Point Strategy: How do you work the most out of your points!

[DISNEY FIX]

Just from reading a ton of threads I know there has to more than just a few of you out there with certain point strategies. Like:
Owning more than one resort.
Mutliple Stays. Duration of stay...
Banking one year to go next then doing the same with a different resort the next year......
I am sure there are a bunch more, let's hear your strategy.
Chris

 

[PSC]

Here are a couple of common ones I can think of:


Weekends (Fri / Sat) are very expensive. Many of us check in on Sunday and check out on Friday. Some move offsite or to a moderate resort if we want to stay a couple more days. You can also try paying cash for Fri / Sat with the member discount.

Two studios is cheaper than one two bedroom. And it gives the advantage of some seperate time from the friends you are treating.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Also having an AP, so you can get rooms at a real discount. We will often go to POR when they have $79 per night, or getting our same DVC room from central reservations for a cheaper price, like $233 for a one bedroom, or $169 for a studio, so we don't have to move. We also bought a Marriott timeshare for cheap, so we do 5-6 days at DVC, and then move to Marriott for a week. And I just bought Mystic Dunes, over in Celebration, for $5, so we could stay an extra week there, so now I can stay 3 weeks in Florida, for just dues! That's the cheapest of all!

 

[mjy]

In addition to the other two people above, I would say that one of my biggest strategies is this: Off Season!

Using time during the Adventure Season -- and if booking at Disney's Boardwalk Villas to get into a standard room instead of a preferred room -- is probably my greatest way to conserve points.

 

[DVC Grammy]

One other "tip" is to book at resorts that offer "bargain" point values.........BWV, OKW, and soon........AKV (where the "cheapest" rooms, point-wise will be available).

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Not getting off topic what do you guys think when you see some of the contracts trading @ low 70's? Within the 7 mo. window they all spend the same. It strikes me odd.......does this stuff play into your strategy?

 

[jdvm]

We REALLY don't like to move once we've checked in so we often switch to a cash reservation for Friday and Saturday nights (hopefully with a Member discount) to conserve points. It ain't cheap but it has the effect of doubling the amount of time you can stay.
John

 

[DISNEY FIX]

We REALLY don't like to move once we've checked in so we often switch to a cash reservation for Friday and Saturday nights (hopefully with a Member discount) to conserve points. It ain't cheap but it has the effect of doubling the amount of time you can stay.
John

I understand completely. How often have you not gotten a member discount for Fir. + Sat.? You book it this way ahead of time?

 

[blueroses]

We REALLY don't like to move once we've checked in so we often switch to a cash reservation for Friday and Saturday nights (hopefully with a Member discount) to conserve points. It ain't cheap but it has the effect of doubling the amount of time you can stay.
John

I understand completely. How often have you not gotten a member discount for Fir. + Sat.? You book it this way ahead of time?

Do you mean a DVC discount or an AP discount? Do DVC members get a discount on cash reservations at DVC resorts?

 

[Dean]

A thread like this could get really convoluted when some of the options available for special situations are really tedious. Here are a few.

• Book day by day at either the 7 or 11 month window.
• Book one resort at 11 months with the idea of changing to something else part of the time at 7 months out.
• When you want to make a reservation using points from multiple home resorts for a difficult to get reservation. One option is to say make the first 3 days with points from that resort then at 7 months from the first day call back and change the first day on the other points then use the freed up points to make the next day of the reservation just before the 7 month window opens and you can do that daily extending the reservation day by day before the 7 month window opens.
• Wait list for any and all options when necessary, esp using the wait list where you take each day as it comes up.
• Reserve weekdays and wait on weekends if you don't have enough points. Possibly doing cash for those weekends in any one of a number of ways.
• Reserve through DVC but also put in an exchange request through II for DVC and cancel the reservation if the exchange comes through.
• Studios and 2 BR are the best value.
• For the DDP change resorts or units so you can get it for a reduced length of time.
• Rent distressed points to extend a stay at a reduced cost.
• Standard View at BWV
• OKW has cheaper points, esp for the 3 BR and esp for weekdays.
• OKW also has larger units and 2 queens in the second BR
• Reserve 11 months out then call back at 7 months out day by day for the preferred resort but keeping the original reservation until the replacement is reserved.
• Back up cash reservation when one is on the wait list or trying at the 7 month window, also works for exchange options.
• Rent points out rather than using an exchange option that would return a significantly lower per point value.
• 12 days but only one weekend stays.

 

[JimVL]

Somebody mentioned the AP. I go to WDW for Thanksgiving. This year I'll buy the discounted AP and check in the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I'll avoid the parks while they're crowded, activate the AP, and check out on 12/1. In '08 I'll check in on the Friday or Saturday before Tday and still have days on my AP.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

A thread like this could get really convoluted when some of the options available for special situations are really tedious. Here are a few.

• Book day by day at either the 7 or 11 month window.
• Book one resort at 11 months with the idea of changing to something else part of the time at 7 months out.
• When you want to make a reservation using points from multiple home resorts for a difficult to get reservation. One option is to say make the first 3 days with points from that resort then at 7 months from the first day call back and change the first day on the other points then use the freed up points to make the next day of the reservation just before the 7 month window opens and you can do that daily extending the reservation day by day before the 7 month window opens.
• Wait list for any and all options when necessary, esp using the wait list where you take each day as it comes up.
• Reserve weekdays and wait on weekends if you don't have enough points. Possibly doing cash for those weekends in any one of a number of ways.
• Reserve through DVC but also put in an exchange request through II for DVC and cancel the reservation if the exchange comes through.
• Studios and 2 BR are the best value.
• For the DDP change resorts or units so you can get it for a reduced length of time.
• Rent distressed points to extend a stay at a reduced cost.
• Standard View at BWV
• OKW has cheaper points, esp for the 3 BR and esp for weekdays.
• OKW also has larger units and 2 queens in the second BR
• Reserve 11 months out then call back at 7 months out day by day for the preferred resort but keeping the original reservation until the replacement is reserved.
• Back up cash reservation when one is on the wait list or trying at the 7 month window, also works for exchange options.
• Rent points out rather than using an exchange option that would return a significantly lower per point value.
• 12 days but only one weekend stays.

Wow impressive list. I assume most are standard point savers practices, tedious, but standard? You should write a book.

 

[Dean]

Wow impressive list. I assume most are standard point savers practices, tedious, but standard? You should write a book.

Maybe, there are others. I could likely extend the list to double if I put an effort towards it. Simply realize one uses the methods that work for them. Many of these are not routinely used by anyone, much less myself. My main personal methods have been owning multiple resorts for the 11 month window, Sun-Fri, trading in through II, staying at OKW and reserving early. Then for timeshares in general I've moved to a own to use and trade for variety/sport approach then rent out off years whether it be DVC or Marriott. My methods will change when I get down to just the 100 AKV points and some of these issues may be more important to me personally.

And my number one tip is to learn any system well and be willing to put the effort into playing the game. For example, I was up to almost 1 AM this morning making my first class frequent flier reservations for HI for Jan-Feb, 2008. So I have currently FF tickets first class for 2 to HI with a Marriott hotel reservation at the Waikiki Marriott for a week using reward points followed by a 1 BR exchange to the Westin on Maui (gotten with an exchange that cost me only a few hundred $$$ total). All I have to do now is one night in between on priceline, a rental car for Maui and ? Oahu and interisland. Plus my favorite travel activity, planning restaurants. Total cost for the trip including indirect timeshares costs about $2000-2500 out the door with food and activities.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Maybe, there are others. I could likely extend the list to double if I put an effort towards it. Simply realize one uses the methods that work for them. Many of these are not routinely used by anyone, much less myself. My main personal methods have been owning multiple resorts for the 11 month window, Sun-Fri, trading in through II, staying at OKW and reserving early. Then for timeshares in general I've moved to a own to use and trade for variety/sport approach then rent out off years whether it be DVC or Marriott. My methods will change when I get down to just the 100 AKV points and some of these issues may be more important to me personally.

And my number one tip is to learn any system well and be willing to put the effort into playing the game. For example, I was up to almost 1 AM this morning making my first class frequent flier reservations for HI for Jan-Feb, 2008. So I have currently FF tickets first class for 2 to HI with a Marriott hotel reservation at the Waikiki Marriott for a week using reward points followed by a 1 BR exchange to the Westin on Maui (gotten with an exchange that cost me only a few hundred $$$ total). All I have to do now is one night in between on priceline, a rental car for Maui and ? Oahu and interisland. Plus my favorite travel activity, planning restaurants. Total cost for the trip including indirect timeshares costs about $2000-2500 out the door with food and activities.

Any more nuggets of wisdom you can throw the new peoples way are more than appreciated. I don't enjoy the trial by fire methods if I don't have to.
Thanks
Chris

 

[jdvm]

In 15 years of making reservations, I can only remember one night where I wasn't able to get a Member discount. It's a 25% DVC Member discount. Sometimes, I would have to check daily with Member Services. I never make reservations more than three months out...not becaue I'm brave...just disorganized!
John

 

[Dean]

Any more nuggets of wisdom you can throw the new peoples way are more than appreciated. I don't enjoy the trial by fire methods if I don't have to.
Thanks
Chris

I know what you mean and I'm the same way. I think most of the major ones have been covered to a degree though not necessarily explained in detail. I don't think many of the members here enjoy people talking about some of the methods that can give you an advantage. Learn the system and plan ahead. Here are a few more or at least some variations.

• Make multiple reservations for different times and/or unit sizes or even resorts until you know what you want.
• Consider direct exchange options for other timeshares.
• A big one that I think got left out - if you want a certain resort most trips, buy there esp at BCV, BWV, VWL and AKV.
• Consider the cost of dues, it can make a large $$difference over time.
• Buy less points initially and supplement with many of the suggestions above including transfering points in, cash reservations and off site stays.
• Consider an off site timeshare that either ends on Sunday or starts on Fri and stay the 5 weekdays before (Fri) or after (Sun) at DVC.
• Don't buy in, just rent or buy a cheaper II resort to trade in.
• do a 25 point or similar add on then change the registration to include friends or relatives so that all can get the discounts with the membership card, esp for the AP/PAP discount.
• Buy a use year such that most of your trips are fairly early in your use year so that you have more options to rent, use or bank points if you have to cancel your trip.
• Remember there are rules then there are rules. DVC has two sets of rules generally. They are the written ones and the actual implementation and they are often quite different.
• balance your points like a check book.
• When you make reservations tell them which points to use, how many you have left in any reachable use years.
• If you have an existing reservation then end up with banked, borrowed or less desirable points in that use year later, try to reallocate the less desirable points into the reservation thus freeing up the more desirable ones to give a banking option or a better home priority option.
• Avoid a few common mistakes such as believing everything you hear, even from me. Ask the same question of different people on different days in different ways. You'll be surprised how much variability you see.
• When speaking to MS or anyone else, if what you hear just doesn't make sense either call back or ask to speak to someone else such as a supervisor.
• Gather as much info over time that applies to your situation in the areas that are important to you.

 

[kimberh]

Dean, When you say reserve DVC, but put in a exchage request with II what size villa are you depositing and are you doing all of this through Member services?

 

[Dean]

Dean, When you say reserve DVC, but put in a exchage request with II what size villa are you depositing and are you doing all of this through Member services?

No, this is through II as an II member owning other timeshares. I sometimes reserve the time or times I want at Disney using DVC points then put in a request through II to trade in using other non DVC timeshare deposits for the same time frame. In every case I've been successful so far but I am somewhat realistic in my expectations. BTW, one cannot trade DVC back in to DVC through II.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Thank you Dean.
Chris

 

[pbharris4]

Maybe, there are others. I could likely extend the list to double if I put an effort towards it. Simply realize one uses the methods that work for them. Many of these are not routinely used by anyone, much less myself. My main personal methods have been owning multiple resorts for the 11 month window, Sun-Fri, trading in through II, staying at OKW and reserving early. Then for timeshares in general I've moved to a own to use and trade for variety/sport approach then rent out off years whether it be DVC or Marriott. My methods will change when I get down to just the 100 AKV points and some of these issues may be more important to me personally.

And my number one tip is to learn any system well and be willing to put the effort into playing the game. For example, I was up to almost 1 AM this morning making my first class frequent flier reservations for HI for Jan-Feb, 2008. So I have currently FF tickets first class for 2 to HI with a Marriott hotel reservation at the Waikiki Marriott for a week using reward points followed by a 1 BR exchange to the Westin on Maui (gotten with an exchange that cost me only a few hundred $$$ total). All I have to do now is one night in between on priceline, a rental car for Maui and ? Oahu and interisland. Plus my favorite travel activity, planning restaurants. Total cost for the trip including indirect timeshares costs about $2000-2500 out the door with food and activities.

Wow, Dean!! Can you plan my next Hawaiian trip?