Owning points at more then 1 resort

[officer tigger]

We bought 200 points at the VWL 12 years ago. That amount has worked just fine for our family over the years. However we were looking to add points and I spoke with our DVC rep about buying another 50 points.
After a lengthy conversation he advised me that I am one of the few that only have points at one resort. Can anyone explain the benefit of owning points at multiple resorts. Wouldn't I need to have the majority of the points at the resort I wanted to stay to take advantage of the 11 month window?

 

[chukdotcom]

We bought 200 points at the VWL 12 years ago. That amount has worked just fine for our family over the years. However we were looking to add points and I spoke with our DVC rep about buying another 50 points.
After a lengthy conversation he advised me that I am one of the few that only have points at one resort. Can anyone explain the benefit of owning points at multiple resorts. Wouldn't I need to have the majority of the points at the resort I wanted to stay to take advantage of the 11 month window?

Yes. But not everyone wants to stay at the same place every time.

 

[Minniesgal]

It depends if you want your whole trip at the same resort or not we don't we always do split stays using home resort advantage at each of our 3 resorts.

 

[southerngirl528]

Hmm, that's an interesting statement, that you are one of the few that only owns at one home resort. I kind of understand, but….

I've heard some folks brag about owning at 4 or 5 or more resorts. As a 21 year member, I always wonder just how many points they own at each resort, because I think it is NOT a good idea to just add 25 or 50 points on at whatever home resort without thinking it through. For instance, will the number of points you're adding actually allow you to book anything? How much or what would 25 points get you? Of course you can always bank & borrow & get 3 times the number you add if you are diligent to do so. And if you are someone who never books more than 7 months out, or you don't have any preference at all which DVC resort you stay at, and/or you don't plan on booking any of the highest demand dates or a grand villa, then okay, it's not such a big deal where you own.

I can tell you from experience that members trying to book more than 7 months out with multiple home resorts can end up being VERY frustrated if they only have small contracts at each because they can only book their home resort(s) more than 7 months out. Does that make sense? Ultimately my point is this: consider WHERE you prefer to stay if you indeed have any preference, what size villa you need/want, WHEN you like to travel, how many nights, etc. THEN you will have an idea whether adding on a small amount of points at a home resort is worth it or not.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have points at two resorts (did have three, but sold two contracts). The one contract is for 100 points that we can use every other year or whenever to make a reservation at 11 months out.

Some guests will use their smaller contracts every other year or every third year so that get the 11 month advantage to be able to book those hard to get reservations.

And some will just use them at seven months out and add them to their other points to get an easier reservation.

 

[Meggysmum]

I have three contracts and two resorts.

The main reason for the third contract at a second resort was that it was such a Resale bargain we couldn't resist! We now use our BLT to be in the heart of the action for intense trips and then use our SSR for relaxing trips with less park time.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I"m more than a little doubtful that you are one of the few who only owns at one resort. I'd expect that's the majority of owners.

I might suspect one of two things - that your guide will get a larger commission for a resort that DVC has in active sales or possibly they don't have points currently available for VWL in your UY and he would prefer not to wait to make the sale.

However - the reason to get a second resort has been mentioned - that you would like the 11 month booking window at another resort. But that contract does need to be large enough to make it worthwhile also and could involve banking and borrowing to make it that way.

If you prefer to stay at VWL and book at 11 months the best options is just to stick with all your points there.

 

[southerngirl528]

Exactly my point, if one banks & borrows, they can get as much as 3x whatever their add-on is, i.e., a 50 point add-on can be as much as 150 points to use if banked and borrowed!

I own most of my points at OKW, but bought a total of 160 points add on at Vero years ago, which was then exactly enough to book a Beach Cottage for a couple of nights in summer season. Haven't stayed at Vero in years, but I still love it!

 

[appleorchard]

We own at BWV (210 points) and BLT (100 points.) We're just starting the process of selling our BLT points, which are split into two smaller contracts, because it's getting too confusing to keep it all straight. Our BWV points include a 150 point contract and a 60 point contract with two different use years. The BLT contracts have the same use year as our larger BWV contract.

We're going to sell the BLT and buy more BW points to simplify things. I don't mind have two UY, because it gives us two contracts to transfer points into if necessarily and they're at different times of the year, making it easier to use one for the spring trip and one for the winter. But having the BLT points complicates things.

My DD and I have been staying at BLT every year or so, but BLT eats up so many more points that we could stretch our points quite a bit by staying at the BW. BLT was great when my DGD was littler(she still is little, she's just 6) but she loved BW last year and I can see us spending more time in Epcot and HS as she gets older. Plus, the BLT studios really are smaller. we're fine in them now, but as she gets bigger, I'm not so sure. DH and I prefer to stay at BW.

So I wouldn't pay any attention to what the guide says. Buy where you want to stay, and if you want to stay at two different places, make sure you have enough points to consider them as completely different entities, so you don't have to worry about using points at the 7 month window.

 

[officer tigger]

Thanks for the comments. We have never had an issue switching resorts at 7 months out, except for first two weeks of December. Then again we like VWL at Christmas time and would stay there anyway.
I like having all my points at one resort on one contract. Looks like we will add on to our current one.

 

[CMOORE185]

Own 240 points at HHI for booking there in summer, and 240 at SSR for booking at WDW and to even out the higher dues at HHI.

 

[disneynutz]

After spending a ton of money, thinking that DVC was really something special, going on more WDW vacations then we probably should have, here is my thoughts.

Buy a couple home resorts after staying at all of the resorts a couple of times.

Buy a MK resort and a Epcot/DHS home resort.

Keep the same UY.

Buy enough points so that you don't have to back and borrow.

Don't transfer points.

Book at 11 months online.

Send your room requests to MS using the member website contact form.

Use the member website to reserve DME.

Bill

 

[flomay53]

I've been a member since 1993 and at one point owned 736 points all at OKW. I've stayed at some of the other resorts but prefer my home resort. In the process of buying another add on.

 

[chetcroc]

My answer may be a little late, but there is great advantage to owning multiple resorts. I own at 6 different properties. This gives me my choice of where I want to stay, I have the advantage of the 11 month window, so nothing is never not available and those resorts that I do not frequent (Grand California and Aulani), I use those points for the cruises. I would venture to guess there are more people out there that own at multiple resorts than you think. By the way, when Polynesian is released, will buy there too. However, everything depends on your personal travel habits and level of accommodations you require.