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

[Dean]

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

Doing it professionally would take all the fun and excitement out of it but you're not the first person who said I should do so.

 

[goofymax]

I plan on making BWV ressies for Aug. 2008 next September. I also have booked a cruise for April 2008. I want to borrow points from my June 2009 use year for the BWV ressies.I will change the cruise to pts. next february. I am also using points for the 2008 cruise, but have now only paid a cash deposit. I have enough points to cover both, but only if I can borrow 2009 pts. for the Aug. 2008 ressie and use my June 2008 use year pts. for the cruise. Can I borrow from the 2009 pts. and months later use my 2008 pts. for the cruise? In other words, borrow first from 2009 without yet touching the 2008 June use year pts., in order to use them for the cruise after I book in Sept. for 8/08?

 

[edk35]

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.

WHEW that made my head spin. LOL Okay....can you reserve cash stays at DVC without using the 11 or 7 month window?? Can you then convert those cash stays to points at the 11 or 7 mo. wiindow??? Do the cash stays cost differently depending on the time of year? Is it better always to pay cash even if you have the points? Thanks

 

[Dean]

WHEW that made my head spin. LOL Okay....can you reserve cash stays at DVC without using the 11 or 7 month window?? Can you then convert those cash stays to points at the 11 or 7 mo. wiindow??? Do the cash stays cost differently depending on the time of year? Is it better always to pay cash even if you have the points? Thanks

Now I have vertigo. Others may know better on the cash but my understanding is the 7/11 month windows do not apply other than you must be inside the 11 month window for them to even have the days. Remember these cash rooms come from several different sources so the availability may vary over time. You cannot convert the cash rooms to points but you can make a points reservation for the same thing if it's available and cancel the cash reservation. I don't know if you can cancel day by day, esp for a day in the middle of the cash reservation, maybe someone else knows more. The cash prices will be based on the rack rates which are significantly different seasons than the DVC seasons. The only question is whether it's rack rate or 25% off. Sometimes CRO is cheaper but you can't formally link CRO cash reservations to a DVC reservation.

Sometimes cash reservations are a better deal and other times it's better to use points. Variables are how the DVC seasons stack up to Disney hotel seasons, weekend vs weekday and whether you can get the discount or not.

 

[Dean]

I plan on making BWV ressies for Aug. 2008 next September. I also have booked a cruise for April 2008. I want to borrow points from my June 2009 use year for the BWV ressies.I will change the cruise to pts. next february. I am also using points for the 2008 cruise, but have now only paid a cash deposit. I have enough points to cover both, but only if I can borrow 2009 pts. for the Aug. 2008 ressie and use my June 2008 use year pts. for the cruise. Can I borrow from the 2009 pts. and months later use my 2008 pts. for the cruise? In other words, borrow first from 2009 without yet touching the 2008 June use year pts., in order to use them for the cruise after I book in Sept. for 8/08?

You may want to talk to MS about that one. My understanding is you can't do that by borrowing your 2009 points with existing 2008 points sitting there. If I understand correctly you're effectively you're trying to borrow 2 use years ahead to use points for the cruise. If so, you won't be allowed.

But I suspect it will still work out. Talk to MS, you'll likely need to talk to a supervisor. Record their name if they give you favorable info. My guess is they will tell you to book the 2008 use year BW trips then when the time comes they will borrow 2009 use year points and reallocate them into your existing reservation and allow you to borrow the points into your 2007 use year to complete the cruise reservation.

Interesting way to use points but avoid some of the negatives of doing so. I know some have been able to convert cash to points and keep the same unit, etc, but that chance would make me nervous. I'm also reminded that DVC only gets a certain number of cabins which may be gone by the time you want to convert and if they are gone, I bet they won't allow it simply because you have an existing reservation. Remember the points reservation is a totally new reservation even if you can get the same cabin. I'd also suspect you'd lose any credits such as from the Disney CC. Please let us know how the variables work out so others can learn from your experience.

 

[edk35]

Now I have vertigo. Others may know better on the cash but my understanding is the 7/11 month windows do not apply other than you must be inside the 11 month window for them to even have the days. Remember these cash rooms come from several different sources so the availability may vary over time. You cannot convert the cash rooms to points but you can make a points reservation for the same thing if it's available and cancel the cash reservation. I don't know if you can cancel day by day, esp for a day in the middle of the cash reservation, maybe someone else knows more. The cash prices will be based on the rack rates which are significantly different seasons than the DVC seasons. The only question is whether it's rack rate or 25% off. Sometimes CRO is cheaper but you can't formally link CRO cash reservations to a DVC reservation.

Sometimes cash reservations are a better deal and other times it's better to use points. Variables are how the DVC seasons stack up to Disney hotel seasons, weekend vs weekday and whether you can get the discount or not.

Now I think I should have NEVER OPENED THAT THREAD. This really confuses me. So....you can make a cash ressie at a resort that is not your home resort...before the 7th month window. IS there a chart that tells us the discount for the various seasons of rack room rates????

 

[Dean]

Now I think I should have NEVER OPENED THAT THREAD. This really confuses me. So....you can make a cash ressie at a resort that is not your home resort...before the 7th month window. IS there a chart that tells us the discount for the various seasons of rack room rates????

Potentially you can make a cash reservation regardless of home resort, they are not the same pool of rooms. You already have access to both the DVC points seasons and the Disney cash season lists. The only variables are whether the room is available on cash at all and whether the discount applies. Go to the Disney website (not DVC) listing of the resorts and rack rates for each season plus season dates will be shown.

 

[edk35]

Potentially you can make a cash reservation regardless of home resort, they are not the same pool of rooms. You already have access to both the DVC points seasons and the Disney cash season lists. The only variables are whether the room is available on cash at all and whether the discount applies. Go to the Disney website (not DVC) listing of the resorts and rack rates for each season plus season dates will be shown.

YOU ARE SO WISE. LOL Thanks so much. So is the discount always 25% off rack room rate? Oh and can you get that cash rate discount for all Disney resorts or just DVC ones? I am really pushing it aren't I? ha ha

 

[Dean]

YOU ARE SO WISE. LOL Thanks so much. So is the discount always 25% off rack room rate? Oh and can you get that cash rate discount for all Disney resorts or just DVC ones? I am really pushing it aren't I? ha ha

DVC only. Currently it's either all or none for the discount. They decide if you get it but one good feature is if you book now and they apply the discount later, you can get it. I don't know if they automatically apply it or if you have to ask, I'm sure others who have more direct experience in htis area can easily answer that for you. And I trust they will chime in if I don't represent things quite correctly.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Dean,
I don't know what you do for a living but.... I you did this as a business and received a percentage of what people saved it would be nice $$$$$$. Teach a staff this stuff at Dean's DVC Emporium sit back and watch it roll in. I'll be your first 'paying' customer.
Chris

 

[nisiemouse]

We now own at 3 resorts. Am I able to borrow 2008 points from one resort to complete a reservation if I still have 2007 points from another resort that have not been used. This, of course would be if I was within the 7 month window. Thanks.

 

[edk35]

DVC only. Currently it's either all or none for the discount. They decide if you get it but one good feature is if you book now and they apply the discount later, you can get it. I don't know if they automatically apply it or if you have to ask, I'm sure others who have more direct experience in htis area can easily answer that for you. And I trust they will chime in if I don't represent things quite correctly.

Okay I went on line at Disney and did weekend nights in Aug. when we are staying at SSR to see what the cash price is. It was 1158. 76 and if the discount was available then I would get 25% off of that I guess????

 

[hsmamato2]

[*]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.
[/LIST]

??? What's a II resort? just wondering how you buy in,and trade for dvc....
And- How does that work, adding 25 points,and changing registration? for discounts? What registration,for the room? or for the dvc membership?
sorry, I don't know much yet, I'm trying to learn as much as possible though...

 

[beachblanket]

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).

BWV standard view point levels are a bargain, but the word was out on that a decade ago. Consequently, it is very hard to book those unless you own at BWV and book right at the 11th month window, particulary for fall dates.

 

[kimberh]

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.

I own two other timeshares also. Does a Studio with DVC get a larger unit elsewhere or are you depositing a one bedroom? Thank you so much for your help and experience and for sharing!!

 

[Dean]

??? What's a II resort? just wondering how you buy in,and trade for dvc....
And- How does that work, adding 25 points,and changing registration? for discounts? What registration,for the room? or for the dvc membership?
sorry, I don't know much yet, I'm trying to learn as much as possible though...

II is Interval Exchange, a timeshare exchange company which DVC belongs to with a corporate membership. Having other timeshare I have traded in to DVC a number of times but I can do with 1 BR units and can travel truly off season like Jan, May and Sept.

As for changing the registration, here is my situation. I just bought 100 AKV points. I plan to eventually sell all my other points and have just those left. I actually did four 25 pt contracts and will change the deed so my daughter and possibly my son, sister and brother will be on the deed and make them members with a card and all that meet the criteria will then have access to all the perks and discounts. This will make that 25 pt contract stand alone all by itself. I'll then transfer those 25 pts back to the other contract which will be 75 points plus the transferred ones or do reservations and link them from the two contracts depending on exactly what we want to do at the time. Changing the deed will cost me around $50 currently.

 

[Dean]

I own two other timeshares also. Does a Studio with DVC get a larger unit elsewhere or are you depositing a one bedroom? Thank you so much for your help and experience and for sharing!!

Actually the reverse is true. I assume you are in II so you have a feel for how their system works as it's a little different than RCI. With II in general you can't ask for a unit larger than the deposit you are using but you can ask for a unit that a resort doesn't have. So I could use a studio with II (NON DVC) and ask for a unit for 2 people at a resort that only had 2 BR units. In effect I'd be requesting a 2 BR with a studio though my chances of success would be less.

All this breaks down with DVC. You cannot ask for a unit size the resort doesn't have. If they only have 2 BR units, you can only ask for 2 BR units. If you call for an exchange request and they have what you want you pay the points according to the grid for the season and unit size. For an ongoing search you will occasionally get a larger unit. Say you ask for a 1 BR at one of the Royal's with an ongoing search, you may actually get a 2 BR instead but no way to know ahead of time or increase your chances of that happening. In that case you'd only pay the points for the 1 BR and that is the only situation where you'd pay less than what you got. Even in flexchange time (less than 60 days) DVC members are charged full points for any exchange. That is a travesty IMO, esp since many other points systems that deal directly with II (ie. Worldmark or Starwood) have much lower points costs in flexchange.

 

[Dean]

Duplicate post caused by board connectivity issues.

 

[hsmamato2]

As for changing the registration, here is my situation. I just bought 100 AKV points. I plan to eventually sell all my other points and have just those left. I actually did four 25 pt contracts and will change the deed so my daughter and possibly my son, sister and brother will be on the deed and make them members with a card and all that meet the criteria will then have access to all the perks and discounts. This will make that 25 pt contract stand alone all by itself. I'll then transfer those 25 pts back to the other contract which will be 75 points plus the transferred ones or do reservations and link them from the two contracts depending on exactly what we want to do at the time. Changing the deed will cost me around $50 currently.

Wow- a whole new world here.... what if one of your family members had bought,say a small 25 point contract thru resale,and attached it to your contract,planning to be mimimal members, but in reality could combine trips with family,and thus all people involved got perks access?
Or if they bought it,would it be in theirs,or your name, or do you,the member, get to choose that,thus ensuring member perks for your family also?
thanks...

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Is there anybody willing to glean (which rymes with Dean) the nuggets of money/point saving information/strategies from this type of thread. Would the Mods make a stickey out of it? I would volunteer but you could fit what I know about the DVC into a thimble. Mods any input, or should I pipe down? It could be called Dean's Means hehehheh, sorrry Dean.