Points question--cruises

[cpdwiz]

Hello all. I have a quick question/scenario. A friend is thinking of buying dvc on secondary market. What exactly does he lose not buying fom Disney? The cruise is big for him, he knows he loses that but he ran this by me. Could he have a friend, who is dvc bought at Disney, book a cruise and put the guy who bought outside Disney on it, then book a dvc resort and pay his friend back that way booking a resort for him?

 

[CarolMN]

Hello all. I have a quick question/scenario. A friend is thinking of buying dvc on secondary market. What exactly does he lose not buying fom Disney? The cruise is big for him, he knows he loses that but he ran this by me. Could he have a friend, who is dvc bought at Disney, book a cruise and put the guy who bought outside Disney on it, then book a dvc resort and pay his friend back that way booking a resort for him?

Yes, but that is a very expensive way to cruise. He would be much better off to pay cash for cruising.

Make sure he looks at the points charts before he buys DVC points to cruise. It takes a LOT of points to cruise. Plus he will have to pay a $95 fee to make the reservation and if a change is necessary, he will have to pay a $95 dollar to make it. Cancellation policies for points are not as generous as those for cash.

 

[Dean]

Hello all. I have a quick question/scenario. A friend is thinking of buying dvc on secondary market. What exactly does he lose not buying fom Disney? The cruise is big for him, he knows he loses that but he ran this by me. Could he have a friend, who is dvc bought at Disney, book a cruise and put the guy who bought outside Disney on it, then book a dvc resort and pay his friend back that way booking a resort for him?

Ask you friend to run the numbers. When he does he'll find that buying DVC is not a good deal financially. Most cruises will return around $6-7 per point compared to early booking discounts, a money losing proposition. He should buy less points and simply pay cash for the cruise. It'll be much cheaper and less hassle.

 

[Lynne M]

That deal isn't going to work out in your friend's favor. As others have suggested, have him run the numbers. DVC can be a good deal on lodging when you're staying at the DVC resorts, but the exchanges don't always work out that way.

Also, DCL often limits the number of cabins available on DVC points. Your friend is likely to find he can't get the bookings he wants through DVC, but could get them paying cash.

 

[ssawka]

If your friend wants to primarily cruise, then DVC is probably not the best option for him. However if he wants to primarily stay at DVC resorts and wants to take the occasional cruise, then he could always rent/transfer his points and pay cash for the cruise.

 

[cpdwiz]

Thanks all. He is deciding between buying from Disney or secondary market. He wants to use points cruising. He is deciding. Me, I'd buy from Disney. One last thing, can he still buy ap's at dvc rates if he buys outside Disney?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks all. He is deciding between buying from Disney or secondary market. He wants to use points cruising. He is deciding. Me, I'd buy from Disney. One last thing, can he still buy ap's at dvc rates if he buys outside Disney?

Smart thing would be NOT buy DVC is all he wants to do is cruise. It takes a whole lot of points to cruise. And cash rates are DVC negotiated rates, not DCL rates. You must use points for at least the first guest in the stateroom. Plus you can't always get on the cruise with points. Sometimes the allotment of DVC staterooms are very limited.

Any member can buy APs at DVC rate. Plus certain family members who reside at the same address as the member.

 

[abdgeek]

Thanks all. He is deciding between buying from Disney or secondary market. He wants to use points cruising. He is deciding. Me, I'd buy from Disney. One last thing, can he still buy ap's at dvc rates if he buys outside Disney?

If he wants to use his points for cruising, he should definitely buy from Disney. Just remind him that he may want to purchase more points so that he doesn't have to use two years worth for one cruise.

I frequently use my DVC points to cruise DCL and have never regretted it. The least number of points I've used for a seven day cruise is 336(inside stateroom) and the most is 696(ocean view verandah). I usually stay on deck 7 on the Wonder/Magic and deck 9 on the Dream/Fantasy. I've cruised the Mediterranean, Alaska, Western Caribbean and Mexican Riviera with DCL. I always travel solo and vacation during high peak times. I always have to pay the single supplement when I cruise. I would never think of paying OOP for a cruise because I've already paid for my DVC points. That's why I bought them, so that I could go everywhere Disney goes-- and that's a lot of places!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If he wants to use his points for cruising, he should definitely buy from Disney. Just remind him that he may want to purchase more points so that he doesn't have to use two years worth for one cruise.

I frequently use my DVC points to cruise DCL and have never regretted it. The least number of points I've used for a seven day cruise is 336(inside stateroom) and the most is 696(ocean view verandah). I usually stay on deck 7 on the Wonder/Magic and deck 9 on the Dream/Fantasy. I've cruised the Mediterranean, Alaska, Western Caribbean and Mexican Riviera with DCL. I always travel solo and vacation during high peak times. I always have to pay the single supplement when I cruise. I would never think of paying OOP for a cruise because I've already paid for my DVC points. That's why I bought them, so that I could go everywhere Disney goes-- and that's a lot of places!

But what you could get at WDW in a DVC resort for 336 points or 696 points could be considered a better use of points. You could get a two bedroom villa at BLT during Christmas week for eight nights theme park view for 696 points.

However, they are your points. Use them as you wish.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney can and does limit how many cabins and which categories are made available for DVC bookings. Could be 1 per cruse, could be 100. If they can get cash guests to book the ship, IMO they go first. They have also had blackout periods for DVC bookings..

Bill

 

[Dean]

Thanks all. He is deciding between buying from Disney or secondary market. He wants to use points cruising. He is deciding. Me, I'd buy from Disney. One last thing, can he still buy ap's at dvc rates if he buys outside Disney?

If he wants to buy a lot more points AND pay more for the cruising options which is limited, not guaranteed and could change or go away tomorrow, that is his choice.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks all. He is deciding between buying from Disney or secondary market. He wants to use points cruising. He is deciding. Me, I'd buy from Disney. One last thing, can he still buy ap's at dvc rates if he buys outside Disney?

When you buy DVC, you are guaranteed really only one thing--the right to stay at your home resort.

While right now, cruising on points is an option, it is not part of the contract and can be taken away from owners at any time.

If the only reason your friend is buying is to cruise, I would recommend that DVC is not for him.