Planning Questions from a Newbie

[dkdisdreaming]

Hi All,

These boards are SUPER helpful, and I am so excited about the possibility of owning DVC! We're a family of 5, who travels to WDW about every other year. We're looking at owning, but I am running into trouble when thinking about how many points and where. I am hoping some of the veterans here can help!

We think we'll go more often if we own DVC, and would like to stay at BLT or AKV a couple of times. We'd love to try Aulani. We can go the last two weeks in August, MLK day, the week before Christmas and perhaps a Thanksgiving week or two in the next 5-10 years. We'll plan to stay in a one bedroom. We would like to go with friends or family for a trip or two in there (we'd never add more than 5 others).

Here's our dilemma - do we buy 100 points now at BLT or AKV and bank and borrow to travel every other year? Or, do we buy more points at OKW or SSR at a lower price to give us more travel frequency and hope we can transfer into the resorts that interest us at 7 months? When traveling with friends, can I book all villas even if they are paying cash? How would we split a Grand Villa? Can I pay points and cash?

Thanks so much for your help! I am looking forward to your opinions!

 

[rlovew]

If you know you want to stay in BLT or AKV Thanksgiving or in December than you will need the 11 month availability. Both of these times it is very hard to every switch especially if you want a lower point value villa(standard or value). August and MLK day there is a little more options available at 7 months.

 

[papertraveller]

You will see it everywhere here on the boards: Buy where you want to stay.

We started with a contract at BLT because we love the access to the monorail, and easy walking to MK. We have booked into AKL twice now at the seven-month mark without any problems. We also got March break at Vero at the seven-month mark.

You do need to be organized, however. Not everyone is keen to plan at seven months, let alone 11. And you need to make those seven-month bookings right on the nose. I have a calendar that reminds me of all my reservation and ADR dates for each trip.

The other thing you will learn very quickly is that whatever you bought in the beginning, thinking it would adequately fund your planned vacations, just isn't enough! But don't forget there are other options, such as staying offsite, to augment those DVC trips in your banking years.

Happy planning!

 

[discorsner]

Hi to another fellow DVC wannabe. We are also looking into our first purchase and are trying to do some research before jumping into an emotional based decision.

There is so many things to understand about the program and it seems I've heard of a lot of people getting in before they understand how it works. I don't want to be one of those people so we are trying to do our due diligence.

Feel free to PM me and maybe we can discuss some of the things we have learned. If I find any new sources that I think are good I will pass them on but I think the dis is the best place to find out everything!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi All,

These boards are SUPER helpful, and I am so excited about the possibility of owning DVC! We're a family of 5, who travels to WDW about every other year. We're looking at owning, but I am running into trouble when thinking about how many points and where. I am hoping some of the veterans here can help!

We think we'll go more often if we own DVC, and would like to stay at BLT or AKV a couple of times. We'd love to try Aulani. We can go the last two weeks in August, MLK day, the week before Christmas and perhaps a Thanksgiving week or two in the next 5-10 years. We'll plan to stay in a one bedroom. We would like to go with friends or family for a trip or two in there (we'd never add more than 5 others).

Here's our dilemma - do we buy 100 points now at BLT or AKV and bank and borrow to travel every other year? Or, do we buy more points at OKW or SSR at a lower price to give us more travel frequency and hope we can transfer into the resorts that interest us at 7 months? When traveling with friends, can I book all villas even if they are paying cash? How would we split a Grand Villa? Can I pay points and cash?

Thanks so much for your help! I am looking forward to your opinions!

If you want a GV, you'll need to book the entire thing on points because it is not going to be available for cash. You'll have to have enough points to book everyone's villa unless they are going to rent(purchase) a reservation from another member, like on the Rent/Trade Board. Most of the time you'll need to have the points you need at 11 months out to book that GV at your home resort.

100 points isn't going to get you much with a family of five unless one of them are under the age of three (and that won't last long). AKV (not the value villas), BLT and OKW all have the sleeper chair in the living room so they will sleep five. The other resorts only have sleeping spaces for four people. DVC currently allows a fifth person in those villas but they do not provide linens, towels, etc that the fifth person would require.

Thanksgiving, December all require home resort booking at 11 months out.

 

[dkdisdreaming]

This is really helpful information! Thank you very much!

 

[Donald is #1]

On the GV route, I have contemplated getting a grand villa for my family trip next year. However, when I did the math, it was actually cheaper (from a points point of view) to book a 2 BR plus a 1 BR. So my sisters and I decided that if we need 3 bedrooms we will book 2 rooms. i.e. the "coolness" of a GV (and it is very cool) just can't compare to saving the points to us.