Planning a cruise using DVC Points need help

[wrwrwrwreee1971]

I am planning a cruise in 2008. This cruise will be using banked points from 07 and borrowed points from 08. I have 150 points annually so that will give me 450 points. Looking at point structure, I am assuming right now that the cruise will cost me @ 500 points. What would you do to go on this cruise:

1. Buy the extra 50 points from Disney.
2. Buy the extra 50 points here online.
3. Just pay cash for one of the kids and have some 09 points left.
4. Any other opinions or suggestions would be appreciated.

To give you some background info. We are a family of 4 with children that will be 7 and 10 in 2008. We live 12 hours away from Disney and usually drive down for one vacation a year, but family has never been on a cruise, so we are planning one for 08. We have 9 points left in 06 that have not been used.

 

[bigpapasmo]

We just became DVC members this month and we are in a similar situation except for that we are sailing in Sept. '06. My thought is that we could rent out our points in the amount that we need to pay cash for the cruise. We did book this cruise on board so we also have shipboard credit for consideration, but even without that, it would seem to be cheaper to rent points and use that money to pay cash than to use straight points to me.

Thoughts ???

 

[CNMooner]

Hi! I've been crunching numbers since we joined DVC last month, and it seems that the best thing to do would be to rent out your points (which is very easy if you do some research) and pay cash.

Good luck!

 

[debloco]

I would also recommend rent the points and paying cash. It's cheaper to pay the cash rate than use your points.

 

[Donna]

Watch the cruise points for each year. They seem to go up every year so you might not want to count on the cruise staying at 500 pts by 2008. When they first gave us the cruise option, it seem to be reasonable but since it's gone up, it no longer makes sense to use points. Renting out and using the cash is a great idea. I wonder if you pay cash, you could lock into a rate now?

 

[goofyforlife]

Only half of 2007 rates are out right now....

But i vote for the sell points, pay cash for cruise....

(If MS books your cruise then you can't talk to DCL directly for any changes)

Cash customers on DCL get treated better IMHE.....

 

[wrwrwrwreee1971]

Thanks for all the feedback