Please explain the advantage of using points over paying...

[BlsdMama]

When I put in a ressie to see how much it costs (points) to rent a FW cabin, I come up with 25 points. If I rent 25 points it costs $250 per night. But, if I pay cash for the room, I only pay $155 rack rate. I'm confused. I'm certain there has to be a benefit in here somewhere, I'm just not "getting" it. Unless of course the points also include my tickets for that time? Can someone explain this to me?

Thank you!
Kelly

 

[RobDoc]

The best value for DVC reservations is to use them at DVC resorts. There is a definite premium to use them at other WDW resorts ... and your example certainly points that out.

In addition, DVC point requirements are about double on weekends, so any dates that include a Friday or Saturday will also be much higher- usually more than what could be secured by calling CRO directly.

In most cases, it will cost fewer points for a 1 (and sometimes a 2BR) villa at a DVC resort than for a standard room at a moderate resort.

 

[Anewman]

When I put in a ressie to see how much it costs (points) to rent a FW cabin, I come up with 25 points. If I rent 25 points it costs $250 per night. But, if I pay cash for the room, I only pay $155 rack rate. I'm confused. I'm certain there has to be a benefit in here somewhere, I'm just not "getting" it. Unless of course the points also include my tickets for that time? Can someone explain this to me?

Thank you!
Kelly

Where did you see a $155 rack rate for FW cabin?
Rack rate during value season is $234 all the way upto $339 for holiday season. $155 maybe a discount rate for DVC members but it is not RACK.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you want to stay at Wilderness cabins, DVC points are not the best value. To get real value from DVC points, you need to rent a 1 or 2 bedroom villa at one of the DVC resorts.

 

[BlsdMama]

You're right. I had been comparing the costs of PO Riverside and Fort Wilderness. My apologies!!

 

[BlsdMama]

So the goal is to get nicer, more private accomodations for less than you would spend on a deluxe hotel. I'm correct? I see that the Beach Club villas could be had for not much more than the PO Riverside, so they would be far more preferrable than the hotel. I think I've got it!

 

[Cruelladeville]

The goal of DVC is to stay at a luxury DVC hotel for less than you could stay at All Stars or Caribbean. All Stars at $90 per nite plus tax costs more than the maintenance on the points you use for BW(about $60), so BW is a better value, and it's luxurious, too. Staying at a non-DVC resort is almost never a good value, it's cheaper for cash. If you still want to stay at a non-DVC resort, rent out your points and use the cash to make a ressie. For 30 pts(rented out), you could stay at AKL concierge, but using points for your stay is about 50 points.