points, points, points...

[BorisMD]

Hi all,

Here's a question that I know has been asked over and
over, but I'm going crazy trying to figure this out.
I'm going to join DVC, and I'm trying to figure out
how many points to get.  My situation is as follows,
my family of four, me, spouse, daughter (age 10), son
(age 9) go to the World for about 4 nights each year
during spring break.  On rare occasions, we will go a
second time for a long weekend.  Spring break will
occasionally coincide with Easter, which knocks the
room cost into the Premier season, but usually it is
just the magic season.  I'm thinking that the one
bedroom is what I'd like.  The other part of our
spring break vacation is spent on  the gulf coast, and
I don't foresee changing the time allotment much from
the current setup.  We usually arrive on a Thursday
night, drive to the coast, spend however many nights
there, and then finish our trip at the World, flying
out on Saturday or Sunday.

So, I've figured that four nights ending on a Saturday
will run 150 pts during magic season at BCV. 

My problem is what to do about the odd year when our
trip will coincide with Premier season?

The cost between getting 150 pts or 200 pts is not a
big issue.  What I would worry more about is not being
able to spend all my points.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Boris

Message cross posted to DVCtalk@yahoogroups.com

 

[Eeyore2U]

When we bought I wanted a weeks worth of points. DW wanted to buy the minimum of 150. I don't think 150 points enough. We added on. Now I don't think 300 points is enough.

My suggestion is to overbuy since you'll want more later anyway!

 

[Caskbill]

Looks like you've done your homework on points.

Most will probably say that having extra points is better than not having enough. If money is not an issue, then go for the higher points. You may not have to jump all the way to 200 points though. Maybe you only need to get 160, or 170 points. Use the 150 you need and bank the remainder. If you had 170 points and used 150 a year, then after 3 years you'd have 210 points available for that Easter weekend year.

It would work like this:
Year 1 use 150 points, bank 20
Year 2, use your 20 banked points along with 130 new points to get 150 total, bank the remaining 40 points (170 - 130)
Year 3, use the banked 40 points along with 110 of your new year's points to make your 150 point total. Bank the remaining 60 points (170 - 110)
Year 4, You have 230 points available (140 + the 60 banked). Use them all at once, or use 200 and bank 30 and let it build up again.

In any case, I'll bet after a few years you'll want more points anyway.

 

[nisiemouse]

I think as your son and daughter get older you will want a two bedroom (and that extra bathroom) so I would consider this when I figured up the points I would like to purchase.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I too would lean toward buying a few extra to start with. Otherwise your contract will look like ours. One year later, our contract number has a .006 after it.

Good Luck.

 

[robinb]

I agree with nisiemouse, you'll really want to plan for a 2BR since a 1BR only has 2 beds, one in the master bedroom and one in the living room. A 2BR gives you 4 beds, master, living room and 2 in the 2nd bedroom.

The way to stretch your points is to spend as few Fridays and Saturadys at the BCV since they are double the amount of points as the weekdays. Maybe you'd start on Wednesday, go to the coast and end up at WDW on Sunday for 5 days.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Do yourself a favor...BUY THE EXTRA POINTS!
You'll be glad you did.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Greetings, fellow Minnesotan!
I have to agree that having not enough points is a problem. When we purchased, the minimum was 230 points. We felt this would be too many, but did the purchase anyway. Less than 2 years later, we added another 150 points, and now we feel we have enough.

We are empty nesters with 2 adult children who are not married. Our "kids" do travel with us often, and since joining DVC we love to take friends along and have a free place for them to stay. I could not see myself staying in a studio anymore, and we often get a 2 bedroom even when our plan is just for the 2 of us going down. We always find someone to join in at the last minute.

Remember, points direct from Disney will continue to increase in price. You might try resale too. Are you sure of which resort you prefer?

 

[crisi]

Two thought on what to do:

Too many points - rent them or give them away. If you use Caskbill's suggestion, and still have extra points, you can probably find some use for them.

Too few points - book a cash ressie at a Moderate or Deluxe hotel during those years and then go back to "too many points."


The other thought is to be flexible. Maybe use extra points for a whole week at Disney one year and skip the beach. Or go down for a golf weekend with the guys that you wouldn't take without DVC. So instead of "every year we do this" (for the next 40 years), think "this is what we do now, what will we do if we had DVC membership next year? In five years? In twenty years?" Someone's suggestion of planning now for the two bedroom you will probably want when the kids are a little older is good. Also, some day your college ages kids will be begging you to let them use the points to bring friends over spring break.

If money isn't an issue for you, why skimp on points? (This from someone who money also isn't an issue for, but bought 150 points - but we only "Disney" every other year).

 

[KNWVIKING]

Quick show of hands: How many people have TOOOO many points ??

Well, that was easy to count.

Might as well buy 'um now, cause your only goin' to do it later.

 

[BorisMD]

Okay, okay...I get the point (pun intended). I especially like the suggestions from caskbill about how to do the banking. I'm thinking I'll go with the 200, and bank enough to either stay longer, or get the 2BR. Heck, I can always burn some points going to Keystone too. To those who said I'll want 2BR in the future--you're right, especially when the kids start asking to bring along friends. We've already had our teenage nephew along a couple of times, and my mother-in-law once. Each time, an extra room would have been nice. You guys are sooo smart. Now if only I'd have done this years ago--we've been going once or twice a year for the last 10 years!! Live and learn.

Now as soon as my guide gets the paperwork to me, I can get signed up. As for am I sure about which resort--we've always liked YC/BC best, so I think BCV will be a great fit. Although I do like VWL.

Thanks again, and "Hello" to Diane,

Boris

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by BorisMD
  What I would worry more about is not being
able to spend all my points.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Boris

Tell ya what Boris. If you ever get stuck in that situation with too many points, just give me a call. I always like to help out another DVC member in need and I'll see what I can do to help you spend them.

Seriously...when I first read your post I thought...."he'll need a two bedroom someday." Just based on the fact that when your dd is 16 you'll have trouble getting her to sleep in the same bed as your 15 y.o. ds!

Also....if you don't mind changing what coast you go to....Vero Beach is supposed to be very nice.

Good luck deciding!

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by BorisMD
  What I would worry more about is not being
able to spend all my points.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Boris

Tell ya what Boris. If you ever get stuck in that situation with too many points, just give me a call. I always like to help out another DVC member in need and I'll see what I can do to help you spend them.

Seriously...when I first read your post I thought...."he'll need a two bedroom someday." Just based on the fact that when your dd is 16 you'll have trouble getting her to sleep in the same bed as your 15 y.o. ds!

Also....if you don't mind changing what coast you go to....Vero Beach is supposed to be very nice.

Good luck deciding!

 

[TheWho]

I believe in the motto,

You can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many DVC points!!

 

[erikthewise]

If you have too many points, just use them to stay at a (non-DVC) Deluxe resort over the weekend in a concierge room. That'll burn a few points.

Or use points to go on a Disney cruise; that will relieve just about anyone of all excess points. Then there's the Concierge Collection (stay at the Grand Hotel in-season!), etc.

 

[Caskbill]

Or just donate them to anyone who's suggestions you really liked....


Sorry OhioMinnie, but as everyone knows, DVC points are definitely well worth fightin' over.......

 

[3princesses&aprince]

Hi there from another Minnesotan.....

We bought 210 points on a great resale.....thought that was plenty. A year later we added on 100 more when we fell in love with Vero Beach. We have a Hilton timeshare too, but our DVC points are near and dear to our hearts, and we have very little problem using them, or in two cases, renting them when we miscalculated or couldn't use them.......and made new Disney friends along the way. I think 200 is a safe place to start (emphasis on start). Best wishes in your DVC journey.