equalling 2 nights at a value (with a code). I really hate to use her points and have her not let us pay her anything for them.....
Sorry this is long...but, I just know somebody here can help me!!
Thanks!!!!

 

[btrim]

People are renting their points for about $10 a point on this website. That would mean that your 38 points would rent for $380. Points actually sell for about $89.00 a point when you purchase a contract with the Vacatioin Club. OKW would be cheaper on the resale board because it is the oldest vacation club resort. It is a wonderful place to stay. We stayed there last summer. We own at SSR (the newest resort). The studios at OKW have two beds instead of a bed and a couch. The little frig and microwave are nice if you like to eat breakfast in the room. You can have cereal, muffins, etc because there is also a toaster. I don't know what you relatives situation is with their points, but maybe they have some that they know they can't use and they would like to give you a nice place to stay while you are at Disney. I would just accept their offer and maybe send them something nice to say thanks and be done with it. I know you will enjoy your stay at OKW.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Saturday the 25th would cost 27 points at OKW. If you are also staying Sunday night, that would be an additional 11 points. She is giving you the value of a studio at OKW in Magic season. That room (with fridge and large bathroom) would rent from Disney for about $250-$350 a night. Since you are getting it free, TAKE IT! You will have a great time!

 

[Bojo]

The $3.85 figure may be someones idea of yearly maintinence fees per point. If you really want to pay something for the stay, you may offer to pay what you would spend on regular rooms, pay for the maintenence fees on the points, or just repay them in another way. Sometimes, the joy of giving to others is enough payment.

If your park(s) for this trip are Epcot or MGM, you may want to check out BWV or BCV. If MK is your park, then VWL may be better. Anyway, I do believe you will enjoy the stay at any DVC resort.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Sometimes, the joy of giving to others is enough payment.

I have to agree. When we invite guests or give family points, we do NOT expect any payment, but often the guests will take us out to dinner or something else as a thank you.

 

[bubba's mom]

First of all.....THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!! You've all been extremely helpful. Our park of choice this year is MGM (did MK last year). I have not chosen OKW, that's what SIL is offering us. Our big hang up was we don't want to use points that she could be using on her and her husband.... we wouldn't feel right about it and wanted to give her something for it. She said to buy her a pin (she's really into the pin thing there)...yeah, she's giving us a studio room and we're going to buy her A pin?? Um, I think we need to give her a bit more. Talked to DH about it tonight, will probably accept her offer (cuz like I said, the fridge will be a huge convenience) and give her something like $100....either cash or gift card. (Would really rather not purchase $100 worth of pins...but, I'm sure she'd love it!!! lol....)
Again, thanks for the insight!!

 

[btrim]

You can always give them Disney Dollars if they go there alot. Then she could buy the pins that she wants and you wouldn't be wondering if she already has the pin you pick out. I love to get Disney Dollars because I know I have to spend them on something Disney. Have a great trip and enjoy the studio.

 

[JudithM]

If your SIL is willing to give you two nights at OKW using her points, then I would take her up on her kind offer. Please know that in a studio you get a small under the counter refirgerator - not a large one like in your kitchen. Also the freezer is pretty tiny to in comparison.

I recently gave some points to a friend who had to extend an OKW stay due to a family medical crisis. They were points I was most likely not going to be able to use during my current use year. My friend was concerned she was taking away from us. Not the case .. she was helping me.

Enjoy!

 

[bubba's mom]

in a studio you get a small under the counter refirgerator - not a large one like in your kitchen. Also the freezer is pretty tiny to in comparison.

i did think it was a smaller one, but just need something to keep milk cold. btw, does the gift shop sell milk??

My friend was concerned she was taking away from us. Not the case .. she was helping me.

How was she helping you?? Do you lose them if you don't use them each year??? The whole DVC thing is very confusing to me...and I've tried to "get it". Since we probably aren't going to purchase any DVC, I guess I just gave up on trying to understand the whole thing!

 

[dianeschlicht]

How was she helping you?? Do you lose them if you don't use them each year??? The whole DVC thing is very confusing to me...and I've tried to "get it". Since we probably aren't going to purchase any DVC, I guess I just gave up on trying to understand the whole thing!

Sometimes there are points that have not been banked in time or are in holding. When that happens, they must be used within a certain use year or be lost. I would much rather give my points to a friend than lose them.

 

[JudithM]

i did think it was a smaller one, but just need something to keep milk cold. btw, does the gift shop sell milk??

The small refrigerator will be fine for milk. Yes, they sell milk in the gift shop.

How was she helping you?? Do you lose them if you don't use them each year???

I had a few points left in my current use year. I still had time to bank those points (put them into next year's account). We had not decided if we would use the points or not, & since our friend could use them, then it helped us decide !

 

[bubba's mom]

I had a few points left in my current use year. I still had time to bank those points (put them into next year's account). We had not decided if we would use the points or not, & since our friend could use them, then it helped us decide !

aaahhhh.....THAT makes sense ....Thanks!!

 

[bubba's mom]

Hi all!!
Just wanted to let everyone know SIL rec'd the confirmation papers in the mail today for us to go to OKW. We did decide to take her up on her offer, after about 15 rejections....but we are giving her $100 and buying her about $25-$30 worth of pins while there (she's really into pin trading). Thanks for all your help.....never thought I'd actually ever stay at OKW...or anything but the values for that matter!!

 

[SueOKW]

Be on guard for the spoil factor. You could get so spoiled at OKW you may find yourselves unable to go back to a value resort!!

Just kidding - we love it there, and hope you enjoy your stay!

 

[bubba's mom]

Be on guard for the spoil factor. You could get so spoiled at OKW you may find yourselves unable to go back to a value resort!!

Just kidding - we love it there, and hope you enjoy your stay!

Thanks Sue....luckily we don't plan on actually being at OKW very much during our 2 day stay!! ---Too much other stuff to do!!! Besides, I'd rather spend more on food and entertainment than a room I'm hardly in!! But, thanks for the warning......

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

I have another idea!!!!
If you went Sunday and Monday instead of Saturday...you could get a 1 bedroom OKW instead of the studio for only 32 points total!!!! (oops wait...that's value season and I'm not sure when you are going)

Or, again using Sunday, Monday, Tuesday during the 11 point per weekday night you could stay in the studio 3 nights for 33 points during Magic season.

Might as well have more fun on the same number of points!

colorado belle

 

[FLORIDAFUNFAMILY]

I try to avoid the friday and saturday night stay at the dvc resorts because of the cost/points of the rooms they seem like such a better deal sunday through thursday night.

 

[bubba's mom]

If you went Sunday and Monday instead of Saturday

Believe me, while I DO appreciate the insight about going these days (vs. sat./sun), we chose this weekend for a reason. let me tell you my story:
we fly to Florida every year for about 10-11 days. My DH parents and brother (& family) all live in Florida. Each year we go around the 4th of July because that's my FIL's birthday. The whole family is together then (for a couple of days anyway, cuz BIL lives 2 hours away from in-laws). Anyway, last year DS was 5 1/2 years old, and we thought it to be a good time to detour to Disney on our way to my in-laws....just for a couple of days. We spend a couple of days at Disney (upon arrival to Fla.), then head up to my in-laws....where we spend the rest of the week. Well, beings July 4th was going to be a Monday this year, we figured a lot of people were going to take long weekends (due to the Monday holiday) and DH was afraid we wouldn't get a rental car outta Disney, airports crowded, etc.... So, our choice was to: go to Disney the week before July 4th, or the week after. The week after would be too hot, and AFTER FIL's birthday, so we opted for the last weekend of June. We are planning on using the EvEMH at MGM that Sunday (we like to take advantage of EMH since we only have a day or two each year...thus determining what day we go to Disney) --and I'm hoping they are at MGM that night....if not, we aren't really paying for the resort or tickets this year, so, we may as well go...even if there's no EMH's. After our couple of days at the park, we need to get to my in-laws so we have a least a week to spend with them. They are getting older and falling apart....so, we like to really spend as much time with them as possible. After they are long gone, Disney will be there, and we'll stay there longer and be able to work around the weekends.....but, until then, family is the main reason we go to Florida each year.....Disney is the second.
Thanks again for your input....I wanted you to know I did read it and understand, but it just doesn't work for us.....right now anyway! Thanks again!!!