Planning our first DVC vacation!!!

[rescuetink]

First, I would like to thank all of you experienced DVC members who have posted responses on this site. I have been reading for days now and have learned a LOT from all of you!!! I've finally learned most of the abbreviations which are used in these forums, but I'm still learning!!! I was unable to find some information to plan my vacation, and now I'm looking for help!!

While we were on a Disney Cruise in May this year we purchased 200 pts at BLT (see, I am learning the abbreviations!!). They gave what seemed to be a great incentive at the time. We are planning on taking our first DVC trip in May 2010, and due to having a 6 yr old and a 2 yr old when we travel I wanted to try and stay at AKV thinking they would like it more than BLT.

I am concerned that I have to wait till 7 mo prior to reserve and possibly not be able to get the dates I want, as opposed to being able to book BLT now (within the 11 months) and have a better chance at getting the dates I want. Unfortunately I'm not real flexible with the dates, so if I don't get what I want I'm not sure what we'll do.

I may also be bringing other relatives and may need more points to get larger accommodations. I will be using 2009 points for May 2010, and we're planning on using our 2010, 2011 & 2012 points for a cruise again in 2011. I was going to try and get extra points from others who have them available on this site. Whatever the extra points cost I’ll pass on to those that travel with us. I'm confused though, what's the difference between "renting" points and "transferring" points?? The only thing I do understand is that if I rent, the renter has control, if the points are transferred to me, then I have control of them. Other then that I don't understand the difference, or the whole process to do either.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

 

[ToddyLu]

Hi! and welcome the the DIS!. We just bought last week for the first time...210 points at AKV. Our first trip is in October. We were able to use free 2008 points (an incentive) and borrow a few points from 2009. We are getting 2 studios with SV. I am so excited! I hope you have a terrific time planning for your trips.

I think you can waitlist at 2 places at once--but only 2. So you could book one trip then waitlist the other. But someone with far more experience will come along and help you. I like the idea of transferring points, then having control over them. You can only do that once a year and I'm thinking you can bank them?

I am not much help....DH and I are learning though...

 

[rescuetink]

Thanks for your response!!! This is all so confusing right now!!

Our incentives were cash off the points, plus extra cash off or a DCL cruise. We opted for the extra cash off. And thought BLT wasn't scheduled to open till Sept this year, we got all the points for this year, but our maint fees were prorated. We thought it was a pretty good deal we thought!!

I'm still afraid to lose a chance at the time we want!! Can I book BLT now and 7 months prior try and get into AKV and cancel BLT if I can get in there??

HELP!!!

 

[Disney Princess]

By no means am I an expert, but I'll try and help. You are correct about transferred points being in your control and rented points being in the other member's control. The other thing to consider is that MS limits your tranfers to ONE per use year. That means you can only transfer one time in OR out. So, if you want to transfer in points, make sure you get the right amount as it is your only shot.

I *think* the dollar amount for rented/transferred points is usually the same. Hope this helps. Have fun planning your first vacation.

P.S. I would book BLT at your 11 month window so that you at least have SOMETHING. Then at 7 months you could see what was available at AKV. I think kids the age of yours would love the close proximity to MK, but what do I know? I am just a big kid myself - no "real" kids yet.

Andto the DIS!

 

[bobbiwoz]

In view of your desire for certain dates, I would book BLT now for May and then see if you can move the reservation over to AKV. Except maybe for Memorial weekend and later, May isn't a particularly busy time for DVC and so, at 7 months, you should get what you want at AKV, but for peace of mind, if you want to book BLT, then do so. AKV is very large, and I do think you'll be OK.

The fact that you may bring others and may want to change your type of reservation does muddy the waters. When will you decide that?

Also, I know that you're thinking of using your points down the line for a cruise, I would still use some of them now and if you have to transfer later on, then do that. Between now and the cruise dates, you may find that you've added on and really have enough without transferring.

Bobbi

 

[rescuetink]

bobbi, so if I understand you I can book BLT now, and then just call and switch to AKV without much of a problem?? There's no fee to do that??

And to all of you helpful members...

I still don't understand the renting and transferring point’s process. I know you can only do it once a year and I understand the renter controls the points, and the transferred points are controlled by me. But is this just done between members, or does it have to go through DVC, and how is payment made to ensure getting the points I get from another member?? Is there DVC paperwork involved??

Again... thanks everyone for your help!!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Welcome home, and congratulations on your decision to join DVC! Like most of us on this section of DIS, I think you'll soon find what a great decision it was. Your only regret will be having not done it sooner.

One of the nice things about DVC is that you do not have to pay a fee for making changes -- so long as you're booking at DVC resorts. (There is a fee if you're using your points for things like the Disney or World Passport collections.)

So if your dates are fixed, a good strategy is to guarantee yourself a place to stay by booking a room at your home resort at the 11 month point, then checking availability at the 7 month point to switch to another resort, if that's what you want to do.

One down side for you as a BLT owner is the fact that your BLT reservation is probably going to use more points than a reservation at another resort would. So, you'll have to have a plan on what to do with those points after you make the switch. You'll need to have a plan to either use or bank those extra points. Remember that booking dates (11 month and 7 month) are based on the date you want to check in. Banking deadlines are based on your use year (you can't bank in the last 4 months of the use year). Make sure you've taken each of these dates into account before you make your plans. You certainly don't want to lose any points because you're not able to bank or use them before they expire.

A "renting" transaction is when you contact another member and pay them to make a reservation for you. They'll call member services and make the reservation, and list your name as the person staying in the room. Member services will only talk to the owner, so any interaction will have to be made by the member you're renting from. For example, if you want to add a celebration, or add the dining plan, or make Disney Magical Express arrangements. You'd need to call the DVC owner you're renting from, and he/she would then call member services.

A "transfer" transaction is when you contact another member and pay them to transfer points from their account into yours. Once you receive them, the points work just like any other points you have. You call and make the reservation and all arrangements. For one member getting points from another member, this would seem like the best way to work it out. However, Disney's rule that you can only have one transfer per use year (one in or one out) is very restrictive. If a member has 500 points they want to rent/transfer and you only need 200, sending you those 200 points is their only transfer for the year. They're not able to transfer points to anyone else. Likewise for you, if you need 200 points and you find two members, each with 100 spare points, you can only choose one of them to transfer points to you.

You need to work out which you'll use with the person from whom you're getting the points.

Remember that renting and transfer transactions are completely private transactions between members. You need to feel absolutely comfortable with the person you find, and be able to establish some trust. If you send them $$$ and they never follow through, DVC won't intervene.

You may also want to do the math for the plan you mention. Renting points for your first vacation, then using your points to exchange out for a cruise may not be the most economical way to go. The ability to use points for a cruise is a great feature, but the exchange rate isn't fantastic. It may be cheaper in the long run to use your points to stay at DVC, and pay cash for the cruise. I suggest you do the math both ways and figure out which one costs you the least out of pocket money.

 

[rescuetink]

Thanks Dave!!

It's funny, we actually got our new vacation planner in the mail today. We noticed that if we booked BLY it would cost us about 50 points more then AKV so we would lose those points if we did book at AKV.

I guess at this point I'm going to have to take a chance and wait till the 7 mo mark and try an book AKV.

The only other question I have is that if I rent points to make up the difference in what I would need for a vacation, for example I have 200 pts and I need 250 pts so I rent 50 pts, how do I book the vacation if I control the 200 pts and the renter controls the other 50 pts??

Thanks again everyone for your help!!

Now I just have to figure out how to put all those cool things at the bottom of my posts like you all have!! Is this site addicting or is it just me?? HA HA!!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

The only other question I have is that if I rent points to make up the difference in what I would need for a vacation, for example I have 200 pts and I need 250 pts so I rent 50 pts, how do I book the vacation if I control the 200 pts and the renter controls the other 50 pts??

You wouldn't rent exactly 50 points, you'd rent a number of points needed for a specific night of the trip. You'd then have the member renting you those points book that night of your trip.

So, if you're 50 points short for your trip and one night is 58 points, you'd actually rent 58 points and bank 8 of your own points. If one night of your trip is only 35 points, you'd have to rent 70 points, and bank 20 of yours.

It's messy. You don't control the nights of the trip you've rented -- the person you're renting from does.

 

[jstarcze]

It's funny, we actually got our new vacation planner in the mail today. We noticed that if we booked BLY it would cost us about 50 points more then AKV so we would lose those points if we did book at AKV.

Is this correct? IF you book your home resort at say 100 pts at 11 months and then switch the reservation to your preferred resort for a vacation at 75 pts at the 7 month window, then you lose 25 pts.

 

[princessfionasmom]

Is this correct? IF you book your home resort at say 100 pts at 11 months and then switch the reservation to your preferred resort for a vacation at 75 pts at the 7 month window, then you lose 25 pts.

NO you do NOT lose the points they go back into that use year they were booked into. You can use those points up to the end of your use year or you can bank them as long as you do it no later than 4 months prior to the begining of your next use year.

 

[jstarcze]

Is this correct? IF you book your home resort at say 100 pts at 11 months and then switch the reservation to your preferred resort for a vacation at 75 pts at the 7 month window, then you lose 25 pts.

NO you do NOT lose the points they go back into that use year they were booked into. You can use those points up to the end of your use year or you can bank them as long as you do it no later than 4 months prior to the begining of your next use year.

Thanks, I didn't really think that was true but the message I was replying to seem to indicate that. I just wanted to be sure.

John

 

[rescuetink]

You may also want to do the math for the plan you mention. Renting points for your first vacation, then using your points to exchange out for a cruise may not be the most economical way to go. The ability to use points for a cruise is a great feature, but the exchange rate isn't fantastic. It may be cheaper in the long run to use your points to stay at DVC, and pay cash for the cruise. I suggest you do the math both ways and figure out which one costs you the least out of pocket money.

I do remember the sales person telling me that to get the best deal on a cruise it would be better to use points for the first two travelers, as their the most expensive, and pay cash for the other members of our party!!!

You are all a lot of help, and I can't thank you all enough for your time!!!