places other than disney

[dbdisney]

Okay, so I have read a lot on this board. A lot of people saying it is not worth it money wise to use the points for places other than the DVC places. Can someone explain this to me further? I am still thinking of buying and i am trying to find out all I can. We go to Disney every year so we would use the points there for sure. but what if we occasionally wanted to go somewhere else? Say a timeshare place in florida somewhere. I looked it up and it said that all those timeshare places are 160 pts for a week and you must stay a week minimum. I don't understand why this is not worth it. i was looking at a timeshare in sanibel island, fl. i know from experience that it is very expensive there, so why is 160 pts so bad? I am just trying to understand this before i make any decisions. Also, does anyone ever use the points for other disney hotels. i was reading in the book disney gave that a night in somewhere like the carribean beach or something was not that many points. Just wondering what everyone has to say. Thanks!

 

[rocketriter]

There are many opinions on this. People who have the time and inclination to rent out points and make outside arrangements for timeshare accomodations elsewhere can sometimes travel a bit less expensively, as can those who are willing to juggle ownership of more than one timeshare property.

For the rest of us, trading out can be a perfectly good deal, despite those who tell you that their contrary opinion is the only truth. You do have to be flexible in either the dates when you're willing to travel or the resorts you'd like to visit; and even with Disney selecting from the best resorts a few lemons do get through, so it pays to do your homework.

However, my family scrapped a week in Hawaii a couple of years ago when we found that taking a 1-bedroom suite in any deluxe hotel would cost us over $5000 just for accomodations. On the other hand, our initial purchase and yearly dues is getting us a week in Hawaii during spring break next year in highly rated 1-bedroom accomodations for 144 points. At this point I don't care what a serious resort hobbyist could accomplish with the same dates and points; all I care is that I'll save about $4000, and that's good enough for me!

 

[wintergreen]

We also have used our points for stays other than at WDW, although we have used the Concierge Collection hotels, rather than II trades (so far!). While many of these options require more points, we have decided that it is well worth it to us not to have the cash outlay, and we have been able to stay at some fabulous places!

 

[anniet]

It is my understanding that the points for timeshares other than Disney were just re-allocated and used to be much higher.

I read a lot on this board about how it wasn't worth it to stay somewhere else, but while I was at OKW in January I went to a Member Meeting and they were really pushing the trades- that's when I too found out it was only 160 points for a one bedroom and I thought the same thing-"That's not so bad!" I would have considered an exchange, except I have plans for all my points through 2006. (A family gathering next fall)

As far as staying at a moderate Disney resort- the comparison for the value season is 120 points for a moderate resort room for one week vs. 104 points for a DVC studio which is larger and has the kitchenette and balcony, so for some using points at a Disney resort doesn't make much sense either. Although I do know there are members here who do like to splurge and stay in Concierge rooms at Disney.

We travel in January and wanted to stay at AKL- we got a great postcard rate of $150 for a Savannah view room so we booked it for Friday to Monday, paid cash and saved the points.

Just remember- they are YOUR points and Disney gives you the option to spend them any way you want. Do with them whatever you wish, no matter what others may think! That's the beauty of DVC

(just don't make a habit of booking prime weeks and selling the ressies on the R&T board- that's a whole other barrel of monkeys! )

 

[pumpkinboy]

At my pal Cora's suggestion, I joined TUG, the timeshare users' group, so I could get user comparisons of different II trades; we also inherited a timeshare in Newport, RI from my late FIL, and plan to trade that almost every year anyway, so ulterior motive too.

One of the things that is becoming clear from ratings and reviews on TUG, is that the DVC resorts rate far better than most others. Notably, VWL and BWV both rank in the top 5 worldwide, OKW ranks #10 (has been top 5 thru most of its history), HHI ranks #17 and VB would be tied for #28 (BCV does not have enough review yet to rank).

Bottom line here: most other timeshares are not up to DVC levels. That being said, there are plenty of very nice timeshares for you to swap into; I would just recommend doing your homework before swapping your very valuable DVC points for a week at one of these other places. Now Disney has made it a little easier, by restricting trades to a smaller population that DVC has deemed worthy of our business (tho there are also some nice ones outside this network). I was pleased to see our Newport resort in Disney's network tho.

For doing your research, I'd advise you to join TUG: for the whopping price of $15, you can gain a bit more insight into where various resorts stand in realtion to what you might be used to.

Of course, on all things timeshare, I defer to our esteemed colleague Dean, who has vast experience in this area (my experience on the other hand would be more like "half-vast" ).

 

[dbdisney]

The information with the DVC packet explains it as being very easy to get these weeks at these other timeshare resorts. From what I am reading here it sounds like you have to do all this trading and stuff. I was under the impression that you just call and book the place. Is that not true? As you can tell I know nothing about timeshares!

 

[rocketriter]

No, you don't call and book the place. You call and give them one or more weeks during which you'd be willing to travel, and (if possible) several different resorts you'd be willing to stay at if one opened up. At that time they check to see what stock they have on hand (usually only a few places), after which you go on a waiting list. We have friends who sat on a waiting list for Costa Rica for 2 years before giving up and going to St. Maarten instead (where they had a wonderful time). On the other hand, we gave a list of 8 Hawaii resorts that we'd accept, including one that has the reputation of being both high quality and easy to get, and about 3 weeks later we had our reservation.

By the way, Member Services does all the hunting and bookkeeping for you. You just call them with your options, and they get back to you when something clicks. After that you've got 48 hours to accept it or continue hunting.

 

[JimC]

We go to destinations other than Disney. But we don't use our DVC points on those trips for three reasons. We can use other frequent travel points for Marriott and Hilton resorts right now. Our DVC points are already committed to Disney trips. We don't believe the value is as good.

We have used DVC points at Disney resorts when the cost of the points has been less than an AP code for the same lodgings. That happened this year for our upcoming AKL trip. Last year the AP code discounts were better and using DVC points for the Poly did not make sense. It is a decision that we make for each non-DVC stay.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by anniet
It is my understanding that the points for timeshares other than Disney were just re-allocated and used to be much higher.

This is not at all accurate. Major changes were made in how the exchanges work but in general, most exchanges are around the same or higher. Studios went up a LOT, 1 BR exchanges went down in some cases, up in others. 2 BR went up in some and down in others. 3 BR exchanges went up a LOT. Exchanges within the 2 month window went up a WHOLE LOT. The reality is that under the old system, those that knew it well were a lot better off than now. What happened was it became more simple but overall, more expensive, that's the Disney way.

dbdisney, only you can decide what's best for your family. You are in a unique situation of being able to look at all options up front and decide how best to proceed. Your best option based on the current set up is to buy only the points you will use at WDW and either pay cash or use other timeshares for the other options.

First understand that the exchange system is inherrently flawed. It requires someone to give up what you want for it to be available and for you to be first in line. The order of that line is determined by trade power, not first come first served. And while many DVC members would like to think they will be first inline, that is highly unlikely as there are other properties out there as or more desireable than DVC from an II trade standpoint. That's not to say it doesn't work, it does at times. But if you want the top of the mountain, there's only room for a few people to stand.

And why would you give up 160 points for a 1 BR or 270 for a 2 BR that you could rent for a value of $5 pp and get more guarantees, more options and likely a better unit (as an example). I know a lot of people like to compare a week at DVC to a week at other resorts and assume they are around the same value. The truth is that few resorts and times of years are. There are exceptions, take the HI Marriott properties. But even most of the top Marriott's are not a comparable trade for other than high season, and I don't mean II red time, I mean prime time.

Take this scenario. Say one was looking at 350 DVC points vs 150 DVC points plus a top end, prime Marriott lockoff at West Palm Beach. Total price resale for the 350 DVC points, roughly $25000 (resale). Vs roughly $25000 for 150 DVC points plus a Platinum Ocean Pointe Lockoff. Fees about the same both ways. The former will give you 7-10 days in a 2 BR at DVC, slightly longer in a 1 BR. The latter will give you around 6 days in a 1 BR every year at DVC plus a 2 BR for a week at the beach during prime time, or 2 weeks (1 BR one week, studio the other) on the beach or 2 trade units with II which will trade just as well as the 1 BR and studio for DVC.

And if you're looking at Concierge collection, DCL, Alaska Cruise or non DVC Disney hotels; the difference in value is magnified further. Again, everyone's situation is different so you should look at what's best for you and how you will use DVC or the other options.

 

[RuthnPaul]

Originally posted by pumpkinboy ...my experience on the other hand would be more like "half-vast"

Thanks for the Friday evening chuckle pumpkinboy!!