Perverse Addiction--How to Squeeze the most out of DVC points

[OneMoreTry]

I love all of ArRzBk's suggestions. But he left one out: STAY AT OKW.

The technique of booking OKW and wait-listing a standard view at BWV worked great for us in late May.

We usually stay Sat through Sat. We either pay cash for the first Sat night or stay at the Hampton (I think it's the "Eastgate") which is very nice and goes for about $60 per room per night (we use 2 rooms).

We usually stay at OKW. I would be reluctant to fork out the cash for one Sat night in a 2BR at the other resorts.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Perhaps packing a "first night/day" bag is a thought We try and do that when we have to stay overnight on the road, or this time, we're packing a bag for the Autotrain. That way, we are only taking in to the hotel (or train in this case) what we'll need for that little bit of our trip.

And to save space, you could just plan on wearing the same clothes you wore in - new underwear and socks of course Just think minimimal and sacrifice a little and you'll find that this little one stop bag can be kept pretty small.

We do all of this. I have even worn the same underwear. But EVERY SINGLE TIME I have to go back out to the car to get other suitcases for stuff we forgot in the overnight.

 

[married@wdw]

We did studio for the weekends on our last trip in a GV. The first and last nights were both Saturdays and the savings got us three nights at Coronado the first weekend in December, PLUS, enough for three weeknights in late August for DH birthday.

We also love that the in-laws are only 30 minutes from WDW. We fly down after work on Fridays -- airport is 20 minutes from the building we work in and we usually leave early so we're there in time for a late dinner. Spend Friday evening and all day Saturday with in-laws, then first thing Sunday morning we head to WDW, check-in and hit a park!

 

[sap1227]

Mooch off your relatives who live in Florida...

5-days OKW, weekend with relatives, then...
5-days SSR, weekend with relatives, then...
5-days VWL, weekend with relatives, then...

Well, you get the picture.

Grandma, Papa, is that you?????????

 

[wtpclc]

Grandma, Papa, is that you?????????

Nothing like telling teh grand kiddies you just want to spend time with them, when you are really just using their house to save points!

ANother way DVC makes families come together!

 

[ArRzrbk]

Several things...

1.) I'm a she

2.) I have to admit we often have to go back to the car for something we forgot to pack in the one night bag

3.) wtpclc, I think we are long lost relatives. Please tell Mama and Daddy we'll be there soon

 

[DisneyPhD]

We are another that makes due with a studio when points are low (more trips instead of better room's when we get AP's.)

Sometimes we will stay in a studio on Fri, Sat and then move to a one bedroom on Sun. This is rather easy, often they do it on the same floor and only takes about hour to move and get settled in. My hubby doesn't like it because he feels he can't relax and unwind until he is all upacked, but we can do 2 nights in a studio for the same amount of points for a 1 bedroom in for one night on the weekend.

 

[SoCalKDG]

OK I like the idea of staying cash the Fri/Sat you arrive, but what do you do about groceries? We usually get the grocery stop that comes with the limo.

Is it better to stay somewhere else at the beginning or the end?

Is it a pain packing again?
Jenny

Two ways.

One, you can rent a car Saturday at the airport and return it at the Dolphin/Swan on Sunday, buying your groceries Sunday morning.

Two, stay at a hotel close to the airport. These hotels have free shuttles from the airport to the hotel. Then have the limo pick you up at the hotel the next day instead of from the airport.

 

[colleen costello]

My kids are little and their idea of heaven is trying out different pools, so we usually combine cash nights and DVC. We are trying out all the Moderates and find them to be a very nice combo of amenities and value. Incidentally, my hubby has vetoed the Value resorts, feeling we'd kill each other in a room that small.

We just got back from spring break with my parents at the Wilderness Lodge. We stayed at Carribean Beach for 2 nights in 2 connecting rooms before moving to a 2-bedroom at the Lodge. We paid about $450 total with AP rates... That little "mini-vacation" at Carribean Beach (which was surprisingly nice, by the way) saved me 150 points, enough for a studio at Beach Club this summer. We'll add cash nights to that trip as well...

If we are ever really low on points, we'll get 2 studios at spring break instead of a 2-bedroom. And Old Key West is a great value. We save a lot just staying there and the place is wonderful! We think it is the best DVC bargain.

 

[roadtripper]

Don't really know if this counts, but sent my sis and her family to OKW to a 1 BR, 5 nights-- 110 points, and her plumber husband redid my whole bathroom! Now THAT'S what I call maximizing points

 

[DOOGIERUNNER]

While we have plenty of points, we still stay in a studio, and no longer worry about weekends.

 

[JimMIA]

Mooch off your relatives who live in Florida...

5-days OKW, weekend with relatives, then...
5-days SSR, weekend with relatives, then...
5-days VWL, weekend with relatives, then...

Well, you get the picture.

As a Florida relative, and on behalf of fellow relatives all over our great state, I protest this scandalous post!

 

[JimMIA]

One of the ways to maximize point value is not to lose unused points. To avoid that, we plan to use a strategy of banking and borrowing. We will bank a large portion of our points (about half) each year and then borrow toward the end of the use year. Doing it that way, we will only borrow the exact number of points we need and should not end up with unused points.

We realize that we could still get stuck if we have a cancellation near the end of our use year, but that could happen with current use-year points as well.

Another thing I think we will do is use points only for DVC resort stays. We may rent out points to cover cash outlays for Disney Cruise Line trips, etc, but we won't use points. It just doesn't seem to be a good value to use points for non-DVC accommodations.

 

[jennypenny]

. . . unused points?!

 

[Caskbill]

My kids are little and their idea of heaven is trying out different pools, so we usually combine cash nights and DVC. We are trying out all the Moderates and find them to be a very nice combo of amenities and value. Incidentally, my hubby has vetoed the Value resorts, feeling we'd kill each other in a room that small.

Yes, the rooms are small, but I bet your kids would love it. They have big pools, and of course the resorts are so colorful. The theming is so much fun for kids, especially Pop Century, or Sports. Your kids may be a little too small for movies or music. Just a thought.

 

[allforpooh]

Our last trip in March we flew in late Fri night and stayed at a hotel near the airport, we then had the towncar/limo pick us up in the morning at 8, stopped at the grocery store and was at the resort by 9 off to the parks by 9:30.

We have thought about using a studio, but I hate giving up the washer and dryer.

Of course there is always the option of buying more points.

Denise

 

[goldilocks_63]

You know, nice Grandmother / Grandfather types who would spoil the grandchildren...

So anyone know of a GP rental, and what would the agreement look like....

Goldi