Poll- How many points do you have...

[kstgelais4]

I am just trying to get an idea of how many points we are going to need. So I would love to know if you are willing to share:

How many points you have.

What your family needs are like (how many kids, or just you ect.).

What time you like to travel, and for how long.

If you bought with the intention of banking for every other year, or vacation every year.

I'll tell you our situation also, and you are welcome to give me any advice...
We have 4 young children, and will probaby have more, so we need at least a 2 bedroom when we travel. We like to travel in the off season, and in the future we will probably still stick to that (avoid school vacation weeks). We will probably only visit WDW every other year at the most, but we will use the points for VB or HHI every now and then too. Well, I guess that's the rundown... TIA
Kelly

 

[debloco]

Hi and

How many points you have.

We own 250 points at VWL.

What your family needs are like (how many kids, or just you ect.).

We have one DD (16), so when we all go to WDW we book a 1 bedroom.

What time you like to travel, and for how long.

Currently, we go every year for Christmas (7 or 8 nights) during DD's break. Starts out in Choice season and moves into Premier season (ouch!) for the last few days of our stay.

When DH and I go by ourselves, we book a studio. We did this for a pre-cruise night last October.

If you bought with the intention of banking for every other year, or vacation every year.

We bought with the intention of going to WDW every year, no banking. But we did just borrow for the first time! It was only 5 points, so I didn't freak out too much.

Originally, we did not plan on being in WDW past Christmas Eve and moving into Premier Season. But, surprisingly, we really enjoyed being in WDW for Christmas day and beyond. So now we're in a situation where we're using up almost all of our points every year for that one trip.

But that means none left for a F&WF trip, pre-cruise nights, Mother's Day weekend, a quick trip with friends...so we are talking about an add-on.

For your situation:

If you know you will need a 2 bedroom and travel in the off-season, I would take a look at the point charts and determine which season(s) you and your family usually travel in. Add up the number of nights you like to stay and figure out the points needed, then divide in half (for the every other year trip plan). That should give you a good ballpark number of points to consider buying.

HTH! Good luck with your decision!

 

[jomik1]

We currently have 360 points all at SSR. We originally purchased 230points then added on an additional 130 points.

We have two DS's (12 & 10). Our last few trips with just the four of us we have booked a 1 bedroom. Eventually we will reserve a 2 bedroom so the boys won't have to sleep on the sleeper sofa and they will have more privacy.

Our travel schedule is pretty limited. We will mostly travel during spring break. I try to avoid removing the boys from school and they are also very active in football, baseball, & basketball. Spring Break (last week in March) tends to cause the least amount of disruption in our busy schedules.

Our intention is to go every year

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

We have 150 points at SSR. We bought with the intention of vacationing to WDW every other year, so this would give us plenty of points to 'play' with. Right now it's perfect for us...it's just DH and I...no kids. I imagine that as have kids we will add more points. But we bought early so that it could be paid off quickly before we start our family and want to add more points

 

[shantay1008]

Hi!
We have four kids, too, and we bought 200 points at SSR, with the idea of going to WDW every other year. Our kids are 1, 3, 5 and 7, so for now we're able to travel at mostly off-peak times without worrying too much about missing school. The two-bedroom is a requirement for us, which kind of bites, but the nice thing is that there's always room for a couple of extra guests/babysitters to come along (i.e., grandparents).

I think we're a rather rare breed on these boards, but we really are okay with just going to WDW every other year. We enjoy traveling and there are so many other places we have to visit. But we love always having a WDW trip to look forward to!

Good luck with your planning.
Shannon

 

[ACDSNY]

We started with a 100 point resale contract for SSR with the intention of going every 2-3 years. That thought didn't last long due to the F & F promo, so we added 120 points. When we purchased the add on we received 2005 points plus all our points in Feb so we asked my DH cousin and his wife if they'd like to do a trip, now we're going again in Oct/Nov.

We're almost empty nesters (DD= 21 and DS= 18), but our kids and extended family always seem to go with us. We've always booked a 2 bedroom in WDW since we are usually a party of 6-8. We need at least a week at WDW and so far we've only traveled in October/November. We avoid school breaks and holidays like the plague. We prefer the lighter crowds.

We're closer to Disneyland so we usually go there every year.

 

[Stuart D]

We've got 230 points for OKW

2 Adults and 2 kids - one 12 and one 8.

We've only just bought into DVC but we planned to have sufficient points to have 2 weeks in a Studio at almost any time of year. We reckon we will most likely travel in July for two weeks, every year, until the kids are out of school. After that my wife and I will just suit ourselves.

My advice would be the same as Debloco, it looks good to me.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

We just bought and at this time we have 180 pts. at the Boardwalk. Maybe at another time, we will buy more.

 

[RCM]

We have 277 points at SSR and would like to add maybe 25 soon. We went last year with a 2 bdrm with our 15 year old,Sister inlaw and her family. This passed Feb I went with two friends and stayed at Wilderness lodge. This spring my five children and six grandchildren(5yrs and under) will be getting 2/2bdrms. We have been members a few years and enjoy it so much. We figure in 2 more visits with the family we will have covered the costs of our points.

 

[cavecricket]

Hello!

I purchased 200 SSR points last october. this will cover us for our yearly 2 week long vacation at almost any DVC resort we choose ( borrowing a little here and there from the 2005 points we didnt use for certain resorts ) We do plan to purchase more down the road....I am 25 years old and didnt want to get too far in debt so I will wait until I am paid off....


Good Luck!

Jennifer

 

[Joni]

We have a total of 600 points. First bought 150 at BWV, then added 150 at BCV. Always stayed in studios so we could stay for 2 weeks. Have always taken our youngest son with us which is now 16. Last year booked and borrowed from 2006 at OKW with a 2-bedroom. We took my sister and her husband with us and needed more room. Always new whenever we stayed in a 1 or 2 bedroom we never would go back to a studio as long as we had someone with us. When we got back from vacation looked into resale and finally find a contract that interested us and bought an add-on with 300 points. Also had additional 2005 points which we are using this year for a 2 bedroom in a week. We have 3 sons (27,24,16) which now we can have them visit us whenever they want as they get married and have families. I think it will work great for us and if we ever need to sell one of the contracts we know BWV or BCV have always been in great demand. Will be in WDW on the 21st of March. All ours sons are flying in to be with us. Probably the last time for us just as a family as two older sons have serious girlfriends. Wanted that last vacation for our youngest son to just spend with his brothers. We are so blessed!!

 

[mom2rb]

We have 420 points, all at SSR. We have two boys, age 7. Right now we get a one bedroom. So we have plenty of points to stay 12 or so days a year. We have also taken family and rented extra points. Once my boys get bigger we will have to get a two bedroom. Then we will use all of our points a year.

 

[gilld]

How many points you have.

We have 270 points at BCV

What your family needs are like (how many kids, or just you ect.)

We usually travel just the two of us since the kids have left home. But we also like to let them use the points as they want them.

What time you like to travel, and for how long.

We like to go in September and as we live in the Uk we like to go for roughly for 2 weeks.
If you bought with the intention of banking for every other year, or vacation every year.

We like to go most years but not every year. We also take a Caribbean cruise most years.

 

[NMW]

We have 230 points at BWV. I would have bought more if I had bought through Disney, but it was a resale and we wanted it right away.

We have 3 kids 4, 7, 9. We go yearly for 9 nights usually early Dec, but this year we are doing mid-late Oct. We have been staying in 1 bdr villas, but next year we are doing a 2 bdr (with banked points). Then, we are going to buy more points to get us to 315 points, probably through Disney. I have already been setting the money aside for it! Then we will always do 2 bdr stays. I'm not sure if we will ever take anyone with us. Our family members are not really that into Disney. It baffled them that we kept vacationing at Disney and by the time we bought DVC, they just rolled their eyes at us!

 

[nucpharm29]

We bought 150pts at SSR during the F&F promotion in January. There are 4 of us in the family, but the 2 kids are under 3. So we can comfortably stay in a studio for the time being. We also just bought the 150pts. b/c we can easily travel in the off season b/c neither of our kids are in school right now--like we're staying 8 nights in a standard studio at BWV in Sept for 105pts! We'll probably add on pts. in the future when the kids are older and we have to travel during peak season and will need at least a 1 bedroom!

 

[Mi3stooges]

I am just trying to get an idea of how many points we are going to need. So I would love to know if you are willing to share:

How many points you have.

What your family needs are like (how many kids, or just you ect.).

What time you like to travel, and for how long.

If you bought with the intention of banking for every other year, or vacation every year.

I'll tell you our situation also, and you are welcome to give me any advice...
We have 4 young children, and will probaby have more, so we need at least a 2 bedroom when we travel. We like to travel in the off season, and in the future we will probably still stick to that (avoid school vacation weeks). We will probably only visit WDW every other year at the most, but we will use the points for VB or HHI every now and then too. Well, I guess that's the rundown... TIA
Kelly

I'm still new to all of this, but could I suggest you buy the minimum you think you'll need.
You can ALWAYS add on some how.
You might find that ALL those points(however many) every year, including monthly dues, form of travel, food, etc... add up
We are going home in May and to HHI in July.
We get a 2 bedroom and will still have room.
I have 450 points at SSR. I have DH, DD 14, DD 12, and DS 11. Truthfully, I think I have to many....just my opinion.

 

[Glorydaz]

I am just trying to get an idea of how many points we are going to need. So I would love to know if you are willing to share:

How many points you have.

What your family needs are like (how many kids, or just you ect.).

What time you like to travel, and for how long.

If you bought with the intention of banking for every other year, or vacation every year.

I'll tell you our situation also, and you are welcome to give me any advice...
We have 4 young children, and will probaby have more, so we need at least a 2 bedroom when we travel. We like to travel in the off season, and in the future we will probably still stick to that (avoid school vacation weeks). We will probably only visit WDW every other year at the most, but we will use the points for VB or HHI every now and then too. Well, I guess that's the rundown... TIA
Kelly

We're also new to DVC ...just bought 200 points at SSR

It's just my bf and I and our combined children who are: 29,22,21 and 19

We travel in off-season - holidays are stocked with family running around ( and I don't want to deal with holiday crowds, airfare, etc) and obviously school holidays have no impact at this time.. our plan is to go 2x per year - Sunday to Friday in early Feb and Sunday to Friday for Halloween (our anniversary )..we will be booking 1 bedroom for these trips ...

We are definitely planning on adding on ( 100-200 points), just waiting for the next location to be announced.. we will need at least that many points so we can divy out stays to our children occasionally to help with their vacation plans.

I agree with the previous poster - only buy the minimum you think you need at this point because you can always add on...I don't know about you, but money isn't growing on trees in my neighborhood! and all those dues and payments add up real quick. having 4 children, I'm sure you know what I mean! depending on where you stay and when you go will be the key factor...Adventure season is the lowest number of point usage which varies from 30 points ( BCV, WLV) to 14 ( HH ) for a 2 bedroom per night Sun thru Thursday...higher for Friday & Saturday night stays
happy planning!

 

[lts862]

How many points you have.
Our original contract was for 220 SSR points, with the intention of going every other year. We did an add on for another 100 at SSR about 6 months later, for a total of 320.

What your family needs are like (how many kids, or just you ect.).
Me, DH, DS 5 1/2, DD 3. At this point, we need a one bedroom but that will change as the kids get older. Sometimes my dad will travel with us (he bought the points for us as a gift . Some times we will have another family member join us on the trip, as they enjoy going, to be with our kids.

What time you like to travel, and for how long.
We usually travel in the off season for 6-7 days, twice a year. It actually varies depending on who is with us, when we go, etc.

If you bought with the intention of banking for every other year, or vacation every year.
Initially we thought we would go every other year but with the additional add on, we go every year!

 

[abk96]

We just bought 200 pts. last week. There's 5 of us and this will cover us for 2- 6 day trips or 1 longer trip per year. We will definitely be going during the off season.

We bought the least amount that we need for now so we can pay it off faster and then maybe down the road when the kids are bigger (warranting a bigger room), we'll add on.

 

[kstgelais4]

Hi!
We have four kids, too, and we bought 200 points at SSR, with the idea of going to WDW every other year. Our kids are 1, 3, 5 and 7, so for now we're able to travel at mostly off-peak times without worrying too much about missing school. The two-bedroom is a requirement for us, which kind of bites, but the nice thing is that there's always room for a couple of extra guests/babysitters to come along (i.e., grandparents).

I think we're a rather rare breed on these boards, but we really are okay with just going to WDW every other year. We enjoy traveling and there are so many other places we have to visit. But we love always having a WDW trip to look forward to!

Good luck with your planning.
Shannon

Shannon,
Thats how old our kids are We actually just celebrated the oldest's 7th bday in WDW a month ago today. How many days do you typically stay with that amount of points?
Thanks for all the info so far guys!!

Kelly